Use of web-based data collection to evaluate analgesic administration and the decision for surgery in horses with colic

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is no current veterinary information with regard to data entry on a website. We therefore completed a prospective study on use of analgesics in relation to the need for abdominal surgery using a web-based survey instrument. OBJECTIVES: To establish an internet-based data entry system that could be used to record prospective data on horses with colic. HYPOTHESIS: Failure of horses to respond to the initial administration of an analgesic is an indicator of the need for abdominal surgery. METHODS: A survey was developed to determine if the response to administration of an analgesic during a veterinarian's first examination of a horse with colic was related to the need for surgery. Veterinarians were contacted via AAEP and ECN listservs requesting submission of cases using a log-in system at a data entry website. The survey was completed by submission of a data entry page. RESULTS: Twenty-seven veterinarians submitted details of 119 cases of colic, 28 of which required surgery. The need for surgery was significantly associated with moderate or severe pain observed during the first examination compared to mild or no pain, and with constant pain or return of pain after administration of one or more analgesics and the need to administer a second analgesic treatment. Abnormal findings on rectal examination were not associated with the need for surgery, whereas total absence or decrease of intestinal sounds was significantly related to the odds that surgery was needed. The web-based data collection was successful in collecting all data points on the survey for each case. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforced veterinarians' use of response to therapy as a way to determine the need for abdominal surgery. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: When a specific diagnosis has not been made, lack of response or resumption of colic after analgesic administration should be considered as an indicator of the need for surgery. Web-based collection of data allows veterinary practitioners to participate in clinical research by providing prospective data.     

国家牧草种质中期库豆科植物种子监测和扩繁时间的判定

以38种1 153份豆科植物种子为研究对象,测定了其在中期库储存4~7年后种子发芽率的变化状况,判断是否需要继续监测或直接扩繁。结果表明:5年后无需监测直接扩繁的种子有饭豆、柱花草、田菁、小豆和银合欢等5种(同一草种,发芽率降低超过20%的份数占总数的百分比小于5%且发芽率升高的份数占总数的百分比大于70%);无需监测无需扩繁的种子有白三叶、杂三叶、黄花苜蓿、黄芪、野大豆等9种(发芽率降低超过20%的份数占总数的百分比大于60%);需要监测的种子有紫花苜蓿、沙打旺、草木樨、岩黄芪、红豆草等24种(发芽率变化在以上2个范围之外,则需要继续监测)。     

尿液嘌呤法估测瘤胃微生物蛋白研究

瘤胃微生物蛋白质（MCP）是反刍家畜的重要蛋白质来源。近年来以尿液嘌呤衍生物估测反刍动物瘤胃微生物蛋白产量的方法正逐步取代传统的标记法，其优点是不用瘘管，无损害，操作简单；缺点是其值为相对值，尚需进一步标准化。     

Educating the next generation of swine veterinarians: needs and strategies

The education of future swine veterinarians will require a team approach from academic institutions, private practitioners, and the pork industry Students will need to be active participants in their education. University and college administration, faculty, industry, government, professional organizations, and private practitioners will all need to provide the leadership and financial framework to support the future of veterinary education related to swine.     

畜禽遗传资源受威胁程度评价

本文用群体遗传学、保护生物学原理，建立了畜禽遗传资源受威胁评价方法，并对我国231个畜禽遗传资源进行了分析。结果表明，有16个畜禽遗传资源为严重威胁资源，建议由国家采取保种场方式进行紧急保护；9个遗传资源为受威胁资源，必须采取相应措施进行保护，可采取保种场或划定保护区的方式进行保护；17个遗传资源为最低威胁资源，需视具体情况有必要进行保护，可采取由省、市、县级进行保护；57个遗传资源为潜在受威胁资源，需进行特别关注，要求在生产和利用过程中，密切监测群体的动态和性能变化；132个遗传资源为安全遗传资源。     

