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Renal cortical anisotropy backscattering artifact (CABA) is a focal hyperechoic region where the tubules are parallel to the incident ultrasound beam, reflecting most of the beams to the transducer. To investigate the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the absence of renal CABA in cats. Ultrasonographic renal images of 40 cats with CKD (stage II-IV) and 36 clinically healthy cats were blindly evaluated by two observers to determine the visibility of renal CABA. Inter- and intraobserver agreements were evaluated using McNemar’s test. The association between the absence of renal CABA and CKD was assessed using Fisher’s exact test. Excellent intraobserver and substantial interobserver agreements were demonstrated. A significant association (P < .0001) between absent renal CABA and CKD stage was revealed in all cats. Cats with CKD had an increased risk of the absence of renal CABA (Odds ratio, 56.0; 95% CI, 13.8–227.0) compared with the clinically healthy cats. The absence of renal CABA revealed 87.5% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity to detect CKD in all cats, and 91.7% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity in aged cats. Our study demonstrated a correlation between feline CKD and the absence of renal CABA, providing a feasible and alternative method for feline CKD evaluation.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease. The appropriate treatment according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline was 19-60%. However, there are limited data on predictors of appropriate treatment in patients with COPD. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors of appropriate treatment in patients with COPD according to the GOLD guideline in a real-world community setting. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at a community hospital. Inclusion criteria were adult patients diagnosed as COPD treated at a COPD clinic. The primary outcome was the appropriate treatment, defined by correct pharmacological treatment by the GOLD guideline according to the ABCD severity assessment. Clinical predictors of appropriate treatment were executed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: 136 patients with COPD met the study criteria. Of those, 100 patients had inappropriate treatment according to the GOLD guideline. Three factors were independently associated with the appropriate treatment including number of admissions, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, and CAT score. These factors had adjusted odds ratio of 3.11, 2.86, and 1.26, respectively. Causes of inappropriate treatment were unavailability of long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) (51 patients; 79.69%), treated by inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) alone (12 patients; 18.75%), and treated with only bronchodilator (1 patient; 1.56%). Conclusions: Appropriate COPD patients’ treatment according to the GOLD guideline was 26.47% in community setting. Factors associated with severity of COPD were associated with prescribing appropriate treatments.

Xingan Qiu,&ast; Yifan Wu,&ast; Dong Zhang, Hao Zhang, Aixi Yu, Zonghuan Li Department of Orthopedics Trauma and Microsurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Aixi Yu; Zonghuan LiDepartment of Orthopedics Trauma and Microsurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-27-67813120; +86-134 76041532Email yuaixi@whu.edu.cn; lizonghuan@whu.edu.cnBackground: Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an effective way to promote wound healing. However, its mechanisms have not been investigated thoroughly. Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and Raftlin levels play important roles in wound healing. However, whether NPWT promotes wound healing through this mechanism remains unclear.Purpose: Our study focuses on the different levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant response between wounds treated by NPWT and routine dressing change. The objective of this study was to measure the differences in Raftlin levels between the two groups, which is a new biomarker related to wound healing.Methods: We divided 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats with identical full-thickness skin defects into two groups. At specific times (0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 days after surgery), wound tissue samples were obtained for immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis. The expression of Raftlin and levels of oxidative stress, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured by biochemical analysis. Wound-healing times were also compared.Results: In the NPWT group, MDA levels were significantly decreased on days 3, 5, and 7. Furthermore, the expressions of SOD and CAT were significantly reduced on days 3 and 5. Our data also revealed that Raftlin was significantly upregulated across the whole period of wound healing. Moreover, wound healing in the NPWT group was significantly more rapid (16 days on average) than in the control group (24 days on average). On day 13 post surgery, the wound-healing percentage in the NPWT group was 91%, while that in the control group was 48%.Conclusion: NPWT may promote wound healing by upregulating Raftlin and inhibiting oxidative stress levels.Keywords: SOD, CAT, MDA, Raftlin, negative-pressure wound therapy

Background: Third-degree atrioventricular block is usually permanent, with transient cases being rare. Cats with transient third-degree atrioventricular block. It had been not reported in detail. Case Description: A 9.3-year-old, male shorthair cat was evaluated for possible nervous disease resulting from otitis interna. Under propofol and isoflurane anaesthesia, this cat developed a third-degree atrioventricular block. Isoproterenol was administered by continuous infusion to increase its heart rate. During recovery, heart rate returned to sinus bradycardia together with first-degree atrioventricular block without medical treatment. The cause of transient atrioventricular block was not observed at the examination. Conclusion: The case of this cat suggests that anaesthesia can result in a transient third-degree atrioventricular block.

Feline arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a condition with a high mortality rate. Acid-base abnormalities may be beneficial to the prognosis of cats with ATE. Venous blood gas and electrolytes data on the first day of ATE presentation of 47 cats with ATE were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. The Cox and logistic regression were analysed to evaluate the relationship between acid-base parameters and death. The most common venous acid-base disorder was simple metabolic acidosis. Age, body weight, and partial venous pressure of carbon dioxide (PvCO2) differed between the dead and alive groups within 7 days of the onset of ATE presentation (p < 0.05). Cox-regression showed that increasing age (HR=1.175 [95% CI: 1.027-1.343], p = 0.019), increasing PvCO2 (HR=1.066 [95% CI: 1.010-1.125], p = 0.021) and PvCO2 more than 34 mmHg (HR=7.878 [95% CI: 1.036- 59.915], p = 0.046) were associated with increased hazard of death. Multivariable logistic regression showed that age > 5 years (OR=9.030, 95% CI: 1.258- 64.823; p=0.029), and PvCO2 > 34 mmHg (OR=21.764, 95% CI: 1.747-271.141; p=0.017) were associated with an increased risk of death, while concomitant administration of enoxaparin with clopidogrel (OR=0.111, 95% CI: 0.015-0.795; p=0.029) were associated with a decreased risk of death within 7 days of the onset of ATE presentation. This study demonstrated the power of venous blood gas analysis which may be used as prognostic indicators for cats with ATE.

In this case, it was presented a case of complete uterine prolapse in a cat following a third parturition at the age of 18 months. Upon physical examination complete uterine prolapse was diagnosed due to a mass protruding from the vulva which included both uterine horns. After the invagination and eversion were corrected and the uterus was relocated to its anatomical position, ovariohysterectomy was performed. Sutures were removed ten days after the operation. Following shrinking of uterus by using the hypertonic fluid and repositioning, ovariohysterectomy is a suitable and reliable option for cats with complete uterine prolapse., Özet: Bu olguda, üçüncü doğumunu takiben tam uterus prolapsusu şekillenen 18 aylık bir kedi sunulmaktadır. Muayenede, her iki kornu uterinin vulvadan dışarı çıkması sebebiyle tam uterus prolapsusu tanısı konuldu. İnvaginasyon ve eversiyon düzeltilip uterus anatomik pozisyonuna getirildikten sonra ovaryohisterektomi yapıldı. Hastada postoperatif 1. saatte idrar çıkışı ve 24. saatte yeme ve içme olduğu görüldü. Operasyondan 10 gün sonra dikişler alınarak tedaviye son verildi. Operasyon öncesi uterusun hipertonik sıvıda tutularak kolayca yeniden konumlandırılmasından sonra ovaryohisterektomi yapılması, tam uterus prolapsusu olan kediler için uygun ve güvenilir bir seçenektir.

A 3-year-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with sudden ataxia. Neurologic examination showed complete loss of proprioception in the thoracic and pelvic limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a non-metallic foreign body penetrating the spinal cord. The foreign body was removed by the ventral approach to the atlanto-occipital junction. Mild improvement of proprioception was observed the day after surgery. In a follow-up two months after surgery, the owner reported a complete recovery of the patient, showing a normal gait. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report describing successful removal of an intramedullary foreign body penetrating cervical spinal cord by ventral approach in a cat.

