Emphysematous pyelonephritis associated with calcium oxalate uroliths detected on computed tomography in an awake dog

An 11-year-old female mixed-breed dog admitted due to anorexia and vomiting. Radiography showed 7.6-mm uroliths in the right proximal ureter and an enlarged kidney. Type 1 emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) was diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) in the awake dog. Right ureteronephrectomy was performed, and Escherichia coli was isolated. The stone was consisted of 80% calcium oxalate. At the 6-month follow-up, no complications were observed. This is the first report of EPN caused by calcium oxalate in a dog. In addition, we suggest performing CT in weak animals to diagnose EPN without anesthesia.

The degree of major histocompatibility complex matching between purebred Maltese and mongrel dogs using microsatellite markers

Long-term maintenance of transplanted organs is one of the major factors that increases survival time of recipients. Although obtaining a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched donor with the recipient is essential for successful organ transplantation, there have been limited reports on MHC matching between dogs. In this study, we analyzed the canine MHC matching rates using Maltese, one of the most popular purebred dogs, and mongrel dogs in Korea. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes and DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction with primers specific to MHC microsatellite markers. The MHC matching degree was confirmed by the microsatellite markers using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The MHC matching rates of each donor-recipient groups including Maltese-Maltese, mongrel-mongrel and Maltese-mongrel were 4.76%, 5.13% and 6.67%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the MHC matching degree between each group. These results demonstrate that MHC-matched donors could be selected from other breeds as much as from the same breed for transplantation. Knowledge of the MHC matching degree of purebred and mongrel dogs would offer valuable information not only for improving the success rate of organ transplantation surgery in canine patients but also for transplantation research using experimental canine models.

Comparing the osteogenic potential of canine mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissues, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and Wharton's jelly for treating bone defects

Alternative sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for replacing bone marrow (BM) have been extensively investigated in the field of bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of canine MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT), BM, umbilical cord blood (UCB), and Wharton's jelly (WJ) using in vitro culture techniques and in vivo orthotopic implantation assays. After canine MSCs were isolated from various tissues, the proliferation and osteogenic potential along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production were measured and compared in vitro. For the in vivo assay, MSCs derived from each type of tissue were mixed with beta-tricalcium phosphate and implanted into segmental bone defects in dogs. Among the different types of MSCs, AT-MSCs had a higher proliferation potential and BM-MSCs produced the most VEGF. AT-MSCs and UCB-MSCs showed greater in vitro osteogenic potential compared to the other cells. Radiographic and histological analyses showed that all tested MSCs had similar osteogenic capacities, and the level of new bone formation was much higher with implants containing MSCs than cell-free implants. These results indicate that AT-MSCs, UCB-MSCs, and WJ-MSCs can potentially be used in place of BM-MSCs for clinical bone engineering procedures.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Stray and Household Cats in Regions of Seoul, Korea

The principal objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in household and stray cats in Seoul, Republic of Korea. We collected blood samples from 72 stray and 80 household cats, and all samples were examined by ELISA and nested PCR. The overall positive rates of Toxoplasma gondii in stray cats were 38.9% (28/72), with 15.3% (11/72) in ELISA and 30.6% (22/72) in PCR. The positive rate in male stray cats was slightly higher than that of female stray cats. The highest positive rate of T. gondii infection was noted in Gangnam and Songpa populations in ELISA and in Gwangjin population in PCR. In household cats, however, we could not detect any specific antibodies or DNA for T. gondii. In conclusion, we recognized that the infection rate of toxoplasmosis in stray cats in Seoul was considerably high but household cats were free from infection.

The Effect of Amniotic Membrane Gra ft on the Inhibition of Corneal Haze in Rabbit

This study was performed to investigate histopathologically the effect of amniotic membrane graft (AMG)on haze in deep stromal wound of cornea. The excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK)was used to create the wound model of 150 micrometerdepth, 6.0 mmdiameter area in 72 white rabbitsbilaterally.Each eye was randomized to three groups: control (topical antibiotic alone), contact lens application and AMG. Corneal haze,the number of anterior stromal keratocytes and thickness of the regenerated stroma were evaluated after treatments in corneal wound, and also the morphological changes of anterior stroma connected with corneal haze were analyzed. The score of corneal haze in AMG group was significantly lower than those in the others at postoperative 3 days, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The anterior stromal keratocytes in AMG group significantly remained more than those in the others at postoperative 3 days. The number of keratocytes and thickness of regenerated stromal tissue in wound area of AMG group were statistically lower as compared with those of the other groups at postoperative 4 weeks. The architecture of stromal lamella was most reg-ular in AMG group. Transmission electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the cells in anterior stroma were the active fibroblastic cells with prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum at postoperative 8 weeks. These findings indicate that corneal haze is closely connected with proliferation of corneal stroma , suggesting that AMG on deep corneal stromal wound reduces corneal haze by preventing proliferation of abnormal collagen and fibroblasts at the anterior stroma of the wound area.

The Effect of Amniotic Membrane on Epithelial Wound Healing in Rabbit Cornea after Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

To evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane on corneal wound healing, using the VISX 193-nanometer excimer laser, the wound model of 150 micrometer depth, 6.0 mmdiameter area was created in 30 white rabbits (60 eyes). The treatment of corneal wound was categorized into three groups :topicalantibiotics alone (control), therapeutic contact lens application and amniotic membrane graft. The area of epithelial defect, proliferation of epithelial cells and inflammatory cell infiltration were evaluated during the entire observation period. Epithelial healing rates calculated by radius regression in control, contact lens and amniotic membrane groups were 42.5 micrometer/hr, 33.4 micrometer/hr and 53.4micrometer/hr respectively thus the effect of amniotic membrane was significantly outstanding (P<0.05). The epithelium was healed almost within 72 hours in eyes of amniotic membrane group but significantly delayed in contact lens group. The number of inflammatory cells in stroma were significantly lower in amniotic membrane group than others. The number of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunoreactive cells has increased in amniotic membrane group than other groups and regionally at basal cell layer of limbus comparing to wound margin at first, third days after treatment. In view of the above findings, amniotic membrane on corneal wound accelerates the process of wound healing, with minimal complications.