Canine brain-tumor treatment trials may help humans

Following a seizure, Petey the pit bull was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is doing well after undergoing treatment in a pilot trial in 2011.

By Janet Christenbury, Woodruff Health Sciences Center The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Inc., has awarded the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine and Emory University a $119,000 grant over three years to test a newly developed experimental drug to treat dogs with naturally-occurring brain tumors, following partial surgical removal of those tumors. The goal of the research is to help translate new brain cancer therapies to humans by assessing results in dogs with similar diseases. According to the researchers, the tumors in dogs, known as spontaneous gliomas, are very similar to human malignant brain tumors both by imaging and biology, and both tend to grow back rapidly. The poor prognosis for dogs with gliomas is similar to human patients. The researchers are hoping the novel treatment being tested will slow down tumor growth. A seven-year-old pit bull named Petey was the first dog enrolled in the initial pilot trial at UGA in 2011. Following discovery of a brain tumor after a seizure, Petey underwent surgery in September 2011 to remove a portion of the tumor. Simon Platt, a professor of veterinary neurology at UGA, performed the surgery and diagnosed Petey with a glioma. After surgery and for three days, an investigational drug was directly infused into the glioma tumor area via catheters, targeting any residual tumor cells. Petey underwent blood testing and complete neurologic testing confirming no toxicity of the therapeutic agent. Six weeks after surgery, Petey had a follow-up MRI that revealed the therapeutic agent still within the remaining brain tumor. Petey had another MRI five months after surgery showing a marked reduction in tumor size. Petey is now seizure-free and doing well 15 months after surgery. Source: eScienceCommons

Read More........→February 02, 2013

DARPA Military Robot Dog LS3 Follows On Command

Working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), researchers from DARPA's LS3 program demonstrated new advances in the robot's control, stability and maneuverability, including "Leader Follow" decision making, enhanced roll recovery, exact foot placement over rough terrain, the ability to maneuver in an urban environment, and verbal command capability. For the past two weeks, in the woods of central Virginia around Fort Pickett, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) four-legged robot has been showing off its capabilities during field testing. Working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), researchers from DARPA’s LS3 program demonstrated new advances in the robot’s control, stability and maneuverability, including "Leader Follow" decision making, enhanced roll recovery, exact foot placement over rough terrain, the ability to maneuver in an urban environment, and verbal command capability. Testing shows advances in robot’s autonomy, maneuverability and recovery: The LS3 program seeks to demonstrate that a highly mobile, semi-autonomous legged robot can carry 400 lbs of a squad’s equipment, follow squad members through rugged terrain and interact with troops in a natural way similar to a trained animal with its handler. The robot could also be able to maneuver at night and serve as a mobile auxiliary power source to the squad, so troops can recharge batteries for radios and handheld devices while on patrol. “This was the first time DARPA and MCWL were able to get LS3 out on the testing grounds together to simulate military-relevant training conditions,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Hitt, DARPA program manager. “The robot’s performance in the field expanded on our expectations, demonstrating, for example, how voice commands and “follow the leader” capability would enhance the robot’s ability to interact with warfighters. We were able to put the robot through difficult natural terrain and test its ability to right itself with minimal interaction from humans.” Video from the testing shows the robot negotiating diverse terrain including ditches, streams, wooded slopes and simulated urban environments. The video also shows the map the LS3 perception system creates to determine the path it takes. The December testing at Fort Pickett is the first in a series of planned demonstrations that will test the robot’s capabilities across different environments as development continues through the first half of 2014. The DARPA platform developer for the LS3 system is Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Mass. Source: DARPA, Source: Nano Patents And Innovations

