Hepatic abscessation in dogs: A multicenter study of 56 cases (2010-2019)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical findings, treatment strategies, and outcomes in dogs with confirmed hepatic abscessation.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019.

SETTING

Multicenter study.

ANIMALS

Fifty-six client-owned dogs with hepatic abscessation confirmed by culture, cytology, or histopathology.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Dogs were presented for lethargy (39/56), hyporexia (31/56), and vomiting (26/56). Abnormal physical examination findings included increased temperature (41/56) and abdominal pain (22/54). CBCs revealed neutrophilia (31/49), toxic changes (25/49), anemia (28/49), and thrombocytopenia (23/49). Biochemical analyses revealed increased alkaline phosphatase (45/50), increased alanine aminotransferase (40/50), hypoalbuminemia (25/48), and hyperbilirubinemia (19/49). Hypoglycemia was found in 13 of 49 dogs. Hepatic abscesses ranging from 0.5 to 15 cm in diameter were identified ultrasonographically in 37 of 48 dogs; 19 of 37 had solitary abscesses, and 18 of 37 had multifocal abscessation. Escherichia coli was the most commonly cultured organism, isolated in 18 of 42 cases. Histopathology revealed underlying hepatic neoplasia in 10 of 47 dogs. Surgical management was performed in 41 of 49 dogs, and 35 of 41 survived to discharge. Medical management was performed in 8 of 49 dogs, and 5 of 8 survived to discharge. With univariate analysis, hypoglycemia and multifocal abscessation were associated with decreased odds of survival (odds ratio [OR]: 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-0.9, P = 0.04; OR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.6, P = 0.02, respectively). With multivariate analysis, only multifocal abscessation was associated with decreased odds of survival (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.87, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic abscessation, although rare, should remain a differential diagnosis for dogs presenting with nonspecific clinical signs and increase liver enzyme activities, especially with concurrent increased temperature and neutrophilia. Rate of survival to discharge for dogs in this study was consistent with previously reported survival rates, with 40 of 56 (71%) of the total population surviving to discharge. No variables assessed were able to predict survival to discharge; however, hypoglycemia and multifocal abscessation should be assessed in larger populations to determine prognostic significance.

Effectiveness of orally administered maropitant and ondansetron in preventing preoperative emesis and nausea in healthy dogs premedicated with a combination of hydromorphone, acepromazine, and glycopyrrolate

OBJECTIVE

To compare effectiveness of maropitant and ondansetron in preventing preoperative vomiting and nausea in healthy dogs premedicated with a combination of hydromorphone, acepromazine, and glycopyrrolate.

ANIMALS

88 dogs owned by rescue organizations.

PROCEDURES

Dogs received maropitant (n = 29) or ondansetron (28) PO 2 hours prior to premedication or did not receive an antiemetic (31; control). Dogs were evaluated for vomiting, nausea, and severity of nausea (scored for 6 signs) for 15 minutes following premedication with hydromorphone, acepromazine, and glycopyrrolate.

RESULTS

A significantly lower percentage of dogs vomited after receiving maropitant (3/29 [10%]), compared with control dogs (19/31 [62%]) and dogs that received ondansetron (15/28 [54%]). A significantly lower percentage of dogs appeared nauseated after receiving maropitant (3/29 [10%]), compared with control dogs (27/31 [87%]) and dogs that received ondansetron (14/28 [50%]), and a significantly lower percentage of dogs appeared nauseated after receiving ondansetron, compared with control dogs. Nausea severity scores for hypersalivation, lip licking, hard swallowing, and hunched posture were significantly lower for dogs that received maropitant than for control dogs, and scores for hypersalivation, lip licking, and hard swallowing were significantly lower for dogs that received ondansetron than for control dogs.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Oral administration of maropitant 2 hours prior to premedication with hydromorphone reduced the incidence of vomiting and the incidence and severity of nausea in healthy dogs. Oral administration of ondansetron reduced the incidence and severity of nausea but not the incidence of vomiting.

