Jong-Hyun Moon

Brown alga Ecklonia cava attenuates type 1 diabetes by activating AMPK and Akt signaling pathways.

The antidiabetic therapeutic effect of Ecklonia cava, a brown alga, was investigated using streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus rats and C2C12 myoblasts. The methanol extract of E. cava (ECM), having a strong radical scavenging activity, significantly reduced plasma glucose level and increased insulin concentration in type 1 diabetes mellitus rats. Moreover, the elevation of plasma ALT in diabetic rats was dramatically restored near to normal range by the treatment of ECM, whereas AST level was not meaningfully altered in any group throughout the experiment. The characteristic indications of diabetes, such as polyphagia and polydipsia, were greatly improved by ECM treatment as well. The mechanism of action of ECM appears to be, at least partially, mediated by the activation of both AMP-activated protein kinase/ACC and PI-3 kinase/Akt signal pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that E. cava has both in vivo and in vitro antidiabetic effects.

Canine model of ischemic stroke with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion: clinical features, magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

The purpose of this study was to identify time-related changes in clinical, MRI, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings associated with ischemic stroke in dogs. Additionally, the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and tissue levels of interleukin (IL)-6 with clinical prognosis was assessed. Ischemic stroke was induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in nine healthy experimental dogs. The dogs were divided into three groups according to survival time and duration of the experimental period: group A (survived only 1 day), group B (1-week experimental period), and group C (2-week experimental period). Neurologic status was evaluated daily. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed according to a predetermined schedule. Concentration of IL-6 in CSF was measured serially after ischemic stroke. Postmortem examination was performed for all experimental dogs. During histopathological examination, variable degrees of cavitation and necrosis due to neuronal cytopathic effects, such as pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasmic shrinkage, were observed on the affected side of the cerebral cortex in all dogs. Immunohistochemistry specific for IL-6 showed increased expression in the ischemic lesions. CSF IL-6 concentrations and ischemic lesion volumes 1 day after ischemic stroke were significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C.

Imatinib Mesylate plus Hydroxyurea Chemotherapy for Cerebellar Meningioma in a Belgian Malinois Dog

ABSTRACT An 8-year-old intact male Belgian Malinois, weighing 37.2 kg, was referred for evaluation due to right side facial paresis, ataxia and a 2-month history of decreased cognitive ability. Physical and neurological examinations revealed mild depression, left-sided head tilt, right-sided facial paresis and ataxia. A well-demarcated, broad-based cerebellar mass and hyperostosis were found on CT imaging of the brain. Based on these CT findings, a cerebellar meningioma was strongly suspected. Hydroxyurea and prednisolone were administered; after 4 weeks, there was reduction in mass size as compared to initial CT results. However, the mass size was found to have grown 6 weeks after hydroxyurea treatment. We then prescribed a combination of imatinib mesylate and hydroxyurea. Two weeks following combination treatment, the mass size had reduced significantly. The mass continuously decreased in size until the patient died during anesthesia. Cerebellar transitional meningioma was confirmed by histopathologic examination. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first reported case of imatinib mesylate plus hydroxyurea therapy for the treatment of meningioma in veterinary medicine.

A Case of Gastric Adenocarcinoma in a Shih-tzu Dog; Successful Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer

ABSTRACT A 9-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu dog was referred to us, because of chronic vomiting. The patient’s hematological, radiographic, ultrasonographic, endoscopic and histological examinations were evaluated for diagnosis. Hematologic analysis indicated moderate anemia and azotemia. Based on the imaging studies, an oval-shaped mass was identified in the gastric pylorus area. A proliferative mass was found on endoscopic examination, and we performed biopsy using grasping forceps. The histopathological findings of the biopsy specimens indicated hypertrophic gastritis, and Y-U pyloroplasty was performed. However, histopathological examination of the surgically resected mass revealed tubular adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Then, carboplatin chemotherapy was performed 4 times for 13 weeks. Clinical signs, such as vomiting, were resolved gradually after surgery and chemotherapy, and the patient’s condition was managed favorably until recently (30 months after surgery). This case report describes clinical features, imaging studies, endoscopic characteristics and histopathological and immunohistochemical features of gastric tubular adenocarcinoma as early gastric cancer in a dog.

A study of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in dogs as a disease model for canine necrotizing encephalitis

In the present study, the use of dogs with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a disease model for necrotizing encephalitis (NE) was assessed. Twelve healthy dogs were included in this study. Canine forebrain tissues (8 g), including white and grey matter, were homogenized with 4 mL of phosphate-buffered saline for 5 min in an ice bath. The suspension was emulsified with the same volume of Freunds complete adjuvant containing 1 mg/mL of killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Under sedation, each dog was injected subcutaneously with canine brain homogenate at four sites: two in the inguinal and two in the axillary regions. A second injection (booster) was administered to all the dogs using the same procedure 7 days after the first injection. Clinical assessment, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analyses, necropsies, and histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed for the dogs with EAE. Out of the 12 animals, seven (58%) developed clinically manifest EAE at various times after immunization. Characteristics of canine EAE models were very similar to canine NE, suggesting that canine EAE can be a disease model for NE in dogs.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of primary adrenal hemangioma in a dog.

