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- Author or Editor: Robert T. O'Brien x
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Abstract
Objective—To investigate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as a minimally invasive method for the subjective and quantitative assessment of pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in healthy adult dogs, with reference to perfusion in adjacent liver tissue.
Animals—8 clinically normal adult dogs.
Procedures—Contrast-enhanced ultrasonograms of the right pancreatic limb, proximal portion of the descending duodenum, and adjacent liver were acquired after IV administration of a microbubble contrast medium. Following subjective evaluation, quantitative time-intensity curves were generated from regions of interest in the pancreas, duodenum, and liver. Five contrast medium characteristics representing perfusion parameters were determined for each organ and used for statistical analysis: interval to arrival, inflow rate, peak intensity (PI), time of peak intensity (TPI), and outflow rate.
Results—Significant associations between pancreatic and duodenal values were found for interval to contrast medium arrival, PI, TPI, and outflow rate. Pancreatic and duodenal inflow rates were not correlated. Inflow and outflow rates were significantly faster and TPI significantly shorter for the pancreas and duodenum, compared with values for the liver. There was no significant difference among all 3 organs for interval to arrival and PI of contrast medium. Subjective evaluation findings corresponded to quantitative analysis results.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may be a useful, minimally invasive method for evaluating pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in dogs. The data from healthy dogs reported here could aid in the assessment of pancreatic and duodenal conditions and their response to medical treatment.
Abstract
Objective—To determine the ultrasonographic appearance and detectability of edema induced by SC injection of mild silver protein suspension in the mammary gland attachments of dairy cows.
Design—Prospective study.
Animals—6 lactating cows.
Procedure—In each cow, the number of quarters that received injections was randomly assigned. A mild silver protein susoension was injected SC into cranial and caudal mammary gland attachment sites. The number of injections and volume injected were determined on the basis of the appearance of the mammary gland and the desired subjective visual effect. Seventeen sites were chosen for injection and 7 sites did not receive injections. Ultrasonographic images were obtained 1 day prior and 6 days after injections were started. Cows received injections 1, 3, and 5 days after initial sonography. The sonographer was unaware of which sites received injections.
Results—Ultrasonography revealed alternating hypoechoic and hyperechoic bands at injection sites. Certain injections caused the intimal surface of the subcutaneous abdominal vein to develop a corrugated appearance. All injection sites were correctly identified ultrasonographically (100% sensitivity, 100% specificity) with a positive and negative predictive value of 1.0.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that mild silver protein suspension injected SC to enhance the appearance of the mammary glands of dairy cows can be readily detected by ultrasonography. Detection of injection sites should be made on the basis of the distribution and ultrasonographic appearance of edema. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;221:408–410)
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate perfusion of abdominal organs in healthy cats by use of contrastenhanced ultrasonography.
Animals—10 young healthy anesthetized cats.
Procedures—Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the liver, left kidney, pancreas, small intestine, and mesenteric lymph nodes was performed on anesthetized cats.
Results—Typical perfusion patterns were found for each of the studied organs. Differences in perfusion among organs were associated with specific physiologic features. The liver was enhanced gradually and had a more heterogeneous perfusion pattern because of its dual blood supply and close proximity to the diaphragm, compared with other organs. An obvious and significant difference in perfusion was detected between the renal cortex and medulla. No significant differences in perfusion were detected among the pancreas, small intestine, and mesenteric lymph nodes.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can be used in cats to estimate organ perfusion as in other species. Observed differences in perfusion variables can be mostly explained by physiologic differences in vascularity. (Am J Vet Res 2010;71:1305–1311)
Abstract
Objective—To qualitatively describe lung CT images obtained from sedated healthy equine neonates (≤ 14 days of age), use quantitative analysis of CT images to characterize attenuation and distribution of gas and tissue volumes within the lungs, and identify differences between lung characteristics of foals ≤ 7 days of age and foals > 7 days of age.
Animals—10 Standardbred foals between 2.5 and 13 days of age.
Procedures—Foals were sedated with butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol and positioned in sternal recumbency for thoracic CT. Image analysis software was used to exclude lung from nonlung structures. Lung attenuation was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) for analysis of whole lung and regional changes in attenuation and lung gas and tissue components. Degree of lung attenuation was classified as follows: hyperinflated or emphysema, −1,000 to −901 HU; well aerated, −900 to −501 HU; poorly aerated, −500 to −101 HU; and nonaerated, > −100 HU.
Results—Qualitative evidence of an increase in lung attenuation and patchy alveolar patterns in the ventral lung region were more pronounced in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older foals. Quantitative analysis revealed that mean ± SD lung attenuation was greater in foals ≤ 7 days of age (−442 ± 28 HU) than in foals > 7 days of age (−521 ± 24 HU). Lung aeration and gas volumes were lower than in other regions ventrally and in the mid lung region caudal to the heart.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Identified radiographic patterns and changes in attenuation were most consistent with atelectasis and appeared more severe in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older neonatal foals. Recognition of these changes may have implications for accurate CT interpretation in sedated neonatal foals with pulmonary disease.
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the effect of oral administration of melatonin on clinical signs, tumor size, and serum steroid hormone concentrations in ferrets with adrenocortical disease.
Design—Noncontrolled clinical trial.
Animals—10 adult ferrets with clinical signs of adrenocortical disease (confirmed via serum steroid hormone concentration assessments).
Procedures—Melatonin (0.5 mg) was administered orally to ferrets once daily for 1 year. At 4-month intervals, a complete physical examination; abdominal ultrasonographic examination (including adrenal gland measurement); CBC; serum biochemical analyses; and assessment of serum estradiol, androstenedione, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations were performed. Serum prolactin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations were evaluated at the first, second, and last examinations, and serum cortisol concentration was evaluated at the first and last examinations.
Results—Daily oral administration of melatonin greatly affected clinical signs of adrenocortical disease in ferrets; changes included hair regrowth, decreased pruritus, increased activity level and appetite, and decreased vulva or prostate size. Mean width of the abnormally large adrenal glands was significantly increased after the 12-month treatment period. Recurrence of clinical signs was detected in 6 ferrets at the 8-month evaluation. Compared with pretreatment values, serum 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and prolactin concentrations were significantly increased and decreased after 12 months, respectively.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that melatonin is a useful, easily administered, palliative treatment to decrease clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease in ferrets, and positive effects of daily treatment were evident for at least an 8-month period. Oral administration of melatonin did not decrease adrenal gland tumor growth in treated ferrets.
