Estimation of body weight and body surface area in swamp buffaloes using visual image analysis

The three dimensional computerized visual image analysis was performed to evaluate the body weight (BW) and body surface area (BSA) in swamp buffaloes. Nineteen swamp buffaloes were measured the conformation by linear measurement compared to 3D body scanner at different points : body height (A), heart girth (B), shoulder width (C), iliac width (D), ischial tuberosity width (E), the length between shoulder and ileal wing (F, G), the length between ileal wing to ischial tuberosity (H, I) and the length between shoulder to ischial tuberosity (J1, J2).  The significant correlation was found between these two methods.  The 3D body scanner was then performed in 28 males and 39 females for BW and 68 males and 74 non-pregnant and 31 pregnant females for BSA estimation. The appropriate models to estimate BW in buffaloes were BW = - 1174.07 + 4.31 (B) + 7.75 (FG) (R2 = 0.76, P<0.001), BW (male) = -1265.99 + 4.94(B) + 14.41(D)  (R2 = 0.81; P<0.001) and BW (female) = -563.66 + 7.94 (C ) + 14.77 (E)  (R2 = 0.86; P<0.001).  For BSA, the appropriate equations were BSA = -4.31 + 0.034(A) + 0.036(J1J2) (R2 = 0.82, P<0.001), BSA (male) = -4.01 + 0.032(A) + 0.037(J1J2) (R2 = 0.816, P<0.001) and BSA (female) = -3.50 + 0.013(A) + 0.012(B) + 0.040(E) + 0.015(J1J2) (R2 = 0.916, P<0.001). In conclusion, the 3D body scanner can be used to estimate BW and BSA in buffaloes with different models among males and females

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations in hypertensive cats with and without azotemia and in response to treatment with amlodipine besylate

BACKGROUND: Role of renin‐angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) in feline systemic hypertension is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Examine plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) in normotensive and hypertensive cats with variable renal function and in response to antihypertensive therapy. ANIMALS: One hundred and ninety‐six cats >9 years from first opinion practice. METHODS: PRA, PAC, and aldosterone‐to‐renin ratio (ARR) were evaluated in cats recruited prospectively and grouped according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and renal function (nonazotemic normotensive [Non‐Azo‐NT], nonazotemic hypertensive [Non‐Azo‐HT], azotemic normotensive [Azo‐NT], azotemic hypertensive [Azo‐HT]). Changes in PRA and PAC were evaluated with antihypertensive therapy (amlodipine besylate). RESULTS: Plasma renin activity (ng/mL/h; P = .0013), PAC (pg/mL; P < .001), and ARR (P = 0.0062) differed significantly among groups. PRA (ng/mL/h) was significantly lower in hypertensive (Non‐Azo‐HT; n = 25, median 0.22 [25th percentile 0.09, 75th percentile 0.39], Azo‐HT; n = 44, 0.33 [0.15, 0.48]) compared with Non‐Azo‐NT cats (n = 57, 0.52 [0.28, 1.02]). Azo‐HT cats had significantly higher PAC (n = 22, 149.8 [103.1, 228.7]) than normotensive cats (Non‐Azo‐NT; n = 26, 45.4 [19.6, 65.0], Azo‐NT; n = 18, 84.1 [38.6, 137.8]). ARR was significantly higher in Azo‐HT (n = 20, 503.8 [298.8, 1511]) than Azo‐NT cats (n = 16, 97.8 [77.0, 496.4]). Significant increase in PRA was documented with antihypertensive therapy (pretreatment [n = 20] 0.32 [0.15–0.46], posttreatment 0.54 [0.28, 1.51]), but PAC did not change. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hypertensive cats demonstrate significantly increased PAC with decreased PRA. PRA significantly increases with antihypertensive therapy. Additional work is required to determine the role of plasma aldosterone concentration in the pathogenesis of hypertension and whether this relates to autonomous production or activation of RAAS without demonstrable increase in PRA

ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats

An update to the 2007 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement on the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats was presented at the 2017 ACVIM Forum in National Harbor, MD. The updated consensus statement is presented here. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on appropriate diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in dogs and cats

Sympathetic activity in genetically hypertensive dogs

A colony of essential hypertensive dogs, Penn-Hypertensive Dogs (PHD) was studied to determine whether hypertension was due to increased sympathetic outflow and/or increased norepinephrine (NE) responsiveness. The effects of sodium status and AII blockade were also determined. Studies were conducted in borderline PHD (PHD-BL), normotensive PHD (PHD-NT), and normotensive unrelated dogs (UR-NT). Dogs had chronically implanted femoral arterial and renal vein catheters. NE kinetics were measured using constant infusion of tritiated NE. Adrenergic pressor responses were determined by infusion of NE (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 $\mu$g/kg/min). The results of kinetic studies show that PHD-BL had higher arterial NE concentrations (A-NE) than PHD-NT and UR-NT. Arterial NE spillover (A-SPL) was higher in PHD-BL while arterial NE clearance (A-CLR) was not different among groups which suggests that hypertension in PHD-BL was due to enhanced total NE spillover. Renal NE spillover (R-SPL) was higher while renal NE clearance (R-CLR) was lower in PHD resulting in increased renal venous NE concentration (V-NE) as indicated by high renal vascular resistance (RVR). Plasma volume was not different among dog groups on low, high and normal sodium suggesting that fluid retention does not occur in PHD. During low sodium, increased A-NE and V-NE were more pronounced in PHD. Increased NE concentration resulted from increased A-SPL, V-SPL, R-SPL and decreased A-CLR, V-CLR and R-CLR. These effects were not blocked by DuP753 suggesting that sympathetic enhancement is independent of AII. DuP753 decreased MAP in all groups. Increased A-NE with decreased A-CLR were found. Increased V-NE and R-SPL were also present and more dramatic in UR-NT suggesting impaired baroreflex activation of sympathetic activity in PHD. Although DuP753 decreased RVR and increased effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), higher RVR in PHD existed suggesting sympathetic overactivity. Studies of adrenergic responsiveness show that PHD have lower $\Delta$MAP than UR-NT in the absence and presence of AII or DuP753. AII potentiated the NE pressor responses which were blocked by DuP753. NE pressor responses in PHD were not affected by sodium. These results suggest that alteration of adrenergic responsiveness is not the underlying cause of hypertension

