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Biomedical subjects

S W Allen

Publications and source records attributed to S W Allen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Changes in cortisol concentration in response to stress and postoperative pain in client-owned cats and correlation with objective clinical variables.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical variables that indicate postoperative pain in cats after ovariohysterectomy in a veterinary hospital setting. ANIMALS: 40 cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were anesthetized and ovariohysterectomized by senior veterinary students. Butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg [n = 20] or 0.3 mg/kg [20] of body weight) was administered IM after surgery. Blood samples were obtained before, during, and after the anesthetic period for measurements of PCV and blood glucose and cortisol concentrations. Clinical variables measured included heart rate, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Data for these variables were compared with changes in cortisol concentrations and with similar data-which was used as historical control data-obtained from 20 cats in another study (10 that had been ovariohysterectomized but had not received butorphanol and 10 that had only been anesthetized). RESULTS: Surgical durations were longer in this study, and cats had higher cortisol concentrations, compared with historical control cats. Objective clinical variables did not consistently correlate with changes in cortisol concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Cortisol concentration increased in response to surgical stress and pain. This response was greater in cats in which duration of surgery was longer. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The objective clinical variables evaluated in this study were not consistent indicators of pain in an uncontrolled, clinical situation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Extramedullary plasmacytoma in the trachea of a dog.

A 10-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was examined because of acute inspiratory dyspnea. Radiography and tracheoscopy revealed a discrete, solitary mass originating from the membranous portion of the trachea at the level of the thoracic inlet. Tracheal resection and anastomosis were performed, and on histologic examination of the resected tissue, extramedullary plasmacytoma was diagnosed. Although tracheal tumors are rare in dogs, they should be considered during evaluation of dogs with signs of airway obstruction. Prognosis is excellent for dogs with extramedullary plasmacytoma in which surgical excision is complete.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1997

Use of partial prostatectomy for treatment of prostatic abscesses and cysts in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dogs had prostatic disease, urinary incontinence, or urinary tract infection 1 year after partial prostatectomy to treat prostatic abscesses and cysts. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 20 male dogs with prostatic abscesses or cysts. Fifteen dogs had evidence of urinary tract infection. Only 8 dogs urinated normally; the remainder dribbled, had obstructions, or required medical treatment. PROCEDURE: Partial prostatectomy was performed on each dog. Sexually intact dogs (n = 12) also were castrated. RESULTS: None of the dogs had return of prostatic cystic enlargement or clinical signs of prostatic disease during the first year after surgery. Two dogs were euthanatized within 1 year after surgery, with 1 dog having prostatic enlargement and adenocarcinoma and 1 dog having unrelated lymphosarcoma. Fifteen dogs were continent. The remaining 5 dogs urinated normally but had intermittent and minor incontinence. Eleven dogs had no signs of infection 1 year after surgery, 5 had pyuria or positive urine bacteriologic culture results, 2 did not have urinalysis performed, and 2 were euthanatized. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dogs with severe prostatic abscesses or cysts and infections can be successfully treated by partial prostatectomy with an ultrasonic surgical aspirator and castration, resulting in long-term disease resolution. Although most dogs with severe prostatic disease do not urinate normally before surgery, nearly all dogs resume normal micturition after partial prostatectomy. Postoperative results of partial prostatectomy appear to be better than those of previous drainage techniques for treatment of prostatic cavitary disease.

Abscess↗
PubMed1997

Repair of a facial defect with an interpolation skin flap in a cat.

