Evaluation of the learning curve for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: bilateral ovariectomy in dogs

Objective: Study the learning curve for canine Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) ovariectomy by evaluating operative times and complications. Study Design: Preclinical research study. Animals: Adult female dogs (n=20). Methods: NOTES ovariectomy procedures were performed as follows: Feasibility Group 1 (n=5), Feasibility Group 2 (n=5), and Early Clinical Group 3 (n=10). Six steps of the procedure were identified, timed separately, and the overall time was recorded from introduction to removal of the endoscope. Complications were recorded. Repeated measures analysis of variance using ranked data compared the effect of group (3 levels) on the time for each step. Nonlinear regression using an exponential model with nonzero asymptote was used to model the operative time–procedure number relationship. Results: Overall median operative time was significantly longer for Group 1 (195 minutes; range, 160–265 minutes) than Group 2 (108 minutes; range, 81–148 minutes; P=.048) and Group 3 (77 minutes; range, 41–136 minutes; P=.0008). The estimated asymptotic operative time was 71 minutes (95% confidence interval, 41–100 minutes); this time was reached after 10 procedures. Gastric cleansing and removing the left ovary took significantly longer in Group 1 than in Group 2 or 3. Operative complications included incomplete ovarian excision, dropping an ovary during retrieval, and conversion to an open procedure. No intraoperative complications occurred in Group 3. Conclusion: NOTES procedures result in longer operative times in the early part of the learning curve and require considerable experience before reaching proficiency.     

Quality assessment of chicken eggshell cuticle by infrared spectroscopy and staining techniques: a comparative study

1. The cuticle is a very thin organic layer that coats the eggshell surface and plugs the eggshell pores preventing bacterial penetration. It also reduces eggshell permeability which is important to maintain internal quality of the egg. Thus, the eggshell cuticle quality is crucial to ensure the food safety and quality of eggs.

2. A new methodology to assess eggshell cuticle quality, based on attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), is compared with a more traditional method based on cuticle staining techniques.

3. Both techniques are useful to determine the amount of cuticle; however, the ATR-FTIR technique is independent of egg colour, more sensitive and provides complete information about the cuticle and its composition. Additionally, it provides information about eggshell permeability.

4. The methodology for cuticle quality assessment described in this work can be very useful for genetic selection programmes aimed to improve the safety and quality of eggs.     

Equine third metacarpal bone assessment by quantitative ultrasound and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry: an ex vivo study

The purpose of this ex vivo study was to analyse two commonly established methods of mechanical bone property assessment for application in horses: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS), which depends on the bone's density and Young's modulus, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which depends on the areal bone mineral density (BMD). The third metacarpal bone (MC III) of horses was selected as examination region for practical reasons. An interrelationship between QUS- and DXA-values was examined. Both MC III of eleven randomly selected equine cadavers were divided in nine regions of interest (ROI). A multi-site QUS device was used for axial transmission speed of sound (SOS) measurements and a DXA device was used for BMD evaluation. Full cortical thickness BMD (FcBMD), overall aspect BMD and 4 mm cortical border slice BMD (4 mmBMD) were evaluated. In addition, each ROI of one MC III was measured 10 times to determine QUS- and DXA-measurement precision. SOS values and BMD values obtained at different aspects of MC III were different (P < 0.001). FcBMD and overall BMD obtained at different levels were different (P < 0.001). SOS data correlated with FcBMD-, overall BMD- and 4 mmBMD-data at various ROI. FcBMD-, overall BMD- and 4 mmBMD-data were strongly correlated. The intra-operator coefficient of variation was 1.3% for SOS-measurements and ranged between 1.94 and 10.3% for BMD-measurements. Multi-site axial transmission QUS as well as DXA can be used to precisely measure bone characteristics of MC III in horses. However, both techniques do not measure the same bone properties. It is therefore concluded, that QUS and DXA techniques are complementary for application in horses.     

Clinical assessment of leukocytosis: distinguishing leukocytoses caused by inflammatory, glucocorticoid, physiologic, and leukemic disorders or conditions.

The four major types of leukocytoses are inflammatory, glucocorticoid-associated, catecholamine-associated, and neoplastic. These leukocytoses are distinguished by leukocyte concentrations, microscopic features of leukocytes, and associations with other laboratory data. All laboratory findings need to be interpreted within the context of the case information, including signalment, history, and physical examination findings. Newer assays are being used to differentiate the different forms of leukocyte neoplasia and to distinguish between hyperplastic and neoplastic proliferations.     

Correlation of performance with endoscopic and radiographic assessment of epiglottic hypoplasia in racehorses with epiglottic entrapment corrected by use of contact neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser

Epiglottic entrapment in 35 Thoroughbred and 44 Standardbred horses was corrected transendoscopically by use of a neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. Before surgery, the entrapped epiglottis was classified as hypoplastic or normal in each horse on the basis of endoscopic appearance alone. Using a digitizer, thyroepiglottic length was determined from lateral-view laryngeal radiographs. For 78 racehorses, earnings (less than $5,000 or greater than $5,000) were compared before and after surgery. Earnings category and racing performance after surgery were tested for association with endoscopically determined epiglottic hypoplasia and radiographically determined thyroepiglottic length. Endoscopy and radiography were useful methods of evaluating the epiglottis in horses with epiglottic entrapment. Mean (+/- SD) thyroepiglottic length for both breeds of horses with epiglottic entrapment was significantly (P = 0.0001) smaller (Thoroughbreds, 7.28 +/- 0.67 cm; Standardbreds, 7.21 +/- 0.62 cm), compared with thyroepiglottic length measured from control groups composed of clinically normal Thoroughbred (8.56 +/- 0.29 cm) and Standardbred (8.74 +/- 0.38 cm) racehorses. Both breeds of horses with epiglottic entrapment that had endoscopically apparent hypoplastic epiglottis had significantly (P less than 0.0001) smaller thyroepiglottic length (Thoroughbreds, 6.64 +/- 0.60 cm; Standardbred, 6.93 +/- 0.72 cm) than did horses with epiglottic entrapment that had endoscopically normal epiglottis (Throughbreds, 7.57 +/- 0.47 cm, Standardbreds, 7.36 +/- 0.50 cm). Significant difference was not detected in endoscopic appearance of the epiglottis among age, gender, or breed distributions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A comparative study of the diseases in cattle caused by Theileria parva or T. lawrencei: II. Hematology,clinical chemistry,coagulation studies and complement

Theileria lawrencei tick-derived stabilate infection of 8 cattle resulted in the development of panleukopenia and hypoproteinemia. In addition to these changes, T. parva infection caused mild normocytic, normochromic, non-responsive anemia at either of two dose rates. Disseminated intravascular coagulation, as indicated by positive protamine paracoagulation tests, prolonged prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times, and thrombocytopenia, developed in cattle infected with either of the Theileria spp., and was probably an important intermediary mechanism leading to death. Infection of calves with a high dose of T. parva stabilate resulted in more rapid onset of clinico-pathologic changes than did the low dose infection. Theileria lawrencei infection produced a severe, acute syndrome, the clinico-pathologic alterations of which varied in time of onset and severity between those of the T. parva high dose and low dose groups.