畜禽遗传资源受威胁程度评价

本文用群体遗传学、保护生物学原理，建立了畜禽遗传资源受威胁评价方法，并对我国231个畜禽遗传资源进行了分析。结果表明，有16个畜禽遗传资源为受严重威胁资源，建议由国家采取保种场方式进行紧急保护；9个遗传资源为受威胁资源，必须采取相应措施进行保护，可采取保种场或划定保护区的方式进行保护；17个遗传资源为最低威胁资源，需视具体情况有必要进行保护，可采取由省、市、县级进行保护；57个遗传资源为潜在受威胁资源，需进行特别关注，要求在生产和利用过程中，密切监测群体的动态和性能变化；132个遗传资源为安全遗传资源。     

Veterinary teaching hospitals: current challenges and pathways for the future

University-based veterinary teaching hospitals must change to maintain their viability. A number of factors both internal and external to universities and the veterinary profession have contributed to the need for change. A task force formed by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians was convened to identify the issues and propose individual and collective strategies for the future. Primary issues include a shortage of faculty and staff, the nature of the case load, the need for fiscal management strategies, and the need to manage stakeholder expectations. The majority of the proposed strategies for the future will be managed individually by the colleges. Proposed collective strategies center on increasing the number of specialists and improving recruitment and retention of faculty and staff.     

近交系数计算的程序设计

本文运用字符标记的方法,编制了近交系数计算的程序。利用本程序计算近交系数,不需要对原始系谱整理编码,可将系谱的畜号直接输入计算机处理和运算,使用方便,运算结果准确。本程序可以在 IBM—PC 和 PC—1500微机上运行。     

Livestock, ethics, and quality of life

Agricultural and animal scientists need to embrace a new vision beyond the single-minded existing pursuit of biological efficiency. The public in the West is no longer concerned solely with cheap food. Other paramount issues define quality of life, including: health and safety of foods; nutritional value; traditional, regional, locally produced, and organic foods; animal welfare; sustainable farming, environment, and rural resources. The paper provides examples of how the credibility of animal scientists has been lost due to some recent unethical behavior. Research, teaching and application of agricultural and animal science, especially of biotechnology, need to be reshaped into a new "Quality of Life Agricultural Era" to replace the "Era of Intensification." This new era will need fresh assumptions, beliefs and leadership to match the emerging social agenda of the 21st century. Animal scientists have a special role in implementing this new plausibility structure.     

提高《设施养殖概论》教学效果的创新途径与方法

21世纪高等学校培养的人才既要有知识,又要有能力,更应该有使知识和能力得以发挥的素质,突出基础扎实、知识面宽、能力强和素质高等方面的特点;《设施养殖概论》课的内容新、范围广,灵活性大、实用性强,创新教学思路,提高教学效果,培养学生的创新精神和实践能力,才达到理想的教学效果。本文从设施养殖的背景、现状和发展趋势等方面进行了论述,提出了提高《设施养殖概论》教学效果的创新途径与方法。     

常规PCR和巢式PCR法鉴定牛早期胚胎性别体系的建立和优化

试验利用牛Y染色体重复序列作为雄性特异性引物,_以肿蔼坏死因子(TNFα)为内标引物建立多重PCR和多重巢式PCR体系,进行牛早期胚胎性别鉴定.共设计4对引物-Y染色体重复序列外引物和内引物,其扩增片段大小分别为534 bp和480bp,肿瘤坏死因子外引物和内引物,扩增片段大小分别为357 bp和272 bp.结果表明,4对引物均有很高的特异性和稳定性;多重PCR体系灵敏度为50 pg(约8个细胞),多重巢式PCR体系灵敏度为10 pg(约2个细胞),故多重巢式PCR体系更适合于牛胚胎性别鉴定.     

Template for a recommended curriculum in "Veterinary Professional Development and Career Success"

Recent studies of the veterinary profession have established a need for training in various areas beyond those directed toward building competence and proficiency as a clinician. To address this need, a workshop was designed whose objective was to develop a detailed outline of a model curriculum that would encompass the skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and attitudes deemed essential for economic success in the veterinary profession. The model curriculum was created from comprehensive input provided by consultants and educators. Constraints for implementation of this curriculum are identified, and future directions are discussed.     

