Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic and cardiovascular complications in the general population and in hemodialysis patients. Increased Lp(a) levels have been also described as a possible predictor of vascular access occlusion in patients on chronic hemodialysis. We have studied prospectively the relationship between vascular access survival and Lp(a) levels in 40 hemodialysis patients. The Lp(a) plasma concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all patients in April 1993. Throughout the following year, evolution and survival of their vascular accesses were analyzed. Failure of vascular access was established when there were complications requiring surgical repair or transluminal angioplasty. Fourteen patients showed failure of vascular access, and the cumulative survival of vascular accesses after 1 year of follow-up was 63.8%. The Lp(a) levels were higher in patients with failure of vascular access than in the others (35.2 ± 31 vs. 22.4 ± 25 mg/dl), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.064). The vascular access survival in patients with Lp(a) levels > 75th percentile (52.5 mg/dl) was significantly lower than in the remaining patients (40 vs. 72%; p = 0.045). This difference increased when we analyzed the patients with Lp(a) levels > 90th percentile (76 mg/dl; 25 vs. 68%; p = 0.002). Our results suggest that patients with the highest levels of Lp(a) are at risk of developing complications in their vascular accesses, and they also have lower vascular access survival.

Based on computed tomography (CT) images, volume rendering was used to obtain a three-dimensional representation of data (3DVR). The aims of this study included: describing the bone anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of dogs; comparing the TMJs of each dog by skull type and age; comparing 3DVR images with three-standard-plane CTs; assessing soft tissues adjacent to the TMJ and assessing pathological cases. Multidetector computed tomography scans of bilateral TMJs of 410 dogs were observed. From a ventral view, slight displacements in the positions of the skulls were seen, whereas from a caudal view, differences in amplitude of the articular space were observed. Dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic dogs showed more similar TMJ features than brachycephalic dogs. The shape of the TMJ bones were irregular in dogs under 1 year old. The 3DVR images related to the three-standard-plane CT improved the overall comprehension of the changes in the articular space amplitude and condylar process morphology. The fovea pterygoidea, mandibular fossa and retroarticular process were perfectly shown. A better spatial situation of adjacent soft tissues was obtained. The 3DVR represents an ancillary method to the standard-plane CT that could help in the understanding of the anatomy and diagnoses of different pathologies of the TMJ in dogs.

Osseous cyst-like lesions (OCLLs) in the mandibular condylar process of dogs are rare and generally considered clinically not relevant, although have been associated with osteoarthritis (OA). On computed tomography (CT) scans, OCLLs appear circular in shape but may change with the cutting plane. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the CT characteristics of OCLLs and their prevalence in the mandibular condylar process of dogs. A total of 716 CT scans of dogs examined from 2018 to 2025 (1,432 joints), met the inclusion criteria; 385 males and 331 females, of different breeds, aged 1 month to 17 years. OCLLs were observed in 57 dogs, 31 in the head of the condylar process (CH) and 26 in the neck of the condylar process (CN), with 4 dogs with OCLLs in both positions. OCLLs appeared as circular images in the transverse planes in all dogs but had a concave shape resembling a bone notch in the dorsal and sagittal planes, and in three-dimensional volume rendering (3DVR). In the CH, OCLLs were associated with OA in 19 out of 24 joints. Brachycephalic breeds were affected more frequently, primarily due to the high proportion of French Bulldogs that showed a highly significant association with CH OCLLs (P = 0.0009; OR: 14.82; two-sided Fisher's exact test). In the CN, OCLLs were significantly associated with male dogs of mesocephalic breeds (P = 0.0164; OR: 2.96; two-sided Fisher's exact test). CT dorsal and sagittal planes, and 3DVR allowed us to identify the notch shape of OCLLs. OCLLs in the CH are uncommon in dogs and French Bulldogs would appear to be predisposed. OA signs are observed in a high proportion in dogs with OCLLs suggesting a potential association.