Clinical and paraclinical evaluation of partial nephrectomy using laparoscopy and open surgery in dogs: new suturing technique

Partial nephrectomy, using open surgery or laparoscopy, is a standard surgical approach to treat renal disorders. The objective of this study was to compare and evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using figure eight ligation technique. Mixed-breed dogs were randomly dedicated for partial nephrectomy using laparoscopy [n=6] and open surgery [n=6]. During 30 days after operation, clinical, hematological and ultrasonographic findings, intra- and post-operative complications, operation and ischemia times, urine analysis and incision length were recorded. Operations were performed successfully and dogs recovered without serious complications. All clinical and hematological findings were within normal range. Comparing two experimental groups, operation time and length of incisional scar were longer in open surgery and ischemia time was longer in laparoscopy [P<0.05]. In conclusion, using figure eight ligation, laparoscopy seems to be safer, more feasible, less time consuming in association with less bleeding for partial nephrectomy compared with conventional open surgery in dog

Urinary oxalate, citrate, and gamma glutamyl transferase alterations after administration of Cynodon dactylon extract in cats

Urinary oxalate and citrate are the key factors in caox urolithiasis of cats and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase is a good test for assessment of kidney damage. Favorable effects of Cynodon dactylon on calcium oxalate stone formation have recently been proved in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the alteration of urinary oxalate, citrate, and GGT after administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon to experimental hyperoxaluric cats. No scientific study has been done so far to demonstrate the beneficial effect of this plant in cats. 13 mature male cats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A received standard diet and drinking water while, group B and C also received ethylene glycol at sub-toxic dose [130 mg/kg] daily for 30 days. Group C received hydroalcoholic extract of C.dactylon [400 mg/kg] from day 0 to 30, as well. Urine samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30 and were analyzed for oxalate, citrate, and GGT levels. Urine oxalate level in group B was significantly higher than group C on days 15 and 30. Urinary citrate excretion was significantly higher in group C compared to the other groups on day 15; however, it decreased during the entire experiment in groups B and C. Urinary Gamma Glutamyl Transferase level was increased in hyperoxaluric cats and decreased in the treated group during the experiment. Based on our results, C.dactylon extract could reduce the hyperoxaluria and has beneficial effects on preventing the renal damage in cats. Such findings provide a scientific explanation for applying C.dactylon in prevention and possible treatment of CaOx kidney stones in cats and humans

[Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography and radiology in radial critical-sized defects healing process in rabbit]

Healing of Critical-Sized Defects [CSDs] is one of the major challenges facing orthopedic surgeons. To assess the bone healing process usually plain radiography is used. Serial radiography results in certain side effects and recent findings are indicating the early detection of bone healing via ultrasonography. The purpose of current study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of radiography and ultrasonography in healing process of radial CSDs in rabbit. Sixteen New Zealand White Rabbits were used in this study. The radial CSDs of 15 mm size were created in a routine surgical procedure described previously and the two diagnostic tools were compared 12 weeks post-surgery. In case of obtaining different results from radiology and ultrasonography, to determine which diagnostic imaging method is of more accuracy, the histopathologic results of samples from the same day were used. In 15 cases of 16, ultrasonography findings were confirmed by radiography and only in one case they were in contradiction, in which radiographs showed an Atrophic Nonunion while Ultrasound detected an outstanding filled defect with a reverberation artifact underneath. In histopathology, the defect was filled with an osteoid matrix of high cellularity and calcification was obvious in some regions, confirming the ultrasound results. This study indicates that in diagnostic imaging of CSDs, the ultrasonography and radiography are usually consonant and even ultrasound is more accurate than radiology. In addition, in case of detection of a reverberation artifact and lack of any healing-related finding in radiography, this artifact may be an indication of osteoid matrix formation

Radiographic measurements of front feet of the sound Akhal-Teke horses

The Akhal-Teke is an ancient horse originating from Asia where it was used by nomadic tribes and used as a warhorse. Lameness examinations require proper interpretation of clinical and radiographic findings. Therefore, understanding of normal radiographic findings of the foot is necessary. Although the radiographic appearance of the normal foot must be understood to recognize abnormalities, there are no studies examining the normal hoof and digital soft tissues in Akhal-Teke horses. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine a normal radiographic appearance and morpho-metry of the distal phalanx and its related soft tissue in mature Akhal-Teke racehorses without any clinical signs of lameness and foot problems. Radiography of the distal phalanx and associated soft-tissue structures of the front feet of 10 healthy pure Akhal-Teke horses were performed to determine normal radiographic appearance and morphometry. Lateromedial radiographic views of each front distal phalanx were used to measure important distances, angles and ratios of the hoof wall. All the measurements from lateromedial radiographs were multiplied by the magnification correction factor to gain the actual distances. Mean +/- SD thickness of the soft tissues dorsal to the middle aspect of distal phalanx was 18.3 +/- 1.22 mm. There was not any significant difference between left and right digits for any radiographic determination. This study introduced S-Founder and CF-Founder as important criteria in evaluating laminitis and sinking of P3

