ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1529-1480
Current Organisation
Murdoch University
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Publisher: PAGEPress Publications
Date: 18-10-2019
Abstract: The peripheral nervous system communicates specifically with the immune system via local interactions. These interactions include the “hardwiring” of sympathetic arasympathetic (efferent) and sensory nerves (afferent) to primary (e.g., thymus and bone marrow) and secondary (e.g., lymph node, spleen, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoid tissue/organs. To gain a better understanding of this bidirectional interaction/crosstalk between the two systems, we have investigated the distribution of nerve fibres and PNS-immune cell associations in situ in the mouse lymph node by using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy/ three-dimensional reconstruction. Our results demonstrate i) the presence of extensive nerve fibres in all compartments (including B cell follicles) in the mouse lymph node ii) close contacts/associations of nerve fibres with blood vessels (including high endothelial venules) and lymphatic vessels/sinuses iii) close contacts/associations of nerve fibres with various subsets of dendritic cells (e.g., B220+CD11c+, CD4+CD11c+, CD8a+CD11c+, and Mac1+CD11c+), Mac1+ macrophages, and B/T lymphocytes. Our novel findings concerning the innervation and nerve-immune cell interactions inside the mouse lymph node should greatly facilitate our understanding of the effects that the peripheral nervous system has on cellular- and humoral-mediated immune responses or vice versa in health and disease.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JVIM.16487
Abstract: Prestorage leukoreduction of red blood cell (RBC) bags prevents accumulation of pro‐inflammatory mediators and experimentally attenuates post‐transfusion inflammation in healthy dogs. However, the effect of leukoreduction on post‐transfusion inflammation in critically ill dogs is unclear. Dogs transfused with leukoreduced (LR) RBC will have lower concentrations of leukocytes, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) within 24 hours of post‐transfusion compared to dogs transfused with nonleukoreduced (NLR) RBC. Sixty‐one RBC‐transfused dogs (LR = 34, NLR = 27). Randomized, blinded, controlled preliminary clinical trial. Blood bag processing was randomized to create identically appearing LR and NLR bags. Group allocation occurred with transfusion of the oldest compatible RBC bag. Blood s les were collected pretransfusion and at 8 and 24 hours post‐transfusion for leukocyte count, IL‐6, IL‐8, MCP‐1, and CRP. Data were analyzed on an intention‐to‐treat basis using linear mixed effects models. Significance was set at P .05. No significant differences were found between groups in concentrations of leukocytes ( P = .93), IL‐6 ( P = .99), IL‐8 ( P = .75), MCP‐1 ( P = .69), or CRP ( P = .18) over time. Eleven LR dogs (32%) and 4 NLR dogs (15%) were euthanized in the hospital ( P = .14). No natural deaths occurred. No differences in inflammation biomarker concentrations were detected over time between dogs transfused with LR or NLR RBC, but heterogeneity likely h ered the ability to detect a difference with this s le size. The novel randomization and enrollment protocol was successfully implemented across 2 participating institutions and will be easily scaled up for a future multicenter clinical trial.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-12-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-55009-W
Abstract: Hepcidins are an evolutionarily conserved class of liver-expressed peptide, from which the twenty-five amino acid hormone, hepcidin-25 (herein hepcidin), has gained significant notoriety as the master regulator of iron homeostasis in mammals. Hepcidin maintains iron homeostasis by controlling the dietary absorption of iron and the mechanisms of recycling cellular iron stores. With the physiological significance of this hormone well established, it has emerged as an informative biomarker. In a comparison of the genome, transcriptome and peptidome of Canis lupis familiaris , we reveal the size of the hepcidin peptide in the canine, previous reports of which were contradictory to the evolutionary conservation predicted by genome annotation. Here, measurement of the peptide by mass spectrometry, following isolation from greyhound blood serum, revealed an amino acid sequence and peptide mass, differing from all accounts to date, yet demonstrating perfect sequence identity to that of the greater Canidae lineage of the Carnivora. Importantly, in the greyhound, the measured hepcidin peptide showed a similar temporal pattern to total serum iron, consistent with our understanding of hepcidin regulating iron homeostasis, in agreement with human diagnostics, and providing added translational evidence of the measured peptide being the iron regulatory hormone of the Canidae.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-02-2023
