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

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 ultrasonographic shear-wave elastography and urinary procollagen type III amino-terminal propeptide in chronic kidney disease dogs

Background and Aim: Renal fibrosis is a well-established pathological alteration associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in several species and progresses as CKD advances. Although a renal biopsy is the gold standard for determining renal fibrosis, it is an invasive, impractical method for clinical practice. In humans, ultrasonographic shear-wave elastography (SWE), a novel advanced diagnostic imaging tool, can evaluate renal parenchyma stiffness, and urinary procollagen type III amino-terminal propeptide (uPIIINP), a promising renal fibrosis biomarker in humans, has increasingly been use applied to reduce the biopsies. This study compares renal tissue elasticity observed through SWE Young's modulus (E) values between healthy dogs (HD) and those with CKD. Materials and Methods: The E value acquired by SWE, uPIIINP levels, and renal function were evaluated in 15 CKD dogs and 15 HD. Results: The renal cortical E values were significantly higher than the renal medullary E values in both groups (p<0.001). Renal cortical and medullary E values in CKD dogs were significantly higher than in HD (p<0.01). Cortical E values had greater significant correlations with renal functional parameters than the medullary E values and had a significant positive correlation with concentrations of plasma creatinine (Cr) (p<0.001); blood urea nitrogen (p<0.01); urine protein Cr ratio (p<0.01); and fractional excretions of sodium (p<0.05), potassium (p<0.05), chloride (p<0.05), and magnesium (p<0.001) while they had a negative correlation with urine specific gravity (p<0.05) and urine osmolality to plasma osmolality ratio (p<0.05). The uPIIINP to Cr (uPIIINP/Cr) ratios of CKD dogs were higher than those of HD (p<0.001). Moreover, the uPIIINP/Cr levels presented significant correlations with the renal cortical E values (p<0.01) and also the renal functional parameters. Conclusion: SWE offers a complementary, non-invasive diagnostic imaging tool for evaluating renal tissue stiffness in CKD dogs with renal function deterioration. In addition, uPIIINP levels are associated with renal function and structural changes in dogs. Therefore, the uPIIINP level might be a non-invasive, complementary, and promising biomarker for evaluating renal fibrosis in canine 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

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