Digoxin in dogs: once a day or twice a day?

Healthy mature dogs were given digoxin orally at the same dose once a day (SID) or divided (BID) at 12-hour intervals. Blood concentrations of digoxin were determined by radioimmunoassay. When the drug was given SID, peak blood concentrations were higher than, but lowest blood concentrations were not different than, those obtained when the drug was given BID. Thus, average blood concentration throughout 24 hours was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater when digoxin was given SID than when given BID. This suggested a reduced rate of clearance and an increased risk for toxicosis for digoxin when given SID versus BID. Peaks of digoxin blood concentrations were lower when the drug was given BID rather than SID; however, we do not know whether the smaller fluctuations can be translated into greater efficacy and/or less toxicity. Unless those questions are answered, we recommend that digoxin be administered BID to mature dogs.     

蛇年更有奋发心 蛇年更有奋发心 蛇年更有奋发心 辛巳年新春贺词

金龙腾空送冬去，银蛇飞舞迎春来。     

三羊开泰 万物生辉 癸未年新春贺词

三羊开泰万物生辉 癸未年新春贺词@本刊编辑部     

Glycogen depletion patterns in horses competing in day 2 of a three day event

Muscle biopsy samples were collected from the left middle gluteal muscle of the horses participating in day 2 (speed and endurance test) of a three day event. Six Thoroughbred horses were biopsied the day before and within 30 minutes of completion of the speed and endurance test. Serial muscle sections were reacted histochemically for myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity after acid pre-incubation to demonstrate Type I, IIA and IIB fibers and the glycogen content in the individual fibers was assessed using the periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction. Total glycogen in muscle was measured fluorometrically after hydrolysis to glucose. A significant decrease (P less than 0.001) in total muscle glycogen of 306.0 +/- 34.6 mmoles glucose units/kg (dry weight) (mean +/- SE) occurred when samples collected before exercise were compared to those collected following exercise. A significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in the percentage of Type I fibers having medium PAS staining intensity occurred when pre and post-exercise samples were compared. Significant decreases (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001 respectively) in the percentage of Type IIA and IIB fibers classified as having high PAS staining intensity occurred when post-exercise samples were compared with those pre-exercise. There were significant increases (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001 respectively) in the percentage of Type IIA and IIB fibers classified as having medium PAS staining intensity when the samples collected after the exercise were compared with those before the exercise.     

雏鸡良好的生长发育始于其出壳后的第4天

雏鸡需要最佳的育雏条件,以帮助其成功地渡过最佳生长期或育成期。荷兰生产的HatchBrood育雏器能提供这些条件,就像仍由抱窝母鸡照顾出壳后最初4 d中的雏鸡一样。然而,不同的是HatchBrood育雏器能够在一个育雏室内一次照顾39 600羽雏鸡。     

Ultrasonographic examinations of fetal growth of sheep between day 20 and day 50 of gestation

Previous studies on embryonic and fetal growth in sheep were mostly transversal using animals killed at various stages of gestation. Until now it was difficult to monitor the development of individual embryos/foetuses during pregnancy, especially during the first and second pregnancy month. Real-time ultrasound as a non invasive method could be an appropriate method for examination of embryonic and early foetal development in sheep. The aim of this study was to determine the embryonic and foetal development of the crown-rump-length (CRL) in pregnant ewes in relation to the number of fetuses and/or the breed. Between the 20th and 50th day of pregnancy the embryos/foetuses showed an exponential growth which can be best described by the equation of the form CRL (mm) = W * exp (k * day of pregnancy). The individual variability in embryofetal growth is in part due to the number of embryos per sheep and the sheep breed.     

原蚕饲养四回育的试验与推广

饲养原蚕历来都是花工多,季节性强,技术要求高的。在当前农村发展多种经营,劳动力紧张的情况下,要巩固和发展普通蚕种场的原蚕基地,提高蚕种质量,解决劳动力紧张的矛盾是当务之急。为了节省饲养原蚕的劳动力,我们于2002年春、秋蚕期在原蚕区永和镇永生村和刁坊镇金银村进行饲养原蚕全龄4回育试验,在取得良好结果和经验的基础上,于2003年在面上推广,得到广大蚕农的欢迎。现将试验和推广结果总结如下。