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Experimental Vaccine Increases Survival In Canine Lymphoma A study performed by University of Pennsylvania researchers demonstrated the efficacy of an experimental vaccine in increasing survival time for dogs with spontaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The vaccine is similar to another immune cell-based vaccine that uses genetically engineered dendritic cells to stimulate immune responses against cancer. Because dendritic cells are arduous to manufacture, the Penn researchers used B-cells, which can be grown from a small blood sample. The researchers vaccinated dogs in clinical remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after chemotherapy and tracked them over several years. Though the vaccine did not stave off relapse, it increased survival times when the relapsed dogs were treated with chemotherapy. "The results with these dogs indicate that our immunotherapy and rescue chemotherapy appear to act synergistically to prevent a second relapse-a phenomenon that has been previously recognized in human patients treated with other types of immunotherapy," said Nicola Mason, bVetMed, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine. Vaccinated dogs and unvaccinated dogs relapsed at the same time, but 40 percent of the vaccinated dogs that relapsed experienced long term survival after a second round of chemotherapy compared to only 7 percent among control dogs. Also, when the vaccinated long-term survivors eventually died, they showed not evidence of lymphoma on full necropsy. Work is now under way to streamline B-cell vaccine generation and initiate further clinical trials aimed at optimizing the therapy. "These dogs received three doses of vaccine, three weeks apart," Dr. Mason said. "If we kept boosting the immune system in this way by vaccination, perhaps the dogs would not relapse in the first place." Reference DVM Magazine 2011
Vaccine Could Help Control Feral Cat Population A study performed by University of Florida researchers could aid in the management of feral cat populations. The researchers found that a single dose of the immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon controls fertility over multiple years in adult female cats. "We're hoping this research will lead to a nonlethal method of control for feral cat populations that is less expensive, labor intensive and invasive than current methods, such as surgical sterilization," said Julie Levy, DVM, Ph.D., lead reasearcher and director of the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at UF. The non-profit veterinary research organization Morris Animal Foundation funded the five-year study, which was published online in August in the scientific journal Theriogenology. The researchers administered single dose vaccinations to 15 female cats and placebos to an additional five cats. The cats were then allowed access to a breeding male cat. All five placebo females became pregnant within seven to 28 days. Among the cats treated with GonaCon, 93 percent remained infertile for the first year, 73 percent remained infertile in year two, 53 percent n year three, 40 percent in year four, and 27 percent in year five. Levy said researchers expected the decrease in the vaccine's efficacy as the cats' antibodies to the vaccine decreased. "Although a permanent sterilant would be ideal, a long-acting contraceptive could be an effective tool for managing feral cat populations, expecially where surgery is unavailable or impractical," said Joyce Briggs, president of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs, an advocacy group for non surgical birth control methods in animals. Researchers at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service National Wildlife Research Center developed Gona-Con, and teh UF researchers do not have any licensing agreements with the USDA or any commercial interests in the vaccine. The vaccine is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use on female white-tailed deer, and it has been effective with other mammal species including feral horses, bison, elk, praire dogs and ground squirrels. The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies that bind to GnRH, a hormone that signals the production of sex hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. By binding to GnRH, the antibodies reduce the animal's ability to stimulate the release of these sex hormones. All sexual activity is inhibited, and the animals remain in a non-reproductive state as long as a sufficient level of antibody activity is present. Reference: DVM Magazine 2011
