Ultrasound in the Gynaecological Diagnosis in Bovine with Respect to Embryo Transfer*

The use of ultrasonography in cases of embryo transfer in cattle provides valuable additional information. Indications are the examination of uterus and ovaries, control of superovulation, ultrasound-guided follicle punction for oocyte collecting, pregnancy diagnosis from day 20 and monitoring of early pregnancy for occurrence of embryonic death. Especially the ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration of oocytes seems to be a successful path for a avoiding superovulation. Inhalt: Die Sonographie in der gynäkologischen Diagnostik unter dem Aspekt des Embryotransfers Durch die Sonographie können für Arbeiten in Zusammenhang mit dem Embryotransfer, wie am Beispiel des Rindes gezeigt wurde, wertvolle zusätzliche Informationen erhalten werden. Indikationen für den Einsatz von Ultraschall sind die Funktionsüber-prüfung von Uterus und Ovarien, die Kontrolle der Superovulation, die Oozytengewinnung unter sonographisch überwachter Follikelpunktion mit transvaginalern Zugang, die Graviditätsdiagnose ab dem 20. Tag und die Überwachung der Frühgrauidität, wobei vor allem das frühzeitige Erkennen einer embryonalen Mortalität von Bedeutung ist. Besonders die transvaginale Follikelpunktion zur Oorytengewinnung scheint ein vielversprechender Weg zu sein, wenn eine Superovulation vermieden werden soll oder die betreffenden Tiere aufeine hormonale Stimulation nicht reagieren.     

Estimation of quantitative oxidation and fat retention from carbohydrate,protein and fat in growing pigs

Die Oxidation von Nährstoffen und Retention von Kohlenhydraten, Protein und Fett hei wachsenden Schweinen Die Oxidation von Nährstoffen sowie deren Beitrag zur Fettretention wurde an Hand von 185 individuellen Bilanzstudien mit wachsenden Schweinen (40–100 kg Lebendgewicht) beurteilt. Der Respirationskoeffizient ohne Berücksichtigung des Proteins (RQnp) lag entweder unter oder über 1. Die beschriebene Methode basierend auf Gasaustausch sowie Kohlenstoff-Stickstoffbilanz zur Berechnung der Oxidation von Nährstoffen und Lipogenese ist in beiden Fällen gültig (RQnp > 1 und RQnp < 1). Bei einer den Wachstumsbedarf deckenden Energiezufuhr (ME ≥ 1,2 MJ/kg^0.75) ist die Oxidation von Nährstoffen im Bezug auf die Proteinretention abhängig von der Menge und Qualität des verdauten Proteins. Weiterhin besteht eine Abhängigkeit von der Menge an verdaulichen Kohlenhydraten. Die Versorgung mit Fett spielt dagegen keine Rolle. Die Oxidation von Kohlenhydraten trägt mit 85%, die von Protein mit 15% zur anfallenden Wärmeenergie bei. Eine Fettoxidation findet auch bei hohem Fettgehalt der Nahrung nicht statt. Die Lipogenese aus Kohlenhydraten stellt die Hauptquelle für die Körperfettretention dar. Da keine Fettoxidation stattfindet, wird das gesamte Nahrungsfett im Körper reteniert. Bei einer für das Wachstum zu geringen Energiezufuhr werden Nahrungsfett und Körperfett oxidiert. Um Protein für die Retention zu erhalten, ist die Oxidation von Protein vermindert. Selbst bei Mobilisierung von Körperfett und Oxidation von Nahrungsfett wird ein Teil der Kohlenhydrate und des Proteins für die Lipogenese vermutlich zum Aufbau von Strukturfett verwendet.     

Utilization of a habitat mosaic by cotton rats during a population decline

This study describes the demographic features of a population of Sigmodon hispidus utilizing the habitat mosaic provided by a Carolina Bay on the Atlantic coastal plain of South Carolina. A total of 71 cotton rats were captured 160 times on a 4 ha grid during a winter decline from 25/ha to less that 1/ha. Body weights of adults declined until early February and then increased; those of subadults grew very slowly until February followed by a spurt in growth. Weight gain did not differ between survivors and non-survivors for males, but female survivors gained 1.5 g per week more than non-survivors. Female subadults exhibited higher mortality early in the decline and males later.Adult females were randomly distributed across 8 microhabitats, whereas adult males were almost exclusively confined to heavy Rubus cover. Subadult males used wet sites more than any other cohort; subadult females were widely distributed using drier sites most frequently. By the end of the decline, all survivors were localized in Rubus-dominated patches. No statistically significant changes in electromorph genotypes or allele frequencies were detected, but survivors had a higher frequency of the F-allele at the adenylate kinase locus than did non-survivors (42.3% vs. 16.7%).Our findings affirm the importance of a landscape perspective in understanding the population dynamics of cotton rats, and show how a habitat mosaic influences survival differentially among sex-age cohorts.     

