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Aims Many studies of human subjects have demonstrated the utility of assessing serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and big ET-1 as clinical biomarkers in cardiopulmonary and neoplastic diseases. In this study we explored the feasibility of using serum big ET-1 as a reliable veterinary marker in dogs with various cardiopulmonary and neoplastic diseases. Main methods Serum big ET-1 levels were measured by ELISA in dogs with cardiopulmonary (n = 21) and neoplastic diseases (n = 57). Dogs exhibiting cardiopulmonary disease were divided into two groups based on the velocity of tricuspid valve regurgitation (3.0 > m/s) measured by ultrasound: without and with pulmonary hypertension. Big ET-1 levels for the dogs with the diseases were compared with levels in normal healthy dogs (n = 17). Key findings Dogs with cardiopulmonary disease (4.6 ± 4.6 pmol/l) showed a significantly ( P < 0.01) higher level of big ET-1 than healthy control dogs (1.1 ± 0.53 pmol/l). Serum levels in the dogs with pulmonary hypertension (6.2 ± 5.3 pmol/l) were significantly ( P < 0.01) higher than those without pulmonary hypertension (2.0 ± 0.6 pmol/l). Dogs with hemangiosarcoma (5.6 ± 2.2 pmol/l), adenocarcinoma (2.0 ± 1.8 pmol/l), histiocytic sarcoma (3.3 ± 1.9 pmol/l), chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma (3.0 ± 1.6 pmol/l) and hepatocellular carcinoma (2.7 ± 1.8 pmol/l) showed significantly ( P < 0.05) higher levels than healthy control dogs. Significance These findings point to the potential of serum big ET-1 as a clinical marker for cardiopulmonary and neoplastic diseases in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the agreement between cardiac output (CO) values obtained using a transpulmonary thermodilution technique (TPTDCO) and conventional thermodilution technique (TDCO) in anaesthetized dogs with fluid overload. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Six healthy Beagle dogs aged 7-8 years. Methods Dogs were anaesthetized with sevoflurane in oxygen, and catheters were inserted for TPTDCO and TDCO measurement. After instrumentation, baseline CO was measured using each technique at a central venous pressure (CVP) of 3-7 mmHg. Dogs were subsequently administered lactated Ringer's solution and 6% hydroxyethyl starch to induce fluid overload. CO measurements were obtained using each technique at CVP values of 8-12 mmHg, 13-17 mmHg, 18-22 mmHg and 23-27 mmHg. Agreements between CO measurements obtained with the respective techniques were analysed using Dunnett's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. Results Thirty pairs of CO values were obtained, ranging from 1.45 L minute−1 to 4.69 L minute−1 for TPTDCO and from 1.30 L minute−1 to 4.61 L minute−1 for TDCO. TPTDCO and TDCO values correlated strongly ( r2 = 0.915, p < 0.001). The bias and mean relative bias between TPTDCO and TDCO were 0.26 ± 0.30 L minute−1 (limits of agreement − 0.29 to 0.81 L minute−1) and 9.7%, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevance TPTDCO and TDCO measurements obtained in anaesthetized dogs during fluid overload exhibited good agreement. Accordingly, transpulmonary thermodilution provides an accurate measurement of CO in dogs with fluid overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an important malignant neoplasm of dogs that originates from vascular endothelial cells. This study explored the suitability of using serum big endothelin-1 (ET-1) as a tumour marker for canine spontaneous HSA. Serum big ET-1 was measured in dogs with splenic HSA ( n  = 14), splenic malignant tumours other than HSA ( n  = 10), benign splenic lesions ( n  = 11) and normal healthy dogs ( n  = 17) by ELISA. Serum big ET-1 levels in dogs with HSA were significantly ( P  < 0.01) higher than in other dogs. High sensitivity (100%, 95% confidence interval 86–100%) and specificity (95%, 95% confidence interval 86–95%) for HSA diagnosis were obtained using a cut-off of 17 pg/mL according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (area under ROC curve 0.93). PPET1 , ETA, VEGF and Hif1-α mRNA expression, measured by real-time PCR, were elevated in HSA compared with normal tissues. These findings suggest that elevated serum big ET-1 could be used as a diagnostic marker for canine HSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]