Abstract: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is associated with recipient inflammation and infection, which may be triggered by excessive circulating iron. Iron chelation following transfusion may reduce these risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of deferoxamine on circulating iron and inflammation biomarkers over time and in vitro growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) following RBC transfusion in dogs with atraumatic hemorrhage. Anesthetized dogs were subject to atraumatic hemorrhage and transfusion of RBCs, then randomized to receive either deferoxamine or saline placebo of equivalent volume (n = 10 per group) in a blinded fashion. Blood was s led before hemorrhage and then 2, 4, and 6 h later. Following hemorrhage and RBC transfusion, free iron increased in all dogs over time (both p 0.001). Inflammation biomarkers interleukin-6 (IL6), CXC motif chemokine-8 (CXCL8), interleukin-10 (IL10), and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) increased in all dogs over time (all p 0.001). Logarithmic growth of E. coli clones within blood collected 6 h post-transfusion was not different between groups. Only total iron-binding capacity was different between groups over time, being significantly increased in the deferoxamine group at 2 and 4 h post-transfusion (both p 0.001). In summary, while free iron and inflammation biomarkers increased post-RBC transfusion, deferoxamine administration did not impact circulating free iron, inflammation biomarkers, or in vitro growth of E. coli when compared with placebo.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-01-2021
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.13049
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-05-2018
DOI: 10.1007/S10753-018-0797-4
Abstract: Shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx precedes leukocyte activation and adherence in acute inflammation. Rapid administration of crystalloid or colloid fluids for treating hemorrhagic shock may cause endothelial glycocalyx shedding, thereby increasing inflammation. This study aimed to compare the effect of different fluid treatments in a canine shock model on glycocalyx biomarker, hyaluronan, and inflammatory biomarkers. Greyhound dogs under general anesthesia subject to hemorrhage for 60 min were given 20 mL kg
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-02-2019
DOI: 10.1111/VEC.12814
Abstract: To investigate the association between synthetic colloids and biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs with hemorrhagic shock. Experimental interventional study. University. Twenty-four healthy ex-racing Greyhounds. Anesthetized Greyhounds subjected to hemorrhage for 60 min were resuscitated with 20 mL/kg of fresh whole blood (FWB), 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4, 4% succinylated gelatin (GELO), or 80 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid (CRYST) over 20 min (n = 6 per treatment). Concentrations of biomarkers of AKI were measured at baseline, end of hemorrhage, and at 40 (T60), 100 (T120), and 160 (T180) min after fluid bolus. Biomarkers included neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in urine and serum (uNGAL sNGAL), and urine cystatin C (uCYSC), kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM), clusterin (uCLUST), osteopontin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (uMCP), interleukin-6, interleukin-8, protein (uPROT), hyaluronan, and F In dogs treated with GELO, uNGAL fold-change was markedly greater compared with all other groups at T60, T120, and T180 (all P<0.001), and uCYSC was greater at T60 compared with CRYST (P<0.001), and at T120 and T180 compared with all other groups (all P<0.001). Smaller, albeit significant, between-group differences in uKIM, uCLUST, uMCP, and urine protein concentration were observed across the FWB, GELO, and HES groups, compared with CRYST. The GELO group more frequently had marked tubular microvesiculation than the other groups (P = 0.015) although tubular injury scores were comparable. In dogs with hemorrhagic shock, GELO was associated with greater magnitude increases in urine biomarkers of AKI and more frequent marked tubular microvesiculation, compared with FWB, CRYST, and HES.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.12549
