|
News you need to know  Top
Passing the plate
There's something out of whack in our digestive systems, and it may be high-fat diets – surprise! – that are to blame. Dr. Robert Ritter, professor of physiology and neuroscience in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University, says high-fat diets can weaken how the stomach communicates satiation to the brain, potentially leading to overeating and weight gain in people. Ritter's research involves rats, but he hopes that his findings could help reverse obesity trends in humans. For more information, contact Charlie Powell at 509-335-7073 or Charlie_powell@wsu.edu.
Going to Bat Against Lou Gehrig's Disease
The discovery that the genetic mutation responsible for degenerative myelopathy in dogs is the same mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, in people may open the door to the treatment of two diseases for which there currently is no hope. The finding, according to researchers at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and the Broad Institute, will allow scientists to use dogs with the spinal cord disease as animal models to help identify treatments for curing Gehrig's Disease. Dogs with degenerative myelopathy are typically euthanized shortly after diagnosis. In people, Gehrig's Disease leads to paralysis and death. For more information, contact Tracey Berry at 573-884-2215 or berryt@missouri.edu.
News you might not know Top
Gutting it Out
Their names aren't flattering, and their effects can be excruciating. They're the terrible troika of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Although it has long been known that such gastrointestinal disorders are stress-related, what we don't know is the "why" and the "how." Dr. Adam Moeser and his colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University are trying to get to the bottom of those questions. Their research in the emerging field of stress-related intestinal disorders has "one medicine" implications for both humans and animals. For more information, contact David Green at 919-513-6662 or david_green@ncsu.edu.
News you can use Top
A sampling of interesting upcoming events and pet-related campaigns ...
National Pet Dental Health Month, Feb. 1, 2009 – Feb. 28, 2009: February is National Pet Dental Health Month, a time for pet owners to focus on the importance of regular dental care and how good dental care contributes to overall good health. For more information, go to the Pet Dental Web site.
Western Veterinary Conference, Feb. 15, 2009 – Feb. 19, 2009: One of the largest veterinary conferences in the world, the WVC welcomes veterinarians from around the world to Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out www.wvc.org for more information.
American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture Annual Meeting, March 13, 2009 – March 15, 2009: This year's meeting, which will host veterinary acupuncturists from around the country, convenes in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information, check out www.aava.org.
Veterinary Orthopedic Society Annual Conference, Feb. 28, 2009 – March 7, 2009: Specialists in veterinary orthopedic medicine will gather in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Go to www.vosdvm.org for more information.
|
= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