A 9-year-old domestic shorthair cat was referred for removal of a rostrally located fibrosarcoma on the face, which had previously recurred twice following excision. A wide excision was performed, using a neodymium:yttrium-aluminumgarnet (Nd:YAG) laser, resulting in a facial defect that could not be closed by primary suture. An interpolation skin flap was elevated, using skin from the side of the cat's face, and sutured in place over the defect. Recurrence of the tumor at the medial canthus of the left eye, which was observed 4 months after surgery, was treated by laser excision and cryotherapy. Other recurrences of the fibrosarcoma were not noticed for 2.5 years after referral, at which time the cat was euthanatized for other reasons. Necropsy revealed that the fibrosarcoma had not recurred. In this cat, an interpolation skin flap was useful in repairing a large rostral facial defect. Care should be taken when elevating this flap to preserve the palpebral nerve.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Surgical creation of portacaval shunts during temporary intestinal arterial and venous occlusion in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To surgically create complete portacaval shunts in dogs during temporary arrest of intestinal arterial and portal venous blood flow. DESIGN: Complete portacaval anastomoses were surgically created, and liver function was evaluated for 14 to 18 weeks after surgery. ANIMALS: 32 adult mixed-breed dogs of either sex. PROCEDURE: Administration of deferoxamine and temporary intestinal arterial occlusion were used to minimize the intestinal cellular damage resulting from the complete, temporary arrest of portal venous blood flow during creation of the portacaval anastomosis. Side-to-side, appositional anastomoses ( > 2 cm diameter) were formed between the portal vein and caudal vena cava. Dogs were observed daily for signs of hepatic encephalopathy, and food intake was recorded. Body weight was recorded weekly. Preprandial plasma ammonia, serum urea nitrogen, and glucose concentrations and sulfobromophthalein retention were measured monthly. The dogs were euthanatized, and necropsy was performed 14 to 18 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: 30 of 32 dogs recovered without complications. Complete portosystemic shunting was documented by increased plasma ammonia concentration, decreased serum urea nitrogen and glucose concentrations, prolonged sulfobromophthalein retention (P < 0.01), and inspection at necropsy. CONCLUSION: This method of providing temporary, complete arrest of portal venous blood flow was helpful in allowing accurate, appositional portacaval anastomoses to be created that remained patent for 14 to 18 weeks. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This method of providing temporary, complete arrest of portal venous blood flow may prove useful in clinical surgery when temporary arrest of portal blood flow is desired.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1996

Indicators of postoperative pain in cats and correlation with clinical criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical indicators that may help identity postoperative pain in cats after ovariohysterectomy. ANIMALS: Healthy, laboratory animal source cats. PROCEDURE: Clinical indicators of pain were identified, and relief from pain in response to butorphanol was studied in 5 groups of cats. 10 cats had 1 hour of general anesthesia only, followed by recovery without additional medication. 10 cats had general anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy, followed by recovery without additional medication. 10 cats had general anesthesia, ovariohysterectomy, and postoperative administration of 0.1 mg of butorphanol/kg of body weight. Another 10 cats had general anesthesia, ovariohysterectomy, and postoperative administration of 0.3 mg butorphanol/kg. 10 cats received 0.1 mg of butorphanol/kg, IM, only. Samples and recorded data were obtained before, during, and after the anesthesia period. Clinical variables measured included heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, PCV, and blood glucose concentration. Results were compared with changes in norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol concentrations. RESULTS: Cats that did not receive analgesics had higher cortisol concentration than did cats without surgery and cats that received butorphanol after surgery. Systolic blood pressure measured by ultrasonic Doppler was found to be predictive of cortisol concentration, using a multiple linear regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Cortisol concentration increased in response to surgical stress and pain, and this increase was diminished by use of butorphanol. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Systolic blood pressure was the best clinical predictor of postoperative pain.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1994

Sequence analysis identifies the proline dehydrogenase and delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase domains of the multifunctional Escherichia coli PutA protein.

