Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D R Finco

Publications and source records attributed to D R Finco.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Relationship of selected clinical renal function tests to glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow in cats.

Results of 3 clinical tests of renal function--urine concentrating ability and disappearance of plasma phenosulfonphthalein (PSP) and sodium sulfanilate (SS) were compared with those of 2 classic tests, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF), in 11 cats before and after reduction of renal mass. Values (mean +/- SD) obtained from normal cats were maximum urine concentration of 2,270 +/- 407 mOsm/kg (specific gravity values of 1.067 +/- 0.015); T 1/2 for plasma disappearance of PSP of 24.27 +/- 3.5 minutes; T 1/2 for plasma disappearance of SS of 44.42 +/- 5.67 minutes; GFR of 2.94 +/- 0.32 ml/min/kg; and RBF of 10.61 +/- 1.71 ml/min/kg. After reduction of renal mass by vascular ligation and nephrectomy, the cats became azotemic and had significant decreases in GFR and RBF (P less than 0.005), but still were able to concentrate urine to a considerable extent. Both maximum urine concentration and PSP plasma decay were poorly correlated with GFR (r = 0.4060 and 0.3694, respectively) and RBF (r = -0.3439 and -0.3427). Sulfanilate half-life had better correlation with GFR (r = -0.7004) than with RBF (r = -0.5716). Both GFR and RBF increased significantly (P less than 0.005) between postsurgical weeks 1 and 9. It was concluded that experimental cats with azotemia retain considerable ability to concentrate urine and that the SS test is superior to both the PSP test and urine concentration test for clinical estimation of renal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Simple, accurate method for clinical estimation of glomerular filtration rate in the dog.

Simultaneous [14C]inulin and exogenous creatinine clearance procedures were performed on 10 healthy adult dogs of both sexes after constant IV infusions of inulin and a single subcutaneous injection of creatinine. For 30 clearance procedures determined for 10 dogs, the creatinine/inulin (C/I) clearance ratio was 1.03 +/- 0.01, and the results of the 2 tests were highly correlated (r = 0.91). Simultaneous [14C]inulin and endogenous creatinine clearance procedures were performed in the same 10 dogs. For 30 clearance procedures in these dogs, the C/I clearance ratio was 0.70 +/- 0.06 and the 2 tests were less highly correlated (r = 0.79). Fifteen clearance procedures of the same design were conducted on 5 dogs with azotemia induced by surgical reduction of renal mass. In these dogs, the exogenous C/I clearance ratio was 1.09 +/- 0.12, and the endogenous C/I clearance ratio was 0.89 +/- 0.07. It was concluded that the single injection method of exogenous creatinine clearance was a valid method for clinical measurement of glomerular filtration rate in the female dog and would closely approximate glomerular filtration rate in male dogs without azotemia. At normal or near normal plasma creatinine levels, the endogenous creatinine clearance procedure gave erroneously low values for glomerular filtration rate when the common methods of creatinine analysis were used.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Laboratory findings in urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infection should be considered in a differential diagnosis on the basis of history, physical examination, and urinalysis. To definitively diagnose urinary tract infection, significant bacteriuria must be found by quantitative bacterial culture. The absolute definition of significant numbers of bacteria varies with the method of collection because of the possibility of contamination with the normal bacterial flora of the lower genitourinary tract. Numbers of bacteria are also influenced by the manner in which urine samples are handled, by urine concentration, and by frequency of voiding. Quantitative and qualitative urine cultures should also be used to monitor the efficacy of treatment in chronic and recurrent infections. Cultures should be repeated three to five days after the termination of antimicrobial therapy to ensure elimination of infection. If feasible, cultures should also be repeated two to three days after begining therapy to ensure the antimicrobial agent selected is effective. Remission of clinical signs should not be used to judge efficacy of treatment, especially in chronic or recurrent infections, since infections can persist without causing clinical signs, particularly if bacterial numbers are temporarily reduced. Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a particular bacteria is preferable to Kirby-Bauer antibiotic sensitivity testing in urinary tract infection because of the difference in serum and urine concentrations of most antibiotics. Bacteria are not sensitive or resistant to an antibiotic but rather to a concentration of that antibiotic. If Kirby-Bauer sensitivity testing is used for urinary tract infection, results must be interpreted carefully since drugs reported as ineffective may be effective in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Radiographic findings in induced bacterial pyelonephritis in dogs.