Objectives In veterinary settings, high exposures to animal allergens and microbial agents can be expected. However, occupational exposure levels are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the allergen, endotoxin, and β-(1,3)-glucan concentrations in small animal practices and in the homes of practice employees. Methods Dust samples were collected using electrostatic dust fall collectors in diverse rooms of 36 small animal practices, as well as in employees’ homes. Major animal allergens (Fel d 1, Can f 1, Ory c 3, Cav p 1, Equ c 1, Bos d 2), domestic mite (DM) allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan levels were measured using enzyme immunoassays. Endotoxin was determined using the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. Influences on exposure levels were analyzed using multilevel models. Results The levels of Can f 1, Fel d 1, Ory c 3, and Cav p 1 were up to 30 times higher in practices compared with homes without animals, but significantly lower compared with the homes with the respective pet. Although horses were not treated in the practices, Equ c 1 was found in 87.5% of samples, with the highest concentrations measured in changing rooms. DM levels were significantly lower in practices than in all private homes, and endotoxin levels were similar to those in homes with pets. In the practice itself, exposure levels were significantly influenced by animal presence, type of the room, and area per employee; whereas, room volume and diverse cleaning measures had mostly no effect. Conclusions Exposure to animal allergens is high in veterinary practices, but it does not reach levels of households with pets. Domestic mite allergen and endotoxin exposure seem to be low for workers in veterinary practices. The high Equ c 1 detection rate strongly indicates dispersal of allergens, most likely through clothing and hair.

Background:The most common complication in acyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD)is heart failure which definitive diagnosis and therapy remain unsatisfactory. Heart failure’s progression is often associated with oxidative stress process. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is thefirst line antioxidant of defense against superoxide anion. While Catalase (CAT) breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen molecules which complements previous detoxification carried out by SOD. Objective:This study aimed to compare the differences of SOD and CAT levels in acyanotic CHD patients between those with and without heart failure. Methods:A case-control study was conducted on three to ten years old children with a left-to-right shunt acyanotic CHD with and without heart failure in the Pediatric Cardiology outpatient clinic, ward, and emergency roomof Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya from April-July 2020. Echocardiography was used to establish the diagnosis of CHD, while Pediatric Heart Failure Score (PHFS) criteriawas used to indicate heart failure.T-test was undertaken for analysing the difference between both groups. Results:The total samples were 41 children, consisted of 29 subjects in the case group (CHD with heart failure) and 12 subjects in the control group (without heart failure). The level of SOD in CHD with heart failure was lower (74.670+15.705) than those without it (109.163+3.111) (pp Conclusion:There was a significant difference of SOD and CAT levels inacyanotic CHD between those with and without heart failure.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a renal dysfunction that can lead to high rates of mortality and morbidity, particularly when coupled with late diagnosis. CKD has become a major health problem due to its challenging detection at early stages when clear symptoms are yet to be presented. Thus, CKD is likely to be identified when the substantive conditions of the disease are manifest. In order to address the development of the disease and provide necessary treatments at the initial stage, the investigation of new biomarkers and metabolites associated with early detection of CKD are needed. Identified metabolites could be used to confirm the presence of the disease, obtain information on its mechanism and facilitate the development of novel pharmaceutical treatments. Such metabolites may be detected from biofluids and tissues using a range of analytical techniques. There are a number of metabolites that have been identified by mass spectrometry at high sensitivities, whilst the detection of metabolites directly from biofluids using NMR could present a more rapid way to expand our understanding of this disease. This review is focused on NMR-based metabolomics associated with CKD in humans and animals.

Background Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a noninvasive brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that has not been assessed in clinical veterinary medicine. Hypothesis/Objectives To test the feasibility of ASL using a 1.5 Tesla scanner and provide recommendations for optimal quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in dogs and cats. Animals Three hundred fourteen prospectively selected client‐owned dogs and cats. Methods Each animal underwent brain MRI including morphological sequences and ≥1 ASL sequences using different sites of blood labeling and postlabeling delays (PLD). Calculated ASL success rates were compared. The CBF was quantified in animals that had morphologically normal brain MRI results and parameters of ASL optimization were investigated. Results Arterial spin labeling was easily implemented with an overall success rate of 95% in animals with normal brain MRI. Technical recommendations included (a) positioning of the imaging slab at the foramen magnum and (b) selected PLD of 1025 ms in cats and dogs 38 kg. In 37 dogs, median optimal CBF in the cortex and thalamic nuclei were 114 and 95 mL/100 g/min, respectively. In 28 cats, median CBF in the cortex and thalamic nuclei were 113 and 114 mL/100 g/min, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our survey of brain perfusion ASL‐MRI demonstrated the feasibility of ASL at 1.5 Tesla, suggested technical recommendations and provided CBF values that should be helpful in the characterization of various brain diseases in dogs and cats.

Monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections may occur on the cornea, conjunctiva and the eyelid of cats.Corynebacterium species are categorized as nonpathogenic bacteria that are regularly detected in the conjunctiva of healthy cats. It has been reported that Corynebacterium species have been shown to be potentially harmful in a variety of tissues including ocular tissues, skin, and mucous membranes. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the presence of Corynebacterium spp. on the ocular surface and its antimicrobial sensitivity and susceptibility pattern. We investigated Corynebacterium species on the ocular surface and reviewed various species of Corynebacterium in terms of their antimicrobial susceptibility and the underlying molecular resistance mechanisms. The risk for Corynebacterium-related ocular infections in cats with low immunity, such as poor nutrition, corneal epithelial damage due to trauma, corneal perforation, lagophthalmos, chronic incurable glaucoma, long-lasting corneal sequestrum, and long-term use of topical steroids have been identified. 64 cats (78 eyes) of different ages and both sexes with various ocular disorders were swabbed. Corynebacterium spp. represented 34.6 % (n=27) of the collected sample and found to be susceptible to common antibiotics. Therefore, the use of antimicrobials for the treatment of ocular infections caused by Corynebacterium species should be a rational and sensible strategy along with provision of immunostimulants.

Background Thoracic radiography in awake cats is a common procedure for the evaluation of pulmonary metastasis in feline mammary gland carcinoma (MGC). However, due to poor sensitivity, computed tomography (CT) is progressively taking its place. To perform CT in animals, general anesthesia is normally preferred but can cause lung atelectasis, affecting lung interpretation. Besides, MGC is often found in senile cats that are concurrently affected with other diseases, increasing anesthetic risk. Therefore, this study was aimed at comparing the effect of anesthesia on lung atelectasis observed through CT in clinically healthy cats and comparing the feasibility of non-anesthetic CT with non-anesthetic radiography in the detection of lung lesions in feline MGC. Thoracic CTs from anesthetized, clinically healthy cats and non-anesthetized either clinically healthy cats or MGC-affected cats were reviewed. In clinically healthy cats, motion artifacts and characteristics of lung atelectasis were observed and compared. In MGC-affected cats, motion artifacts were observed and compared to clinically healthy cats, and the number of MGC-affected cats, the number and characteristics of lung lesions were compared between non-anesthetic thoracic CT and radiography. Results Anesthesia significantly increased lung CT attenuation (P = 0.0047) and was significantly correlated with lung atelectasis (OR = 15; CI 2.02–111.18; P = 0.0081), particularly of the cranial lung lobe. Nonetheless, significantly higher motion artifacts in the caudal thoracic area were found in non-anesthetized healthy cats (P = 0.0146), but comparable low motion artifacts were observed in anesthetized healthy and MGC-affected cats. Non-anesthetic CT revealed higher numbers of MGC-affected cats and pulmonary nodules with a significantly lower nodular diameter (P = 0.0041) than those observed on radiographs. The smallest nodular diameters detected on radiographs and CT were 2.5 and 1.0 mm, respectively. Furthermore, CT showed additional information such as intra-thoracic lymphadenopathy, that could not be seen on radiographs. Conclusions Despite the motion artifacts, CT without anesthesia is a sensitive technique as it provides better lung inflation. Furthermore, compared to non-anesthetic radiography, non-anesthetic CT provided more information such as higher number of pulmonary nodules of a smaller size, including more distinct intra-thoracic lesions, such as lymphadenopathy, in MGC-affected cats.

