The leaflet-annulus index in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common chronic heart valve disease, leading to the eccentric hypertrophy. Recently, the leaflet-annulus index (LAI), which focuses on the mitral valve apparatus, has been considered a prognostic factor for human mitral regurgitation (MR); however, it has not been reported in veterinary medicine. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the LAI in dogs with MMVD. Eight-three dogs with MMVD diagnosed using echocardiography were included in this study. The anteroposterior length, anterior and posterior cusp coaptation lengths, LAI, left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter normalized to body weight (LVIDDN), and left atrium to aorta ratio (LA/Ao) were measured. A significant correlation between the LAI, LVIDDN, and LA/Ao of MR grading, and left ventricle dilation was observed. In conclusion, LAI could help determine annular widening, suggesting the decision of an appropriate for SVR in clinical settings.

Comparison of Intestinal Microbiota Between Healthy and MMVD Chihuahuas Using 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cause of congestive heart failure in dogs, and although complications of MMVD to the lungs and kidneys have been identified, complications to the gut are less well understood. The intestinal microbiota is an important factor in the gut, and although the association between heart disease and the intestinal microbiota has been shown in human medicine, it is unknown in dogs. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between MMVD and gut microbiota. A total of 69 healthy Chihuahuas and Chihuahuas with MMVD were evaluated for cardiac health by echocardiography and chest radiography and grouped according to ACVIM guidelines. Fecal samples were collected from all cases and 16S rRNA sequencing was used to reveal the intestinal microbiota. There were significant differences in LA/Ao, LVIDd, E vel, VHS, and VLAS with the severity of ACVIM. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota among the groups. The present study did not identify the effects of MMVD on the gut microbiota.

A retrospective study of 14 dogs with advanced heart failure treated with loop diuretics and hydrochlorothiazide.

Background: The use of thiazide diuretics is recommended in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine guidelines for advanced heart failure due to mitral insufficiency (MI) in dogs. However, there are no large-scale reports of the use of thiazide diuretics in dogs with advanced heart failure. Aim: This retrospective study evaluated the therapeutic effect of concomitant hydrochlorothiazide (HTCZ) with loop diuretics in dogs with heart failure. Methods: The study included 14 dogs diagnosed with advanced pulmonary edema with MI at two facilities. In all cases, high-dose loop diuretics (torsemide; 0.78-4 mg/kg/day) did not improve pulmonary edema. The results of the echocardiography and renal function tests before and after the administration of HTCZ (0.2-0.84 mg/kg/day) in addition to torsemide were statistically compared. Results: The echocardiographic data demonstrated significant improvement in relation to cardiac stress; left atrium to the aorta ratio, normalized left ventricular internal dimension in diastole, and E wave velocity (m/s) after HTCZ administration. However, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels increased, and potassium levels decreased, indicating a decline in renal function following HTCZ administration. Conclusion: This study suggests that the administration of HTCZ in combination with loop diuretics may be beneficial during advanced heart failure due to MI in dogs. The results can also be extended to patients who are resistant to loop diuretics, resulting in the improvement of cardiac function. However, as the combination of HTCZ and loop diuretics can deteriorate renal function, caution should be exercised prior to making recommendations regarding its use, and renal function should be monitored.

Effects of timolol maleate eye drops on experimentally dilated cardiomyopathy and healthy rabbits.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most frequently diagnosed cardiomyopathy in rabbits. Timolol maleate (nonselective beta-blockers), which reduces the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure, has been used for glaucoma. However, this effect has not been assessed in a rabbit DCM model. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the circulatory effects of 0.5% timolol maleate eye drops on rabbit DCM models. Methods: Rabbits were randomly divided into healthy (n = 8) and DCM rabbits (n = 8). Rabbit DCM models were established through intravenous administration of daunorubicin (4 mg/kg/week), an anthracycline anticancer drug, for 6 weeks. We measured the HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and echocardiography before (pre) and at 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after timolol maleate administration. Results: Timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops significantly reduced the HR at 10, 30, and 60 minutes in DCM models and 10 minutes in healthy rabbits; however, there were no alterations in MAP. There was a significant fraction shortening elevation at 10 and 120 minutes in DCM models; moreover, there were marked ejection fraction elevations at all measurement points in only DCM models. Conclusion: Timolol maleate eye drops exert several effects on the circulatory system in rabbit DCM models and healthy rabbits.

Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and osteoprotegerin in anthracycline-induced rabbit models of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Anthracyclines are used for chemotherapy in small animal cancer patients. However, cardiotoxic complications are very common with anthracycline use and induce multi-organ complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between multi-organ complications, focusing on the liver and intestine, and the serum concentrations of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in rabbits with daunorubicin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Sixteen New Zealand white male rabbits (16-20 weeks old), weighing 2.4-3.65 kg, were randomly divided into the control (n = 8) and daunorubicin-induced DCM (n = 8) groups. The concentration of serum I-FABP was significantly elevated in the DCM group (201.9 ± 16.6 pg/mL) compared to the control group (152.2 ± 19.9 g/mL). Additionally, the concentration of serum lactate was markedly increased in the DCM group (0.16 ± 0.01 mM) compared to that in the control group (0.02 ± 0.01 mmol/mL). In addition, the OPG concentration was significantly higher in the DCM group (2.44 ± 0.14 ng/mL) than in the control group (0.1 ± 0.08 ng/mL). Although the histopathology of the ileum did not significantly differ between groups, pathological changes were observed in the livers of the DCM group animals. In conclusion, multi-organ complications were recognized in DCM models and were accompanied by elevated serum I-FABP and OPG concentrations.

