Search

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a consequence of pulmonary endarteritis during infection with Dirofilaria immitis in dogs. Echocardiography is the technique of choice but is not always accessible to all clinicians. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the radiological findings in dogs with heartworm disease and the presence or absence of echocardiographically characterised PH. The study included 62 heartworm-infected dogs that underwent thoracic radiographs and echocardiography. The studied dogs showed moderate to severe PH when the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility (RPAD) Index was p < 0.001). Sensitivity (sen) and specificity (sp) cut-off values were obtained: VHS ≥ 9.53 (sen 93.75%, sp 63.33%); CrPA/R4 ≥ 1.08 (sen 87.5%, sp 70%); and CdPA/R9 ≥ 1.10 (sen 96.88%, sp 76.66%). The CrPA/R4 and CdPA/R9 ratios showed potential as a preliminary screening tool for PH in heartworm-infected dogs, suggesting that they may reliably indicate the presence of PH and guide the decision for further diagnostic testing.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a prevalent canine cardiac disease typically diagnosed and classified using echocardiography. However, accessibility to this technique can be limited in first-opinion clinics. This study aimed to determine if machine learning techniques can classify MMVD according to the ACVIM classification (B1, B2, C, and D) through a structured anamnesis, quality of life survey, and physical examination. This report encompassed 23 veterinary hospitals and assessed 1011 dogs for MMVD using the FETCH-Q quality of life survey, clinical history, physical examination, and basic echocardiography. Employing a classification tree and a random forest analysis, the complex model accurately identified 96.9% of control group dogs, 49.8% of B1, 62.2% of B2, 77.2% of C, and 7.7% of D cases. To enhance clinical utility, a simplified model grouping B1 and B2 and C and D into categories B and CD improved accuracy rates to 90.8% for stage B, 73.4% for stages CD, and 93.8% for the control group. In conclusion, the current machine-learning technique was able to stage healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD classified into stages B and CD in the majority of dogs using quality of life surveys, medical history, and physical examinations. However, the technique faces difficulties differentiating between stages B1 and B2 and determining between advanced stages of the disease.

Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle is helpful for analysing the pathophysiology of heartworm disease and detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs. In veterinary cardiology, the study of myocardial deformation using two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) echocardiography has become increasingly acknowledged as useful for quantifying right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of myocardial deformation strain of the right ventricular free wall (FWS), global deformation strain of the right ventricle, including the interventricular septum (GS), and tissue motion annular displacement of the tricuspid valve (TMAD) in a cohort of dogs with heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease and to determine cut-off values for detecting the presence of PH. Out of the 93 dogs tested, 71% were diagnosed with heartworm infection. PH was identified in 41% of the infected dogs following the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines, based on the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity to calculate the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), while other routine measurements were used, including the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPADi). The 2D-STE mode measurements were determined using Right Ventricular Automated Function Imaging (RV AFI®) software. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the studied parameters among dogs with and without PH. Additionally, sensitivity (sen) and specificity (sp) cut-off values were obtained (GS ≥ −21.25%, sen 96%, sp 86.4%; FWS ≥ −21.95%, sen 92.56%, sp 95.5%; TMAD ≤ 0.85 cm, sen 70.4%, sp 83.3%). These results demonstrated that GS, FWS, and TMAD could be used as supplementary and alternative variables to conventional echocardiographic measurements when detecting PH in dogs with heartworm disease.

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is a nematode that produces proliferative pulmonary endarteritis in dogs due to direct contact of the adult parasites with the intima layer of the pulmonary arteries, leading to irreversible severe structural damage and sustained pulmonary hypertension (PH), which can produce severe cardiorespiratory disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the echocardiography tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in determining the presence of PH in dogs with heartworm disease. Methods: There were 116 heartworm-infected dogs with PH and 33 healthy dogs included in the study. Based on the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPADi) < 29.5%, PH was present in 47.4% of infected dogs. Additionally, the animals were evaluated using other standard alternative echocardiographic measures to estimate PH. Moreover, a total of eight echocardiographic measurements were analysed using the TDI to determine its usefulness in diagnosing PH (E′, A′, S, E′:A′, global TDI, HRI-IVCT, HRI-IVRT, R-TEI). Results: The TDI measurements showed significant differences between dogs with and without PH, demonstrating a positive correlation with respect to the RPADi. In addition, cut-off values for the detection of PH with excellent sensitivity and specificity were found for E′:A′, global TDI, HRI-IVCT, HRI-IVRT and R-TEI. Conclusions: The TDI mode may be useful as an adjunct diagnostic method for the determination of PH in dogs with Dirofilaria immitis.

