Biomedical subjects

D Ruslander

Publications and source records attributed to D Ruslander.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Detection and molecular characterization of a novel large Babesia species in a dog.

Babesia canis has generally been considered the only large Babesia to infect dogs. Here we describe the molecular characterization of a large Babesia species that was detected in the blood and bone marrow of a dog with clinical and hematological abnormalities consistent with babesiosis. Analysis of the 18S rRNA genes revealed a unique sequence that shared 93.9% sequence identity with B. bigemina and 93.5% sequence identity with B. caballi, compared to 91.2-91.6% identity with B. canis canis, B. c. vogeli, and B. c. rossi. Cross-reactive antibodies against B. canis, B. gibsoni (Asian genotype), or B. gibsoni (California genotype) antigens were not detected in acute or convalescent serum samples. The dog was treated with imidocarb diproprionate, which resulted in the resolution of clinical signs, and subsequently Babesia DNA was not detectable by PCR in post-treatment samples. The organism described in this report represents a genetically unique large Babesia sp. and is the eighth genetically distinct piroplasm capable of infecting the domestic dog.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma in a cat.

A 7-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was referred for evaluation of a localized growing mass on the left flank. Cytologic and histologic findings suggested that the mass was an extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Radiography failed to reveal any association between the lesion and the axial or appendicular skeleton. Because of the large size of the tumor, the cat was treated with carboplatin prior to and after surgery (hemipelvectomy) to ensure that surgical margins were free of neoplastic cells and to prevent systemic dissemination of malignant cells. The tumor has not recurred during a 2-year follow-up period.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Potential tumour doubling time: determination of Tpot for various canine and feline tumours.

Spontaneous tumours in dogs and cats are an excellent model for clinical human research, such as in developing proton conformation radiotherapy for humans. The kinetics of tumour cells can be used effectively to predict prognosis and response to therapy in patients with tumours. Knowledge of the kinetic parameters in these tumours is therefore important. In the present study the kinetic parameters evaluated included the labelling index (LI), relative movement (RM), mitotic index (MI), and potential doubling time (Tpot). These parameters were determined using in vivo labelling with bromodeoxyuridine, flow cytometry and histological preparation. Samples were obtained and evaluated from 72 dogs and 20 cats, presenting as patients in our clinic. Within the groups of epithelial and mesenchymal tumours from dogs and cats, the kinetic parameters LI, RM and MI were compared with Tpot. Significant correlations were observed for the comparison Tpot and LI. No correlation was found between Tpot and RM.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Chronic pain: osteoarthritis and cancer.

Osteoarthritis and cancer pain are two types of chronic pain commonly seen in small animal practice. The management of osteoarthritic pain consists of both pharmacologic therapy and nonpharmacologic strategies, including exercise control, dietary management and surgical therapy. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are commonly used, although there is still controversy about their effect on the underlying pathologic processes of osteoarthritis. Despite a lack of well-designed clinical trials, chondroprotective drugs and neutraceuticals have gained popularity. Cancer pain can result from direct tumor invasion, paraneoplastic syndromes or diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Treatment of cancer pain consists of definitive or palliative therapy and management of therapy induced pain. Analgesic therapy should be based on the World Health Organization's three step analgesic ladder for the administration of analgesia to cancer patients.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Efficacy of, and toxicoses associated with, oral idarubicin administration in cats with neoplasia.

Idarubicin, a new synthetic anthracycline analogue, was administered orally to 34 cats with spontaneous tumors. The maximum tolerated dosage was determined to be 2 mg/cat/d given for 3 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Anorexia and leukopenia were found to be dose limiting in cats receiving the drug at a higher dosage. The most common toxicoses seen at the maximum tolerated dosage were leukopenia, anorexia, and vomiting; however, development of toxicoses was not found to be associated with sex, FeLV test result, tumor type, dosage, age, or weight. Idarubicin (2 mg/cat/d for 3 days, q 3 wks) was used to treat 18 cats with lymphoma in which complete remission had been achieved by administration of other chemotherapeutic agents. Median remission duration for these cats was comparable to that reported for cats treated with other protocols. We concluded that orally administered idarubicin would be useful in the treatment of cats with lymphoma.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1995

Perioperative management of paraneoplastic syndromes.