Genetic analysis of litter size, parturition length, and birth assistance requirements in primiparous sows using a joint linear-threshold animal model

The aim of this study was to investigate whether selection for number of live born piglets has led to prolonged parturition and increased requirement for birth assistance, resulting in increased numbers of stillborn piglets. Data were collected from 6,718 primiparous Norwegian Landrace sows farrowing between 2001 and 2003. The need for birth assistance was recorded as a binary response. Physical intervention in the birth of piglets and/or hormonal treatment by the farmer was recorded as birth assistance. The duration of the parturition was analyzed as a binary trait (<4 h and >4 h). The statistical model used for analysis included contemporary groups of herd-year, litter breed, season of farrowing, parity in which the sow was born, a regression on the age of sow at farrowing, an additive genetic effect, and a service sire effect. A full Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling was adopted to estimate the genetic relationships between these four traits. A total chain length of 100,000 iterations was run. The first 10,000 samples were discarded as burn-in, and the remaining 90,000 iterations were retained without thinning for post-Gibbs analysis. The highest direct heritability was estimated for the number of live-born piglets (h2 = 0.07), followed by the duration of farrowing (h2 = 0.05), the need for birth assistance (h2 = 0.05), and the number of stillborn piglets (h2 = 0.04). The genetic correlations revealed that the number of live and stillborn piglets was uncorrelated; however, the number of live piglets born had a moderate genetic correlation to the need for birth assistance (rg = 0.24 +/- 0.01) and duration of farrowing (rg = -0.20 +/- 0.01), whereas the number of stillborn piglets was highly correlated to the need for birth assistance (rg = 0.74 +/- 0.01) and the duration of parturition (rg = 0.66 +/- 0.01). The duration of farrowing and the need for birth assistance were genetically highly correlated (rg = 0.89 +/- 0.00). For all traits, the service sire variance was approximately one quarter in magnitude compared with its respective genetic variance. The results showed that selection for the number of live born piglets is not expected to influence the number of stillborn piglets. Increasing the number of live piglets born through selection should have a slight negative effect on farrowing duration and a minor increase in the need for birth assistance. Sows with a high genetic potential for birth assistance and prolonged parturition were more likely to give birth to greater numbers of stillborn piglets.     

Platelet transfusion in thrombocytopenic horses

Platelet transfusions might be indicated in horses with thrombocytopenia. The need for a transfusion cannot be determined by platelet numbers alone, as primary or co‐existing disease processes, platelet function and age of the recipient also need to be considered. In patients with no co‐morbidities, relevant bleeding is uncommonly observed with platelet counts >10 x 10⁹/l and a therapeutic approach with initiation of treatment when signs of bleeding are observed might be justified.     

Horses and the risk of zoonotic infections.

Infectious agents are insidious, often changing to adapt to host defenses or treatment advances. Because these challenges will continue, the need to apply standard and transmission-based precautions is important not only in the human hospital setting but in the veterinary clinic setting. In addition, to prevent human infection and potential liability, clinics need to establish program algorithms to prevent disease spread for specific agents or planned procedures to respond to potential nosocomial and zoonotic disease events. These need to be done proactively. Furthermore, more money needs to be dedicated to establish infection control programs and to improve the science of infection control in the veterinary setting.     

Die Weisheit des Tierkörpers

In 1932 CANNON described the physiological wisdom of the body. This cannot exist without morphological wisdom. Since morphology is a formative process, both kinds of wisdom depend on the same formative forces. These forces are the forces of consciousness at all levels. Their existence is proved by the fact that they can be eliminated by narcosis. The wisdom of these forces is twofold: Firstly, the wisdom of need sensation which lasts only until the need is satisfied. This is the conscious intelligence of the body which is responsible for restraint in all living beings. Secondly, the wisdom, or better, the prudence of need satisfaction which requires knowledge and appropriate tools. The organs of the body are these tools. Knowledge belongs to the intellect which knows how to handle material. This is achieved in all prehuman species subconsciously and is demonstrated in all structures built by cells and animals. Only the human mind can be unwise and imprudent; but man, being free, is also able to be wise and prudent and so prevent the extinction of the earthly creation.     

