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Objectives: To establish the proportion of cytology samples sent to a commercial veterinary laboratory that yields diagnostically useful information in the context of current use and perceptions of cytology., Methods: Nine hundred and forty-five cytology submissions were retrospectively collected and categorised according to diagnostic utility. A survey into the use and perceptions of cytology was distributed at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress 2008., Results: A specific diagnosis was reached in 23.1 per cent of samples and a cytological diagnosis in 35.3 per cent. 22.4 per cent of samples yielded some useful information, but 19.2 per cent were unacceptable. Seventy-four participants in the survey took an average of 3.9 cytological samples per week, of which they examined 27.0 per cent in-house only, 21.6 per cent in-house before sending to an external laboratory and 51.4 per cent were sent externally without prior examination. "To obtain a definitive diagnosis" was the principal reason cited for performing cytology., Clinical Significance: Results suggest that cytology is underused and may be applied in an inappropriate context in the UK. It is hoped that illustrating the diagnostic outcome of samples received by a commercial laboratory will encourage increased, appropriate use of cytology.

The carrageenan air pouch technique in the rat was used to investigate the effects of flurbiprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on prostaglandin production and leucocyte migration. tthere is a suggestion that flurbiprofen was capable of inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis at doses lower than those which were effective in reducing leucocyte migration. Therefore, these two effects may reflect independent actions of the drug. The possible clinical relevance of these experiments has been noted since the effects of flurbiprofen on prostaglandin synthesis and leucocyte migration are produced in the rat at peak plasma concentrations which are less than those found in man after a single dose of 50 mg.