The combined DEX/TRH test was more sensitive than either of its component tests and had a high NPV, but was not as specific as the TRH component alone (92%). The DEX/TRH test should be used to screen older horses for PIPA.

Atp10c is a novel type IV P-type ATPase and is a putative phospholipid transporter. The purpose of this study was to assess the overall effect of the heterozygous deletion of Atp10c on obesity-related phenotypes and metabolic abnormalities in mice fed a high-fat diet. Heterozygous mice with maternal inheritance of Atp10c were compared with heterozygous mice with paternal inheritance of Atp10c and wild-type controls. Body weight, adiposity index, and plasma insulin, leptin and triglyceride concentrations were significantly greater in the mutants inheriting the deletion maternally compared with their sex- and age-matched control male mice fed a 10% fat (% energy) diet and female mice fed a 45% fat (% energy) diet. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed after mice consumed the diets for 4 and 8 wk. Mutants had altered glucose tolerance and insulin response compared with controls, suggesting insulin resistance in both sexes. Mice were killed at 12 wk and routine gross and histological evaluations of the liver, pancreas, adipose tissue, and heart were performed. Histological evaluation showed micro- and macrovesicular lipid deposition within the hepatocytes that was more severe in the mutant mice than in age-matched controls. Although sex differences were observed, our data suggest that heterozygous deletion along with an unusual pattern of maternal inheritance of the chromosomal region containing the single gene, Atp10c, causes obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in these mice.

The study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of omeprazole powder in sterile water, administered intravenously, on gastric juice pH in adult horses with naturally occurring gastric ulcers. Omeprazole (0.5 mg/kg, IV) was administered once daily for 5 days to 6 adult horses with gastric ulcers. Gastric juice was aspirated through the biopsy channel of an endoscope and pH was measured before and 1 hour after administration of omeprazole on day 1, and then before and after administration of omeprazole on day 5. Gastric ulcer scores were recorded on day 1 before administration of omeprazole and on day 5, 23 hours after the 4th daily dose. Gastric juice pH and ulcer scores were compared between the times. When compared with the pre-injection value (2.01 +/- 0.42), mean +/- SD gastric juice pH was significantly higher when measured 1 hour after administration of the initial dose (4.35 +/- 2.31), and before (5.27 +/- 1.74) and 1 hour after (7.00 +/- 0.25) administration of omeprazole on day 5. Nonglandular gastric ulcer number score significantly decreased from a mean +/- SD of 3.2 +/- 0.80 to 2.0 +/- 1.1, but nonglandular gastric ulcer severity score remained the same. Few glandular ulcers were seen in the study, and scores did not change. Because of its potent and long duration of action on gastric juice pH, this intravenous formulation of omeprazole may show promise for treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in horses with dysphagia, gastric reflux, or other conditions that restrict oral intake of omeprazole paste. Aspiration of gastric juice and measurement of pH can be of use to determine whether the desired pH > 4.0 has been reached after omeprazole treatment.

No abstract