American journal of veterinary research最新文献

Objective: To characterize changes in the hepatic lipid profile and metabolic pathways associated with increasing hepatic fat accumulation in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

Methods: Untargeted lipidomic analysis was conducted using LC-MS-MS on liver samples from bearded dragons with varying hepatic fat content. Hepatic fat percentage was calculated from digital image analysis of scanned histopathology slides. After data normalization, associations between lipids and hepatic fat percentages were assessed using serial linear models adjusted for false discovery rate, volcano plots, and principal component analysis. Changes in fatty acyl chains of triacylglycerols and phospholipids were characterized graphically using bubble plots. Enrichment and pathway analyses were also performed to examine potential disruptions in lipid metabolic pathways.

Results: 36 central bearded dragons were sampled, and 976 lipid molecules were identified and quantified. Triacylglycerols were the most abundant and exhibited significant increases in concentrations and changes in fatty acyl chain characteristics with higher hepatic fat content. Notably, ether-linked glycerolipids were significantly enriched with increasing fat content. Phospholipids, especially phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylinositols, demonstrated a negative association with hepatic fat accumulation, but fatty acyl chains remained stable. Sphingomyelins were also decreased with increasing hepatic fat.

Conclusions: This study shows some significant shifts in the hepatic lipidome of bearded dragons with increased hepatic fat, mainly involving glycerolipids, phospholipids, and sphingolipids.

Clinical relevance: These findings reveal both shared and unique features when compared to mammalian and avian fatty liver disease and suggest species-specific lipid adaptive mechanisms.

Objective: To determine the effects of 2 storage protocols on postmortem cardiac morphology.

Methods: 11 hearts were used and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: refrigeration for 7 days at 4 °C (group 1) or frozen for 6 days at -20 °C (group 2). Hearts were evaluated for weight, ventricular and intraventricular septal wall thickness, and valvular thickness circumference. The hearts in group 1 were measured daily for 7 days, whereas the hearts in group 2 were measured on day 0, frozen for 6 days, and thawed at ambient temperature overnight and remeasured on day 7.

Results: The effect of day had a significant impact on left ventricular (LV) apex thickness for both groups 1 and 2. The LV apex thickness was reduced by approximately 1.9 mm (group 1) and 0.8 mm (group 2). Day also had a significant effect on LV midwall in group 1; however, it was not significant until day 6, indicating a longer period of tissue stability compared to LV apex.

Conclusions: The LV apex was the first parameter to change; however, it is important to take into consideration that the majority of the parameters did not change significantly when determining a timeline. This study found refrigeration as a viable option for short-term storage depending on collection timeframe.

Clinical relevance: This study is clinically relevant as it gives veterinarians time to assess necropsied tissue.

Objective: Quantify the concentration of α2-macroglobulin (A2M), immunomodulatory cytokines, and TGF-β1 factors in 4 commercially available autologous blood-based products including conditioned A2M (CA2M; Alpha2EQ; Astaria Global), autologous protein solution (APS; Pro-Stride; Zoetis), platelet-rich plasma (PRP; Restigen; Zoetis), and autologous conditioned plasma (ACP; Arthrex ACP). We hypothesized that CA2M would have higher concentrations of A2M and lower concentrations of cytokines and growth factors compared to APS, PRP, and ACP.

Methods: Blood was obtained from 6 healthy, adult horses and processed into CA2M, APS, PRP, and ACP. The concentration of immunomodulatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, and TNF-α, and the concentration of the growth factor TGF-β1 were quantified using immunoassays. The concentration of the IL-1 receptor antagonist was quantified using ELISA. The concentration of A2M was quantified using mass spectrometry.

Results: No differences in the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17a were found. Median TGF-β1 was significantly higher in APS (10,801 pg/mL; P < .05), PRP (6,219 pg/mL; P < .05), and ACP (5,263 pg/mL; P < .05) compared to CA2M (2,090 pg/mL). The IL-1 receptor antagonist was significantly higher in APS (58.78 ng/mL) and PRP (40.45 ng/mL). Median A2M concentration was significantly higher in APS (4.08 mg/mL; P < .001) compared to CA2M (1.99 mg/mL).

Conclusions: Autologous blood-based products have notably different immunomodulatory and growth factor profiles. These differences likely reflect variable concentrations of platelets and WBCs, as well as processing methods.

Clinical relevance: Equine veterinarians should be aware of the constituents of the different orthobiologics available before use.

Objective: To survey academic journals for the presence and clarity of author instructions for submitting veterinary systematic reviews.

