Association of proteinuria at time of diagnosis with survival times in dogs with lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoma has been implicated as a possible cause of proteinuria in dogs. However, information about the potential importance of proteinuria in dogs with lymphoma is limited. HYPOTHESIS: To determine if the presence of proteinuria at diagnosis was associated with median survival times in dogs with lymphoma and if lymphoma stage (I-V) or type (B vs T) were associated with the presence of proteinuria. ANIMALS: Eighty-six client-owned dogs with a new diagnosis of lymphoma between 2008 and 2020. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with dogs divided into proteinuric or nonproteinuric groups based on dipstick urine protein (protein ≥30 mg/dL classified as proteinuric) or a ratio of dipstick protein to urine specific gravity (ratio ≥1.5 classified as proteinuric). Dogs were excluded for: (1) treatment within 2 months with glucocorticoid, anti-neoplastic, or anti-proteinuric therapies, (2) diagnosed hypercortisolism or renal lymphoma, (3) active urine sediment, or (4) urine pH >8. Survival analysis utilized a Kaplan-Meier estimator and log-rank testing. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in median survival between proteinuric and nonproteinuric dogs classified by urine dipstick (245 days [91, 399] vs 335 days [214, 456]; P = .03) or UP : USG (237 days [158, 306] vs 304 days [173, 434]; P = .03). No difference in prevalence of proteinuria was identified between stages (I-V) or types (B and T). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Proteinuria appears to be negatively associated with survival time in dogs newly diagnosed with lymphoma.

Telangiectatic osteosarcoma in four dogs: Cytologic, histopathologic, cytochemical, and immunohistochemical findings.

Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is a rare variant of osteosarcoma histologically and clinically similar to hemangiosarcoma (HSA). This case series describes the imaging and cytologic features of four histologically confirmed telangiectatic osteosarcomas, including the use of cytochemical stains. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was applied to Wright-Giemsa-stained cytology slides, and Factor VIII immunohistochemistry was evaluated. Cytologic characteristics included atypical mesenchymal cells with evidence of acute and chronic hemorrhage. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma cases had positive ALP cytochemical staining, while control HSA cases were negative. Factor VIII immunohistochemistry was negative in telangiectatic osteosarcoma and positive in HSA. Cytologic diagnosis of telangiectatic osteosarcoma with positive ALP cytochemical staining can help differentiate this neoplasm from HSA.

Safety of TCMCB07, a melanocortin-4 antagonist peptide, in dogs with naturally occurring cachexia.

BACKGROUND: The melanocortin 4 antagonist TCMCB07 is safe and effective in reversing cachexia caused by sepsis or cancer in rodents. The safety and pharmacokinetics of TCMCB07 are demonstrated in healthy beagle dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the safety, peak plasma concentrations, and potential for efficacy of TCMCB07 in pet dogs with naturally occurring cachexia over a 4-week time period. ANIMALS: Fourteen dogs with cachexia of any underlying cause, except cancer of the oral cavity or gastrointestinal tract, were eligible for enrollment with informed client consent. METHODS: This study was a prospective, 1-armed open-label trial. Physical examination, complete blood count, chemistry panel, and owner-assessed quality of life surveys were checked at weeks 1, 2, and 4. Due to potential for bradycardia and hypotension, Holter monitoring and blood pressure evaluations were scheduled at pre-enrollment and week 4. RESULTS: Fourteen dogs completed the trial. Significant changes detected included increased mean body weight (18.6-19.5 kg, P < .02), increased body condition score (median Tufts 5-point thin dog scale score P < .004 and WSAVA muscle condition score P < .02) and increased mean blood urea nitrogen (21.79-30.43 mg dL-1 , P < .004). On quality of life surveys, pet owners perceived their dog appeared to be panting less (P < .002) and that the general health improved (P < .03). Four dogs had a change in coat pigmentation. The peak plasma concentration of TCMCB07 in cachectic dogs was similar to that in healthy beagle dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: TCMCB07 was safe and has potential efficacy in pet dogs with cachexia.

Development of a Formative Assessment Rubric for Peer Evaluation of Teaching (FARPET) and Pilot Use in Veterinary Online Teaching.