Abstract: We hypothesised that concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) would increase during storage in the third sequential unit (U3) of canine packed red blood cells (PRBC) collected from terminal donors in haemorrhagic shock. We further hypothesised that leucoreduction would prevent cytokine accumulation in U3 and that cytokine concentrations in U3 would be higher than in the first units (U1) collected from the same dogs. U1 and U3 were each collected from 12 anaesthetised healthy Greyhounds. Removal of leucocytes from half of each PRBC unit produced one leucoreduced (LR) and one non-leucoreduced (NLR) unit. Canine IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations were measured in s les collected from the units during storage on days 0, 10, 20, 30 and 37. The IL-8 concentration in U3 NLR units was significantly higher on days 10, 20, 30 and 37 than on day 0 and was significantly higher than in the LR units at all time points. The IL-1β concentration in U3 did not change over time, or between LR and NLR units. TNF-α was not detected in any unit. There were no significant differences in IL-8 or IL-1β concentrations between U3 and U1 at any time point however, some NLR U3 units had markedly elevated IL-8 concentrations at day 37 (2060-20,682 pg/mL) compared with NLR U1 units (3369-5280 pg/mL). NLR U3 units collected from dogs in haemorrhagic shock showed a significant increase in IL-8 concentrations during storage. Leucoreduction was effective at preventing the accumulation of IL-8. There was no difference detected between U3 and U1.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.12548
Abstract: Two dogs with an oesophageal foreign body (FB) were diagnosed with secondary pyothorax at the time of presentation. One dog was managed with surgical FB removal, pleural lavage and thoracostomy tube placement. Following surgery, it was admitted to the intensive care unit for oxygen therapy, antimicrobial and analgesic administration, fluid therapy, thoracic drainage and enteral nutrition. The other dog was managed with endoscopic FB removal, thoracostomy tube placement with continuous suction, and similar aftercare in the intensive care unit. Both survived to discharge from hospital. This report details the treatment and survival of two dogs with secondary pyothorax associated with oesophageal FB, with successful management through supportive care, oesophageal rest and treatment of infection.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.1111/VEC.12758
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-11-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-09-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1476-4431.2010.00567.X
Abstract: To compare biochemical parameters, neurologic changes, length of hospital stay, and clinical improvement in 3 groups of cats with diabetic ketosis/diabetic ketoacidosis (DK/DKA) prescribed varied doses of regular insulin as a continuous rate of infusion (CRI). Retrospective study. University teaching hospital. Twenty-nine client-owned cats with DK/DKA prescribed a regular insulin CRI. Cats were grouped as follows: 7 cats each in Group 1 and 2, (prescribed 1.1 and 2.2 U/kg/d, respectively), and 15 cats in Group 3 (prescribed increasing doses as needed). None of the groups received the total prescribed dose of insulin. The mean actual dose administered/kg/d ranged from 0.30 (0.21) to 0.87 (0.32) U/kg/d in Groups 1, 2, and 3. There was no difference in mean minimum blood glucose (BG) per 4 hours or change in BG from baseline per 4 hours between Groups 1 and 2 (P=0.63, 0.50). There was no difference between groups regarding the time required to reach a BG ≤ 13.9 mmol/L (250 mg/dL), serum phosphorus or potassium concentrations relative to baseline values (P=0.53, 0.90), length of time until urine or serum ketones were no longer detected (P=0.73), the animal commenced eating (P=0.24), or length of hospital stay (P=0.63). Four of the cats had declining mentation during hospitalization there were no relationships between osmolality at presentation, either prescribed or administered insulin dose, and mentation changes. Three of the 4 cats with declining mentation survived. Twenty-seven of the 29 cats (93%) survived to discharge. In this study, prescribing the published canine dose (2.2 U/kg/d) of regular insulin to cats with DK/DKA does not appear to increase the frequency of adverse neurologic or biochemical sequelae compared with cats that are prescribed the published cat dose (1.1 U/kg/d). The use of a sliding scale for determination of infusion rates significantly reduces the amount of insulin cats receive in this setting. Determination of whether adverse sequelae would occur more frequently if cats with DK/DKA received the full insulin prescribed doses of 1.1, 2.2, or >2.2 U/kg/d is warranted. Further controlled studies are necessary to determine if higher doses of insulin are associated with beneficial effects on morbidity or mortality.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/VEC.13056