Unilateral bacterial pyelonephritis was induced in nine dogs. The upper urinary tracts of these and six control dogs were evaluated by excretory urography prior to and 9 to 10 days following experimental manipulations. Two of the dogs with unilateral pyelonephritis and one control dog were evaluated at intervals throughout a 58-day period. At necropsy, all nine inoculated kidneys were infected, one experimental dog had bilateral pyelonephritis, and one control dog had unilateral pyelonephritis. Most of the infected kidneys had abnormal radiographic changes 9 to 10 days after induction of infection. There was no statistically significant radiographic change in size of infected kidneys at 9 to 10 days. Seven of the 11 infected kidneys and 7 of the 9 inoculated kidneys had renal pelvic and ureteral dilatation. Of the nine dogs with unilateral pyelonephritis, six had decreased opacity of contrast medium in the collecting system and of the vascular nephrogram on the infected side. The size of infected kidneys decreased progressively during the 58-day period. In one of the two dogs evaluated throughout the period, the collecting system of the infected kidney remained dilated; in the other, it returned toward normal size.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Evaluation of methods for localization of urinary tract infection in the female dog.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) was induced in the left kidney of seven female dogs and in the urinary bladder of eight female dogs. Several methods advocated for localization of UTI in other species were tested in the infected dogs. Although fever, renal pain, and leukocytosis were detected in some dogs with renal infection, findings were transient. Radiographic changes in the kidneys and ureters were detected in some dogs with renal infection, but were absent in others. Bladder washout studies were not reliable for differentiating renal infection from bladder infection. Antibody coating studies were positive in dogs with bladder infection and in dogs with renal infection. The positive results from dogs with bladder infection may have been because of nonspecific binding of immunoglobulins to Staphylococcus aureus after leakage of serum immunoglobulins into urine. Studies of six dogs of both sexes with naturally occurring UTI indicated that their serum contained antibody against common urinary pathogens and that this antibody gained access to the urine in some dogs. It was concluded that the antibody coating test was unreliable for localization of UTI in the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Hypercalcemia secondary to chronic renal failure in the dog: a report of four cases.

Hypercalcemia occurred in 4 dogs with renal failure. Primary causes of hypercalcemia previously described in the dog (primary hyperparathyroidism, pseudohyperparathyroidism, vitamin D toxicosis) were not identified. Increased concentrations of circulating immunoreactive parathormone were found in 2 dogs, and thyroparathyroidectomy of 1 dog resulted in decreased serum concentrations of that hormone as well as of calcium. The latter observations indicated that hypercalcemia was related to increased parathormone activity, but the possibility of other homeostatic imbalances was not excluded. It was concluded that renal failure should be considered as a primary cause of hypercalcemia, along with other causes previously identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Characterization and treatment of water, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances of induced urethral obstruction in the cat.

Urethral obstruction induced in adult male cats caused clinical signs identical with those observed in naturally occurring disease. Central nervous system depression, anorexia, dehydration, vomiting, muscle weakness, and hypothermia occurred. Weight loss (due to water loss and catabolism), metabolic acidosis, mild hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypermagnesemia, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperglycemia, azotemia, and hyperproteinemia were also observed. Serum amylase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase activities were normal. Ten of 13 cats (group 1), with 72 hours' induced obstruction but not treated with parenteral fluids, died either before the obstruction was relieved or within 8 days afterward. Eight cats (group 2) with induced obstruction for 49 to 98 hours developed severe clinical and biochemical alterations. Treatment with a multiple-electrolyte solution, in addition to relief of urethral obstruction, resulted in favorable clinical and biochemical responses. These cats survived and were clinically healthy at 9 to 10 days after relief of obstruction. It was concluded that use of a multiple-electrolyte solution to correct acidosis, restore circulatory volume, and enhance renal excretion of potassium was effective supportive therapy after urethral obstruction was removed.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗
PubMed1977

Familial renal disease in Norwegian Elkhound dogs: morphologic examinations.

Periglomerular and interstitial fibrosis were the earliest renal lesions in 21 Norwegian Elkhound (NE) dogs with familial renal disease. Histopathologic study did not reveal the cause of the disease, and light microscopy did not show renal lesions different from nonfamilial renal lesions commonly observed in dogs. Histopathologic evaluation was reliable for detecting disease in NE dogs prior to onset of isosthenuria and azotemia. Results of glomerular counts, determining kidney size, and dissection of the nephron indicated that nephron numbers and size were adequate early in the disease, but that numbers decreased as the disease progressed. Electron microscopic and immunofluorescent studies were not suggestive of an immune basis of the renal disease, nor did histopathologic or angiographic studies indicate primary vascular lesions. Nephron dissections revealed sacculations in distal tubules and collecting ducts of affected NE dogs. Renal disease did not develop in mongrel pups given injections of an homogenate or renal tissue from an affected NE dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Evaluation of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine concentrations as indicators of renal dysfunction: a study of 111 cases and a review of related literature.

