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Harper JM, Hicks M, Jiménez AG. The resistance of domestic canine skin-derived fibroblasts to oxidative and non-oxidative chemical injury: implications of breed and body size. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01358-y. [PMID: 39316259 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01358-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Small-breed dogs live significantly longer lives than large-breed dogs, while having higher mass-specific metabolic rates and faster growth rates. Underlying this observed physiological difference across domestic dogs, there must also be differences at other levels of organization that could lead to elucidating what accounts for the disparity in aging rates and life span within this species. At the cellular level, a clear mechanism underlying whole animal traits has not been fully elucidated. Here, we cultured dermal fibroblasts from large and small breed dogs from both young and old age categories and examined the degree of resistance to multiple sources of cytotoxic stress. This included heat (42 °C), paraquat, cadmium, and hydrogen peroxide for increasing amounts of time (heat) or increasing concentrations (chemical stressors). We hypothesized that small breed dogs, with longer lifespans, would have greater cellular resistance to stress compared with large breed dogs. Final sample sizes include small puppies (N = 18), large puppy (N = 32), small old (N = 11), and large old (N = 23) dogs. Using a 2 (donor size) by 2 (donor age) between-subjects multivariate analysis of variance, we found that the values for the dose that killed 50% of the cells (LD50) were not significantly different based on donor size (p = 0.45) or donor age (p = 0.20). The interaction was also not significant (p = 0.47). Interestingly, we did find that the degree of resistance to cadmium toxicity was significantly correlated with the degree of resistance to both heat and hydrogen peroxide, but not paraquat (p < 0.01 for both). These data suggest that cellular stress resistance does not differ among domestic dogs as a function of size or age, pointing to other cellular pathways as the mechanistic basis for the observed differences in lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Harper
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA.
| | - Megan Hicks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA
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Pinheiro AV, Petrucci GN, Dourado A, Silva F, Pires I. Pain Management in Animals with Oncological Disease: Opioids as Influencers of Immune and Tumor Cellular Balance. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3015. [PMID: 39272873 PMCID: PMC11394036 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16173015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Advancements in understanding pain physiopathology have historically challenged animals' absence of pain senses. Studies have demonstrated that animals have comparable neural pain pathways, suggesting that cats and dogs likely experience pain similarly to humans. Understanding brain circuits for effective pain control has been crucial to adjusting pain management to the patient's individual responses and current condition. The refinement of analgesic strategies is necessary to better cater to the patient's demands. Cancer pain management searches to ascertain analgesic protocols that enhance patient well-being by minimizing or abolishing pain and reducing its impact on the immune system and cancer cells. Due to their ability to reduce nerve sensitivity, opioids are the mainstay for managing moderate and severe acute pain; however, despite their association with tumor progression, specific opioid agents have immune-protective properties and are considered safe alternatives to analgesia for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vidal Pinheiro
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Department, University Institute of Health Sciences, Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- School of Agrarian Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Refoidos do Lima, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo N Petrucci
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Department, University Institute of Health Sciences, Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- Onevetgroup Hospital Veterinário do Porto (HVP), 4250-475 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG), 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Amândio Dourado
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Onevetgroup Hospital Veterinário do Porto (HVP), 4250-475 Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Silva
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pires
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Cahill JA, Smith LA, Gottipati S, Torabi TS, Graim K. Bringing the Genomic Revolution to Comparative Oncology: Human and Dog Cancers. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2024; 7:107-129. [PMID: 38648188 PMCID: PMC11343685 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-102423-111936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Dogs are humanity's oldest friend, the first species we domesticated 20,000-40,000 years ago. In this unequaled collaboration, dogs have inadvertently but serendipitously been molded into a potent human cancer model. Unlike many common model species, dogs are raised in the same environment as humans and present with spontaneous tumors with human-like comorbidities, immunocompetency, and heterogeneity. In breast, bladder, blood, and several pediatric cancers, in-depth profiling of dog and human tumors has established the benefits of the dog model. In addition to this clinical and molecular similarity, veterinary studies indicate that domestic dogs have relatively high tumor incidence rates. As a result, there are a plethora of data for analysis, the statistical power of which is bolstered by substantial breed-specific variability. As such, dog tumors provide a unique opportunity to interrogate the molecular factors underpinning cancer and facilitate the modeling of new therapeutic targets. This review discusses the emerging field of comparative oncology, how it complements human and rodent cancer studies, and where challenges remain, given the rapid proliferation of genomic resources. Increasingly, it appears that human's best friend is becoming an irreplaceable component of oncology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Cahill
