Improving treatment of chronic pain in cats

Winn grant W12-027
Development of outcome assessment instruments for chronic pain in cats
Investigator: Dorothy Cimino Brown; University of Pennsylvania

Cats are unique. They cannot benefit from the same pain fighting medications used in dogs, because they can cause serious side-effects in cats. It is crucially important that we identify pain fighting medications that are safe and effective in cats, so that we can relieve them from pain caused by such conditions as arthritis or cancer. Once a treatment option for pain is identified that might be useful in cats, studies must be carefully designed in order to prove that the potential new treatment option is effective. The greatest obstacle to designing such studies is the fact that we have not developed reliable ways to measure pain in cats. If we can not measure the pain, we can not prove that we are appropriately treating it. 

The goal of this study is to develop tools that can measure pain in cats and therefore appropriately design studies that will identify new treatments. The first tool is the Feline Brief Pain Inventory, which will be an owner completed questionnaire that will allow them to identify and report on how their cat behaves at home, focusing on the behaviors that are related to pain. The second tool is an activity monitor that can be worn on the cat’s collar while it progresses through its normal activities at home. We plan to identify how many days the monitor needs to be worn to collect data reliably. Ultimately the monitor might identify the improved activity that can be related to adequate pain control.

This project is available for sponsorship. When you sponsor a project, your name will be added to the list of the project's supporters on our website and in any publications we produce about the project. You will receive exclusive pre-publication reports on the progress of your chosen project as they become available, and a final report at its conclusion.

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Winn grant W12-027
Development of outcome assessment instruments for chronic pain in cats
Investigator: Dorothy Cimino Brown; University of Pennsylvania

Cats are unique. They cannot benefit from the same pain fighting medications used in dogs, because they can cause serious side-effects in cats. It is crucially important that we identify pain fighting medications that are safe and effective in cats, so that we can relieve them from pain caused by such conditions as arthritis or cancer. Once a treatment option for pain is identified that might be useful in cats, studies must be carefully designed in order to prove that the potential new treatment option is effective. The greatest obstacle to designing such studies is the fact that we have not developed reliable ways to measure pain in cats. If we can not measure the pain, we can not prove that we are appropriately treating it. 

The goal of this study is to develop tools that can measure pain in cats and therefore appropriately design studies that will identify new treatments. The first tool is the Feline Brief Pain Inventory, which will be an owner completed questionnaire that will allow them to identify and report on how their cat behaves at home, focusing on the behaviors that are related to pain. The second tool is an activity monitor that can be worn on the cat’s collar while it progresses through its normal activities at home. We plan to identify how many days the monitor needs to be worn to collect data reliably. Ultimately the monitor might identify the improved activity that can be related to adequate pain control.

This project is available for sponsorship. When you sponsor a project, your name will be added to the list of the project's supporters on our website and in any publications we produce about the project. You will receive exclusive pre-publication reports on the progress of your chosen project as they become available, and a final report at its conclusion.

More on cat health:
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Feline lymphoma & body weight status

Krick EL, Moore RH, Cohen RB and Sorenmo KU. Prognostic significance of weight changes during treatment of feline lymphoma. J Feline Med Surg. 2011; 13: 976-83.

Ultrasound image of kidney lymphoma in a cat

The most common hematopoietic cancer diagnosed in cats is lymphoma. While several prognostic factors have been documented, another prognostic factor recently evaluated is weight loss. Body weight may be a simple, objective, and practical marker of patient status over time. It is common in clinical practice to use body weight as an assessment of both response to and tolerance of therapy. This study looked at the prognostic significance of weight changes during treatment of cats with lymphoma. Another purpose was to compare weight changes according to baseline body weight, lymphoma cell type (large versus small cell), and tumor location.

The records of 209 cats treated for lymphoma with chemotherapy from 1995 to 2007 were evaluated. Cats with large cell lymphoma had a significantly shorter survival time if they had lost ≥ 5% of their weight at 1 month of treatment than those that had gained weight or had a stable weight. Weight loss and other clinical signs experienced by cats undergoing lymphoma treatment may be a result of the disease itself as well as chemotherapy side effects and it may be challenging to tell the difference. The first 2 months of treatment may be the best time to begin therapeutic interventions and nutritional support in addition to chemotherapy to decrease weight loss. [VT]

Related articles: Taylor SS, Goodfellow MR, Browne WJ, et al. Feline extranodal lymphoma: response to chemotherapy and survival in 110 cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2009; 50: 584-92.

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Krick EL, Moore RH, Cohen RB and Sorenmo KU. Prognostic significance of weight changes during treatment of feline lymphoma. J Feline Med Surg. 2011; 13: 976-83.

Ultrasound image of kidney lymphoma in a cat

The most common hematopoietic cancer diagnosed in cats is lymphoma. While several prognostic factors have been documented, another prognostic factor recently evaluated is weight loss. Body weight may be a simple, objective, and practical marker of patient status over time. It is common in clinical practice to use body weight as an assessment of both response to and tolerance of therapy. This study looked at the prognostic significance of weight changes during treatment of cats with lymphoma. Another purpose was to compare weight changes according to baseline body weight, lymphoma cell type (large versus small cell), and tumor location.

