Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study

The onset of severe injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is extremely difficult to predict from slight changes in ultrasonographic findings in cases with no apparent clinical signs. This study investigated the relationship between an increased cross-sectional area (CSA) or edema in the subcutaneous tissue around the tendon and the subsequent onset of severe SDFT injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Horses were classified into three groups based on ultrasound diagnosis (USD) findings: Group A included cases with enlarged tendons; Group B included cases with tendons of normal size but with prominent edema in the peritendinous tissue; and Group C (control group) included cases with no abnormal USD findings. The incidence of subsequent severe tendon injury was significantly higher in the horses in Groups A (25.7%, 28/101) and B (28.3%, 65/212) than in those in Group C (4.9%, 2/41). There were no significant differences in the median period and the median number of races from the first examination to the subsequent tendon injury between Groups A (140 days, 1 race) and B (120 days, 1 race). The results of this study revealed that horses with increased CSA and peritendinous edema are likely to suffer a subsequent severe tendon injury. Also, these two USD findings, i.e., increased CSA and peritendinous edema, indicate the risk of onset of severe SDFT injury.     

Lactoferrin concentrations in milk from normal and subclinical mastitic cows

The concentrations of lactoferrin (Lf) in quarter milk from normal lactating cows and subclinical mastitic cows were measured to determine whether the Lf concentration in milk is influenced by the age of the cow, the stage of lactation, number of milk somatic cells and the presence of pathogens. Lf concentrations in 111 quarter milk samples from 28 normal lactating cows and 270 quarter milk samples from 198 subclinical mastitic cows were measured by means of a single radial immunodiffusion test. Lf concentrations (means +/- standard deviations; logarithmic form) in normal cows and subclinical mastitic cows were 2.23 +/- 0.39 and 2.70 +/- 0.39, respectively. The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in subclinical mastitic cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that in normal cows. The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in normal lactating cows aged 5 years was lower than those in normal lactating cows aged 2 years (p<0.01) and 3 years (p<0.05). The results showed that the milk Lf concentration (log) is associated with age of the dairy cow (one-way analysis of variance test, p<0.01). The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in the latter lactational period tended to be higher than those in the peak and middle periods. Milk Lf concentrations (log) tended to be proportional to the level of the somatic cell count (SCC) score. Mean milk Lf concentrations (log) in subclinical mastitic cows infected with Staphylococcus aureus and with other streptococci species were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those in cows infected with coagulase-negative staphylococci and with Corynebacterium bovis.     

Efficacy of enamel matrix protein applied to spontaneous periodontal disease in two dogs

Enamel matrix protein (EMP) was applied for regeneration of periodontal tissue in 2 dogs with spontaneous periodontal disease. Case 1 had bony resorption around the root and root apex of the maxillary fourth premolars. Case 2 had vertical resorption of bone between the mandibular first and second molars. A flap was formed in the buccal gingiva, and EMP was applied onto the surface of the exposed root. One or 4 months postoperatively, increased bone level and clinical attachment were recognized. EMP was therefore suggested to be effective to induce regeneration of periodontal tissues in the cases with periodontal disease.     

Effects of propofol-sevoflurane anesthesia on the maternal and fetal hemodynamics blood gases, and uterine activity in pregnant goats

To determine the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on hemodynamics, acid-base balance and uterine activity in pregnant animals, a prospective experimental study was designed by use of ten pregnant goats. Propofol was intravenously administered at a bolus dose of 5 mg/kg and then infused a rate of 0.3 mg/kg/min for 5 min. Following the induction, the animals were incrementally inhaled 2.7 and 4.1% of end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane each for 30 min, and then recovered. The maternal and fetal heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (BP) and acid-base balance, the intrauterine pressure (IUP), and the uterine blood flow (UBF) were measured. Following the pre-anesthetic data, the parameters were measured 7 times throughout the anesthetic and recovering periods. The propofol infusion induced 1.37 times of HR increase and produced decrease in PO(2) and a relevant metabolic acidemia in the mother, with no effect in the fetus. Sevoflurane reduced BP in the fetus from 30 (2.7%) to 60 (4.1%) min of inhalation. The uterine contractions disappeared throughout sevoflurane inhalation, and then recurred within 15 min after the cessation of sevoflurane. Propofol injection increases HR, and induces a moderate hypoxemia and metabolic acidemia associated with the suppressed ventilation for pregnant goats, with less effect on the fetal hemodinamics. Sevoflurane causes minimal change in maternal hemodynamics, but induces significant hypotension in the fetus and reduction of uterine activity. These data may be useful in making anesthetic choices combined with analgesia for Caesarian section in goats.     