To identify and describe histological and immunohistochemical criteria that may differentiate between 4 skin and lymph node lesions associated with Mycobacterium (M.) bovis and M. microti in a diagnostic 5 pathology setting. 6Materials and Methods 7Archived skin and lymph node biopsies of tuberculous lesions were stained with haematoxylin and 8 eosin, Ziehl-Neelsen and Masson’s Trichrome. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect 9 expression of calprotectin, CD3 and Pax5. Samples were scored for histological parameters (i.e. 10 granulomas with central necrosis vs small granulomas without central necrosis, percentage necrosis, 11 and/or multinucleated giant cells), number of acid-fast bacilli (bacterial index) and lesion percentage of 12 fibrosis and positive immunohistochemical staining. 13Results 14Twenty-two samples were examined (M. bovis n = 11, M. microti n = 11). When controlling for age, 15 gender and tissue, feline M. bovis-associated lesions more often featured large multi-layered 16 granulomas with central necrosis. Conversely, this presentation was infrequent in feline M. microti-associated lesions, where small granulomas without central necrosis predominated. The presence of an outer fibrous capsule was variable in both groups, as was the bacterial index. There were no differences in intralesional expression of immunohistochemical markers.Clinical SignificanceDifferences in the histological appearance of skin and lymph node lesions may help to infer feline infection with either M. bovis or M. microti at an earlier stage when investigating these cases, informing clinicians of the potential zoonotic risk. Importantly, cases of tuberculosis can present with numerous acid-fast bacilli. This implies that a high bacterial index does not infer infection with non-zoonotic non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Feline parvovirus (FPV), a type of parvovirus prevalent worldwide, can cause foetal death and acute enteritis in adult cats with severe leukopenia, and yet there are no effective drugs to prevent or treat FPV. Here, the immune effects of two FPV vaccines on horses were compared. IgG was extracted from FPV-immunized horse sera. Equine F(ab′)2 fragments were obtained from pepsin-digested IgG and then purified by protein-G column chromatography. The results showed that the inactivated FPV oil vaccine was more effective than the inactivated FPV propolis vaccine in helping healthy horses to produce hyper-immune serum. Four methods were tested, among which the optimized octanoic acid-ammonium sulphate precipitation method was proved to be the best process for extracting IgG. The optimal condition for preparing F(ab′)2 by pepsin digestion was 30 °C for 3.5 h, and the content, purity and recovery of F(ab′)2 were 8.64 mg/mL, 90.36% and 93.24%, respectively. Our equine immunoglobulin F(ab′)2 fragments effectively neutralized activity in vitro against FPV, alleviated the clinical symptoms of FPV-infected cats, reduced the viral loads in the intestine and had prophylactic effects in FPV-infected cats. These results indicate that the F(ab′)2 fragment prepared from inactivated FPV-immunized horses may be used as a prophylactic agent for diseases caused by FPV.

Keratometry was performed in 73 domestic cats of varied signalment in Japan using an automated handheld keratometer. The mean corneal curvature radius was significantly lower for cats younger than 1 year than for those older than 2 years (8.04 mm vs. 8.80-8.99 mm, P

This study aimed to investigate whether cranberry extract could reduce lower urinary tract (LUT) and gastro-intestinal (GI) signs in feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Twenty-one client-owned cats were randomly allocated to two groups: a treated group (T, n = 10) receiving daily an oral nutritional supplement containing cranberry extract and a control group (C, n = 11). Owners were trained to recognise daily LUT and GI signs. Physical examination, urinalysis and bladder ultrasonography were performed at day 0 (T0), 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 60 (T60). Both groups showed an improvement for dysuria and periuria from T0 to T30 (p < 0.05), but only in cats of the T group, LUT signs disappeared at T60. A significant improvement in the T group was also observed for GI signs and bladder ultrasonography at T60 (p = 0.03). Urinalysis did not show any significant differences. This preliminary study suggests that cranberry could be effective in reducing LUT and GI signs in FIC.

In the present study, the course of SARS‐CoV‐2 natural infection in two asymptomatic cats, which were negative for immunosuppressive retroviral infections, is investigated. The source of the virus for the cats was their COVID‐19‐affected owner, with whom they were in continuous proximity in a small household setting. The owner's signs included fatigue, sneezing, anosmia and loss of taste, and diagnosis was confirmed 4 days after symptom onset. Oropharyngeal and faecal swabs were collected from the cats, to investigate the course of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA concentrations, as well as the directionality of the chain of virus transmission. Both infected cats were real‐time RT‐PCR‐positive on various time‐points. Pharyngeal shedding of at least 6 days was observed in them, with high SARS‐CoV‐2 titres (> 7 Log10 copies/swab) on the first sampling time‐point, that is, 7 days after the onset of owner's clinical signs. In one cat, after the initial decline, slightly increasing virus titres were measured 3 to 6 days after the first real‐time RT‐PCR‐positive swab. Serological testing of this cat revealed absence of seroconversion. The course of viral RNA concentrations in the faecal swabs of the other cat was similar to that in its pharynx. The detected SARS‐CoV‐2 strains, from both infected cats and their owner, underwent whole‐genome sequencing, revealing the absence of emergence of cross‐species adaptive mutations in cats. The results support the notion that human SARS‐CoV‐2 strains are relatively well‐adapted to cats. It is still unclear whether asymptomatic animals could play a role in COVID‐19 epidemiology, in case of interaction with naïve animals and/or people. Our findings highlight difficulties in SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission to cats, as neither the two infected cats nor their owner was able to transmit the virus to a third cat living in the same small flat, despite their very close contact during the days corresponding to high virus shedding.

Domestic animals with severe spontaneous spinal cord injury (SCI), including dogs and cats that are deep pain perception negative (DPP−), can benefit from specific evaluations involving neurorehabilitation integrative protocols. In human medicine, patients without deep pain sensation, classified as grade A on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale, can recover after multidisciplinary approaches that include rehabilitation modalities, such as functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TESCS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). This review intends to explore the history, biophysics, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy and the parameters of FES, TESCS, and TDCS, as safe and noninvasive rehabilitation modalities applied in the veterinary field. Additional studies need to be conducted in clinical settings to successfully implement these guidelines in dogs and cats.

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes may be useful in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE) and ascitic fluid (AF) aetiologies in cats since tissue damage induces their release, changing the pattern of their activity. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic utility of measuring lactate dehydrogenase levels and isoenzyme activities in PE or AF in cats with malignancy. Materials and Methods: The results of LDH levels and isoenzyme activities in the serum, PE and AF of 29 cats were compared among malignant group, infectious group, and non-malignant, non-infectious group. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the accuracy in diagnosing feline malignancy. Results: In PE or AF, there were significant differences in LDH level and LDH isoenzyme activities among the three groups. The combination of LDH level and LDH-1 activity in PE or AF had the highest area under the ROC (AUC) values for discriminating malignant effusion from non-malignant effusion. The AUC of the combination of LDH level and LDH-1 activity in PE or AF was 0.874. The sensitivity and specificity of using the combination of LDH level (cut-off

This study reports the first two clinical cases of spirometrosis caused by Spirometra sp. in cats in Korea. In these two cases, the cats vomited, and long proglottids of tapeworm were recovered. The sick cats presented with anorexia and lethargy. However, they unexpectedly showed no diarrhea, which is the main symptom of spirometrosis. Based on a fecal floatation test as well as morphological and molecular analyses, the parasite was diagnosed as Spirometra sp. The 2 cases were treated with praziquantel. This study suggests regular monitoring of health and deworming in companion animals, even when animals are well cared for, with regular preventive medication. Additionally, spirometrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of gastrointestinal symptoms in Spirometra endemic areas.

