A comparison of the effects of carbon dioxide and medical air for abdominal insufflation on respiratory parameters in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination

AIMS: To determine if abdominal insufflation with medical air will improve oxygenation and ventilation parameters when compared to insufflation with CO₂ in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI).

METHODS: Forty-seven sheep underwent oestrus synchronisation and were fasted for 24 hours prior to laparoscopic AI. Each animal was randomised to receive either CO₂ or medical air for abdominal insufflation. An auricular arterial catheter was placed and utilised for serial blood sampling. Respiratory rates (RR) and arterial blood samples were collected at baseline, after xylazine (0.1?mg/kg I/V) sedation, 2 minutes after Trendelenburg positioning, 5 minutes after abdominal insufflation, and 10 minutes after being returned to a standing position. Blood samples were collected in heparinised syringes, stored on ice, and analysed for arterial pH, partial pressure of arterial O₂ (PaO₂), and CO₂ (PaCO₂). The number of ewes conceiving to AI was also determined.

RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated temporal effects on RR, PaO₂, PaCO₂ and arterial pH during the laparoscopic AI procedure (p<0.001), but no difference between insufflation groups (p>0.01). No sheep experienced hypercapnia (PaCO₂>50?mmHg) or acidaemia (pH<7.35). Hypoxaemia (PaO₂<70?mmHg) was diagnosed during the procedure in 14/22 (64%) ewes in the CO₂ group compared with 8/23 (35%) ewes in the medical air group (p=0.053). Overall, 15/20 (75%) ewes in the CO₂ group conceived to AI compared with 16/22 (72.7%) in the medical air group (p=0.867).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There were no statistical or clinical differences in RR, PaO₂, PaCO₂, pH, or conception to AI when comparing the effects of CO₂ and medical air as abdominal insufflation gases. None of the sheep experienced hypercapnia or acidaemic, yet 42% (19/45) of sheep developed clinical hypoxaemia, with a higher percentage of ewes in the CO₂ group developing hypoxaemia than in the medical air group. Based on the overall analysis, medical air could be utilised as a comparable alternative for abdominal insufflation during laparoscopic AI procedures.     

Efficiency in publishing the results of plant breeding research

In the writer's opinion there is a need for more efficient publication on plant breeding subjects and for new specialized journals of international significance.He considers Euphytica as an experiment. In his imagination he sees in the future some new periodicals on plant breeding, published in English, and national as concerns editors and contributors. An international journal on plant breeding with translations of important articles (Japanese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, etc.) in English would fill a need.

---

Samenvatting Naar schrijvers mening zal men terwille van een efficiënte publikatie van het veredelingsonderzoek meer en meer moeten overgaan tot het stichten van vaktijdschriften voor plantenveredeling.Schrijver beschouwt Euphytica als een experiment. In zijn fantasie ziet hij in verschillende landen in niet al te verre toekomst een aantal nieuwe vaktijdschriften in de Engelse taal, doch wat redactie en medewerkers betreft nationaal georiënteerd, en een internationaal tijdschrift met vertalingen van belangrijke artikelen op veredelingsgebied (Japans, Russisch, Italiaans, Spaans, etc.) in het Engels. Voor de verbreding en verdieping van de plantenveredeling als tak van wetenschap zou dit van betekenis zijn.

     

Factors influencing the breeding of agricultural crops in the Netherlands

The writer draws attention to some factors influencing the breeding of agricultural crops in the Netherlands. The mutual influence of breeding new varieties, research on varieties, seed production, agricultural production and export is explained.In the Netherlands, farmers on average purchase approved seed potatoes once in three years, which equals the frequency of replacement of the seed of rye. On the area covered by wheat five-eighths is sown with approved seed and of peas and oats, one-half. In the case of sugar beet, fodder beet and some other crops (including vegetables) 100% original seed is used.The writer draws attention in particular to the reasons why there is a continuous need for new seed and seed potatoes. As causes are mentioned: 1. the fact that a farmer did not grow a particular crop in the previous year; 2. that he had difficulties with the seed production of a given variety or the variety deteriorated owing to impurity, diseases or admixtures; 3. the wish to choose a new variety of better yielding capacity or other favourable properties; 4. purchase of original seed of a variety in demand for increase to once grown original seed or purchase of first rate starting material from the clonal selection farms for growing seed potatoes of a variety in demand.