Peer evaluation of teaching (PET) serves an important role as a component of faculty development in the medical education field. With the emergence of COVID-19, the authors recognized the need for a flexible tool that could be used for a variety of lecture formats, including virtual instruction, and that could provide a framework for consistent and meaningful PET feedback. This teaching tip describes the creation and pilot use of a PET rubric, which includes six fixed core items (lesson structure, content organization, audiovisual facilitation, concept development, enthusiasm, and relevance) and items to be assessed separately for asynchronous lectures (cognitive engagement-asynchronous) and synchronous lectures (cognitive engagement-synchronous, discourse quality, collaborative learning, and check for understanding). The instrument packet comprises the rubric, instructions for use, definitions, and examples of each item, plus three training videos for users to compare with authors' consensus training scores; these serve as frame-of-reference training. The instrument was piloted among veterinary educators, and feedback was sought in a focus group setting. The instrument was well received, and training and use required a minimum time commitment. Inter-rater reliability within 1 Likert scale point (adjacent agreement) was assessed for each of the training videos, and consistency of scoring was demonstrated between focus group members using percent agreement (0.82, 0.85, 0.88) and between focus members and the authors' consensus training scores (all videos: 0.91). This instrument may serve as a helpful resource for institutions looking for a framework for PET. We intend to continually adjust the instrument in response to feedback from wider use.

Outcome of intensity-modulated radiation therapy-based stereotactic radiation therapy for treatment of canine nasal carcinomas.

Stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) has emerged as a convenient definitive treatment modality in veterinary medicine, but few studies exist evaluating outcome with treatment for canine nasal tumors, and no studies report the treatment of one single tumor histotype. This retrospective, observational study evaluates toxicity, response, and survival in 17 dogs with nasal carcinomas treated with SRT. Dogs received a median of 3000 centigray in three fractions via 6-MV linear accelerator. Eighty-eight percent of patients (n = 15) demonstrated clinical benefit. Of dogs with repeated CT imaging (n = 10), 60% (n = 6) achieved a partial response and 10% (n = 1) achieved a complete response. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 359 days. Median survival time (MST) was 563 days. Among dogs evaluable for acute toxicity, 50% (n = 10) developed low grade toxicity (grade 1, n = 4; grade 2, n = 1). No patients developed grade 3 toxicity. 16 dogs (87%) evaluable over the long term developed signs consistent with possible late toxicity. The majority of late toxicities were mild (alopecia, hyperpigmentation, and leukotrichia n = 10; ocular discharge and keratoconjunctivitis sicca n = 5). Thirty-seven percent of patients (n = 6) developed seven possible grade 3 late toxicities (blindness, n = 3; fistula, n = 1; seizures, n = 3), which were difficult to distinguish from progressive disease in most patients. Of the prognostic factors evaluated (demographics, tumor stage, dosimetric data, epistaxis, facial deformity, clinical response, image-based response, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and chemotherapy), only clinical response was a positive prognostic factor on MST (P < .00). No factors were found to be significantly associated with PFS.

Ultrasound characteristics of feline urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma are similar to canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Feline transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a rare neoplasia of cats with an estimated prevalence of 0.18%. Cats with TCC share clinical signs with common pathologies like feline idiopathic cystitis or urinary tract infections. Nonspecific clinical signs include hematuria, pollakiuria, or stranguria. The literature lacks a feline-specific ultrasound description of TCC. The aim of this multicenter retrospective descriptive study was to report ultrasound findings of a collection of feline TCC and then assess if feline TCC and canine TCC have similar ultrasound appearances. It was hypothesized that the ultrasound characteristics would be similar between feline and canine TCC. Ultrasound studies were assessed for tumor shape, number of isolated mural masses, location within the bladder, presence of Doppler signal, echogenicity of urine, mineralization within the mass, extension of the mass into the proximal urethra or ureters, urethral/ureteral obstruction, pyelectasia, and sublumbar lymphadenopathy. Feline studies were compared to 20 cases of confirmed canine TCC. A total of 20 cats with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of TCC were included. Feline and canine TCC had similarities when viewed using ultrasound. Statistically significant differences were identified for location of the bladder mass (cats were more likely to be mid-body vs trigonal in dogs, P = .011) and urethral extension of the tumor was less likely in cats than dogs (P = .0436). Based on this sample of 20 cats, feline TCC was most commonly a singular, broad-based mass within the mid-body or apex of the urinary bladder.