Transthoracic echocardiographic measurement of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs

BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) size and morphology influence the selection of the kind and the size of the embolization device used to effect shunt closure. HYPOTHESIS: That echocardiographic measurement of PDA in dogs is accurate. ANIMALS: Forty-five client-owned dogs with PDA. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Echocardiographic and angiographic data were compared. RESULTS: Measurement of the ductus in color Doppler echocardiography (CD-E) and 2-dimensional echocardiography (2D-E) was achieved from left parasternal views in 43 of 45 unsedated dogs (96%). In these 43 dogs, the angiographic minimal PDA diameter was 3.72 +/- 1.59 mm, and the diameter of the PDA ampulla was 8.46 +/- 3.01 mm. The CD-E minimal PDA diameter ranged from 2.3 to 9.5 mm (median, 4.0 mm). There was a significant mean difference to the angiographic measurements (1.15 +/- 0.95 mm; P < .0001). An agreement in a 1-mm range was found in 21 of 43 dogs (48%). The 2D-E minimal PDA diameter was 3.73 +/- 1.78 mm, and the mean difference to the angiographic measurements was not significant (0.00 +/- 0.72 mm; P = .98). An agreement in a 1-mm range was found in 31 of 43 dogs (72%). The 2D-E measurement of the PDA ampulla revealed a significant mean difference to the angiographic data (1.95 +/- 2.43 mm, P < .0001). An agreement in a 2-mm range was found in 21 of 43 dogs (49%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The 2D-E from the left cranial parasternal view is an excellent noninvasive method to estimate the PDA minimal diameter before doing catheter intervention.     

Role of transpiration suppression by evaporation of intercepted water in improving irrigation efficiency

Sprinkler irrigation efficiency declines when applied water intercepted by the crop foliage, or gross interception (I_gross), as well as airborne droplets and ponded water at the soil surface evaporate before use by the crop. However, evaporation of applied water can also supply some of the atmospheric demands usually met by plant transpiration. Any suppression of crop transpiration from the irrigated area as compared to a non-irrigated area can be subtracted from I_gross irrigation application losses for a reduced, or net, interception (I_net) loss. This study was conducted to determine the extent in which transpiration suppression due to microclimatic modification resulting from evaporation of plant-intercepted water and/or of applied water can reduce total sprinkler irrigation application losses of impact sprinkler and low energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation systems. Fully irrigated corn (Zea Mays L.) was grown on 0.75 m wide east-west rows in 1990 at Bushland, TX in two contiguous 5-ha fields, each containing a weighing lysimeter and micrometeorological instrumentation. Transpiration (Tr) was measured using heat balance sap flow gauges. During and following an impact sprinkler irrigation, within-canopy vapor pressure deficit and canopy temperature declined sharply due to canopyintercepted water and microclimatic modification from evaporation. For an average day time impact irrigation application of 21 mm, estimated average I_gross loss was 10.7%, but the resulting suppression of measured Tr by 50% or more during the irrigation reduced I_gross loss by 3.9%. On days of high solar radiation, continued transpiration suppression following the irrigation reduced I_gross loss an additional 1.2%. Further 4–6% reductions in I_gross losses were predicted when aerodynamic and canopy resistances were considered. Irrigation water applied only at the soil surface by LEPA irrigation had little effect on the microclimate within the canopy and consequently on Tr or ET, or irrigation application efficiency.     

Jagd und Waldpflege in Familiennamen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Studies on the suitability of trap-tubs to control noxious rodents in forests

Various types of trap-tubs were tested both under controlled conditions in standardised trial series and in the field. New trap-tubs were poorly accepted by the animals, whereas weathered tubs were readily accepted within a very short period of time. The trapping mechanisms of tubs used in Lower Saxony and improved tubs in Hesse were both found to be suitable. The trapping method proved to be highly selective since long-tailed mice (Apodemus spp.) can easily escape by jumping onto the edge of the tub. Voles (Microtus agrestis, Clethrionomys glareolus) explored the inside of the tub and worked its exits with decreasing intensity during the time of captivity. They died of hypothermia within a few hours. Elimination of the trapped rodents by their natural enemies was not observed. The trials showed that trap-tubs are suitable for selective reduction of the density of field voles and red-backed voles in forests. The results also contribute to assessing the humaneness of the control method.     

Rye and wheat in piglet rations supplemented by bisergon

In a feeding experiment (54 piglets) and a slaughtering test for the registration of tract and digesta properties (15 piglets) the influence of rations with 69% rye (R) or wheat (W) with and without a supplement of 200 mg of the chinoxalin derivate Bisergon/kg DM (rations RB and WB) was studied. In the sequence R, RB, W and WB the feed intake in the test period of 3 weeks after weaning amounted to 581, 651, 583 and 764 g, weight gain to 314, 365, 319 and 424 g per animal and day. In the same sequence the concentration of organic acids in the stomach amounted to 41, 5, 25 and 18 mmol per 100 g dry matter and in the colon to 106, 83, 64 and 62. Bisergon caused a redistribution of the digesta from the stomach to the large intestine and a more rapid emptying of the stomach as well. Rye caused extreme fermentation processes in the front part of the tract and Bisergon clearly has ergotropic qualities for the stabilization of the intestinal flora.     

Studies on the effects of intravenous administration of glucose, fructose, invertose and sorbitol on various blood constituents of blood plasma (monosaccharides, insulin, lactate, pyruvate and free fatty acids as well as glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase) in the horse

Horses were examined for the behaviour of various blood constituents prior to and following infusions of solutions of glucose, fructose, invertose, and sorbitol. Infusion of 0.5 g/kg live weight glucose to six horses was followed by half-life variation between eleven and 23 minutes. Subsequent infusion of invertose to the same animals usually caused prolongation of glucose half-life. Half-life values were between 17 and 33 minutes for fructose and between 21 and 80 minutes for glucose. Infusion of 0.5 g/kg live weight fructose to two horses was followed by half-life values between 17 and 18 minutes, while the half-life values of sugar alcohol were 16, 16, 27, and 29 minutes in four horses who had received sorbitol. Sugar or sorbitol infusion was not followed by substantive change of lactate and pyruvate concentrations in the blood or free fatty acids in the blood plasma or GOT activity. The rise of insulin in the blood plasma was differentiated. Invertose and sorbitol solutions, consequently, can be recommended for application to horses.