The records of 209 cats treated for lymphoma with chemotherapy from 1995 to 2007 were evaluated. Cats with large cell lymphoma had a significantly shorter survival time if they had lost ≥ 5% of their weight at 1 month of treatment than those that had gained weight or had a stable weight. Weight loss and other clinical signs experienced by cats undergoing lymphoma treatment may be a result of the disease itself as well as chemotherapy side effects and it may be challenging to tell the difference. The first 2 months of treatment may be the best time to begin therapeutic interventions and nutritional support in addition to chemotherapy to decrease weight loss. [VT]

Related articles: Taylor SS, Goodfellow MR, Browne WJ, et al. Feline extranodal lymphoma: response to chemotherapy and survival in 110 cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2009; 50: 584-92.

More on cat health:
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Scoliosis & Nutrition - Case Study from a researcher and sufferer!

Today I received an email from a scoliosis researcher and sufferer... I know nutrition is an important factor in scoliosis development and am happy to find another person who also sees the value in it. Looking forward to furthering research in this field and happy to have found a colleague committed to the same cause... its time to rethink scoliosis and start researching the cause rather than merely researching better surgical or bracing techniques! Stop masking symptoms and start treating the cause. Below is the email:

Dear Dr. Lau,

I am a scoliosis patient and I have also spent several years assisting with scoliosis research in Canada. Some of the projects I assisted in involved melatonin and scoliosis in chickens. I came across your book and website today, and I am very interested in your theories on nutrition.

I believe nutrition has played a very large role in the progression of my scoliosis. I have had 7 scoliosis surgeries, 6 of which I had when I was a teenager, and one again a few years ago, approximately 9 years later. Every time I needed surgery it was due to a failed fusion. I wore a boston brace for three years prior to my first surgery. I was also a rhythmic gymnast at the time and was very flexible and thin. I had a 98 degree curve before my first surgery. I had some complications from the most recent surgery, and I had to have my shoulder blade fused to my ribs. This fusion consequently failed twice as well. I have had lots of time in the past few years to think about my scoliosis, and during this time I also began to really pay attention to my body. I noticed things that I didn't think were normal. I looked up what I had noticed and found that they were likely from vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. I asked my doctor to test some of my vitamin levels, and I found out that I had a severe vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Since I have been taking vitamin D, I have not had any more problems in over a year. I have spent several hours looking up journal articles, and I have come up with several of the same factors that you mentioned in your book that I think are important, including zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin d, calcium, and low estrogen. I was very excited to find someone who had found the same things as I had! I recently found a record of my weight as a baby, and realized that I was very underweight, at only 22 pounds at age 2.5 years. My Mother said I was a sick baby, and didn't like to eat. When I got older I also never ate much, and I especially never like to eat meat (as I understand this is a sign of a zinc deficiency). Scoliosis does run in our family, but I believe this poor diet as a child set me up for a much worse curvature than anyone else in my family has experienced.

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

Today I received an email from a scoliosis researcher and sufferer... I know nutrition is an important factor in scoliosis development and am happy to find another person who also sees the value in it. Looking forward to furthering research in this field and happy to have found a colleague committed to the same cause... its time to rethink scoliosis and start researching the cause rather than merely researching better surgical or bracing techniques! Stop masking symptoms and start treating the cause. Below is the email:

Dear Dr. Lau,

I am a scoliosis patient and I have also spent several years assisting with scoliosis research in Canada. Some of the projects I assisted in involved melatonin and scoliosis in chickens. I came across your book and website today, and I am very interested in your theories on nutrition.

I believe nutrition has played a very large role in the progression of my scoliosis. I have had 7 scoliosis surgeries, 6 of which I had when I was a teenager, and one again a few years ago, approximately 9 years later. Every time I needed surgery it was due to a failed fusion. I wore a boston brace for three years prior to my first surgery. I was also a rhythmic gymnast at the time and was very flexible and thin. I had a 98 degree curve before my first surgery. I had some complications from the most recent surgery, and I had to have my shoulder blade fused to my ribs. This fusion consequently failed twice as well. I have had lots of time in the past few years to think about my scoliosis, and during this time I also began to really pay attention to my body. I noticed things that I didn't think were normal. I looked up what I had noticed and found that they were likely from vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. I asked my doctor to test some of my vitamin levels, and I found out that I had a severe vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Since I have been taking vitamin D, I have not had any more problems in over a year. I have spent several hours looking up journal articles, and I have come up with several of the same factors that you mentioned in your book that I think are important, including zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin d, calcium, and low estrogen. I was very excited to find someone who had found the same things as I had! I recently found a record of my weight as a baby, and realized that I was very underweight, at only 22 pounds at age 2.5 years. My Mother said I was a sick baby, and didn't like to eat. When I got older I also never ate much, and I especially never like to eat meat (as I understand this is a sign of a zinc deficiency). Scoliosis does run in our family, but I believe this poor diet as a child set me up for a much worse curvature than anyone else in my family has experienced.

