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Biomedical subjects

L K Ulrich

Publications and source records attributed to L K Ulrich.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cystocentesis. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

The diagnostic and therapeutic value of cystocentesis has been recognized for over 80 years. In feline patients with nonobtrusive lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD), normal patients, or patients with nonurinary disorders, diagnostic cystocentesis circumvents many of the potential problems associated with collection of urine specimens by normal micturition, manual compression of the urinary bladder, or catheterization. In patients with obstructive LUTDs, therapeutic cystocentesis temporarily halts the adverse effects of obstructive uropathy and may provide additional time to remove or bypass the obstructive lesion. In our experience, cystocentesis has been associated with few significant side effects; however, it may induce mild transient microscopic hematuria which may be indistinguishable from pathologic hematuria associated with many naturally occurring feline LUTDs.

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Feline crystalluria. Detection and interpretation.

Crystalluria results from oversaturation of urine with crystallogenic substances. However, oversaturation may occur as a result of in vivo and in vitro events. Therefore, care must be used not to overinterpret the significance of crystalluria. Evaluation of urine crystals may aid in (1) detection of disorders predisposing cats to urolith or matrix-crystalline urethral plug formation; (2) estimation of the mineral composition of uroliths or urethral plugs; and (3) evaluation of the effectiveness of medical protocols initiated to dissolve or prevent urolithiasis.

Animals↗

Urolith analysis. Submission, methods, and interpretation.

The detection, treatment, and prevention of the causes underlying urolithiasis depend on knowledge of the composition and structure of the entire stone. Therefore, proper and complete analysis of uroliths is an important part of proper patient care. This article discusses methods of urolith retrieval, proper sample submission, methods of urolith analysis, and interpretation of results.

Animals↗

Feline urolithiasis. Etiology and pathophysiology.

A variety of different types of uroliths occur in cats, of which calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate are the most common. Treatment and prevention are most likely to be successful if associated risk factors are identified and eliminated or controlled.

Animals↗

Feline urethral plugs. Etiology and pathophysiology.

Feline urethral plugs commonly are composed of large quantities of matrix mixed with minerals (especially struvite). However, some urethral plugs are composed primarily of matrix, some consist of sloughed tissue, blood, and/or inflammatory reactants, and a few are composed primarily of aggregates of crystalline minerals. The formation of matrix-crystalline urethral plugs may be analogous to the preparation of fruit jello.

Animals↗

Evaluation of urinary carnitine and taurine excretion in 5 cystinuric dogs with carnitine and taurine deficiency.

Five client owned dogs with cystinuria were diagnosed with carnitine and taurine deficiency while participating in a clinical trial that used dietary management of their urolithiasis. Stored 24-hour urine samples collected from the cystinuric dogs before enrollment in the clinical diet trial were quantitatively evaluated for carnitine and taurine. These results were compared to those obtained from 18 healthy Beagles. Both groups of dogs were fed the same maintenance diet for a minimum of 2 weeks before 24-hour urine collection. The protocol used for 24-hour urine collections was the same for cystinuric dogs and healthy Beagles except that cystinuric dogs were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, 12 hours, and at the end of the collection, whereas Beagles were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, and at the end of the collection. Three of 5 dogs with cystinuria had increased renal excretion of carnitine. None of the cystinuric dogs had increased renal excretion of taurine, but cystinuric dogs excreted significantly less (P < .05) taurine in their urine than the healthy Beagles. Carnitinuria has not been recognized previously in either humans or dogs with cystinuria, and it may be 1 risk factor for developing carnitine deficiency. Cystinuric dogs in this study were not taurinuric; however, cystine is a precursor amino acid for taurine synthesis. Therefore, cystinuria may be 1 risk factor for developing taurine deficiency in dogs. We suggest that dogs with cystinuria be monitored for carnitine and taurine deficiency or supplemented with carnitine and taurine.

Animals↗