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NEWS2
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In brief
HOT SUMMER:The National
Animal Disease Information
Service and Merial are warning
farmers above average summer
temperatures could lead to a rise
in parasitic disease in growing
animals.They said the timing
of worm treatments for grazing
lambs will depend on prevailing
weather conditions, grazing
history, contamination levels
and stocking density. Prolonged
spring dry weather may have
delayed the larval challenge,
but infectivity will increase
once wetter weather returns
and leaves lambs susceptible
to parasitic gastroenteritis.
VCS GRANT: Cardiologists
are being encouraged to
apply for a grant offered by
theVeterinary Cardiovascular
Society to aid research in this
area.The society’s research
project grant totals £8,000,
which will be match-funded by
PetSavers.While it is anticipated
any one application would not
receive more than £8,000, if a
particularly relevant proposal is
received, the full £16,000 may
be awarded.The closing date
for applications is 31 August.To
apply, visit http://bit.ly/2sptiKv
CATTLE COURSE:The BCVA’s
Bull Breeding Soundness
Examination (BBSE) course
blends theory and practice,
and includes demonstrations
of examination and semen
collection techniques using
electroejaculation on bulls in a
farm situation. Delegates will
also have the opportunity to
take part in laboratory-based
semen morphology evaluation
techniques and get to grips with
all the equipment required for
BBSEs. For more information or
to book, visit www.bcva.eu
SHELTER SAVED: A campaign
to prevent the closure of a
WorldwideVeterinary Service
(WVS) animal shelter in
northernThailand has been
successful.The international
training centre and rehoming
shelter cares for animals and
trains the next generation of
clinicians in surgical sterilisation
techniques, shelter medicine
and management. Foundation
Marchig pledged to helpWVS
purchase the shelter and a
WVS fund-raising initiative also
proved fruitful.
CLUB’S MILESTONE: CVS’
Healthy Pet Club has cemented
its status as the UK’s largest
veterinary loyalty scheme with
the acquisition of its 300,000th
member. Angie Scullion joined
the club at OkefordVeterinary
Centre with her border collie
Cassie and was awarded a year’s
free membership by the practice
to celebrate the milestone.
CLASS CATS: Blue Cross has
teamed up with Moreton Morrell
College inWarwick to care for
homeless cats and kittens until
new homes can be found. Cats
will stay in five double pens
at the college where students
studying courses in animal care
and management will look after
them while being supervised by
the college’s lecturing team.
Novel regeneration therapy
available for use in UK dogsA CELL transplantation tech-
nique, historically used
in human medicine with
“groundbreaking regenera-
tive capabilities”, has been
made available to UK vets for
the first time to treat a range
of canine orthopaedic cases.
Originating in the medical
world, the Lipogems technique
was invented by Carlo Tremo-
lada, an Italian maxillofacial
plastic surgeon searching for
a way to create a smoother,
more viscous fat graft for filling
defects and creating natural
volumetric face enhancement.
Unexpectedly, patients given
Lipogems experienced a signif-
icant decrease in bruising and
inflammation normally asso-
ciated with these procedures
and demonstrated substantial
regenerative effects on the
underlying tissues.
Scientists identified the
regenerative characteristics in
Lipogems and it received US
Food and Drug Administration
Federal Food, Drug, and Cos-
metic Act (Act) Section 510(k)
clearance in 2014. A subse-
quent review in 2016 saw it
amended to include application
in orthopaedic surgerysettings.
The closed loop device was
initially used only in plastic
and reconstructive surgery,
but showed benefits for ortho-
paedic indications in more than
8,000 cases and 20 clinical
studies worldwide.
Harvesting fat
The Lipogems method is carried
out in one surgical step via a
single-use kit for the lipoaspi-
ration process and deploy-
ment of adipose tissue. Micro-
fragmenting adipose tissue
(harvested from fat) is obtained
from lipoaspirates through a
non-enzymatic, mechanical
process using a closed system
and disposable device.