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.VAA.2019.05.007
Abstract: To determine if low molecular weight synthetic colloid fluids administered to dogs interfere with refractometric estimates of total plasma protein (TPPr) and urine osmolality (UOsm). Experimental study. Eighteen healthy Greyhound dogs. Anaesthetized Greyhounds subjected to haemorrhage for 60 minutes were given 80 mL kg For dogs given CRYST and GELO, median TPPr and TPPb decreased in parallel, with a small consistent TPP bias (CRYST range of bias, 0.38-0.67 g dL Administration of HES and GELO to dogs with haemorrhagic shock interferes with refractometric measurements for at least 3 hours after administration.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 08-09-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1476-4431.2011.00688.X
Abstract: To describe the clinical course, treatment, and outcome of a dog with propylene glycol intoxication. An adult castrated male Australian cattle dog presented to an emergency clinic for an acute onset of ataxia and disorientation after roaming a construction site unsupervised. He tested positive for ethylene glycol using a point-of-care test kit. Treatment for ethylene glycol intoxication included intermittent intravenous boluses of 20% ethanol and hemodialysis. Predialysis and postdialysis blood s les were submitted to the toxicology lab to assess for both ethylene and propylene glycol. The patient tested negative for ethylene glycol and positive for propylene glycol at 1100 mg/dL predialysis and 23 mg/dL postdialysis. The dog made a full recovery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of documented propylene glycol intoxication in a dog, as well as the first report to describe hemodialysis as treatment for propylene glycol intoxication in a dog.
Publisher: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Date: 11-2015
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To measure changes in interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations in stored canine packed RBCs (PRBCs) over time and assess the effect of leukoreduction on these cytokine concentrations. ANIMALS 12 anesthetized healthy Greyhounds. PROCEDURES 1 unit of whole blood from each dog was processed into PRBCs. Half of each PRBCs unit was passed through a leukoreduction filter to produce a leukoreduced unit, and the remaining blood was kept as a nonleukoreduced unit. All units had a CBC performed on day 0 (day of collection) and were stored at 2° to 6°C. S les were collected from leukoreduced and nonleukoreduced units on days 0, 10, 20, 30, and 37 and centrifuged the supernatant was stored at −80°C until analysis. Canine TNF-α and IL-8 concentrations were assessed with a multiplexed genomic and proteomic biomarker analyzer, and canine IL-1β concentration was measured by ELISA. RESULTS Leukocyte counts were decreased by ≥ 99.9% in all leukoreduced units. Median TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations were not significantly different between leukoreduced and nonleukoreduced units and did not change significantly during storage median IL-8 concentration was significantly higher in nonleukoreduced versus leukoreduced units on all days, and was greater at all time points after ≥ 10 days of storage than on day 0. Median IL-8 concentration in leukoreduced units did not increase during storage. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that leukoreduction was effective for the removal of leukocytes from canine PRBCs and prevented significant increases in IL-8 concentration during storage. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether leukoreduction reduces cytokine-associated complications of transfusion.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 06-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.JFMS.2006.01.001
