Trends in urolith composition and factors associated with different urolith types in dogs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 2010 and 2020

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine changes in urolith trends and factors associated with different urolith types in dogs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 2010 and 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A laboratory database was searched for canine urolith submissions between 2010 and 2020. Trends in urolith composition between 2014 and 2020, and associations between patient characteristics with each urolith type were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 1162 submissions were included. Struvite (39.0%), calcium oxalate (27.8%) and compound (10.2%) were the most prevalent uroliths. Calcium oxalate urolith (CaOx) incidence significantly increased from 27.8% to 31.2% and that of struvite significantly decreased from 41.7% to 33.0% between 2014 and 2020. Struvite uroliths were overrepresented among females compared to males (odds ratio 8.7, 95% confidence interval 6.6 to 11.5). Males (odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval 6.9 to 13.3) and dogs >7 years of age (odds ratio 4.1, 95%, confidence interval 3.0 to 5.4) were more likely to have CaOx while males (odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval 5.3 to 17.8) and dogs ≤7 year of age, purine uroliths (odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 5.0). Incidence was higher in bichon frise (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.4) and Yorkshire terrier (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 4.1) for CaOx and higher in shih-tzu for compound uroliths (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.7) compared to the remaining reported breeds.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Factors associated with different uroliths were similar to the ones previously reported. Proportion of CaOx submissions increased and that of struvite decreased over the study period which was in agreement with the changes identified in other European countries.

Retrospective analysis of 131 feline uroliths from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (2010-2020)

BACKGROUND

The proportions of different urolith types have not been investigated in cats from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI) previously. The objective of this study was to investigate the proportions of different feline urolith types submitted to Minnesota Urolith Center from the ROI and NI from 2010 to 2020. An additional aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors associated with each urolith type in cats in this geographic area.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-one uroliths were submitted for the studied period with 44.3% being struvite, 43.5% calcium oxalate and 7.6% compound. Only 11 uroliths were submitted in the first 4 years. The number of submissions increased after 2015, peaking in 2019 with 25 submissions. Due to low numbers no conclusions could be made about changes in incidence of urolith types over time. Cats ≤7 years of age were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with struvite uroliths (OR, 2.87 [1.37-6.06]; p = 0.007) while cats ≥7 years of age with calcium oxalate uroliths (OR, 2.67, [1.29-5.37], p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first epidemiologic study of urolithiasis from cats in the ROI and NI. The most prevalent types of uroliths in our study population were struvite and calcium oxalate. Due to the low number of urolith submissions, changes in the incidence of different uroliths could not be accurately determined. Increasing age was associated with calcium oxalate formation while younger cats were more commonly diagnosed with struvite urolithiasis which can be medically dissolved. Therefore, urolith dissolution is more likely to be successful in young cats than older cats.

Gallbladder leiomyoma treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 12-year-old spayed female Chinese Crested was referred because of a mass detected in the gallbladder during ultrasonographic evaluation of the abdomen, which had been prompted by a history of high serum liver enzyme activities.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

Serum biochemical analysis revealed mild hypoglobulinemia and high alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed diffuse hepatopathy and multiple pedunculated mucosal structures within the gallbladder.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

Following initial treatment with ursodiol (11.4 mg/kg [5.18 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h) and S-adenosylmethionine (30 mg/kg [13.6 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 1 month to address possible cholestasis, no change was noted in ultrasonographic or serum biochemical findings. Consequently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed concurrently with laparoscopic liver biopsy. Histologic evaluation of resected gallbladder tissue and the liver biopsy specimen revealed evidence of multifocal to coalescing leiomyomas of the gallbladder and multifocal lipogranulomas of the liver. Eleven days after the dog was discharged from the hospital, it was taken to an emergency clinic because of anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Mild pancreatitis or gastroenteritis was suspected, supportive treatment was provided, and ursodiol and S-adenosylmethionine administration was reinitiated. At the time of follow-up telephone contact with the owner 234 days after surgery, the dog continued to receive ursodiol and S-adenosylmethionine and had no clinical signs associated with hepatobiliary disease.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Leiomyomas, although rare, can develop in dogs and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for intramural gallbladder lesions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy served as a minimally invasive surgical treatment for this benign neoplasia.

Anti-thymocyte serum as part of an immunosuppressive regimen in treating haematological immune-mediated diseases in dogs

OBJECTIVES

To report the outcomes associated with the use of rabbit anti-dog thymocyte serum in dogs with haematological immune-mediated diseases.

METHODS

Medical records from 2000 to 2016 of patients diagnosed with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia and myelofibrosis were reviewed. All dogs had a severe or refractory disease and received rabbit anti-dog thymocyte serum. Lymphocyte counts were used to monitor the immediate anti-thymocyte effect of therapy; long-term patient outcome was recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 10 dogs were included. All dogs except one had a notable decrease in their lymphocyte count after rabbit anti-dog thymocyte serum; four of nine had a decrease to less than 10% of the initial lymphocyte count and one dog reached 10·8%. All dogs were discharged from the hospital following their treatment. The dog with no alteration of lymphocyte count following therapy with rabbit anti-dog thymocyte serum had refractory immune mediated haemolytic anemia and was euthanised within two weeks. All other cases achieved clinical remission with immunosuppressive therapy eventually being tapered (3 of 10) or discontinued (6 of 10).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Rabbit anti-dog thymocyte serum therapy might be of interest as an adjunctive therapy in refractory immune-mediated diseases and suppressed lymphocyte counts in most dogs.