Cytology is the diagnostic procedure of the microscopic evaluation of cells. It is becoming increasingly important and more frequently used in veterinary diagnostics, having many advantages including simplicity, speed and low cost. To determine the pathological changes diagnosed by cytology in cats, as well as the distribution of age, breed and gender in the diagnosed changes, we performed a retrospective study on slides submitted to the Department of Veterinary Pathology for routine cytological examination. The archive was searched for all feline cytology slides submitted from 2009 to 2018. All the slides were re-evaluated and classified into one of the four pathological processes: ‘neoplasia’, ‘inflammation’, ‘other condition’ or ‘non-diagnostic sample’. Breed, age, gender and the tissue from which the lesion was sampled were noted from the submission form, and statistically analyzed. The most frequent type of pathological process diagnosed was neoplasia, which reflects the high prevalence of neoplastic diseases in cats reported in literature data. Pathological changes were mostly diagnosed in domestic shorthaired cats of both sexes, with an average age of 8.4 years, but no breed, age or gender predisposition was found. The most evaluated tissue was skin, probably due to its accessibility and the ease of obtaining a sample from skin lesions. The most frequent neoplasia were malignant and the most frequent diagnosis was round cell neoplasia. Cats affected with round cell neoplasia had a significantly lower average age (7.3 years) than cats diagnosed with epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasia (9.9 and 10.3 years, respectively), probably reflecting the common retroviral infection in Croatian cats., Citologija je sve važniji i sve češće primjenjivan dijagnostički postupak u kojemu se mikroskopski analiziraju stanice, a ima i brojne prednosti, kao što su jednostavnost izvedbe, brzina i niska cijena. Kako bismo odredili patološke promjene dijagnosticirane citologijom u mačaka kao i raspodjelu prema dobi, pasmini i spolu, proveli smo retrospektivno istraživanje na uzorcima dostavljenima Zavodu za veterinarsku patologiju Veterinarskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu za rutinsku citološku analizu. Pretraženi su arhivski preparati za sve mačje citološke nalaze od 2009. do 2018. godine. Svi su preparati ponovno analizirani i razvrstani u jedan od četiri patološka procesa: neoplazija, upala, druga stanja i nedijagnostički uzorak. Pasmina, dob, spol i tkivo iz kojega su uzorci uzeti zabilježeni su u odgovarajućem obrascu i statistički analizirani. Najčešće dijagnosticiran patološki proces bio je neoplazija, što govori o visokoj prevalenciji neoplastične bolesti u mačaka opisanoj u literaturi. Patološke promjene najčešće su dijagnosticirane u domaće kratkodlake mačke oba spola, prosječne dobi 8,4 godina. Pasminska, dobna i spolna predispozicija međutim nisu utvrđene. Najčešće analizirano tkivo bila je koža, vjerojatno zbog najlakše dostupnosti i lakog dobivanja uzorka iz kožnih lezija. Najčešća je neoplazija bila zloćudna tvorevina, a najčešća dijagnoza neoplazija okruglih stanica. Mačke oboljele od ove neoplazije imale su znakovito nižu prosječnu dob (7,3 godina) od mačaka kojima je dijagnosticirana epitelna i mezenhimna neoplazija (9,9 i 10,3 godina), što je vjerojatno pokazatelj da se radi o čestoj retrovirusnoj infekciji u mačaka u Hrvatskoj.

Background Lymphoma in the nasal cavity is the most common tumor of cats' upper respiratory tract. However, the effect of single-agent chlorambucil on nasal or nasopharyngeal lymphoma has not been evaluated in cats. Case description An 8-year-old, castrated male Scottish Fold weighing 3.5 kg presented with an 8-month history of nasal discharge, sneezing, and mild epistaxis. CT and rhinoscopy revealed nasal discharge and slight swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, but no masses and local invasions were detected. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of the nasopharyngeal mucosa demonstrated B-cell lymphoma in the cat. The treatment with chlorambucil led to long-term management of the cat without any side effects. No recurrences of clinical signs have been observed for 754 days. Conclusion The present case report suggests that chlorambucil can be a therapeutic option for feline localized nasopharyngeal B-cell lymphoma without masses and local invasions.

Tumor grading is a method to quantify the putative clinical aggressiveness of a neoplasm based on specific histological features. A good grading system should be simple, easy to use, reproducible, and accurately segregate tumors into those with low versus high risk. The aim of this review is to summarize the histological and, when available, cytological grading systems applied in veterinary pathology, providing information regarding their prognostic impact, reproducibility, usefulness, and shortcomings. Most of the grading schemes used in veterinary medicine are developed for common tumor entities. Grading systems exist for soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, multilobular tumor of bone, mast cell tumor, lymphoma, mammary carcinoma, pulmonary carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma, and central nervous system tumors. The prognostic relevance of many grading schemes has been demonstrated, but for some tumor types the usefulness of grading remains controversial. Furthermore, validation studies are available only for a minority of the grading systems. Contrasting data on the prognostic power of some grading systems, lack of detailed instructions in the materials and methods in some studies, and lack of data on reproducibility and validation studies are discussed for the relevant grading systems. Awareness of the limitations of grading is necessary for pathologists and oncologists to use these systems appropriately and to drive initiatives for their improvement.

Background: Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) entails injecting a local anesthetic inside the thoracic paravertebral space (TPVS). Loss of resistance to air injection (air-LOR) was the first technique described in humans to locate the TPVS. To date, no study has investigated the spread of any substance after injection into the TPVS using the air-LOR technique nor has described the cranial and caudal limits of the space. Aim: To identify the boundaries of the TPVS, to determine whether the air-LOR technique is reliable for the identification of the TPVS and to examine the relationship between the volume of injectate and its spread. Methods: After a preliminary phase, the thorax of five cat and five dog cadavers was accessed and eviscerated. After TPVS probing, the polyurethane foam was injected, and the cranial and caudal borders were recorded after its maximum spread. Different volumes of a mixture of new methylene blue and ioversol were injected in the TPVS after its localization with a Tuohy needle and air-LOR technique in fourteen dog and six cat cadavers. Lateral radiographs of the vertebral column were used to document needle positioning, spread pattern and extension. The thorax of these subjects was then accessed and eviscerated to observe and record the spread of the mixture. Results: Injecting a dye into the TPVS, localized by an air-LOR technique, resulted in multi-segmental and often bilateral subpleural staining of paravertebral, intercostal, and dorsal mediastinal structures in dog and cat cadavers. The lateral radiographs most often showed a mixed cloud-like and linear spread pattern, which could be a predictor of the longitudinal spread of the dye. The foam injected into the TPVS at the cranial and the caudal level revealed anatomical communication with the cervical, axillar, and lumbar paravertebral regions. Conclusion: TPVS localization by air-LOR technique and injection results in a longitudinal multi-segmental spread in dog and cat cadavers. The communication of the TPVS with the axillary and lumbar regions could be of clinical interest for the brachial plexus and the lumbar intercostal nerve blocks in a clinical setting.

Background Hypersomatotropism (HST) is an increasingly recognized endocrinopathy in cats and is mostly described associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in treating HST and DM in cats. Animals Sixty-eight client-owned cats with HST and DM treated by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. Methods Retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed for glycemic control and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. Postoperative complications, death within 4 weeks, and proportion achieving diabetic remission were recorded. Survival times and DM-free intervals were calculated. Results Fifty-eight cats (85.3%) were alive 4 weeks postoperatively with 10 (15%) postoperative deaths. Complications included hypoglycemia (n = 9), electrolyte imbalance (n = 9), and transient congestive heart failure (n = 5). Fifty-five cats (95% of 58 surviving cats [81% of all cats undergoing surgery]) had improved control of diabetes. Diabetic remission occurred in 41 cats (71% of 58 surviving cats [60% of all cats]) with insulin administration discontinued after a median of 9 days (range, 2-120). Postoperative 4-week serum IGF-1 concentration nadir was significantly lower in cats achieving diabetic remission (median 20 ng/mL [15-708] than those that did not (324 ng/mL [15-1955]; P = .03). All cats received long-term levothyroxine and hydrocortisone PO, alongside desmopressin (conjunctival) in 38 of 53 cats (72%). Recurrence of DM occurred in 5 of 41 cats (12%) after a median of 248 days (range, 84-1232). Median survival time of all cats was 853 days (range, 1-1740). Conclusions and clinical importance Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment for cats with HST and DM, with a long-term outcome that compares favorably to existing options.

