Traumatic brain injury

Animal models have played a critical role in elucidating the complex pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury, the major cause of death and disability in young adults in Western countries. This review discusses how different types of animal models are useful for the study of neuropathologic processes in traumatic, blunt, nonmissile head injury.     

Fracture characteristics to distinguish between accidental injury and non-accidental injury in dogs

Non-accidental injury (NAI) refers to trauma arising from deliberate physical abuse and is increasingly recognised as an important differential diagnosis in veterinary medicine. Given the sensitivity and importance of identifying NAI, clinicians, pathologists, and veterinary forensic experts need clear scientific evidence to support their diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate fractures occurring in accidental and NAI in dogs by comparing the radiographic features of fractures in 19 dogs with abuse fractures and 135 dogs with accidental fractures.Radiographic findings indicated that the following five features should raise the index of suspicion of and support a diagnosis of NAI: (1) the presence of multiple fractures; (2) fractures occurring on more than one region of the body (forelimb, hindlimb, or axial); (3) transverse fractures; (4) fractures presenting at a later stage of healing (delayed presentation); and (5) multiple fractures at different stages of healing. Staffordshire bull terriers were over-represented in the NAI group. Many findings in this study correlate with patterns seen in human NAI fractures. However some aspects show significant differences, serving as a reminder that veterinary forensics cannot rely on data from existing human studies.     

脑缺血再灌注损伤机制及蜂胶抗脑缺血再灌注损伤研究进展

蜂胶对脑缺血再灌注损伤具有显著的神经保护作用,国内外学者已经对此展开了广泛而深入的研究。本文对脑缺血再灌注损伤的机理,现有实验模型和蜂胶对缺血再灌注损伤的作用效果及作用机理进行了综述,并对今后的研究重点进行了展望。     

Mechanisms of bacterial injury

Bacterial injury in bovine pneumonia may result from bacterial release of exotoxins or from complex interactions between bacterial products such as LPS, proteases, or antigens and host responses. The latter interactions usually result in both protection and tissue damage. The balance between degree of protective functions and injurious functions will determine whether the response is primarily beneficial or damaging to the host.     

Disease and injury among veterinarians

OBJECTIVE: To identify occupational causes of disease and injury in veterinarians and their staff. DESIGN: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all of the 160 registered veterinary practices in Western Australia. RESULTS: Injuries accounted for most workers' compensation claims over a 12-month period with 31% of respondents losing a total of 360 work days with a mean of 13.3 days whereas non-occupational diseases such as influenza accounted for 408 work days lost. Over a 10-year period, 71% of respondents had been injured. The major physical injuries were dog and cat bites, cat scratches, scalpel blade cuts and back injuries from lifting heavy animals. Exposure to chemicals such as flea rinses, formalin, glutaraldehyde, x-ray developers and gaseous anaesthetics were reported to cause headache, nausea and allergies. Thirty percent of respondents did not have extractor fans for scavenging waste anaesthetic gases. The study showed high use of radiography (94%) for diagnostic purposes with 24% of respondents believing radiation exposure is a major occupational health and safety issue. Stress, drug abuse, suicide and burglary were also reported. Despite a high awareness of zoonotic diseases, there were very few reports of these. CONCLUSION: Injuries and other occupational hazards reported together with work days lost demonstrate a need for improving the working environment of veterinarians and their staff and the development of comprehensive health and safety programs.     

Pathology of traumatic brain injury

Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently encountered in veterinary practice in companion animals, livestock and horses, inflicted head injury is a common method of euthanasia in domestic livestock, and malicious head trauma can lead to forensic investigation, the pathology of TBI has generally received little attention in the veterinary literature. This review highlights the pathology and pathogenesis of cerebral lesions produced by blunt, non-missile and penetrating, missile head injuries as an aid to the more accurate diagnosis of neurotrauma cases. If more cases of TBI in animals that result in fatality or euthanasia are subjected to rigorous neuropathological examination, this will lead to a better understanding of the nature and development of brain lesions in these species, rather than extrapolating data from human studies.     