Self-retaining braces for canine arthroscopy

OBJECTIVE : To describe self-retaining braces for canine shoulder, elbow, hip, and stifle arthroscopy. STUDY DESIGN : Clinical design and application. SAMPLE POPULATION : Clinical patients admitted for elective arthroscopy. METHODS : Self-retaining braces were designed and constructed from commercially available products, steel tubing, and upholstery. The design efficacy was determined by clinical use. RESULTS : A shoulder/hip retraction device was constructed from a heavy-duty Mayo stand and a steel T frame. An elbow brace and a stifle brace were constructed from a commercially available positioning arm and steel tubing. These devices were used successfully in clinical canine arthroscopy and provided consistent stability for arthroscopic surgery without the need of a surgical assistant. CONCLUSIONS : Arthroscopic self-retaining braces can be constructed from commercially available products and other simple materials to provide reliable patient positioning without the need for a surgical assistant. CLINICAL RELEVANCE : Self-retaining braces may provide improved patient stabilization and eliminate the need for a surgical assistant in most cases of canine arthroscopy.     

The online professional master of science in food safety degree program at Michigan State University: an innovative graduate education in food safety

A market-research study conducted in 2000 indicated a need for a degree program in food safety that would cover all aspects of the food system, from production to consumption. Despite this, such a program was not enthusiastically supported by employers, who feared losing their valued employees while they were enrolled in traditional on-campus graduate programs. A terminal professional degree was successfully created, offered, and modified over the succeeding five years. The innovative, non-traditional online program was developed to include a core curriculum and leadership training, with elective courses providing flexibility in specific areas of student interest or need. The resulting Professional Master of Science in Food Safety degree program provides a transdisciplinary approach for the protection of an increasingly complex food system and the improvement of public health. Enrollment in the program steadily increased in the first three years of delivery, with particular interest from industry and government employees. The curriculum provides a platform of subject material from which certificate programs, short-courses, seminars, workshops, and executive training programs may be delivered, not only to veterinarians but also to related food and health specialists. The program has fulfilled a need for adult learners to continue as working professionals in the workforce. The benefit to the employer and to society is an individual with enhanced knowledge and networking and leadership skills.     

The need for a veterinary antibiotic policy.

The international recognition of the 'stable to table' approach to food safety emphasises the need for appropriate and safe use of antibiotics in animal production. An appropriate use of antibiotics for food animals will preserve the long-term efficacy of existing antibiotics, support animal health and welfare and limit the risk of transfer of antibiotic resistance to humans. Furthermore, it may promote consumer confidence in the veterinary use of antibiotics. In advancing these arguments, the authors of this article argue that there is a need for a visible and operational policy for veterinary use of antibiotics, paying particular attention to the policies that are being developed in Denmark.     

Review of Influenza A Virus in Swine Worldwide: A Call for Increased Surveillance and Research

Pigs and humans have shared influenza A viruses (IAV) since at least 1918, and many interspecies transmission events have been documented since that time. However, despite this interplay, relatively little is known regarding IAV circulating in swine around the world compared with the avian and human knowledge base. This gap in knowledge impedes our understanding of how viruses adapted to swine or man impacts the ecology and evolution of IAV as a whole and the true impact of swine IAV on human health. The pandemic H1N1 that emerged in 2009 underscored the need for greater surveillance and sharing of data on IAV in swine. In this paper, we review the current state of IAV in swine around the world, highlight the collaboration between international organizations and a network of laboratories engaged in human and animal IAV surveillance and research, and emphasize the need to increase information in high‐priority regions. The need for global integration and rapid sharing of data and resources to fight IAV in swine and other animal species is apparent, but this effort requires grassroots support from governments, practicing veterinarians and the swine industry and, ultimately, requires significant increases in funding and infrastructure.