Background Pancreatitis in cats, although commonly diagnosed, still presents many diagnostic and management challenges. Objective To summarize the current literature as it relates to etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of pancreatitis in cats and to arrive at clinically relevant suggestions for veterinary clinicians that are based on evidence, and where such evidence is lacking, based on consensus of experts in the field. Animals None. Methods A panel of 8 experts in the field (5 internists, 1 radiologist, 1 clinical pathologist, and 1 anatomic pathologist), with support from a librarian, was formed to assess and summarize evidence in the peer reviewed literature and complement it with consensus clinical recommendations. Results There was little literature on the etiology and pathogenesis of spontaneous pancreatitis in cats, but there was much in the literature about the disease in humans, along with some experimental evidence in cats and nonfeline species. Most evidence was in the area of diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats, which was summarized carefully. In contrast, there was little evidence on the management of pancreatitis in cats. Conclusions and clinical importance Pancreatitis is amenable to antemortem diagnosis by integrating all clinical and diagnostic information available, and recognizing that acute pancreatitis is far easier to diagnose than chronic pancreatitis. Although both forms of pancreatitis can be managed successfully in many cats, management measures are far less clearly defined for chronic pancreatitis.

The J wave has never been documented in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of cats presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The present study aimed to describe the presence, morphology, amplitude, and duration of J waves in cats with HCM. It included 20 apparently healthy cats and 45 cats diagnosed with HCM based on clinical, echocardiographic, ECG, and radiographic examination. The cats were of different breeds (Persian: 40, domestic short hair: 21, Siamese: 4), ages (6.01 ± 4.34 years), sexes (male: 33, female: 32), and weights (3.30 ± 1.51 kg). The J wave was absent in the ECGs of the healthy population, but was detected in 29 out of 45 cats with HCM (63%). The J waves were observed at the QRS-ST junction in more than one limb lead of the ECG. Only positive deflections with an amplitude ≥0.05 mV were included, as measured by an ECG ruler in three consecutive heart cycles. The J waves were mainly present in leads II (n=20) and III (n=16), with amplitudes of 0.06 ± 0.02 and 0.08 ± 0.03 mV; their mean (± SD) duration was 0.16 ± 0.05 msec in lead II and 0.18 ± 0.05 msec in lead III. They occurred in both notched and slurred morphologies, with the latter being more common. In conclusion, J waves were a common finding in the ECGs of cats with HCM.

Esophagitis in cats and dogs is a consequence of increased exposure of the esophageal mucosa to gastroduodenal reflux. Causes can include anesthesia-related reflux, frequent vomiting, or lodged foreign bodies. An exception is eosinophilic esophagitis, an emerging primary inflammatory disease of the esophagus with a presumed allergic etiology. Reflux esophagitis owing to lower esophageal sphincter incompetence is often suspected; a tentative diagnosis can be made by endoscopic assessment, wireless esophageal pH-monitoring, or histologic examination. Because it can be difficult to distinguish diet-responsive upper gastrointestinal disease from esophagitis, response to treatment with gastric acid suppressants is needed to confirm the tentative diagnosis.

Nasal lymphoma (NL) is the most common nasal tumor in cats, and radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments have been described as the treatment for this disease. However, the previous studies included various machines and protocols of radiotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to retrospectively compare the prognosis among cases treated with palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a combination of them with united machine and protocol of radiotherapy. When compared overall survival and progression free survival, there was no significant difference among these three groups. The data of this study suggested that similar efficacy could be achieved by palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of them.

Chlorpromazine is a sedative effective phenothiazine derivative used to prevent nausea and vomiting, especially in cases of motion sickness in cats. It has serious side effects at high doses, including weakness, tremors, loss of anal sphincter tone and reflexes, hypotension, heart rhythm abnormalities, coma, agitation and seizures. In this case report, chlorpromazine toxicity was defined in a 4-month-old, 1.2 kg male Van kitten brought to Selcuk University Veterinary Faculty Emergency Clinic with complaints of stagnation, tremors, vomiting and excessive sleepiness. Hypothermia (35.2 °C), hyperpnea (88 breaths/min), hypersalivation, constipation, excessive agitation, tremors and incoordination were determined in the clinical examination of the kitten. It was learned from the anamnesis that 100 mg chlorpromazine was given orally before the trip against motion sickness. Electrocardiographic examination determined sinus tachycardia (220 beats/min), increase in P wave amplitude, elevation in ST complex and hypotension (S/MAP/D = 148/124/112). The major laboratory findings were metabolic acidosis (pH 7.278), hypoglycaemia (61 mg/dL), leukocytosis (22.43 m/mm3), increase in blood ured nitrogen (17.7 mg/dL), creatinine (0.6 mg/dL) and ALP (121 U/L) concentrations and hypertriglyceridemia (122 mg/dL). Based on the anamnesis, clinical, laboratory and ECG findings, the kitten was diagnosed with overdose chlorpromazine toxicity and hospitalized, and put under surveillance for continuous cardiac monitoring. Lactated ringer solution, norepinephrine tartrate, furosemide, activated charcoal and oxygen therapy were given. The treatment was successful. In conclusion, it was evaluated that continuous cardiac monitoring and controlling hypotension were important in the management of chlorpromazine toxicity, and fluid therapy, norepinephrine, diuretic and activated charcoal administrations achieve success in treatment., Klorpromazin je derivat fenotiazina sa sedativnim učinkom, a rabi se za sprječavanje mučnine i povraćanja, posebice u slučajevima bolesti kretanja u mačaka. Pri velikim dozama ima ozbiljne nuspojave poput slabosti, drhtanja, gubitka tonusa analnog sfinktera i refleksa, hipotenzije, abnormalnosti srčanog ritma, kome, uznemirenosti i napadaja. U ovoj analizi slučaja, u četveromjesečnog mačića turske pasmine van težine 1,2 kg koji je doveden na hitnu pomoć Veterinarskog fakulteta Selcuk Sveučilišta s primjećenim simptomima stagnacije, drhtanja, povraćanja i prekomjerne pospanosti otkriveno je trovanje klorpromazinom. Kliničkim pregledom mačke utvrđena je hipotermija (35,2 °C), hiperpneja (88 udisaja/min), hipersalivacija, konstipacija, prekomjerna uznemirenost, drhtanje i nekoordinacija. Iz anamneze je otkriveno da je mačić prije puta oralno primio 100 mg klorpromazina, za sprječavanje bolesti kretanja. Na elektrokardiografskom pregledu ustvrđena je sinusna tahikardija (220 otkucaja/min), povećanje amplitude P vala, podizanje ST segmenta i hipotenzija (S/MAP/D = 148/124/112). Glavni laboratorijski nalazi bili su metabolička acidoza (pH 7,278), hipoglikemija (61 mg/dL), leukocitoza (22,43 m/mm3), povećanje koncentracije ureje u krvi (17,7 mg/dL), kreatinina (0,6 mg/dL) i ALP (121 U/L) i hipertrigliceridemija (122 mg/dL). Prema anamnezi, kliničkim, laboratorijskim i EKG nalazima, mačiću je dijagnosticirano trovanje prekomjernom dozom klorpromazina te je hospitaliziran, uz kontinuirano praćenje rada srca. Mačić je primao Ringerov laktat, norepinefrin tartrat, furosemid, aktivni ugljen i terapiju kisikom. Liječenje je bilo uspješno. Zaključno, procijenjeno je da su kontinuirano praćenje rada srca i kontrola hipotenzije bile važne u liječenju trovanja klorpromazinom te da tekuća terapija, norepinefrin, diuretik i aktivni ugljen postižu uspjeh u liječenju.