Electroencephalography in canine head injury

The EEGs of 153 dogs with head injury have been analysed. The value of electroencephalography in diagnosis, prognosis and selection of treatment is discussed.
Zusammenfassung. Die EEGs von 153 Hunden mit Kopfverletzungen wurden analysiert. Der Wert der Elektroenzephalographie für die Diagnose, Prognose und Wahl der Behandlungsmethode wird besprochen.
Résumé. On a analysé les électrogrammes de 153 chiens ayant subi un traumatisme cranien; discussion sur la valeur de l'E.E.C. pour le diagnostic, le pronostic et le choix du traitement.     

Complex stifle injury in a foal

A 130 kg, 60-day-old Quarter Horse male foal presented with bilateral stifle effusion and severe left hindlimb lameness. Clinical examination and imaging including radiography, ultrasound and computed tomography revealed bilateral stifle trauma. Specifically, disruption of the left medial meniscus and deep bone injury to the left medial femoral condyle (MFC) were detected, and bilateral injury to the origin of the cranial cruciate ligaments was suspected. Treatment consisted of stall rest and joint injection with corticosteroids, however there was little improvement in lameness. Due to the poor prognosis for soundness, the foal was subject to euthanasia 10 weeks after initial presentation. Post-mortem examination supported the left medial meniscus and MFC injuries and revealed avulsions of the origin of the cranial cruciate ligaments (complete on the left and partial on the right) from the lateral femoral condyle. Histopathology of the left stifle joint revealed varying depths of MFC osteochondral injury and severe left medial meniscus damage.     

Diffuse alveolar injury in two dogs

Proliferative interstitial pneumonia of undetermined cause was diagnosed in 2 dogs. The clinical signs in both dogs consisted primarily of acute onset, rapid breathing, and raspy lung sounds. Radiography revealed a diffuse increase in pulmonary alveolar density. In both dogs, the primary pathologic process was diffuse alveolar pneumocyte injury, and the pulmonary lesions were similar. Proliferation of type II pneumocytes (some of which were atypical mononucleated, and others multinucleated) was a prominent feature of the interstitial pneumonia. Because of the atypical features of some pneumocytes in such cases, biopsy findings may suggest a neoplastic process. Proliferative interstitial pneumonia should be included in the differential diagnosis of a diffuse pulmonary disease that is poorly responsive to medical treatment.     

Inflammation and mediators of lung injury

This article covers the major pathways involved in acute inflammation in mammals with a particular emphasis on their relevance to the bovine species. It focuses on the potential and proven contributions of these systems to pulmonary defense mechanisms and lung pathology. The article also points out what is known and where gaps in our information exist as well as promising areas for research in the coming years.     

Treatment of gastrointestinal ischemic injury.

Ischemic injury is one of the most important causes of mortality in equine veterinary medicine. Although treatment of reperfusion injury has been attempted in a number of experimental trials to reduce the level of injury subsequent to an ischemic episode, this research has not resulted in the development of useful clinical treatments. Nevertheless, recent studies assessing intraluminal application of solutions containing antioxidants, nutrients, and vasodilators are promising. Furthermore, focusing on improving mucosal recovery after an ischemic event may provide an alternative method of reducing mortality. Potential treatments include administration of basement membrane components like hyaluronic acid, gut-specific nutrients like glutamine, and early return to feeding to stimulate endogenous repair mechanisms. Finally, recent studies evaluating NSAIDs have revealed the potential of flunixin meglumine to retard the mucosal repair process, indicating the need for judicious use of this drug.     

小鼠胚胎冷冻后线粒体损伤的研究

为了研究玻璃化冷冻后小鼠胚胎线粒体的损伤,试验将V1冷冻的囊胚和V2冷冻的扩张囊胚解冻后在体外进行培养,分别在培养0,4,8,12,18,24 h后观察线粒体的损伤情况.结果表明:无论是用V1还是用V2对胚胎进行玻璃化冷冻,线粒体的正常聚集率随着培养时间的延长均呈现出下降的趋势;V1冷冻的囊胚在培养0,4 h后的线粒体正常聚集率极显著高于培养8,12,18,24 h后的正常聚集率(P<0.01),V2冷冻的扩张囊胚在培养0 h后线粒体的正常聚集率极显著高于培养4,8,12,18,24 h后的正常聚集率(P<0.01).