Methods: Instructions to authors for submitting systematic reviews were surveyed across the 10 academic journals publishing the greatest number of veterinary systematic reviews listed in VetSRev, a citation database exclusively listing systematic reviews of topics relevant to veterinary medicine. Two investigators independently reviewed each author instructions section to answer predetermined survey questions. Data were collected and reviewed from October 21, 2023, through April 9, 2024.

Results: Instructions to authors varied across journals, and the requirements for compliance with established reporting guidelines (eg, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) were inconsistent. Four of 10 journals clearly stated the need to follow systematic reporting guidelines, 4 recommended or encouraged the use of guidelines, and 2 had no specific instructions for systematic reviews or reporting guidelines.

Conclusions: Instructions for authors submitting veterinary medical systematic reviews are often incomplete or unclear.

Clinical relevance: In the absence of clear and consistent journal requirements for compliance with established systematic review reporting guidelines, the risk of publishing bias or misleading systematic reviews may be increased, which may negatively impact clinical decision making. Ensuring clear and concise instructions for authors will improve the quality of evidence and reporting. Greater clarity and consistency of author instructions and reporting requirements across all journals and increasing author awareness of the need to use reporting guidelines will improve the quality of veterinary systematic reviews.

Objective: To determine the concordance of 2 point-of-care (POC) analyzers and 2 reference laboratories (RLs) for serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) analysis in dogs. We hypothesized that the Vcheck V200 POC, IDEXX Catalyst POC, and Eurolyser assays would have an acceptable agreement with the IDEXX RL SDMA results.

Methods: This was a prospective study conducted between August 2019 and March 2023. Blood collected from dogs treated at a referral hospital underwent SDMA analysis by 2 POC analyzers (IDEXX Catalyst and Vcheck V200) and 2 RL methods (Eurolyser and IDEXX). Dogs with suspected or known renal disease were preferentially included later in the study.

Results: 75 samples were included in the final analysis. There was a difference in SDMA results obtained from Eurolyser assays but not IDEXX Catalyst POC and Vcheck V200 POC assay compared to IDEXX RL results. When applied to the International Renal Interest Society chronic kidney disease staging classification, there was almost perfect agreement between Eurolyser and Vcheck V200 POC SDMA compared to IDEXX RL SDMA.

Conclusions: While there was a strong to excellent correlation between assays, the results obtained via each assay demonstrated that there may be significant bias and analytical variation affecting the results. However, this may have minimal effect when applied clinically.

Clinical relevance: Analyzer and method-specific reference intervals should be established for SDMA analysis. There is preliminary evidence to support the use of Eurolyser and Vcheck V200 POC SDMA assays in the staging of canine chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To determine if equine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and, if so, to quantify the amount of Dkk-1 in bovine thrombin (BT)-activated PRP and a control platelet lysate created using a freeze-thaw (FT) method.

Methods: 10 adult horses were used in this experimental study. Blood was collected and processed in November 2019 and stored at -80 °C until the ELISAs were performed in October of 2023. Blood was collected from each horse, and PRP was created using a commercially available kit. Known concentrations of platelets were activated using BT or by an FT cycle to create platelet lysates. Dickkopf-1 and platelet-derived growth factor concentrations were measured using ELISAs. Statistics included the Shapiro-Wilks test, Student t tests, linear regression, and Pearson or Spearman correlations (significant at P ≤ .05).

Results: Bovine thrombin created a greater release of Dkk-1 from platelets (250.22 ± 129.09 pg/mL from the combined clot and releasate) than the FT cycle (152.81 ± 62.74 pg/mL). There was a positive correlation between platelet concentration and Dkk-1 for both the FT (r = 0.69) and the BT activation method (r = 0.62). Platelet-derived growth factor was released in FT- and BT-activated PRP (FT = 530.35 ± 253.96 pg/mL; BT = 1391.05 ± 661.50 pg/mL).

Conclusions: Dickkopf-1 is present in equine PRP and is correlated with platelet concentration. Although more investigation of the active proteins in PRP is needed, this study provides the first evidence that equine platelets contain Dkk-1.

Clinical relevance: Equine PRP contains Dkk-1, which could contribute to PRP's mechanism of action.

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global threat driven by factors such as improper antimicrobial use in humans and animals, is projected to cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050. For behavior change, public health messages must be tailored for diverse audiences. Generative AI may have the potential to create culturally and linguistically suited AMR awareness messages. This study assesses ChatGPT-4's capability for crafting such content.

Methods: 4 veterinary public health professionals from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds identified top AMR contributors and audiences in their countries. A fifth person developed and refined ChatGPT-4 prompts to create AMR awareness content in US English, Ukrainian, Luganda, Ugandan English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin, using behavior change models. The content was rated for accuracy, applicability, language, cultural fit, originality, clarity, persuasiveness, and overall quality.

