Emergency laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy for acute abdomen due to testicular torsion in a dog

A 7-year-old male Siberian husky was presented with signs of acute abdomen. Based on the history and diagnostic imaging findings, torsion of an undescended abdominal testis was presumed. Emergency exploratory laparoscopy was performed and confirmed spermatic cord torsion in a non-neoplastic testis. The testis was enlarged and local peritonitis was evident. Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy was performed and the dog recovered uneventfully. Histopathology confirmed thrombosis and necrosis. Laparoscopy is not only the method of choice for elective cryptorchidectomy, but can also be used in patients with acute abdomen from testicular torsion of an undescended testis

Pojavnost displazije bedrenog zgloba u nekih pasmina lovačkih pasa.

An analysis of the occurrence of hip joint dysplasia (HJD) was carried out on the following hunting dogs in the Slovak Republic in the period 1995-2000: Bavarian mountain hound and Hannoverian hound. During the period under investigation we examined 299 animals of both breeds - 206 bitches and 93 dogs. Whereas in 1995 we found that 38.3% were affected by HJD, by the end of the observation period the number of HJD-positive dogs decreased to 26.1% in both breeds. Analysis of the results also showed that HJD was diagnosed in 22.3% of bitches and 18.9% of dogs. The differences between positive and negative findings during the investigated period were significant (P≤0.05) when evaluated by χ2 test. The incidence of HJD in both hunting dog breeds showed a decreasing tendency, probably as a result of selective breeding. HJD was evaluated using a 5-point gradation system, extending from A to E. However, stages D and E were not diagnosed.Analiza pojavnosti displazije bedrenog zgloba u lovačkih pasa pasmina bavarski krvosljednik i hanoveranski krvosljednik provedena je u Republici Slovačkoj u razdoblju od 1995. do 2000. U tom je razdoblju bilo pretraženo 299 životinja obih pasmina i to 206 ženki i 93 mužjaka. Za razliku od 1995. kada je bilo ustanovljeno 38,3% pretraženih pasa s displazijom bedrenog zgloba, na kraju promatranog razdoblja broj pozitivnih smanjio se na 26,1% u obje pasmine. Displazija je bila dokazana u 22,3% ženki i 18,9% mužjaka. Razlika između pozitivnih i negativnih nalaza u pretraživanom razdoblju bila je statistički značajna (P≤0,05) određeno χ2 testom. Smanjenje pojavnosti displazije bedrenog zgloba u promatranih pasmina pasa vjerojatno je rezultat odabira. Prosudba je bila provedena na osnovi pet stupnjeva označenih od A do E. Displazija stupnja D i E nije bila ustanovljena

Pojavnost displazije bedrenog zgloba u nekih pasmina lovačkih pasa.

An analysis of the occurrence of hip joint dysplasia (HJD) was carried out on the following hunting dogs in the Slovak Republic in the period 1995-2000: Bavarian mountain hound and Hannoverian hound. During the period under investigation we examined 299 animals of both breeds - 206 bitches and 93 dogs. Whereas in 1995 we found that 38.3% were affected by HJD, by the end of the observation period the number of HJD-positive dogs decreased to 26.1% in both breeds. Analysis of the results also showed that HJD was diagnosed in 22.3% of bitches and 18.9% of dogs. The differences between positive and negative findings during the investigated period were significant (P≤0.05) when evaluated by χ2 test. The incidence of HJD in both hunting dog breeds showed a decreasing tendency, probably as a result of selective breeding. HJD was evaluated using a 5-point gradation system, extending from A to E. However, stages D and E were not diagnosed.Analiza pojavnosti displazije bedrenog zgloba u lovačkih pasa pasmina bavarski krvosljednik i hanoveranski krvosljednik provedena je u Republici Slovačkoj u razdoblju od 1995. do 2000. U tom je razdoblju bilo pretraženo 299 životinja obih pasmina i to 206 ženki i 93 mužjaka. Za razliku od 1995. kada je bilo ustanovljeno 38,3% pretraženih pasa s displazijom bedrenog zgloba, na kraju promatranog razdoblja broj pozitivnih smanjio se na 26,1% u obje pasmine. Displazija je bila dokazana u 22,3% ženki i 18,9% mužjaka. Razlika između pozitivnih i negativnih nalaza u pretraživanom razdoblju bila je statistički značajna (P≤0,05) određeno χ2 testom. Smanjenje pojavnosti displazije bedrenog zgloba u promatranih pasmina pasa vjerojatno je rezultat odabira. Prosudba je bila provedena na osnovi pet stupnjeva označenih od A do E. Displazija stupnja D i E nije bila ustanovljena

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Bone Tissue Regeneration and Application to Bone Healing

This synoptic study gives a concise overview of current knowledge of bone healing, the role of mesenchymal stem cells in bone tissue regeneration and contemporary possibilities of supporting regeneration of damaged bone. Attention of research concerning the healing of fractures with extensive loss of bone tissue following trauma, the treatment of belatedly healing or non-healing fractures or the healing of segmental bone defects following tumour resection, is focused on development of three-dimensional scaffolds planted with mesenchymal stem cells that might be used for reconstruction of such large bone lesions. Presented are possibilities of transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells combined with biomaterials into bone defects, including the results of our own experimental studies dealing with the use of stem cells in the treatment of damaged tissues of the musculoskeletal system in animal models

Identification of Sarcosine as a Target Molecule for the Canine Olfactory Detection of Prostate Carcinoma

The hypothesis that dogs can detect malignant tumours through the identification of specific molecules is nearly 30 years old. To date, several reports have described the successful detection of distinct types of cancer. However, is still a lack of data regarding the specific molecules that can be recognized by a dog's olfactory apparatus. Hence, we performed a study with artificially prepared, well-characterized urinary specimens that were enriched with sarcosine, a widely reported urinary biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa). For the purposes of the study, a German shepherd dog was utilized for analyses of 60 positive and 120 negative samples. Our study provides the first evidence that a sniffer dog specially trained for the olfactory detection of PCa can recognize sarcosine in artificial urine with a performance [sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 95%, and precision of 90% for the highest amount of sarcosine (10 mu mol/ L)] that is comparable to the identification of PCa-diagnosed subjects (sensitivity of 93.5% and specificity of 91.6%). This study casts light on the unrevealed phenomenon of PCa olfactory detection and opens the door for further studies with canine olfactory detection and cancer diagnostics

Biochemical and biophysical aspects of collagen nanostructure in the extracellular matrix

ECM is composed of different collagenous and non-collagenous proteins. Collagen nanofibers play a dominant role in maintaining the biological and structural integrity of various tissues and organs, including bone, skin, tendon, blood vessels, and cartilage. Artificial collagen nanofibers are increasingly significant in numerous tissue engineering applications and seem to be ideal scaffolds for cell growth and proliferation. The modern tissue engineering task is to develop three-dimensional scaffolds of appropriate biological and biomechanical properties, at the same time mimicking the natural extracellular matrix and promoting tissue regeneration. Furthermore, it should be biodegradable, bioresorbable and non-inflammatory, should provide sufficient nutrient supply and have appropriate viscoelasticity and strength. Attributed to collagen features mentioned above, collagen fibers represent an obvious appropriate material for tissue engineering scaffolds. The aim of this minireview is, besides encapsulation of the basic biochemical and biophysical properties of collagen, to summarize the most promising modern methods and technologies for production of collagen nanofibers and scaffolds for artificial tissue development. © 2007 Institute of Physiology, v. v. i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic