Transmural migration of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass into the intestine in three cats.

Subcutaneous ureteral bypass™ is a device placed in cats with ureteral obstruction. The most common complications include system occlusion, urinary tract infection and sterile cystitis. In this case series, we describe three cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass devices placed where transmural migration of subcutaneous ureteral bypass catheters into the small intestine resulted in gastrointestinal signs, urinary infection and subcutaneous ureteral bypass occlusion. The system was changed in one case and removed in the other two. In all cases, an intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed. All cats had a good medium-term outcome, and urinary infection persisted in the case for which the subcutaneous ureteral bypass system was changed. Transmural migration of the device should be ​considered in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass presenting with persistent urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal signs or device obstruction, even if imaging studies such as ultrasound or contrast studies do not demonstrate any abnormalities.

Extended palatoplasty as surgical treatment for nasopharyngeal stenosis in six cats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of extended palatoplasty as treatment of caudal nasopharyngeal stenosis in cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT was used to confirm the diagnosis in cats with clinical signs consistent with nasopharyngeal stenosis. Extended palatoplasty rostral to the tonsils using monopolar electrocautery allowed simultaneous removal of the caudal soft palate together with the stenotic area. Cats were re-evaluated 2 weeks postoperatively. Telephone interview was used to obtain long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Six domestic shorthair cats were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal stenosis, with clinical signs of snoring (n=4), stertor (n=4), nasal discharge (n=3) and sneezing (n=1). CT scan identified a soft-tissue stricture at the level of the caudal nasopharynx in all cats. Other abnormalities included bilateral rhinitis (n=3), retropharyngeal adenomegaly (n=2), unilateral sinusitis (n=1) and bilateral otitis externa with unilateral otitis media (n=1). Excision of the caudal soft palate and the entire stenotic soft-tissue membrane was successful in all six cats. No pre-, intra- or postoperative complications were observed. Short-term outcome revealed clinical improvement in all cases. Long-term outcome revealed no recurrence of clinical signs in four cats. In one cat, occasional sneezing was reported. One cat died 1 month postoperatively for reasons unrelated to the respiratory condition. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Extended palatoplasty was an effective technique to treat caudal nasopharyngeal stenosis and provide improvement of clinical signs without postoperative complications in all cases.

Acute mesenteric ischemia: A critical role for the radiologist.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is defined as an inadequate blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract resulting in ischemic and inflammatory injury that may progress to necrosis of the bowel wall. Prognosis is poor with a mortality rate greater than 95% without treatment, dropping to around 70% when surgical treatment is performed. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) has become the cornerstone of the diagnosis by showing features of vascular disorders (occlusion and/or insufficient blood supply) and features of intestinal ischemic injury. CT should be performed as rapidly as possible. Imaging-based patient management is required, and multimodal and multidisciplinary management should be introduced. The treatment involves multidisciplinary management by gastroenterologists, vascular and digestive surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, and diagnostic and interventional radiologists. Based on our experience at a dedicated mesenteric stroke center, this article gives an overview of the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia. The goal of this review is to improve the understanding of the imaging-based diagnosis to further improve the management of this life-threatening condition.

Locking compression plate stabilization of 20 distal radial and ulnar fractures in toy and miniature breed dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively the effectiveness of the Locking Compression Plate® (LCP), in the form of either a straight or notched head T-plate, for the treatment of fractures of the distal radius and ulna in a series of 20 toy and miniature breed dogs. METHODS: The medical records of toy and miniature breed dogs (<6 kg), greater than six months of age, with fractures of the distal radius and ulna from two veterinary hospitals were reviewed. The inclusion criteria included: fractures of the distal 1/3 of the radius and ulna and repair with open reduction and internal fixation utilizing an LCP (straight or notched head T-plate). RESULTS: Twenty fractures (20 dogs) satisfied the inclusion criteria; eight straight and 12 notched head T-plates were used, either 2.0 mm (n = 13) or 2.4 mm (n = 7). Hybrid fixation was performed in all dogs in one or both fragments. Mean time to radiographic union was 6.9 ± 2.5 weeks (range: 4-12 weeks) in 18/20 dogs with radiographic follow-up. One complication was observed: infection that resolved with antibiotic medication and implant removal. No other major complications occurred by the time of last follow-up. In all cases (mean follow-up: 15 ± 7 months), the reported limb function as evaluated by the referring veterinarian or owner was excellent. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The LCP, used as a hybrid construct for the treatment of distal radial and ulnar fractures was shown to yield excellent clinical results with both uncomplicated healing and excellent functional outcomes in this series of toy and miniature breed dogs.