Renal shear wave elastography and urinary procollagen type III amino-terminal propeptide (uPIIINP) in feline chronic kidney disease

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases occurring in cats. It is characterized by renal fibrosis, which is strongly correlated with impairment of renal function. Since renal biopsy is not performed routinely in clinical practice, the non-invasive method of ultrasonographic shear-wave elastography (SWE) was used to determine renal parenchymal stiffness. Currently, urinary procollagen type III amino-terminal propeptide (uPIIINP) is a renal fibrosis biomarker in humans. Moreover, PIIINP is increasingly applied for identification of fibrosis in various organs in animals. Results The Young’s modulus (E) value on SWE, uPIIINP, and renal function were evaluated in 23 CKD cats and 25 healthy cats (HC). The renal cortical E values were significantly higher than those of the renal medulla in both groups (P < 0.001). The E values of the renal cortex and medulla were significantly higher in CKD cats than in HC (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). The E values, especially of the cortex, showed a significant positive correlation with concentrations of plasma creatinine (P < 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (P < 0.05), while they had a negative correlation with urine specific gravity (P < 0.001) and urine osmolality per plasma osmolality ratio (P < 0.01). The uPIIINP to creatinine ratios (uPIIINP/Cr) were significantly higher in CKD cats than in HC (P < 0.01) and were highly correlated with renal cortical E values (P < 0.001). Conclusions SWE might be an additively useful and non-invasive diagnostic imaging tool to evaluate renal parenchymal stiffness, which correlates with renal functional impairment in CKD cats. Moreover, the uPIIINP/Cr might be a promissing biomarker for adjunctive assessing the renal fibrosis in feline CKD

Left ventricular systolic function in dogs with pulmonic stenosis

Background and Aim: Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is the most common congenital heart disease in dogs. This condition causes right ventricle (RV) overload and disrupts overall systolic function. The aim of this study was to examine the alterations of cardiac electrical activity and mechanical function in dogs with PS compared to normal healthy dogs. Materials and Methods: The ventricular systolic function of dogs with PS was studied. Dogs were divided into two groups, PS (n=13) and control (CONT) (n=12). Measurements of blood pressure, electrocardiography (ECG), and echocardiography were performed. Results: PS dogs had exercise intolerance, with six experiencing syncope. ECG of PS dogs showed higher amplitudes of P, S, and T waves (p<0.01), and a lower R:S ratio (p<0.001) with longer QRS duration (p<0.001) compared to CONT dogs. Echocardiography demonstrated that the pulmonic flow velocity and pressure gradient (PG) between the RV and the pulmonary artery of PS dogs were significantly higher than CONT dogs (p<0.001). The RV free wall thickness to the left ventricular posterior wall thickness ratio and the right atrium to the left atrium diameter ratio was higher (p<0.001), while interventricular septum (IVS) was thicker (p<0.01) in PS dogs compared with CONT dogs (p<0.001). The systolic function in PS dogs showed higher pulmonic valve velocity time integral (PVVTI) value (p<0.001) and longer pulmonic valve ejection time (ET) (p<0.05) than CONT dogs. However, aortic valve VTI (AVVTI) value and aortic valve ET were not significantly different between the groups, although fractional shortening in PS dogs was higher. In PS dogs, PG showed a significant positive correlation with PVVTI:AVVTI ratio (p<0.05). Conclusion: PS had prolonged pulmonic valve opening. The thickening of the RV wall and IVS can cause a detrimental reduction of the left ventricular preload in PS dogs

Oxidative stress and intraerythrocytic concentrations of sodium and potassium in diabetic dogs

Oxidative stress parameters; thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (RBC-TBARS), catalase (RBC-CAT) and reduced glutathione (RBC-GSH)) and the intraerythrocytic concentrations of electrolytes; sodium and potassium (RBC-Na and RBC-K) were determined in 18 well- controlled (WC) and 22 poorly-controlled diabetic mellitus (DM). Dogs with DM had significant higher blood glucose concentration (P < 0.001), haemoglobin A1c (P < 0.01) and fructosamine (P < 0.001) compared to normal healthy dogs (n = 19). Diabetic dogs in both groups had higher RBC-CAT (P < 0.05) while RBC-TBARS were higher significantly only in poorly-controlled DM group (P < 0.05). The RBC-K was significantly higher in both DM groups (P < 0.001). No changes in RBC-GSH and RBC-Na were found between DM and control healthy dogs. By linear regression analysis, the relationship were found between degree of diabetic mellitus and RBC-CAT, RBC-TBARS, RBC-Na and RBC-K. The relationship was also found between oxidative stress parameters and intraerythrocytic K+. The results suggest that in diabetic dogs, oxidative stress occurs which related to the severity of disease and may affect potassium homeostasis