Naoyuki Takemura

Background: Plasma N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations may be affected by the hydration status.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dehydration on plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations in healthy dogs. Methods: This prospective study included five clinically healthy dogs. Furosemide was administered intravenously at 2–4 mg/kg every 1–2 h until completion of the dehydration model. The dehydration model was considered complete when weight loss was ≥5% and findings of dehydration on physical examination were observed. Plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations were compared at three time points: before the dehydration model was created (point 1), at the completion of the dehydration model (point 2), and when dehydration was judged to have improved (point 3). Association between plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations, and each clinical variable (physical examination, blood pressure, blood chemistry, blood gases, and echocardiography) was assessed using linear regression analysis. Results: Plasma NT-proANP concentration decreased significantly from point 2 to point 1 (p < 0.05), whereas plasma NT-proBNP concentration showed a decreasing trend but did not differ significantly between points 1 and 2. Plasma NT-proANP concentration correlated significantly with body weight (R2 = 0.178) and plasma NT-proBNP concentration (R2 = 0.284) (p < 0.05, respectively), and plasma NT-proBNP concentration correlated significantly with electrolytes (sodium, R2 = 0.439; potassium, R2 = 0.444; chloride, R2 = 0.419), and echocardiographic parameters (diastolic left ventricular internal diameter [LVIDd], R2 = 0.519; weight-standardised LVIDd, R2 = 0.535) (p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The plasma NT-proANP concentrations decreased with dehydration. However, the plasma NT-proBNP concentration did not change with mild dehydration and reflected left ventricular morphology.

BACKGROUND: Ivabradine is used to treat tachycardia; unlike atenolol, it does not affect blood pressure or myocardial contractility. This study compared the impact of ivabradine and atenolol on heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) during a 24 h period, feeding and sleeping times, via a Holter electrocardiogram in healthy cats. We hypothesised that ivabradine and atenolol would lower the HRs equally well, even at times of excitement and rest, such as during feeding and sleep; that ivabradine, unlike atenolol, would have an effect on HRV. METHODS: Five clinically healthy cats were used in the prospective blinded crossover study receiving 3 days of ivabradine (0.30 mg/kg per os twice daily) followed by atenolol (6.25 mg/cat per os twice daily, range 1.3-2.0 mg/kg) or receiving atenolol followed by ivabradine. A placebo period was initiated before the start of the crossover test, data obtained during that period were used as a baseline (BL). Evaluation parameters included HR and HRV, for the whole 24 h period and for feeding and sleeping times, comparing the effect of ivabradine and atenolol with BL. RESULTS: The HR for the whole 24 h, feeding and sleeping times, were significantly lower with ivabradine and atenolol, compared to BL (p < 0.05). The HRV for the whole 24 h and sleeping time were significantly higher after ivabradine compared with BL and after atenolol. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy cats, ivabradine and atenolol significantly reduced the HR regardless of excitement and rest; their effects were comparable. Ivabradine significantly increased HRV in comparison to BL whereas atenolol did not.

Background and Aim: Electrocardiography (ECG) is an adjunct for cardiac enlargement diagnosis. However, its efficacy in assessing left cardiac remodeling (left atrial and left ventricular enlargement) in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between ECG parameters and left cardiac remodeling and to investigate whether the rate of change in ECG waveforms in the same individual reflected left cardiac remodeling in dogs with MMVD.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 20 healthy dogs and 140 dogs with MMVD. Data on clinical variables were obtained through physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The ECG parameters were the P-wave duration, PR interval, QRS complex duration, P-wave amplitude, R-wave amplitude, and mean electrical axis. Dogs with examination data that could be obtained multiple times during the study period were classified into the non-progressive and progressive groups.Results: Only the P-wave and QRS complex durations were selected as significant variables associated with imaging test parameters (p &lt; 0.05); they had a relatively higher discriminatory ability for the left cardiac remodeling than other ECG parameters. The rates of change in the PR interval and R-wave amplitude were significantly higher in the progressive group than in the non-progressive group.Conclusion: In dogs with MMVD, the P-wave and QRS complex durations were significantly correlated with the left cardiac remodeling indicators. Furthermore, an increased rate of change in the PR interval and R-wave amplitude in the same individual may indicate left cardiac remodeling.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to define the prevalence of upper urolithiasis in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a referral population, and to compare urinary calcium:creatinine ratio (UCa:Cr), and total and ionised calcium between cats with CKD with and without upper urolithiasis. METHODS: The medical records of cats diagnosed with CKD were reviewed for signalment, body weight, diet and prevalence of upper urolithiasis. Cats with preserved urine samples were further classified into two groups: urolithiasis group (upper urolithiasis identified by abdominal ultrasonography) and control group (CKD of unknown origin). Serum biochemical analysis, CKD stage, blood gas analysis, urine specific gravity and UCa:Cr were compared between groups using a two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variable and a χ2 test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors. RESULTS: Among the 140 cats with CKD, the prevalence of upper urolithiasis was 73%. Fifty cats (5, 29 and 16 cats with CKD stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively) with urine samples met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Among cats with CKD, being purebred (odds ratio [OR] = 81.56; P = 0.03) and being fed dry food only (OR = 25.06; P = 0.001) were identified as independent upper urolithiasis risk factors; those with upper urolithiasis were more likely to be exclusively fed with urine-acidifying food (P <0.001) and have increased serum ionised calcium (iCa) (P = 0.044), fractional excretion of calcium (P = 0.45) and UCa:Cr (P = 0.005) than cats with CKD without upper urolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cats with CKD that were purebred, fed dry food and fed urine-acidifying food only often had upper urolithiasis. A higher UCa:Cr may be a result of increased serum iCa and may cause upper urolithiasis.