864 research outputs found
Insulin glargine 300 U/ml for the treatment of feline diabetes mellitus
No full textObjectives: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/ml (IGla-U300) in cats with variable duration of diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Thirteen client-owned cats with DM completed a prospective clinical trial. Four cats were highly suspected of hypersomatotropism and excluded from the insulin efficacy evaluation. All cats were treated with IGla-U300 SC at a starting dosage of 0.5 U/kg q12h and fed with a low carbohydrate diet. Cats were monitored for 8 weeks with a once-weekly at-home 16 h blood glucose curve (BGC) and a questionnaire evaluating the presence of DM-related clinical signs. In-clinic evaluations, including serum fructosamine measurement, were scheduled within 3 days of the first, third, sixth and eighth BGC. Glycemic variability was assessed by calculating the SD of each BGC. Results: Excluding four cats suspected of hypersomatotropism, at the time of the eighth BGC, improved or absent polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, lethargy and improved or normal general demeanor were reported in 8/9 (88%), 8/9 (88%), 7/9 (77%), 7/9 (77%), 7/9 (77%) and 8/9 (88%) cats, respectively. Two cats achieved remission after 29 and 53 days. Another two cats went into remission after the end of the study (days 82 and 96). All cats that achieved remission were newly diagnosed diabetics. Median (range) serum fructosamine concentration significantly decreased when comparing the time of enrollment (604 [457–683] μmol/l) with the eighth week of treatment (366 [220–738] μmol/l) (P = 0.02). In all 13 cats, biochemical hypoglycemia (blood glucose <60 mg/dl; <3.3 mmol/l) was detected in 13/104 (12.5%) BGCs, while clinical signs suggesting hypoglycemic episodes were not reported. Glycemic variability was significantly lower at the fifth BGC when comparing cats that achieved remission with cats that did not achieve remission (P = 0.02). Conclusions and relevance: IGla-U300 seems effective and safe for the treatment of feline diabetes, but more long- term and comparative clinical trials are needed
Pulse Pressure Variation Can Predict the Hemodynamic Response to Pneumoperitoneum in Dogs: A Retrospective Study
No full textPneumoperitoneum may induce important hemodynamic alterations in healthy subjects. Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a hemodynamic parameter able to discriminate preload dependent subjects. Anesthesia records of dogs undergoing laparoscopy were retrospectively evaluated. The anesthetic protocol included acepromazine, methadone, propofol and isoflurane administered with oxygen under mechanical ventilation. The hemodynamic parameters were considered five minutes before (BASE) and ten minutes after (P10) the pneumoperitoneum. Based on the cardiac index (CI) variation, at P10, dogs were classified as sensitive (S group, CI ≤ 15%) and non-sensitive (NO-S group). Data were analyzed with the ANOVA test and the ROC curve (p < 0.05). Fifty-five percent of dogs (S) had a reduction of CI ≥ 15% at P10 (2.97 ± 1.4 L/min/m2) compared to BASE (4.32 ± 1.62 L/min/m2) and at P10 in the NO-S group (4.51 ± 1.41 L/min/m2). PPV at BASE was significantly higher in the S group (22.4% ± 6.1%) compared to the NO-S group (10.9% ± 3.3%). The ROC curve showed a threshold of PPV > 16% to distinguish the S and NO-S groups. PPV may be a valid predictor of the hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum in dogs. A PPV > 16% can identify patients that may require fluid administration before the creation of pneumoperitoneum
Biomechanical evaluation of an absorbable fixation strap for use in total laparoscopic gastropexy in dogs
No full textOBJECTIVE To compare load-to-failure results for laparoscopic absorbable fixation straps (AFSs) deployed at various angles and for AFSs versus absorbable knotless (barbed) suture when used in simulated total laparoscopic gastro-pexy (TLG) in specimens from cadaveric dogs. SAMPLE 30 stomach and abdominal body wall specimens. PROCEDURES Specimens were assigned to 1 of 3 groups for use in simulated TLG con-structs for comparisons of load-to-failure results for single AFSs deployed at 30°, 60°, or 90° (AFS-angle group; n = 10) or for a gastropexy span of 4 to 5 cm achieved with 3-0 absorbable knotless (barbed) monofilament suture applied in a simple continuous pattern (TLG-1; 10) versus 8 AFSs applied with a deployment angle > 30° (TLG-2; 10). A 1-way ANOVA was used to compare results among AFS deployment angles (30°, 60°, or 90°) and between TLG-1 and TLG-2. RESULTS Mean ± SD load to failure for the AFS-angle group was significantly higher for the AFS deployment angles of 60° (8.00 ± 3.90 N) and 90° (12.71 ± 8.00 N), compared with 30° (5.17 ± 1.90 N). However, no substantial difference was detected in the mean ± SD load to failure for TLG-1 (39.18 ± 7.1 N) versus TLG-2 (31.43 ± 10.86 N). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the present study supported the potential use of AFSs in gastro-pexy in dogs; however, prospective clinical research with adequate long-term follow-up is warranted before recommendations can be made
Plasma enhanced-chemical vapour deposi-tion of scuff-resistant hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings on C100 steel
No full textHydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings, deposited by low pressure plasma to minimize the wear of C100 steel components, were optimized and characterized. In order to ensure good adhesion of the films to the steel surface, a thin Ti interlayer was deposited, by magnetron sputtering, before the plasma deposition.
The chemical characterization of the deposits was performed by means of RAMAN, XPS, RBS and ERDA analysis, while nanoindentation, nanoscratch and nanowear tests allowed to estimate the tribomechanical properties of the deposits, with the aim of evaluating their scuff-resistance.
It was found that the optimized plasma deposited hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings were well adherent to C100 steel and increased more than 70 % its surface hardness
Spontaneous acromegaly: A retrospective case control study in German shepherd dogs
No full textAcromegaly results from the overproduction of growth hormone in adulthood and is characterised by
overgrowth of soft tissue and/or bone as well as insulin resistance. There are few data indicating the risk
factors associated with this disease in dogs or its clinicopathological features and sequelae. The objective
of this retrospective study was to catalogue and assess these aspects of the disease in German shepherd
dogs (GSDs) which were found to be over-represented among acromegalic dogs attending two
veterinary referral clinics over a period of 7 years. Each acromegalic dog (AD) was compared with two
breed/age/sex matched controls.
Clinical signs of acromegaly included panting, polyuria/polydipsia, widened interdental spaces, weakness,
inspiratory stridor, macroglossia, weight gain, redundant skin folds, thick coat, exophthalmos and
mammary masses. Serum alkaline phosphatase, creatine-kinase, glucose, triglyceride, phosphate ion, and
‘calcium per phosphate product’ concentrations were significantly higher in acromegalic animals while
haemoglobin concentration, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and chloride ion concentrations, and urinary
specific gravity, osmolality and fractional excretion of phosphate were significantly lower. Although, in
the majority of cases clinicopathological abnormalities resolved following ovariohysterectomy, in one dog,
acromegalic signs abated and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations normalised only following the
surgical excision of mammary tumours carried out 2 months after ovariohysterectomy. The findings of
this study indicate that GSDs are predisposed to the development of acromegaly with a suspected inherited
susceptibility
Slabs of stone material, resistant to wear, to corrosion caused by acids and to the staining action of oily substances
No full textApplicazioni di reti neurali artificiali per l'identificazione delle condizioni di assetto standard di reti elettriche di media tensione
No full textNatural stones coated with a protective layer, process for their production and plasmochemical reactor
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