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

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FIP: a new treatment approach

Winn grant W12-026, a Bria Fund project
Anti-immune evasive therapy in the treatment of FIP - a randomized,
controlled clinical trial
Investigators: Hans Nauwynck, Sabine Gleich; Ghent University, Belgium

This project is a continuation of a previous Winn grant (W10-039): Development of a novel treatment strategy to inhibit the immune evasion mechanism of feline infectious peritonitis virus

 

Feline coronavirus exists in two forms: a less harmful (avirulent) strain that can cause mild enteritis and a highly pathogenic (virulent) strain that causes a progressive and usually fatal disease known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Cats living in multi‐cat environments (e.g., shelter cats or cats in breeding catteries) are at a particularly high risk to develop FIP. An effective therapy is currently not available and affected cats usually succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host’s immune system and that a specific blocking agent can inhibit this evasion mechanism. It has been shown in a previous project that this agent is well tolerated when administered to healthy cats and that the desired plasma concentration can be achieved with different administration routes.

In this project, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy of the inhibitor as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats. In addition, the pharmacological behavior of the compound will be determined in the first 6 cats that enter this study. If the results of this pilot study are promising, the project will be expanded into a randomized, controlled trial. The goal of this project is to improve the quality of life and survival of cats with FIP by enabling the host’s immune system to recognize and destroy infected cells.

This project is available for sponsorship. When you sponsor a project, your name will be added to the list of the project's supporters on our website and in any publications we produce about the project. You will receive exclusive pre-publication reports on the progress of your chosen project as they become available, and a final report at its conclusion.

More on cat health:
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Winn grant W12-026, a Bria Fund project
Anti-immune evasive therapy in the treatment of FIP - a randomized,
controlled clinical trial
Investigators: Hans Nauwynck, Sabine Gleich; Ghent University, Belgium

This project is a continuation of a previous Winn grant (W10-039): Development of a novel treatment strategy to inhibit the immune evasion mechanism of feline infectious peritonitis virus

 

Feline coronavirus exists in two forms: a less harmful (avirulent) strain that can cause mild enteritis and a highly pathogenic (virulent) strain that causes a progressive and usually fatal disease known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Cats living in multi‐cat environments (e.g., shelter cats or cats in breeding catteries) are at a particularly high risk to develop FIP. An effective therapy is currently not available and affected cats usually succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host’s immune system and that a specific blocking agent can inhibit this evasion mechanism. It has been shown in a previous project that this agent is well tolerated when administered to healthy cats and that the desired plasma concentration can be achieved with different administration routes.

In this project, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy of the inhibitor as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats. In addition, the pharmacological behavior of the compound will be determined in the first 6 cats that enter this study. If the results of this pilot study are promising, the project will be expanded into a randomized, controlled trial. The goal of this project is to improve the quality of life and survival of cats with FIP by enabling the host’s immune system to recognize and destroy infected cells.

This project is available for sponsorship. When you sponsor a project, your name will be added to the list of the project's supporters on our website and in any publications we produce about the project. You will receive exclusive pre-publication reports on the progress of your chosen project as they become available, and a final report at its conclusion.

More on cat health:
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Dietary therapy for feline constipation

Freiche V, Houston D, Weese H, et al. Uncontrolled study assessing the impact of a psyllium-enriched extruded dry diet on faecal consistency in cats with constipation. J Feline Med Surg. 2011; 13: 903-11.
Constipation is a common clinical complaint in cats and can result from a number of different causes. Treatment includes determining and eliminating the cause, if possible, together with medical or, in some cases, surgical management. Medical therapy frequently involves the use of laxatives, enemas, and prokinetic agents such as cisapride. Psyllium is a soluble fibre that exudes a mucilaginous gel that increases fecal bulk. It also adds to stool bulk by additional, water-holding properties. Psyllium has been found to increase stool frequency and consistency in humans with idiopathic constipation. This study involved assessing the use of a highly digestible dry food formula, with added psyllium, in two field trials involving 66 cats with constipation. The main conclusions the authors made from both trials were that the test diet was palatable and well-tolerated, that clinical remission was noted in the majority of the study patients, and that other symptomatic therapy was either not needed in clinical management or could often be discontinued or reduced without recurrence of clinical signs. The authors also noted that both surgical management and euthanasia were being considered in a small number of cats, but were subsequently not required due to the success of dietary therapy. [VT]

Related articles: Trevail TIM, Gunn-Moore D, Carrera I, Courcier E and Sullivan M. Radiographic diameter of the colon in normal and constipated cats and in cats with megacolon. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2011; 52: 516-20.

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Freiche V, Houston D, Weese H, et al. Uncontrolled study assessing the impact of a psyllium-enriched extruded dry diet on faecal consistency in cats with constipation. J Feline Med Surg. 2011; 13: 903-11.
Constipation is a common clinical complaint in cats and can result from a number of different causes. Treatment includes determining and eliminating the cause, if possible, together with medical or, in some cases, surgical management. Medical therapy frequently involves the use of laxatives, enemas, and prokinetic agents such as cisapride. Psyllium is a soluble fibre that exudes a mucilaginous gel that increases fecal bulk. It also adds to stool bulk by additional, water-holding properties. Psyllium has been found to increase stool frequency and consistency in humans with idiopathic constipation. This study involved assessing the use of a highly digestible dry food formula, with added psyllium, in two field trials involving 66 cats with constipation. The main conclusions the authors made from both trials were that the test diet was palatable and well-tolerated, that clinical remission was noted in the majority of the study patients, and that other symptomatic therapy was either not needed in clinical management or could often be discontinued or reduced without recurrence of clinical signs. The authors also noted that both surgical management and euthanasia were being considered in a small number of cats, but were subsequently not required due to the success of dietary therapy. [VT]

Related articles: Trevail TIM, Gunn-Moore D, Carrera I, Courcier E and Sullivan M. Radiographic diameter of the colon in normal and constipated cats and in cats with megacolon. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2011; 52: 516-20.