Spatio-temporal analysis of infra-specific genetic variations among a Pseudomonas aeruginosa water network hospital population: invasion and selection of clonal complexes.

AIMS: To investigate infra-specific spatio-temporal dynamics of a hospital water network Pseudomonas aeruginosa population. To infer the origin of water network isolates and assess their potential health hazard. METHODS AND RESULTS: 168 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from tap waters and swabs of tap nozzle aerators of a hospital unit, over 2 years, and from rectal swabs and nosocomial infections. Genetic diversity among this collection was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis of SpeI restricted genomic DNA. Virulence gene sets, biofilm properties, and hypochlorite resistance were analysed. Exactly 68% of the water samples and 74% of the tap nozzle aerators harboured P. aeruginosa. The strains were divided into 22 clonal lineages, with one dominant clone shown to have been involved in a nosocomial infection. CONCLUSIONS: An important turnover among the P. aeruginosa hospital population was observed. Some clonal lineages were found to persist, spread in the unit, and diversify into clonal complexes. Rectal carriage appeared an important source of contamination of the water network. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: High P. aeruginosa infra-specific population diversity suggested a broad ability in colonizing water networks but persistence analysis indicated a strong selection leading to the emergence of dominant clones.

A novel C-terminal kinesin is essential for maintaining functional acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma brucei.

Kinesins are cytoskeletal motor proteins that play roles in a variety of fundamental cellular processes including cell division and the anterograde transport of vesicles and organelles. We purified, cloned, and functionally characterized in Trypanosoma brucei a new member of the C-terminal kinesin family, TbKIFC1. Kinetic constants of the recombinant motor domain of TbKIFC1 were estimated at 0.56 microm for the microtubule dissociation constant (K(d)) with a k(cat) of 0.2 s(-1). Immunolocalization analysis showed an association of TbKIFC1 with punctate structures. Because they were rapidly transported to the negative pole of the microtubule after NH(4)Cl treatment, these structures were considered to be associated with acidic vesicles. To determine the role of the kinesin in vivo, we produced an inducible kinesin-deficient strain by double-stranded RNA interference methodology. Mutant cells were loaded with the fluorescent reagent fura2/acetoxymethylester to measure intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)). The resting [Ca(2+)](i) was unchanged in mutant cells; however, alkalinization of acidic vesicles induced by NH(4)Cl or nigericin was not followed by release of Ca(2+). These data and the relative importance of the ionomycin-releasable and the ionomycin-plus-NH(4)Cl-releasable Ca(2+) pools suggest a lower Ca(2+) content in acidocalcisomes and dysfunctional Ca(2+) release.

Three-step chromatographic purification procedure for the production of a his-tag recombinant kinesin overexpressed in E. coli.

A kinesin gene has been cloned by RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) from Trypanosoma brucei and the corresponding protein overexpressed as a recombinant His-tag (histidine-tag) kinesin in E. coli in order to study its biochemical properties and to determine its three-dimensional structure by X-ray crystallography. Starting from several liters of culture, an ultrasonic homogenizer was used for cell disruption and an unclarified feedstock was obtained. From this homogenate, a protein was then purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) using expanded bed adsorption (EBA) technology (Streamline chelating). For this capture step, 100% of the recombinant protein was purified with more than 90% of purity. This step was followed by ion-exchange chromatography (Q Sepharose Fast Flow) for intermediate purification (96% purity, 53% recovery) and by size-exclusion chromatography with Superdex 75 as a polishing step (99% purity, 93% recovery). We then separated two forms of kinesin, a dimer (70%) and a monomer (30%). It was then possible to purify His-tag recombinant protein directly from feedstock in a rapid and efficient way and to isolate two forms of kinesin.