Echocardiographic assessments of longitudinal left ventricular function in healthy English springer spaniels

OBJECTIVES: To establish reference intervals for echocardiographic measures of longitudinal left ventricular function in adult English springer spaniel dogs. ANIMALS: Forty-two healthy adult English springer spaniels. METHODS: Animals were prospectively recruited from a general practice population in the United Kingdom. Dogs were examined twice, at least 12 months apart, to exclude dogs with progressive cardiac disease. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) mitral annular velocities and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic (2DSTE) left ventricular longitudinal strain and strain rate were measured. Intraoperator and intraobserver variability were examined and reference intervals were calculated. The potential effects of body weight, age and heart rate on these variables were examined. RESULTS: Intraoperator and intraobserver variability was <10% for all parameters except TDI E’ and 2DSTE variables, which were all <20%. Thirty-nine dogs were used to create reference intervals. Significant (but mostly weak) effects of age, heart rate and body weight on were detected. Reference intervals were similar to previously published values In different breeds. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Breed specific reference intervals for measures of longitudinal left ventricular function in the English springer spaniel are presented

Echocardiographic studies in the horse.

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX178318 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Temporal changes in clinical and radiographic variables in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease: The EPIC study

The Evaluation of pimobendan in dogs with cardiomegaly caused by preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (EPIC) study monitored dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) as they developed congestive heart failure (CHF)

Validation of a focused echocardiographic training program in first opinion practice

BACKGROUND: The EPIC study defines criteria, including echocardiographic assessments of left atrial to aortic ratio (LA: Ao) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized for body weight (LVIDdN), for dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) likely to benefit from pimobendan therapy. Access to echocardiography by a cardiologist is not universally available. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Completion of a focused echocardiographic training program would result in accurate identification of dogs fulfilling the EPIC criteria by primary care veterinarians (PC). PARTICIPANTS: Six PCs with no previous echocardiographic experience. METHODS: Prospective diagnostic test accuracy study. After training, each PC evaluated ≤10 dogs that they believed to have preclinical MMVD. The evaluation was repeated by 1 of 3 cardiology diplomates, blinded to the PC's findings. Agreement between clinical assessments and echocardiographic measurements was assessed. RESULTS: Fifty‐seven dogs were evaluated by PCs; 1 dog was withdrawn because of congestive heart failure. The median time between PC and cardiologist evaluation was 0 days (range, 0‐8). One incorrect diagnosis of MMVD was made by a PC (this dog had dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM]); preclinical MMVD was confirmed by the cardiologist in 55 dogs. No difference in LA: Ao (P = .96; CV = 6.9%) was detected between PCs and cardiologists. LVIDdN (1.69 cm/kg(0.294) (1.26‐2.21) vs 1.73 cm/kg(0.294) (1.32‐2.73); P = .001; CV = 6.5%), was significantly lower when measured by PCs vs cardiologists. PCs and cardiologists agreed regarding assessment of EPIC criteria in 49/56 dogs (Alpha = .761, 95% confidence interval 0.697‐0.922). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The program effectively trained PCs to accurately assess EPIC criteria in dogs with preclinical MMVD

National Travel Survey 1996-98 update

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:3554.082(99/21) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Vimentin protects cells against nuclear rupture and DNA damage during migration

Mammalian cells frequently migrate through tight spaces during normal embryogenesis, wound healing, diapedesis, or in pathological situations such as metastasis. Nuclear size and shape are important factors in regulating the mechanical properties of cells during their migration through such tight spaces. At the onset of migratory behavior, cells often initiate the expression of vimentin, an intermediate filament protein that polymerizes into networks extending from a juxtanuclear cage to the cell periphery. However, the role of vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) in regulating nuclear shape and mechanics remains unknown. Here, we use wild-type and vimentin-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts to show that VIFs regulate nuclear shape and perinuclear stiffness, cell motility in 3D, and the ability of cells to resist large deformations. These changes increase nuclear rupture and activation of DNA damage repair mechanisms, which are rescued by exogenous reexpression of vimentin. Our findings show that VIFs provide mechanical support to protect the nucleus and genome during migration

Biofilm-derived oxylipin 10-HOME–mediated immune response in women with breast implants

This study investigates a mechanistic link of bacterial biofilm–mediated host-pathogen interaction leading to immunological complications associated with breast implant illness (BII). Over 10 million women worldwide have breast implants. In recent years, women have described a constellation of immunological symptoms believed to be related to their breast implants. We report that periprosthetic breast tissue of participants with symptoms associated with BII had increased abundance of biofilm and biofilm-derived oxylipin 10-HOME compared with participants with implants who are without symptoms (non-BII) and participants without implants. S. epidermidis biofilm was observed to be higher in the BII group compared with the non-BII group and the normal tissue group. Oxylipin 10-HOME was found to be immunogenically capable of polarizing naive CD4+ T cells with a resulting Th1 subtype in vitro and in vivo. Consistently, an abundance of CD4+Th1 subtype was observed in the periprosthetic breast tissue and blood of people in the BII group. Mice injected with 10-HOME also had increased Th1 subtype in their blood, akin to patients with BII, and demonstrated fatigue-like symptoms. The identification of an oxylipin-mediated mechanism of immune activation induced by local bacterial biofilm provides insight into the possible pathogenesis of the implant-associated immune symptoms of BII