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether cats have a colostral and milk phase of lactation differentiated by concentrations of immunoglobulins, and whether colostrum ingestion by newborn kittens is essential for optimal transfer of passive immunity. Milk from specific pathogen-free queens was analyzed for IgG and IgA concentrations from parturition through 6 weeks of lactation. Serum IgG and IgA concentrations from birth through 8 weeks of age were determined for colostrum-fed kittens, colostrum-deprived kittens that were fed a milk replacer, and colostrum-deprived kittens that were fostered onto queens in the milk phase of lactation. The total IgG and IgA concentrations in milk were significantly higher on the day of parturition than on day 7 of lactation, indicating cats do have a colostral phase of lactation. The predominant immunoglobulin in both colostrum and milk was IgG. The serum IgG concentrations in colostrum-deprived kittens fostered on queens in the milk phase of lactation were similar to colostrum-deprived kittens fed a milk replacer, and the concentrations were significantly lower than in colostrum-fed kittens for the first 4 weeks of life. The serum IgA concentrations in both colostrum-deprived groups were significantly lower than colostrum-fed kittens on day 2 after parturition, but were similar thereafter. Colostrum-deprived kittens fostered onto queens in the milk phase of lactation had failure of passive transfer of maternal antibodies. Protective concentrations of immunoglobulins can be restored in kittens with failure of passive transfer of immunity by parenteral administration of adult cat serum, but not by fostering on queens in mid-lactation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.TVJL.2019.105350
Abstract: Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study. Dogs with GBM that demonstrated abnormal clinical signs had significantly greater odds of death than subclinical dogs in a univariable analysis (OR, 4.2 95% CI, 2.14-8.23 P<0.001). The multivariable model indicated that categorical variables including owner recognition of jaundice (OR, 2.12 95% CI, 1.19-3.77 P=0.011), concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (OR 1.94 95% CI, 1.08-3.47 P=0.026), and Pomeranian breed (OR, 2.46 95% CI 1.10-5.50 P=0.029) were associated with increased odds of death, and vomiting was associated with decreased odds of death (OR, 0.48 95% CI, 0.30-0.72 P=0.001). Continuous variables in the multivariable model, total serum lasma bilirubin concentration (OR, 1.03 95% CI, 1.01-1.04 P<0.001) and age (OR, 1.17 95% CI, 1.08-1.26 P<0.001), were associated with increased odds of death. The clinical utility of total serum lasma bilirubin concentration as a biomarker to predict death was poor with a sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54-0.69) and a specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.59-0.66). This study identified several prognostic variables in dogs with GBM including total serum lasma bilirubin concentration, age, clinical signs, concurrent hyperadrenocorticism, and the Pomeranian breed. The presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus did not impact outcome in this study.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-11-2022
DOI: 10.1111/VEC.13152
Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to document coagulation factor activity in canine “NEVER‐FROZEN” and “THAWED” refrigerated plasma for the purposes of defining recommended expiration dates. We hypothesized that NEVER‐FROZEN and THAWED refrigerated plasma would maintain % activity of coagulation factors V (FV), VII (FVII), VIII (FVIII), IX (FIX), X (FX), and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF) and a concentration of fibrinogen above the lower bound of the reference interval ( .982 g/L) for greater than 14 days but less than 42 days. Prospective laboratory‐based study. University teaching hospital blood bank. Ten canine plasma units derived from healthy client‐owned blood donors. Serial s ling (days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 32, 35, 39, 42) from NEVER‐FROZEN and THAWED refrigerated canine plasma units was conducted for measurement of activities of FV, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX, vWF, and fibrinogen concentrations using the ACL TOP 300. Plasma was defined as “suitable for transfusion” at a given time point if the entire 95% confidence interval for each factor was above 50% activity and above a fibrinogen concentration of 0.982 g/L. The lower bounds of the FVIII and vWF confidence intervals were above 50% up to and including day 32 for NEVER‐FROZEN refrigerated plasma and day 28 for THAWED refrigerated plasma. Confidence intervals for FV, FVII, FIX, and FX remained above 50% activity at all time points. The lower bound of the fibrinogen concentration was .982 g/L on day 39 for NEVER‐FROZEN refrigerated plasma and on day 35 for THAWED refrigerated plasma. Refrigerated canine plasma from these 10 dogs retained coagulation factor activity above the limit that we defined as suitable for transfusion for up to 32 days when NEVER‐FROZEN and 28 days when THAWED. Further studies should evaluate the clinical outcomes and effects on coagulation factor activity of dogs receiving refrigerated plasma transfusions.
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Melissa Claus.