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Leslie A Smith
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Soumya Gottipati
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Tina Salehi Torabi
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kiley Graim
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
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Dhein ES, Heikkilä U, Oevermann A, Blatter S, Meier D, Hartnack S, Guscetti F. Incidence rates of the most common canine tumors based on data from the Swiss Canine Cancer Registry (2008 to 2020). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302231. [PMID: 38635572 PMCID: PMC11025767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring neoplasms in standardized registries facilitates epidemiologic studies of risk factors for tumor development and predisposition. In an observational study, we determined incidence rates (IR) and malignant tumor incidence rate ratios (IRR) by age, sex, and breed in Swiss dogs using demographic data from the official Swiss dog registration database Amicus. The dataset analyzed included 54'986 tumors diagnosed by histology and cytology in four Swiss veterinary pathology laboratories between 2008 and 2020. Diagnoses were coded according to the Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 system. Most tumors occurred in the skin (n = 19'045; 34.64%), soft tissues (n = 11'092; 20.17%), and mammary glands (n = 7'974; 14.50%). The IRs for all and for malignant tumors were 775/100'000 dog-years at risk (95%CI 764-777) and 338/100'000 dog-years at risk (95%CI 333-342), respectively. Females (850; 95%CI 834-853) had a higher overall tumor IR than males (679; 95%CI 666-684). The highest tumor IR was found at 11 years of age (1'857; 95%CI 1'780-1'867). Potential novel breed-specific predispositions were uncovered, with high IRs for several benign and malignant tumors in Polski Owczarek Nizinnys (overall IR: 3'303; 95%CI 2'502-3'864) and high IRs for malignant tumors in Russian Black Terriers (melanomas: 345; 95%CI 138-708), Field Spaniels (adenocarcinomas: 376; CI95% 138-817), Dogo Argentinos (mast cell tumors: 844; CI95% 591-1'169), King Charles Spaniels and Manchester Terriers (lymphomas: 319; CI95% 137-627 and 302; CI95% 98-704, respectively), Landseers (osteosarcomas: 74; CI95% 15-216), Bouvier des Flandres (hemangiosarcomas: 127; CI95% 26-371), and Bearded Collies and Cane Corso Italianos (gliomas: 91; CI95% 45-162 and 34; CI95% 7-99, respectively). Nordic hunting dogs had the highest (8.08; CI95% 3.55-16.7) and Chihuahueno the lowest cancer IRRs (0.42; 95%CI 0.31-0.57) compared to mixed breeds. In conclusion, the calculated IRs and IRRs revealed previously unknown predisposing factors, including novel breed-specific susceptibilities. The results may have implications for cancer screening, diagnostic work-up, breeding management and oncologic and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Sophie Dhein
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna Oevermann
- Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sohvi Blatter
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Meier
- Zyto/Histo Diagnostik Labor Freienstein, Freienstein, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Hartnack
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franco Guscetti
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Jiménez AG, Paul KD, Benson M, Lalwani S, Cipolli W. Cellular metabolic pathways of aging in dogs: could p53 and SIRT1 be at play? GeroScience 2024; 46:1895-1908. [PMID: 37768524 PMCID: PMC10828300 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging and cancer seem to be closely associated, such that cancer is generally considered a disease of the elderly in both humans and dogs. Additionally, cancer is a metabolic shift in itself towards aerobic glycolysis. Larger dog breeds with shorter lifespans, and increased glycolytic cellular metabolic rates, die of cancer more often than smaller breeds. The tumor suppressor p53 factor is a key suppressor oncogene, and the p53 pathway arrests cellular proliferation and prevents DNA mutations from accumulating during cellular stress. The p53 pathway is also associated with the control of cellular metabolism to prevent cellular metabolic shifts common to cancerous phenotypes. SIRT1 deacetylates the p53 tumor suppressor protein, downregulating p53 via effects on stability and activity during stress. Here, we used primary fibroblast cells from small and large puppies and old dogs. Using UV radiation to upregulate the p53 system (100 J/m2), control cells and UV-treated cells were used to measure aerobic and glycolytic metabolic rates using a Seahorse XFe96 oxygen flux analyzer. We also quantified p53 expression and SIRT1 concentration in canine primary fibroblasts before and after UV treatment. We demonstrate that, due to a higher p53 nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio in large breed dogs after UV treatment, p53 could have a more regulatory effect on large breed dogs' metabolism compared with smaller breeds. Thus, there may be a link between p53 upregulation and inhibition of glycolysis in large breed dogs during times of cellular stress compared with small breed dogs. However, SIRT1 concentrations decrease with age in domestic dogs of both size classes, suggesting a possible release of inhibition of p53 through the SIRT1 pathway with age. This may lead to increased incidences of cancer, especially due to the more pronounced upregulation of p53 with cellular stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gabriela Jiménez
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA.