More on cat health:
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New cat health projects funded by Winn

The Winn Feline Foundation has announced the award of ten feline medical research grants. Winn President Vicki Thayer, DVM, commented, “We are excited about the proposals that have received funding. Our team of expert veterinary consultants helped the Foundation select ten projects for funding for a total of $174,018. The Foundation looks forward to seeing the results of these projects and to sharing them with the veterinary community as well as with cat owners and pedigreed cat breeders.”

Each year, the Winn Feline Foundation receives proposals from veterinary researchers around the world who are interested in improving feline health. Forty-four proposals were submitted by researchers seeking funding in this review cycle. To date, Winn’s cumulative total in feline health research funding exceeds $4 million. 

RICKY FUND PROJECT:
W12-037: The efficacy of Bosentan, a mixed ETa ETb receptor antagonist, in cats with arterial thromboembolism; $18,728
Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC; Gareth Buckley MA, VetMB, MRCVS, DACVECC; Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a very common heart disease in cats. One of the most devastating complications of heart disease is development of blood clots called feline aortic thromboembolism (ATE), which cuts off the blood supply to one or more limbs. ATE is associated with a survival rate of less than 40% despite multiple efforts to try to improve outcomes. It is important to cats and their owners to be able to offer an intervention that improves survival with a good quality of life. Cats are recognized to have “reactive” blood vessels, and this response may worsen the outcome in ATE. The arteries in cats suffering from ATE will release various chemicals including one called endothelin. Endothelin causes an increased tendency to form more clots, and promotes severe inflammation and narrowing of collateral vessels supplying areas behind the site of the clot. Bosentan is a drug used successfully in people to treat various diseases such as coronary artery disease. This study looks to determine the effectiveness of bosentan in the treatment of cats with ATE.

BRIA FUND PROJECT:
W12-026: Anti-immune evasive therapy in the treatment of FIP - a randomized, controlled clinical trial; $24,962
This project is available for sponsorship.
Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck; Sabine Gleich, DVM; Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.

Feline coronavirus exists in two forms: a less harmful (avirulent) strain that can cause mild enteritis and a highly pathogenic (virulent) strain that causes a progressive and usually fatal disease known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Cats living in multi‐cat environments (e.g., shelter cats or cats in breeding catteries) are at a particularly high risk to develop FIP. An effective therapy is currently not available and affected cats usually succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host’s immune system and that a specific blocking agent can inhibit this evasion mechanism. In this project, the investigators want to evaluate the efficacy of the inhibitor as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats. The goal of this study is to improve the quality of life and survival of FIP affected cats by enabling the host’s immune system to recognize and destroy infected cells.

BREED-FUNDED PROJECTS
W12-009: Fine mapping for Sphynx cat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene; $24,674
Kathryn Meurs, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. This study is partially funded by the efforts of Sphynx breeders and owners.

Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of heart disease in the adult cat. Affected cats are at risk of sudden death, breathing difficulties or development of a blood clot. Feline HCM is noted to be inherited in the Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds. In these two breeds, causative genetic mutations have been associated with the development of the disease. This project will continue the study of HCM in the Sphynx breed. A genome wide association study has identified a particular chromosomal area as a region of interest associated with the development of HCM. A close evaluation of this chromosomal region of interest will follow to determine the gene and ultimately the causative genetic mutation. Ultimately, the identification of a genetic cause for HCM in the Sphynx can be used to reduce the prevalence of the disease in this breed and provide information on this disease in many other breeds of cats as well.

W12-022: Molecular characterization of Bengal progressive retinal atrophy; $4,221 
Robert A. Grahn, PhD; University of California – Davis.

This study has received partial funding from Winn according to our guidelines for breed-specific projects. Please donate so that the project may be fully funded.

Inherited blindness is a devastating disease common to many mammalian species. In people, over 25 different forms of inherited retinal blindness have been clinically characterized. Cats also have several forms of blindness that destroy the photoreceptors at the back of the eye. These conditions will randomly occur in a particular cat breed and then will be inherited. Some forms of blindness attack the photoreceptors shortly after birth, while other forms take longer to destroy the layer of the eye responsible for vision. Several Bengal cats have been diagnosed with a form of blindness that destroys their vision at around 5 months of age. A genome wide association case control study has indicated a candidate region for Bengal PRA. This proposal will obtain the sequence of the RNA and DNA of this gene to identify the mutation causing Bengal PRA and allow for the development of a genetic test to help reduce the prevalence of blindness in this breed.

NEW PROJECTS
W12-005: Immunohistochemical quantification of the transcobalamin II protein (TCII) and receptor (TCII-R) in naturally occurring feline tumors; $17,663
Annette M. Sysel, DVM, MS; Joseph A. Bauer, PhD; Bauer Research Foundation, Akron OH.

