Portal Vein/Aorta Ratio in Dogs with Acquired Portosystemic Collaterals

BACKGROUND

The portal vein (PV) diameter increases in humans with portal hypertension (PH). However, there is no evidence of PV enlargement in dogs with PH.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the PV-to-aorta (PV/Ao) ratio in dogs with PH (chronic hepatitis [CH], primary hypoplasia of the PV [PHPV]), in dogs with extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt (EH-CPSS), and in healthy dogs, and to evaluate the relationship between PV/Ao ratio and splenic pulp pressure (SPP).

ANIMALS

Twenty-five dogs with acquired portosystemic collaterals (APSCs; 15 with CH, 10 with PHPV), 32 dogs with EH-CPSS, and 20 healthy dogs.

METHODS

Retrospective study. The PV/Ao ratio was calculated with images obtained by computed tomography. SPP was measured at the time of liver biopsy in 45 dogs.

RESULTS

Median PV/Ao ratio was similar between dogs with CH (1.35, range 1.05-2.01) and healthy dogs (0.95, 0.80-1.15), but differed significantly between the CH group and both the PHPV (0.40, 0.24-0.67) and EH-CPSS groups (0.30, 0.11-0.64) (P < .001). The PV/Ao ratio was significantly lower in the PHPV group than in healthy dogs (P < .05). It also correlated positively with SPP (r_s = 0.71; P < .001). However, there was no intragroup correlation between SPP and the PV/Ao ratio in any group.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The PV/Ao ratio can be evaluated in dogs with APSCs on computed tomography. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between SPP and the PV/Ao ratio in larger groups of dogs with PH and to determine its clinical relevance.

Portal Vein/Aorta Ratio in Dogs with Acquired Portosystemic Collaterals

Background

The portal vein (PV) diameter increases in humans with portal hypertension (PH). However, there is no evidence of PV enlargement in dogs with PH.

Objectives

To measure the PV‐to‐aorta (PV/Ao) ratio in dogs with PH (chronic hepatitis [CH], primary hypoplasia of the PV [PHPV]), in dogs with extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt (EH‐CPSS), and in healthy dogs, and to evaluate the relationship between PV/Ao ratio and splenic pulp pressure (SPP).

Animals

Twenty‐five dogs with acquired portosystemic collaterals (APSCs; 15 with CH, 10 with PHPV), 32 dogs with EH‐CPSS, and 20 healthy dogs.

Methods

Retrospective study. The PV/Ao ratio was calculated with images obtained by computed tomography. SPP was measured at the time of liver biopsy in 45 dogs.

Results

Median PV/Ao ratio was similar between dogs with CH (1.35, range 1.05–2.01) and healthy dogs (0.95, 0.80–1.15), but differed significantly between the CH group and both the PHPV (0.40, 0.24–0.67) and EH‐CPSS groups (0.30, 0.11–0.64) (P < .001). The PV/Ao ratio was significantly lower in the PHPV group than in healthy dogs (P < .05). It also correlated positively with SPP (r_s = 0.71; P < .001). However, there was no intragroup correlation between SPP and the PV/Ao ratio in any group.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The PV/Ao ratio can be evaluated in dogs with APSCs on computed tomography. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between SPP and the PV/Ao ratio in larger groups of dogs with PH and to determine its clinical relevance.

Hepatic and Plasma Endothelin-1 in Dogs with Chronic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Endothelin (ET)-1 is a 21-amino-acid peptide with potent vasoactive properties, which increases intrahepatic resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) or cirrhosis. ET-1 concentrations have not been investigated in dogs with CH.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

This study compared hepatic and plasma ET-1 levels in healthy dogs and in dogs with CH, and examined the relationship between the plasma ET-1 level and portal vein pressure in dogs with CH.

ANIMALS

Fourteen healthy dogs and twenty dogs with CH were used in this study.

METHODS

Prospective case-control study. Hepatic ET-1 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and hepatic and plasma ET-1 levels were assessed using ELISA. Splenic pulp pressure (SPP), as an indicator of portal vein pressure, was measured laparoscopically.

RESULTS

Hepatic ET-1 mRNA levels were 3.7 times higher in dogs with CH than in healthy dogs (P = .008). The median hepatic and plasma ET-1 protein levels were significantly higher in dogs with CH than in healthy dogs (13.20 pg/mg wet liver vs. 3.42 pg/mg wet liver, P = .004, and 0.99 pg/mL vs. 0.71 pg/mL, P = .013, respectively). Moreover, there was a weak but significant correlation between plasma ET-1 level and SPP in dogs with CH (P = .036; r_s = 0.53).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The results indicate that ET-1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension caused by CH.

