Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is an increasingly prevalent condition, and endothelial dysfunction is implicated in its etiology. We previously identified nitric oxide (NO) as a calcification inhibitor by its activation of NOTCH1, which is genetically linked to human CAVD. Here, we show NO rescues calcification by an S-nitrosylation–mediated mechanism in porcine aortic valve interstitial cells and single-cell RNA-seq demonstrated NO regulates the NOTCH pathway. An unbiased proteomic approach to identify S-nitrosylated proteins in valve cells found enrichment of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and implicated S-nitrosylation of USP9X (ubiquitin specific peptidase 9, X-linked) in NOTCH regulation during calcification. Furthermore, S-nitrosylated USP9X was shown to deubiquitinate and stabilize MIB1 for NOTCH1 activation. Consistent with this, genetic deletion of Usp9x in mice demonstrated CAVD and human calcified aortic valves displayed reduced S-nitrosylation of USP9X. These results demonstrate a previously unidentified mechanism by which S-nitrosylation–dependent regulation of a ubiquitin-associated pathway prevents CAVD.

Conventional IV infusion rates of LRS to isoflurane-anesthetized dogs decreased colligative blood components; increased plasma volume, pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac output; and did not change urine production or oxygen delivery to tissues.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of the veterinary literature investigating IV fluid therapy in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle.DesignSystematic review.ProceduresThe preferred reporting of items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) was employed for systematic review of all relevant IV fluid therapy manuscripts published from January 1969 through December 2016 in the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI) database. Independent grading systems used to evaluate manuscripts included the updated CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials 2012 checklist, risk of bias for animal intervention studies, criteria for levels of evidence, and methodological quality (Jadad scale). The quality of articles published before and after 2010 was compared.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-nine articles (63 dogs, 7 cats, 39 horses, 30 cattle) from 7,258 met the inclusion criteria. More than 50% of the manuscripts did not comply with minimal requirements for reporting randomized controlled trials. The most non-compliant items included identification of specific predefined objectives or a hypothesis, identification of trial design, how sample size was determined, randomization, and blinding procedures. Most studies were underpowered and at risk for selection, performance, and detection bias. The overall quality of the articles improved for articles published after 2010.Conclusion and clinical relevanceMost of the veterinary literature investigating the administration of IV fluid therapy in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle is descriptive, does not comply with standards for evidence, or provide adequate translation to clinical practice. Authors should employ and journal editors should enforce international consensus recommendations and guidelines for publication of data from animal experiments investigating IV fluid therapy.

OBJECTIVE-To determine the effects of IV administration of perzinfotel and a perzinfotel-fentanyl combination on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in dogs. ANIMALS-6 healthy sexually intact Beagles (3 males and 3 females). PROCEDURES-All dogs were instrumented with a telemetry device for continuous monitoring of heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and core body temperature (at a femoral artery). Dogs were anesthetized with propofol (6 mg/kg, IV) and isoflurane. Isoflurane MAC values were determined in 3 experiments in each dog, separated by at least 7 days, before (baseline) and after the following treatments: no treatment (anesthetic only), perzinfotel (20 mg/kg, IV), fentanyl (5 microg/kg bolus, IV, followed by a continuous IV infusion at 0.15 microg/kg/min), and a fentanyl-perzinfotel combination (20 mg of perzinfotel/kg, IV, plus the fentanyl infusion). Bispectral index and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry were also monitored throughout anesthesia. RESULTS-Without treatment, the mean +/- SD isoflurane MAC for all 6 dogs was 1.41 +/- 0.10%. Baseline MAC was 1.42 +/- 0.08%. Intravenous administration of perzinfotel, fentanyl, and the perzinfotel-fentanyl combination significantly decreased the MAC by 39%, 35%, and 66%, respectively. Perzinfotel and perzinfotel-fentanyl administration yielded significant increases in the bispectral index. Mean, systolic, and diastolic arterial blood pressures significantly increased from baseline values when perzinfotel was administered. Systolic arterial blood pressure significantly increased from the baseline value when perzinfotel-fentanyl was administered. No adverse effects were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-IV administration of perzinfotel, fentanyl, or a perzinfotel-fentanyl combination reduced isoflurane MAC in dogs and increased arterial blood pressure.

There remains a need for large animal models to evaluate tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) under arterial pressure to provide preclinical data for future potential human clinical trials. We present a comprehensive method for the interrogation of TEVGs, using an ovine bilateral arteriovenous (AV) shunt implantation model. Our results demonstrate that this method can be performed safely without complications, specifically acute heart failure, steal syndrome, and hypoxic brain injury, and it is a viable experimental paradigm. Our method allows for a non-invasive evaluation of TEVGs in terms of graft flow, graft diameter, and graft patency, while also allowing for graft needle puncture under ultrasound guidance. In addition, traditional pathological analysis, histology, and immunohistochemistry may be performed with the contralateral side providing paired control data to eliminate inter-subject variability while reducing the total number of animals. Further, we present a review of existing literature of preclinical evaluation of TEVGs in large animal models as AV conduits.