Evaluation of the i-STAT Alinity v in a veterinary clinical setting

Many point-of-care (POC) analyzers are available for the measurement of electrolytes and acid-base status in animals. We assessed the precision of the i-STAT Alinity v, a recently introduced POC analyzer, and compared it to 2 commonly used and previously validated POC analyzers (i-STAT 1, Stat Profile pHOx Ultra). Precision was evaluated by performing multiple analyses of whole blood samples from healthy dogs, cats, and horses on multiple i-STAT Alinity v analyzers. For comparison between analyzers, whole blood samples from dogs and cats presented to the emergency room were run concurrently on all 3 POC instruments. Reported values were compared by species (dogs and cats only) using Pearson correlation, and all values from all species were analyzed together for the Bland-Altman analysis. Results suggested that the i-STAT Alinity v precision was very good, with median coefficients of variability <2.5% for all measured parameters (except the anion gap), with variable ranges of coefficients of variation. In addition, good-to-excellent correlation was observed between the i-STAT Alinity v and i-STAT 1, and between the i-STAT Alinity v and Stat Profile pHOx Ultra for all parameters in both cats and dogs, respectively. In this cohort, the i-STAT Alinity v had clinically acceptable bias compared to the currently marketed analyzers and can be used for monitoring measured analytes in cats and dogs, although serial measurements in a single animal should be performed on the same analyzer whenever possible.

Using Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry to Examine Protein-Membrane Interactions

Many fundamental cellular processes are controlled via assembly of a network of proteins at membrane surfaces. The proper recruitment of proteins to membranes can be controlled by a wide variety of mechanisms, including protein lipidation, protein-protein interactions, posttranslational modifications, and binding to specific lipid species present in membranes. There are, however, only a limited number of analytical techniques that can study the assembly of protein-membrane complexes at the molecular level. A relatively new addition to the set of techniques available to study these protein-membrane systems is the use of hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). HDX-MS experiments measure protein conformational dynamics in their native state, based on the rate of exchange of amide hydrogens with solvent. This review discusses the use of HDX-MS as a tool to identify the interfaces of proteins with membranes and membrane-associated proteins, as well as define conformational changes elicited by membrane recruitment. Specific examples will focus on the use of HDX-MS to examine how large macromolecular protein complexes are recruited and activated on membranes, and how both posttranslational modifications and cancer-linked oncogenic mutations affect these processes.

The effect of race and sex on physicians' recommendations for cardiac catheterization

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies have reported differences in the use of cardiovascular procedures according to the race and sex of the patient. Whether the differences stem from differences in the recommendations of physicians remains uncertain.

METHODS

We developed a computerized survey instrument to assess physicians' recommendations for managing chest pain. Actors portrayed patients with particular characteristics in scripted interviews about their symptoms. A total of 720 physicians at two national meetings of organizations of primary care physicians participated in the survey. Each physician viewed a recorded interview and was given other data about a hypothetical patient. He or she then made recommendations about that patient's care. We used multivariate logistic-regression analysis to assess the effects of the race and sex of the patients on treatment recommendations, while controlling for the physicians' assessment of the probability of coronary artery disease as well as for the age of the patient, the level of coronary risk, the type of chest pain, and the results of an exercise stress test.

RESULTS

The physicians' mean (+/-SD) estimates of the probability of coronary artery disease were lower for women (probability, 64.1+/-19.3 percent, vs. 69.2+/-18.2 percent for men; P<0.001), younger patients (63.8+/-19.5 percent for patients who were 55 years old, vs. 69.5+/-17.9 percent for patients who were 70 years old; P<0.001), and patients with nonanginal pain (58.3+/-19.0 percent, vs. 64.4+/-18.3 percent for patients with possible angina and 77.1+/-14.0 percent for those with definite angina; P=0.001). Logistic-regression analysis indicated that women (odds ratio, 0.60; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9; P=0.02) and blacks (odds ratio, 0.60; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9; P=0.02) were less likely to be referred for cardiac catheterization than men and whites, respectively. Analysis of race-sex interactions showed that black women were significantly less likely to be referred for catheterization than white men (odds ratio, 0.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.2 to 0.7; P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the race and sex of a patient independently influence how physicians manage chest pain.

