Search

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.

Previous studies have shown the existence of an acute phase response in dogs with heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), probably caused by the vascular inflammation that occurs during the pathogenesis of this disease. In addition, it has been seen that this acute phase response persists after finishing treatment, especially in dogs with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Furthermore, echocardiographic studies have shown that PH and endarteritis appear to persist for at least 10 months after completion of adulticide treatment, suggesting that the vascular changes in these dogs may not be reversible. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of different positive acute phase proteins (APP) [C reactive-protein (CRP), haptoglobin and ferritin] and negative APP (albumin and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1)), and the usefulness of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and adiponectin, in dogs infected by D. immitis to evaluate their usefulness as diagnostic biomarkers of vascular damage and PH and their progression throughout therapy up to 7 months after the end of adulticide treatment. Twenty-five heartworm-infected dogs received adulticide treatment, and serum measurements were performed on the day of diagnosis (day 0), day of discharge (day 90), and 6 months after discharge (day 270). In addition, presence or absence of PH was also echocardiographically determined using the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index. PH was present in 44% of the dogs on day 0 and day 90, and in 48% of dogs on day 270. Alterations were observed in the concentrations of all APP throughout the study, persisting the alterations in PON-1 and ferritin on day 270. Depending on the presence or absence of PH, CRP showed significant differences throughout the study, as did ET-1. On the other hand, adiponectin did not show variations throughout the study, so it did not seem a useful marker in this disease. These results could reflect the possible persistence of vascular inflammation up to 7 months after finishing treatment, whether or not there was PH, and consolidate the study of APP as useful markers in heartworm disease. Moreover, persistent PH could be the consequent clinical manifestation in dogs with more severe vascular alterations so the study of APP, especially CRP, and ET-1 could be especially advantageous in these patients in the early evaluation of the disease, as well as for the determination of disease severity, monitoring therapeutic responses, and predicting outcomes.

Microcirculatory alterations displayed by patients with heart failure (HF) induce structural and functional intestinal changes that may affect normal gut microbial community. At the same time, gut microbiota can influence pathological mechanisms implicated in HF progression. However, it is unknown whether gut microbiota dysbiosis can precede the development of cardiac alterations in HF or it is only a mere consequence. Our aim was to investigate the potential relationship between gut microbiota composition and HF development by comparing spontaneously hypertensive heart failure and spontaneously hypertensive rat models. Gut microbiota from spontaneously hypertensive heart failure, spontaneously hypertensive rat, and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats at 9 and 19 months of age was analyzed by sequencing the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and KEGG metabolic pathways associated to 16S profiles were predicted. Beta diversity, Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio, taxonomic abundances, and potential metabolic functions of gut microbiota were significantly different in spontaneously hypertensive heart failure with respect to spontaneously hypertensive rat before (9 months) and after (19 months) cardiac differences were presented. Nine-month-old spontaneously hypertensive heart failure showed a significant increase in the genera Paraprevotella, Oscillospira, Prevotella 9, Faecalitalea, Faecalibacterium, Ruminiclostridium 6, Phascolarctobacterium, Butyrivibrio, Parasutterella, and Parabacteroides compared with both Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rat, while Ruminiclostridium 9 , Oscillibacter , Ruminiclostridium , Mucispirillum, Intestinimonas , and Akkermansia were diminished. Of them, Akkermansia, Prevotella 9 , Paraprevotella , and Phascolarctobaterium were associated to changes in cardiac structure and function. Our results demonstrate an association between specific changes in gut microbiota and the development of HF in a hypertensive model of HF and further support the intervention to restore gut microbiota as an innovative therapeutic strategy for preventing HF.

Background Canine heartworm infection is characterized by pulmonary endarteritis and pulmonary hypertension (PH). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between PH with the concentrations of different positive (C-reactive protein [CRP] and haptoglobin [Hp]) and negative (albumin and paraoxonase-1 [PON-1]) acute phase proteins (APP), as well as the oxidative stress, by measuring glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 27 heartworm-infected dogs on Day 0 (diagnosis) and Day 120 (1 month after the last adulticide injection). Presence/absence of PH was determined by the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility (RPAD) Index. Results On Day 0, 62.9% of the dogs showed PH. Concentrations of CRP and Hp were higher in dogs with PH, especially in dogs with moderate-severe PH (P