Background: Pyothorax in cats is routinely managed, at least initially, with thoracic tube placement associated with systemic antimicrobial administration. Traditionally, large-bore trocar-type thoracostomy tubes have preferentially been used for the drainage of thick material from the pleural space. In recent years, the use of small-bore wire-guided thoracic drains has increased in both small animals and in humans. Few studies have highlighted the efficacy of small-bore wire-guided thoracostomy tubes. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the use of small-bore wire-guided thoracostomy tubes in feline pyothorax in terms of efficacy, safety and outcome. Methods: Cats with pyothorax managed with small-bore thoracostomy tubes (2015-2018) were retrospectively studied. The number of drains inserted, the need for anesthesia and analgesia for chest tube placement and maintenance, and related major and minor complications were reviewed. Clinical data, diagnostic results, treatment and outcome were recorded. Results: Ten cats were enrolled. Thoracostomy tube placement was unilateral in 7/10 cats despite the presence of bilateral effusion in 9/10 cats, and required sedation (8/10) or anesthesia (2/10). Three cats experienced minor complications during the chest tube insertion, including self-limiting pneumothorax (1/3) and malpositioning (2/3). One cat had a major complication (non functional malposition) requiring reposition of the drain. Pain management was adequately achieved using opioids (8/10) or opioids plus nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (2/10). Partial chest tube occlusion occurred in 3 cases and it was resolved with lavage. In one case, the occlusion was complete, requiring drain removal. Three/10 cats were treated medically, combining thoracostomy tubes and antibiotics while 7/10 cats underwent surgery. All the cats survived. Conclusion: Small-bore thoracostomy tubes represent a safe and effective option for the initial management of feline pyothorax. In fact, mainly minor complications were reported during insertion and usage. The small-bore thoracostomy tubes were well tolerated by the cats with a satisfactory performance in terms of exudate drainage in most cases. The combined use of a small-bore thoracostomy drain together with the common practice of surgical treatment might have resulted in the successful management of the cases presented.

Although purebred cat breeding is growing in popularity in European countries, most research and publications concern dog reproduction. Infertility in queens has been poorly studied. It may not come as a surprise as common domestic shorthair cats are well known for their excellent fertility. However, even in the latter, the infertility rate is around 20%. Only recently, published articles have analyzed the reproductive performances in different breeds, for example in UK, Sweden, France and Italy, and found similar figures. In cats, infertility may arise from many factors such as mismating, prolonged anestrus or silent heats, hormonal, nutritional, genetical or chromosomal causes. Also, infectious diseases, probably frequent in breeding facilities, include pathological agents that are well recognized as having a negative effect on pregnancy or other pathogens for which the involvement in fertility problems is unclear. However, analyzing the literature, it appears that the most prevalent causes of infertility in pedigree cats may well be, in females, uterine pathology (sub-clinical endometritis, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, or mucometra), and in males, teratospermia, which may be “permanent” and linked to reduced heterozygosity or “transient” in tomcats that present normal quantitative spermatogenic parameters. The influence of the breed is unknown. There is an urgent need to study the origin of infertility in purebred cats in order to improve the diagnosis and to develop treatments that may restore normal fertility in subfertile or infertile animals., Highlights • Cat breeding is developing all over the world but the knowledge about feline infertility is still scarce. • The environmental conditions and the timing of the mating seem to play an important role in purebred cat fertility. • As in bitches, subclinical endometritis may be one of the major causes of infertility in cats. • Infectious diseases in breeding catteries may be detrimental for reproduction. • Teratospermia in male cats is an important factor but its pathogenesis is still unclear.

Background: Cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (sHCM) have elevated serum insulin levels and serum amyloid A levels correlating with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. Diet might affect these parameters and other cardiac variables.Objective: Evaluate the effect of a complete, balanced diet with restricted starch and supplemented with eicosapentanoic acid+docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) on echocardiographic parameters and cardiac biomarkers in cats with sHCM.Animals: Forty-four client-owned cats with sHCM. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study enrolled cats with end-diastole interventricular septum thickness (IVSd) and/or left ventricular wall thickness (LVWd) ≥6 mm. Non-sedated, fasted cats were examined at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of Test (restricted starch and EPA+DHA supplements) (n=23) or Control (unrestricted starch without EPA+DHA supplementation) (n=21) diet. Assessments included auscultation, body weight, body condition score, echocardiography and blood analysis. Linear and generalized mixed models analyzed diet, time and diet*time interactions (5% significance level). Results: No differences between diet groups were significant for any variable at any timepoint. There were significant decreases in the Test but not Control group in maximum IVSd (P = .031; P = .524), maximum LVWd (P = .022; P = .905) and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (P = .036; P = .987) after 12 months, and in ultra-sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (P = .001; P = .745) after 6 months only.Conclusions and clinical importance: Significant decreases in echocardiographic variables of sHCM, cTnI and IGF-1, were observed in the Test group. Further research is needed to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.

Chad Moretz,1 Beth Hahn,1 John White,2 Alyssa Goolsby Hunter,2 Breanna Essoi,2 Caitlin Elliott,2 Riju Ray3 1US Value Evidence & Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Optum, Eden Prairie, MN, USA; 3US Medical Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NCCorrespondence: Beth HahnGSK, 5 Moore Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USATel +1 919 274 0660Email beth.a.hahn@gsk.comBackground: Long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting β2-agonist (LAMA/LABA) provide greater improvements in lung function and symptoms than inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/LABA in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study evaluated symptom burden and Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) categorization among patients who recently initiated umeclidinium/vilanterol (UMEC/VI; LAMA/LABA) or fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/SAL; ICS/LABA) single-inhaler dual therapy.Methods: COPD-diagnosed Medicare Advantage enrollees aged ≥ 65 years were identified from the Optum Research Database (ORD). Eligible patients had ≥ 1 pharmacy claim for UMEC/VI or FP/SAL in the 6-month period before sample identification, with no evidence of triple therapy (ICS/LAMA/LABA), asthma, or lung cancer. Symptom burden was assessed via cross-sectional surveys using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale. Patients were classified into GOLD categories using patient-reported symptoms and claims-based exacerbation history. Treatment groups were balanced on potential confounders using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). CAT and mMRC scores were analyzed with generalized linear regression models using IPTW propensity scores.Results: The final analytic sample included 789 respondents (UMEC/VI: N=392; FP/SAL: N=397). Approximately 66% patients were classified as GOLD B when assessing symptoms with CAT and mMRC together, or CAT alone; more patients were classified as GOLD A (∼ 40%) than GOLD B (∼ 36%) using mMRC alone. Proportions of patients in each GOLD group were similar between treatment cohorts. Post-IPTW multivariable modeling showed similar symptom burden between treatment groups.Conclusion: After controlling for baseline characteristics, symptom burden was similar between patients receiving UMEC/VI or FP/SAL. GOLD classification using mMRC produced more conservative results compared with CAT, potentially underestimating patient symptoms. Many patients receiving FP/SAL were classified as GOLD A or B, despite GOLD recommending non-ICS-containing therapy in these patients. These findings support the need for routine assessment of symptoms in patients with COPD.Keywords: COPD, fluticasone propionate/salmeterol, umeclidinium/vilanterol, CAT, mMRC, GOLD group

Objective The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical application of the Fixin mini 1.9 to 2.5 system for the treatment of long bone fractures in cats. We proposed that the Fixin mini system would successfully stabilize long bone fractures in cats with a healing time and complication rate similar to those previously reported for feline fractures using other locking bone plate systems. Materials and Methods Medical records and radiographs of cats with long bone fractures stabilized with the Fixin mini 1.9 to 2.5 system were retrospectively reviewed. Signalment, body weight, bone(s) fractured, region of bone fractured, fracture classification, concurrent orthopaedic injuries, complications, time to functional union, if minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis techniques were used, plate size, number of plates, bone graft use and ancillary methods of fixation were recorded. Results Fifty-six fractures in 54 cats were included. Mean time to radiographic union was 8.8 weeks. Complications were recorded in 8 out of 56 fractures. Major complications occurred in 4 of 56 fractures and minor complications occurred in 4 of 56 fractures. Conclusion The Fixin mini 1.9 to 2.5 system had an overall complication rate and time to functional union similar to that of other implant systems used to treat feline long bone fractures and it appears suitable for repair of a wide variety of long bone fracture configurations in cats.