Read More........→December 24, 2012

Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

In Europe the Belgian Malinois (short-haired fawn) is one of four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog.The other varieties are the Groenendael (long-haired black, called Belgian Sheepdog in the US), the Tervuren (long-haired fawn), and the Laekenois (wire-haired fawn or gray). The American Kennel Club split the varieties into three separate breeds back in the 1950s (AKC does not recognize the Laekenois). The genetics behind each  breed  are  very  similar,  as  are  their  personalities  and  temperaments. The advantage here is that a study of the more common Tervuren and Sheepdog will give you some indication of the qualities of the short-haired, fawn colored Malinois. A word of caution: The US Military has imported many dogs from the Netherlands for use as Military Working Dogs (MWDs). Although they refer to these dogs as Belgian Malinois, many of them are mixed with other breeds and do not possess all of the Belgian Malinois breed's characteristics. The Belgian Malinois is a sensitive, family-oriented dog. They love to do anything and everything with their owners, and at times they will insist! They are not a breed that is happy being kenneled or otherwise deprived of their owner's companionship. They are also an extremely high-energy dog. This is an important note for if you are unprepared and do not enjoy their activity level, they can make your life miserable! Malinois, if not given something to occupy their time, will make something up by themselves - usually not to your liking. Many people have said that they have had active dogs in the past, but the Malinois differs in that all his energy is directed at his owner! If you throw the ball for him 100 times, then he will return it to you 101 times for another throw. A person often

wonders if it is possible to ever wear these dogs out! The Malinois is an extremely devoted dog. He likes to be your shadow whether you are going out for a jog or spending quiet time reading. He will even follow you around the house. They are an extremely sensitive dog  and will pick up very quickly on their owner's mood. You may come home from work and reflect on the fact that you have had a bad day only after seeing your dog's expression. They seem to know what you are feeling almost before you do. It is uncanny and at the same time very rewarding to share that type of relationship with your dog. The  Malinois possesses  a  keen  intelligence.  They  do  not accept harsh punishment, but blossom when trained with positive methods based on rewarding proper behavior. Many owners report just showing their Malinois what is required and rewarding him for a proper response gets results. Their desire to please their owner is very strong. The breed excels in obedience, agility, tracking, herding, schutzhund, and search and rescue. Proper training and socialization is a must for the Malinois as his desire to work and his natural protectiveness can get him into trouble without direction. Puppies should be raised in a home environment and taken out often to see the world. They need lots of positive interactions with different people and situations so that they learn to accept the overtures of strangers. Malinois should be confident in their behavior toward strangers, never shy or skittish. Some shyness can be traced to a lack of early socialization (socialization later in life is important too)! Responsible breeders will evaluate the temperament of each puppy in their litter and will help you choose anindividual Malinois that will fit best with your particular situation. Fortunately the Malinois is a healthy breed. Although genetic problems are rare, there are a few heritable problems in the Malinois gene pool. You should be aware of these problems

when choosing a breeder. There is hip and elbow dysplasia present in the breed, and all breeding stock should be certified clear of this problem. Responsible breeders will provide the proper documentation concerning hip certification. There is epilepsy present in the breed, although it is less prevalent in the Malinois than in the Tervuren and Sheepdog. A responsible  breeder will be aware of  this potential  problem  and  will  explain what steps they are taking to prevent it in their puppies. There has also been concern about eye defects in the Malinois, particularly Progressive Retinal Atrophy. The problem is present, though rare, in the Tervuren. There are heritable eye problems in the Belgian Sheepdog. For this reason all breeding stock should be certified free of hereditary eye diseases by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (C.E.R.F.). Again, responsible breeders will provide you with documentation. Fortunately genetic problems in the Malinois are rare. However, responsible breeders and puppy buyers need to be aware of these problems so that they do not become common tragedies. The Malinois excels in dog sports (Agility and Flyball) and activities such as herding, search and rescue, competitive obedience, jogging companion and more. An active lifestyle with many challenges is best for the Malinois to thrive to his full potential. Without this type of routine many Malinois can become destructive and hyper. Not every Malinois has the exact same degree of "high drive," but the first-time Belgian Malinois owner needs to be aware of these generally common traits. The Belgian Malinois is at his best when given a job, but it is equally important to integrate the Malinois into family life by setting clear behavior guidelines as well as training him to behave as a "Canine Good Citizen" whether at home, with guests or strangers, or in the park. Source: Animal-Discovery, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→October 26, 2012