DETECTION OF A LIVER TUMOR IN A BEAGLE DOG USING SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

This case report describes the detection of a liver tumor in an 11–year-old female Beagle dog using single photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT). A mass was palpated in the cranial abdomen during removal of recurrent mammary tumors. A conventional nuclear medicine liver scan, following injection of ^99mTc-sulfur colloid, was equivocal. SPECT was then performed in a second procedure, using a simple system that rotated the dog before a gamma camera. Transverse plane images clearly showed a spheric space-occupying lesion, found at gross necropsy and confirmed histologically as a hepatoma. Discrete liver tumors may be detected more readily and their size determined more accurately using SPECT than with conventional nuclear medicine approaches.     

Application de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse au controle de la purete des corps gras

Résumé La chromatographie gazeuse, malgré les difficultés rencontrées dans l'interprétation quantitative des chromatogrammes, est suffisamment reproductible pour être appliquée aux contrôles de la pureté des corps gras.Par la mise en évidence d'acides gras étrangers à la composition de l'huile (ou de la gra sse) examinée, par la comparaison de sa composition générale avec la composition moyenne des produits de ce type, par la détermination de certains rapports de constitution, la chromatographie gazeuse permet de contrôler la pureté des corps gras avec une sensibilité qu'il était impossible d'envisager il y a quelques années.

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Summary Gas-chromatography, despite the difficulties met in the quantitative interpretation of chromatograms, is sufficiently reproducible to be applied to the industrial controls of fats.By showing the presence of fatty acids foreign to the composition of the studied oil (or fat), by the comparison of its general composition with the average composition of this type of products, by the determination of certain constitutional relations, gas chromatography gives us the possibility to control the purity of fats with a sensitivity that we could not have considered a few years ago.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gaschromatographie ist, trotz der angetroffenen Schwierigkeiten in der quantitativen Auswertung der Chromatogramme, genügend reproduzierbar um für industrielle Kontrollen der Reinheit von Fetten angewandt zu werden.Durch Darstellung der Ölzusammensetzung (oder der Zusammensetzung der Fette) artfremder Fettsäuren in den untersuchten Proben, durch Vergleich seiner Allgemeinzusammensetzung mit der Durchschnittszusammensetzung von Produkten dieses Typs, durch die Bestimmung bestimmter Komponentenbeziehungen, ermöglicht die Gaschromatographie es, die Reinheit der Fette mit einer Genauigkeit zu prüfen, die man vor einigen Jahren nicht für möglich gehalten hätte.

     

Response rates and survival times for cats with lymphoma treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol: 38 cases (1996-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To determine response rates and survival times for cats with lymphoma treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 38 cats with lymphoma. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed, and information on age, sex, breed, FeLV and FIV infection status, anatomic form, clinical stage, and survival time was obtained. Immunophenotyping was not performed. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD age of the cats was 10.9 +/- 4.4 years. Overall median survival time was 210 days (interquartile range, 90 to 657 days), and overall duration of first remission was 156 days (interquartile range, 87 to 316 days). Age, sex, anatomic form, and clinical stage were not significantly associated with duration of first remission or survival time. Eighteen of the 38 (47%) cats had complete remission, 14 (37%) had partial remission, and 6 (16%) had no response. Duration of first remission was significantly longer for cats with complete remission (654 days) than for cats with partial remission (114 days). Median survival time for cats with complete remission (654 days) was significantly longer than median survival time for cats with partial remission (122 days) and for cats with no response (11 days). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that a high percentage of cats with lymphoma will respond to treatment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol. Age, sex, anatomic form, and clinical stage were not significantly associated with duration of first response or survival time, but initial response to treatment was.     

Marked induction of IL-6, haptoglobin and IFNgamma following experimental BRSV infection in young calves

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) has been identified worldwide as an important pathogen associated with acute respiratory disease in calves. An infection model has been developed reflecting accurately the clinical course and the development of pathological signs during a natural BRSV-infection. In the experiments described in the present study, calves were infected at 13-21 weeks of age and reinfected 14 weeks later. Blood samples from the entire infection period were analysed for acute phase protein (haptoglobin) by ELISA and for expression (mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) by quantitative real-time reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IFNgamma, interleukin-6 and haptoglobin were markedly induced together with development of clinical signs in response to the first infection with BRSV. The IFNgamma response was biphasic, with an early peak at day 1-3 post infection (p.i.) and a later increase between day 5 and 8 p.i. Reinfection also resulted in an induction of IFNgamma, but without induction of clinical signs, IL-6 and haptoglobin. These results indicate that early mediators connected with the innate responses are induced on a first encounter with the pathogen, but not on a second encounter (reinfection) where the adaptive immune system may act as the first line defence.