The purpose of this research was to compare the accuracy of newly described P wave-related parameters (P wave area, Macruz index and mean electrical axis) with classical P wave-related parameters (voltage and duration of P wave) for the assessment of left atrial (LA) size in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease. One hundred forty-six dogs (37 healthy control dogs and 109 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease) were prospectively studied. Two-dimensional echocardiography examinations and a 6-lead ECG were performed prospectively in all dogs. Echocardiography parameters, including determination of the ratios LA diameter/aortic root diameter and LA area/aortic root area, were compared to P wave-related parameters: P wave area, Macruz index, mean electrical axis voltage and duration of P wave. The results showed that P wave-related parameters (classical and newly described) had low sensitivity (range=52.3 to 77%; median=60%) and low to moderate specificity (range=47.2 to 82.5%; median 56.3%) for the prediction of left atrial enlargement. The areas under the curve of P wave-related parameters were moderate to low due to poor sensitivity. In conclusion, newly P wave-related parameters do not increase the diagnostic capacity of ECG as a predictor of left atrial enlargement in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease.

Systemic hypertension (SHT) in dogs is considered a health risk factor. Telmisartan is a well-known antihypertensive agent in humans. There are limited reports about its efficacy in dogs. Five dogs with primary and secondary SHT refractory to the combined treatment of benazepril and amlodipine had a successful control of systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) when telmisartan was combined with amlodipine. SBP showed a significant reduction after any treatment, but only reached successful control when amlodipine plus telmisartan was administered (median SBP: 215 mmHg before treatment [min-max: 180–240 mmHg]; 180 mmHg for amlodipine plus benazepril treatment [min-max: 170–210 mmHg]; 142 mmHg after amlodipine plus telmisartan treatment [min-max: 120–165 mmHg]). This control remained stable in the long-term follow-up (average 5.2 months). In the cases reported, the telmisartan plus amlodipine treatment showed good efficacy in the control of SHT, regardless of cause, and was well tolerated in all patients.

Background: The distribution of glucose and fatty-acid transporters in the heart is crucial for energy consecution and myocardial function. In this sense, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) enhancer, sitagliptin, improves glucose homeostasis but it could also trigger direct cardioprotective actions, including regulation of energy substrate utilization. Methods: Type-II diabetic GK (Goto-Kakizaki), sitagliptin-treated GK (10 mg/kg/day) and wistar rats (n = 10, each) underwent echocardiographic evaluation, and positron emission tomography scanning for [ 18 F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ( 18 FDG). Hearts and plasma were isolated for biochemical approaches. Cultured cardiomyocytes were examined for receptor distribution after incretin stimulation in high fatty acid or high glucose media. Results: Untreated GK rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and plasma GLP-1 reduction. Moreover, GK myocardium decreased 18 FDG assimilation and diastolic dysfunction. However, sitagliptin improved hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and GLP-1 levels, and additionally, enhanced 18 FDG uptake and diastolic function. Sitagliptin also stimulated the sarcolemmal translocation of the glucose transporter-4 (Glut4), in detriment of the fatty acyl translocase (FAT)/CD36. In fact, Glut4 mRNA expression and sarcolemmal translocation were also increased after GLP-1 stimulation in high-fatty acid incubated cardiomyocytes. PI3K/Akt and AMPKα were involved in this response. Intriguingly, the GLP-1 degradation metabolite, GLP-1(9-36), showed similar effects. Conclusions: Besides of its anti-hyperglycemic effect, sitagliptin-enhanced GLP-1 may ameliorate diastolic dysfunction in type-II diabetes by shifting fatty acid to glucose utilization in the cardiomyocyte, and thus, improving cardiac efficiency and reducing lipolysis, This work was supported by national grants from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (SAF2009-08367), Comunidad de Madrid (CCG10-UAM/BIO-5289), and PIE13/00051 and PI14/00386 (IS. Carlos III). Merck Sharp and Dohme (Darmstadt, Germany) provided sitagliptin and partial financial support to the conduct of the study

