A modified temporary tracheostomy in dogs: outcome and complications in 21 dogs (2012 to 2017).

OBJECTIVES: To describe a modified temporary tracheostomy that included placing a Penrose drain sling dorsal to the trachea. To report outcomes and complications in brachycephalic versus non-brachycephalic breeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of signalment, diagnosis, outcome, complications and management of dogs that underwent modified temporary tracheostomy. RESULTS: Twenty-one dogs were included. Tracheostomy tubes were maintained for periods ranging from 1 to 21 days (median 4 days). There were no intraoperative complications or complications related to the placement of the Penrose drain. Postoperative complications occurred in eight dogs, including dislodgement of the tracheostomy tube (n=6), obstruction of the tracheostomy tube (n=1), subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum (n=1). Twenty dogs survived until discharge; one was euthanised due to persistence of primary disease. The complication rate in brachycephalic breeds and non-brachycephalic was 37∙5 and 40%, respectively. Tube dwell duration of 4 days or longer was associated with a higher complication rate. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The modified temporary tracheostomy appears to simplify tracheostomy care, improve tracheostomy outcome and reduce tube-associated mortality compared with standard tracheostomy. In this study, brachycephalic dogs did not have a higher complication rate than non-brachycephalic dogs.

Advances in endoscopic surgery for small animal reproduction.

Although endoscopic surgery entered its "golden era" in the mid-1980s, it is still advancing at a tremendous pace. Novel surgical techniques and devices are continuously developed and applied, and new indications (and/or contraindications) for the use of endoscopic surgery are routinely reported in the literature and subjected to systematic assessments. Although endoscopic surgery (laparoscopy in particular) has already become established as the gold standard in human medicine, it has yet to be proven as a viable alternative to open surgery in the field of veterinary medicine. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include better intra-operative visualization, reduced postoperative pain, reduced scar formation and increased postoperative mobility. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the application of this will continue to expand. Small animal reproduction, a field within the broad discipline of veterinary medicine, has already recognized and begun to reap the benefits of endoscopic surgery. Herein, we retrospectively review the most recent successful novel applications of endoscopic surgery in the small animal reproduction system to provide small animal reproductive surgeons with important knowledge to help improve their own veterinarian medical practice.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome: a comparative study between pugs and French bulldogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical features of brachycephalic airway syndrome and long-term surgical outcomes between pugs and French bulldogs and evaluate the influence of laryngeal collapse. METHODS: This retrospective study included 72 dogs that underwent wedge rhinoplasty and folded flap palatoplasty for brachycephalic airway syndrome. Epidemiological data, clinical signs, postoperative complications and owners' responses to a questionnaire at least six months after surgery were compared between pugs and French bulldogs. Spearman's rank correlation tests were used for associating laryngeal collapse with age and respiratory signs before and after surgery. RESULTS: On the basis of the results of the owners' questionnaires (available in 52/72 dogs), French bulldogs presented with lower activity levels and more severe digestive signs than pugs. Owners perceived clinical improvement in 88 · 5% of all dogs. The grades of respiratory and digestive signs were not different between the breeds in the long-term follow-up, and the grade of laryngeal collapse did not influence the grade of respiratory signs or surgical outcome. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Surgical treatment resulted in improved clinical signs in pugs and French bulldogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome, with a high owner satisfaction rate. There were no correlations between the severity of laryngeal collapse and overall respiratory signs or prognosis.

Conservative treatment of partial gastrocnemius muscle avulsions in dogs using therapeutic ultrasound -- A force plate study.

OBJECTIVES: In this report two cases of partial gastrocnemius muscle avulsion treated with pulsed therapeutic ultrasound are described. METHODS: The outcome in these two dogs was evaluated using ultrasonographic imaging and the measurement of ground reaction forces with a force plate. RESULTS: Both dogs showed an amelioration of the clinical signs within one month after commencement of the ultrasound therapy. The follow-up time for these cases was one year and six months respectively. Both of the dogs were free of lameness and had returned to their normal amount of exercise. Palpation of the fabella associated with the muscle injury did not produce any signs of pain. Ultrasonographic imaging did not detect any signs of haemorrhage or oedema, although scarring of muscle fibres was present. The force-plate analyses revealed an improvement. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that therapeutic ultrasound could be a beneficial treatment modality for this kind of muscle injury.

Subcutaneous abscess caused by Clostridium perfringens and osteomyelitis in a dog.

A case of a subcutaneous abscess caused by Clostridium perfringens infection in a five-month-old dog is reported in this study. Clinical examination, radiological findings and cytological analysis of abscess fluid were consistent with Clostridium induced disease. Treatment including drainage of the abscess and antibiotic therapy led to rapid clinical improvement. However, despite aggressive medical therapy and proper wound care, the deep soft tissue infection led to osteomyelitis with premature closure of the growth plates of the tibia and secondary bone shortening. Prolonged treatment with metronidazole and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resulted in an excellent outcome with normal weight bearing.

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in a cat with partial kidney displacement into the thorax.

