A systematic review of the efficacy of interventions for dynamic intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate

There are numerous treatments for correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). However, the efficacy of these treatments is controversial and there is little consensus on how best to treat this condition. The aims of this study were to systematically review the literature and to assess the evidence on the clinical effects of interventions for dynamic intermittent DDSP. A secondary objective was to assess whether factors relating to study quality affected reported success rates. Twenty-three studies were included, covering a wide number of interventions but also differing widely is terms of study design, sample size, method of diagnosis, outcome measure and the number lost to follow-up. The assessment of adverse effects was severely limited because of lack of reporting. The way in which success is measured appears to have a great effect on the reported results. Research synthesis has been severely limited because of the heterogeneity in the included studies. The low level of evidence makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions as to the efficacy of procedures for DDSP. Hence it is currently not possible to determine which procedure is the most appropriate. This systematic review highlights the difficulties of studying palatal dysfunction and suggests areas where improvements can be made in future studies.     

Effects of aspirin and propranolol alone and in combination on hemostatic determinants in the healthy cat

The effects of aspirin (75 mg orally/average-size cat) and propranolol (5 mg orally every 8 hours/average-size cat) alone and in combination on hemostatic determinants in healthy cats were studied. In cats, aspirin alone did not cause a significant effect in platelet numbers, plasma fibrinogen, activated partial thromboblastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, or platelet aggregation response to adenosine diphosphate. Aspirin did, however, significantly reduce the degree of aggregation induced by acid soluble collagen. Propranolol alone or in combination with aspirin did not cause a significant effect on platelet numbers, plasma fibrinogen, activated partial thromboblastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, or platelet aggregation in response to acid soluble collagen, adenosine diphosphate, or adrenaline. It was concluded that aspirin alone at the recommended dosage of one-quarter of a 5-grain tablet (1.25 grains or 75 mg) every other day will significantly affect platelet function and may be of value in the prevention of thromboembolic disease in the cat.     

Growth of American oysters increased by polyploidy induced by blocking meiosis I but not meiosis II

Triploidy in American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) was induced by blocking polar body formation with cytochalasin B. Triploid oysters created by treatment during meiosis I grew faster during the first 3 years of life than did diploid siblings. Triploid oysters created during meiosis II grew at the same rate as their controls. Because heterozygosity was higher in oysters created during meiosis I than in other groups, the increased growth must be due to heterozygosity rather than to triploidy per se.     

DIFFERENTIAL SURVIVAL OF CULTIVARS OF LOLIUM, DACTYLIS AND PHLEUM

A study of plant establishment showed that a considerable depletion in the size of the grass poptilation occurred during the first few months after sowing. In this experiment, two months after reseeding, the surviving grass seedlings amounted to about 20% of the viable seed sown; this figure was further reduced to about 10% before the swards were twelve months old.
In swards based on several cultivars within a species the casualty rate varied from cultivar to cultivar, and may be further modifted by manuring and management.
Evidence from older swards indicated that within a period of six years one cultivar could suppress another almost completely.
The data suggest that not only is there a strong selection pressure within a sward during its early life, but also that the environment (produced in this case by manuring and management) eternities the relative persistency and aggressiveness of the individual cultivars. This illustrates how a sward originally composed of several plant types eventually settles to a narrow range, provided the management is not varied.     

The basophil response in blood and bone marrow of tick-infested guinea pigs.

The concentrations of basophils in blood and bone marrow were monitored in guinea pigs subjected to primary and secondary infestations with larvae of Dermacentor andersoni. In these guinea pigs a significant increase of basophils was evident in peripheral blood. The response following the secondary infestation was more rapid and more intense than that following the primary infestation. Similar changes were also shown to occur in bone marrow. The possible significance of these responses in relation to acquired tick resistance in guinea pigs is discussed.