Dental research. What priority in the academic environment?

The priority given to dental research in academics is controversial. There exists the pressure for all academicians to pursue funding and publication of research as a major criterion for promotion. This is difficult for those clinical faculty not trained or unable to perform valid investigations. Training of new researchers is important if only to ensure that quality research will be performed in the future. Industry can assist as a good source of funding and increased opportunity in dental research.

Systemic lupus erythematosus circulating anticoagulant: report of a case

A patient without lupus erythematosus in whom a routine presurgical work-up resulted in discovery of the SLE circulating antibody is described. The diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Systems analysis of schools of allied health using Leavitt's Organizational Model: a meta-analysis

Schools of allied health are relative newcomers to the formal academic setting. Consequently, these new academic units are particularly vulnerable to external threats to survival as they struggle to achieve acceptance by faculty and administrators in the traditional disciplines. This paper describes an application of Leavitt's Organizational Model for systems analysis of schools of allied health. A meta-analysis of studies reported in the Journal of Allied Health was conducted to provide administrative insight for the model's dimensions of task, structure, technology, and people. The model is helpful in organizing information and predicting effects of intervention strategies when any single dimension is changed. By viewing schools of allied health from a holistic perspective, deans and chair persons can anticipate the effect of change on variables (dimensions) other than those being manipulated and weight intervention strategies before their adoption.

The comparison of 8-hydroxyquinoline, tropolone, and acetylacetone as mediators in the labelling of polymorphonuclear leucocytes with indium-111: a functional study

Tropolone forms a lipophilic complex with indium-111 which is capable of mediating the labelling of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) by this isotope; labelling efficiencies are comparable with the best achieved using 8-hydroxyquinoline and acetylacetone. However, in terms of PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis, tropolone is significantly less toxic than either of te other ligands. 8-Hydroxyquinoline was found to reduce PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis to approximately 70% of the control values at a concentration of 20 micro M. Tropolone may prove a superior labelling reagent.

Inflight measurement of pilot workload: a panel discussion

A group of U.S. scientists engaged in inflight measurements of pilot workload discussed the problems and aspects of workload; the techniques used for inflight measurements; the various workload models, such as design-oriented, operational, psychological, and physiological concepts; different experimental approaches; and experiences, results and further plans, during the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association in Las Vegas, Nv, on May 10, 1977. The contributions by the chairman and the five panel members are summarized.

Scattering by two-component random distributions of spheres

Theory and prototype (at wavelength lambda = 5 mm) partial coherence scattering data for optical applications in diagnostic measurements on two component suspensions or gases are presented. Results are given for equal volume mixtures of two sizes of moving randomly distributed large spheres for all realizable values of the fractional volume w (the fraction of the slab region container filled by scattering material). The relative index of refraction of the spheres was about 1.017, and their diameters were 6.52lambda and 3.33lambda (so that we used about eight times as many small spheres as large ones for each value of w). The spheres were of lightweight Styrofoam, and their motion arose from turbulent air streams (flowing through grids that form the top and bottom of a Styrofoam container), and the data were obtained in real time by processing the instantaneous phase quadrature components of the scattered field with an electronic analog computer. We give results for the forward scattered coherent phase, for the coherent, incoherent, and total intensities, and for the covariant magnitude and phase which (together with the incoherent intensity) provide the variances and covariance of the instantaneous phase quadrature components. We also consider certain reduced data records (from which the major effects of scatterer size and material have been eliminated) to indicate the dependence of the scattering on the fractional volume and to facilitate comparison with earlier data for distributions of identical spheres.