A two-year-old, male, neutered, domestic shorthair cat was presented after suspected trauma. Diaphragmatic rupture with concomitant displacement of the right kidney into the thorax was diagnosed using ultrasound and intravenous urography. Avulsion of the renal pedicle and diaphragmatic rupture were confirmed and treated surgically with excellent outcome.

Long-term results of upper respiratory syndrome surgery and gastrointestinal tract medical treatment in 51 brachycephalic dogs.

OBJECTIVES: After a first clinical study showing a high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome, a prospective study was performed to determine the influence of medical treatment for gastrointestinal tract disorders associated with upper respiratory syndrome surgery. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 61 brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome were evaluated. Together with surgery of the upper respiratory tract, a specific gastrointestinal medical treatment was administered. A minimal follow-up of six months was required for inclusion. RESULTS: Palatoplasty with rhinoplasty was the most common surgical correction (88.5 per cent). The mortality rate in the perioperative period was 3.3 per cent. Minor complications accounted for 26.2 per cent of cases. No aspiration pneumonia was encountered. A sufficient follow-up was obtained in 51 dogs. The improvement was judged by the owners as excellent or good in 88.3 per cent of the respiratory disorders and in 91.4 per cent of the gastrointestinal disorders. Clinically, a statistically significant improvement was obtained for both respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In comparison with other studies, digestive tract medical treatment combined with upper respiratory surgery seems to decrease the complication rate and improve the prognosis of dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in 73 brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory tract disease. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 73 brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory signs were evaluated. Clinical signs and endoscopic and histological anomalies of the upper digestive tract were analysed. RESULTS: A very high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory problems was observed clinically, endoscopically and histologically. Endoscopic anomalies of the upper digestive tract were present even in dogs without digestive clinical signs. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the digestive tract sometimes showed inflammatory lesions not macroscopically visible at endoscopy. Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the severity of the respiratory and digestive signs. This was significant in French bulldogs, males and heavy brachycephalic dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These observations show a correlation between upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic breeds with upper respiratory disease. Surgical treatment of respiratory disease could improve the digestive clinical signs, and/or gastro-oesophageal medical treatment could improve the outcome for surgically treated brachycephalic dogs.

Thoracoscopic pericardectomy performed without pulmonary exclusion in 9 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To show the feasibility of thoracoscopic pericardectomy without pulmonary exclusion in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Nine client-owned dogs. METHODS: Dogs referred for the treatment of pericardial effusion by thoracoscopic pericardectomy were intubated with a standard endotracheal tube, mechanically ventilated, and placed in dorsal recumbency. The thoracoscope was introduced into the thorax lateral to the xyphoid process. The operating instruments were inserted at the level of the ventral third of each sixth intercostal space. The pericardium was cut and retrieved through 1 instrument portal. RESULTS: Lung inflation did not interfere with the surgical dissection. A subphrenic pericardectomy was performed in all dogs without iatrogenic trauma. Operative time, from portal placement to skin closure, ranged from 60 to 100 minutes for the first 2 dogs and decreased to 30 to 45 minutes for the latter 7 dogs. CONCLUSIONS: The reported technique avoids the need for selected intubation which requires special tubes, can be technically difficult to perform, and is not recommended in compromised animals in which bilateral lung ventilation is necessary to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thoracoscopic pericardectomy offers several advantages over open techniques, including less postoperative pain and morbidity, shorter hospital stay, and improved cosmetic appearance. It can be performed without pulmonary exclusion.

New cell lines of human breast cancer origin.

Established human mammary tumor cell lines constitute an important tool in the study of breast cancer. The aim of this work was to isolate and characterize two new mammary tumor cell lines, JCK and GCS, which were obtained from the pleural effusion and ascitic fluid, respectively, from two breast cancer patients. Both cell lines had some properties of transformed cells, namely immortalization and growth in soft agar. The carcinoma cells presented epithelial morphology shown by light and electron microscopy, and antigenic properties shown by different tumor markers such as a cytokeratin cocktail, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and human milk fat globule membrane antigen. A significant increase was also found (P greater than 0.05) in cell growth and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA in the JCK and GCS cell lines in the presence of 17 beta estradiol at concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, respectively, after 5 days in culture. These cells presented estradiol receptor levels which were similar in the biopsies and the resulting cell lines. The aromatase activity was also similar in the JCK cell line and the original patient biopsy. However, there was a considerably higher aromatase activity in the GCS cell line than in the biopsy specimen. Southern hybridizations with the neu oncogene showed an additional 12 kb fragment in both cell lines, as also seen in patients with breast cancer. We conclude from these studies that this in vitro system may provide us with a way to study metastatic cells and improve clinical management of breast cancer patients.

Respiratory muscle insufficiency in acute respiratory failure of subjects with severe COPD: treatment with intermittent negative pressure ventilation.

