Assessment of liver function in dogs using the 13C-galactose breath test.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of the 13C-galactose breath test (13C-GBT) in assessing canine liver function by applying it to a group of healthy dogs, and to a group with clinicopathological evidence of liver dysfunction. Breath samples were collected 30 min before ingestion of 13C-galactose, and then at regular intervals thereafter for 6 h. The proportion of 13CO2/12CO2 in the breath samples was measured by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. There was no significant difference in recovery of 13CO2 in the diseased group, compared to the healthy controls, but there was considerable inter-subject variation in both groups, possibly due to differences in the rate of gastric emptying, which could preclude detection of alterations in hepatic metabolism of galactose. The results of this study do not support the application of the 13C-GBT for assessment of canine liver function.

Feline extranodal lymphoma: response to chemotherapy and survival in 110 cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine response to treatment, survival and prognostic factors for feline extranodal lymphoma in the UK. METHODS: Records of cats diagnosed with lymphoma of extranodal sites at seven referral centres were reviewed and information on signalment, tumour location, prior treatment and chemotherapy protocol recorded. Factors influencing response to treatment and survival were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine cases met inclusion criteria. Sixty-nine cats had nasal lymphoma, 35 renal, 15 central nervous system, 11 laryngeal and 19 miscellaneous locations. Sixty-six cats received cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone, 25 Wisconsin-Madison doxorubicin-containing multi-agent protocol, 10 prednisolone alone and nine other combinations. The response rate for the 110 treated cats was 85.5 per cent. Of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone treated cats 72.7 per cent achieved complete remission, median survival 239 days. Sixty-four per cent of Wisconsin-Madison treated cats achieved complete remission, median survival 563 days. Cats with nasal lymphoma achieving complete remission had the longest survival (749 days) and cats with central nervous system lymphoma the shortest (70 days). If complete remission was achieved, prior treatment with corticosteroids significantly reduced survival time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cats with extranodal lymphoma respond to chemotherapy and achieve survival times comparable to other locations. Corticosteroid pretreatment reduced survival time in cats achieving complete remission.

Correlation of ph dependant equilibrium isotherms of heavy metal biosorption with a modified Freundlich model.

Equilibrium isotherms of heavy metal biosorption are commonly correlated with adsorption models such as the Freundlich model. On the other hand, the adsorption properties of heavy metal biosorption are strongly influenced by the solution pH of the biosorption system. Therefore, standard adsorption models are limited to the correlation of equilibrium isotherms under constant pH values. In this paper, a modified Freundlich model was developed for the correlation of pH dependent equilibrium isotherms of heavy metal biosorption. The model was based on the mechanism that the functional groups for heavy metal interactions are weakly acidic groups and the uptake capacities of the biomass are affected through the association and dissociation equilibrium between two apparent ionic forms. Both the standard and the modified Freundlich models were tested with isotherm data for Cd2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ biosorption onto pre-treated biomass of marine alga Durvillaea potatorum under various solution pH values. Regression analyses indicated that the developed model correlated the experimental data well.

Low doses of dexamethasone suppress pituitary-adrenal function but augment the glycemic response to acute hypoxemia in fetal sheep during late gestation.

Despite the widespread use of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy in obstetric practice, little is known about the effects of synthetic glucocorticoids on the fetal capacity to respond to episodes of acute hypoxemia, such as may occur during labor and delivery. This study investigated the effects of prolonged fetal exposure to low concentrations of dexamethasone on the fetal ACTH, cortisol, and glycemic responses to an episode of acute hypoxemia during the period of dexamethasone treatment in sheep. At 118 d of gestation (term is approximately 145 d), 11 fetal sheep had catheters implanted under halothane anesthesia. From 124 d, five fetuses were infused i.v. continuously with dexamethasone (1.80 +/- 0.15 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) in 0.9% saline at 0.5 mL/h) for 48 h, and the other six fetuses received saline solution i.v. at the same rate. At 45 h of infusion, acute hypoxemia was induced in all fetuses for 1 h by reducing the maternal inspired fraction of oxygen. During glucocorticoid treatment, fetal plasma dexamethasone concentrations increased to 3.9 +/- 0.2 nM by 24 h and remained elevated for the rest of the infusion period. During hypoxemia, a similar fall in fetal arterial PO2 occurred in both saline-infused and dexamethasone-treated fetuses. In control fetuses, significant increases in plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations and in blood glucose concentrations occurred during hypoxemia. Dexamethasone treatment prevented the increases in fetal plasma ACTH and cortisol, and augmented the blood glucose response, induced by hypoxemia. These data indicate that prolonged fetal exposure to low concentrations of dexamethasone suppresses pituitary-adrenal function, but augments the glycemic response, to acute hypoxemia in fetal sheep during late gestation.