Adipose tissue is harvested
using a vacuum syringe around
the flank of the dog under
general anaesthetic, after the
region has been anaesthetised
by local infiltration with sterile
saline and adrenaline.
Harvested fat tissue using the
Lipogems device is washed in
saline and gently agitated so
the pericytes detach from small
vessels and activate. Cells with
the stromalvascularstructure of
adipose tissue then act as a local
scaffold to maintain regenera-
tive activity for many months.
Vet Offer Zeira toldVeterinary
Times: “To colleagues who ask
me, ‘why Lipogems?’, I give
them this – the shortest and
most truthful answer–whoever
deals with regenerative medi-
cine uses stem cells; whoever
deals with stem cells should
use Lipogems.
“The longer answer is Lipo-
gems is a concept, a method
and a device all in one.
“Instead of using pure stem
cells that should be cultivated
and expanded – and, therefore,
are high cost –we use a true mini
habitat containing a scaffold,
stem cell precursors, numer-
ous anti-inflammatory factors,
trophic mediators and others.
“The method uses mild
mechanical forces in a com-
pletely closed system with no
enzymes, additives or other
manipulations, which avoids
complex regulatory issues.”
The single-use medical device
for the processing of lipoaspi-
rated adipose tissue is very
friendly and straightforward.
‘Amazing’results
DrZeira said:“I am happyto say,
in myhospital, 70 percent to 80
per cent of all cases treated
with stem cells have been
shifted from bone marrow-
cultivated material to Lipo-
gems, which we can use imme-
diately on patients.
“In the case of dogs’muscles,
tendons and articular diseases,
100 per cent of the cases are
treated by Lipogems.
“The results are amazing.
Dogs that suffered severe
lameness manage to walk with
nearly no lameness within five
to six days.
“Also, the effect’s duration
of this treatment is unique – it
lasts for 10 to 12 months after
a single treatment, sometimes
even longer.”
Lipogems Canine chief exec-
utive Martin ffrench Blake said
the objective of the Lipogems
product was to favour the
natural regenerative process
of tissues and was used in
numerous pathologies.
“The process activates the
dog’s own damage response
mechanism in a way that has
not yet been achieved by any
other regenerative treatment
options,” he said.
“The whole procedure from
harvesting to the injection
can be completed in less than
40 minutes under general
anaesthetic. One of the impor-
tant points about this procedure
is it is quick to perform and
promotes healing as early as
10 days after treatment, and
involves very little requirement
for drug usage.”
Crown Vet Referrals is the
only clinic in the UK and Ireland
to have staff trained in the Lipo-
gems Canine technique.
report by
Holly
Kernot
hollykernot@vbd.co.uk
01733 383562
ONE of East Lothian’s best known vet practices
is undergoing a £60,000 revamp and expansion.
The redevelopment of Dunedin Vets’ main surgery
in Tranent will create more space for its 13-strong
team of vets and VNs, with a new vet consult room,
an extra dog ward, a larger pharmacy, laboratory,
meeting room and additional office space, plus
separate cat and dog waiting areas.
Dunedin Vets clinical directors Margot Hunter and
Chris Monk are overseeing the redevelopment of the
surgery, which has seen them expand the premises
into a neighbouring flat owned by the practice.
Work started in early March and is expected to be
completed by August.
Mrs Hunter said: “Over the years, we have
expanded the practice in phases, but this is the
biggest project we have undertaken. We owned the
residential flat next door, so we are expanding into that
area to create a much more modern, vibrant surgery.”
Dunedin Vets has four sites across East Lothian –
with its main practice in Tranent and branch surgeries
in North Berwick, Prestonpans and Dunbar – and has
21 staff working across the group, including 6 vets, 7
VNs, and 8 reception and admin staff.
Major redevelopment at Scottish clinic
Margot Hunter and Chris Monk looking over the
building plans outside their main Tranent branch.
