M. De Majo

Effect of Aminoguanidine in Ligature-induced Periodontitis in Rats

The role of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species is well-demonstrated in inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the effect of aminoguanidine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, in a rat model of periodontitis. We induced periodontitis in rats by placing a piece of 2/0 braided silk around the lower left 1st molar. At day 8, the gingivomucosal tissue encircling the mandibular 1st molar was removed for biochemical and histological analysis. Ligation significantly increased inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and expression, and damaged tissue revealed increased neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, and positive staining for nitrotyrosine formation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activation. Ligation significantly increased Evans blue extravasation in gingivomucosal tissue and alveolar bone destruction. Aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg i.p., daily for 8 days) treatment significantly reduced all these inflammatory parameters, indicating that it protects against the tissue damage associated with periodontitis by reducing nitric oxide production and oxidative stress.

Rosiglitazone Reduces the Evolution of Experimental Periodontitis in the Rat

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) receptor appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and inflammation. Recent evidence also suggests that rosiglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist, reduces acute and chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that rosiglitazone would attenuate periodontal inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of rosiglitazone in a rat model of ligature-induced periodontitis. At day 8, ligation significantly induced an increase in neutrophil infiltration, as well as of gingivomucosal tissue expression of iNOS, nitrotyrosine formation, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activation. Ligation significantly increased Evans blue extravasation in gingivomucosal tissue and alveolar bone destruction. Intraperitoneal injection of rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg 10% DMSO daily for 8 days) significantly decreased all of the parameters of inflammation, as described above. Analysis of these data demonstrated that rosiglitazone exerted an anti-inflammatory role during experimental periodontitis, and was able to ameliorate the tissue damage associated with ligature-induced periodontitis.

Canine leishmaniasis in the newborn puppy.

M. Masucci1, M. De Majo1, R.B. Contarino2, G. Borruto1, F. Vitale3 and M.G. Pennisi1 1Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina; 2DVM, Catania; 3Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Sicily, via Rocco Diccillo, Palermo, Italy Correspondence: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy E-mail: marisa.masucci@unime.it

Cytokine mRNA quantification in gastro-intestinal biopsies of dogs with idiopathic chronic enteropathies by Real Time RT-PCR: preliminary results.

Cytokine mRNA quantification in gastro-intestinal biopsies of dogs with idiopathic chronic enteropathies by Real Time RT-PCR: preliminary results M. De Majo & M. Pugliese & S. Galia & G. Mazzullo & E. La Camera & M. T. Fera # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomiopathy Associated to Mitral Valve Dysplasia in the Dalmatian Dog: Two Cases

Abbreviations: FS, fractional shortening; HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; IVSd, diastolic intraventricular seprum; IVSs, systolic intraventricular septum; LVDd, diastolic left ventricular diameter; LVDs, systolic left ventricular diameter; LVOT, left ventricular outflow tract; LVWd, diastolic left ventricular wall; LVWs, systolic left ventricular wall; SAM, systolic anterior motion; SAS, subaortic stenosis

Clinical efficacy of two different drug combinations for the treatment of canine leishmaniasis

Clinical efficacy of two different drug combinations for the treatment of canine leishmaniasis M. G. Pennisi & S. Lo Giudice & M. Masucci & M. De Majo & S. Reale & F. Vitale Published online: 6 August 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Doppler evaluation of the ophthalmic vasculature in the beagle: normal values.

D. Britti1, S. Di Pietro2, M. Russo3, A. Pugliese2* and M. De Majo2 1Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of T eramo; 2Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 3DVM *Correspondence: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Sicily, Italy E-mail: antonio.pugliese@unime.it

Ultrasonographic measurements of abdominal lymph nodes in growing puppies

The sonographic appearance of the normal abdominal lymph nodes in adult dogs has been well described, but the data in puppies are scarce and of poor quality. The aim of the current study was to evaluate any differences in abdominal lymph node sonographic measurements in puppies of various sizes and to determine whether any differences were correlated with growth and weight gain during the first 10 weeks of life. By an approach based on prospective and serial measurements, length, width and thickness of jejunal, medial iliac and hypogastric nodes were obtained in twenty-one healthy puppies of various sizes, at six (T0), eight (T1) and ten (T2) weeks of age. The relationship between body weight and length, width and thickness of lymph nodes was evaluated using a Pearson correlation analysis. An ANOVA test was used to compare the measurements at different ages. Jejunal and iliac lymph nodes were the largest in large breed dogs. In large-sized puppies only the length of the jejunal lymph nodes correlated positively with width and body weight. Length of medial iliac lymph nodes correlated positively with width and body weight in all three sizes. None of the measurements of hypogastric lymph nodes were related to body weight. In large-sized puppies jejunal and iliac lymph nodes increased in length and width with age; in medium-sized puppies only iliac lymph nodes increased; in small-sized puppies jejunal and iliac lymph nodes significantly decreased in length and thickness. In conclusion, the lymph node sizes in young animals are directly related to body weight and do not decrease with growth during the first 10 weeks of life, except in small-sized puppies.

Impact of Physical Exercise on Release of Cardiac Troponins: Evaluation in Healthy and Cardiopathic Dogs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of physical exercise on the release of cardiac troponins (cTn). Sixteen dogs were evaluated: 8 clinically healthy (group A) and 8 (group B) with valve disease in the asymptomatic stage (class I, New York Heart Association). All dogs, after a complete cardiac evaluation, were forced to exercise on a motorized treadmill at three different speeds: 1.8 km/h (low speed), 3.6 km/h (medium speed), and 5.4 km/h (high speed) lasting 6 min. Each test was performed on different days. Plasma samples were refrigerated at −20°. cTnI and cTnT were measured just before the running test, after a recovery period of 20 min, and then 2, 4, and 6 h later. cTnI concentrations increased in group A only at the highest speed, while cTnT did not change. These results suggest that exercise may induce myocardial suffering.

Ultrasonographic Assessment of Abdominal Lymph Nodes in Normal Puppies: Preliminary Results

Data on the ultrasonographic size of normal abdominal lymph nodes in the puppy are lacking. Length, thickness, and width were measured on serial evaluation of 12 puppies every 15 days from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Some measurements showed no or negative correlation with increasing body weight and were comparable to published data for adult dogs with very large ranges of age and body weight. Higher immunological activity in young dogs may be a possible explanation for these results.