Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in dogs with generalised seizures.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if serum cardiac troponin I concentrations - measured with both a first-generation assay and a high-sensitivity assay - were greater in dogs with generalised seizures than in controls and to identify clinical variables associated with cardiac troponin I concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 30 dogs with recent generalised seizures and 30 healthy controls. Serum cardiac troponin I concentration was measured using two commercially available assays, and the correlation of clinical factors with concentration was examined. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I were higher in dogs that had recent seizures compared to controls when measured by both assays. The predictors most clearly associated with cardiac troponin I concentration were number of seizures and age. Both predictors were positively associated with increasing concentrations of troponin I. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Serum cardiac troponin I concentration was significantly elevated in dogs that had recent generalised seizures when compared to controls, and concentrations were higher in dogs that experienced more seizures. This association may indicate that generalised seizures are associated with damage to the myocardium.

[Sacral osteochondrosis dissecans in a Bernese Mountain Dog: diagnosis and treatment]. / Osteochondrosis dissecans am Sakrum einer Berner Sennenhündin: Diagnostische und therapeutische Aspekte.

A 18-month-old female Bernese Mountain Dog with chronic pain at jumping, extension of the right hind leg and paresis of the tail was referred to the Neurological Service of the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zurich. Upon radiological examination a mineralised fragment at the dorsal aspect of the endplate of S1 was detected. The diagnosis of Osteochondrosis dissecans was confirmed by linear and computed tomography as well as histologic examination of the fragment, which was surgically removed. Preoperative imaging allowed a minimal surgical approach using a unilateral, modified dorsal laminectomy. Outcome was evaluated by neurological reevaluation and a CT scan performed 6 months after surgery.

Healing of dorsal pancarpal arthrodesis in the dog.

The purpose of this study was to assess radiographically the healing process in dogs which had undergone dorsal pancarpal arthrodesis with autologous cancellous bone grafting. The medical records of 17 dogs that had undergone dorsal pancarpal arthrodesis with complication-free dynamic compression plate fixation were reviewed. Postoperative healing was evaluated radiographically. It started five weeks after surgery and progressed for six to 12 weeks in all dogs. After this time period no further progression of healing was observed. Between weeks 6 and 8, bony fusion progressed significantly more rapidly in the intercarpal joint than in the radiocarpal joint. The following criteria had no influence on healing time: gender, age, bodyweight, and immediate versus delayed surgery after trauma. The major difficulties noted with respect to the interpretation of postoperative radiographs were irregular bony bridging, mainly caused by inadequate palmar curettage, and oblique projection of articular surfaces resulting in superimposition of joint spaces and solid bone.

Some recent pharmacological findings with nitrendipine.

The available evidence indicates that nitrendipine and other dihydropyridines with a similar pharmacological action exert their therapeutic effects by inhibiting Ca2+ channels. In our recent experiments, nitrendipine was shown to block K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and K+-induced contractions of isolated rabbit aortic rings. Its IC50 were 4.7 and 8.9 nM for inhibition of Ca2+ uptake and of contractions, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two values. At higher concentrations, nitrendipine also reduced norepinephrine-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and norepinephrine-induced contractions of rabbit aortic strips. The norepinephrine-induced contractions were only slightly (21%) reduced by nitrendipine at 10 microM. Nitrendipine at 10 nM and higher concentrations inhibited K+- or angiotensin-II-(AII) induced release of aldosterone from isolated bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. The drug was more potent and more effective in inhibiting K+- than AII-induced aldosterone release. Dantrolene, 25 microM, enhanced the inhibitory activity of nitrendipine on AII-stimulated aldosterone release. Acute renal failure produced by either glycerol or gentamicin in rats was antagonized by nitrendipine at oral doses of 15-25 mg/kg/day. Our studies confirmed previously reported observations that the usefulness of nitrendipine in the treatment of hypertension may be determined not only by its vasodilator action. We demonstrated that nitrendipine has a direct inhibitory effect on the release of aldosterone from adrenal glomerular cells. In addition to a previously described diuretic action, nitrendipine was shown to have renal cytoprotective activity.