No abstract

The aim of this study was to identify magnetic resonance (MR) signs that aid differentiation of neoplastic vs. non-neoplastic brain diseases in dogs and cats. MR images of 36 dogs and 13 cats with histologic diagnosis of intracranial disease were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnoses included 30 primary and three metastatic brain tumors, 11 infectious/inflammatory lesions, three vascular, one degenerative disease, and one developmental malformation. Upon univariate analysis of 21 MR signs, there were seven that had a significant association with neoplasia: single lesion (P = 0.004), shape (P = 0.015), mass effect (P = 0.002), dural contact (P = 0.04), dural tail (P = 0.005), lesions affecting adjacent bone (P = 0.008), and contrast enhancement (P = 0.025). Increasing age was also found to be associated with neoplasia (P = 0.0001). MR signs of non-neoplastic brain diseases in dogs and cats were more variable than those of brain neoplasia.

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies occur commonly in dogs. The objective of the study was to describe the acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities identified in dogs with gastrointestinal foreign bodies and determine if these abnormalities are related to the site or type of foreign body present. Medical records of 138 dogs were reviewed, and information on signalment, initial venous electrolyte and acid-base values, surgical findings, relevant historical information, imaging modalities used, cost of hospital visit, intra-or postoperative complications, and survival was obtained. The site of the foreign body was recorded in 94.9% of cases and the most common site was the stomach (50%), followed by the jejunum (27.5%). The foreign bodies were linear in 36.2% of cases. The most common electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities regardless of the site or type of foreign body were hypochloremia (51.2%), metabolic alkalosis (45.2%), hypokalemia (25%), and hyponatremia (20.5%). No significant association was found between electrolyte or acid-base abnormalities and the site of foreign body. Linear, as opposed to discrete, foreign bodies were more likely to be associated with a low serum sodium concentration (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.95). Hyperlactatemia (Ͼ2.4 mmol/L) was seen in 40.5% of dogs. A wide variety of electrolyte and acid-base derangements are found in dogs with gastrointestinal foreign bodies. Hypochloremia and metabolic alkalosis are common in these dogs. Hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis is seen with both proximal and distal gastrointestinal foreign bodies.Key words: Alkalosis; Hypochloremia; Hypokalemia; Hyponatremia; Linear. Dogs with clinical signs resulting from gastrointestinal foreign bodies are common in small-animal veterinary practice.1 Dogs ingest a large variety of objects that either pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or cause a complete or partial obstruction. Other ingested objects act as linear foreign bodies and cause plication of the small intestine.2 Animals with GI disease frequently have acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities.3 Large volumes of fluid and electrolytes are secreted and reabsorbed by the healthy GI tract daily. In a 20-kg dog, approximately 2.5 L of fluid enters the GI tract from diet and normal gastrointestinal secretions and over 98% is reabsorbed daily. 4 Experimental studies of GI obstruction in dogs have revealed that, after an obstruction has been present for over 24 hours, there is secretion of sodium, potassium, and water rather than absorption in the bowel proximal to the obstruction. Gastrointestinal function is also abnormal distal to the obstruction. 5 Thus, disturbances in normal GI tract function secondary to complete or partial obstruction can rapidly result in disturbances of fluid balance, acid-base status, and serum electrolyte concentrations. Protracted or profuse vomiting and diarrhea with reluctance to consume adequate volumes of food and fluid can also affect the intravascular volume and hydration

No abstract

No abstract

Thirty-one healthy pet cats had voided urine samples collected prior to, during and after a brief period of hospitalisation. Urinary corticoids were measured, both prior to and following an extraction technique, and the urinary corticoid:creatinine ratio (UCCR) was calculated. Associations between the UCCR and age, sex, breed and time of urine collection were investigated. There was no significant relationship established between age, sex and breed and the UCCR. A significant increase in the UCCR, however, did occur between the first home collected and first hospitalised urine sample, but only when comparing extracted corticoid results. A normal range for feline UCCR is established for the chemiluminescent immunoassay used in this study.

No abstract

It has been shown that Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice develop a nonspecific resistance to challenge with an unrelated microorganism, namely, Listeria monocytogenes. This increased resistance to Listeria was observed on the 4th day of trypanosoma infection and persisted for at least 25 days. It was associated with an increased mononuclear phagocytic activity, as revealed by carbon clearance experiments. The possibility that macrophages of the infected host become activated by a process which appears to depend upon some form of specific interaction between the immune lymphoid cells and the infecting organisms, as has been demonstrated with other infectious agents, is discussed.