Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CATS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Use of relaxation half-time as an index of ventricular relaxation in clinically normal cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Relaxation half-time (t1/2) was evaluated as a measure of isovolumic ventricular relaxation in clinically normal cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Relaxation half-time was determined directly from the left ventricular pressure tracing as the time required for the left ventricular pressure at the beginning of isovolumic relaxation to decrease by half. The value of t1/2 was unaffected by moderate changes in heart rate, inotropic state, and afterload in clinically normal cats. However, t1/2 increased significantly (P = 0.003) with increased preload. The value of t1/2 was significantly higher (P = 0.0003) in a group of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, compared with that of a group of clinically normal cats. Although t1/2 must be interpreted in the context of changes in loading conditions, the index is useful as a measure of relaxation in clinically normal cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Animals↗

Digestion of bentiromide and absorption of xylose in healthy cats and absorption of xylose in cats with infiltrative intestinal disease.

The digestion of bentiromide and the absorption of D-xylose was measured in 17 clinically healthy cats. The plasma xylose concentrations of the healthy cats were compared with values from 9 cats with diffuse infiltrative intestinal disease. The cats were administered 16.7 mg of bentiromide/kg and 0.5 g of xylose/kg via a stomach tube. Plasma samples were obtained before administration and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after administration. The maximum mean plasma p-aminobenzoic acid concentration occurred at 60 minutes, with a value of 386 +/- 134 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SD). The maximum mean plasma xylose concentration also occurred at 60 minutes, with a value of 26.0 +/- 9.2 mg/dl. Plasma concentrations of p-aminobenzoic acid and xylose were lower in healthy cats than those reported for healthy dogs. There was no significant difference between xylose concentrations in healthy cats and cats with infiltrative intestinal disease.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

Whole blood cytokine profiles in cats infected by feline coronavirus and healthy non-FCoV infected specific pathogen-free cats.

In this study, the cytokine profiles of clinically healthy cats naturally infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV), of cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and of specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats were investigated in whole blood using a traditional reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and a semi-quantitative method of analysis based on computerised quantification of positive bands. The low inter-assay coefficient of variation recorded demonstrated that this method is highly repeatable. Compared with SPF cats, cytokine production was upregulated in most of the samples from FCoV-positive non-symptomatic cats. The appearance of a case of FIP in the cattery was associated with an increased expression of cytokines, in particular there was an increased production of IL-1beta and IFN-gamma, suggesting that these cytokines might protect infected cats from the disease. This hypothesis was also supported by the low levels of IFN-gamma recorded in blood from cats with FIP.

Animals↗

Grooming behavior in cats with pontile lesions and cats with tectal lesions.

Because an abnormal grooming behavior that is mediated by the superior colliculi is elicited from cats with pontile lesions, an ablation study of these structures was conducted to specify quantitatively the changes in grooming behavior. Cats that underwent the surgical procedure except for the lesion and cats with lesions of the auditory and visual cortices served as control groups. Time-lapse motion pictures of the cats in their home cages were taken, and statistical analyses of the grooming behavior shown on the films indicated that cats with pontile lesions and cats with tectal lesions spent less time grooming, had shorter grooming bouts, and failed to exhibit the normal temporal pattern of grooming behaviors. Other studies revealed that cats with pontile or tectal lesions were deficient in removing tapes stuck on their fur. A sensory-loss hypothesis appeared to account for some of the changes, but a deficit in endogenous control of the grooming behaviors also was indicated. The literature on grooming behavior related to peripheral versus endogenous control was reviewed, and the role of the superior colliculi as a higher order integrative center for complex behaviors is emphasized.

Animals↗

Proliferation and release of IL-5 and IFN-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cat-allergic asthmatics and rhinitics, non-cat-allergic asthmatics, and normal controls to peptides derived from Fel d 1 chain 1.

