Migration of retrobulbar wooden foreign body between diagnostic imaging and surgical extraction in a German shepherd dog

A 2‐year‐old, male castrated German shepherd dog was presented to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (UTVMC) with periorbital swelling and conjunctival mucopurulent discharge 2 days following removal of a twig from the medial canthus by the owner. Diagnostic imaging was pursued due to the suspicion of a retrobulbar foreign body (FB). A cylindrical FB approximately 3.0 cm in length and 1.0 cm in diameter with concentric rings, suspected to be wooden material, was identified on computed tomography (CT) imaging. An attempt to remove the FB via a stab incision using ultrasound guidance was unsuccessful, and postmanipulation ultrasound confirmed the FB position was unchanged. An exploratory orbitotomy was performed, using the acquired CT images for guidance in locating the FB; however, the FB was not present at the predicted site. The CT imaging was repeated and showed that the FB had migrated rostrally approximately 3.0 cm, compared to the originally acquired study and its same location during attempted ultrasound‐guided removal. A combination of CT‐guided needle placement and contrast injection was then used with repeat imaging in an attempt to better localize the FB and its soft tissue tract. The dog was taken back into the operating room, and the wooden FB was successfully removed.     

E12 technique: Conventional epoxy resin sheet plastination

Epoxy plastination techniques were developed to obtain thin transparent body slices with high anatomical detail. This is facilitated because the plastinated tissue is transparent and the topography of the anatomical structures well preserved. For this reason, thin epoxy slices are currently used for research purposes in both macroscopic and microscopic studies. The protocol for the conventional epoxy technique (E12) follows the main steps of plastination—specimen preparation, dehydration, impregnation and curing/casting. Preparation begins with selection of the specimen, followed by freezing and slicing. Either fresh or fixed (embalmed) tissue is suitable for epoxy plastination, while slice thickness is kept between 1.5 and 3 mm. Impregnation mixture is made of epoxy E12 resin plus E1 hardener (100 ppw; 28 ppw). This mixture is reactive and temperature sensitive, and for this reason, total impregnation time under vacuum at room laboratory temperature should not last for more than 20–24 hr. Casting of impregnated slices is done in either flat chambers or by the so‐called sandwich method in either fresh mixture or the one used for impregnation. Curing is completed at 40°C to allow a complete polymerization of the epoxy‐mixture. After curing, slices can be photographed, scanned or used for anatomical study under screen negatoscope, magnification glass or fluorescent microscope. Based on epoxy sheet plastination, many anatomical papers have recent observations of and/or clarification of anatomical concepts in different areas of medical expertice.     

Whole‐genome analysis identifying candidate genes of altitude adaptive ecological thresholds in yak populations

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is an iconic symbol of animal husbandry on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Long‐term domestication and natural selection have led to a wide distribution of yak, forming many ecological populations to adapt to the local ecological environment. High altitude is closely related to oxygen density, and it is an important environmental ecological factor for biological survival and livestock production. The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary analysis to identify the candidate genes of altitude distribution adapted ecological thresholds in yak using next‐generation sequence technology. A total of 15,762,829 SNPs were obtained from 29 yaks with high‐ and low‐altitude distribution by genome‐wide sequencing. According to the results of the selective sweep analysis with FST and ZHp, 21 candidate genes were identified. 14 genes (serine/threonine protein kinase TNNI3K, TEN1, DYM, ITPR1, ZC4H2, KNTC1, ADGRB3, CLYBL, TANGO6, ASCC3, KLHL3, PDE4D, DEPDC1B and AGBL4) were grouped into 32 Gene Ontology terms, and four genes (RPS6KA6, ITPR1, GNAO1 and PDE4D) annotated in 35 pathways, including seven environmental information processing and one environmental adaptation. Therefore, the novel candidate genes found in the current study do not only support new theories about high‐altitude adaptation, but also further explain the molecular mechanisms of altitude adaptation threshold in yaks.     