Cancer affects 4 million cats annually in the United States, and accounts for approximately 32% of disease-related feline deaths. There are only two FDA-approved drugs available for the treatment of cancer in animals and they are labeled exclusively for use in dogs. Current treatment of cancer in cats is based largely on extrapolation from human and canine therapies. Cancer cells rely on vitamin-B12 (cobalamin) for cell growth. Cancer cells produce transport proteins to scavenge vitamin-B12, and they express more vitamin-B12 receptors on their surface than healthy cells. Current research is focusing on the use of vitamin-B12 in tumor imaging as well as anti-tumor therapy. Nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl), an anti-tumor drug, uses vitamin-B12 to target cancer cells where the vitamin-B12 is bound to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is toxic to cancer cells. NO-Cbl is bound to transport proteins and carried to the receptors on the cancer cells, delivering a toxic nitric oxide payload. Toxicity to other cells is avoided since cancer cells express more vitamin-B12 receptors than normal cells and nitric oxide release occurs only inside the cells. Vitamin-B12 transport protein and receptor expression has never been studied in feline tumors. The purpose of this study is to quantify this protein and receptor expression in feline tumors using immunohistochemical staining. Results from this study will be used to identify feline tumors susceptible to vitamin-B12-based imaging and treatment with drugs such as NO-Cbl.

W12-027: Development of outcome assessment instruments for chronic pain in cats; $24,513
This project is available for sponsorship.
Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM, DACVS; University of Pennsylvania.

Cats are unique. They cannot benefit from the same pain fighting medications used in dogs, because they may cause serious side-effects in cats. It is crucial that pain-fighting, safe and effective medications are identified for cats. Studies must be carefully designed in order to prove that the potential new treatment option is effective. A major obstacle is the lack of reliable methods to measure pain in cats, thus proving treatment is appropriately effective. The goal of this study is to develop tools that can measure pain in cats and therefore appropriately design studies that will identify new treatments. The first tool is the “Feline Brief Pain Inventory”, which will be an owner completed questionnaire that will allow them to identify and report on how their cat behaves at home. The second tool is an activity monitor that can be worn on the cat’s collar while it progresses through its normal activities at home. Ultimately the monitor might identify the improved activity that can be related to adequate pain control.

W12-034: Decontamination of household textiles exposed to Microsporum canis spores; $5,363
This project is available for sponsorship.
Karen A. Moriello, DVM DACVD; University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ringworm is a superficial fungal skin disease that affects all animals, including cats. In cats, the most commonly isolated pathogen is Microsporum canis. This disease is important because it is highly contagious to cats and transmitted to people making it a public health concern. Ringworm can infect any cat, but the most commonly infected are the most adoptable (kittens and young cats), old cats with other illnesses, and cats in animal shelters or rescue organizations. Treatment can be challenging because infected cats shed large amounts of infective material (spores and infected hairs) into the environment. Effective cleaning is necessary to prevent spore contamination of the environment and prevent cats from becoming re-infected or “dust mop carriers”. There is no evidence-based information available for household textiles-fabric, clothing, carpeting, etc. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of decontamination options for household textiles with a goal of identifying safe and effective practices. 

W12-039: Administration of pimobendan to cats with chronic kidney disease; $20,000
This project is available for sponsorship.
Mary Anna Labato, DVM, DACVIM; Brandi R. Gallagher, DVM; John Rush DVM, MS,
DACVECC, DVM; Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common reasons geriatric cats present to the veterinarian. CKD is considered irreversible and progressive, and effective treatments are limited. A common co-existing condition often appreciated in feline CKD patients is heart disease. Two of the investigators in this study have administered pimobendan to cats with combined kidney and heart disease. The patients had developed congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to intravenous fluid administration, a typical standard of care for kidney disease. In some of these patients, addition of pimobendan resulted in a greater improvement in kidney values and clinical response. Tolerability and safety of this drug has already been established in cats with heart disease. This will be a pilot study to assess the tolerability of pimobendan in cats with CKD and search for benefits in comparison to the current standard of care. Investigating these observations in a larger study will help establish whether pimobendan could be a novel treatment for cats with CKD. 

W12-040: “Wool sucking” behaviour in Siamese and Birman cats; $16,109
Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, DACVB; Edward Ginns, MD, PhD; Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

“Wool sucking” is a behavioral condition that involves the repetitive searching, suckling, chewing and ingestion of non-food items. While items made of wool can be the preferred substrate, cats may also seek out and chew items made of cotton, rubber, nylon, paper, cardboard and plastic. A negative consequence of this behavior is breakdown of the human-animal bond due to owners’ frustration with property damage. In its most severe form, the cat cannot be maintained safely as an indoor cat. While wool sucking behavior can occur in any cat breed, the incidence is higher in oriental breeds, suggesting a genetic susceptibility. To identify potential genetic components of the compulsive “wool sucking” behavior in cats, DNA samples will be collected via saliva from normal and affected Siamese and Birman cats. Since “wool sucking” is an excellent animal model of human obsessive-compulsive behaviors, the identification of a genetic cause could lead to development of carrier testing, as well as better treatment options for both cats and humans with these disorders.

