In Vitro Mechanical Evaluation of a Novel Pin–Sleeve System for External Fixation of Distal Limb Fractures in Horses: A Proof of Concept Study

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a novel pin–sleeve cast (PSC) system for external fixation of distal limb fractures in horses and to compare it with the transfixation pin cast (TPC) system. Study Design: Experimental. Sample Population: One bone substitute each was used for the TPC and PSC systems. The PSC was tested in 4 configurations characterized by different pin preloads. Methods: Specimens were loaded in axial compression in the elastic range. Variables compared statistically were: bone substitute axial displacement and axial strain measured above implants with strain gauges. Pin preload was correlated with the variables investigated. Load to failure and a fatigue tests supplemented the investigation. Results: The PSC configuration with the highest pin preload showed a significantly lower axial displacement compared with the TPC. No significant differences were observed between all other PSC configurations and the TPC. All PSC systems had a significant decrease in recorded strain compared with the TPC system. Pin axial preload inversely correlated with axial displacement but had no effect on axial strain. In the failure test, the PSC encountered plastic deformation earlier than the TPC. In the fatigue test, the PSC ran >200,000 cycles. Conclusions: Preliminary in vitro tests showed that the PSC system significantly reduced peri‐implant strain while concurrently having comparable axial displacement to the TPC system. Clinical Relevance: The PSC system has the potential to reduce the risk of pin loosening in horses.     

Herpesviruses—A zoonotic threat?

Herpesviruses are highly host specific and share a long synchronous evolution with their hosts. Only in rare cases, species barriers fall and allow animal to human or human to animal transmission. Among the zoonotic herpesviruses, Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 is the most significant and can be transmitted from macaques to human. Conversely, Human herpesvirus 1 is capable of causing severe disease in primates. Besides those two examples, there are several herpesviruses with a certainly limited or only suspected ability to cross species barriers. Those include Saimiriine herpesvirus 2, Phocid herpesvirus 2, Equid herpesvirus 1, Epstein-Barr Virus, Marek's disease virus, and Pseudorabies virus. Concerning xenotransplantations, porcine gammaherpesviruses must be considered as a zoonotic threat.     

Comparison of pharmacokinetic variables for two low-molecular-weight heparins after subcutaneous administration of a single dose to horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine pharmacokinetic variables and to evaluate the influence on clotting times after SC administration of single doses of dalteparin and enoxaparin to horses. ANIMALS: 5 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: The study was designed as a 4-period crossover study. Each horse received a single SC injection of dalteparin (50 and 100 anti-Xa U/kg) and enoxaparin (40 and 80 anti-Xa U/kg). Plasma anti-Xa activities and clotting times were measured, and pharmacokinetic variables were determined. Absolute and relative maximal prolongation of clotting times was calculated, and correlation between plasma anti-Xa activities and clotting times was determined. RESULTS: The SC administration of each of the doses of the 2 preparations was well tolerated. Time course of the anti-Xa activities could be described in a 1-compartment model. Comparison of low- and high-dose treatments revealed a disproportionate increase of the area under the plasma activity-time curve and prolongation of the terminal half-life, but the increase in maximum plasma activity was proportionate, and peak plasma concentrations corresponded with concentrations recommended in human medicine. There were only mild changes in activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), whereas the influence on thrombin time (TT) was greater, dose-dependent, and more variable. A weak-to-moderate correlation between aPTT and plasma anti-Xa activities and a moderate-to-strong correlation between TT and plasma anti-Xa activities were found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pharmacokinetic and anticoagulatory properties of low-molecular-weight heparins in horses are similar to those found in humans. Once-daily SC administration of dalteparin or enoxaparin may be useful as an anticoagulatory treatment in horses.     