An 8-year-old 7.9 kg castrated male Shih-tzu dog was presented to surgery with polyuria-polydipsia, intermittent abdominal pain and dermatological problems. The unilateral enlargement of the right adrenal gland was observed through ultrasound examination and based on this examination a hyperadrenocorticism was suspected. Upon physical examination, regional erythema was observed in the skin. An abdominal CT scan showed a well-defined retroperitoneal mass. Adrenalectomy via a midline abdominal approach was performed as well as optional treatments upon the approval of the owners. The histopathological diagnosis was that of an adrenal hemangioma without evidence of malignancy. Adrenal hemangioma was incidentally found in this dog during histological examination and this finding was an extremely rare case of the primary hemangioma in the adrenal gland.

Unsuccessful Cyclosporine Plus Prednisolone Therapy for Autoimmune Meningoencephalitis in Three Dogs

ABSTRACT A 4-year-old female Maltese (case 1), a 9-year-old castrated male shih tzu (case 2) and 2-year-old female Pomeranian (case 3) presented with neurological signs, such as head tilt, ataxia, circling and paresis. The three cases were tentatively diagnosed as having meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology based on computed tomography scan and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. All patients were managed with cyclosporine plus prednisolone therapy. The survival times of the three patients were 170, 70 and 21 days, respectively. After the cases died, we performed necropsy and histopathological examination for definitive diagnosis. Based on the necropsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, cases 1, 2 and 3 were definitely diagnosed as having necrotizing meningoencephalitis, necrotizing leukoencephalitis and granulomatous meningoencephalitis, respectively. This case report demonstrated the clinical findings, brain CT characteristics and histopathological and immunohistochemical features of NME, NLE and GME in dogs and discussed the reason for the relatively short survival times under cyclosporine plus prednisolone therapy.

Esophageal and Gastric Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal of 19 Dogs (2009-2011)

This medical record of 19 dogs with esophageal and/or gastric foreign bodies (FBs) that underwent endoscopic removal from 2009 to 2011 was retrospectively reviewed. Foreign bodies were successfully removed in 18/19 dogs, and just 1 dog failed to remove FB using endoscopy. Eighteen dogs had a good prognosis without severe complications after FB removal, whereas one dog died on 8 days after endoscopy. Although all dogs of this report were small breeds, most cases have good prognosis after FB removal. According to the present study, esophagogastric FBs induced by varied materials were removed successful by endoscopic and surgical treatment. The digestive system of the dog is structurally and functionally very similar to the human. Thus, we hope that this study could help to develop the canine digestive organ disease model.

A Retrospective Study of 172 Neurological Patients Presented to the Gyeongsang National University Animal Medical Center; From Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2012

The purpose of this study is to merge clinical information from various neurological patients of the Gyeongsang National University Animal Medical Center during the study period (from Jan.2008 to Jan.2012). Total 172 cases of neurological disorders were diagnosed and treated in the study period. Evaluated criteria of this study were breed, age, sex, clinical signs, and diagnosis. Physical examination, neurological examination, complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, radiography, ultrasonography, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed on the basis of individual cases. Among all of 172 dogs, 78 dogs (45.3%) were diagnosed with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE); 38 dogs (22.0%) were intervertebral disk disease (IVDD); 15 dogs (8.7%) were idiopathic epilepsy; 13 dogs (7.5%) were hydrocephalus; 5 dogs (2.9%) were brain tumor; and the remainder was diagnosed with miscellaneous diseases. The canine neurological disease model is very useful to understand human neurological disease because the dog is structurally and functionally similar to the human and have same natural neurological diseases as human based on this study. Thus, we hope that this study could help to develop the canine neurological disease model.

Response Rates and Survival Times for Dogs with Lymphoma Treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemotherapy Protocol

Medical records of 10 dogs with newly diagnosed lymphoma between February 2009 and October 2011 were reviewed in this study. All dogs were treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) chemotherapy protocol. For all dogs, overall median survival time was 277 days (ranged from 9 to 1094 days). The overall response rate of dogs with lymphoma to treat the UWM chemotherapy protocol was 80%; 4 of the 10 (40%) dogs had a complete remission, 4 of the 10 (40%) dogs had a partial remission, and 2 of the 10 (20%) dogs had a no response. This study demonstrates that the clinical findings, diagnostic examination results, response to chemotherapy in canine lymphoma cases. The dog is structurally and functionally very similar to the human. Thus, we hope that this study could help to develop the canine hematopoietic tumor model.