Intestinal epithelial culture under an air-liquid interface: a tool for studying human and mouse esophagi

This study investigated whether an intestinal epithelial culture method can be applied to mouse and human esophageal cultures. The esophagi harvested from 1-day-old mice and adult humans were maintained in collagen gels. A commercially available culture medium for human embryonic stem cells was used for the human esophageal culture. We discovered that the intestinal epithelial culture method can be successfully applied to both mouse and human esophageal cultures. The long-term cultured esophageal organoids were rod-like luminal structures lined with myofibroblasts. We discovered that regeneration of the esophageal mucosal surface can be almost completely achieved in vitro, and the advantage of this method is that organoid cultures may be generated using host-derived fibroblasts as a niche. This method is a promising tool for mouse and human research in intestinal biology, carcinogenesis, and regenerative medicine.

Invited Article: miniTimeCube

We present the development of the miniTimeCube (mTC), a novel compact neutrino detector. The mTC is a multipurpose detector, aiming to detect not only neutrinos but also fast/thermal neutrons. Potential applications include the counterproliferation of nuclear materials and the investigation of antineutrino short-baseline effects. The mTC is a plastic 0.2% (10)B-doped scintillator (13 cm)(3) cube surrounded by 24 Micro-Channel Plate (MCP) photon detectors, each with an 8 × 8 anode totaling 1536 individual channels/pixels viewing the scintillator. It uses custom-made electronics modules which mount on top of the MCPs, making our detector compact and able to both distinguish different types of events and reject noise in real time. The detector is currently deployed and being tested at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research nuclear reactor (20 MWth) in Gaithersburg MD. A shield for further tests is being constructed, and calibration and upgrades are ongoing. The mTC's improved spatiotemporal resolution will allow for determination of incident particle directions beyond previous capabilities.

The GnRH Antagonist Degarelix Directly Inhibits Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Cell Growth

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (GnRHR) have been found in extrapituitary tissues, including the prostate, where they might exert a local effect on tissue growth. Degarelix is a GnRHR antagonist approved for use in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who need androgen deprivation therapy. The slowing of prostate cell growth is a common goal shared by PCa and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients, and the effect of degarelix on BPH cells has not yet been investigated. We wanted to evaluate the direct effect of degarelix on human BPH primary cell growth. Gene expression studies performed with BPH (n=11), stage 0 (n=15), and PCa (n=65) human specimens demonstrated the presence of GNRHR1 and GNRHR2 and their respective endogenous peptide ligands. BPH-isolated epithelial and stromal cells were either cultured alone or co-cultured (1:4 or 4:1 ratio of epithelial to stromal cells) and subsequently treated with increasing concentrations of degarelix. Degarelix treatment induced a decrease in cell viability and cell proliferation rates, which occurred in parallel to an increase in apoptosis. Both epithelial and stromal BPH cells are sensitive to degarelix treatment and, interestingly, degarelix is also effective when the cells were growing in a co-culture microenvironment. In contrast to degarelix, the GnRHR agonists, leuprolide and goserelin, exerted no effect on the viability of BPH epithelial or stromal cells. In conclusion, (i) prostate tissues express GNRHR and are a potential target for degarelix; and (ii) degarelix directly inhibits BPH cell growth through a decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in apoptosis. Supporting information for this article is available online at http://www.thieme-connect.de/products.

First report of the black gemfish Nesiarchus nasutus (Perciformes: Gempylidae) in Argentinean waters

The gempylid Nesiarchus nasutus is reported for the first time from Argentinean waters, the southernmost occurrence of the species in the Southwestern Atlantic. This suggests that the fluctuating environmental characteristics of the area would be proper for the presence of tropical and subtropical species.

Isolation of lactic acid bacteria from kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) intestine and assessment of immunomodulatory role of a selected strain as probiotic

Fifty-one lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated and identified based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence from the intestinal tracts of 142 kuruma shrimps (Marsupenaeus japonicus) collected from Kanmon Strait, Fukuoka and Tachibana Bay, Nagasaki, Japan. Cellular immunomodulatory function of 51 isolated LAB strains was assessed by measuring the level of interferon (IFN)-γ induction in mouse spleen cell culture. The strain Lactococcus lactis D1813 exhibited the highest amount of IFN-γ production and also bactericidal activity and was selected for testing its immunomodulatory role as a probiotic in kuruma shrimp. We also assessed the effect of dietary incorporation of this probiotic on resistance to Vibrio penaeicida infection in the kuruma shrimp. Our results demonstrate that probiotic L. lactis D1813-containing diet-fed (10⁵ cfu g⁻¹) shrimps displayed a significant up-regulation of lysozyme gene expressions in the intestine and hepatopancreas. However, insignificantly higher expression of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, super oxide dismutase, prophenoloxidase, and toll-like receptor 1 was recorded in the intestine of shrimps fed the probiotic diet. Moreover, significantly increased (P < 0.01) resistance to the bacterial pathogen in term of better post-infection survival (61.7 %) was observed in the shrimps fed with the probiotic-incorporated diet compared with the control diet-fed group (28.3 %). The present study indicates the immunomodulatory role of the LAB L. lactis D1813 on the kuruma shrimp immune system and supports its potential use as an effective probiotic in shrimp aquaculture.