Plant Extracts of Winter Savory, Purple Coneflower, Buckwheat and Black Elder Activate PPAR-γ in COS-1 Cells but do not Lower Blood Glucose in Db/db Mice In vivo

The aim of this study was to investigate possible blood glucose-lowering effects of plant extracts in vivo for which prior to this a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ activity in vitro was observed. The ability of extracts of winter savory, purple coneflower, buckwheat and black elder to dose-dependently activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ was determined in a reporter gene assay in COS-1 cells. For evaluation of glucose-lowering effects in vivo, db/db mice were fed a diet containing either rosiglitazone (0.02 g/kg diet, positive control) or one of the plant extracts (0.1 and 1 g/kg diet) for four weeks. Apart from glucose, insulin, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol and adiponectin were determined in plasma. All plant extracts showed a dose-dependent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ-activating effect in vitro. In db/db mice none of the plant extracts exerted glucose-lowering effects at the used dosages compared to rosiglitazone. Non-esterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols, cholesterol, insulin and adiponectin in plasma were not altered by the plant extracts as well. Although dose-dependent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ activity could be shown in COS-1 cells, the experiments in db/db mice lacked to confirm any anti-diabetic effect of the plant extracts in vivo and emphasizes the importance of verifying cell culture data using an appropriate in vivo model.     

Effects of storage atmosphere and heme state on the color and visible reflectance spectra of salmon ( Salmo salar ) fillets

It has previously been observed that the color of mackerel muscle is dependent on the status of heme as myoglobin and hemoglobin and hence the storage atmosphere. This study gives strong indications of this being the case also in salmon. Three different storage conditions were used to promote the oxidized, reduced, and carbon monoxide (CO) bound forms of heme in salmon and mackerel fillets. Color determination (instrumental color analysis, imaging, and sensory evaluation) and spectroscopic measurements were performed to study how spectral changes corresponded to color variations. Storage in CO significantly increased the redness in mackerel. This was also seen in salmon to such a degree that it was visible over normal levels of salmon carotenoids. Air storage increased the yellowness and reduced the redness in mackerel, but this effect was partly concealed in salmon by the astaxanthin absorption. The spectral differences due to storage condition could be ascribed to the spectral features characterizing heme of different oxidation states and bound to different ligands. The status of heme should therefore always be considered when experiments related to salmon color are performed. The findings could help in the understanding, control, and prediction of color loss in salmon during processing, storage, and transport.     

黄土区几种土壤培养过程中可溶性有机碳、氮含量及特性的变化

对不同地域农田和林地土壤进行35 d好气培养研究,结果表明:不同土壤培养过程中可溶性有机碳(SOC)含量呈明显下降,而可溶性有机氮(SON)含量却呈明显增加趋势。不同农田土壤相比,在培养起始时和培养过程中红油土SOC和SON的平均含量均高于黑垆土和淋溶褐土;同为黑垆土,林地土壤SOC和SON含量均明显高于相应农田土壤。与起始值相比,土壤培养后提取的可溶性有机物的UV280和HIXem(Hu-mification index)值均明显增加,其中HIXem值在培养的第8天和第35天时呈显著增加趋势。随着培养过程的持续,SOC/SON比值逐渐下降。相关分析发现,培养第35天时SOC的减少幅度与UV 280增加比例呈显著正相关;培养第8天时SOC的减少比例与起始HIXem值呈显著负相关。说明UV280和HIXem值可以在一定程度上反映可溶性有机物种类和结构特性的变化。     

Speciation of Heavy Metals in Road Runoff and Roadside Total Deposition

The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, W and Zn were measured in road runoff and total deposition at two Swedish field sites during one year. It was found that the concentrations of most elements increased significantly during the winter, up to one order of magnitude. For cobalt and tungsten, it was found that around 90% of the total mass transport occurred during the winter, whereas for Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Na, the corresponding figures were 70–90, 40–80, 60–90, 50–70 and ≥99% depending on site specific conditions. The deicing salts (rock salts) did not significantly contribute to the increase in trace element concentrations. Instead, the increased concentrations were due to more intense wearing of the pavement during the winter because of the use of studded tires in combination with the chemical effects caused by the use of deicing salts. New potential elemental markers for roads and traffic are suggested.     

