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Biomedical subjects

Michael M Fry

Publications and source records attributed to Michael M Fry.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of time, initial composition, and stabilizing agents on the results of canine cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is considered highly labile, but not all samples are analyzed immediately. Changes in the composition of CSF could potentially affect diagnostic test results and thus influence decisions about patient management. There has been little scientific inquiry into how variables such as time, initial composition, and storage conditions affect results of standard laboratory analysis of CSF. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of time, protein concentration, and presence or absence of exogenous stabilizing agents on standard CSF analysis results. METHODS: Thirty abnormal CSF samples from 26 dogs were evaluated. Samples were divided into aliquots comprising different treatment groups and stored at 4 degrees C. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC), differential cell count (DCC), and cell morphology were evaluated for all groups; protein concentration was measured for selected groups. Unaltered aliquots were analyzed immediately (T0Hr) and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours (T2Hr-T48Hr); aliquots with added fetal calf serum (FCS) or hydroxyethyl starch (hetastarch) were analyzed at T48Hr. RESULTS: Significant time-dependent changes were observed in DCC in unaltered samples. Mononuclear cells deteriorated more rapidly than did neutrophils. Based on microscopic examination and subjective scoring of cell morphology, cells were consistently more degenerate by T24Hr compared with T0Hr. Samples with protein concentrations > or =50 mg/dL were less susceptible to cell deterioration than those with lower protein concentrations. Adding either FCS or hetastarch improved sample stability. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed analysis of canine CSF by 4-8 hours is unlikely to alter diagnostic interpretation, especially for samples with protein concentrations > or =50 mg/dL. The likelihood of misinterpretation is higher for samples with low cellularity or low protein concentration. We provide specific recommendations for adding FCS or hetastarch to samples that will not be analyzed within 1 hour.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Reticulocyte indices in a canine model of nutritional iron deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Reticulocyte indices, especially reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CH retic), have shown promise as markers of iron deficiency (ID), but there have been no prospective investigations of reticulocyte indices in experimental models of ID. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare reticulocyte indices with conventional hematologic and biochemical indices as markers of ID in dogs. METHODS: Iron deficiency was induced in 7 dogs by feeding an iron-deficient diet, and corrected by restoring dietary iron and by giving iron parenterally. Blood samples were collected at weekly intervals. Results of hematologic and biochemical tests were compared using t-tests and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Comparing mean values on days 0 and 35, by which time hemoglobin concentration decreased to 90% of baseline in all dogs, % Macro retic, % Hypo retic, % Low CH retic, and % High CH retic differed by greater than 3-fold, whereas no conventional hematologic or biochemical indices differed by as much as 2-fold. Comparing conventional hematologic and reticulocyte indices by ROC curve analysis using 4 different biochemical diagnostic criteria of ID, CH retic, % Hypo retic, % Low CH retic, and % High CH retic had higher areas under the curve (AUC) than either MCV conv or MCHC conv according to all 4 criteria, and % Macro retic and MCV retic had higher AUC values according to 3 of 4 criteria (differences were not always statistically significant). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study support the value of reticulocyte indices in the diagnosis and monitoring of ID in dogs. Species similarities in the pathophysiology and hematologic manifestations of ID suggest these findings also may be relevant to ID in people.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed2006

Intracytoplasmic inclusions in circulating leukocytes from an eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) with iridoviral infection.

A free-ranging adult female eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) was presented to the University of Tennessee in October 2003 because of suspected trauma and blindness. Physical examination revealed lethargy, clear ocular and nasal discharges, and white oral and laryngeal plaques. Intracytoplasmic inclusions within heterophils and large mononuclear leukocytes were observed on routine blood smear examination. Postmortem findings included necrosis of epithelial and parenchymal cells with intracytoplasmic inclusions. Ultrastructurally, the leukocyte inclusions consisted of variably electron-dense granular material and viral particles consistent with the Iridoviridae family of viruses. The virus shared 100% sequence identity to a 420-base pair sequence of frog virus 3 (family Iridoviridae, genus Ranavirus) as determined by polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing targeting a portion of the Ranavirus major capsid protein gene.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum', a novel small haemotropic mycoplasma from a dog.

A novel small haemoplasma was detected following cytological examination of blood smears from a splenectomized dog with haemic neoplasia. The 16S rRNA and rnpB genes of the organism were partially sequenced and a phylogenetic tree constructed. The organism was most closely related to the small feline haemoplasma, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (94 % 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence identity; 75 % rnpB) and was only distantly related to Mycoplasma haemocanis (78 % 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence identity; 65 % rnpB). As this organism has not been cultured in vitro, the candidate species name 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' is proposed.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Identification of a novel hemotropic mycoplasma in a splenectomized dog with hemic neoplasia.