Results: ChatGPT-4 created 2 content types (long and short) per language for social media, television ads, and WhatsApp. Quality ranged from poor to excellent. Shorter content outperformed longer ones. Performance varied across languages, with abysmal results for Yoruba and excellent for Pidgin. Problematic issues like simplistic language and inappropriate terminology were identified.

Conclusions: ChatGPT-4 has the potential to generate content and training aids. However, the varied quality requires professional verification. Future research should optimize prompts and incorporate expert and audience insights for better results. These preliminary findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size and subjectivity.

Clinical relevance: ChatGPT-4 can quickly create tailored content for global AMR awareness. More research is needed to explore generative AI for One Health messaging.

Objective: Enhancing ventilatory effort during pulmonary function testing can help reveal flow limitations not evident in normal tidal breathing. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of using a CO2/O2 gas mixture to enhance tidal breathing with a barometric whole-body plethysmography system in both healthy cats and those with feline lower airway disease (FLAD).

Methods: This prospective study included healthy cats and those with FLAD, which underwent pulmonary function testing and were exposed to a 10% CO2/90% O2 gas mixture in a barometric whole-body plethysmography chamber, with CO2 concentrations maintained within the target range of 5% to 10%.

Results: A total of 10 healthy cats and 15 FLAD cats were included. In healthy cats, tidal volume, minute volume, peak inspiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow per kilogram body weight increased significantly by medians of 4.3-, 3.5-, 3.1-, and 4.0-fold, respectively (P = .005). Cats with FLAD showed similar results, with 4.1-, 3.2-, 2.8-, and 3.7-fold increases (P < .001). Respiratory rate decreased in both healthy (52 to 40 breaths/min; P = .005) and FLAD cats (57 to 45 breaths/min; P = .04) after CO2 enhancement. All cats tolerated the CO2/O2 gas mixture well, with recovery within 60 to 120 seconds after returning to room air.

Conclusions: A CO2/O2 gas mixture successfully enhanced ventilatory variables in tidal breathing analysis and showed good tolerability in both healthy and FLAD cats.

Clinical relevance: This approach provides a practical option for short-term breathing effort enhancement in cats for clinical settings.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic findings in the treatment of live oligotrophic and pseudoarthrosis nonunions in cats using a linear external fixator.

Methods: The study included 10 cats of various breeds, ages, and sexes that had previously undergone osteosynthesis at another clinic but did not achieve successful results. These cats were diagnosed with nonunion based on clinical and radiographic examinations conducted at the Clinic of the Surgery Department, Siirt University Animal Health Practice and Research Hospital between 2022 and 2023. All included cats presented with clinical and radiographic signs of nonunion fractures. The fractures were categorized as oligotrophic or pseudoarthrosis types of nonunion, requiring further surgical intervention.

Results: All 10 cats recovered successfully without severe complications. Bone healing was completed within an average of 57.8 days, ranging from 47 to 71 days.

Conclusions: This study highlights the effectiveness of linear external fixation in treating nonunion fractures in cats. The method demonstrated a high success rate, with all cases recovering fully.

Clinical relevance: Tailoring the treatment to the animal's size, fracture location, and nonunion classification makes this approach a valuable clinical tool for veterinarians managing such cases.

Objective: To investigate how the blood flow analysis changes by varying the radiation dose of gastric perfusion CT (PCT) and to prove that a low-radiation dose of PCT is feasible.

Methods: 5 Beagle dogs were used in a crossover study with 6 groups of varying radiation doses. Iodixanol was IV administered at 3.0 mL/s, and cine CT was performed for 120 seconds. Blood flow maps were obtained from the acquired images using the maximum slope method.

Results: Significant differences in blood flow were observed between 80 kV at 50 mA and 120 kV at 100 mA and between 80 kV at 100 mA and 120 kV at 100 mA. Visual noise from the low tube current technique was absent in all color maps.

Conclusions: In gastric PCT, blood flow was calculated to be lower with imaging at a low-radiation dose than at a high-radiation dose. By considering that blood flow values change depending on the radiation dose, it was indicated that a low-radiation dose of gastric PCT is feasible.

Clinical relevance: These preliminary findings may have clinical applications in ischemic or oncologic gastric disease noninvasively, at low-radiation doses, and in a short time in the future. Since the contrast medium dose for PCT is low, the diagnostic value of CT examinations can be further improved by performing both conventional CT examinations and PCT at the same time.