Kinematic Motion Patterns of the Cranial and Caudal Canine Cervical Spine

Objective: To define the kinematic motion patterns of the canine cervical spine, with a particular emphasis on identifying differences between the cranial (C₂–C₄) and caudal (C₅–C₇) segments, and to determine the significance of coupled motions (CM) in the canine cervical spine. Study Design: Cadaveric biomechanical study. Sample Population: Cervical spines of 8 Foxhounds. Methods: Spinal specimens were considered free of pathology based on radiographic, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations. All musculature was removed without damaging ligaments or joint capsules. Spines were mounted in a customized pure‐moment spine testing jig, and data were collected using an optoelectronic motion capture system. Range of motion, neutral zone and CM in flexion/extension, left/right lateral bending and left/right axial rotation were established. Data were analyzed using mixed‐effects maximum likelihood regression models. Results: Total flexion/extension did not change across the 4 levels. There was no difference between flexion and extension, and no CM was identified. Lateral bending was not different across levels, but tended to be greater in the cranial spine. Axial rotation was ～2.6 times greater in the caudal segments. Lateral bending and axial rotation were coupled. Conclusions: Kinematics of the cranial and caudal cervical spine differed markedly with greater mobility in the caudal cervical spine.     

Analysis of equine cisterna magna cerebrospinal fluid for the presence of some monoamine neutrotransmitters and transmitter metabolites

Small volumes (0.05 ml) of cisterna magna cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 23 neurologically normal horses were analysed for the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin and their metabolites using high pressure liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. Two metabolites, homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were present in all CSF samples. The deaminated and methylated metabolite of dopamine, HVA, was present at a mean concentration of 42.33±3.14 ng/ml of CSF. The deaminated metabolite of serotonin, 5-HIAA, was present at a mean concentration of 45.52±3.65 ng/ml of CSF. A positive correlation was found between the CSF concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA (r=0.72, p=0.0003). The mean ratio of HVA to 5-HIAA concentrations was 1.07±0.05. The ratios of HVA to 5-HIAA concentrations were found to be more indicative of the serotonergic metabolite 5-HIAA (r=–0.62, p=0.0016) than the dopaminergic metabolite HVA (r=0.11, p=0.60). There was a stronger relationship between the concentrations of 5-HIAA and the ratios of HVA to 5-HIAA in male CSF (r=–0.85, p=0.0006) than in female CSF (r=–0.54, p=0.01).Concentrations of CSF neurotransmitter metabolites were evaluated in horses grouped by age (0–4, 5–9 and 10–13 years). The youngest group of horses had a significantly (p=0.003) greater CSF concentration of HVA than of 5-HIAA. The 10–13-year-old horses had a significantly (p=0.02) lower mean CSF HVA concentration than the 0–4-year-old horses. No age-related differences in CSF 5-HIAA concentrations were detected.     

Vaughn and Lulai: Suberin stains comparison of fluorescent stains for the detection of suberin in potato periderm

Several fluorescent staining procedures to detect suberin in normal periderm of potato were assessed. Among the stains tested, treatment with the alkaloid fluorochrome berberine followed by counterstaining with crystal violet appears to be the most sensitive combination. Crystal violet increased contrast by quenching lignin fluorescence which is also present in the periderm cell walls. This technique may be useful for studying the role of suberin in disease resistance and wound healing of potato tubers and other tissues.     

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) seed processing and potential utilization

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) is a leguminous plant that infests soybean fields in the southeastern United States. Its seeds contain a variety of toxic, highly colored compounds, mainly anthraquinones together with a small amount of fat. These compounds contaminate and lower the quality of soybean oil when inadequately cleaned soybean seed from this area is processed. The sorting of sicklepod seed from a soybean harvest is an additional economic burden on the farmer beyond the cost of proper disposal of the weed seed to avoid worsening field infestation. Fortunately, sicklepod seed also contains substantial amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. These edible components when freed from anthraquinones have a market in pet food as well as potential in human foods because of the high galactomannan ratio of the polysaccharides. Sicklepod seed was dehulled, and the ground endosperm was defatted, followed by sequential solvent extraction of the defatted seed meal to isolate the anthraquinones, carbohydrates, and protein components into their respective classes. Each class of isolate was spectroscopically identified.     

Naturally-occurring aromatic compounds inhibit potato tuber sprouting

Several naturally-occurring aromatic aldehydes and an aromatic alcohol inhibited potato tuber sprouting when applied as volatiles or directly as emulsions. Exposure to volatiles was for 1 or 10 days prior to placement into fresh air. Salicylaldehyde inhibited sprouting of tubers exposed for 1 or more days; benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, cuminaldehyde and thymol suppressed sprouting of tubers exposed for 10 days. Direct application of cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde as 1% and 10% emulsions completely inhibited sprouting 14 days after treatment without apparent tuber damage. These compounds applied without dilution inhibited sprouting but damaged tubers.     

Anaesthesia with ketamine/medetomidine in the rabbit: influence of route of administration and the effect of combination with butorphanol

Objective To compare the characteristics of anaesthesia induced with ketamine/medetomidine administered by the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes and to assess the effects of the addition of butorphanol to this combination. Study design Prospective randomised study. Animals Six female New Zealand White rabbits. Methods Rabbits were given one of four combinations of ketamine and medetomidine (K/M) either subcutaneously (SC) or intramuscularly (IM) on four successive occasions with a 7‐day interval between treatments. The dose combinations were; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 SC; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 IM; 15/0.5 mg kg^?1 SC, and 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 together with 0.4 mg kg^?1 butorphanol (K/M/B) SC. The effects of anaesthesia on arterial blood gas values and cardiovascular variables were recorded at predetermined time points. Toe and ear pinch reflexes were judged to determine the duration of surgical anaesthesia. Loss of the righting reflex was used to measure the duration of sleep time. Analyses used repeated measures analysis of variance. Results All groups lost the righting reflex and ear pinch response. Three animals in the groups that received K/M alone lost their toe pinch reflex, whereas four lost this reflex when given K/M/B. Time of onset of loss of the righting, toe and ear pinch reflexes did not differ significantly among the groups. The higher dose combination of medetomidine with ketamine and the combination of K/M/B produced a greater duration of loss of the ear pinch response than the lower dose of K/M administered by either route. No significant differences were found among the groups in the duration of loss of the toe pinch reflex. All animals developed a moderate bradycardia (mean heart rate <166 beats minute^?1) and moderate hypoxaemia (mean P_aO₂ < 6.0 kPa). Animals given butorphanol showed the greatest reduction in respiratory rate (31 ± 13 breaths minute^?1, p < 0.05) but this was not reflected in any significant differences in arterial PCO₂, PO₂ or pH among the groups. Conclusions Administration of K/M by the SC route produced equivalent effects in comparison to intramuscular administration. The addition of butorphanol increased the duration of anaesthesia, but produced a slight increase in the degree of respiratory depression. All dose rates resulted in hypoxaemia so oxygen should be administered when these combinations are used in rabbits. Clinical relevance Subcutaneous administration is both technically simpler and may cause less discomfort to the animal than IM injection, and so is preferred. The combination of K/M with butorphanol has relatively minor effects on the depth and duration of anaesthesia, so offers little advantage to the use of K/M alone.