Pediatric drug research is still substandard, not reaching the same quality level as adult drug research. Despite the efforts made by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency to reduce off-label use in children, the lack of clinical studies involving the pediatric population still stands. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies (PK/PD) taking growth and maturation into account are necessary to rationalize dosing strategies in children. Currently, traditional animal models such as rats, mice, dogs and primates are used to conduct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, however age-related trials are rather uncommon. Moreover, these species have several shortcomings as animal models, such as a different physiology and anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract in dogs or the ethical aspects for the use of primates. In contrast, piglets might be potential biomedical pediatric animal models because of the good resemblance with humans, anatomically, physiologically and biochemically. This review summarizes the comparative anatomy and physiology and postnatal development of piglets and infants, focusing on six major topics, namely growth, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney and integument. Furthermore, the application of piglets as animal model in pediatric PK/PD research is discussed.
Although the omentum remains an enigmatic organ, research during the last decades has revealed its fascinating functions including fat storage, fluid drainage, immune activity, angiogenesis and adhesion. While clinicians both in human and veterinary medicine are continuously exploring new potential omental applications, detailed anatomical data on the canine omentum are currently lacking, and information is often retrieved from human medicine. In this study, the topographic anatomy of the canine greater and lesser omentum is explored in depth. Current nomenclature is challenged, and a more detailed terminology is proposed. Consistent arteries that are contained within folds of the superficial omental wall are documented, described and named, as they can provide the anatomical landmarks that are necessary for unambiguous scientific communication on the canine omentum. In an included dissection video, the conclusions and in situ findings described in this study are demonstrated.
Three neonatal Belgian white and red calves with a thickened and rigid skin, characterized by the presence of scaly plates separated by deep reddened fissures were presented for necropsy.The least affected calf still had a normal hair coat, whilst the other two cases were alopecic and additionally displayed eclabium, ectropion and microtia.Based on these findings, ichthyosis fetalis bovis was diagnosed.Histological examination of skin samples obtained after euthanasia revealed an exuberant orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum.In human harlequin ichthyosis, a disorder highly resembling bovine ichthyosis fetalis, a defective lipid transport in keratinocytes caused by a single locus autosomal recessive gene defect has recently been identified as the cause of the disorder.Pedigree information of the calves combined with additional information of three other calves of the same breed allowed the identification of 3 disease carrying bulls and suggests an autosomal recessive inheritance of bovine ichthyosis fetalis.As there is currently no cure for this lethal disease, a proper breeding program is the only option to minimize the incidence of ichthyosis in this specific cattle breed. SAMENVATTINGDrie pasgeboren Oost-Vlaams Witrode kalveren met een gegeneraliseerde huidaandoening gekenmerkt door de aanwezigheid van dikke en stugge hoornplaten, van elkaar gescheiden door diepe roodgekleurde kloven, werden aangeboden voor lijkschouwing.Het minst erg aangetaste kalf had nog een normaal haarkleed, terwijl de beide andere kalveren bijna haarloos waren en verder eveneens eclabium, ectropion en microtia vertoonden.Voortgaande op deze bevindingen werd de diagnose van ichthyosis fetalis bovis gesteld.Het histologische aspect van de huidstalen verkregen na euthanasie, was dat van een buitensporige orthokeratotische hyperkeratose van het stratum corneum.Recentelijk werd aangetoond dat bij harlekijn ichthyosis, een menselijke variant van de ziekte die sterke gelijkenissen vertoont met ichthyosis fetalis bij het rund, een monofactoriële autosomaal recessieve genmutatie de oorzaak is van deze aandoening door een verstoring van het vettransport ter hoogte van de keratinocyten teweeg te brengen.De stamboekgegevens van deze kalveren werden aangevuld met stamboekgegevens van drie andere kalveren van hetzelfde ras met dezelfde aandoening.De gezamenlijke gegevens suggereren eveneens een autosomaal recessieve overerving van ichthyosis fetalis bovis en resulteerden bovendien in de identificatie van drie Oost-Vlaamse dekstieren die drager zijn van de afwijking.Aangezien voor deze letale aandoening momenteel geen enkele remedie voorhanden is, kan de incidentie van ichthyosis binnen dit ras enkel mits een doordacht fokbeleid tot een minimum herleid worden.
The age-related degree of ossification of the sternum and the long leg bones (femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus) of chickens was determined both macroscopically and radiographically in ten broilers ranging from 7 to 14 weeks in age, and in four laying hens of different ages and breeds. The caudal half of the sternal crest was still cartilaginous in 14-week-old broilers. This relatively slow ossification rate of the sternum interfered with accurate age determination. The length of the long bones of the shank varied with age but was also breed dependent. In contrast, the diaphyseal diameter of the long leg bones and the thickness of the articular cartilage covering the femoral head, femoral condyles and proximal tibiotarsal surface varied little in 7 to 14-week-old broilers. The thickness of the femoral and proximal tibiotarsal articular cartilage was more than 3 mm in broilers and less than 1 mm in the older laying hens. The closure of the growth plates in the tibiotarsus and the tarsometatarsus was the most reliable criterion for age determination in broilers.
A three‐year‐old neutered male whippet was presented with intermittent, exercise‐induced paraparesis. Femoral pulses were bilaterally absent. Neurologic examination was suggestive of a thoracolumbar myelopathy. Blood pressure measurements revealed hypotension in both pelvic limbs, hypertension in the right thoracic limb and it was immeasurable in the left thoracic limb. Echocardiography was within reference limits. A clear vascular pulsation was palpable on the right ventral abdominal wall. Computed tomographic angiography revealed a dissection of the aortic wall between the left subclavian artery and the brachiocephalic trunk with subsequent thrombus formation. A shunt between the right internal thoracic, cranial and caudal epigastric arteries to preserve blood flow to the pelvic limbs was visualized. Necropsy was declined by the owner. This is the first case report describing the formation of a unilateral vascular shunt following a thoracic aortic occlusion, which presented as exercise‐induced paraparesis .
