Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Dogs: Comparison Between Single Portal and Two-Portal Access

Objective: To compare surgical times and perioperative complication rates of single portal access and 2-portal laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOVE) in dogs using a bipolar vessel sealer/divider device, and to evaluate the performance of novice laparoscopists for right ovariectomy.
Study Design: Controlled clinical trial.
Animals: Female dogs (n=42).
Methods: Dogs were divided into groups: 1=single portal and 2=2 portal. LapOVE was performed using a 5 mm vessel sealer/divider device and a 10 mm operating laparoscope (Group 1) or a 5 mm laparoscope (Group 2). Dog characteristics (weight, body condition score, ovarian ligament fat score), operative time, and perioperative complication rate were compared between groups. Right ovariectomy duration was evaluated for 2 novice laparoscopists.
Results: No significant difference was found in mean total surgical time between group 1 (21.07 min/s) and group 2 (19.06 min/s). Factors significantly affecting times included body condition scores, ovarian ligament fat score, ovarian bleeding, and surgeon expertize. Minor complications (bleeding from ovaries or after splenic trauma) occurred and were similar in both groups. Bleeding was correlated to body condition score and ovarian ligament fat score. Interindividual differences were found among surgeons for right ovariectomy time.
Conclusions: Single portal access LapOVE using vessel sealer/divider device is feasible, safe, and does not significantly increase total surgical time in comparison with 2-portal approach. Laparoscopic skills may play a role in ability to perform single portal LapOVE.
Clinical Relevance: LapOVE can be performed using single portal access.     

Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season

The effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n  = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks ?2, ?1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p  < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs . 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p  < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs . 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs . 1.4; p  < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs . 50%) was significantly (p  < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p  < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p  < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.     

畜产品安全与毒害物质残留研究进展

论述了畜产品安全及其目前畜产品中的兽药、激素、重金属、生物毒素、农药、微生物等毒害物质的残留，并对畜产品安全现状及存在的问题进行了分析。     

Changes in the long‐term distribution of zooplankton in the Humboldt Current Ecosystem off Peru, 1961–2005, and its relationship to regime shifts and environmental factors

We used a dataset assembled by the Peruvian Marine Research Institute (IMARPE) from 1961 to 2005, to examine the influence of seasonal, environmental (temperature and salinity), temporal (day–night and year) and location (north‐south and on‐off shelf) variables on the distribution and biovolume of zooplankton. Classification and regression trees (CART) showed that the zooplankton distribution can be divided into four time regimes: prior to 1974.5, 1974.5–1989.5, 1989.5–1997.5 and 1997.5–2005. These periods differ in overall biovolume but, more importantly, in having different spatial distributions of variables. Offshore‐onshore, seasonal, diel and north‐south patterns are all apparent in the temporal changes observed in zooplankton distribution. In the early period zooplankton biovolume was high throughout the Peruvian Humboldt Current Ecosystem, with enhanced biovolume in all seasons but winter. After 1974.5, biovolume was considerably lower. There was an increased difference between the shelf (lower biovolume) and offshore (higher biovolume), with a significant day–night effect offshore, due to diel migration and possibly diel catchability changes. After 1989.5, seasonal effects were more marked and biovolume appeared to be higher in the winter in the northern region. In other seasons, during the daytime, biovolume was highest farther offshore (greater than 65 km offshore of the 200‐m isobath) and, during the night, higher after 1997.5 than before. We relate these changes in distribution and biovolume to changes in large‐scale current patterns in different regimes and to the possible effect of the fishery in removing nutrients from the system.     

High-power directional emission from microlasers with chaotic resonators

High-power and highly directional semiconductor microcylinder lasers based on an optical resonator with deformed cross section are reported. In the favorable directions of the far-field, a power increase of up to three orders of magnitude over the conventional circularly symmetric lasers was obtained. A "bow-tie"-shaped resonance is responsible for the improved performance of the lasers in the higher range of deformations, in contrast to "whispering-gallery"-type modes of circular and weakly deformed lasers. This resonator design, although demonstrated here in midinfrared quantum-cascade lasers, should be applicable to any laser based on semiconductors or other high-refractive index materials.     

High-Power Infrared (8-Micrometer Wavelength) Superlattice Lasers

A quantum-cascade long-wavelength infrared laser based on superlattice active regions has been demonstrated. In this source, electrons injected by tunneling emit photons corresponding to the energy gap (minigap) between two superlattice conduction bands (minibands). A distinctive design feature is the high oscillator strength of the optical transition. Pulsed operation at a wavelength of about 8 micrometers with peak powers ranging from approximately 0.80 watt at 80 kelvin to 0.2 watt at 200 kelvin has been demonstrated in a superlattice with 1-nanometer-thick AlInAs barriers and 4.3-nanometer-thick GaInAs quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy. These results demonstrate the potential of strongly coupled superlattices as infrared laser materials for high-power sources in which the wavelength can be tailored by design.     

