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Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most-prevalent cation in the body and it is found predominantly in bone but also in muscle and neuronal tissue; plasma and red blood cells contain less than 1% of the total body Mg. Disorders of Mg regulation are rarely reported in critically ill foals. The aims of this study were: 1- to evaluate total plasma Mg concentration in healthy foals during the first 72 hours of life; 2- to evaluate total plasma Mg concentration during the first 72 hours of hospitalization in sick foals affected by perinatal asphyxia syndrome, prematurity/dismaturity, or sepsis; 3- to compare total plasma Mg concentration between healthy and sick foals; 4- to evaluate the association of Mg concentration at admission with survival and primary clinical diagnosis. Mg concentration measured in healthy foals (n=20) did not show any time-dependent changes. In sick foals (n=97), Mg concentration evaluated at T0 was statistically higher than Mg concentrations measured at subsequent times. Foals affected by PAS (n=20) had a Mg concentration significantly higher (p

Urine samples were collected from 66 feline hospital admissions by cystocentesis or free catch, and analyzed (UPC, HRE). Within-assay imprecision for high (H), medium (M) and low (L) concentrations, between-assay imprecision, linearity/accuracy and percentage recovery were determined for albumin. Albumin was assessed by urine to creatinine ratio (UAC), percentage (ALB%) and mg/dl (ALB mg/dl). Cases were categorized: a) as chronic kidney disease with (CKDC) and without complications (CKD), feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) or other, and b) as proteinuric (P), borderline proteinuric (BP), or not proteinuric (NP), and c) by type of sediment active (A) or not active (NA). Results: HRE within-assay CV was 2.58%(H), 5.31%(M), 3.42%(L), between-assay CV was 3.52%, recovery percentage was 97%, 93% and 109% for high, medium and low concentration, respectively, and linearity was high (r=0.99). Compared with UPC at different cut-off values, HRE showed higher specificity and PPV but lower sensitivity and NPV than dipstick to measure proteinuria. Dipsticks showed frequent false positives compared with HRE. Based on UPC, measures of albuminuria were higher in proteinurics than non-proteinurics, and ALB% correlated to UPC (r=0.35, R2=0.12, p

Cyanobacteria are characterized by high iron content. In this research, we collected ten commercial samples of Arthrospira spp. sold as food supplement to determine iron content and assess whether iron speciation showed variability among samples and changed respect to A. platensis grown in controlled conditions. Particular attention was also paid to phycocyanin, as an iron-binding protein. In six of the ten samples, 14 essential and non-essential trace elements were analysed using ICP-MS. Iron content measured in samples using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) varied from 353 (sample S5) to 1459 (sample S7) µg g−1 dry weight and was in the range of those reported by other authors in commercial supplements. Iron speciation was studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by the analysis of the collected fraction for the determination of iron by AAS and for protein separation using SDS-PAGE. Overlapping chromatographic profiles were obtained for total proteins, phycocyanin and iron, although quantitative differences were evidenced among the samples analysed. In most samples, iron was mainly bound to ligands with high molecular mass; however, in four samples iron was also bound to ligands with low molecular mass. In fractions containing the most relevant iron burden, the principal protein was phycocyanin, confirming its role as an iron-binding protein in commercial samples.

Prevention is essential to reduce Colorectal Cancer (CRC) mortality. We previously reported a panel of four genes: CEACAM6, LGALS4, TSPAN8, COL1A2 (CELTiC) able to discriminate patients with CRC. Here, we assessed the CELTiC panel by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in the blood of 174 healthy subjects, who resulted negative to the faecal immunochemical test (FITN). Using non-parametric statistic and multinomial logistic models, the FITN were compared to previously analysed subjects: 36 false positive FIT (NFIT), who were negative at colonoscopy, 36 patients with low risk lesions (LR) and 92 patients with high risk lesions or CRC (HR/CRC). FITN showed a significantly lower expression of the four genes when compared to HR/CRC. Moreover, FITN showed a significantly lower expression of TSPAN8 and COL1A2 compared to NFIT and LR patients. The multinomial logistic model confirmed that TSPAN8 alone specifically discriminated FITN from NFIT, LR and HR/CRC, while LGALS4 was able to differentiate FITN from false positive FIT. Finally, ROC curves analysis of the comparisons between FITN and HR/CRC, LR or NFIT reported AUC greater than 0.87, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 76%, respectively. The CELTiC panel was confirmed a useful tool to identify CRC patients and to discriminate false FIT positive subjects.

