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How do
I donate samples
for Saluki studies?

 

Your tax-deductible donations, made payable to SHR Inc, should be sent to

MaryDee Sist DVM
1629 Meech Road
Williamston, MI 48895

517-655-1354
517-655-5551
Salukihealth@aol.com

2013 Annual Meeting
& President's Report

The annual meeting of SHR, Inc. was held at the MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Landing, MI at 1 PM, Sat. Nov. 30, 2013. Officers and board members attended either in person, by telephone or the internet. Various discussions and actions included: The corporate records for the year June 2012 thru May 2013 were approved.

All board members (Vicky Clarke, Linda Scanlon and Kathy Morton) and officers (Jim Steckley, Bill Schall and Linda Scanlon) agreed to continue in their positions and terms of office. The Treasurer’s report for the corporate year ending May 31, 2013 was approved.

The secretary’s report stated that, unfortunately, Vicky Clarke has not had time to update the SHR web site. The web site has facilitated dissemination of information much more quickly and with less mailing needed. President’s report:

Update of current projects:

Cancer DNA studies:

We continue to accept tumor samples from Salukis for histological examination by Dr. Steficheck and inclusion in the cancer bank. It is hoped that Dr. Thomas and Dr. Modiano will use these in their DNA studies. Dr. Guillermo Cuto, Greyhound researcher and chief Oncologist at Ohio State University was interested in Saluki blood types and I sent him the Saluki results from Dr. Hale’s study that was supported by the Society for the Preservation of Desert Bred Salukis. A manuscript is in preparation including the AKC and COO Saluki blood types, AKC and Spanish (Galgos) Greyhounds and Scottish Deerhounds. We have also entertained the possibility of collaborating on Osteosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma studies. I sent him a log of the Saluki samples banked. He is also considering including the Saluki CBC data with his Greyhound data, again contrasting COO and AKC Salukis and AKC and Galgos Greyhounds. Heart studies:

Thanks to the support and financial contributions from the SCOA and SCOC, as well as SHR, Dr. Sanders Acorn Grant application to the AKC-CHF (#1859-A: Evaluation of Occurrence of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Normal Saluki Dogs) requesting funding for a 7 day Holter ECG monitoring of normal Salukis was approved and funded. Thirty one Salukis were examined and due to the finding of a murmur on physical examination, 6 were excluded. A good amount of quality data was generated from the Holter monitors placed on 25 healthy, clinically normal Salukis. A summary of the study has been sent to the CHF. A manuscript detailing the study is being prepared. The SHR, inc. supported echocardiogram study of Salukis at the SCOA National Show in June was a success. Dr. Sanders examined 31 Salukis at a significantly reduced fee. AKC/Canine Health Foundation Grants:

Progress reports were received on 6/9/2013 for Cancer Grants #1759, #1131, and #1429. Summaries of these reports were sent for publication in the SCOA Newsletter and the ASA Newsletter. Progress reports for Cardiac Grants #1760 and #1753 were received 6/30/2013. Summaries were also sent for inclusion in the SCOA and ASA Newsletters. Conferences:

I was fortunate to attend the AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference held August 9-11, 2013 in St. Louis as a representative of the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, MSU. Conference proceedings are available on the CHF web site. There were many excellent presentations. Highlights of particular interest to Saluki fanciers included Dr. Meurs presentation titled: Inherited Cardiomyopathies – Understanding Unique Clinical and Genetic Aspects for Your Breed. The contents of this lecture and the significance as it pertained to Salukis was sent for inclusion in the SCOA and ASA Newsletters and was published in the Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Newsletter. Also of interest was Dr. Modiano’s presentation summarizing some of his research progress. Genetically two different types of osteosarcoma have been found; one being quite aggressive with a survival time of 2 months versus 13.976 mo. in the indolen type. Three types, in clinical behavior, and a 4th in molecular behavior have been found in Lymphoma. He is working on commercial test on formalin biopsy lymph node samples to aid in the treatment and prognosis of Lymphoma. Dr. Modiano stated that hemagiosarcoma was the dark side of cancer. The cause is not known, and there is a clearly heritable risk, but environmental and lifestyle modifiers. Sites of occurrence vary with the breed. Until recently, it was accepted that the tumors arise from blood vessel lining cells. He has shown that bone marrow derived cells can differentiate into various tumor cells, including white blood, fat and vascular cells. His ongoing work seeks to define the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment that determine which lineage predominates, and that provide a safe niche for tumor growth and progression. He believes that disrupting this niche will delay or prevent metastatic spread, and more importantly, protect tumor sites from hemorrhage, which is the most common lethal event in the disease. Three molecular subgroups have been found. He felt that the “early” detection patented test has high false positive and negative results. His group is working to develop new therapies, as well as new methods for prevention and control that will reduce the number of dogs that develop hemangiosarcoma in the future. Dr. Breen’s lecture was titled; The Cytogenomic Landscape of Canine Cancer. His work has shown that there are considerable cytogenomic changes shared by numerous forms of cancer (lymphoma, leukemia, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and melanoma among others). They are now aligning cytogenic data from conparable cancers in multiple species to identify the genes likely to be of greatest significance to the malignant process. Identification of these genes is key to developing new ways to halt the cancer process and extend both the duration and quality of life of patients. Both Dr. Modiano and Dr. Breen continue to express interest in including Saluki samples in their ongoing research and stressed that samples from your dog can help other dogs in the future. Dr. Mark Neff, Head, Laboratory of Canine Genetics& Genomics at the Van Andel Research Institute presented a seminar entitled: Unbiased Access to Complex Disease Etiologies through Canine Genetics and Genomics, Feb 27, 2013 at DCPAH, MSU. I have had no correspondence with the Van Andel group and this gave me a good opportunity to find out the status of their cancer research. He stated that the Canine Health Cancer Consortium received a $4.3 million dollar grant to study breed susceptibilities to cancers (hemanigosarcoma, osteosarcoma and lymphoma). Thousands of breed samples were collected “POORLY” with millions wasted. They did see trending that was different from back grounds, but not statistically significant (i.e. need 70 affected to look for allele similarities and then the same number of non-affected controls. Also, since breed genomes are different, if a mutation in an area is found in one breed, each breed can have its own affected areas of the genome. No significant results were obtained at the conclusion of the grant. He said that we could meet and he would try to retrieve the Saluki samples. New business:

SHR, inc. has committed to support the following AKC CHF Grants by years end:

#2052: Defining the Mechanism of Severe, Life Threatening Bleeding Disorders in Dogs. PI: Dr. Dana N. Levine, DVM, PhD; Iowa State University. Total Grant: $51,297, Grant Period: 1/1/2014 – 12/31/2016

#1994: Early and Accurate Prediction of Mitral Valve Disease Development. PI: Dr. Sydney N. Moise, DVM; Cornell University; Total Grant: $36,881, Grant Period: 1/1/2014 – 12/31/2014

#1889-G: Innovations in Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cancer: PI: Dr. Jaime Modiano, VMD, PhD; University of Minnesota; Total Grant Amount: $1,061,137; Grant Period: 1/1/2014 – 12/31/2016

Project abstracts are available on the AKC Canine Health Foundation web site.

We need further discussion on how to more widely disseminate information on SHR, Inc. studies, whether a presence at the National Show as well as regional shows would be of benefit. Also, fund raising possibilities at shows need to be considered.

In the AKC Canine Health Foundation 2013 Annual Report, Saluki Health Research was listed as MILLENNIUM FOUNDER which means more than $25,000 has been given to the CHF in support of research grants.

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