UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
VETERINARY CENTER FOR CLINICAL TRIALS
Clinical Trials Report
November 2018
FEATURED ONGOING CLINICAL TRIALS
CARDIOLOGY
Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
Assessing Different Methods to Measure Heart Chamber Size in Dogs

The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate different methods of measuring the size of one of the heart chambers (i.e. the left atrium) that is associated with severity of disease, treatment decisions, and prognosis. 
  
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Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
Evaluating the Effects of Pimobendan on Kidney Function in Dogs

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of standard and high-dose pimobendan on the kidney function in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease prior to the onset of chronic heart failure

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GENETICS
Ventricular Septal Defects
Identifying the Genetics in Arabian Horses

Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart defects in horses and allow blood to shunt inappropriately from the left ventricle to the right ventricle via an opening in the ventricular septum. This blood recirculates through the lungs and left chambers, resulting in enlargement of these structures. Arabian horses are overrepresented in horses presenting for VSDs, and we are investigating the possibility of a genetic predisposition for this defect.        
  
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Epilepsy, Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy, and Addison's Disease
Understanding the Genetics in Multiple Dog Breeds

The purpose of the Canine Genetic Disease Project is to evaluate the mode of inheritance, identify genes responsible for disease expression and join the tools of statistics with molecular genetics. 

Ectopic Ureters - Identifying the Genetics in Golden Retrievers

Sometimes when a puppy is developing during embryogenesis, the ureters do not connect properly into the bladder, leading to ectopic ureters.  We propose to identify the region of the dog genome associated with ectopic ureters.                  

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INTERNAL MEDICINE
Diabetes Mellitus
Assessing a new Therapy for Maintaining Remission in Cats

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the benefit of Exenatide-ER for maintaining diabetic cats in remission (in an insulin-independent state).   
 
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Hypothyroidism
Evaluating Current Treatment Strategies in Dogs

Thyroid hormone supplementation is the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism. Recent clinical experience suggests that some dogs may respond to lower doses of thyroid hormone supplementation.  We are currently investigating whether dogs with hypothyroidism can be successfully treated using a lower dose of thyroid hormone and the best way to monitor this treatment.     

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ONCOLOGY
Small Cell Lymphoma
Understanding How the Body Processes a Chemotherapy Drug in Cats  

Despite the wide use of chlorambucil in cats with small cell GI lymphoma, the pharmacokinetic parameters have not been previously studied in cats. Knowledge of the pharmacokinetic parameters of chlorambucil in this population of older, cancer-bearing cats is critical to understand why some cats experience side effects with chlorambucil therapy and determine if variability in the metabolism of chlorambucil contributes to treatment failure.
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Feline Cancer
Understanding How the Body Processes the Chemotherapy Drug, Vinblastine, in Cats

Although vinblastine is commonly used in veterinary cancer therapy, most commonly for treating feline lymphoma, there is currently no information on how the drug is distributed and eliminated in these cats. This study aims to describe the pharmacokinetic profile of vinblastine in cats and to identify which characteristics or traits that can vary from one cat to another influence how vinblastine is distributed and eliminated in cats.
  
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OPHTHALMOLOGY
Dry Eye Syndrome
Understanding the Genetics in West Highland white terriers

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eye is a devastating disease that causes ocular pain and potentially blindness. It is seen more frequently in West Highland White Terriers in comparison to many other breeds. We are interested identifying the genetic components of this disease as well as characterizing this disease better with examination and testing of the tear film and ocular surface and in select patients using advanced imaging techniques.

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SOFT TISSUE SURGERY
Hiatal Hernia / Brachycephalic Obstructor Syndrome
Assessing a New Surgical Treatment in Dogs

Brachycephalic dogs have a tendency to develop hiatal herniation (HH) with greater frequency than non-brachycephalic dogs. Dogs with relative obstruction of the upper airways may generate a decreased pressure in their chest during inspiration that results in the upper part of the stomach being sucked into the chest. We hypothesize that, if the upper airway obstruction in these dogs can be alleviated, improvement in their respiratory compromise might be seen as well as a reduction in the severity of their HH.     

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Chylothorax
Assessing a New Surgical Treatment in Dogs

The traditional combination of thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy has been performed for many years. However, without good evidence of pericardial disease, the pericardectomy may not be necessary. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of doing a complete thoracic duct ligation alone in resolving chyle accumulation and provide a better understanding of the physiological response to thoracic duct ligation in dogs with idiopathic chylothorax.          

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TRIAL UPDATES
Clinical Trials that are "On Hold" 
  • Investigating a Oral Nutraceutical Treatment in Dogs with Cystine Bladder Stones
  • Understanding the Genetics for Leopard Complex Spotting in Appaloosas
  • Assessing a New Treatment for Oral Melanoma in Dogs
  • Assessing a New Treatment for Lymphoma in Dogs
  • Evaluating a New Formulation of Chemotherapy for Lymphoma in Dogs
  • Understanding Intervertebral Disc Herniation in Dachshunds
  • Identifying Lymph Node Metastasis in Dogs with Lung Tumors
  • Assessing Minimally-Invasive Tumor Ablation in Cats and Dogs
  • Improving Operative Detection of Tumors in Cats and Dogs
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Dogs
  • Assessing a Potential Treatment for Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs
  • Evaluating a Stem Cell Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Laser Ablation for Treatment of Ectopic Ureters in Dogs
  • Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs with Acute Severe Spinal Cord Injury
NOTE: Trials that are "On Hold" are not accepting new patients and we do not know when these trials will open back up.  If/when these trials do accept new patients again, we will notify you via this report and post information about the study (including contact information) on the VCCT website.


Clinical Trials that are Recently Completed or Finished Enrollment  
  • Comparison of Longitudinal Changes in Chromatic Pupillometry in Normal Dogs and Dogs with Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration or Optic Pathway Disease
  • Assessing the Effect of Valacyclovir on EHV-5 Viral Kinetics in Horses Diagnosed with Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Comparing Diagnostic Techniques for Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs
  • Evaluating Post-Dexamethasone Cortisol Values Used to Diagnose Hyperadrenocorticism in Dogs
  • Reducing the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dogs Receiving Chemotherapy
  • CT and PET/CT for staging of canine oral malignant melanoma
THANK YOU!
Thank you for wanting to be a part of our clinical trials program.  We greatly appreciate your desire to participate in and inform others about our trials, and/or refer cases to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH).  The VCCT and our clinical trials wouldn't be here without you!  
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