Distribution of AVMA members by state and gender (1999-2003)

From 1999 to 2003, the percentage of actively employed females in the AVMA increased 25.4%, whereas the percentage of males decreased by 0.4%. The number of females increased in all 9 census regions.     

Increased sacral screw purchase minimizes screw loosening in canine triple pelvic osteotomy

OBJECTIVE: To determine if screw loosening in triple pelvic osteotomies (TPO) is minimized when screws cranial to the ilial osteotomy had maximal sacral purchase. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Forty-six dogs with decreased acetabular coverage of the femoral head and minimal degenerative joint changes. METHODS: TPOs were performed where screws cranial to the ilial osteotomy were inserted to maximally engage sacral bone. Data collected were: use of ilial and ischial cerclage wire, screw length, ventrodorsal radiographic sacral width (most caudal aspect), pelvic canal diameter, and sacral penetration of the 3 cranial screws. On all subsequent radiographs, changes in screw position, pelvic canal diameter, and sacral purchase were noted. RESULTS: For 69 TPOs, 414 screws were used. Mean radiographic cranial screw length was 34.54 mm. Combined sacral depth of all 3 screws was 93.3% of sacral width. All osteotomies healed uneventfully. Twenty-four screws (6%) loosened with 12 being in the most cranial positions. Use of ischial or ilial cerclage wires did not statistically influence screw loosening. Pelvic diameter decreased by a mean of 7.79% from postoperative radiographs to the last radiographic recheck. CONCLUSIONS: By sufficiently engaging the sacrum with screws cranial to the ilial osteotomy, implant failures can be avoided and screw loosening minimized when a 6-hole TPO plate is used. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To minimize screw-loosening in TPO, screws inserted cranial to the ilial osteotomy should be inserted to maximum sacral depth without penetrating the vertebral canal.     

Mechanical performance of a screw-type veterinary suture anchor subjected to single load to failure and cyclic loads

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the mechanical performance of a veterinary bone anchor under static and cyclic loads. STUDY DESIGN: Mechanical testing study. ANIMALS: Cadaveric canine humeri. METHODS: Humeri (6 pairs) were collected from skeletally mature dogs (mean [+/-SD] age, 17.2+/-2.1 months; weight, 20.8+/-1.5 kg). Bone anchors were inserted in the proximal metaphysis using nylon, and were longitudinally extracted. For the opposite humerus, anchors were subjected to longitudinal cyclic load (50% of the load at failure of their pair) for 1200 cycles then longitudinally loaded to failure. Anchors were then installed in a similar and adjacent area of these 2(nd) humeri with nylon and cyclically tested perpendicular to the axis of anchor insertion (100% of the longitudinal holding power of their pair) for 1200 cycles, then perpendicularly loaded to failure. Paired t-tests were used to compare holding power before and after longitudinal cyclic testing. RESULTS: Longitudinal holding power of the screw-type anchor in the proximal humerus was 385+/-30 N. Anchor pullout was the only mode of failure. Anchors in the paired humeri did not fail after 1200 cycles of 50% longitudinal loading, and post-cycle holding strength was not different (335+/-87 N; P=.32). Perpendicularly loaded anchors did not fail after 1200 cycles of 100% of opposite longitudinal holding strength, and had post-cycle perpendicular holding strengths of 514+/-72 N. Suture breakage was the mode of failure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bone anchor holding strength is dependent on orientation of suture load. Screw-type bone anchor holding strength was not affected by longitudinal cyclic loading, and holding strengths of approximately 385 N can be expected in metaphyseal bone of large-breed mature dogs. Perpendicularly loaded anchors have higher failure loads, and holding strength of approximately 514 N can be expected in metaphyseal bone of the proximal humerus.     

Strong top-down control in southern California kelp forest ecosystems

Global-scale changes in anthropogenic nutrient input into marine ecosystems via terrestrial runoff, coupled with widespread predator removal via fishing, have created greater urgency for understanding the relative role of top-down versus bottom-up control of food web dynamics. Yet recent large-scale studies of community regulation in marine ecosystems have shown dramatically different results that leave this issue largely unresolved. We combined a multiyear, large-scale data set of species abundances for 46 species in kelp forests from the California Channel Islands with satellite-derived primary production and found that top-down control explains 7- to 10-fold more of the variance in abundance of bottom and mid-trophic levels than does bottom-up control. This top-down control was propagated via a variety of species-level direct and indirect responses to predator abundance. Management of top-down influences such as fishing may be more important in coastal marine ecosystems, particularly in kelp forest systems, than is commonly thought.     

Massive-star supernovae as major dust factories

We present late-time optical and mid-infrared observations of the Type II supernova 2003gd in the galaxy NGC 628. Mid-infrared excesses consistent with cooling dust in the ejecta are observed 499 to 678 days after outburst and are accompanied by increasing optical extinction and growing asymmetries in the emission-line profiles. Radiative-transfer models show that up to 0.02 solar masses of dust has formed within the ejecta, beginning as early as 250 days after outburst. These observations show that dust formation in supernova ejecta can be efficient and that massive-star supernovae could have been major dust producers throughout the history of the universe.     

Biochemical response of grapevine variety ‘Chardonnay’ (Vitis vinifera L.) to infection with grapevine yellows (Bois noir)

This study was carried out on the leaves of phytoplasma susceptible grapevine variety ??Chardonnay?? (Vitis vinifera L.), and included research of the alterations in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, contents of phenol compounds and in related enzymes activity in the phenylpropanoid pathway during the Bois noir (BN) infection. Phytoplasma-infected leaves showed reduced contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids, which promoted their susceptibility to oxidative reactions. Furthermore, modulation of flavonoid biosynthesis occurred in infected leaves, leading to an increased activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase and polyphenoloxidase, but to a decreased peroxidase activity. Phytoplasma infection led to an increase of the contents of hydroxycinnamic acids (caftaric acid, sinapic acid glucose derivate and coutaric acid), flavanols (procyanidin B1, procyanidin dimer 3, catechin, epicatechin) and flavonols (quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, quercetin 3-O-glucoside) especially in the period up to vérasion. The study demonstrated that at certain phenological key-stages infection with phytoplasma (BN) induced different alterations in enzyme activities and in the contents of biochemical compounds from primary and secondary metabolism.     

Blue EaLAMP—a specific and sensitive method for visual detection of genomic Erwinia amylovora DNA

Fire blight caused by the gram-negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora is a major disease of pome fruit like apple (Malus domestica) or pear (Pyrus communis). Detection of the pathogen is hampered by low titres usually being present during initial flower infection and the brief time frame for analysis to decide upon subsequent countermeasures. Here we describe a loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP) assay for genomic DNA of Erwinia amylovora, which relies on a highly specific primer design that excludes amplification from typical DNA sources of the orchard biological system and from sample handling. The assay enables the fast detection of down to approximately 20?cfu of pure Erwinia amylovora or 100?fg genomic DNA (corresponding to approximately 25 E. amyolovora equivalents) per reaction within 45?min. Fast and reliable detection of E. amylovora in orchard samples by naked eye is achieved through a visual colour change indication with hydroxynaphthol blue. The assay avoids use of complex technical devices and is thus suitable for field testing.