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells with injectable scaffold on cardiac function in myocardial infarction in Rabbit

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells can transdifferentiate into Cardiomyocyte cells and improve heart function after transplantation. Since biomaterials can improve the cell retention in the site, cell survival and differentiation, heart tissue engineering is now being explored as an applied solution to support cell-based therapies and increase their efficacy for myocardial diseases. Chitosan in combination with Glycerol Phosphate [GP] can produce a thermo sensitive material that in body temperature can form a jellylike material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of autologous undifferentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] and injectable scaffold on cardiac function improvement in rabbits after inducing myocardial infarction. The Left Anterior Descending [LAD] coronary artery was ligated by No. 6-0 poly amide suture material, and autologous MSCs with injectable scaffold were injected into the margins of the infarcted zone at the time of surgery. At 4 weeks after transplantation, the cardiac function and structure was detected using echocardiography. There was no significant difference among the three groups [MI only, MI Scaffold, and MI+Scaffold+MSCs] in the Echocardio-graphic parameters including, heart rate [HR], Ejection Fraction [EF], Fractional Shortening [FS], Left Ventricular Diameter [LVD] and Left Ventricular Parietal Wall Diameter [LVPW]. A combination of autologous undifferentiated bone marrow MSCs and injectable scaffold made of Chitosan+ Glycerol Phosphate in echocardiographic evaluation did not have a positive influence on achieving functional improvement

[Selective reduction of fetuses in the bitch using induction of fetal death by ultrasound guidance]

Unwanted pregnancy termination is a big issue for dog owners. In this study we attempted to reduce the number of fetuses in pregnant bitches through ultrasound-guided induced fetal death. The study was performed on 6 privately owned crossbred pregnant bitches, in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, with variable number of fetuses [n=2 to 8]. Fetal death was induced by transabdominal injection of potassium chloride [KCl] into the fetal cardiac chamber under ultrasonographic guidance. While selective fetal reduction was successfully achieved in 4 bitches [66.6%] 2 bitches showed complete pregnancy termination. Data presented in this research provide evidence for possible use of this technique in order to selectively reduce the number of fetuses without whole pregnancy termination in the bitch. Ultrasound-guided induced fetal death seems to be a safe procedure and a viable method for reducing the number of fetuses with no side effect in the bitch

Three-dimensional color Doppler ultrasonography of the kidney vasculature in normal dogs

Three-dimensional color Doppler ultrasonography is a new technique to evaluate the pattern of blood vessels. This study was performed to assess the feasibility of this method in evaluation of kidney vasculature pattern in dogs. In this paper, visualization of the Renal, Interlobar, Arcuate, and interlobular arteries and veins using 3D color Doppler ultrasonography in dogs is shown and the technique is described. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical protocol in which 3D color Doppler ultrasonography was used for kidney in veterinary practice and seems to have the potential to provide greater detail of the vascularity associated with abnormal lesion

Magnetic resonance imaging of feline eye

The purpose of this study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] of the normal feline eye and optic nerves using T[1]-weighted and T[2]-weighted images. A total of 6 healthy female domestic short hair cats age 2-2.5 years and weighing 3.2 +/- 0.4 kg were selected. Magnetic resonance imaging data were collected using GEMSOW [Philips] at a magnetic field strength of 1.5 T. Dorsal, sagittal, and transverse plane images were obtained from left and right eyes. Intraocular structures of the cats visible on T[1]-weighted and T[2]-weighted images include cornea, anterior chamber, posterior chamber, lens, iris, sclera, and chiasma. Cornea was well detected in T[1]-weighted, the iris in T[2]-weighted and chiasma was well detected in T[2]- weighted in dorsal plane. Measurements of the visible structures on T[1]-weighted and T[2]-weighted images did not show any significant difference between the left and right eyes [P>0.05]. MRI provides excellent anatomical detail of the feline eye and optic nerve due to its superior soft tissue contrast and its multiplanar and multislice imaging capability