Nine subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in acute respiratory failure (ARF) and with marked weakness of the respiratory muscles (Group A) underwent intermittent negative pressure ventilation by means of an iron lung (8 h daily for 7 days). Seven subjects with COPD in stabilized chronic respiratory failure (Group B) were studied as controls and submitted to the same medical therapy without ventilator treatment. Functional respiratory tests were performed before and after 7 days of treatment. After ventilatory treatment, Group A showed an increase of maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax), vital capacity (VC), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), pH and a decrease of residual volume (RV), total lung capacity of (TLC) and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) (all statistically significant). No improvement was ascertained in the functional parameters of Group B. The expiratory muscles seem to play a determining role in ARF. We conclude that the iron lung is a useful therapeutic defence in removing muscular fatigue and in restoring a good level of respiratory compensation of ARF in severe COPD.

Point mutation at codon 12 of the Ki-ras gene in a primary breast carcinoma and the MDA-MB-134 human mammary carcinoma cell line.

We found an activated Kirsten (Ki)-ras gene in the MDA-MB-134 breast carcinoma cell line by transfection of NIH3T3 cells. Oligonucleotide hybridization demonstrated that this cell line carries a single G to C point mutation at position 12 leading to a glycine-arginine substitution. However, only a fraction of the cell population seems to contain this Ki-ras mutation. Since mutations can occur in cell lines during in vitro culture, we searched in breast carcinoma samples for the presence of single mutations at codon 12, but also for the presence of the double mutation previously found in the H-466B breast carcinoma cell line. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we detected one primary tumour carrying a single mutation at codon 12. No double mutation was found in any of the tumours. These results show that Ki-ras gene mutation could be involved in breast carcinogenesis, albeit at a low frequency.

Messenger RNA coding for glutamine synthetase in cerebral hemispheres and astroglial cultures from mouse brain: A developmental study.

Messenger RNAs from mouse brain hemispheres and from an enriched astroglial population of the same area were isolated, characterized and used to study Glutamine Synthetase (GS) processing during postnatal development using a m-RNA stimulated reticulocyte lysate system. The RNA preparations yielded distinct polypeptide products upon translation including high molecular weight species. Polypeptides in the range of 43-55 kDa appeared developmentally regulated in brain hemispheres but not in astroglia. After immunoprecipitation of the translation products with a GS antibody a major monomeric polypeptide was isolated on SDS/PAGE which migrated at the same position as the purified brain GS antigen (43 kDa). The translatable mRNA were optimal in the perinatal period and decreased until 300 days while GS-mRNA increased during the same period of time and closely paralleled the previously described GS activity profile in this brain area reaching an optimum at 15 days. Astroglial mRNAs were optimal at 18 days in vitro and decreased thereafter. The GS-mRNA was much lower in control astroglial cultures than in brain tissue, but in the presence of 10(?6)M hydrocortisone increased all over the growth period. The highest stimulation of GS-mRNA was observed at 18 days whereas the global mRNA decreased in the presence of the hormone. The GS-mRNAs from either 15-day-old brain hemispheres or 18-day in vitro hydrocortisone stimulated cultures were partially purified on a 5-30% linear sucrose gradient. Two GS-mRNAs, which sedimented respectively at 17S and 23S, were characterized. In addition, based on the profile of total proteins translated in vitro, we estimated that GS-mRNA constituted 0.01% of the brain hemisphere fraction and 0.3% in the astroglial hormone stimulated cells.

Further characterization of [3H] flunitrazepam binding sites on cultured mouse astroglia.

Astroglial cells in primary cultures bind [3H]flunitrazepam with a high affinity on a single type of site and on a number of binding sites which increased during astroglial growth and differentiation. These binding sites show a particular pharmacological spectrum characterized by an inhibition of high affinity by RO-5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam), an anticonvulsant of the benzodiazepine family and by an inhibition of binding of lower affinities by diazepam clonazepam and clobazam. RO-5-4864 and clonazepam compete for the same binding site in astroglia. The heat stability and the hormonal modulation by thyroxine are similar for astroglia and neuronal-cells. Benzodiazepines modulate the astroglial 5-HT receptor. Such an effect could be a possible physiological response to benzodiazepines for astroglial cells in primary cultures.

In vivo modulation of rat hepatic gamma-glutamyltransferase activity by glucocorticoids.

The gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activity decreased by 50% following adrenalectomy of female rats, in homogenate as well as in a purified plasma membrane preparation from liver. In contrast, such a variation was not found in the kidney. None of 3 other enzyme activities of the plasma membrane, namely 5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase, and alkaline phosphodiesterase I, was decreased by adrenalectomy. Administration of hydrocortisone (5 mg/100 g body weight) resulted in a 2.6-fold increase in hepatic gamma-GT activity from adrenalectomized rats. The hydrocortisone-mediated stimulation of gamma-GT activity was dose- and time-dependent. The 5'-nucleotidase and leucine aminopeptidase activities were not modified by the hydrocortisone treatment. The activity of gamma-GT was mainly associated with nuclear fractions (nuclei and plasma membranes) obtained from liver homogenates of either control, adrenalectomized or adrenalectomized hydrocortisone-treated animals, and this activity was purified 18-fold in a plasma-membrane preparation as compared to homogenate. These data suggest that adrenalectomy and conversely hydrocortisone treatment modulate specifically the hepatic plasma-membrane gamma-GT activity. This represents one of the first demonstrations of a specific modulation by glucocorticoids of an enzyme activity typical of the plasma membrane.