Background:Dirofilaria immitis produces proliferative pulmonary endarteritis and pulmonary thromboembolism in infected dogs. The pulmonary vascular lesions lead to irreversible and persistent structural damage and, as a consequence, sustained precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the pulmonary vein to pulmonary artery ratio (PV:PA ratio) to determine moderate or severe PH (>50 mmHg) in dogs with heartworm disease. Methods: A total of 151 naturally heartworm-infected and 66 healthy dogs were included in the study. The presence/absence of PH was based on the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPAD index < 29.5%), and the PV:PA ratio was echocardiographically measured by the time–motion mode (M mode) and two-dimensional mode (2D mode). Other echocardiographic parameters were also assessed (pulmonary trunk to aorta ratio, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient, and AT:ET ratio). Results: The results of the PV:PA ratio showed a highly positive correlation between the M and 2D modes (r = 0.928). The PV:PA ratio obtained by the M mode was identified as the strongest predictor for RPAD index (R2 0.628, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.99). The results of PV/PA by the 2D mode showed a similar prediction for the RPAD index (R2 0.606, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.98). Both of the 2D and M modes’ PV:PA ratios decreased significantly with the presence of PH. A cut-off value of ≤0.845 showed high sensitivity and specificity for the M mode (97% and 94%, respectively) and the 2D mode (96% and 93%, respectively). Conclusions: The PV:PA ratio may be useful as a complementary diagnostic method for the estimation of moderate or severe PH in dogs with heartworm.

Obesity is a nutritional disorder commonly diagnosed in adult cats that has been associated with an increased risk of different chronic diseases including respiratory diseases. The main objective of this study is to define if there is a relation between lung function measured by barometric whole-body plethysmography and obesity in cats with bronchoconstriction. Fifty-three cats were included in the study. All animals presented a bronchoconstriction status diagnosed with an Enhanced Pause (Penh) value higher than the reference range. Based on a standardized 9-point body condition scale, 36 cats were normal-weight cats (with BCS < 6), and 17 cats were considered overweight or obese cats (with BCS ≥ 6). Overweight cats were mainly male cats and older, and presented lower tidal volume values, lower minute volume values, and lower peak inspiratory and expiratory flows than normal-weight cats. According to the results of the present study, overweight cats showed a more compromised lung function parameters related to restrictive pattern compared with normal-weight cats. However, overweight cats did not show a higher bronchoconstriction level compared with normal-weight cats.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of mortality among diabetic patients, with oxidative stress and inflammation major contributors to its development. Dietary flavonoids show strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, although their potential additive outcomes in combination with antidiabetic drugs have been scarcely explored. The present study investigates the cardioprotective effects of a cocoa–carob blend (CCB) diet, rich in flavonoids, alone or in combination with metformin, in the development of DCM. Zucker diabetic fatty rats (ZDF) were fed with a CCB rich-diet or a control diet, with or without metformin for 12 weeks. Glucose homeostasis, cardiac structure and function, and oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers were analysed. CCB improved glucose homeostasis, and mitigated cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in ZDF rats. Mechanistically, CCB counteracted oxidative stress in diabetic hearts by down-regulating NADPH oxidases, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and modulating the sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/ nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling pathway, overall improving antioxidant defence. Moreover, CCB suppressed inflammatory and fibrotic reactions by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines. Noteworthy, several of these effects were further improved in combination with metformin. Our results demonstrate that CCB strongly prevents the cardiac remodelling and dysfunction observed in diabetic animals, highlighting its potential, alone or in adjuvant therapy, for treating DCM.