Testosterone serum profile,semen characteristics and testicular biometry of Mangalarga Marchador stallions in a tropical environment

This study was conducted to characterize the daily profile of testosterone secretion and its mean concentrations in the four seasons as well as to evaluate the semen characteristics and testicular biometry of Mangalarga Marchador stallions throughout the year in a tropical region. Three stallions were submitted to semen collections and evaluation of testicular biometry every 14 days along a year. Blood samples were collected once at the middle of each season, in a 20‐min interval during 24 hr in order to evaluate the testosterone secretion profiles among seasons. Testosterone concentrations along the day were higher at the beginning of the afternoon (from 12:00 to 15:00 hr), but a circadian secretion was not clearly observed. Mean testosterone concentrations did not differ among seasons (p > .05), but a pattern of secretion along the day showed variations with higher concentrations in the afternoon during the winter. Ejaculate volume was higher during summer; however, sperm motility decreased in summer and spring. Total sperm in ejaculate, sperm morphology and testicular biometry kept constant along the year showing no differences among the seasons. The results demonstrated that in a tropical region, reproductive aspects of stallions did not show a clearly defined seasonal variation, and months of autumn and winter were not unsuitable for reproduction of the males.     

仔猪腹泻病的鉴别诊断及综合防治

对仔猪腹泻病进行了摸索、研究和总结,根据不同日龄和不同临床表现进行鉴别诊断,同时可采取组织病理学、微生物学方法进一步确诊,并采取针对性防治措施,才能有效地控制仔猪腹泻病.     

Sexual Performance of Rams Sequentially Exposed to Short-tailed and Fat-tailed Ewes

The objective of the study was to compare sexual performance of pure and crossbred rams, and to evaluate whether prior exposure of rams to short-tailed females would enhance their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed females. Twenty-two virgin, yearling Awassi (A; n = 7), F₁ Charollais × Awassi (CA; n = 7) and F₁ Romanov × Awassi (RA; n = 8) rams were subjected to sexual performance tests on six 20-min occasions. Each ram was individually exposed to two short-tailed oestrous ewes for three 20-min occasions on three consecutive days. Following 1 day of rest, the same 3-day procedure was repeated for each ram with fat-tailed ewes. Leg kicking bout frequency increased in CA and RA rams and decreased in A rams, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes. No differences in anogenital sniffing were observed among rams exposed to either short-tailed or fat-tailed ewes. However, greater (p < 0.001) anogenital sniffing bouts were recorded, when rams were exposed to short-tailed females. Upon exposure to fat-tailed ewes, CA and RA rams experienced a marked increase in mounting frequency compared with a slight increase in mounting of A rams (p < 0.001). The ability of Awassi rams to raise the fat tail of Awassi ewes was greater (p < 0.001) than CA and RA rams. Mating was improved in A while declining in CA and RA, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes (p < 0.001). Based on the results of the current study, it seems that all yearling rams were capable of mating with short-tailed ewes, whereas only Awassi rams managed to mate with fat-tailed ewes. It appears that brief exposures of yearling crossbred rams to short-tailed ewes do not improve their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed ewes.     

Accumulation, biotransformation, histopathology and paralysis in the Pacific calico scallop Argopecten ventricosus by the paralyzing toxins of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum

The dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum produces paralyzing shellfish poisons that are consumed and accumulated by bivalves. We performed short-term feeding experiments to examine ingestion, accumulation, biotransformation, histopathology, and paralysis in the juvenile Pacific calico scallop Argopecten ventricosus that consume this dinoflagellate. Depletion of algal cells was measured in closed systems. Histopathological preparations were microscopically analyzed. Paralysis was observed and the time of recovery recorded. Accumulation and possible biotransformation of toxins were measured by HPLC analysis. Feeding activity in treated scallops showed that scallops produced pseudofeces, ingestion rates decreased at 8 h; approximately 60% of the scallops were paralyzed and melanin production and hemocyte aggregation were observed in several tissues at 15 h. HPLC analysis showed that the only toxins present in the dinoflagellates and scallops were the N-sulfo-carbamoyl toxins (C1, C2); after hydrolysis, the carbamate toxins (epimers GTX2/3) were present. C1 and C2 toxins were most common in the mantle, followed by the digestive gland and stomach-complex, adductor muscle, kidney and rectum group, and finally, gills. Toxin profiles in scallop tissue were similar to the dinoflagellate; biotransformations were not present in the scallops in this short-term feeding experiment.