W12-042: Development and in vitro optimization of hydrogels for the delivery of FHV specific siRNAs encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles; $17,785
Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, PhD; Scott Lenaghan, PhD; Christopher P. Stephens, MS, PhD; The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) typically causes respiratory disease in cats; however, chronic recurrent infections can cause severe eye disease often leading to blindness. Currently there is no effective treatment for these chronic cases. Previous Winn funding has helped investigators design a therapeutic agent, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which uses the cell’s own machinery to inhibit viral replication through the targeting of essential herpesvirus genes. Investigators have developed a nanoparticle delivery vehicle composed of chitosan, a nontoxic substance to package these siRNAs for delivery into cells. The goal of this study is to develop a hydrogel, similar to a soft contact lens, for delivery of the nanoparticles. The hydrogel can be directly placed in the cat’s eye allowing successful drug uptake and provide extended continuous delivery of the FHV-1 specific siRNAs into the cells. This study will potentially lead to development of a product suitable for use in cats’ eyes for treatment of FHV-1.

Winn has funded over $4 million in feline health research – read about our other projects.
Our projects are funded by generous donations from cat lovers around the world – donate now to help us fund next year’s projects.

More on cat health: 
Winn Feline Foundation Library 
Find us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 
Read the Cat Health News Weekly 
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The Winn Feline Foundation has announced the award of ten feline medical research grants. Winn President Vicki Thayer, DVM, commented, “We are excited about the proposals that have received funding. Our team of expert veterinary consultants helped the Foundation select ten projects for funding for a total of $174,018. The Foundation looks forward to seeing the results of these projects and to sharing them with the veterinary community as well as with cat owners and pedigreed cat breeders.”

Each year, the Winn Feline Foundation receives proposals from veterinary researchers around the world who are interested in improving feline health. Forty-four proposals were submitted by researchers seeking funding in this review cycle. To date, Winn’s cumulative total in feline health research funding exceeds $4 million. 

RICKY FUND PROJECT:
W12-037: The efficacy of Bosentan, a mixed ETa ETb receptor antagonist, in cats with arterial thromboembolism; $18,728
Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC; Gareth Buckley MA, VetMB, MRCVS, DACVECC; Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a very common heart disease in cats. One of the most devastating complications of heart disease is development of blood clots called feline aortic thromboembolism (ATE), which cuts off the blood supply to one or more limbs. ATE is associated with a survival rate of less than 40% despite multiple efforts to try to improve outcomes. It is important to cats and their owners to be able to offer an intervention that improves survival with a good quality of life. Cats are recognized to have “reactive” blood vessels, and this response may worsen the outcome in ATE. The arteries in cats suffering from ATE will release various chemicals including one called endothelin. Endothelin causes an increased tendency to form more clots, and promotes severe inflammation and narrowing of collateral vessels supplying areas behind the site of the clot. Bosentan is a drug used successfully in people to treat various diseases such as coronary artery disease. This study looks to determine the effectiveness of bosentan in the treatment of cats with ATE.

BRIA FUND PROJECT:
W12-026: Anti-immune evasive therapy in the treatment of FIP - a randomized, controlled clinical trial; $24,962
This project is available for sponsorship.
Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck; Sabine Gleich, DVM; Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.

Feline coronavirus exists in two forms: a less harmful (avirulent) strain that can cause mild enteritis and a highly pathogenic (virulent) strain that causes a progressive and usually fatal disease known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Cats living in multi‐cat environments (e.g., shelter cats or cats in breeding catteries) are at a particularly high risk to develop FIP. An effective therapy is currently not available and affected cats usually succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host’s immune system and that a specific blocking agent can inhibit this evasion mechanism. In this project, the investigators want to evaluate the efficacy of the inhibitor as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats. The goal of this study is to improve the quality of life and survival of FIP affected cats by enabling the host’s immune system to recognize and destroy infected cells.

BREED-FUNDED PROJECTS
W12-009: Fine mapping for Sphynx cat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene; $24,674
Kathryn Meurs, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. This study is partially funded by the efforts of Sphynx breeders and owners.

Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of heart disease in the adult cat. Affected cats are at risk of sudden death, breathing difficulties or development of a blood clot. Feline HCM is noted to be inherited in the Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds. In these two breeds, causative genetic mutations have been associated with the development of the disease. This project will continue the study of HCM in the Sphynx breed. A genome wide association study has identified a particular chromosomal area as a region of interest associated with the development of HCM. A close evaluation of this chromosomal region of interest will follow to determine the gene and ultimately the causative genetic mutation. Ultimately, the identification of a genetic cause for HCM in the Sphynx can be used to reduce the prevalence of the disease in this breed and provide information on this disease in many other breeds of cats as well.

W12-022: Molecular characterization of Bengal progressive retinal atrophy; $4,221 
Robert A. Grahn, PhD; University of California – Davis.

This study has received partial funding from Winn according to our guidelines for breed-specific projects. Please donate so that the project may be fully funded.