Elevated cytokine responses to Vibrio harveyi infection in the Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) treated with Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei (06TCa22) isolated from the Mongolian dairy product

With the aim of evaluating the effect of a Mongolian dairy product derived Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei (strain 06TCa22) (Lpp) on the cytokine-mediated immune responses to Vibrio harveyi infection, we examined 16 cytokine expressions in the Japanese pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes. Fish were orally treated with the heat-killed Lpp at 1 mg g(-1) body weight d(-1) for 3 days. At 24 h posttreatment, fish were infected by an intramuscular injection of 0.1 mL V. harveyi bacterial suspension (10(8) cfu mL(-1)). Additionally, superoxide anion production (SAP) and phagocytic activity (PA) of head kidney cells were assessed during 120 h postinfection period. Significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A/F-3, TNF-α and TNF-N), cell-mediated immune inducing (IL-12p35, IL-12p40 and IL-18), antiviral/intra-cellular pathogen killing (I-IFN-1 and IFN-γ), anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and lymphocyte agonistic (IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21 and TGF-β1) cytokines was observed in the treated fish compared to control ones during the pathogen infection. Furthermore, significantly increased SAP and PA (P < 0.01; 0.05) were recorded in the treated fish compared to untreated fish. These results suggest the beneficial role of Lpp in enhancement of cytokine-mediated immunity in the Japanese pufferfish against V. harveyi infection and application of this product as a potential fish immunostimulant.

American Cocker Spaniel chronic hepatitis in Japan

BACKGROUND

American Cocker Spaniels are predisposed to chronic hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis in Japanese American Cocker Spaniels.

ANIMALS

Thirteen cases examined from 2003 to 2009.

METHODS

Retrospective study. Medical records were searched for American Cocker Spaniels with chronic liver diseases. History, physical examination, clinicopathologic features, hepatic ultrasonographic findings, hepatic histopathology, and immunohistochemistry were evaluated.

RESULTS

The median age was 4.6 (1.9-10.7) years. Clinical signs included inappetence (11/13), ascites (11/13), lethargy (9/13), diarrhea (7/13), and melena (2/13). Only 1/13 dogs was jaundiced. Clinicopathological abnormalities were increased liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase: 9/12, aspartate aminotransferase: 7/10, alanine aminotransferase: 6/13, alkaline phosphatase: 6/13), increased total serum bile acid concentrations (10/12), and hypoalbuminemia (10/13). The liver had an irregular surface in all dogs and acquired portosystemic collaterals were verified in 11/13 dogs by abdominal ultrasound (2), laparoscopy (4), or both (5). Liver histology revealed severe fibrosis and cirrhosis in all cases, subdivided in lobular dissecting hepatitis (7), periportal fibrosis (1), micronodular cirrhosis (3), and macronocular cirrhosis (2). Inflammatory activity was low to mild. Immunohistochemical stains showed ductular proliferation. The median survival time was 913 (range: 63-1981) days.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Hepatitis in Japanese American Cocker Spaniels is clinically silent until an advanced stage and is associated with severe hepatic fibrosis leading to cirrhosis, extensive ductular/putative hepatic progenitor cell proliferation, portal hypertension, and acquired portosystemic collateral shunting, but relatively long survival times. Lobular dissecting hepatitis seems more prevalent than in previously reported cases from other countries.

Cytokine responses in the Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) head kidney cells induced with heat-killed probiotics isolated from the Mongolian dairy products

Cytokine responses in the Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) head kidney (HK) cells to heat-killed lactic acid bacteria probiotics isolated from the Mongolian dairy products were investigated by transcriptomic examination. The HK cells were incubated with two heat-killed bacteria, namely Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei (strain 06TCa22) and L. plantarum (strain 06CC2) and the responses of 16 cytokine genes at 0 (control), 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h post-stimulation were assayed by multiplex RT-PCR analysis (GenomeLab Genetic Analysis System, GeXPS; Beckman Coulter, Inc.). The 16 genes included in the assay were pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A/F-3, TNF-α and TNF-N), cell-mediated immune regulators (IL-12p35, IL-12p40 and IL-18), antiviral (I-IFN-1 and IFN-γ) and other regulatory (IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, IL-10 and TGF-β1) cytokines. Despite the differences in the transcriptional profiles, expression of all the cytokines tested here was significantly elevated by both the probiotic bacterial stimulants compared with the unstimulated control. Therefore, this in vitro study has demonstrated the modulation of cytokine defense mechanisms in the HK cells by the two heat-killed probiotics indicating their potentiality as novel immunostimulants to fish. However, strain-dependent varied expression of important cytokines (cell-mediated immune regulators, antiviral and anti-inflammatory cytokines) suggests better efficacy of L. paracasei spp. paracasei strain as fish immunostimulant. Further in vivo studies to elucidate the cytokine regulation networks will validate our present observations. A careful evaluation of ant-inflammatory properties may be undertaken using single strain to affirm the immunostimulatory capability. Moreover, application timings and frequency to assess the longevity of immunostimulant effects and to make the application cost-effective need to be evaluated before any practical use in aquaculture.