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John Donecker,1 Jimmy C Lattimer,2 Lorrie Gaschen,3 Karanvir Singh Aulakh3 1Exubrion Therapeutics, Inc., Buford, GA, USA; 2College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; 3School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USACorrespondence: John DoneckerExubrion Therapeutics, Inc., 5203 Bristol Industrial Way, Buford, GA, 30518 Tel +1-336-552-6027Email jdonecker@exubrion.comObjective: To determine if a repeat intraarticular (IA) injection of a tin-117m colloid radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) agent can be safely given in the same joint 12 months after an initial injection for treatment of canine elbow osteoarthritis (OA), and to evaluate the pain reduction effect of the repeat injection.Methods and Materials: Nine client owned dogs with grade 1 or 2 elbow OA were given an IA injection of tin-117m colloid in both elbows, one of which had been treated ≤ 12 months earlier with the same RSO device. Treatment safety was evaluated by joint fluid analysis at baseline (BL) and at 180 days after treatment, and by urinalysis, CBC, and serum chemistry analysis of diagnostic samples obtained at BL and 180 days. Radiographs, computed tomography, and MRI scans were obtained at BL and 180 days to determine if disease progression differed in elbows given one versus two injections. Clinical response to treatment was assessed subjectively by dog owner responses to the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) survey at BL, 90 and 180 days, and objectively by investigator-conducted force plate (FP) analysis of dogs at BL, 90, and 180 days.Results: All post-treatment urinalysis, CBC and clinical chemistry results were within normal ranges. Joint fluid analysis showed a significant (P=0.0411) reduction in the percentage of monocytes at 180 days, consistent with the tin-117m colloid mode of action of apoptosis of pro-inflammatory macrophages at the injection site. There was no significant difference in OA progression in elbows given one or two injections. The treatment success rate was 55.5% (5/9) on day 90 as determined either by CBPI responses or FP analysis, and 66.6% (6/9) on day 180 as determined by FP analysis.Conclusion: The tin-117m colloid can be safely given as a repeat injection 12 months after an initial injection, and can potentially provide a durable therapeutic response in dogs with elbow OA.Keywords: osteoarthritis, canine elbow, radiosynoviorthesis, radionuclide, Canine brief pain inventory, force plate

Research was conducted to examine the spectroscopic measurement of packaging-induced strains in quantum-well laser diodes using a noninvasive optical method. Spectral shifts of optical transitions within the active region were observed via Fourier-transform measurements with intentionally strained laser array devices for 808 nm emission. Results demonstrate that different packaging approaches cause different absolute packaging-induced strains.

A combined Fourier-transform photocurrent spectroscopy and electrical deep level transient spectroscopy was conducted to elucidate deep defect centers in high-power AlGaAs/GaAs laser diode arrays emitting at a wavelength of 808 nanometers. The results revealed a wide array of binding energies between 0.15 and 0.8 eV for step-index and graded-index diode structures. The findings also showed that the operation conditions of the devices are proportional to the operation time.

Reasons for performing study: Parascaris spp. infections can lead to life-threatening small intestinal impactions in foals. Currently available diagnostic techniques cannot estimate the magnitude of an ascarid burden, and hence identify foals potentially at risk of developing impactions. Objectives: To describe and evaluate an ultrasonographic transabdominal scoring technique for monitoring of ascarid burdens in foals and to perform a cost-benefit analysis of the application of this technique. Study design: A transabdominal ultrasonographic technique was validated against ascarid worm counts from 10 foals aged 162–294 days. In a treatment trial, 15 foals were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups: ivermectin, oxibendazole and no treatment. Blinded ultrasound examinations were performed daily for 5 consecutive days following treatment. Foals were examined ultrasonographically twice by the same investigator, and by different investigators for intra- and interobserver agreement evaluation. Cost-benefit analyses identified threshold values for the probability of ascarid impactions above which the screening method becomes cost-effective. Methods: The ultrasound technique used 3 locations along the ventral midline. An ascarid scoring system was established that assessed the magnitude of ascarid burden ranging from 1–4. The method was validated against worm burdens of 10 worms and above with calculation of diagnostic specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values. Treatment trial data were evaluated statistically using mixed model analysis. Kappa values were generated for intra- and interobserver agreement. Results: Two consecutive examinations were found to detect worm burdens >10 ascarids reliably. Ascarid scores declined in response to both anthelmintic treatments, although differences were not statistically significant. Kappa values indicated fair to moderate intra- and interobserver agreements. The majority of cost-benefit analyses indicated that ultrasound examinations are cost effective when the probability of ascarid impactions is above a range of 0.0001–0.0082 (i.e. 1 in 10,000 to 8 in 1000 foals). Conclusions: The ultrasonographic screening techniques can be a useful tool for monitoring ascarid burdens in foals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for performing study: Although antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is the most frequently observed adverse effect of antimicrobial therapy in horses, few multicentred studies on the prevalence of AAD have been performed. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of AAD in horses that developed diarrhoea after antimicrobial treatment for nondiarrhoeic conditions and identify the antimicrobials used. Methods: The 2009 database of 3 referral hospitals was searched to identify nonhospitalised horses (weanling age or older) treated with antimicrobials for nongastrointestinal conditions. Horses with these criteria that presented with diarrhoea during 2009 were included in the study. Additional information, including antimicrobial administered and results of faecal pathogen testing, was gathered on each hospitalised case. Results: Of the 5251 horses treated with antimicrobials for nongastrointestinal signs, 32 were diagnosed with probable AAD, a prevalence of 0.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.86%). The AAD-diagnosed horses had an 18.8% (6/32) mortality rate. Horses with AAD had been treated for an average of 4.2 days. The most frequently used antimicrobials in horses with AAD were gentamicin in combination with penicillin (n = 7), enrofloxacin (n = 7) and doxycycline (n = 4). Clostridium difficile was identified in faecal samples from 4 horses, 2 of which died and Salmonella from 3 horses. Conclusions: Results indicated that the prevalence of AAD is low. Any antimicrobial class commonly used in equine practice is a potential cause of equine AAD. Other risk factors, such as opportunistic enteropathogens, may play a part in the development of diarrhoea secondary to antimicrobial usage. Potential relevance: Although the risk of equine AAD is low, this sequela of antimicrobial treatment is possible especially when opportunistic enteropathogens or other risk factors are present. Because drugs from any antimicrobial class can be potentially involved in AAD, clinicians have additional incentive to ensure the judicious use of antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AAVPT Workshop White Paper Committee. Exploration of developmental approaches to companion animal antimicrobials: providing for the unmet therapeutic needs of dogs and cats. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33, 196–201. The American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (AAVPT) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) co-sponsored a workshop to explore approaches for developing companion animal antimicrobials. This workshop was developed in response to the shortage of antimicrobials labeled for dogs and cats, as there is a shortage of approved antimicrobials for the range of infectious diseases commonly treated in small animal practice. The objective of the workshop was to identify alternative approaches to data development to support new indications consistent with the unmet therapeutic needs of dogs and cats. The indications for currently approved antimicrobials do not reflect the broader range of infectious diseases that are commonly diagnosed and treated by the veterinarian. Therefore, the labels for these approved antimicrobials provide limited information to the veterinarian for appropriate therapeutic decision-making beyond the few indications listed. Industry, veterinary practice, and regulatory challenges to the development of new antimicrobial indications were discussed. The workshop resulted in short- and long-term recommendations. Short-term recommendations focus on the use of additional data considerations for product labeling. Long-term recommendations center on legislative or regulatory legal initiatives. The workshop recommendations will need collaboration from industry, academia, and regulatory authorities and a legal shift in the drug approval and availability processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]