BACKGROUND: In general, T cells from normal, nonatopic individuals respond to aeroallergens with synthesis and release of IFN-gamma. In contrast, release of T(H)2-type cytokines by activated lymphocytes is a feature of allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in T-cell recognition of epitopes within allergenic sequences, in terms of proliferation and cytokine production, in subjects with atopic asthma compared with subjects with allergic rhinitis and normal controls. METHODS: Proliferative responses and IL-5/IFN-gamma release patterns from PBMCs from cat-allergic asthmatic, cat-allergic rhinitic, and non-cat-allergic asthmatic subjects and nonatopic normal controls were determined in primary cultures. Cells were challenged with 7 overlapping peptides spanning chain 1 of the major cat allergen, Fel d 1. RESULTS: The 4 groups did not differ with respect to the ability to mount proliferative responses to Fel d 1 peptides. In all groups, the IFN-gamma responses were predominantly to the amino terminus peptides. Cat-allergic and non-cat-allergic asthmatic subjects (and not cat-allergic rhinitic subjects and normal controls) made IL-5 responses to most of the Fel d 1 peptides, the result being a mixed (T(H)0) cytokine response at the N-terminus and a restricted (T(H)2) response at the C-terminus. CONCLUSION: Proliferative and IL-5/IFN-gamma responses of T cells from asthmatic and atopic rhinitic subjects and normal controls to allergen peptides can be dissociated. Furthermore, differing cytokine responses to peptides derived from a single antigen suggest that certain domains of the molecule might preferentially induce IL-5 rather than IFN-gamma and as a result could be more important in disease pathogenesis.

Adult↗

High-efficiency particulate arrest-filter vacuum cleaners increase personal cat allergen exposure in homes with cats.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of experimental chamber studies, vacuum cleaners with double-thickness bags and integral high-efficiency particulate arrest (HEPA) air filters are claimed to reduce airborne allergen levels and are currently recommended to allergic patients. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vacuum cleaning on personal inhaled cat allergen exposure in homes with cats. METHODS: Five unused new vacuum cleaners were compared with an old non-HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. Each vacuum cleaner was tested in an experimental chamber and in 5 homes with cats. Inhaled cat allergen was measured by nasal air sampling. RESULTS: New vacuum cleaners failed to leak any allergen in the experimental chamber. There was a significant increase in inhaled cat allergen during vacuum cleaning in homes (F = 48.39, df = 1.4, P =.002) with no difference between the old vacuum cleaner and the unused new vacuum cleaners (5-fold and 3-fold increase compared to baseline, respectively; F = 0.005, df = 1.4, P =.95). CONCLUSIONS: The use of new HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners increases inhaled cat allergen in homes with cats. The use of HEPA-filter modern vacuum cleaners to reduce pet allergen exposure in the homes of pet owners should not be justified merely on the basis of experimental chamber data.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Disinfestation of experimentally infested cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, on cats and dogs by oral lufenuron.

In vivo efficacy of orally administered lufenuron, an insect growth regulator, in disinfesting cat fleas was evaluated, using flea-free cats and dogs which were purchased and infested every 10 days with cat fleas from a colony kept in our laboratory. Lufenuron was orally administered as a single dose of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg to cats, and 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg to dogs. In cats, adult flea emergence was intensively prevented for 30 days by dosing of 15 mg/kg of lufenuron and 40 days by 30 or 60 mg/kg. The average egg hatch rate in 15 mg/kg group was, however, significantly higher than those in 30 mg/kg or more, suggesting necessity to dose 30 mg/kg to cats to prevent development of cat fleas effectively. In dogs, a lower dose of the drug, 10 mg/kg seemed to be sufficient for the complete prevention of flea development.

Administration, Oral↗

Social interactions in cats: regional brain monoamine distribution in dominant and submissive cats.