Surgical ventricular restoration for rabbit dilated cardiomyopathy model: Preliminary study.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cardiovascular disease in dogs. It is primarily treated with beta-blockers. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the efficacy of surgical ventricular restoration on daunorubicin-induced DCM in rabbits. The DCM model was generated in six rabbits by intravenous administration of daunorubicin (4 mg/kg/week) for 6 weeks. Echocardiography was performed before and after left ventricular (LV) reconstruction surgery to evaluate the LV function. The surgery was performed using non-absorbent prosthetic sheets and 5-0 polypropylene sutures, between the left anterior descending branch and the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery. We measured LV function 3 weeks postoperatively and collected the hearts for histopathological examination. We observed significant improvements in the LV internal dimension volume at both end-diastole and end-systole compared to the preoperative values. Fraction shortening showed a substantial improvement from 23.8 ± 1.4% to 30.9 ± 1.3%. In addition, the ejection fraction increased from 35.3% to 51.9%. On histological examination, the left ventricular wall was markedly thin. Furthermore, we observed fibrosis between the myocardial cells around the sutured site. The LV volume and LV functions significantly improved postoperatively. However, further investigation is required to determine the long-term effects of surgical ventricular restoration.

Diagnosis of Isolated Cleft of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet in a Dog: A Case Study Using Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.

Isolated cleft of the anterior mitral leaflet (ICAML) in dogs without a septal defect is a rare pathological condition. Until now, only one paper has contributed to the detailed understanding of canine ICAML. Reports have confirmed that 3-dimensional echocardiography (3-DE) is a simple and fast imaging technique that is useful for the diagnosis of ICAML and morphological evaluation of the mitral valve in humans. However, to our knowledge, no studies have provided details about the effectiveness of 3-DE in ICAML diagnosis in dogs. Thus, we aimed to determine the usefulness of a diagnostic technique using 3-DE in a 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with ICAML that exhibited mild mitral valve regurgitation. ICAML was initially assessed by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography. A diagnosis of congenital mitral regurgitation due to ICAML and understanding of the morphological structure of the valve was established based on the 3-DE findings.

A survey of the effects of ramelteon on benzodiazepine-dependence: Comparison between a ramelteon add-on group and a continuous benzodiazepine administration group.

In general, long-term benzodiazepine hypnotics are prescribed for patients in whom it is difficult to reduce benzodiazepine hypnotics. Unlike benzodiazepine receptor (BZ)-mediated sleep agents, ramelteon induces quasi-natural physiological sleep owing to its mechanism of action. We conducted a survey of ramelteon and BZ-dependence in patients with insomnia. Study subjects were patients with insomnia (42 cases), who were divided into a ramelteon group (22 cases; administered 8 mg/day of ramelteon before sleep in addition to BZ) and a control group (20 cases; continually administered only BZs), with a mean disease duration of 11.3 ±â€¯9.6 years. All data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. No significant difference was observed between the ramelteon group and the control group when a questionnaire concerning BZ-dependence and withdrawal symptoms was used. A significant improvement in scores at Week 16 from those at Week 0 was observed in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index excerpt and in the Global Assessment of Functioning in the ramelteon group [corrected].The Wilcoxon rank-sum test showed that the number of concomitantly used BZ hypnotics decreased significantly in the ramelteon group after Week 16, while no such change was observed in the control group. Thus, by adding ramelteon to therapy for patients with long-term insomnia, we were able to reduce the number of benzodiazepine hypnotics that were used concomitantly.

Weight control in schizophrenic patients through Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern and its associations with temperament and character.

AIM: This study examined whether daily self-monitoring of weight and monthly interviews with a doctor improved eating habits and led to weight loss, and whether temperament and character traits affect weight change in persons with schizophrenia. METHODS: Participants used Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern to monitor their weight daily. In addition, Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire was administered to evaluate eating-behavior awareness. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used to assess participants' temperament and character. Fifty patients were divided into two groups: the intervention group (n = 25) filled in Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern every day; was interviewed monthly by a doctor about weight management; was weighed monthly. The non-intervention group (n = 25) was only weighed monthly. RESULTS: The body mass index (mean ± standard error: 0.59 ± 0.10 kg/m(2), p < 0.001) of the intervention group decreased significantly while their scores on Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire significantly improved albeit marginally. Conversely, body mass index increased significantly (0.66 ± 0.18 kg/m(2), p < 0.001) in the non-intervention group, whose scores on Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire did not change significantly. Weight change and TCI scores were not correlated for the intervention group, but scores for "self-directedness" and weight gain in the non-intervention group had a marginally significant negative correlation (r = -0.33, p < 0.10). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that monitoring one's weight daily on Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern led to improvements in eating behavior and a decrease in BMI of patients with schizophrenia.