Inherited blindness is a devastating disease common to many mammalian species. In people, over 25 different forms of inherited retinal blindness have been clinically characterized. Cats also have several forms of blindness that destroy the photoreceptors at the back of the eye. These conditions will randomly occur in a particular cat breed and then will be inherited. Some forms of blindness attack the photoreceptors shortly after birth, while other forms take longer to destroy the layer of the eye responsible for vision. Several Bengal cats have been diagnosed with a form of blindness that destroys their vision at around 5 months of age. A genome wide association case control study has indicated a candidate region for Bengal PRA. This proposal will obtain the sequence of the RNA and DNA of this gene to identify the mutation causing Bengal PRA and allow for the development of a genetic test to help reduce the prevalence of blindness in this breed.

NEW PROJECTS
W12-005: Immunohistochemical quantification of the transcobalamin II protein (TCII) and receptor (TCII-R) in naturally occurring feline tumors; $17,663
Annette M. Sysel, DVM, MS; Joseph A. Bauer, PhD; Bauer Research Foundation, Akron OH.

Cancer affects 4 million cats annually in the United States, and accounts for approximately 32% of disease-related feline deaths. There are only two FDA-approved drugs available for the treatment of cancer in animals and they are labeled exclusively for use in dogs. Current treatment of cancer in cats is based largely on extrapolation from human and canine therapies. Cancer cells rely on vitamin-B12 (cobalamin) for cell growth. Cancer cells produce transport proteins to scavenge vitamin-B12, and they express more vitamin-B12 receptors on their surface than healthy cells. Current research is focusing on the use of vitamin-B12 in tumor imaging as well as anti-tumor therapy. Nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl), an anti-tumor drug, uses vitamin-B12 to target cancer cells where the vitamin-B12 is bound to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is toxic to cancer cells. NO-Cbl is bound to transport proteins and carried to the receptors on the cancer cells, delivering a toxic nitric oxide payload. Toxicity to other cells is avoided since cancer cells express more vitamin-B12 receptors than normal cells and nitric oxide release occurs only inside the cells. Vitamin-B12 transport protein and receptor expression has never been studied in feline tumors. The purpose of this study is to quantify this protein and receptor expression in feline tumors using immunohistochemical staining. Results from this study will be used to identify feline tumors susceptible to vitamin-B12-based imaging and treatment with drugs such as NO-Cbl.

W12-027: Development of outcome assessment instruments for chronic pain in cats; $24,513
This project is available for sponsorship.
Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM, DACVS; University of Pennsylvania.

Cats are unique. They cannot benefit from the same pain fighting medications used in dogs, because they may cause serious side-effects in cats. It is crucial that pain-fighting, safe and effective medications are identified for cats. Studies must be carefully designed in order to prove that the potential new treatment option is effective. A major obstacle is the lack of reliable methods to measure pain in cats, thus proving treatment is appropriately effective. The goal of this study is to develop tools that can measure pain in cats and therefore appropriately design studies that will identify new treatments. The first tool is the “Feline Brief Pain Inventory”, which will be an owner completed questionnaire that will allow them to identify and report on how their cat behaves at home. The second tool is an activity monitor that can be worn on the cat’s collar while it progresses through its normal activities at home. Ultimately the monitor might identify the improved activity that can be related to adequate pain control.

W12-034: Decontamination of household textiles exposed to Microsporum canis spores; $5,363
This project is available for sponsorship.
Karen A. Moriello, DVM DACVD; University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ringworm is a superficial fungal skin disease that affects all animals, including cats. In cats, the most commonly isolated pathogen is Microsporum canis. This disease is important because it is highly contagious to cats and transmitted to people making it a public health concern. Ringworm can infect any cat, but the most commonly infected are the most adoptable (kittens and young cats), old cats with other illnesses, and cats in animal shelters or rescue organizations. Treatment can be challenging because infected cats shed large amounts of infective material (spores and infected hairs) into the environment. Effective cleaning is necessary to prevent spore contamination of the environment and prevent cats from becoming re-infected or “dust mop carriers”. There is no evidence-based information available for household textiles-fabric, clothing, carpeting, etc. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of decontamination options for household textiles with a goal of identifying safe and effective practices. 

W12-039: Administration of pimobendan to cats with chronic kidney disease; $20,000
This project is available for sponsorship.
Mary Anna Labato, DVM, DACVIM; Brandi R. Gallagher, DVM; John Rush DVM, MS,
DACVECC, DVM; Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common reasons geriatric cats present to the veterinarian. CKD is considered irreversible and progressive, and effective treatments are limited. A common co-existing condition often appreciated in feline CKD patients is heart disease. Two of the investigators in this study have administered pimobendan to cats with combined kidney and heart disease. The patients had developed congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to intravenous fluid administration, a typical standard of care for kidney disease. In some of these patients, addition of pimobendan resulted in a greater improvement in kidney values and clinical response. Tolerability and safety of this drug has already been established in cats with heart disease. This will be a pilot study to assess the tolerability of pimobendan in cats with CKD and search for benefits in comparison to the current standard of care. Investigating these observations in a larger study will help establish whether pimobendan could be a novel treatment for cats with CKD. 

