The potential use of plasma glutamate dehydrogenase activity for the evaluation of hepatic disease in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

A reference interval for plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) (E.C. 1.4.1.3) activity, of 0-8 IU/L, was established for the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus). An automated modification of a commercial manual assay was used. This enzyme is considered liver specific in humans and numerous domestic animals, due to its organ distribution. A similar distribution was found in cockatiels in this study. Maximal enzyme activity was recovered from liver and kidney homogenate supernatants. Minimal activity was detected in skeletal muscle preparations. These results suggest a potential use for plasma GD activity in the evaluation of hepatocelluar injury/necrosis in cockatiels.     

Idiopathic eosinophilic colitis lesions of the equine small (descending) colon

Five horses with a primary surgical lesion of the small (descending) colon were diagnosed with eosinophilic colitis based on visual and histopathological examination. These were evident as visibly striking, hyperaemic, focal lesions of the small colon, with serosal petechiation, oedema and marked thickening of the intestinal wall at the site. Areas of focal necrosis were also evident. The gross appearance of the lesions were considered to be sufficiently severe in all cases to merit resection, due to concerns about intestinal necrosis and septic peritonitis. An inability to fully exteriorise the affected portion of intestine to perform a resection and anastomosis necessitated intraoperative euthanasia of one horse. A total of three horses survived to hospital discharge. Eosinophilic colitis lesions are a rare cause of severe small colon disease, but should be considered in cases with similar visual characteristics.     

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and Mucometra in a 6-year-old Alaska Malamute Dog

A 6-year-old female Alaska Malamute dog was presented for evaluation of abdominal enlargement referred by a local veterinarian. On the history, the owner complained of chronic abdominal enlargement initiated more than 4 months ago, reduced appetite, occasional vomiting and general dullness. He also complained of greenish mucous intermittent vaginal discharge starting 10 days ago. The bitch was chronically treated with medroxiprogesterone acetate. A laparatomy was performed and fluid in the abdomen was found and aspirated during the surgery. Also a very fluid-filled distended uterus and a mass in the distal part of the left uterine horn were found. The mass was encapsulated by the omentum, but areas of necrosis and calcification were identified. Histopathological diagnosis was endometrial adenocarcinoma.     

On the distribution of tree growth stresses

Summary A plane strain pure bending elastic model is used to predict stress states in a cylindrically orthotropic cylinder due to asymmetric strain distributions continously induced at the periphery. A general solution for the stress states related to each component of the strain distribution expanded in a Fourier series is given. Details of solutions for eleven representative tree species are given. Also the change of curvature of a stem caused by a measured peripheral strain distribution is computed for a given period of growth.     

Residual stresses caused by growth stresses within a stem with radially varying spiral grain angle – two numerical solution approaches: 1) finite element method and 2) transfer matrix method

Two numerical methods, the Finite Element (FE) method and the Transfer Matrix (TM) method, have been applied to derive a solution for residual stresses in a stem. The source of stress is the maturation strains in new wood cells, which give rise to growth stresses. The methods are generally applicable to the case of spiral grain with a grain angle varying with radius, which often is the case in trees. Also, the methods allow for the elastic constants to vary with the radius, which is important to model, for example, juvenile wood. The numerical solutions are checked against an analytical solution in the case of a constant grain angle, and are found to coincide. In addition, the two methods are shown to independently produce the same stress distribution for one pattern of grain angle variation. This shows that the methods are reliable, and they will be used for obtaining a wider range of solutions in a subsequent paper. Received: 13 January 1998