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent and severe phenomenon in heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, mainly caused by intimal proliferation of the arteries and pulmonary thromboembolisms. Transthoracic echocardiography is the method of choice for diagnosing PH in dogs although the diagnosis is often based on indirect and subjective parameters. The Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index (RPAD Index) is a method that has been recently validated to estimate the presence and severity of PH in heartworm-infected dogs. This study compared some echocardiographic parameters commonly used to estimate PH in 93 dogs infected by D. immitis and evaluated the impact of the parasite burden, microfilaremia, sex or origin of the dog (client-owned/shelter). Results None of the studied echocardiographic variables seemed useful in the estimation of the evaluated clinical aspects, except for the PA/Ao ratio for parasite burden. The RPAD Index was determined in 88 of the dogs; of these, 70.4% had PH (mild: 37.5%, moderate: 19.3%, severe: 13.6%). This Index showed non-significant differences according to microfilaremia, sex, origin or parasite burden. Symptomatic dogs showed PH more often and displayed more severe PH, in addition the presence of symptoms was greater among dogs with high burden; on the other hand 64.4% of asymptomatic dogs had some degree of PH according to the RPAD Index. Apart from the PA/Ao ratio, the other evaluated echocardiographic variables were not useful in evaluating of the hypertensive status of the heartworm-infected dog compared to the RPAD Index. Conclusions The estimation of most common indirect parameters is not useful in predicting PH in heartworm-infected dogs. The results confirm the RPAD Index as an objective and supportive test in the monitoring and evaluation of PH in the heartworm-infected dog, and show a potential diagnostic value for the detection of PH in asymptomatic animals.

Obesity is a risk factor in the development of several respiratory diseases. Lung volumes tend to be decreased, especially expiratory reserve volume, increasing expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. Barometric whole-body plethysmography is a non-invasive pulmonary function test that allows a dynamic study of breathing patterns. The objective of this study was to compare pulmonary function variables between obese and non-obese cats through the use of barometric whole-body plethysmography. Nine normal-weight and six obese cats were placed in the plethysmograph chamber, and different respiratory variables were measured. There was a significant decrease in tidal volume per kilogram ( P = 0.003), minute volume per kilogram ( P = 0.001) and peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kilogram ( P = 0.001) in obese cats compared with non-obese cats. Obesity failed to demonstrate a significant increase in bronchoconstriction index variable enhanced pause (Penh), as previously reported in humans and dogs. The results show that feline obesity impairs pulmonary function in cats, although a significant increase in bronchoconstriction indexes was not observed. Non-invasive barometric whole-body plethysmography can help characterise mechanical dysfunction of the airways in obese cats.

The anesthetic management in patients with subaortic stenosis and mitral valve disease should involve intensive monitoring and the anesthesiologist’s main concern is to ensure oxygen delivery and tissue perfusion. Since anesthetic procedures in such patients are rare, there is no previous report about the anesthetic management. A 5.5-year old, 32-kg Boxer, suffering a severe heart disease due to a final stage subaortic stenosis and mitral insufficiency, was anesthetized for an ovariohysterectomy to remove an ovarian tumor that was producing high-volume ascites. Methadone (0.3 mg kg−1) was administered intramuscularly (IM) for pre-anesthetic medication, etomidate (1.3 mg kg−1) and midazolam (0.2 mg kg−1) were used for the induction of anesthesia and after endotracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane vaporized in oxygen and air. Fentanyl (5–10 μg kg−1 h−1) and paracetamol (15 mg kg−1) were administered to improve analgesia. Previous persistent atrial fibrillation was refractory to medication (digoxin, diltiazem, and pimobendan) and continued during the anesthetic procedure. Dobutamine (1.5–5 μg kg−1 minute−1) helped to maintain mean arterial blood pressure above 60 mmHg. Epidural morphine (0.1 mg kg−1) and incisional bupivacaine (2 mg kg−1) were administered at the end of surgery to provide postoperative analgesia. Anesthesia was otherwise uneventful, and recovery was considered excellent.Keywords: Anesthesia, Atrial fibrillation, Dog, Mitral, Subaortic stenosis

Caro-Vadillo, A., Ynaraja-Ramirez, E. and Montoya-Alonso, J.A. 2006. Effect of short-term treatment with perindopril, torsemide and restricted-sodium diet in dogs with atrioventricular valvular insufficiency. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 29: 105–108. To evaluate the effects of perindopril, torsemide and a low-sodium diet on clinical response in dogs with moderate congestive heart failure, forty-six dogs with moderate congestive heart failure (International Small Animal Cardiac Health stage II) due to mitral valve disease were taken. During 4 weeks all the patients received 0.2 mg/kg perindopril (Coversyl, Servier) SID, 0.2 mg/kg torsemide (Sutril, Novag) SID and a moderate-sodium diet (k/d, Hill's). The treatment was safe, effective and well-tolerated and no major side-effects were observed. There were no significant changes in measured haematological and biochemical variables, including serum electrolyte concentrations and urinary fractional excretion of electrolytes. At the end of the study, all the pa...