| | - Kailey D Paul
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA
| | - Mitchel Benson
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA
| | - Sahil Lalwani
- Stanford Law School, Crown Quadrangle, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - William Cipolli
- Department of Mathematics, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA
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Robertson JL, Dervisis N, Rossmeisl J, Nightengale M, Fields D, Dedrick C, Ngo L, Issa AS, Guruli G, Orlando G, Senger RS. Cancer detection in dogs using rapid Raman molecular urinalysis. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1328058. [PMID: 38384948 PMCID: PMC10879274 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1328058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The presence of cancer in dogs was detected by Raman spectroscopy of urine samples and chemometric analysis of spectroscopic data. The procedure created a multimolecular spectral fingerprint with hundreds of features related directly to the chemical composition of the urine specimen. These were then used to detect the broad presence of cancer in dog urine as well as the specific presence of lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumor. Methods Urine samples were collected via voiding, cystocentesis, or catheterization from 89 dogs with no history or evidence of neoplastic disease, 100 dogs diagnosed with cancer, and 16 dogs diagnosed with non-neoplastic urinary tract or renal disease. Raman spectra were obtained of the unprocessed bulk liquid urine samples and were analyzed by ISREA, principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) were applied using the Rametrix®Toolbox software. Results and discussion The procedure identified a spectral fingerprint for cancer in canine urine, resulting in a urine screening test with 92.7% overall accuracy for a cancer vs. cancer-free designation. The urine screen performed with 94.0% sensitivity, 90.5% specificity, 94.5% positive predictive value (PPV), 89.6% negative predictive value (NPV), 9.9 positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and 0.067 negative likelihood ratio (LR-). Raman bands responsible for discerning cancer were extracted from the analysis and biomolecular associations were obtained. The urine screen was more effective in distinguishing urothelial carcinoma from the other cancers mentioned above. Detection and classification of cancer in dogs using a simple, non-invasive, rapid urine screen (as compared to liquid biopsies using peripheral blood samples) is a critical advancement in case management and treatment, especially in breeds predisposed to specific types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L. Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Rametrix Technologies Inc., Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Nikolas Dervisis
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - John Rossmeisl
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Marlie Nightengale
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Daniel Fields
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Cameron Dedrick
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Lacey Ngo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Amr Sayed Issa
- Rametrix Technologies Inc., Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Georgi Guruli
- Department of Surgery, VCU Health, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Giuseppe Orlando
- Department of General Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ryan S. Senger
- Rametrix Technologies Inc., Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Jiménez AG. A revisiting of "the hallmarks of aging" in domestic dogs: current status of the literature. GeroScience 2024; 46:241-255. [PMID: 37594598 PMCID: PMC10828135 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A progressive decline in biological function and fitness is, generally, how aging is defined. However, in 2013, a description on the "hallmarks of aging" in mammals was published, and within it, it described biological processes that are known to alter the aging phenotype. These include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication (inflammation), and changes within the microbiome. This mini-review provides a detailed account of the progress on each of these hallmarks of aging in the domestic dog within the last 5 years. Additionally, when there are gaps in the literature between other mammalian species and dogs, I highlight the aging biomarkers that may be missing for dogs as aging models. I also argue for the importance of dog aging studies to include several breeds of dogs at differing ages and for age corrections for breeds with differing mean lifespans throughout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gabriela Jiménez
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr, Hamilton, NY, 133546, USA.