Dogs and cats may help kids escape respiratory illnesses

Dogs and cats might offer protection against respiratory illnesses in the first year of an infant’s life, a new study has revealed. Finnish researchers have found that having pets during infancy may actually protect children from respiratory illnesses during the first year of their life. They followed 397 children from the time their mothers were pregnant through age 1. The scientists found that those who were exposed to dogs at home had fewer respiratory illnesses or symptoms compared with children who didn’t have dogs. Children with dogs also had less-frequent ear infections and needed antibiotics less often as compared to those children who were never exposed to dogs. Cats offered similar protective benefits, but to a lesser degree. According to the authors, the findings suggest that early contact with dogs or cats may ramp up infants’ immune systems. “We speculate that animal contacts could help to mature the immunologic system, leading to more composed immunologic response and shorter duration of infections,” ABC News quoted. The amount of time a dog spends inside the home also has an impact on children’s respiratory health. Children who live in houses where dogs are inside less than six hours a day are at lowest risk for respiratory problems. The authors think that it could be because dogs that are inside track less dirt. More exposure to dirt leads to more exposure to different types of bacteria, which can help strengthen the immune system. Other studies also suggest that pets can lower children’s risk of certain illnesses. Research out of the University of California, San Francisco published in June found that dust in homes where there are dogs may protect children against respiratory syncytial virus, a common cause of potentially severe cold-like illnesses. But the Finnish study didn’t include parents with allergies to dogs or cats. Parents with these allergies are more likely to have children with the same allergies, and having pets around very young children who are allergic may not be very safe. “If an infant has an allergic predisposition, their reaction will be more pronounced than an older child’s,” said Dr. Nina Shapiro, director of pediatric otolaryngology at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital. Dr. Shapiro meant that if an allergic infant is exposed to a dog or cat, it can potentially be dangerous. That’s what kept David Bakke from getting a pet for his son, even though the little boy always wanted one. Bakke, an editor at Money Crashers Personal Finance, is allegic to several animals. “We decided against it because of potential health risks for myself as well as the possibility of long-term respiratory illness for my son,” Bakke said. The study was recently published in the journal Pediatrics.Source: Indian Express, Source: Image

Read More........→August 16, 2012

Is a dog your baby's new best friend?

Daniel DeNoon writes about a new study involving pets and babies for WebMD Health News. An excerpt: "Babies in homes with dogs have fewer colds, fewer ear infections, and need fewer antibiotics in their first year of life than babies raised in pet-free homes, Finnish researchers find. Homes with cats are healthier for babies, too, but not to the same extent as those with dogs, note researchers Eija Bergroth, MD, of Finland's Kuopio University Hospital, and colleagues."'The strongest effect was seen with dog contacts. We do not know why it was stronger than with cat contacts,' Bergroth tells WebMD. 'It might have something to do with dirt brought inside by the dogs, especially since the strongest protective effect was seen with children living in houses where dogs spent a lot of time outside.'... "A time-honored theory, the hygiene hypothesis, suggests that children's immune systems mature best when infants are exposed to germs in just the right amount. Too many germs are unhealthy, but so is a sterile, germ-free home. "That theory is now giving way to the 'microbiome hypothesis,' says Karen DeMuth, assistant professor of pediatrics at Atlanta's Emory University. "'The microbiome hypothesis is that early-life exposure to wide varieties of microbes lets them mix with the microbes in the gut and helps them keep the immune system from reacting against itself and causing autoimmune disease, or from reacting against stuff you should ignore and causing allergy,' she says."Source; eScienceCommons

Read More........→July 10, 2012