The material of this case consisted of a 3,5 kg male Chinchilla cat which brought to Selcuk University Veterinary Faculty Animal Hospital with the complaints of anorexia, stagnation, incoordination, watery diarrhea and severe vomiting. Mushroom intoxications suspected according to the anamnesis. False morel poisoning was diagnosed as a result of physical examination and laboratory test and it was confirmed by presence of ingested spore of morel in fecal flotation examination. As a treatment, 0.9% isotonic NaCl (Polyplex, Polifarma ® ) solutions 40 ml/kg via IV, maropitant (Cerenia, Zoetis ® ) 1 mg/kg as an antiemetic and to reduce visceral pain via SC, N-acetylcystein (Nacosel, Haver Farma ® ) 140 mg/kg via IV, vitamins and amino acid supplementation (Duphalyte, Zoetis ® ) via IV are administered. For liver health supplementation SAMe and silybin (Denamarin, Nutramax ® ) 15 mg/kg via PO for 21 days prescribed. On re-examination, the cat was fully recovered. It was concluded that false morel poisoning may cause liver damage, neurologic findings along with the primary gastrointestinal system disorders. Anamnesis, presence of the ingested spore of morel observed during fecal examination is very important in the diagnosis and the prognosis is affected by the magnitude of liver damage.

Background N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and cardiac troponin‐I (cTnI) are biomarkers commonly evaluated in cats with suspected heart disease. Many cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM), but its influence on circulating NT‐proBNP or cTnI concentrations is currently unknown. Hypothesis/Objectives Cats with HCM and SAM (HCMSAM+) have higher NT‐proBNP and cTnI concentrations than do cats with HCM but without SAM (HCMSAM−). Animals One hundred forty cats with HCM: 70 with SAM and 70 without SAM. Methods Retrospective case‐to‐case study. Cats were recruited if diagnosed with HCM by echocardiography and results were available for NT‐proBNP or cTnI concentrations or both. Cats with SAM were matched to those without SAM for clinical presentation, left atrial (LA) size and left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening. Results A total of 119 NT‐proBNP and 123 cTnI results were available. The HCMSAM+ cats had higher median concentrations than did HCMSAM− cats for NT‐proBNP (729 pmoL/L; interquartile range [IQR], 275‐1467 versus 65 pmoL/L; IQR, 25‐271; P

Introduction: The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the oxidative stress markers and the level of oxidative DNA damage in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer. Materials/Methods: Sixty-two subjects matched for age and gender, including 31 patients with head and neck cancer and 31 control patients without cancer symptoms, were enrolled in our study. In our work, the activity of antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as a total antioxidant status (TAS), were estimated. Additionally, an alkaline comet assay was used to measure the level of DNA damage in the group of patients with head and neck cancer and the group of healthy control patients. These tests were performed on a blood sample with and without prior incubation of dinitratebis (1-phenyl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-N1pyrazol-κN2)cooper(II). Results: Significant increases of SOD, GPX CAT, TAS (P

Background The case report describes a rare congenital anomaly, crossed fused renal ectopia (CFRE), with coexistence of two other abnormalities – atypical portal vein and coccygeal vertebrae malformation in a domestic cat. The concomitance of those 3 congenital defects has not been described previously. Case presentation An 8-month-old female, domestic cat suffering from chronic diarrhea was referred to the diagnostic imaging unit. The patient showed no other clinical symptoms. An abdominal ultrasonographic examination was performed in order to evaluate the condition of abdominal organs, particularly the gastrointestinal tract. The ultrasound examination showed an ectopic duplex kidney at instead of kidneys in their typical location. Computed tomography (CT) with angiographic phase and excretory urography was requested to evaluate the condition of the kidneys and ureters. The final diagnosis was CFRE, atypical portal vein and coccygeal deformation in an asymptomatic cat with no changes in renal function and normal blood parameters. Conclusions Crossed fused renal ectopia is a rare congenital anomaly and is easily detectable by an abdominal ultrasonographic examination and CT, which allows more complete assessment of both anatomical relations and secretory function of the kidney. The occurrence of CFRE, abnormal portal vein and spinal malformation in a clinically healthy patient is the evidence that congenital malformations may simultaneously involve various, not directly related structures and systems, without significant influence on blood and urine parameters. Thus the most useful tool in the evaluation of the morphological and functional changes is the diagnostic imaging, especially contrast enhanced CT. Our results show that renal fusions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of caudal abdominal masses.

Background: Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISSs) are mesenchymal tumors that can occur in cats after injections of different medical agents and are easily prone to recurrence.Aim: The aims of this study were to report treatment outcomes for cats with feline injection-site sarcomas (FISSs) treated with both bleomycin and cisplatin, per adjuvant electrochemotherapy (ECT) protocol.Methods: The medical records of cats with a diagnosis of FISS that were treated with ECT using both bleomycin and cisplatin were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 27 cats were available for statistical evaluation of their response. The cats received intravenous 20 mg/m2 bleomycin, and the tumor bed and margins were infiltrated with cisplatin at the dose of 0.5 mg/cm2. Then, the trains of permeabilizing biphasic electric pulses lasting 50 + 50 μseconds each were delivered in bursts of 1,300 V/cm using caliper electrodes under sedation. A second session was performed 2 weekslater.Results: Side effects were limited to local inflammation in three cats. Three cats developed local tumor recurrence at days 180, 180, and 545 after surgery, two cats developed recurrence and metastases at 100 and 505 days after surgery, and two cats experienced distant metastases. A median time to recurrence could not be calculated as over 80% of the study population remained disease free or were censored due to death from other causes. Mean survival time was 985 days, and median cumulative survival for all cases was 1,000 days.Conclusion: When compared to historical controls, the results of this study demonstrate the superior rates of tumorfree survival and disease-free interval. This adjuvant therapy could be a useful addition to the current options for FISS in consideration of its efficacy, limited toxicity, and ease of administration. Keywords: Bleomycin, Cat, Cisplatin, Electrochemotherapy, Sarcoma.

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a psychophysical test used to quantify somatosensory sensation under normal or pathological conditions including osteoarthritis (OA).OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies using QST in healthy and osteoarthritic cats, registered at Systematic Review Research Facility (#26-06-2017).DESIGN: Hierarchical models with random intercepts for each individual study extracted through the systematic review were fit to subject-level data; QST measures were contrasted between healthy and osteoarthritic cats. Four bibliographic databases were searched; quality and risk of bias assessment were performed using pre-established criteria.RESULTS: Six articles were included; most were of high quality and low risk of bias. Punctate tactile threshold (n=70) and mechanical temporal summation (n=35) were eligible for analysis. Cats with OA have lower punctate tactile threshold [mean difference (95%HDI): -44 (-60; -26) grams] and facilitated temporal summation of pain [hazard ratio (95%HDI): 5.32 (2.19; 14) times] when compared with healthy cats. The effect of sex and body weight on sensory sensitivity remained inconclusive throughout all analyses. Due to the correlation between age and OA status, it remains difficult to assess the effect of OA on sensory sensitivity, independently of age.CONCLUSIONS: Clear and transparent reporting using guidelines are warranted. Similar to people, centralized sensitization is a feature of OA in cats. Future studies should try to elucidate the age effect on feline OA. Research with natural OA in cats is promising with potential to benefit feline health and welfare, and improve translatability to clinical research.

Endophthalmitis is one of the most devastating diagnoses in veterinary and human ophthalmology. Ocular ultrasound is an effective and non-invasive technique used for evaluating the structures of the eye and the surrounding tissues, especially when the development of ocular opacities in conditions such as corneal disease, uveitis, cataracts or trauma prevent or limit the use of ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The present study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonographic characteristics of endophthalmitis in cats and to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography in the selection of treatment methods in such cases. Sixty cats (90 eyes) of different breeds were presented with bilateral (30 cats) and unilateral (30 cats; OD=10, OS=20) endophthalmitis. The mean age ± SEM at the initial presentation was 13.46±1.69 months (range, 2 - 72 months). After a thorough ophthalmic examination, the ultrasonographic evaluation using a high frequency (7.5-10 MHz) micro-convex probe was conducted to evaluate the concurrent ocular abnormalities in the anterior and posterior eye segments. After completing the ultrasonographic examination, the treatment protocol was applied. It was concluded that ocular ultrasonographic evaluation was found suitable in the diagnosis of endophthalmitis in cats and for the selection of the treatment protocol.

