Ultrasonographic visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature as an indicator of large colon right dorsal displacement or 180�� volvulus (or both) in horses

Visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature during transabdominal ultrasonographic examination of horses with colic can be a predictor of right dorsal displacement of the large colon or 180° large colon volvulus, or both. Medical records of 82 horses having had surgical treatment of colic and having received a transabdominal ultrasonographic examination on admission were reviewed. Colonic mesenteric vessels were sonographically identified coursing laterally on the right side of the abdomen in 24 of the 82 cases. Horses with colonic vessels identified on ultrasound were 32.5 times more likely to be diagnosed at surgery with either large colon right dorsal displacement or 180° large colon volvulus than those in which vessels were not seen (P < 0.001). Visualization of colonic mesenteric vessels on ultrasound provided a sensitivity of 67.7%, specificity of 97.9%, positive predictive value of 95.8%, and negative predictive value of 81% for large colon right dorsal displacement or 180° large colon volvulus, or both.     

Evaluation of cisplatin combined with piroxicam for the treatment of oral malignant melanoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of cisplatin administered with piroxicam, the antitumor activity and toxicity of cisplatin combined with piroxicam in dogs with oral malignant melanoma (OMM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and the effects of piroxicam on the pharmacokinetics of cisplatin in dogs with tumors. DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 25 dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were treated with a combination of cisplatin (escalating dose with 6 hours of diuresis with saline [0.9% NaCI] solution) and piroxicam (0.3 mg/kg 10.14 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h).The initial cisplatin dose (50 mg/m2) was increased by 5 mg/m2 until the MTD was reached. Tumor stage and size were determined at 6-week intervals during treatment. The pharmacokinetics of cisplatin were determined in dogs receiving a combination of cisplatin and piroxicam during the clinical trial and dogs that were treated with cisplatin alone. RESULTS: 11 dogs with OMM and 9 dogs with SCC were included in the clinical trial. The MTD of cisplatin when administered in combination with piroxicam was 50 mg/m2. Tumor remission occurred in 5 of 9 dogs with SCC and 2 of 11 dogs with OMM. The most common abnormality observed was renal toxicosis. Clearance of cisplatin in dogs that were treated with cisplatin alone was not significantly different from that in dogs treated with a combination of cisplatin and piroxicam. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cisplatin administered in combination with piroxicam had antitumor activity against OMM and SCC. The level of toxicity was acceptable, although renal function must be monitored carefully.     

Neotropical mammals and the myth of amazonian biodiversity

Data were compiled on the distribution of mammal taxa (883 species, 242 genera, 45 families, and 10 orders) among South America's six major macrohabitats: lowland Amazon forest, western montane forests, Atlantic rain forest, upland semideciduous forest, southern mesophytic forest, and drylands. The drylands are the richest area in numbers of species supported and are more diverse than the other habitats, including the lowland Amazon rain forest, when endemics are considered. An analysis of number of endemic and nonendemic taxa versus size of area found a simple positive linear relationship: the drylands, almost twice as extensive as the Amazon lowlands, support more endemic taxa. Conservation plans that emphasize the wet tropics and fail to consider the drylands as special repositories of mammal diversity will be unable to preserve a significant number of novel taxa.     

Effect of hemolysis on nonesterified fatty acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in bovine blood.

Nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) assays are used for evaluating dairy herds for negative energy balance and subclinical ketosis, respectively. Hemolysis is a common artifact in samples submitted to diagnostic laboratories. The effect of hemolysis on NEFA and BHB in bovine serum was determined. Hemolysis was introduced into 26 serum samples by adding serial dilutions of a red cell hemolysate, prepared by repeated freeze-thawing of EDTA-anticoagulated bovine blood. NEFA, BHB, and degree of hemolysis (hemolytic index) were measured by an automated chemistry analyzer. Two endpoint assays that differed by inclusion of a sample blank were used for NEFA measurement. A kinetic enzymatic assay with 2 reagent sources was used for BHB measurement. The assessed methods yielded similar NEFA or BHB results in baseline, nonhemolyzed samples (median NEFA: 0.25 mEq/L, median BHB: 3 mg/dL, median hemolytic index: 8 units). NEFA results were adversely affected by hemolysis, with values increasing significantly with higher degrees of hemolysis. Median values increased above a critical medical decision limit (0.40 mEq/L) at a hemolytic index of 506 units (marked hemolysis). This increase was prevented by inclusion of a sample blank. Result interpretation was affected in individual animals when samples were moderately hemolyzed (median hemolytic index: 258 units). In contrast, BHB results were unaffected by hemolysis with either reagent source. Thus, assays for measuring NEFAs should include a sample blank and NEFA results should not be interpreted in moderately to markedly hemolyzed bovine samples, because result accuracy cannot be assured.     

Prevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in domestic yak Bos grunniens and their herders in a transhumant pastoralist system of Dolpo,Nepal

Disease caused by Brucella spp. represents the most common bacterial zoonotic infection worldwide. The distribution and public health impact of these infections in Nepal's mountain regions are poorly characterized. This cross sectional study assesses the burden of brucellosis on transhumant pastoralists and their yak in and around Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal. Objectives were to: (1) estimate individual animal prevalence of Brucella-seropositive yak, (2) identify herd- and individual-level risk factors associated with Brucella seropositivity in individual yak, and (3) identify herd-level risk factors associated with reported human brucellosis-like symptoms in a household. A case of household symptoms was defined as the reported occurrence within the previous year of at least one of three acute symptoms (chills, fever, night chills) and one of two chronic symptoms (joint pain, swollen joint(s)) in one or both of two individuals interviewed in a household. Two-hundred-ninety-seven yak from 61 herds were sampled, and 61 household questionnaires were completed. Estimated true prevalence was 0.22 (95% CI: 0.17; 0.28). Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was used to account for repeated measures within a cluster (herd). Yak in herds reporting abortion occurrence within the previous year were 2.3 times more likely to be seropositive than those in herds not reporting abortion (95% CI: 1.2; 4.2, p = 0.01). For every 10 animal increase in herd number, individual animal seropositivity risk increased by 30% (95% CI: 10%; 50%, p = 0.001). Male yak were 0.7 times as likely to be seropositive as female yak (95% CI: 0.5; 0.9, p = 0.01). Three to five year old yak were 2 times more likely to be seropositive than yak <3 years old (95% CI: 1.3; 3.2, p = 0.003), and yak >5 years old were 4.9 times more likely to be seropositive than yak <3 years old (95% CI: 2.9; 8.1, p < 0.001). Risk of reported brucellosis-like symptoms at the household level was 2 (95% CI: 1.1; 3.5, p = 0.02) times greater for households with herds with >1 reactor, and was 3.6 (95% CI: 1.4; 9.2, p = 0.008) times greater for households reporting the practice of raw milk consumption. These results indicate that yak seropositivity for Brucella spp. is widespread in the region, and is associated with reported human disease. This epidemiologic understanding is essential to the identification of public health opportunities at the interface of Himalayan livestock populations and the transhumant pastoralists that depend on them.     

Synthesis of deuterated gamma-lactones for use in stable isotope dilution assays

Two syntheses of deuterated gamma-lactones for use as internal standards in stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA) were developed. [2,2,3,3-2H4]-gamma-Octa-, -gamma-deca-, and -gamma-dodecalactones with >89% deuterium incorporation were prepared in 27, 17, and 19% overall yields, respectively, by the reduction of a doubly protected hydroxypropiolic acid with deuterium gas. [3,3,4-2H3]-gamma-Octa- and -gamma-dodecalactones were prepared in 6 and 23% yields with >92% deuterium incorporation by the free radical addition of 2-iodoacetamide to [1,1,2-2H3]-1-hexene and [1,1,2-2H3]-1-decene, respectively. Reaction yields were highly dependent upon the purity of the 1-alkene starting material. The deuterated gamma-lactones were evaluated as internal standards for SIDA.