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a newly discovered paramyxovirus infecting domestic cats and its role in the pathogenesis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been suggested, however not confirmed. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the renal damage associated with FeMV infection in cats. In this retrospective study, clinical and clinicopathological data were compared among 14 FeMV naturally infected, 21 CKD and 22 healthy cats. FeMV positive cats had serum chemistry analytes and main urine chemistry results similar to the healthy subjects. FeMV positive cats had significantly decreased urine specific gravity (median 1054, range 1022&ndash, 1065) and urine creatinine (median 227.23 mg/dL, range 83.02&ndash, 489.75) when compared with healthy cats (median 1067, range 1040&ndash, 1080, P &lt, 0.001, median 406.50 mg/dL, range 195.32&ndash, 575.58, P &lt, 0.001, respectively). Urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) results of FeMV and CKD were not different (median 0.20, range 0.08&ndash, 1.03, median 0.23, range 0.10&ndash, 0.80, respectively), however UPC results were significantly increased in both groups, if compared with healthy cats (median 0.1, range 0.04&ndash, 0.250, P &lt, 0.01). Based on clinical data, serum creatinine concentration, urine specific gravity and UPC results, CKD was suspected by clinicians in 3/14 FeMV cats. Urine protein sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in 10/13 (77%) FeMV cats indicated a tubular pattern, with a decrease of uromodulin and an increase in the number and intensity of low molecular weight proteins. FeMV infection can be associated with different grades of renal dysfunction ranging from mild tubular proteinuria with less concentrated urine to azotemia in cats younger than those typically affected by CKD.

Spontaneous mammary tumors are very common in bitches. The involvement of oxidative stress and the function of antioxidant enzymes in cancerogenesis have been studied in depth in human medicine, while data in veterinary medicine are still fragmentary. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and the expression of superoxide dismutases (Cu-ZnSOD and MnSOD) and the activity of catalase (CAT) in canine mammary tumors in comparison with the adjacent healthy tissue. Six female dogs (mean age 10.4 years) were included in this study. After surgery, fresh tumor and healthy tissue samples were immediately frozen in dry ice and stored at −80°C for biochemical analyses, while the remaining parts were used for histopathological analysis. Enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometric assays and protein expression by western blotting. In canine mammary tumors, Cu-ZnSOD activity and expression increased significantly compared with healthy control tissues (p=0.03). MnSOD showed a significantly lower activity in tumoral tissues at stage 2 (p

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disorder in middle-aged to older dogs. Treatment options, similar to those for humans, include insulin injection, dietary changes and exercise. Since some diabetic dogs may develop humoral immune responses to exogenous insulin resulting in treatment failure, the use of alternative medicine could represent an interesting new therapeutic strategy for DM in addition to the traditional insulin therapy. The main objective of this report was to evaluate a new therapeutic strategy for DM, based on the association of insulin injections with an orally administered extract of Boswellia serrata to improve glycemic control in a diabetic dog. A nine year old female neutered mixed breed dog diagnosed with DM was treated with increasing doses of a porcine insulin zinc suspension starting from 0.2 U/kg up to 0.6 U/kg q 12 hours. Twenty weeks after the start of insulin therapy the duration of effect and glucose nadir were ideal and clinical symptoms had disappeared but hyperglycemia, although less severe, persisted. Supplementation with a dry extract from the gum- resin of Boswellia serrata was initiated, at a dosage of 15 mg/kg q 12 hours, to improve insulin sensitivity or possible remaining endogenous insulin secretion. B. serrata supplementation led to good glycemic control. No side-effect or adverse reaction were observed during the study. The present case report provides the first evidence in veterinary medicine of a positive effect of dietary supplementation with boswellic acids associated with traditional insulin therapy on glycemic control in a diabetic dog. A major pitfall of the study is the lack of a control. More extensive clinical trials are required to provide definitive evidence of B. serrata efficacy. Key words: diabetes mellitus; dog; boswellic acids; glycemic control  VPLIV DODAJANJA BOSVELIJE ( Boswellia serrata ) OB ZDRAVLJENJU Z INZULINOM NA UREJANJE RAVNI GLUKOZE V KRVI PRI PSU S SLADKORNO BOLEZNIJO Sladkorna bolezen oz. diabetes mellitus (DM) je pogosta motnja pri psih v srednjih letih in starejAiih psih. MoA¾nosti zdravljenja, ki so podobne kot pri ljudeh, vkljuAujejo dodajanje inzulina, spremembe v prehrani in telesno aktivnost. Ker lahko nekateri psi s sladkorno boleznijo razvijejo imunski odziv na dodajanje inzulina, kar lahko vodi do neuspeAinega zdravljenja, lahko uporaba alternativne medicine predstavlja zanimivo novo metodo zdravljenja DM poleg tradicionalnega zdravljenja z inzulinom. Glavni cilj raziskave je bil ovrednotiti novo metodo zdravljenja DM, ki temelji na hkratnem dodajanju inzulina in peroralnem dodajanju izvleAka bosvelije ( Boswellia serrata ) za izboljAianje urejanja ravni glukoze v krvi pri psu s sladkorno boleznijo. Devet let stara sterilizirana samica meAiane pasme, ki je bila diagnosticirana s sladkorno boleznijo, je bila zdravljena z naraAiAajoAimi odmerki suspenzije praAiiAjega inzulina in cinka (od 0,2 E/kg do 0,6 U/kg), ki jih je dobivala vsakih 12 ur. Dvajset tednov po zaAetku zdravljenja z inzulinom so bili uAinki in najniA¾ja vrednost izmerjene glukoze v normalnih mejah vrednosti, kliniAni simptomi so izginili, le hiperglikemija je bila Aie vedno prisotna, vendar pa je bila manj resna. Dodatek suhega izvleAka iz gumijeve smole bosvelije Boswellia serrata v odmerku 15 mg/kg vsakih 12 ur je poveAal obAutljivost na inzulin oz. morebitne preostanke endogenega izloAanja inzulina. Dodatek B. serrata je pozitivno vplival na nadzorovanje sladkorne bolezni. Med zdravljenjem niso bili opaA¾eni stranski ali nezaA¾eleni uAinki. PoroAilo o opisanem primeru vsebuje prve dokaze o pozitivnem uAinku prehranskega dopolnila z bosveliAnimi kislinami v veterinarski medicini, povezanimi z obiAajnim zdravljenjem z inzulinom, pri nadzoru glukoze v krvi pri psu s sladkorno boleznijo. Najbolj neugoden del te Aitudije je odsotnost kontrole. Za zagotovitev dokonAnega dokaza o uAinkovitosti B. serrata so potrebni obseA¾nejAii kliniAni poskusi. KljuAne besede: diabetes mellitus ; pes; bosveliAna kislina; nadzor sladkorne bolezn