The aim of the study to evaluate 181 cases of different types of fractures in age and sex of the different breeds that were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, over the years 2014 -2018. From a total of 734 clinical cases, 181 were diagnosed as fractures. From cases, dogs represented 49.72% (90/181), whereas cats represent 18.23% (33/181) and birds represented 22.09% (40/ 181). The etiology of the fractures multifactorial, but car accidents represented the main cause of fractures particularly in dogs. Femoral fractures were reported as the most prevalent types of fractures that represented 26.51% (48/181), followed by fractures in radius-ulna 19.33% (35/181), tibia-fibula 13.81% (25/181) and the pelvis 9.94% (18/181). All the cases were diagnosed on the bases of case history, clinical signs, physical examination and finally confirmed by using digital X-ray which offered an excellent scope and contrast than the traditional method. From a total of 181 cases, 6 cases were found hopeless, 45 cases underwent surgical internal fixation and the remaining 130 cases were fixed by external coaptation. Internal fixations were found to be very convenient and without any difficulties, on the contrary to the cases with external cooptation were not. We recorded postoperative inflammation in 4 cases, as well as mal-union was recorded in 5 cases and incomplete alignment in 2 cases was found. We concluded that fractures in pet animals are common in Sulaimani province, which must be considered, and the best-employed methods of fracture repair were the internal fixation techniques, particularly intramedullary pinning. The aim of the study to evaluate 181 cases of different types of fractures in age and sex of the different breeds that were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, over the years 2014 -2018. From a total of 734 clinical cases, 181 were diagnosed as fractures. From cases, dogs represented 49.72% (90/181), whereas cats represent 18.23% (33/181) and birds represented 22.09% (40/ 181). The etiology of the fractures multifactorial, but car accidents represented the main cause of fractures particularly in dogs. Femoral fractures were reported as the most prevalent types of fractures that represented 26.51% (48/181), followed by fractures in radius-ulna 19.33% (35/181), tibia-fibula 13.81% (25/181) and the pelvis 9.94% (18/181). All the cases were diagnosed on the bases of case history, clinical signs, physical examination and finally confirmed by using digital X-ray which offered an excellent scope and contrast than the traditional method. From a total of 181 cases, 6 cases were found hopeless, 45 cases underwent surgical internal fixation and the remaining 130 cases were fixed by external coaptation. Internal fixations were found to be very convenient and without any difficulties, on the contrary to the cases with external cooptation were not. We recorded postoperative inflammation in 4 cases, as well as mal-union was recorded in 5 cases and incomplete alignment in 2 cases was found. We concluded that fractures in pet animals are common in Sulaimani province, which must be considered, and the best-employed methods of fracture repair were the internal fixation techniques, particularly intramedullary pinning.

BACKGROUND: A negative potential is occasionally recorded in humans and animals with profound deafness during brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAER) tests if loud intensities are used. This acoustically evoked short latency negative response (ASNR) is hypothesized to be of saccular origin. The sensitivity to sound of vestibular end organs is also used to produce vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), a test that evaluates vestibular function. The same saccular origin is accepted also for VEMP. CASE PRESENTATION: A neutered male white domestic short hair cat presented with profound deafness and an ASNR in the left ear during BAER test performed when he was 8 months old. BAER tracings were substantially unchanged at the age of 12 years, immediately before euthanasia that was requested by the owner for the presence of an unrelated neoplastic disorder. The cat underwent a complete post-mortem necropsy including histopathology of the middle and inner ears. Histopathologic results confirmed the presence of a cochleosaccular degeneration of the left ear while the cochlea and sacculus of the right ear and the utriculus and semicircular canals of both ears were histologically normal. CONCLUSIONS: This case report describes the auditory and histopathologic findings of a cat that showed an ASNR during BAER test despite the presence of cochleosaccular deafness. These results confirm that a saccular origin for the ASNR in this case, and in general in cats and dogs with congenital deafness associated with white pigmentation, is improbable. The hypothesis that the sacculus is the vestibular end organ responsible for the generation of the ASNR and VEMP in humans comes mainly from animal studies. The findings in this report may change the clinical interpretation of the results of BAER and VEMP not only in companion animals, but in humans as well., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Objective: The study aims to investigate the protective role of pycnogenol extract against liver damage in whole-body gamma-irradiated rats by assessing DNA damage, histopathological changes and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Rats were irradiated to a single fraction 900 cGy dose of gamma radiation. The pycnogenol extract was dissolved 5% DMSO and daily administrated before starting irradiation. The pycnogenol was administered orally via a gastric tube at a dose of 37.5 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg in 24, 48 and 72 h before irradiation. Irradiation was applied single fraction using Cobalt-60 teletherapy device. The animals were divided into ten groups that included control, pycnogenol extract groups only irradiation group (γ-ray) and pycnogenol extract + γ-ray groups. DNA damage, histopathological changes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver tissue of rats were evaluated three days after irradiation Results: Our results obtained that pycnogenol extract was induced to liver damage depend on pycnogenol extract dose, but the pycnogenol extract + γ-ray groups were significantly ameliorated the changes induced in liver antioxidant system; CAT, SOD and MDA. Also, the P300+γ-ray was significantly reduced irradiation-induced liver injury and it was possible to observed significantly preservation in the histopathological evaluation. The pycnogenol extract groups were significantly increased to comet parameter depend on pycnogenol doses compared to control. The pycnogenol extract + γ-ray were significantly decreased the comet parameter compared to the γ-ray group. Conclusion: The administration of pycnogenol extract might provide substantial protection against radiation-induced oxidative, DNA damage and histopathological changes in the liver.

Background and Aim: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is one of the common cat diseases. The aim of this study was to detect feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) as a cause of FLUTD in Sleman Regency, which is a problem in the population. Materials and Methods: Seventy-three cats with FLUTD symptoms were used from seven veterinary practices in Sleman Regency. The logging of each cat's medical history, clinical examination, urinalysis, routine blood screening, and ultrasonography was conducted to diagnose the cause of FLUTD. Results: The percentages of diseases causing FLUTD included FIC 21.9%, urolithiasis 57.5%, urinary tract infection (UTI) 16.4%, neoplasia 1.4%, trauma 1.4%, and nervous disorders 1.4%. Conclusion: FIC, one of the causes of FLUTD, is found in cats and has become a problem among the cat population in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Various handling and preventive efforts should be undertaken against the disease.

A 12-year-old female domestic short-haired cat was presented due to weight loss, anorexia, and tachypnea. Complete blood count revealed severe anemia, leukocytosis with massive undifferentiated blast cells, and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration showed acute myeloid leukemia, subclassified as monoblastic leukemia (M5a) based on the outcomes of the cytochemistry examinations. The SNAP feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) test using whole blood was negative. In addition, FeLV/FIV proviral polymerase chain reaction test using bone marrow aspirate was also negative. Although the cat was treated with doxorubicin, cytosine arabinoside, and prednisolone, anemia did not improve without blood transfusion. The owner declined further treatment after 2 months, and the cat died a few days later.

Background Circumcaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly resulting from the persistence of embryonic venous system. This anomaly is characterized by running of affected ureter around caudal vena cava (CVC). Case presentation In this report, circumcaval ureter was found in a 2‐year‐old female cat attending as normal sample group in another research. This cat passed all health checkup protocols before computed tomography (CT) was performed. Conclusion The contrast‐enhanced computed tomographic (cCT) images clearly revealed the dislocation of the right ureter that course around CVC and uterine body. This is the first report of feline circumcaval concurrent with circumuterine ureter detected by cCT., In this report, we have found the circumcaval ureter in a 2‐year‐old female cat attending as normal sample group in another research. This cat passed all health checkup protocols before computed tomography (CT) was performed. The contrast‐enhanced computed tomographic (cCT) images clearly revealed the dislocation of the right ureter that course around CVC and uterine body. This is the first report of feline circumcaval concurrent with circumuterine ureter detected by cCT.