Transplantation of the Canine Distal Ulna as a Free Vascularized Bone Graft

An autogenous free vascular bone graft of the canine distal ulna was evaluated. The vascularity of the graft was based on a musculoperiosteal sheath supplied solely by the caudal interosseous artery and vein. Four autogenous heterotopic (ulna to tibia) vascular transfers were performed. Two avascular transfers were performed to provide baseline criteria from which the success of vascularized transfers could be assessed. Clinical lameness evaluation, serial radiographs, bone scintigraphy, and sequential fluorochrome bone labeling were performed after surgery in both vascular and avascular transfers. All dogs were free of lameness in the donor limb by the 26th postoperative day. Serial radiographs revealed rapid graft incorporation and hypertrophy in all vascularized grafts and severe bone resorption in nonvascularized grafts. Histology, microangiography, and evaluation of fluorochrome bone labels were performed 90 days after surgery to determine graft viability, incorporation and temporal remodeling patterns. Microangiography and fluorochrome assessment complemented the histological findings. Based on these findings the distal ulnar bone graft was determined to be both viable and structurally adequate for selected cases of long bone reconstruction.     

Some Observations on the Irish Wolfhound Rhinitis Syndrome

Abstract— —The clinico-pathological features of the Irish Wolfhound Rhinitis Syndrome are described. Investigations into the aetiology of the condition are reported and the results discussed. It is believed that the syndrome is primarily viral in origin with a superimposed secondary bacterial infection.
Résumé— —L'auteur expose les Caractéristuqyes clinico-pathologiques du syndrome de coryza du lévrier irlandais [Irish Wolfhound), ainsi que les études étiologiques effectuées et les résultats obtenus.
II semble qu'il s'agisse d'une maladie à virus à laquelle s'ajoute une infection secondaire d'origine bactérienne.
Zusammenfassung— —Das klinisch-pathologische Bild des Rhinitis-Syndroms im Irischen Wolfs-hund wird beschriebrn. Untersuchungen der Aetiologie dieser Erscheinung werden dargelegt und deren Ergebnisse diskutiert. Man nimmt an, dass dieses Syndrom primaer eine Viruserkrankung ist, ueverlagert von einer sekundaeren bakteriellen Infektion.     

VERTEBRAL HEART SIZE IN RETIRED RACING GREYHOUNDS

The vertebral heart size (VHS) is used to objectively assess cardiac dimensions on thoracic radiographs. A high VHS suggest the presence of cardiac pathology, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, degenerative atrioventricular valvular disease, pericardial effusion, pericardioperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia, tricuspid dysplasia, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus, among others. However, breed or body conformation can influence the VHS. Because Greyhounds have a high prevalence of physiologic systolic murmurs associated with high aortic velocity, and large cardiac dimensions when compared with dogs of similar size, they are frequently suspected of having heart disease. The purpose of this study was to compare the VHS in normal Greyhounds with those in Rottweilers, and a group of dogs from various other breeds using both analog and digital radiology. The VHS was significantly higher in Greyhounds (P< 0.0001), when compared with Rottweilers and to other dog breeds. The mean VHS on lateral radiographs for Greyhounds was 10.5 +/- 0.1, for Rottweilers it was 9.8 +/- 0.1, and for mixed breed dogs it was 10.1 +/- 0.2. This study confirms that the relative cardiomegaly reported in necropsy and echocardiographic studies in Greyhounds is easily detected using plain radiography and the VHS.     

Aggregation of humic substances in aqueous media as determined by light-scattering methods

Samples of peat humic acid (PHA) and surface water humic (WBHA) and fulvic acids (WBFA) extracted from Whitray Beck in North Yorkshire, UK and previously studied by analytical (UV scanning) ultracentrifugation at low concentrations (10–20 mg dm^?3) (Reid et al., 1990) have been investigated by dynamic and static light-scattering methods at concentrations up to approximately 1700 mg dm^?3. Dynamic light-scattering gave very low diffusion coefficients for the humic acids (PHA and WBHA) suggesting the presence of aggregates. Static light-scattering from the fulvic acid (WBFA) showed that the second virial coefficients of this material in various media were negative, which is characteristic of reversible aggregation. The aggregates, which consisted of approximately 20 smaller molecules, could not be dissociated completely by the detergents sodium n-dodecylsulphate or Triton X-100, although limited dissociation by the latter may occur. Sedimentation velocity measurements in the same concentration range as the light scattering gave sedimentation coefficients which increased with concentration also consistent with reversible aggregation. The studies illustrate the problems inherent in the characterization of humic substances from natural sources and demonstrate that, at least for lower molecular weight fulvic acids, static light-scattering from solutions of relatively high concentration in combination with sedimentation equilibrium measurements at low concentrations distinguishes a system having a broad molecular weight distribution from one in which aggregation occurs.