Cardiac steatosis and apoptosis are key processes in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated, leading to a lack of effective therapy. The mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, eplerenone, has demonstrated anti-fibrotic actions in the diabetic heart. However, its effects on the fatty-acid accumulation and apoptotic responses have not been revealed. Methods: Non-hypertensive Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats received eplerenone (25 mg/kg) or vehicle. Zucker Lean (ZL) rats were used as control (n = 10, each group). After 16 weeks, cardiac structure and function was examined, and plasma and hearts were isolated for biochemical and histological approaches. Cultured cardiomyocytes were used for in vitro assays to determine the direct effects of eplerenone on high fatty acid and high glucose exposed cells. Results: In contrast to ZL, ZDF rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin-resistance, cardiac steatosis and diastolic dysfunction. The ZDF myocardium also showed increased mitochondrial oxidation and apoptosis. Importantly, eplerenone mitigated these events without altering hyperglycemia. In cultured cardiomyocytes, high-concentrations of palmitate stimulated the fatty-acid uptake (in detriment of glucose assimilation), accumulation of lipid metabolites, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Interestingly, fatty-acid uptake, ceramides formation and apoptosis were also significantly ameliorated by eplerenone. Conclusions: By blocking mineralocorticoid receptors, eplerenone may attenuate cardiac steatosis and apoptosis, and subsequent remodelling and diastolic dysfunction in obese/type-II diabetic rats, This work was supported by national grants from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (SAF2009-08367), Comunidad de Madrid (CCG10-UAM/BIO-5289), FISS (PI10/00072), and a grant from by Pfizer (NY, USA), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) CTQ2011-23562. These grants were used to provide consumables and animals required. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. AF received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement nº 264864

Aims Although statins may provide potential therapeutic pathways for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), no studies have evaluated statins in combination with standard HF therapy, which would reflect clinical practice more closely. To address this question, we evaluated whether rosuvastatin added to a standard HF therapy provides additional improvement in cardiac structure and function in rats with hypertensive heart failure (SHHF). Methods and results Two-month-old SHHF rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (i) non-treated SHHF rats; (ii) rosuvastatin-treated SHHF rats; (iii) SHHF rats treated with quinapril plus torasemide plus carvedilol (considered as standard HF therapy); and (iv) SHHF rats treated with the combination of standard HF therapy and rosuvastatin. The administration of a standard anti-hypertensive HF therapy to SHHF rats for 17 months attenuated left ventricular (LV) chamber dilatation, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation compared with non-treated SHHF rats. Rosuvastatin alone prevented LV dilatation and cardiac inflammation similar to standard HF therapy-treated SHHF, despite being unable to normalize blood pressure (BP) or influence cardiac hypertrophy. However, and importantly, the addition of rosuvastatin to the standard HF therapy further prevented LV dilatation, preserved cardiac function, and normalized inflammation. Conclusion These data show that the use of rosuvastatin plus a standard HF therapy results in a significant additional improvement in HF and cardiac remodelling in a rat model of HFpEF. These beneficial effects were independent of BP and plasma lipid changes, and seem to be due, at least in part, to decreased myocardial inflammation.

Cada vez son más los trabajos científicos en los que se determinan distinas sustancias que pueden se útiles como marcadores de lesión miocárdica. Dentro de estos marcadores, las troponinas, y en concreto la troponina I, exclusiva de los miocitos y la troponina C, se describen como marcadores esenciales para el diagnóstico de infarto de miocardio en medicina humana, así como para establecer actuaciones terapéuticas propias en estos casos. En medicina veterinaria existen algunos trabajos en los que se determina la concentración de estas troponinas. El objetivo del presente artículo es hacer una revisión de los trabajos encontrados en la bibliografía sobre la determinación de troponinas para esablecer su posible utilidad en la clínica diaria..

Objective: To study the effect of sitagliptin on glucose and fatty-acids uptake in the myocardium of type-II diabetic rats. Background: The energy source in the heart shifts from fatty-acids to glucose after damage. However, fatty-acids are used as the only substrate available in the diabetic myocardium. Sitagliptin improves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, but it is unknown whether it could influence the cellular transporters for both glucose and fatty-acids. Methods: Non-obese, non-hypertensive type-II diabetic rats (Goto-Kakizaki; GK) were treated with sitagliptin (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. A group of wistar rats were used as control. (N=10 rats, each). After 20 weeks, cardiac structure and function were measured by Echo-Doppler, and glucose uptake was examined by positron emission tomography (PET). Then, hearts were isolated and processed for protein and RNA extracts. Plasmas were used to evaluate metabolic parameters. Results: GK rats developed hyperglycemia (452 vs. 208 mg/dl, for GK and wistar, respectively. p