COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC QUANTIFICATION OF CANINE ADRENAL GLAND VOLUME AND ATTENUATION

We conducted a retrospective study in presumed normal dogs to determine the adrenal gland attenuation and volume values. Multidetector computer tomography (MDCT 16) analysis of the gland was carried out in 48 adult dogs without evidence of adrenal gland disease that underwent CT examination for acute spinal injuries. The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the left adrenal gland was 36.0 +/- 5.3 HU (range: 22.0-42.0 HU). The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the right gland was 34.3 +/- 7.0 HU (range: 20.4-48.6HU). The mean enhanced attenuation value +/- SD were: left gland 101.5 +/- 10.6HU (range: 86.8-128.0 HU), and right gland 97.4 +/- 12.4 HU (range: 58.9-123.6 HU). The mean CT volume +/- SD were: left gland was 0.60 cm3 (range: 0.20-0.95; SD 0.17), and right gland (0.55cm3, range: 0.22-1.01; SD 0.19). Attenuation values and volume data were related to age, weight, and gender, using ANOVA. There was no statistically significant difference between the left and right side or in adrenal measurements, because of body weight class effects. The animal effect was the most important source of variation for all adrenal measurements. Based on our study, CT is an effective method for assessing adrenal characteristics in the dog. Normative CT data are provided to allow estimation of normal adrenal gland size and volume.     

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MULTISLICE HELICAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES FOR CANINE EXTRA-HEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT ASSESSMENT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) multislice computed tomography (CT) angiography with maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) in six dogs with clinical and sonographic findings suggestive of portosystemic shunt. Furthermore, we aimed to estimate the diameter of the portal vein and shunt vessels. MIP and VR reconstructions were performed for each patient and the origin and insertion of all shunt vessels were detected. In addition, 3D reconstructions allowed excellent depiction of vascular morphology and topography. All diagnoses and vessel measurements were confirmed by surgery. 3D multidetector CT angiography is a promising, noninvasive, and accurate method of evaluating dogs with suspected portosystemic shunts.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—INTRAPERICARDIAL RIGHT AURICLE ANEURYSM IN A DOG

An 11‐year‐old, male, Pekinese was examined because of a sporadic, nonresponsive, nonproductive cough. Radiographically there was cardiomegaly and a soft tissue mass in the cranial mediastinum. Echocardiographically, chronic degenerative valvular disease was diagnosed. Furthermore, a large anechoic structure located cranial to the right atrium was detected. Computed tomography was performed to define the mediastinal mass and a right auricle aneurysm was diagnosed. The dog died suddenly 1 day after the diagnostic imaging procedures. At necropsy, a right auricular aneurysm without discontinuity of the pericardial sac was confirmed. Intrapericardial right auricular aneurysm should be included in the differential diagnoses of cranial mediastinal masses.     

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TRANSPORT OF STRONGLY RETAINED SPECIES BY SOIL COLUMNS

Column experiments have been extensively used in transport studies of major cations but few investigations are available on migration through soils of strongly retained species that are environmentally relevant (like heavy metals). By presenting some selected experiments (lead and proton step-breakthrough tests in different conditions), this study shows that the soil-column technique is also applicable in the case of species which exhibit very large retention factors. The use of very small soil columns (about 0.4 mL of pore volumes) combined with relatively high flow rates (0.1–0.3 mL min^-1 ) allows to observe the entire breakthrough curve (adsorption and desorption front up to 5000 pore volumes) in reasonable experimental time, in reproducible conditions and without experimental drawbacks. In the adopted experimental conditions no kinetic effects, related to diffuse transport and sorption reaction were recognized; moreover, Peclet number was higher than 60. Consequently, it was possible to calculate the equilibrium isotherms from the diffuse fronts of the breakthrough. Knowledge that can be derived, concerning the reversibility of the adsorption process, the influence of complexation on the adsorption, the kinetics of complex formation, and the effect of dissolution on proton transport, is also discussed.     

Hybridization of Salmonella species by mating with Escherichia coli

A number of species of Salmonella were fertile at low frequency as recipients in crosses with Escherichia coli, as evidenced by the isolation of lactosepositive hybrids possessing the Salmonella antigenic structure. A hybrid from an initial mating, when crossed again with E. coli, behaved then as a high-frequency recipient strain.     

CONTRAST‐ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE SMALL BOWEL IN HEALTHY CATS

We characterized the pattern of ultrasonographic contrast enhancement of the small intestinal wall using a commercial contrast medium (Sonovue^®) in 10 healthy awake cats. Subjectively, a rapid intense enhancement of the serosal and submucosal layers was followed by gradual enhancement of the entire wall section during the early phase. At peak enhancement, there was a subjective loss of demarcation between intestinal wall layers. In the late phase, there was a gradual wash out of signal from the intestinal wall. Submucosal wash out occurred last. Time‐intensity curves were generated for selected regions in the intestinal wall and multiple perfusion parameters were calculated for each cat. Perfusion parameters included arrival time (7.64 ± 2.23 s), baseline intensity (1.04 ± 0.04 a.u.), time to peak from injection (10.74 ± 2.08 s), time to peak from initial rise (3.1 ± 1.15), peak intensity (8.92 ± 3.72 a.u.), wash‐in rate (2.06 ± 0.70 a.u./s) and wash‐out rate (?1.07 ± 0.91 a.u./s). The perfusion pattern of normal feline small bowel may be useful for characterizing feline gastrointestinal disorders that involve the intestinal wall.     

Poliovirus inhibitor from the central nervous system of the Rhesus monkey

The production of riboflavin by Eremothecium ashbyii is appreciably reduced by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole at concentrations of inhibitor which do not inhibit growth. Corn and pea leaf tissues which are albinistic as a consequence of treatment with this compound have a greatly lowered riboflavin content.