Regional brain concentration of monoamines (NA, DA and 5-HT) and their metabolites (MHPG, DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA) were measured in dominant and submissive cats in a predatory competition test and in predatory behaviour of single cats. A submissive position in predatory hierarchy produced an increase in concentration of NA in the hypothalamus, a decrease of DA, 5-HT, MHPG and MHPG/NA ratio in the hippocampus and a decrease of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex in comparison with dominant cats. In the predatory test the social situation increased the concentration of DA and its metabolites in the hypothalamus of the submissive and dominant cats as compared to single cats. Additionally, a diminution of NA and MHPG concentration in the midbrain in dominant cats compared to single animals in the predatory situation was observed. The data obtained demonstrate a considerable differentiation in the effects of predatory aggression and predatory behaviour in a social situation on brain distribution of monoamines. The results indicate that predatory behaviour in single and paired cats is regulated by different catecholamine mechanisms.

Animals↗

Ubiquitous presence of cat allergen in cat-free buildings: probable dispersal from human clothing.

Fel d I has been found in almost all houses investigated, including those in which cats have never been present. These observations have not been explained. We measured Fel dI in samples of carpet dust from ten newly built model homes, 14 occupied homes, six allergists' offices, five hospital corridors, and three shopping mall stores. We also measured Fel d I on T-shirts of persons with and without cats. Measurable amounts of Fel d I were found in all the dust samples. Fel d I found in older model homes exceeded that found in newer model homes (P < .05). The amounts of Fel d I found in allergists' offices, hospital corridors, and retail stores were similar to the amounts found in occupied homes without cats. Fel d I was found in all T-shirts sampled and increased with increasing exposure to cats. Our findings confirm and extend previous reports of the ubiquitous presence of cat allergen and are consistent with the hypothesis that Fel d I is carried into cat-free buildings on the clothing of people exposed to cats.

Allergens↗

Suspected bentonite toxicosis in a cat from ingestion of clay cat litter.

A 2 1/2-y-old spayed female cat was presented for lethargy and weakness. The cat was hypokalemic (3.1 m Eq K/L) and severely anemic (60% PVC, 1.3 g hemoglobin/dL). The cat was known to ingest bentonite-containing cat litter. It recovered with treatment of i.v. fluids, electrolytes and whole blood transfusion and was discharged. Two months later the cat was presented again with signs similar to those seen previously. This occurred 1 mo after the owner resumed the use of bentonite-containing cat litter. The signs were remarkably similar to those reported in humans from the chronic ingestion of bentonite clays. Bentonite toxicosis is suggested by the coexistence of hypokalemia hypochromic anemia in cats presented with lethargy and muscle weakness.

Animals↗

Two different genotypes of Bartonella henselae in children with cat-scratch disease and their pet cats.

Two genotypes (I and II) of Bartonella henselae are involved in cat-scratch disease (CSD). Lymph node biopsies were taken from 3 children suffering from CSD, and blood cultures were obtained from their pet cats. Cat-scratch disease was confirmed serologically, histologically and by detection of B. henselae DNA in all 3 lymph nodes by PCR. Bartonella henselae grew in all cats' blood cultures. The first 2 children were siblings. Both children and their pet cats were infected with B. henselae genotype II, and the third patient and her cat were infected with B. henselae genotype I. In all cases, there were no essential differences in the clinical manifestations of the infection caused by these 2 genotypes of B. henselae.

Adolescent↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cat gene of Proteus mirabilis: comparison with the type I (Tn9) cat gene.

In Proteus mirabilis PM13 chloramphenicol resistance is mediated by the cat gene, a single copy of which is present in both resistant and sensitive isolates and which reverts at a high frequency. RNA measurements show an about 8.5-fold increase in cat-specific mRNA in cells expressing the resistance phenotype as compared with those which are sensitive to chloramphenicol. DNA sequence analysis has revealed a high degree of homology between the P. mirabilis cat gene and the type I cat variant (Tn9), 76% at the amino acid level and 73% when nucleotides in the coding sequence are compared. Sequence homology between the strain PM13 cat variant and Tn9 cat was not apparent however in the 5' and 3' flanking regions. Segments of near identity were seen when the upstream sequence of the cat of P. mirabilis was compared with the 5' regions of the Salmonella typhimurium flagellin genes H1 and H2, which are alternately expressed by a flip-flop control mechanism involving an invertible promoter and a trans-acting product.