Need for flagella for complete virulence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci: genetic analysis with flagella-defective mutants ?fliC and ?fliD in host tobacco plants

The flagellins purified from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci induce a hypersensitive reaction in nonhost tomato cells. To investigate the role of flagella and flagellin in the compatible interaction, we generated two types of flagella-defective mutant. The fliC mutant lost the fliC gene that encodes flagellin protein, whereas the fliD mutant lost the fliD gene that encodes HAP2-capping protein. The two mutants had markedly reduced ability to cause disease symptoms in tobacco leaves. Furthermore, propagation of the mutants in tobacco leaves was less than that in wild-type pv. tabaci. Compared to the inoculation with wild-type pv. tabaci, inoculation with the two mutants did not markedly induce the expression of typical defense response-related genes such as PAL and hsr203J. Complementation of each fliC and fliD gene to the corresponding deficient mutant restored motility and virulence. These results indicate that flagella of P. syringae pv. tabaci are indispensable organelles for complete virulence on host tobacco plants.     

Hepatocyte growth factor transduces different intracellular signals in aortic and umbilical venous endothelial cells

Endothelial cells are important for maintenance of vascular integrity by producing a variety of bioactive molecules such as nitric oxide (NO). Recent evidence has suggested that there are some differences in characteristics between endothelial cells from different origins. Here we examined responses of two typical endothelial cells to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which induces endothelium-dependent relaxation of microvessels. Stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) with HGF increased endothelial NO synthase activity, accompanied with an increase of activity-related site-specific phosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt. However, HGF stimulated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) only in HUVEC, but not in BAEC, while it induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAPK in both cells. These results suggest that HGF transduces different intracellular signals between aortic and umbilical venous endothelial cells, and that the differences might represent divergent endothelial responses to growth factors, especially those that activate receptor-tyrosine kinases.     

Cerebellar ataxia due to Toxocara infection in Mongolian gerbils,Meriones unguiculatus

We assessed the usefulness of gerbils as an experimental model for neurologic toxocarosis. Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, infected with Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati (1000 eggs/gerbil) showed progressive neurologic disorders from 50 days after infection in T. canis-infected gerbils or from 120 days after infection in T. cati-infected gerbils. The incidence of the onset was 6 of the 13 gerbils (49%) in the T. canis-gerbils and 5 of the 7 gerbils (71%) in the T. cati-gerbils. Histopathologically, the cerebellum was the most affected in both groups. We observed loss of Purkinje cells, glial nerve fibers, and nerve sheaths. We also found foci consisting of aggregated macrophages scattered in the white matter of the cerebellum. The affected gerbils showed ataxia and ultimately died of cachexia. Our findings suggest that irreversible neurologic toxocarosis in gerbils can be induced by infection with either T. canis or T. cati.     

Effects of milrinone on hemodynamics and regional blood flow in the hypoxic dog

Milrinone, a therapeutic agent for acute congestive heart failure, has both inotropic and vasodilatory effects, but investigations of these effects of milrinone were almost all conducted under normoxia, and few reports have investigated how milrinone affects the hemodynamics and redistribution of regional blood flow under severe hypoxia. By using colored microspheres, we investigated how milrinone affects hemodynamics and the redistribution of regional blood flow under severe hypoxia. Twelve healthy mongrel dogs were divided into 2 groups. The milrinone group was infused with milrinone cumulatively at 25, 75 and 250 microg/kg for 5 min each. The intact group was infused with saline instead of milrinone. We measured the hemodynamics and cerebrum, cerebellum and kidney blood flow in both groups. Both groups were inspired with 10% oxygen. Milrinone induced significant decrease in mean pulmonary artery and pulmonary vascular resistance, compared with the intact group. In both groups slight decreases in mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance and double-product were seen. In regional blood flow, milrinone-induced increases in blood flow were seen in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and especially in the kidneys. Milrinone's vasodilatory effects were sufficient even under hypoxia. And milrinone increased regional blood flow slightly in the cerebrum and cerebellum, and significantly in the kidneys. These results suggested that milrinone protects against hypoxia-induced organ damage especially in the kidneys. In addition, milrinone is very potent in improving severe congested hemodynamics which complicates hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.     

Experimental and clinical studies on plasma leptin in obese dogs

Leptin is a protein synthesized and secreted primarily by adipocytes, and the circulating leptin concentration is elevated in obese humans and rodents. Recently, we have established a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for canine leptin. In the present study, plasma leptin concentrations were measured in experimentally developed obese beagles and in clinically obese dogs. When 5 male beagles were given a high-energy diet for 3 months, all of them became obese and the plasma leptin concentration significantly increased from 2.4+/-1.2 to 4.9+/-0.9 ng/ml, positively correlating with body fat content estimated by the deuterium oxide dilution method (r=0.87). The leptin concentrations of plasma samples collected from 59 dogs in veterinary practices were compared with their body condition scores (BCS). The plasma leptin concentrations of obese dogs were 9.7+/-0.7 and 12.3+/-1.5 ng/ml at BCS=4 and BCS=5, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of optimal (BCS=3) dogs (2.7+/-0.3 ng/ml). There was no significant effect of sex and breed. A weak positive correlation (r=0.37) was found between the plasma leptin concentration and age, probably due to the lesser content of visceral fat in puppies younger than 1 year old. These results indicate that plasma leptin is a good index of adiposity in dogs regardless of breed, age and sex, and may be useful for quantitative assessment of obesity in small animal practice.