Jonathan Elliott

The link between the fermentation of carbohydrate in the equine large intestine and the development of acute laminitis is poorly understood. Absorption of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) into the plasma has been observed in one experimental model of laminitis, but does not cause laminitis when administered alone. Thus, the potential role of endotoxin is unclear. Platelet activation has previously been demonstrated in the developmental stage of laminitis. Equine platelets are more ...

OBJECTIVE: To measure concentrations of amines formed in the cecum of clinically normal ponies, determine amine concentrations in plasma samples collected in spring and winter, and compare concentrations of amines and serotonin in plasma samples obtained from clinically normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Cecal contents obtained from 10 ponies euthanatized at an abattoir and blood samples obtained from 42 adult ponies.

PROCEDURE: Cecal contents were ...

BACKGROUND: Early detection of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs is challenging. Current methods are insensitive and new biomarkers are required.

OBJECTIVE: To compare overall diagnostic performance of serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and serum cystatin C to serum creatinine, for detection of decreased GFR in clinically stable dogs, with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD).

ANIMALS: Ninety-seven client-owned dogs: 67 dogs with a diagnosis or suspicion of CKD ...

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic hypothyroidism can occur after treatment of hyperthyroidism, and is correlated with a reduced glomerular filtration rate in humans and dogs.

HYPOTHESIS: Cats with iatrogenic hypothyroidism after treatment for hyperthyroidism will have a greater incidence of azotemia than euthyroid cats.

ANIMALS: Eighty client owned cats with hyperthyroidism.

METHODS: Two retrospective studies. (1) Longitudinal study of 12 hyperthyroid cats treated with radioiodine (documented as ...

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a common problem in older cats, most often associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cross-sectional studies have suggested that blood pressure in cats increases with age.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether blood pressure in cats increases with age and whether this occurs independently of the presence of CKD. To investigate risk factors for developing hypertension.

ANIMALS/SUBJECTS: Two hundred and sixty-five cats with CKD and 133 healthy cats ≥9 ...

Cumulative concentration response curves to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 10(-10)-10(-4) mol/l) were constructed using isolated rings of equine digital, facial, tail and coronary arteries (endothelium intact). 5-HT was 17.7 and 41 times more potent as a vasoconstrictor of digital arteries than facial and tail arteries respectively. Removal of the endothelium increased the vasoconstrictor potency of 5-HT in the facial artery by 3.7-fold (P<0.05) but did not alter the sensitivity of digital ...

BACKGROUND: Identification of factors associated with decreased survival in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) will allow more accurate prognosis. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is negatively associated with survival in dogs with DMVD. In human patients, multimarker strategies provide superior risk stratification compared with single markers.

HYPOTHESIS: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hscTnI) and other clinical variables will be associated ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine in vitro vasoactive potency of monoamines formed in the cecum and found in the systemic circulation of horses.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Segments of digital blood vessels obtained from 6 healthy mixed-breed horses and ponies euthanatized at an abattoir and platelets isolated from 4 healthy ponies.

PROCEDURE: Paired rings of digital artery and vein from the same horse were examined, and isometric tension was recorded. Concentration-response curves for tryptamine (TRP), ...

BACKGROUND: Systemic hypertension is a common clinical problem, often occurring in association with renal disease in cats. Limited information is available to assess the effect of blood pressure and the treatment of hypertension on survival.

HYPOTHESIS: That adequacy of blood pressure control is associated with the duration of survival in cats with systolic hypertension.

ANIMALS: One hundred and forty-one client-owned cats with systolic hypertension.

METHODS: Hypertensive cats were ...

BACKGROUND: Tubulointerstitial kidney disease is a common cause of illness and death in pet cats and is typically not associated with overt proteinuria.

HYPOTHESIS: Proteinuria would be independently related to survival in cats with renal failure, with or without hypertension.

ANIMALS: The study included 136 client-owned cats; 28 apparently normal, 14 hypertensive but not azotemic, 66 azotemic but not hypertensive, and 28 both hypertensive and azotemic.

METHODS: Cox's proportional ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in geriatric cats, but often appears to be stable for long periods of time.

OBJECTIVES: To describe CKD progression and identify risk factors for progression in newly diagnosed azotemic cats.

ANIMALS: A total of 213 cats with CKD (plasma creatinine concentration > 2 mg/dL, urine specific gravity < 1.035) were followed up until progression occurred or for at least 1 year; 132, 73, and 8 cats were in International Renal Interest Society ...

OBJECTIVES: In cats with concurrent hyperthyroidism and non-thyroidal illnesses such as chronic kidney disease, total thyroxine concentrations are often within the laboratory reference range (19 to 55 nmol/l). The objective of the study was to determine total thyroxine, free thyroxine and/or thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in cats with mild chronic kidney disease.

METHODS: Total thyroxine, free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone were measured in three groups. The ...

Abstract.Objective and design:The aim of this study was to determine the effects of endotoxin on p38 MAPK activation in equine platelets and leukocytes in vivo and in vitro and its role in thromboxane (Tx) production with reference to equine endotoxaemia.Methods:Six adult Thoroughbred horses were used for in vivo infusion studies and separate in vitro studies. For in vivo studies, following collection of a pre-infusion sample, horses were infused with E. Coli O55:B5 LPS (30 ng/kg; ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common comorbidity in cats with hypercalcemia, but whether CKD is a risk factor for hypercalcemia is unclear. Hypercalcemia often is diagnosed based on total calcium concentration (tCa), which tends to underestimate the ionized calcium concentration (iCa) in cats.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the performance of tCa for the diagnosis of ionized hypercalcemia, and exploration of factors influencing the relationship between iCa and tCa. ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether natriuretic peptide concentrations would predict all cause mortality in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease.

METHODS: One hundred dogs with naturally occurring degenerative mitral valve disease were prospectively recruited for this longitudinal study. Analysis of outcome was undertaken for 73 dogs for which the outcome was known. Dogs underwent physical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography. Natriuretic peptide concentrations were ...