Demographic, clinical, and radiographic features of bronchiectasis in dogs: 316 cases (1988-2000)

OBJECTIVE: To determine demographic, clinical, and radiographic features of bronchiectasis in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 289 dogs identified through the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB) and 27 dogs examined at the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. PROCEDURE: Demographic characteristics of dogs identified through the VMDB were compared with characteristics of the entire population of dogs entered in the VMDB. Medical records of dogs examined at the teaching hospital were reviewed; the diagnosis was confirmed through review of thoracic radiographs. RESULTS: Analysis of data from the VMDB indicated that American Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, Miniature Poodles, Siberian Huskies, English Springer Spaniels, and dogs > 10 years old had an increased risk of bronchiectasis. Among dogs examined at the teaching hospital, coughing was the most common clinical sign. There was evidence for excessive airway mucus but not hemorrhage. A variety of bacterial organisms were isolated from tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. On thoracic radiographs, cylindrical bronchiectasis, generalized disease, and right cranial lung lobe involvement were most common. Seven of 14 dogs for which follow-up radiographs were available did not have any progression of radiographic lesions. Median duration of clinical signs prior to diagnosis of bronchiectasis was 9 months (range, 1 day to 10 years). Median survival time was 16 months (range, 2 days to 72 months). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that despite substantial clinical abnormalities, dogs with bronchiectasis may survive for years. Certain purebred dogs and older dogs may have an increased risk of developing bronchiectasis.     

Light Use Efficiency and Woody Biomass Production of Poplar and Willow

Stands of clonal Salix viminalis (in 1985) and Populus trichocarpa(in 1986) were grown for one growing season from cuttings incontainers, at 0.3 m spacing, supplied with trickle irrigationand nutrients. Woody biomass production (B_w) in the first yearwas analysed as the product of the proportion of dry matterpartitioned to wood ({macron}), the seasonal mean efficiencywith which intercepted light was used to produce dry matter({macron}), the mean fraction of incident light interceptedby the canopies (f{macron}), and the amount of incoming solarradiation over the season (A). Thus, Bw = {macron}f{macron}{macron}A. For Salix, B_w=10 t ha^–1y^–1, while for Populus, B_w= 5 t ha^–1y^–1, mainly because of differences in{macron} and f{macron}. The Populus partitioned more dry matterto roots (and correspondingly less to stems) and interceptedless light over the growing season. The Salix and Populus cloneshad surprisingly similar ({macron}) values, namely 1. 58 and1. 50 g MJ^–1, respectively (based on total dry matterand total solar radiation), which are very like the {macron}values measured on C₃ agricultural crops in Britain. Also, theSalix and Populus clones produced canopies with similar lightextinction coefficients and hence similar relationships betweenfractional interception and leaf area index.     

Canine diabetes mellitus: a retrospective survey

This paper describes the results of a retrospective survey of 43 cases of canine diabetes mellitus. The epidemiological data were in general agreement with previous surveys. Blood glucose, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum alanine aminotransferase, blood urea and serum cholesterol levels measured before starting treatment were found to be of limited value in forming a pre-treatment prognosis, although markedly raised values were a poor prognostic sign.     

Two-dimensional nanosheets produced by liquid exfoliation of layered materials

If they could be easily exfoliated, layered materials would become a diverse source of two-dimensional crystals whose properties would be useful in applications ranging from electronics to energy storage. We show that layered compounds such as MoS(2), WS(2), MoSe(2), MoTe(2), TaSe(2), NbSe(2), NiTe(2), BN, and Bi(2)Te(3) can be efficiently dispersed in common solvents and can be deposited as individual flakes or formed into films. Electron microscopy strongly suggests that the material is exfoliated into individual layers. By blending this material with suspensions of other nanomaterials or polymer solutions, we can prepare hybrid dispersions or composites, which can be cast into films. We show that WS(2) and MoS(2) effectively reinforce polymers, whereas WS(2)/carbon nanotube hybrid films have high conductivity, leading to promising thermoelectric properties.     

Anagen Defluxion in Two Horses

Abstract— Anagen defluxion is an unusual cause of non-pruritic alopecia in many species. Two cases are described in horses, the onset coinciding with upper respiratory disease associated with pyrexia. Skin biopsies showed typical changes with follicles containing broken hairs of irregular shaft diameter. The alopecia resolved slowly without therapy. Résumé— L'effluvium anagène est une cause rare d'alopécie non prurigineuse dans de nombreuses espèces. Deux cas ont été obserés chez des chevaux. Le début a coincidé avec une atteinte des voies respiratoires supérieures associées à une fièvre. Les biopsies cutanées ont révélé des lésions caractéristiques: follicules contenant des poils cassés de diamètre iérrgulier. L'alopécie s'est progressivement résorbée sans traitement. Zusammenfassung— Anagen-Deflux ist eine ungewöhnliche Ursache für eine nicht pruritische Alopezie bei vielen Spezies. Beim Pferd werden zwei Fälle beschrieben, wobei der Beginn mit einer fieberhaften Erkrankung der oberen Atemwege zusammenfällt. Hautbiopsien zeigten typische Veränderungen mit Follikeln, die abgebrochene Haare mit unregelmäßigem Schaftdurchmesser enthielten. Die Alopezie heilte langsam ohne Therapie ab. Resumen La defluxión de la fase anagenica del pelo es una rara causa de alopecia de tipo no pruriginoso en una variedad de especies. En este artículo se describe el caso de dos caballos, en los cuales el punto más agudo de la enfermedad coincide con afeccion de las vías respiratorias altas acompañada de fiebre. Las biopsias cutáneas demostraron la presencia de cambios típicos en los folículos pilosos que contenían pelos rotos o de diámetro irregular. La alopecia se resolvió de manera lenta sin ningun tipo de terapia.