Evaluation of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (ceus) in canine mammary gland tumours

Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a non-invasive method of examination that surpassed the normal standard B-Mode and Doppler ultrasonography (US). The use of contrast agents (CA) allows the examiner to observe a more detailed map of the tumor vascularization. The aim of this study was to establish the advantages and disadvantages of this method. The study was conducted on 5 canine patients, different breeds with the the age between 8 and 12 years. Each patient was presented with a mammary tumor and evaluated through a standard US. The CEUS examination was performed after injecting intravenously, in bolus, 1 ml/10 kg of prepared UCA SonoVue (8 μl/ml sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles, Bracco, Italy). A 3-minute recording was saved after the administration and afterwards evaluated. The results were satisfactory, but the small mammary nodules were not only hard to examine but did not show a difference from the B-Mode US. The advantages were clear in the larger and more aggressive tumors and a layout of the neovascularization was quite clear. In conclusion, at this stage of the study the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and further investigations are needed

Motility parameters of equine epididymal spermatozoa after 24 hours intra-epididymal exposure to lidocaine using two commercial extenders

Epididymal spermatozoa is the last source for gamete rescue in case of emergency castration or sudden death of a valuable stallion, thus an ideal harvesting and preservation technique should be employed. Routinely, 2% lidocaine intraparenchymatous administration is used to provide analgesia prior to castration, but studies on the effect of lidocaine on epididymal spermatozoa motility parameters are limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of lidocaine on equine epididymal spermatozoa, after 24 hours intraepididymal cool storage using two commercial extenders. We hypothesized that intraepididymal prolonged exposure to lidocaine, might affect motility parameters of epididymal stallion spermatozoa and that different extenders might have an impact. Sperm was collected from 20 epididymides of routinely castrated 3 year old KWPN stallions. 4 stallions received 10 ml 2% lidocaine intraparenchymatous 10 minutes prior to castration and 6 stallions were not medicated. Testicles were transported to an equipped facility and cooled stored for 24 hours. From each sample an aliquot was diluted in a commercial egg yolk based extender, and another in a commercial extender containing defined milk proteins. Motility parameters were registered 30 minutes after dilution, computer assisted. There were no statistical differences between motility parameters of spermatozoa exposed to lidocaine and spermatozoa not exposed, however progressive motility and linearity significantly differed among the two extenders

Neovascularization in canine mammary carcinoma – a case report

The frequency of mammary tumors in canines is three times higher than in women. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a noninvasive clinical method, that uses special contrast agents (CAs), their role being to layout the microvasculature of different lesions. The aim of this particular method, in this case, was to establish if we can evaluate the malignancy of a mass, given the fact that neovascularization is a malignancy marker. The case is represented by a Silky Terrier breed female dog, 5 years old, that was presented initially with an enlarged polycystic mammary gland and a nervous lactation. The female was initially diagnosed with polycystic mastosis. After 2 more months the mass became denser and enlarged. Before the ovariohisterectomy and unilateral mastectomy surgeries have taken place, a B-Mode standard ultrasound, CEUS and a pulmonary X-ray were performed. Our results integrate this case in “fast in” and “slow in” (type 2 curve). The histological diagnosis was established as a simple cystic papillary carcinoma with a malignancy grade 2. The mean value of the MVD was 13.75 which is a low MVD. We cannot determine a correlation between CEUS and a tumor’s malignancy, and so further studies are needed

The Use of Activated Micronized Zeolite Clinoptilolite as a Possible Alternative to Antibiotics and Chestnut Extract for the Control of Undifferentiated Calf Diarrhea: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Today, zeolite appears as an interesting alternative for the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhea. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the properties of activated micronized (5 microns) zeolite clinoptilolite (MZC) from Transylvania, Romania, first by testing it in vitro and then in vivo on calves with diarrhea. To assess the toxic potential of the MZC, we performed a cell cytotoxicity assay using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) technique on primary bovine intestinal epithelial cells (BIECs). The antimicrobial activity of MZC was investigated by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) on Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The uncontrolled in vivo study was carried out over 8 days on a fattening farm, with some 650 calves. Selected calves were randomly assigned to four groups of 20 individuals. Several combinations between MZC, chestnut extract, and oxytetracycline were tested. At the beginning of the study, all calves had diarrhea, while at the end of the study, the prevalence of diarrhea was significantly lower in all four groups (p < 0.001), including the ones treated with MZC. Due to its low cytotoxicity on the intestinal cells and with regards to the results we obtained in vivo, MZC may be considered an alternative for the symptomatic treatment of undifferentiated diarrhea in calves