Study concludes: Dogs can sniff out lung cancer. National Report- There is a certain scent associated with lung cancer. That's the conclusion reached by researchers who engaged dogs to help detect cancer in people. According to a recent scientific paper published in the Aug 18, 2011 issue of European Respiratory Journal, "It must be assumed, that a robust and specific volatile organic compound (VOC or pattern) is present in the breath of patients with lung cancer." Tumors typically generate VOCs, which dogs are able to smell. In fact, in this study, dogs had a 71 percent success rate at accurately detecting cancer. The study, conducted from December 2009 to April 2010, included two German Shepherds, an Australian Shepherd and a Labrador Retriever. Ultimately, there were 220 patients in one of three groups: those in good health (110 people), those with lung cancer (60) and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (50). People with other cancers (suspected or confirmed) were excluded. It is theorized that lung cancer generates different chemicals in the breath than those found in normal breath samples, and the dogs, according to study co-author and lung surgeon Thorsten Walles MD, were able to note the difference early on in the disease. He says the results indicate evidence of a stable marker for lung cancer. And that will help researchers analyze breath samples to build a diagnostic test for those suffering from lung cancer. But there is much work left to be done. Researchers will next need to rule out the possibility that the dogs were picking up smells from other common chemicals in the breath of cancer patients, like certain medications. And they will need to isolate that chemical marker. While the dog's boasted a success rate for detecting cancer 71 percent of the time, they were not usually thrown off by chemicals associated with COPD or smoking, Walles says. But the tube-test screening presented challenges according to Walles. "We had to re-start our dog training because we learned that the dogs were able to memorize breath samples of patients. We had to make sure that each dog was exposed to each breath sample only once during the more than six-month-long training period and testing. Given the large number of samples (>200) and the complex composition of breath samples containing probably more than 3,000 different chemical compounds this was startling," he says. Further research, according to Walles, will likely investigate whether the dogs are able to detect other cancers. In the future, he says his team wants to work with other groups experienced in sensor technologies to advance research in finding a molecular target for lung cancer screening. Source: Stephanie Skernivitz for DVM magazine
Xylitol: A not-so-sweet sweetener Xylitol appears to be everywhere these days. It has become popular as a sugar substitute for human consumption. You can find it in chewing gum, baking products, sugar free candy and weight loss food items. The reason for xylitol's popularity is that it is just as sweet as sucrose but lacks sucrose's caloric content and insulin stimulating effects. Xylitol is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol does not appear to be toxic to humans or cats. This is not the case in dogs where it appears to excessively stimulate insulin release. Severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can develop as early as 30 minutes after ingestion or as late as 12 hours later, potentially leading to depression and seizures. Recent reports have also indicated that xylitol can cause liver necrosis in dogs. Hypoglycemia is not a prerequisite for liver damage to occur. Signs of liver failure could include loss of appetite, bleeding and gastrointestinal upset. Most dogs will demonstrate signs within 72 hours of xylitol ingestion. When in doubt about the quantity of xylitol ingested, aggressive treatment should be considered a precaution. Treatment will depend on the patients clinical signs and lab results. Prolonged treatment will be required in patients with severe liver damage. The prognosis would be at best guarded in these patients. If your dog has ingested a food or product containing xylitol, contact our office or Animal Poison Control immediately. ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 Pet Poison Helpline 1800-213-6680 Reference: Dr. Benjamin Davidson-NYC Veterinary Specialists
'60 Minutes' Highlights Company's Global AnticounterfeitingEfforts
John Clark, Vice President, Pfizer Global Security (l.), and
physician "60 Minutes" last night broadcast a segment on Pfizer's global efforts to combat counterfeit medicines. In the
piece, physician and broadcast journalist Dr. Sanjay Gupta, interviews
Pfizer's John Clark, Vice President, Global Security, and examines the
global counterfeit drug trade and the difficulties international authorities
face in keeping dangerous and often deadly fraudulent products out of the
world's medicine supply. The story on the popular U.S. television news show was
the result of a nine-month investigation. After Global Security identified a counterfeit drug factory in Lima, Peru, Gupta and "60 Minutes" cameras accompanied Peruvian police on a raid of the facility, which was producing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit drugs using realistic-looking labels. In discussing counterfeit manufacturers, Clark added, "If there are no consequences for those doing this [making and selling counterfeit medicines], then there's no disincentive not to just go back and do it again once you're caught." Click here to view the "60 Minutes"
segment. (RT: 13:12) Reference - 60 Minutes segment - March 14, 2011
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