---

Samenvatting Schrijver vestgt de aandacht op de invloedssferen van de veredeling van landbouwgewassen in Nederland. Met enige voorbeelden wordt de invloed van het kweken van nieuwe rassen op het rassenonderzoek, de zaaizaad- en pootgoedteelt, de landbouwproduktie en de export toegelicht.In Nederland schaft de boer gemiddeld eens in de drie jaar goedgekeurd pootgoed van aardappelen aan, terwijl de frequentie van vernieuwing van zaaizaad van rogge daaraan gelijk is. Bij tarwe wordt voor 5/8 van het areaal goedgekeurd zaaizaad gebruikt, bij erwten en haver voor de helft van het areaal. Voor suikerbieten, voederbieten en enige andere gewassen wordt 100% origineel zaaizaad gebruikt.Schrijver vestigt in het bijzonder de aandacht op de oorzaken waardoor er een voortdurende behoefte aan nieuw zaaizaad en pootgoed is. Als oorzaken worden genoemd dat de boer het gewas in het voorgaande jaar niet verbouwde, tegenslag met eigen zaaizaad- of pootgoedwinning van een bepaald ras of achteruitgang van dat ras door rasonzuiverheid, ziekten, vermenging, de wens een nieuw ras te kiezen met hoger opbrengstvermogen of andere gunstige eigenschappen, aanschaf van origineel zaaizaad van een gevraagd ras voor vermeerdering tot le nabouw, aanschaf van hoogwaardig uitgangsmateriaal voor de teelt van pootaardappelen.

     

Mutations in U4atac snRNA, a component of the minor spliceosome, in the developmental disorder MOPD I

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are essential factors in messenger RNA splicing. By means of homozygosity mapping and deep sequencing, we show that a gene encoding U4atac snRNA, a component of the minor U12-dependent spliceosome, is mutated in individuals with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type I (MOPD I), a severe developmental disorder characterized by extreme intrauterine growth retardation and multiple organ abnormalities. Functional assays showed that mutations (30G>A, 51G>A, 55G>A, and 111G>A) associated with MOPD I cause defective U12-dependent splicing. Endogenous U12-dependent but not U2-dependent introns were found to be poorly spliced in MOPD I patient fibroblast cells. The introduction of wild-type U4atac snRNA into MOPD I cells enhanced U12-dependent splicing. These results illustrate the critical role of minor intron splicing in human development.     

Spatial patterns of cadmium contents related to soil heterogeneity

To investigate Cd behavior in a heterogeneous soil, soil samples were taken along a transect in a field. Total Cd content, Cd concentration in solution, and soil properties controlling Cd sorption were measured. The scale and degree of variability of these parameters were assessed using statistical and spectral analysis. No substantial correlation was found between total Cd and Cd in solution. However, with a scaled sorption model that accounts for effects of pH and organic matter content the variability of total Cd was predicted well as a function of measured concentrations and soil properties. Apparently, total Cd contents of this soil are primarily controlled by the organic matter content and pH.     

A RADIOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF THIRD CARPAL BONE INJURY IN 42 RACING THOROUGHBREDS

A retrospective study of carpal radiographs from 42 racing thoroughbreds with carpal lameness was performed. Radiographs from 50 carpal examinations were available for review. The radiographic findings pertaining to the third carpal bone were described. Fractures and/or sclerosis occurred almost exclusively within the radial fossa. The occurrence of sclerosis without fracture in 20 of the 50 carpal examinations was higher than anticipated, occurring in both the right and left third carpal bone with equal frequency. The right third carpal bone was more frequently fractured and more severely affected than the left. The sclerotic changes seen in the radial fossa of the third carpal bone may be stress-induced, possibly preceding more serious changes in the joint such as cartilage damage or gross fracture. Earlier recognition of sclerosis of the third carpal bone may help prevent more serious changes from occurring.     

Multilocus Sequence Types of Environmental Campylobacter jejuni Isolates and their Similarities to those of Human,Poultry and Bovine C. jejuni Isolates

In this study, we investigated the multilocus sequence type (MLST) diversity and population genetics of Campylobacter jejuni isolates collected from the natural waters (n = 57), wild birds (n = 37) and zoo animals (n = 19) in southern Finland, the Helsinki area and the Helsinki Zoo, respectively. On average, we found C. jejuni in 20%, 10.4% or 11.5% of the samples collected from natural waters, wild birds and zoo animals, respectively. High ST diversity was detected in all three sources and 41.2% of the STs were novel, but the multi‐host adapted ST‐45 was the most common ST detected. The MLST data, supplemented with C. jejuni isolates from domestically acquired human infections (n = 454), poultry (n = 208) and bovines (n = 120), were utilized in a population structure study. The results indicate four groups of strains with varying ecological associations, demonstrating presence of genetically distinct lineages within each of the studied sources. We discovered that the greatest ST overlap occurs between human isolates and isolates from natural waters and poultry, which suggests that the latter two are the most important sources of C. jejuni among domestically acquired infections in Finland.