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Putting together the pieces
The discovery that the genetic changes that occur in dogs with certain types of cancer are virtually identical to genetic abnormalities in humans with the same cancers may help lead to better treatment options for both animals and people. Genome studies by veterinary researchers at the University of Minnesota and North Carolina State University reveal that some bone and blood cancers develop similarly in both dogs and humans. With these similarities in mind, the researchers have set out to identify cancer-associated genes in dogs, which could provide greater insight into human cancer risk, diagnosis and prognosis. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782 or dkirkpatrick@avma.org.
The low 'Down' on cancer
The identification of a gene that apparently curbs tumor growth in women with Down syndrome may offer new hope in the fight against breast cancer. The finding by researchers at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is leading to further study into why women with Down syndrome are 10 to 25 times less likely to develop breast cancer and why the gene is either lost or suppressed in most other human breast tumors. The research team, which is led by Dr. Weston Porter, is also studying why deleting the gene from mice triggers rapid tumor growth. For more information, contact Angela Clendenin at 979-862-2675 or aclendenin@cvm.tamu.edu.
Wasting no time
Dubbed the "next generation of diagnostic testing," researchers at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine have developed a revolutionary way to detect viruses such as influenza and HIV in less than a minute. According to vaccine specialist Dr. Ralph Tripp, the new spectroscopic technique saves valuable time when it comes to diagnosing viruses and could possibly save lives by rapidly detecting disease outbreaks and agents of bioterrorism. The technique is so powerful, researchers say, that it has the potential to detect a single virus particle and can also differentiate between virus subtypes and mutations. For more information, contact Tracy Giese at 706-583-5485 or tellus@vet.uga.edu.
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Protecting public health
When it comes to public health, there are few issues that capture our attention more than food safety and zoonotic diseases, because, as American Veterinary Medical Association Executive Vice President Dr. Ron DeHaven recently said, "as goes the health of our nation's animals, so goes the health of its people." That unequivocal truth applies not only to veterinarians who treat food animals, but also those who identify, diagnose, treat and control zoonotic diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, avian influenza and mad cow disease. Highlighting the critical role veterinarians play in relation to public health, both DeHaven and Dr. Gregory Hammer recently testified before Congressional subcommittees on the shortage of veterinarians in the United States. For more information, go to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association or contact David Kirkpatrick at dkirkpatrick@avma.org.
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A sampling of interesting upcoming events and pet-related campaigns ...
World Veterinary Day, April 26, 2008: Veterinarians around the world will recognize and promote veterinary medicine's many contributions to human and animal health, including protecting the planet from biologic disasters, improving food safety and enhancing the health of animals, ranging from our pets to production animals and wildlife. For more information on World Veterinary Day, visit the World Veterinary Association or the American Veterinary Medical Association.
National Pet Week, May 4, 2008 – May 10, 2008: National Pet Week is an annual event that promotes responsible pet ownership, celebrates the human-animal bond and promotes public awareness of veterinary medicine. For more information, go to http://www.petweek.org/index.cfm.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 18, 2008 – May 24, 2008: The American Veterinary Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Kennel Club and the U.S. Postal Service team their efforts to educate the public and help reduce the 4.7 million dog bites and 800,000 visits to doctors and emergency rooms that occur each year. For more information, visit www.avma.org or www.cdc.gov.
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