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Nunney L. The effect of body size and inbreeding on cancer mortality in breeds of the domestic dog: a test of the multi-stage model of carcinogenesis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231356. [PMID: 38298404 PMCID: PMC10827441 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death in domestic dogs. Deaths due to cancer vary widely among breeds, providing an opportunity for testing the multi-stage model of carcinogenesis. This model underpins evolutionary and basic studies of cancer suppression and predicts a linear increase in cancer with breed size, an expectation complicated by bigger breeds having a shorter lifespan (decreasing risk). Using three independent datasets, the weight and lifespan of breeds provided a good fit of lifetime cancer mortality to the multi-stage model, the fit suggesting many canine cancers are initiated by four driver mutations. Of 85 breeds in more than one dataset, only flat-coated retriever showed significantly elevated cancer mortality, with Scottish terrier, Bernese mountain dog and bullmastiff also showing notable risk (greater than 50% over expected). Analysis of breed clades suggested terriers experience elevated cancer mortality. There was no evidence that the lower mass-specific metabolic rate of larger breeds reduced cancer risk. Residuals indicated increased breed inbreeding shortened expected lifespan, but had no overall effect on cancer mortality. The results provide a baseline for identifying increased breed risk for specific cancers and demonstrate that, unless selection promotes increased cancer suppression, the evolution of larger longer-lived animals leads to a predictable increased cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Nunney
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Pinheiro AV, Petrucci GN, Dourado A, Pires I. Anaesthesia in Veterinary Oncology: The Effects of Surgery, Volatile and Intravenous Anaesthetics on the Immune System and Tumour Spread. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3392. [PMID: 37958147 PMCID: PMC10648213 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the course of oncological disease, the majority of patients require surgical, anaesthetic and analgesic intervention. However, during the perioperative period, anaesthetic agents and techniques, surgical tissue trauma, adjuvant drugs for local pain and inflammation and other non-pharmacological factors, such as blood transfusions, hydration, temperature and nutrition, may influence the prognosis of the disease. These factors significantly impact the oncologic patient's immune response, which is the primary barrier to tumour progress, promoting a window of vulnerability for its dissemination and recurrence. More research is required to ascertain which anaesthetics and techniques have immunoprotective and anti-tumour effects, which will contribute to developing novel anaesthetic strategies in veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vidal Pinheiro
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (A.D.); (I.P.)
| | - Gonçalo N. Petrucci
- Onevetgroup Hospital Veterinário do Porto (HVP), 4250-475 Porto, Portugal;
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG), 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Amândio Dourado
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (A.D.); (I.P.)
- Onevetgroup Hospital Veterinário do Porto (HVP), 4250-475 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Isabel Pires
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (A.D.); (I.P.)
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Zink C, Delgado MM, Stella JL. Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2023; 261:366-374. [PMID: 36656681 DOI: 10.2460/javma.22.08.0382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare health and behavior outcomes for dogs that underwent vasectomy or ovary-sparing spay (hysterectomy) with sexually intact dogs or dogs that had undergone traditional castration or spay. SAMPLE 6,018 dog owners responded to a web-based survey between November 3, 2021, and January 7, 2022. PROCEDURES Participants were asked demographic questions and to provide information about 1 or more dogs (living or deceased). Options for reproductive status were as follows: sexually intact, castrated, spayed (ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy), vasectomy, or ovary-sparing spay (hysterectomy). Participants were asked questions about orthopedic and other health problems, cancer, and problematic behavior. Logistic regression models, survival analyses, and descriptive statistics were used to assess relationships between reproductive status and outcomes. RESULTS Owners provided valid surveys for 6,018 dogs, including 1,056 sexually intact, 1,672 castrated, and 58 vasectomized male dogs and 792 sexually intact, 2,281 spayed, and 159 female dogs that had undergone ovary-sparing spay. Longer exposure to gonadal hormones, regardless of reproductive status, was associated with reduced odds of general health problems and both problematic and nuisance behaviors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE To our knowledge, this study provides the first data on health and behavior outcomes of vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs and is the first to compare these outcomes to sexually intact and gonadectomized dogs. It adds to accumulating data on the mixed benefits and risks of removing the gonads to prevent reproduction and emphasizes the importance of developing an informed, case-by-case assessment of each patient, taking into consideration the potential risks and benefits of spaying or neutering and alternative reproductive surgeries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Zink
- 1Zink Integrative Sports Medicine, Ellicott City, MD
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