Simple Summary: The development of new echocardiographic techniques, such as two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and assessment of longitudinal myocardial deformation, may be new alternative tools to analyse the presence and severity of pulmonary hypertension in heartworm disease. A total of 93 dogs were used, of which 71% were diagnosed with heartworm infection and 41% were found to have PH. The measurements evaluated were obtained using Right Ventricular Automated Function Imaging (RV AFI®) software. The results showed significant differences between animals with and without pulmonary hypertension. Cut-off values with high sensitivity and specificity were also obtained for the detection of pulmonary hypertension in the animals analysed. Echocardiographic measurements for functional assessment of the right ventricle using myocardial longitudinal strain have demonstrated their usefulness in heartworm-infected dogs. Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle is helpful for analysing the pathophysiology of heartworm disease and detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs. In veterinary cardiology, the study of myocardial deformation using two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) echocardiography has become increasingly acknowledged as useful for quantifying right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of myocardial deformation strain of the right ventricular free wall (FWS), global deformation strain of the right ventricle, including the interventricular septum (GS), and tissue motion annular displacement of the tricuspid valve (TMAD) in a cohort of dogs with heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease and to determine cut-off values for detecting the presence of PH. Out of the 93 dogs tested, 71% were diagnosed with heartworm infection. PH was identified in 41% of the infected dogs following the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines, based on the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity to calculate the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), while other routine measurements were used, including the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPADi). The 2D-STE mode measurements were determined using Right Ventricular Automated Function Imaging (RV AFI®) software. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the studied parameters among dogs with and without PH. Additionally, sensitivity (sen) and specificity (sp) cut-off values were obtained (GS ≥ −21.25%, sen 96%, sp 86.4%; FWS ≥ −21.95%, sen 92.56%, sp 95.5%; TMAD ≤ 0.85 cm, sen 70.4%, sp 83.3%). These results demonstrated that GS, FWS, and TMAD could be used as supplementary and alternative variables to conventional echocardiographic measurements when detecting PH in dogs with heartworm disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare Doppler (the most commonly used technique for non‐invasive indirect blood pressure [NIBP] measurement in rabbits) and oscillometric devices for NIBP measurements in conscious rabbits. Methods: Blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained for 49 conscious rabbits using the Doppler and oscillometric devices. Each measurement was repeated in triplicate. Three rabbits were excluded from the study because it was not possible to obtain BP measurements using the oscillometric device. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines were followed to compare the results obtained with the two devices. Results: A total of 164 systolic BP measurements were obtained with the Doppler device and 182 were obtained with the oscillometric technique. The mean of the three values obtained for each animal with each device was used for statistical analysis. The analysis demonstrated a poor level of agreement between the measurements obtained with the two devices. Limitations: Oscillometric devices rely on built‐in software algorithms to perform calculations and produce their measurements. However, the oscillometric devices currently available only have the software for dogs and cats installed. Therefore, these conclusions should be revised when a device with software specifically for rabbits is commercialised. Conclusions: This study indicates that oscillometric devices should not be used as a substitute for the Doppler technique when measuring BP in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a consequence of pulmonary endarteritis during infection with Dirofilaria immitis in dogs. Echocardiography is the technique of choice but is not always accessible to all clinicians. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the radiological findings in dogs with heartworm disease and the presence or absence of echocardiographically characterised PH. The study included 62 heartworm-infected dogs that underwent thoracic radiographs and echocardiography. The studied dogs showed moderate to severe PH when the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility (RPAD) Index was <29.5%. The RPAD Index was used for comparison with thoracic radiographs. The Vertebral Heart Size (VHS), right cranial pulmonary artery passing through the fourth rib in the laterolateral projection (CrPA/R4) ratio, and right caudal pulmonary artery to the ninth rib in the dorsoventral projection (CdPA/R9) ratio showed significant differences between dogs with/without PH ( p < 0.001). Sensitivity (sen) and specificity (sp) cut-off values were obtained: VHS ≥ 9.53 (sen 93.75%, sp 63.33%); CrPA/R4 ≥ 1.08 (sen 87.5%, sp 70%); and CdPA/R9 ≥ 1.10 (sen 96.88%, sp 76.66%). The CrPA/R4 and CdPA/R9 ratios showed potential as a preliminary screening tool for PH in heartworm-infected dogs, suggesting that they may reliably indicate the presence of PH and guide the decision for further diagnostic testing.

Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle is helpful for analysing the pathophysiology of heartworm disease and detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs. In veterinary cardiology, the study of myocardial deformation using two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) echocardiography has become increasingly acknowledged as useful for quantifying right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of myocardial deformation strain of the right ventricular free wall (FWS), global deformation strain of the right ventricle, including the interventricular septum (GS), and tissue motion annular displacement of the tricuspid valve (TMAD) in a cohort of dogs with heartworm ( Dirofilaria immitis ) disease and to determine cut-off values for detecting the presence of PH. Out of the 93 dogs tested, 71% were diagnosed with heartworm infection. PH was identified in 41% of the infected dogs following the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines, based on the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity to calculate the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), while other routine measurements were used, including the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPADi). The 2D-STE mode measurements were determined using Right Ventricular Automated Function Imaging (RV AFI ® ) software. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the studied parameters among dogs with and without PH. Additionally, sensitivity (sen) and specificity (sp) cut-off values were obtained (GS ≥ -21.25%, sen 96%, sp 86.4%; FWS ≥ -21.95%, sen 92.56%, sp 95.5%; TMAD ≤ 0.85 cm, sen 70.4%, sp 83.3%). These results demonstrated that GS, FWS, and TMAD could be used as supplementary and alternative variables to conventional echocardiographic measurements when detecting PH in dogs with heartworm disease.