A 3-year-old sexually intact male Bull Mastiff underwent splenectomy for splenic thrombosis; prior to and after splenectomy, multiple blood transfusions were administered. Two weeks after the procedure, T-cell lymphoproliferative disease was diagnosed. Treatment with prednisone and chlorambucil was initiated, and 2 weeks later, cytologic examination of a blood smear revealed small (0.3 microm), coccoid basophilic bodies on the surface of approximately 70% of the RBCs. Morphologically, these resembled "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum." A polymerase chain reaction assay was used to amplify a partial 16S rRNA sequence in blood obtained from the dog; the product was sequenced and compared with 16S rRNA gene sequences of other hemotropic mycoplasmas. The sequence was 98% homologous to that of "Candidatus M haemominutum", but only 77% homologous to that of M haemocanis and M haemofelis.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed2004

Molecular cloning and expression of canine hepcidin.

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin is a recently identified acute phase protein with antimicrobial and iron regulatory functions. It has been suggested that hepcidin may be the key mediator of anemia of chronic disease. Our research group is interested in developing a diagnostic assay to measure hepcidin in dogs. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to clone and sequence the canine hepcidin gene and to gather preliminary data about tissue expression of hepcidin in dogs. METHODS: RNA was extracted from fresh canine liver tissue and cDNA was generated and amplified. Standard reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques were used with degenerate primers based on sequence homology between several other species. The amino acid (AA) sequence was compared with known sequences in other species. Tissue expression of canine hepcidin was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The canine hepcidin cDNA sequence encoded a highly conserved protein of 85 AAs with 8 cysteine residues at the C-terminal end. This protein was likely the precursor form (pro-hepcidin) of a smaller secreted peptide. Phylogenetic analysis showed that human hepcidin was more homologous with canine than with rodent hepcidin. In dogs, as in people, hepcidin was expressed most strongly in the liver. Western blotting showed a clear band of approximately 9 kDa, consistent with pro-hepcidin. Weak expression was also detected in canine kidney and lung tissues. CONCLUSION: The results of this study establish the basis for future investigation involving canine hepcidin and suggest that the dog may be a suitable model for studying the role of hepcidin in human health and disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

5-fluorouracil toxicity with severe bone marrow suppression in a dog.

This report describes 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) toxicity in a dog that resulted in severe bone marrow suppression. The dog initially was presented with neurologic and gastrointestinal signs and developed pancytopenia characterized by severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Examination of bone marrow aspirate showed aplasia. The dog also had marked echinocytosis, which has been previously associated with in vitro 5-FU exposure. The patient was given aggressive supportive care and recovered within 25 d of exposure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a case of 5-FU toxicity in a dog to include results of bone marrow examination, as well as the first to describe echinocytosis related to 5-FU toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Abdominal fluid from a dog.

A 2-year-old intact female mixed-breed dog with a 1-month history of lethargy and anorexia was evaluated for abdominal distension and an abdominal mass. The dog's last heat cycle, her third, was 1 month prior to presentation, and no reproductive cycle abnormalities were noted at any time. Hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities were consistent with hemorrhage and inflammation. Ultrasonographic examination confirmed a large midabdominal mass and a moderate amount of abdominal fluid. Cytologically, the fluid showed evidence of pyogranulomatous inflammation, hemorrhage, and mesothelial reactivity, as well as ciliated columnar cells and free cilia that were interpreted as likely of oviductal origin. The mass was removed surgically, and the histopathologic interpretation was oviductal hamartoma with marked stroma formation and acute hemorrhage. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of oviductal hamartoma in any species and the first reported case detailing the finding of ciliated columnar epithelial cells in the abdominal fluid of a dog. Ciliated columnar epithelial cells in abdominal fluid should be considered indicative of a likely underlying oviductal lesion.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Histoplasmosis infection in two cats from California.

Systemic mycotic infections are typically localized to specific geographic regions of the country, because the organisms involved have certain environmental requirements for growth. Suspicion of infection relies on travel to or residence in recognized endemic regions. This report describes infection with histoplasmosis in two indoor cats from central California, an area not considered to be endemic for the disease. Systemic mycotic infections should be considered as differential diagnoses in any cat with compatible clinical signs, regardless of travel history or residence, especially if the cat is presented within a recognized endemic region.

Animals↗