Heart rate variability parameters as markers of the adaptation to a sealed environment (a hypoxic normobaric chamber) in the horse

Simulated hypoxic normobaric devices have been used in human beings in order to enhance endurance capacity. These devices are sealed chambers where the athletes are supposed to stay for at least 6–8 hr daily. The current research assesses the changes in time‐domain, spectral and non‐geometrical heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in 6 horses subjected to progressive duration periods inside of a hermetically sealed chamber. It was pursued, firstly to evaluate the intensity of the stress experienced by the animals and secondly to elucidate whether the horses might require an acclimation period before implementation of hypoxic conditions. HRV parameters were monitored for 6 days: day 0 (6‐hr duration; in paddocks; basal conditions), and days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hr inside the chamber every day respectively). During day 1 and during the first hours of days 2 and 3, compared to day 0, horses presented increased HR and SDHR values and decreased RR interval duration. SD1 values decreased on some hours of days 2 and 3, but differences with day 0 were not found on day 1. Increased SDNN, RMSSD, SD1 and SD2 values were observed on days 4 and 5. These results showed an activation of the sympathetic activity together with an attenuation of the parasympathetic activity during the days 1 to 3. Increased parasympathetic activity was found only during the first hours of days 4 and 5. Spectral parameters experienced minor variations, with increased LF_peak and LF% during some hours of days 4 and 5. In conclusion, at least 3 days are needed to adapt the horse to a sealed environment before starting to subject the animals to hypoxic conditions. When the horses were acclimatized, however, a minor stress was detected with they spent more than 4 hr inside of the chamber.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome in healthy and Pasteurella multocida‐infected rabbits

The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome were studied in healthy and Pasteurella multocida‐infected rabbits after a single intramuscular (IM) injection at 2 mg/kg of its sulfate salt. Twelve female New Zealand white rabbits (2.0–2.5 kg) were used; six of them served as controls, and the other six had been infected with P. multocida; the experiments were conducted 1–2 days after nasal inoculation of P. multocida when rabbits showed the signs of respiratory infection. Plasma concentrations of cefquinome were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The values of elimination half‐life, area under the curve, area under the first moment curve, and mean residence time were significantly lower in infected rabbits (0.48 hr, 4.54 hr*μg/ml, 3.63 hr* hr*μg/ml and 0.8 hr, respectively) than healthy rabbits (0.72 hr, 9.11 hr*μg/ml, 9.85 hr* hr*μg/ml and 1.1 hr, respectively), whereas total body clearance was significantly higher in infected than healthy rabbits. Therefore, P. multocida infection caused significant changes in some of the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefquinome in rabbits. These pharmacokinetic changes may affect dose regimen when used in P. multocida‐infected rabbits.     

Suspected air embolism through the thoracic ventral internal vertebral venous plexus during hemilaminectomy in dogs

Venous air embolism entering via the ventral internal vertebral venous plexus was suspected during thoracic spinal surgery in two dogs. In both cases, air was seen bubbling from a pool of blood on the floor of the vertebral canal accompanied by sudden cardiopulmonary disturbances: low end‐tidal carbon dioxide pressure, tachycardia and reduction in oxygen in the blood. One dog became dyspnoeic and one died.     

Tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of a novel benzene‐poly‐carboxylic acids complex with cis‐diammineplatinum (II) dichloride in dogs with malignant mammary tumours

The pharmacokinetic profile, tolerability and efficacy of benzene‐poly‐carboxylic acids complex with cis‐diammineplatinum (II) dichloride (BP‐C1) were studied in dogs with mammary cancer. A three‐level response surface pathway designed trial was performed on seven dogs. At each level BP‐C1 was administered subcutaneously daily for 7 days followed by a 7‐day rest period in a dose escalating manner. Adverse events according to VCOG‐CTCAE, performance status and tumour progression were recorded. The pharmacokinetic profile followed a two‐compartment model with rapid absorption, short distribution, and a slow elimination phase. The overall elimination half‐life was 125 h. The maximum tolerated dose of BP‐C1 was estimated to be above 0.46 mg kg^?1. A significant reduction in VCOG‐CTCAE toxicity which correlated negatively with increasing dose was found. The dogs' general performance status remained unchanged. No decrease in total tumour burden was found, although temporary tumour reduction was seen in some target tumours.