VN struck off for drinking alcohol
THE RCVSveterinarynurse disciplinarycommit-
tee (VNDC) has struck aVN off the registerafter
she was found to have been working under the
influence of alcohol.
Somerset-basedVN Nicola Buttler– who did not
attend her hearing at the college from 19 to 21
June, having stated in advance she was not going
to engage with the disciplinary process – was
charged with having been under the influence of
alcohol while at work on two occasions – while
she was working as a locum between 25 and 28
April 2016 in Frome, and from 3 to 4 July 2016
in Salisbury.
It was also alleged a prior conviction for
drink-driving in November 2013 rendered her
unfit to practise.
The VNDC heard from five witnesses for the
first charge, including three VNs and one vet.
They gave testimony they had cause to suspect
Ms Buttlerwas under the influence of alcohol due
to her demeanour, and recalled her repeatedly
retreating upstairs to her accommodation during
theworking day. Further, an openwine bottlewas
found in Ms Buttler’s accommodation and shewas
observed to have been drunk during hershift.The
VNDC, therefore, found the first charge proved.
With the second charge, the committee heard
from four witnesses, two of whom stated they
smelled alcohol on Ms Buttler’s breath while on
duty, and one of them stating she had slurred
speech and a flushed face at the end of a 14-hour
shift. The other two witnesses also presented
evidence to support the assertion Ms Buttlerwas
under the influence.
The VNDC also found Ms Buttler to lack credi-
bility because she had denied having any alcohol
on the premises when originally confronted, yet
later admitted in a college email she had had an
open bottle of wine in her bag. The committee,
therefore, found the second charge proved.
Chairing the VNDC, Jane Downes said: “The
VNDC noted Ms Buttler said she had worked for
20years without anyproblem and was previously
of good character. However, because there was
no evidence Ms Buttler would not repeat the
conduct with regards to working while under the
influence of alcohol, she could continue to pose
a risk to animals or the public in the future. The
committee, therefore, was bound to consider her
removal from the register.
“Although it noted from the brief email corre-
spondence Ms Buttler had sent to the college
she said she did not intend to practise in the
future, the VNDC decided, until she had shown
insight into her behaviour in 2016, she remained
a risk to animals. It therefore decided the pro-
portionate action was to instruct the registrar to
remove her name from the register of veterinary
nurses forthwith.”
Ms Buttler can apply for restoration to the
register after 10 months.
The VNDC’s full findings and decision is the
only authoritative document and is available on
www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
NEWLY discovered components of the chicken innate immune
system suggest poultry may be better equipped to fight viruses
than scientists previously thought.
The Pirbright Institute researchers investigating chicken immu-
nology have discovered a previously unknown interferon (antiviral
molecule), which they identified as interferon kappa (IFN-K).
The chicken’s innate immune system is generally not well under-
stood and Pirbright scientists have used this component to under-
stand its particular function in helping chickens combat viruses.
This type of interferon has previously only been known in a few
species, including humans, bats and mice. To better understand its
significance in poultry, scientists undertook a parallel comparison
between the chicken and human genomes to explore how IFN-K
worked and specific viruses it might protect chickens from.
Muhammad Munir, an expert in infection and innate immunity
who led the study, said: “Chickens fight viruses differently to
humans and the mechanisms of this process are not well under-
stood. Interferons were first discovered in chickens in 1957, but
60 years later the full repertoire of interferons in poultry is still
not yet fully explored.
“The discovery of IFN-K and the information we have been
able to gain about its properties and the protection it gives could
offer chickens extra defence against some important diseases.
What is especially interesting is chickens may already possess
the key to conquering some of the most dangerous diseases
that affect them. Using genetic modification technology, we can
boost their innate ability to fight disease – potentially protecting
people, too.
“This study highlights how much more there is to learn from
the chicken immune system and could be the first important step
towards a major breakthrough in the battle against poultry and
human disease.”
IFN-K found in chickens