The PutA protein of Escherichia coli has two enzymatic activities: proline dehydrogenase (PDH) and delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH). It associates with the cytoplasmic membrane as PDH and P5CDH and with put control region DNA as put repressor. Reduction of the PutA flavin by proline, a PutA conformational change and association of PutA with membranes are coincident. The nucleotide base sequence of E. coli putA was determined, that of S. typhimurium putA was updated and the deduced PutA protein sequences were surveyed for catalytic domains and ligand binding sites. The two sequences were very similar (80.5% and 95% on the nucleic acid and protein levels, respectively). Residues 650 through 1130 of PutA were very similar to the sequences of P5C dehydrogenases and aldehyde dehydrogenases from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Glutamate 883 and cysteine 917 of PutA were conserved with the corresponding residues in P5C dehydrogenases and with those proposed to be active site residues in the aldehyde dehydrogenases. Those relationships suggest that gamma-glutamic semialdehyde, believed to equilibrate spontaneously with P5C, is the substrate for P5C dehydrogenases. Residues 340 through 590 of PutA were similar in sequence to proline dehydrogenases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster. Limited similarities were also found between residues 315 through 357 of PutA and a consensus sequence near a putative active site and FAD-binding region shared by succinate dehydrogenase sequences from several organisms. Since residues 228 through 358 of PutA were similar in sequence to several serine-pyruvate aminotransferases, PutA is proposed to catalyze the hydrolysis of P5C (a Schiff's base intermediate) to gamma-glutamic semialdehyde. A carboxyl-terminal sequence that resembles a leucine zipper motif may be involved in association of PutA with put control region DNA.

1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1993

Cholelithiasis in dogs: 29 cases (1980-1990).

Medical records of 29 dogs with cholelithiasis were reviewed. Aged female small-breed dogs were overrepresented. Mean age was 9.5 years, and mean weight was 12 kg. Vomiting, anorexia, weakness, polyuria/polydipsia, weight loss, icterus, fever, and signs of abdominal pain were the most common clinical signs. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia with left shift, monocytosis, high activity of serum hepatic enzymes, hypoalbuminemia, and high concentrations of serum total bilirubin were common. Radiopaque choleliths were evident on abdominal radiography of 13 of 27 dogs. Microbial culturing of bile isolated organisms in 15 of 20 dogs. Gram-negative bacteria were most common. Surgery was performed in 22 dogs. Four dogs were treated medically, and 3 dogs were euthanatized without treatment. Surgical treatment consisted of cholecystectomy in 11 dogs, choledochotomy in 5 dogs, cholecystotomy in 4 dogs, and cholecystojejunostomy in 1 dog. Sphincter of Oddiotomy was performed in 1 dog. Five dogs had concurrent generalized peritonitis attributable to bile. Multiple choleliths were detected in most of the dogs. Choleliths were located in the gallbladder in 20 dogs and in the bile ducts in 14 dogs. The most common abnormalities of the gallbladder, identified histologically, were chronic cholecystitis, mucosal hyperplasia, and pericholecystic inflammation. The most common abnormalities of the liver were cholestasis, hepatocellular degeneration, and periportal fibrosis. Survival rate of dogs that underwent cholecystectomy tended to be higher (86%) than that of dogs treated via cholecystotomy (50%) or cholecystectomy in combination with choledochotomy (33%). Dogs that underwent medical treatment, abdominal exploratory, cholecystojenunostomy, choledochotomy, and sphincter of Oddiotomy died or were euthanatized because of redevelopment of clinical signs associated with cholelithiasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in the newborn: a familial case.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare cause of cyanosis in the newborn with nine previously reported cases. Typical signs at presentation include cyanosis, murmur, and congestive heart failure. Abnormality on chest x-ray is common with cardiomegaly, oligemia, and focal pulmonary density. There is a male predominance, unlike older children and adults with PAVM. Familial cases of PAVM have been reported with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. We report a familial case of PAVM presenting in the newborn.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗
PubMed1993

Circulating immunoreactive endothelin-1 in children with pulmonary hypertension. Association with acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoreactivity.