This discussion of paraneoplasia is by no means exhaustive, but it does represent the more common conditions seen in the surgical oncology patient. A thorough understanding of biologic behavior of different tumor types allows the surgeon to recognize cases in which special attention is needed for the management of paraneoplastic syndromes. In this way, problems are averted, minimizing risk to the patient and increasing the likelihood of a successful surgical outcome.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Evaluation of mitoxantrone for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs.

Mitoxantrone was administered to 74 dogs with lymphoma at a dosage of 5.0 mg/m2 of body surface, IV, every 3 weeks. Thirty-four dogs had failed to respond to prior treatment with chemotherapeutic agents, which included doxorubicin (33 dogs). The remaining 40 dogs had not received prior treatment. Complete remission was determined in 19 of 74 dogs (26%), 10 of which had not received prior treatment. The median duration of remission for these 10 dogs was 94 days (range, 49 to 440 days, with 2 dogs still alive at 370 and 440 days, respectively). Nine dogs that had received prior treatment had complete remission that lasted for a median of 126 days (range, 42 to 792 days, with 1 dog still alive at 792 days). The combined remission rate (complete remission plus partial remission) was 41%. Toxicosis was minimal, developing in only 9 dogs and requiring hospitalization of 2 dogs. We concluded that the complete remission rate ascertained when mitoxantrone was the only treatment administered was low, compared with treatments that involved other chemotherapeutic agents; however, the combined remission rate of 41% indicated that mitoxantrone may be beneficial in the treatment of lymphoma in dogs.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiation therapy and surgery for fibrosarcoma in 33 cats.

Thirty-three cats with histologically confirmed fibrosarcomas were treated with radiation therapy followed by surgery. The median (95% confidence interval) disease free interval and overall survival were 398 (261,924) and 600 (lower limit 515) days, respectively. There were 19 treatment failures; 11 cats had only local recurrence, 4 cats developed metastatic disease, 3 cats had local recurrence followed by metastasis, and 1 cat developed simultaneous local and distant disease. Twelve cats are alive and disease free. Two cats died without evidence of treatment failure. The presence of tumor cells at the margin of resected tissue after radiation was the only variable which influenced treatment success. The median (95% confidence interval) disease free interval in 5 cats with tumor cells at the margin of the resected specimen was 112 (94,150) days versus 700 (lower limit 328) days for 26 cats with negative tumor margins, p < 0.0001. We did not identify a relationship between tumor volume, number of prior tumor excisions, concomitant use of chemotherapy or various descriptors of the radiation therapy technique and disease free interval.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytosine arabinoside as a single agent for the induction of remission in canine lymphoma.

Cytosine arabinoside (AraC) was administered as a continuous IV infusion to 15 dogs with malignant lymphoma at a dose of 300 mg/m2/d for 2 consecutive days. Dogs were re-examined 7 d after treatment for response to therapy and for hematologic toxicity. Regardless of response, all dogs were started on combination chemotherapy at this time. Other toxicities were reported by owners. No dog responded objectively to Ara-C treatment, although 1 dog with circulating lymphoblasts had partial regression of lymphadenopathy but persistent blastemia. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 200,000/microL) 7 days posttreatment was the most commonly encountered hematologic toxicity, occurring in 10 of 14 dogs. Three of these 10 dogs were also mildly neutropenic (neutrophil counts of 2000 to 3000 cell/microL). Nonhematologic toxicity occurred in 8 of 15 dogs and was principally gastrointestinal in nature and mild in severity. Cytosine arabinoside at a dose of 300 mg/m2/day was not considered an active drug for the induction of remission in dogs with lymphoma.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seminoma with cutaneous metastases in a dog.

A 10-year-old Great Pyrenees was presented for anorexia and weight loss. On physical examination, the dog was emaciated and showed a large ulcerated lesion on the right lower lip in addition to an enlarged right testicle. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the testicle and surgical biopsy of the lip lesion were performed; the histopathological report was consistent with metastatic seminoma. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach in this unusual metastatic seminoma is presented and compared to the previous literature. A multimodality therapy consisting of surgery and chemotherapy is proposed for the clinical management of metastatic seminoma in dogs.

Animals↗