BackgroundSyringomyelia (SM) is common in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS). Dogs with syringes express clinical signs or might be clinically silent.ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence and heritability of symptomatic SM, the association between clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and long‐term outcome.AnimalsAll CKCS registered in the Danish Kennel Club in 2001 (n = 240).MethodsA cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based prevalence study validated by telephone interviews and clinically investigated clinical signs of SM. Dogs were 6 years at the time of investigation. A prospective observational litter study including clinical investigations, MRI and 5‐year follow‐up of symptomatic and asymptomatic siblings. Heritability was estimated based on the scale of liability in the study population and litter cohort.ResultsThe cross‐sectional study estimated a prevalence of symptomatic SM at 15.4% in the population. Thirteen symptomatic and 9 asymptomatic siblings participated in the litter study. Spinal cord syringes were confirmed in 21 of 22 littermates (95%). Syrinx diameter and mean syrinx : spinal cord ratio were significantly correlated with clinical signs (P < .01). Estimated heritability of symptomatic SM was 0.81. Symptomatic SM motivated euthanasia in 20%. Dogs with syringes, which expressed no clinical signs at the age of 6, remained asymptomatic in 14/15 cases (93%).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe prevalence of symptomatic SM is high and genetics have a high impact on clinical disease expression. Further investigations of factors influencing the outbreak threshold of clinical signs of SM are desirable.

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BackgroundTwo-dimensional strain measurements obtained by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) have been reported in both humans and dogs. Incorporation of this technique into canine clinical practice requires the availability of measurements from clinically normal dogs, ideally of the same breed, taken under normal clinical conditions.The aims of this prospective study were to assess if it is possible to obtain STE data during a routine echocardiographic examination in Irish Wolfhound dogs and that these data will provide reference values and an estimation of measurement error.MethodsFifty- four healthy mature Irish Wolfhounds were used. These were scanned under normal clinical conditions to obtain in one session both standard echocardiographic parameters and STE data. Measurement error was determined separately in 5 healthy mature Irish Wolfhounds.ResultsEight dogs were rejected by the software algorithm for reasons of image quality, resulting in a total of 46 dogs (85.2%) being included in the statistical analysis. In 46 dogs it was possible to obtain STE data from three scanning planes, as well as to measure the rotation of the left ventricle at two levels and thus calculate the torsion of the heart. The mean peak radial strain at the cardiac apex (RS-apex) was 45.1 ± 10.4% (n = 44), and the mean peak radial strain at the base (RS-base) was 36.9 ± 14.7% (n = 46). The mean peak circumferential strain at the apex (CS-apex) was -24.8 ± 6.2% (n = 44), and the mean peak circumferential strain at the heart base (CS-base) was -15.9 ± 3.2% (n = 44). The mean peak longitudinal strain (LS) was -16.2 ± 3.0% (n = 46). The calculated mean peak torsion of the heart was 11.6 ± 5.1 degrees (n = 45).The measurement error was 24.8%, 26.4%, 11.5%, 6.7%, 9.0% and 10 degrees, for RS-apex, RS-base, CS-apex, CS-base, LS and torsion, respectively.ConclusionsIt is concluded that this technique can be included in a normal echocardiographic examination in large breed dogs under clinical conditions. The usefulness of the reference values reported here, given their wide normal range, will ultimately be determined by the values that are obtained from a large numbers of diseased dogs.

Objectives: To investigate dogs with acute onset of intracranial signs suspected of stroke by primary veterinary clinicians, and establish possible differential diagnoses and long-term outcome. In addition, serum C-reactive protein and plasma cytokines were investigated as potential biomarkers of disease.Materials and MethOds: All cases were evaluated by neurologic examination, routine haematology and biochemistry and measurement of serum C-reactive protein, plasma cytokine concentrations (interleukin-2, -6, -8, -10, tumour necrosis factor) and low-field MRI.results: Primary veterinarians contacted the investigators with 85 suspected stroke cases. Only 20 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, two were diagnosed with ischaemic stroke. Other causes were idiopathic vestibular syndrome (n=6), brain tumour (n=5) and inflammatory brain disease (n=2); in five cases a precise diagnosis could not be determined. Median survival times were: brain tumour, 3 days, idiopathic vestibular syndrome, 315 days, ischaemic stroke, 365 days and inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disease, 468 days. The median plasma concentrations of interleukin-2, -6, -8, -10 or tumour necrosis factor were not significantly increased in any of the diagnosis groups compared to healthy controls. Serum C-reactive protein was higher in dogs with brain tumours and inflammatory brain disease but not above the upper bound of the reference interval.clinical significance: Dogs that present with acute onset intracranial disease may have ischaemic stroke but are more likely to have other causes. Many dogs with such acute onset of neurological dysfunction (brain tumours excluded) may recover within a couple of weeks despite their initial severe clinical appearance. a These authors shared first authorship.

Paired anatomic and ultrasonographic measurements did not appear equivalent in this study, possibly attributable to imprecise probe location, which could limit quantitative use of ultrasonography in assessing proximal trochlear depth in a clinical setting.

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C8, C12, C15, C16, C18 linear alkyl amines and a benzyl amine, were tested for the inhibitory activity against ChC. The inhibitor potency showed to be directly correlated to the length of the alkyl chain. The C16 alkyl amide derivative HYADD Ò 4 was identified as lead compound (K i ¼ 6.2AE1.6 mM), on the basis of the best compromise between potency and solubility. With the aim of assessing the specificity of the effect, HYADD Ò 4 was then screened vs 10 different human MMP catalytic subunits, showing higher selectivity for MMP8 and MMP13. The K i against human MMP13 was found to be in the micromolar range (61.7 AE 7.0 mM). Finally, since MMP13, unlike MMP8, is involved in OA progression, an ex vivo study was performed by incubating HYADD Ò 4 in SF from patients with inflammatory arthritis: the K i value obtained (106.1 AE 9.2 mM) was comparable to that observed in vitro, thus validating the inhibitory activity against MMP13. Conclusions: These data suggest that the extremely hydrophobic side chain of HYADD Ò 4, whose water solubility is boosted by the HA backbone, is pivotal in the mechanism of MMP competitive inhibition. The polymer structure suggests that the alkyl side chain could easily and selectively dock the hydrophobic S 1 ' pocket in the MMP catalytic domain. The hexadecyl derivative shows the best performance against MMP13 and MMP8, as confirmed also in an ex-vivo experiment in SF vs human MMP13. Furthermore, the intra-articular administration of the alkylmodified HA as a treatment for OA, thanks to its site-selectivity and solubility, can overcome the common issues of the small molecule MMP inhibitors, such as systemic distribution and toxicity.

Ischemic stroke is a condition increasingly recognized in dogs; however, the number of publications on dogs with ischemic stroke is still limited and hemostatic parameters are infrequently reported. D-dimer levels have been shown to be elevated in people with acute ischemic stroke compared to a healthy control population and it has been proposed that a normal D-dimer can be used to exclude thromboembolism in dogs. In this case series, we report hemostatic parameters, including D-dimer and thromboelastography (TEG) along with clinical and imaging findings for five dogs diagnosed with ischemic stroke. All dogs had a normal D-dimer concentration on presentation. A hypercoagulable state was identified in two dogs based on the results of the TEG, and was suspected in the remaining three cases based on a shortened TEG clot reaction time. Based on the findings in the present cases, a D-dimer within the normal reference range does not seem an appropriate negative predictor for canine ischemic stroke. The demonstration of a possible hypercoagulable state, as identified by the TEG, is an interesting finding which should be explored further to help reveal predisposing hypercoagulable conditions in dogs with ischemic stroke.