To determine whether circulating levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, are elevated in children with pulmonary hypertension and related to the degree of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, we measured arterial and mixed venous plasma concentrations of immunoreactive ET-1 (irET-1) in 13 children during cardiac catheterization. Clinical diagnoses in seven children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) included chronic lung disease (four children), congenital heart disease after surgical repair (two children), and primary ("reactive") pulmonary hypertension (one child). Blood samples were simultaneously obtained from pulmonary artery (venous) and systemic arterial sites during baseline conditions. Plasma irET-1 was elevated in children with PH (12.3 +/- 3.4 versus 3.6 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, PH versus non-PH; p < 0.01). Arterial/venous irET-1 ratios in the PH group (1.1 +/- 0.2) were not different from those in the non-PH group. During acute hypoxia, mean Ppa increased from 27 +/- 3 to 40 +/- 5 mm Hg. Basal irET-1 correlated strongly with the degree of elevation of mean Ppa during acute hypoxia (r = 0.69; p < 0.02). We conclude that irET-1 levels are often elevated in children with PH, and they are strongly correlated with pulmonary vasoreactivity during acute hypoxia. Whether elevated irET-1 levels contribute directly to or are markers of altered pulmonary vascular tone and reactivity in children with PH remains speculative.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1993

Apparent dietary protein requirement of dogs with portosystemic shunt.

Current medical management of dogs with portosystemic shunt (PSS) includes dietary protein restriction. After establishment of baseline values, 32 dogs underwent portosystemic anastomosis to induce PSS. They were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, and given 11 or 24% crude protein (CP); 20% of the protein was derived from branched chain or aromatic amino acids. The apparent digestibility of CP and of total digestible energy were not affected by PSS. The apparent digestibility of fat decreased from 92% to 85% in dogs with PSS (P < 0.01). Across all diets, the apparent dietary protein requirement (ADPR) was 2.07 g of CP/kg of body weight/d in clinically normal dogs and 2.11 g of CP/kg/d after PSS. Dietary amino acid composition had no effect on ADPR. The ADPR for dogs fed the 11% protein diets was 1.69 g of CP/kg/d in clinically normal dogs and 1.62 g of CP/kg/d after PSS, whereas the ADPR in dogs fed the 24% protein diets was 3.94 g of CP/kg/d before PSS and 3.31 g of CP/kg/d after PSS. Serum total protein, urea nitrogen, and albumin concentrations were lower in dogs with PSS fed the 11% protein diets, compared with those fed the 24% protein diets. We conclude that there is no difference in ADPR in dogs with PSS; however, the low protein intake of 1.62 g of CP/kg/d appeared inadequate to maintain normal protein stores. Dietary protein that provides at least 2.1 g of CP/kg/d is recommended for dogs with PSS.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Maximal voluntary work and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients who have had Kawasaki syndrome.

To assess the natural history of Kawasaki syndrome and its effect on maximal voluntary work and cardiorespiratory fitness, we performed cycle ergometry testing in 47 patients who had had the syndrome. Forty-one patients performed maximal effort as judged by achievement of 95% predicted heart rate response. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and minute ventilation were performed in 23 patients. There was no difference in maximal voluntary work (total work, mean power) or maximal oxygen consumption between case subjects and control subjects. There were no differences between patients with and those without aneurysms. Serial exercise studies were performed in 10 patients; of these, two with initially normal exercise study findings had decreased maximal voluntary work and oxygen consumption with ischemic changes, and both were at high risk for the development of stenotic or occlusive coronary arteries. The other eight patients had normal cardiorespiratory reserve and no ischemic changes with serial studies. These results suggest that patients have normal cardiorespiratory fitness after Kawasaki syndrome. With the development of ischemic heart disease, they may have decreased cardiorespiratory reserve. Serial evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness may demonstrate ischemic heart disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Role of specific similarity in a medical diagnostic task.

Three experiments are reported showing that diagnosis of skin disorders by medical residents and general practitioners was facilitated by similar cases previously seen in the same context. Diagnosis of similar cases was facilitated more than that of dissimilar cases in the same diagnostic category, demonstrating that facilitation was not solely due to activation of the diagnostic category as a whole. Because diagnosis was posed in a multiple-choice format that always included the correct diagnosis, the relative disadvantage of dissimilar items was not due to the unavailability of the category name. The similarity effect also occurred with 2-week delay between the initial case and the test cases. Variations in diagnostic procedure, ranging from giving a quick first impression to arguing for given alternative diagnoses before selection, did not interact with the effect of similarity. This result suggests that the similarity effect is not strongly dependent on a particular diagnostic strategy.

Adult↗