W12-040: “Wool sucking” behaviour in Siamese and Birman cats; $16,109
Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, DACVB; Edward Ginns, MD, PhD; Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

“Wool sucking” is a behavioral condition that involves the repetitive searching, suckling, chewing and ingestion of non-food items. While items made of wool can be the preferred substrate, cats may also seek out and chew items made of cotton, rubber, nylon, paper, cardboard and plastic. A negative consequence of this behavior is breakdown of the human-animal bond due to owners’ frustration with property damage. In its most severe form, the cat cannot be maintained safely as an indoor cat. While wool sucking behavior can occur in any cat breed, the incidence is higher in oriental breeds, suggesting a genetic susceptibility. To identify potential genetic components of the compulsive “wool sucking” behavior in cats, DNA samples will be collected via saliva from normal and affected Siamese and Birman cats. Since “wool sucking” is an excellent animal model of human obsessive-compulsive behaviors, the identification of a genetic cause could lead to development of carrier testing, as well as better treatment options for both cats and humans with these disorders.

W12-042: Development and in vitro optimization of hydrogels for the delivery of FHV specific siRNAs encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles; $17,785
Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, PhD; Scott Lenaghan, PhD; Christopher P. Stephens, MS, PhD; The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) typically causes respiratory disease in cats; however, chronic recurrent infections can cause severe eye disease often leading to blindness. Currently there is no effective treatment for these chronic cases. Previous Winn funding has helped investigators design a therapeutic agent, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which uses the cell’s own machinery to inhibit viral replication through the targeting of essential herpesvirus genes. Investigators have developed a nanoparticle delivery vehicle composed of chitosan, a nontoxic substance to package these siRNAs for delivery into cells. The goal of this study is to develop a hydrogel, similar to a soft contact lens, for delivery of the nanoparticles. The hydrogel can be directly placed in the cat’s eye allowing successful drug uptake and provide extended continuous delivery of the FHV-1 specific siRNAs into the cells. This study will potentially lead to development of a product suitable for use in cats’ eyes for treatment of FHV-1.

Winn has funded over $4 million in feline health research – read about our other projects.
Our projects are funded by generous donations from cat lovers around the world – donate now to help us fund next year’s projects.

More on cat health: 
Winn Feline Foundation Library 
Find us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 
Read the Cat Health News Weekly 
Join us on Google+

Read More

ScolioTrack Research Validates the Use of iPhone for Monitoring Scoliosis

Use of the iPhone for Cobb angle measurement in scoliosis.

Shaw M, Adam CJ, Izatt MT, Licina P, Askin GN.

Source

Paediatric Spine Research Group, Queensland University of Technology and Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The Cobb technique is the universally accepted method for measuring the severity of spinal deformities. Traditionally, Cobb angles have been measured using protractor and pencil on hardcopy radiographic films. The new generation of mobile 'smartphones' make accurate angle measurement possible using an integrated accelerometer, providing a potentially useful clinical tool for assessing Cobb angles. The purpose of this study was to compare Cobb angle measurements performed using a smartphone and traditional protractor in a series of 20 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.

METHODS:

Seven observers measured major Cobb angles on 20 pre-operative postero-anterior radiographs of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis patients with both a standard protractor and using an Apple iPhone. Five of the observers repeated the measurements at least a week after the original measurements.

RESULTS:

The mean absolute difference between pairs of smartphone/protractor measurements was 2.1°, with a small (1°) bias toward lower Cobb angles with the iPhone. 95% confidence intervals for intra-observer variability were ±3.3° for the protractor and ±3.9° for the iPhone. 95% confidence intervals for inter-observer variability were ±8.3° for the iPhone and ±7.1° for the protractor. Both of these confidence intervals were within the range of previously published Cobb measurement studies.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that the iPhone is an equivalent Cobb measurement tool to the manual protractor, and measurement times are about 15% less. The widespread availability of inclinometer-equipped mobile phones and the ability to store measurements in later versions of the angle measurement software may make these new technologies attractive for clinical measurement applications.

PMID:

22065167

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] 

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

Use of the iPhone for Cobb angle measurement in scoliosis.

Shaw M, Adam CJ, Izatt MT, Licina P, Askin GN.

Source

Paediatric Spine Research Group, Queensland University of Technology and Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The Cobb technique is the universally accepted method for measuring the severity of spinal deformities. Traditionally, Cobb angles have been measured using protractor and pencil on hardcopy radiographic films. The new generation of mobile 'smartphones' make accurate angle measurement possible using an integrated accelerometer, providing a potentially useful clinical tool for assessing Cobb angles. The purpose of this study was to compare Cobb angle measurements performed using a smartphone and traditional protractor in a series of 20 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.

METHODS:

Seven observers measured major Cobb angles on 20 pre-operative postero-anterior radiographs of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis patients with both a standard protractor and using an Apple iPhone. Five of the observers repeated the measurements at least a week after the original measurements.

RESULTS:

The mean absolute difference between pairs of smartphone/protractor measurements was 2.1°, with a small (1°) bias toward lower Cobb angles with the iPhone. 95% confidence intervals for intra-observer variability were ±3.3° for the protractor and ±3.9° for the iPhone. 95% confidence intervals for inter-observer variability were ±8.3° for the iPhone and ±7.1° for the protractor. Both of these confidence intervals were within the range of previously published Cobb measurement studies.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that the iPhone is an equivalent Cobb measurement tool to the manual protractor, and measurement times are about 15% less. The widespread availability of inclinometer-equipped mobile phones and the ability to store measurements in later versions of the angle measurement software may make these new technologies attractive for clinical measurement applications.

PMID:

22065167

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] 

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

Read More