Objectives The aims of this study were to validate a semi-automated high-resolution electrophoretic technique to quantify urinary albumin in healthy and diseased cats, and to evaluate its diagnostic performance in cases of proteinuria and renal diseases. Methods Urine samples were collected from 88 cats (healthy; chronic kidney disease [CKD]; lower urinary tract disease [LUTD]; non-urinary tract diseases [OTHER]). Urine samples were routinely analysed and high-resolution electrophoresis (HRE) was performed. Within-assay and between-assay variability, linearity, accuracy, recovery and the lowest detectable and quantifiable bands were calculated. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was also performed. Results All coefficients of variation were Conclusions and relevance HRE is an accurate and precise method that could be used to measure albuminuria in cats. UAC was useful to correctly classify proteinuria and to discriminate between healthy and diseased cats. HRE might also provide additional information on urine proteins with a profile of all proteins (albumin and globulins) to aid clinicians in the diagnosis of diseases characterised by proteinuria.

Characterisation of the physiologic equine amniotic fluid (AF) proteome is a prerequisite to study its changes during diseases and discover new biomarkers. The aim of this study was to identify by a proteomic approach the most abundant proteins of equine AF. AF samples were collected at parturition from 24 healthy mares that delivered healthy foals. All samples were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) on 4–12% gels. A pool of the 24 samples, after SDS-PAGE, was cut in 25 slices, trypsin-digested and analysed by mass spectrometry (MS) for protein identification. Mean AF protein concentration was 1.96±1.12g/L. Thirty-four proteins were successfully identified by MS and subsequently categorised according to Gene Ontology (GO). Twelve proteins (e.g. fibronectin, lumican, thrombospondin and fibulin) belonged to or interacted with the extracellular matrix (ECM) playing an important role in the development of foetal tissues. Most of the remaining proteins were classified as transport (e.g. albumin, major allergen Equ c1 and alpha-fetoprotein) delivering nutrients, ions and lipids essential for foetal growth and development. Among these proteins, major allergen Equ c1 is widely studied in human medicine because it induces Ig-E mediated type I allergic reaction. The absence of immunoglobulins in equine AF was also confirmed.

Seasonal weight loss (SWL) is the most important limitation to animal production in the Tropical and Mediterranean regions, conditioning producer's incomes and the nutritional status of rural communities. It is of importance to produce strategies to oppose adverse effects of SWL. Breeds that have evolved in harsh climates have acquired tolerance to SWL through selection. Most of the factors determining such ability are related to changes in biochemical pathways as affected by SWL. In this study, a gel based proteomics strategy (BN: Blue-Native Page and 2DE: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) was used to characterize the mitochondrial proteome of the secretory tissue of the goat mammary gland. In addition, we have conducted an investigation of the effects of weight loss in two goat breeds with different levels of adaptation to nutritional stress: Majorera (tolerant) and Palmera (susceptible). The study used Majorera and Palmera dairy goats, divided in 4 sets, 2 for each breed: underfed group fed on wheat straw (restricted diet, so their body weight would be 15-20% reduced by the end of experiment), and a control group fed with an energy-balanced diet. At the end of the experimental period (22 days), mammary gland biopsies were obtained for all experimental groups. The proteomic analysis of the mitochondria enabled the resolution of a total of 277 proteins, and 148 (53%) were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Some of the proteins were identified as subunits of the glutamate dehydrogenase complex and the respiratory complexes I, II, IV, V from mitochondria, as well as numerous other proteins with functions in: metabolism, development, localization, cellular organization and biogenesis, biological regulation, response to stimulus, among others, that were mapped in both BN and 2DE gels. The comparative proteomics analysis enabled the identification of several proteins: NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase 75 kDa subunit and lamin B1 mitochondrial (up-regulated in the Palmera breed), Guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(I)/G(S)/G(T) subunit beta-2 (up-regulated in the Majorera breed) and cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 1, mitochondrial and Chain D, Bovine F1-C8 Sub-Complex Of Atp Synthase (down-regulated in the Majorera breed) as a consequence of weight loss.