Experimental study of vertical stress profiles of a confined granular bed under static and dynamic conditions

In a wet agglomeration process inside a low shear mixer, the blade function is to induce i) homogenization of the liquid sprayed on the powder surface and ii) a stress field able to transfer the mechanical energy at the particle scale. In this work we study the mechanical state of a confined powder bed through the analysis of stress distributions (by force measurements) in a rectangular cell in two cases: for a classical model powder (i.e. glass beads) and a complex powder (i.e. wheat semolina). Two types of vertical stress profiles are obtained according to the type of measurements carried out in the powder bed, either locally (at different positions in the cell) or globally (at the entire base). The global vertical stress profile follows Janssen's model and the local vertical stress profile highlights a critical length, identified as the percolation threshold of the force network, and a shielding length near the bottom, which is similar to an influence length of the side walls. In the context of wet agglomeration, the results allow to consider the role of the characteristic lengths in the mixing bowl under vertical mechanical solicitation.

Lactose Crystallization Delay in Model Infant Foods Made With Lactose, β-Lactoglobulin, and Starch

Handling and storage alter infant food powders due to lactose crystallization and interactions among components. Model infant foods were prepared by colyophilization of lactose, beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG), and gelatinized starch. A mixture design was used to define the percentage of each mixture component to simulate a wide range of infant food powders. The kinetics of crystallization was studied by a gravimetric method (dynamic vapor sorption) at 70% relative humidity (RH). After freeze-drying, lactose was amorphous and crystallized at 70% RH. The delay before crystallization depends on the contents of beta-LG and starch in the formulations. A mathematical model was proposed to predict crystallization time (delay) at 70% RH. For the formulation containing 50% lactose, 25% beta-LG, and 25% starch, lactose was still amorphous after 42 h at 70% RH, whereas pure amorphous lactose crystallized after approximately 70 min. Calculated and experimental results of adsorbed moisture from the formulations were compared. Adsorbed water of formulation containing lactose could not be calculated from moisture sorption properties of each component at a given RH because beta-LG and gelatinized starch prevented lactose crystal growth.

Study of the temperature effect on the formation of wheat gluten network: influence on mechanical properties and protein solubility

Modifications of mechanical properties of wheat dough during thermal treatments depend mainly on the capacity of wheat gluten proteins to establish intra- and intermolecular interactions when subjected to high-temperature processing. The present study investigates the effect of thermal treatments on the mechanical properties and protein solubility of wheat gluten-based network. The increase in treatment temperatures (from 80 to 135 C) induces an increase in mechanical resistance of the gluten network (tensile strength increases from 0.26 to 2.04 MPa) and a decrease in deformability (elongation decreases from 468 to 236%). The increase in temperature (from 80 to 135 C) also induces a very strong reduction of protein solubility in 2% SDS (from 68 to 0%) that could be correlated to the mechanical changes observed. It was concluded that the modifications of the wheat gluten network properties seem to depend mainly on the temperature level, as temperatures >108-116 C allow activation of thermosetting reactions.

Thermal properties of corn gluten meal and its proteic components

Thermal properties of corn gluten meal (CGM) and of its extracted proteic components (zein and glutelin) at 0% moisture content, is studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). The glass transition temperature (Tg) on first heating, is measured at 176 and 174 degrees C, respectively, for hot-air-dried and native CGM. For zein and glutelin isolated fractions, the measured Tg values are 164 and 209 degrees C, respectively. The calculated Tg from using Matveev's method (Matveev YI. Spec Publ R Soc Chem 1995;156;552) is in good agreement with experimental data for zein, a well defined protein. MDSC allows the measurement of change in heat capacity at Tg (deltaCp) with a single heating scan, avoiding sample alteration, and deltaCp values are 0.365 J/g per K for zein and 0.184 J/g per K for glutelin. The differences observed in Tg, relaxation temperatures, deltaCp and tan delta peak height are related to differences in the structure of the proteins, through the cross-linkages and hydrogen or van der Waals interactions. Experimental data from DMTA and MDSC, and the Couchman-Karasz thermodynamic approach indicate that CGM behaves as a miscible blend of its components, with high non-polar interactions between zein and glutelin proteins.

Recent innovations in edible and/or biodegradable packaging materials

Certain newly discovered characteristics of natural biopolymers should make them a choice material to be used for different types of wrappings and films. Edible and/or biodegradable packagings produced from agricultural origin macromolecules provide a supplementary and sometimes essential means to control physiological, microbiological, and physicochemical changes in food products. This is accomplished (i) by controlling mass transfers between food product and ambient atmosphere or between components in heterogeneous food product, and (iii) by modifying and controlling food surface conditions (pH, level of specific functional agents, slow release of flavour compounds), it should be stressed that the material characteristics (polysaccharide, protein, or lipid, plasticized or not, chemically modified or not, used alone or in combination) and the fabrication procedures (casting of a film-forming solution, thermoforming) must be adapted to each specific food product and usage condition (relative humidity, temperature). Some potential uses of these materials (e.g. wrapping of various fabricated foods; protection of fruits and vegetables by control of maturation; protection of meat and fish; control of internal moisture transfer in pizzas), which are hinged on film properties (e.g. organoleptic, mechanical, gas and solute barrier) are described with examples.