Serum zinc, chromium, and iron concentrations in dogs with lymphoma and osteosarcoma

We compared serum concentrations of zinc, chromium, and iron in dogs with cancer to those of normal dogs. Dogs with lymphoma (n = 50) and osteosarcoma (n = 52) were evaluated. Dogs with lymphoma had significantly lower (P = .0028) mean serum zinc concentrations (mean +/- SD; 1.0 +/- 0.3 mg/L) when compared to normal dogs (1.2 +/- 0.4 mg/L). Dogs with osteosarcoma also had lower mean serum zinc concentrations (1.1 +/- 0.4 mg/L), but this difference was not significant (P = .075). Serum chromium concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with lymphoma (2.6 +/- 2.6 microg/L, P = .0007) and osteosarcoma (2.4 +/- 3.1 microg/L, P = .0001) compared to normal dogs (4.7 +/- 2.8 microg/L). Serum iron concentrations and total iron-binding capacity were significantly lower in dogs with lymphoma (110.8 +/- 56.7 microg/dL, P < .0001, and 236.6 +/- 45.6 microg/dL, P < .0001, respectively) and osteosarcoma (99.6 +/- 49.3 microg/dL, P < .0001, and 245.0 +/- 43.8 microg/dL, P = .0011, respectively) when compared to normal dogs (175.1 +/- 56.7 microg/dL and 277.1 +/- 47.4 microg/dL). Mean ferritin concentration was significantly higher in dogs with lymphoma (1291.7 +/- 63.0 microg/L) than in normal dogs (805.8 +/- 291.1 microg/L, P < .0001) and dogs with osteosarcoma (826.5 +/- 309.2 microg/L, P < .0001). Further investigation is needed to explore the clinical significance of these mineral abnormalities in dogs with cancer.

Effects of dietary cysteine on blood sulfur amino acid, glutathione, and malondialdehyde concentrations in cats

OBJECTIVE

To determine effects of dietary cysteine on blood sulfur amino acids (SAA), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in cats.

ANIMALS

12 healthy adult cats.

PROCEDURE

Cats were fed diets with a nominal (0.50 g/100 g dry matter [DM]), moderate (1.00 g/100 g DM), or high (1.50 g/100 g DM) cysteine content in a 3 X 3 Latin square design with blocks of 8 weeks' duration. Venous blood samples were collected after each diet had been fed for 4 and 8 weeks, and a CBC and serum biochemical analyses were performed; poikilocyte, reticulocyte, and Heinz body counts were determined; and MDA, GSH, GSSG, and SAA concentrations were measured.

RESULTS

Blood cysteine and MDA concentrations were not significantly affected by dietary cysteine content. Blood methionine, homocysteine, and GSSG concentrations were significantly increased when cats consumed the high cysteine content diet but not when they consumed the moderate cysteine content diet, compared with concentrations obtained when cats consumed the nominal cysteine content diet. Blood GSH concentrations were significantly increased when cats consumed the moderate or high cysteine content diet.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased dietary cysteine content promotes higher blood methionine, homocysteine, GSH, and GSSG concentrations in healthy cats.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Supplemental dietary cysteine may be indicated to promote glutathione synthesis and ameliorate adverse effects of oxidative damage induced by disease or drugs.

Comparison of four methods for forage nitrate analysis

Twenty forage samples were collected and selected for variation in nitrate content. Each forage samples was analyzed 4 times by 4 different methods: diphenylamine spot plate, spectrophotometric, nitrate-selective electrode, and high-performance liquid chromatographic. Five feed extracts were spiked with 2 different amounts of nitrate and analyzed by each method. The spectrophotometric and nitrate-selective electrode had similar percent recoveries, which were close to 100%. The nitrate-selective electrode method had the least variation of the 4 methods. The diphenylamine spot plate method had the poorest average recovery, greatest variation, and was the least accurate. The average coefficients of variation for all samples within a method were 15%, 12%, 6.4%, and 16 for the diphenylamine spot plate, spectrophotometric, nitrate-selective electrode, and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods, respectively. The variation in the nitrate-selective electrode method was lower (P < 0.05) than the other methods. The results from this study suggest that the nitrate-selective electrode method is more accurate and precise than the other methods of analysis tested.

Why people are hospitalized. A description of preventable factors leading to admission for medical illness

We evaluated factors leading to the admission of 136 patients to the general medical services of two large metropolitan hospitals. We developed explicit criteria for the contribution of various specific factors to illness prevention and control in these patients. According to these criteria, the illness was found to be preventable in 44 per cent and the illness could have been controlled without admission in 31 per cent if a standard medical regimen had been followed. Social circumstances of individual patients influenced the admission decision in 21 per cent. Lack of medical or community resources or failure to make use of them contributed to 21 per cent of admissions. Alcohol abuse and smoking were factors in 17 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. Compliance played a role in 21 per cent. In 29 per cent of admissions more than one preventable factor was identified. Personal habits and lifestyle, less-than-optimal management or prior illness, social considerations or lack of community resources were factors in 78 per cent of the admissions.