Blood urea nitrogen concentration (BUN), serum creatinine concentration (SC), and BUN/SC ratios, as recorded for 111 dogs and cats with azotemia, were evaluated to determine their usefulness in evaluation of renal dysfunction. Cases were categorized into prerenal, renal, and post-renal causes of azotemia, on the basis of histologic and clinical criteria. The severity of azotemia varied within groups, but the mean value for degree of azotemia was lowest in the prerenal group. The BUN/SC ratios were highest when azotemia was mild, regardless of cause. The BUN/SC ratios in the 3 groups were not significantly different when the degree of azotemia was considered, indicating that differentiation of renal from extrarenal azotemia was not possible in the dog and cat, on the basis of relative values of BUN and SC. Comparison of BUN/SC ratios in acute and chronic azotemia of comparable magnitude revealed no significant differences between groups, indicating that this ratio cannot be used to differentiate acute and chronic azotemia. Following supportive therapy, BUN decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) more than SC, suggesting that extrarenal factors contributed to the increased BUN and that proportionately more urea than creatinine was excreted by the kidneys during therapy. The BUN/SC ratios varied widely and to a similar degree in all groups examined. Inasmuch as the BUN and SC were not correlated with more accurate measurements of renal function, conclusions could not be drawn concerning the superiority of either factor as a measure of renal function. Many nonrenal factors, previously identified, influence serum concentration of urea and creatinine. In recent studies involving azotemic human beings and rats, it was suggested that up to 25% of the urea and 65% of the creatinine produced in the body is degraded by enteric bacteria rather than excreted directly by the kidneys. These data indicate that neither BUN or SC can be used as precise tests of renal function, although SC is subject to alteration by fewer nonrenal factors than is BUN. In older medical and veterinary medical literature, the use of SC as a prognostic indicator had been advocated. Newer findings on the pathophysiology of creatininemia and retrospective case studies do not support this view. In the present study, severe creatininemia was documented in cases in which primary renal dysfunction did not exist. It was concluded that BUN and SC should continue to be regarded as crude indexes of renal function. Clinical value lies in the relative ease of their determination. Because of their lack of sensitivity, more specific evaluation of renal function (urine concentrating ability, phenolsulfonphthalein excretion) may be indicated when BUN and SC are normal or only slightly elevated. Because extrarenal factors may alter BUN and SC, it is necessary to correlate these values with clinical and other laboratory data to differentiate renal from extra-renal azotemia. Single determinations of BUN or SC provide no basis for prognosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Familial renal disease in Norwegian Elkhound dogs: physiologic and biochemical examinations.

Renal disease was detected in 21 of 56 progeny from a specific line of inbred Norwegian Elkhound (NE) dogs. Results of hematologic and clinical chemistry examinations revealed that minor differences existed between affected and nonaffected NE dogs. Of 21 NE dogs with renal disease, 3 had persistent glucosuria without hyperglycemia. The 21 affected dogs had impaired ability to concentrate urine. According to renal function tests, glomerular filtration rate of normal NE dogs was less than that of normal mixed breed dogs. Although a few affected NE dogs excreted large amounts of amino acids in urine, statistically significant differences did not exist between normal and affected NE dogs with regard to alpha-amino acid nitrogen content of their plasma or urine. By paper chromatographic separation techniques, free amino acids of plasma, urine, and extracts of liver and kidney were not qualitatively different for mixed breed dogs, normal NE, and NE with renal disease. Statistically significant differences were not detected between serum calcium concentrations of normal and affected NE dogs. In NE dogs with renal disease, there was significant hypercalciuria, but a few normal dogs excreted more than did some dogs with disease. Blood pressure values of normal mixed breed dogs and affected NE dogs were similar. It was concluded that hematologic and blood chemical abnormalities, derangement of amino acid or calcium metabolism, and hypertension were not associated with renal disease in these NE dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Frequency of pyelitis, pyelonephritis, renal perivasculitis, and renal infarction in dogs.

The frequency of pyelitis, renal perivasculitis, and renal cortical inflammation was determined in 104 apparently normal dogs, 50 dogs with disease that were necropsied, and 20 dogs with experimentally induced cystitis. Abnormalities occurred least often (19%) in the apparently normal group and most often (55%) in the cystitis group. The frequency of specific lesions was generally higher in males than in females. Bacteria were isolated from kidney and urine of some of the apparently normal dogs, but their relationship to the lesions observed was not established.

Animals↗