Acetyltransferases↗

Differential regulation of glomerular arginine transporters (CAT-1 and CAT-2) in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats.

The decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that is characteristic of sepsis has been shown to result from inhibition of glomerular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by nitric oxide (NO) generated from the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS). Although l-arginine is the sole precursor for NO biosynthesis, its intracellular availability in glomeruli from septic animals has never been investigated. Arginine uptake was measured in freshly harvested glomeruli from the following experimental groups: 1) untreated rats; 2) rats pretreated with LPS (4 mg/kg body wt, 4 h before experiments); 3) rats treated with LPS as above with either l-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine hydrochloride (l-NIL), a selective iNOS antagonist, or 7-nitroindazole, a selective neuronal NOS antagonist; and 4) rats treated with l-NIL only. Both glomeular and mesangial arginine transport characteristics were found compatible with a y(+) system. Arginine uptake was augmented in glomeruli from LPS-treated rats. Treatment with l-NIL completely abolished this effect whereas l-NIL alone had no effect. Similar results were obtained when primary cultures of rat mesangial cells were preincubated with LPS (10 microg/ml for 24 h) with or without l-NIL. Using RT-PCR, we found that in vivo administration of LPS resulted in a significant increase in glomerular cationic amino acid transporter-2 (CAT-2) mRNA expression whereas CAT-1 mRNA was undetected. Northern blotting further confirmed a significant increase in glomerular CAT-2 by LPS. In mesangial cells, the expression of both CAT-1 and CAT-2 mRNA was augmented after incubation with LPS. In conclusion, in vivo administration of LPS augments glomerular arginine transport through upregulation of steady-state CAT-2 mRNA while downregulating CAT-1 mRNA. These results may correspond to the changes in glomerular iNOS and eNOS activity in sepsis.

Animals↗

[Electroencephalogram and CAT scan in 393 cases of epilepsy. Consistency between focal EEG changes and focal CAT changes (author's transl)].

A simultaneous study of EEG recordings and CAT scans in 393 epileptics led to the following findings:--in our population, the EEG pattern is normal in 6.8% of the cases and the CAT normal in 64.6%;--focal EEG changes give focal CAT changes in 38.6% and diffuse changes in 4.1% of the cases;--diffuse EEG changes give focal CAT changes in 18% and diffuse changes in 8.8% of the cases;--focal CAT changes give focal EEG changes in 68% and diffuse changes in 28% of the cases;--diffuse CAT changes give focal EEG changes in 27.5% and diffuse changes in 51.8% of the cases;--out of the 393 epileptics, 72 presented distinctly focal changes on simultaneous EEG and CAT records. The changes were on the same side in 80.5% of the cases. The reasons for the lack of consistency in 19.5% of the cases are discussed.

Brain↗

Regulation of troponin T gene expression in chicken fast skeletal muscle: involvement of an M-CAT-like element distinct from the standard M-CAT.

Troponin T (TnT), like other myofibrillar proteins, is expressed as various isoforms in different muscle fibers and/or at different development stages. A recent study suggested the expression pattern of chicken fast TnT isoforms is fixed in a given cell lineage. In the present study, we isolated genomic clones of the chicken fast TnT gene to carry out molecular analysis of its expression mechanism. One of the clones, pWETNTa, contained the 5' upstream region and approximately 20 kb downstream from exon 1. We constructed promoter/upstream segments of the chicken fast TnT gene linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene and tested the regulatory function of the 5' upstream region by transient transfection of the gene constructs into muscle cells. We showed that a DNA segment between -264 and -44 bp from the most 5' transcriptional initiation site, which has an MEF2, and M-CAT-like element, a CArG box and two E boxes, was essential for the expression of the fast TnT gene. Furthermore, mutation of the M-CAT-like element in the segment resulted in the most serious reduction in the fast TnT promoter activity. The results suggested that the M-CAT-like element plays an important role in transcriptional regulation of the fast TnT gene. The M-CAT-like element is very similar to the M-CAT element, but in electrophoretic mobility shift assay, the factor(s) that bound to this motif was found to be different from the M-CAT binding factor (MCBF).

Animals↗

Isolation of Malassezia species from healthy cats and cats with otitis.

Lipid-dependent Malassezia species have recently been cultured from veterinary specimens. The identification of Malassezia species isolates from animals is important to clarify the epidemiology of these lipophilic yeasts. Malassezia species were cultured from the external ear canals of 63 out of 99 cats with otitis and 12 of 52 (23%) healthy control cats. The rate of isolation in affected animals versus controls was highly significant (P<0.01). Malassezia pachydermatis was isolated as a pure culture in 33 (45.2%) cats, associated with Malassezia globosa and Malassezia furfur in 20 (50%) and 17 (42.5%) animals, respectively. Three different species were isolated simultaneously in three cats (two cats with M pachydermatis, M globosa and M furfur, one subject with M pachydermatis, M furfur and Malassezia sympodialis). M globosa was isolated as the sole species in two animals. The present work confirms the presence of some lipid-dependent species of Malassezia in both healthy and otitic cats.

Animals↗

Measurement of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific for house dust mite antigens in normal cats and cats with allergic skin disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cats with allergic skin disease have significant concentrations of serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific for antigens derived from the house dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed for this purpose. Binding of serum allergen-specific IgE was detected via the use of biotinylated Fc-epsilon receptor alpha chain protein (FcvarepsilonRIalpha). Following optimisation of the assay, serum samples from 59 cats with allergic skin disease and 54 clinically normal cats were screened. Results were expressed as ELISA units per ml (EU/ml) compared to a standard curve. Serological findings were correlated with the clinical presentation of affected cats. Cats with symptoms of feline allergic skin disease were grouped as follows: self-induced alopecia without lesions (group 1), papulocrusting dermatitis (group 2), eosinophilic granuloma complex (group 3), papular/ulcerative dermatitis of head and neck/facial dermatitis (group 4), and a combination of symptoms (group 5). Control normal cats comprised the final group (group 6). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. There was no significant difference between groups for DF- and DP-specific IgE concentrations with a p-value of 0.875 and 0.705, respectively. Although the FcvarepsilonRIalpha-based ELISA was able to detect house dust mite-specific feline IgE, the presence of this allergen-specific IgE correlates poorly with the presence of clinical manifestations of allergic skin disease. The results of this study question the clinical relevance of house dust mite-specific IgE in feline allergic skin disease.

Animals↗

Serological differentiation of FIV-infected cats from dual-subtype feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine (Fel-O-Vax FIV) inoculated cats.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine, Fel-O-Vax FIV, was released for sale in the US in 2002. The antibodies of vaccinated cats interfere with serological assays by currently available FIV diagnostic kits. In this study, we investigated whether it is possible to distinguish serologically cats vaccinated with Fel-O-Vax FIV from cats experimentally or naturally infected with FIV. A total of 153 sera taken from 97 cats were used as serum samples. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed using whole FIV antigen and formalin treated whole FIV antigen, recombinant-gag (r-gag) antigen, and transmembrane (TM) peptide. Statistical analysis was performed using ELISA optical density (O.D.) values obtained with each antigen as variables. Except for the ELISA O.D. values obtained with r-gag antigen, a significant difference in ELISA O.D. values was observed between the vaccinated and the infected groups. However, it was not possible to distinguish both groups unequivocally. Using discriminant analysis, it was possible to distinguish the two groups with an accuracy of 97.1% with two discriminating variables (ELISA O.D. values obtained with formalin treated whole FIV antigen, and TM peptide), 97.8% with three discriminating variables (ELISA O.D. values obtained with whole FIV antigen, formalin treated whole FIV antigen, and TM peptide). Therefore, it was considered possible to distinguish cats vaccinated with Fel-O-Vax FIV from FIV-infected cats by ELISA using two types of antigens including formalin treated whole FIV antigen and TM peptide, or three types of antigens including formalin treated whole FIV antigen, TM peptide and whole FIV antigen.

Animals↗