Über die Abhängigkeit der Tumor-Entwicklung vom Wirtsorganismus beim bakteriellen Pflanzenkrebs

Zusammenfassung Wachstumskurven vom bakteriellen Pflanzenkrebs (crown gall) an verschiedenen Wirtspflanzen (Pelargonium-Arten,Vicia faba, Bryophyllum daigremontianum) zeigen einen Verlauf, der dem anderer biologischer Wachstumsvorgänge außerordentlich ähnlich ist. In den Kurven verschiedener Sippen kommen genetisch bedingte Einflüsse des Wirtsorganismus auf die Tumorentwicklung zum Ausdruck. Sogar die Partnergewebe von Periklinalchimären können in dieser Beziehung unterschiedlich reagieren. Die Kurven schnell wachsender Tumoren nähern sich einer Grenzkurve, die als die Wachstumskurve voll alterierter Tumoren anzusehen ist. Bei Sippen mit langsam wachsenden Tumoren ist häufig die Anfangsphase gehemmt. Tumoranfälligkeit und Tumorwüchsigkeit sind in der Regel gleichsinnig beeinflußt.Mit dem Aufhören des Streckungswachstums entstehen weniger und kleinere Tumoren (Bryophyllum-Blätter,Vicia). Kinetin macht ältere Blätter vonBryophyllum nicht anfälliger. Die heranwachsenden Brutknospen hemmen die Entwicklung von Tumoren an den Blättern. Dekapitieren der Pflanzen fördert dagegen die Tumoren und überdeckt den Hemmungseffekt der Brutknospen. Diese und andere Versuche zeigen, daß pflanzliche Tumoren während der Induktionsphase und in geringerem Ausmaß auch noch später durch physiologische Mechanismen beeinflußbar sind.

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Summary Growth diagrams of crown gall tumors on different host plants (species ofPelargonium, Vicia faba, Bryophyllum daigremontianum) are very similar to those of other biological growth processes. Curves of different taxa reveal that development of tumors is influenced by the genetic constitution of host organism. Even partner-tissues of periclinal chimerae may react differently. Curves of rapidly growing tumors approach a limit which should be regarded as growth curve of fully alterated tumors. The initial phase of slowly growing tumors is often retarded. Sensitiveness to tumors and growth of tumors usually are influenced simultaneously.With the end of leaf growth fewer and smaller tumors arise (Bryophyllum-leaves,Vicia). Kinetin does not increase sensitivity to tumors in older leaves ofBryophyllum. Growing adventitious leaf-buds retard tumor development in leaves. Decapitating of plants favours tumors and covers the retarding effect of leaf buds. These and other experiments show that plant tumors may be influenced by physiological mechanisms during the inductive phase, and, though to a lesser extent, also later on.

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RADIOGRAPHIC AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF LEFT ATRIAL SIZE IN 100 CATS WITH ACUTE LEFT‐SIDED CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

The aims of this study were to evaluate left atrial size in cats with acute left‐sided congestive heart failure. We hypothesized that left atrial size as determined by thoracic radiography can be normal in cats with acute left‐sided congestive heart failure. One hundred cats with acute left‐sided congestive heart failure in which thoracic radiography and echocardiography were performed within 12 h were identified. Left atrial size was evaluated using right lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs. Measurements were compared to two‐dimensional echocardiographic variables of left atrial size and left ventricular size. On echocardiography, left atrial enlargement was observed in 96% cats (subjective assessment) whereas maximum left atrial dimension was increased (>15.7 mm) in 93% cats. On radiographs left atrial enlargement (subjective assessment) was found in 48% (lateral view), 53% (ventrodorsal view), and 64% (any view) of cats whereas left atrial enlargement was absent in 36% of cats in both views. Agreement between both methods of left atrial size estimation was poor (Cohen's kappa 0.17). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified a maximum echocardiographic left atrial dimension of approximately 20 mm as the best compromise (Youden index) between sensitivity and specificity in the prediction of radiographic left atrial enlargement. Left atrial enlargement as assessed by thoracic radiography may be absent in a clinically relevant number of cats with congestive heart failure. Therefore, normal left atrial size on thoracic radiographs does not rule out presence of left‐sided congestive heart failure in cats with clinical signs of respiratory distress.     

The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication

The world's domestic cats carry patterns of sequence variation in their genome that reflect a history of domestication and breed development. A genetic assessment of 979 domestic cats and their wild progenitors-Felis silvestris silvestris (European wildcat), F. s. lybica (Near Eastern wildcat), F. s. ornata (central Asian wildcat), F. s. cafra (southern African wildcat), and F. s. bieti (Chinese desert cat)-indicated that each wild group represents a distinctive subspecies of Felis silvestris. Further analysis revealed that cats were domesticated in the Near East, probably coincident with agricultural village development in the Fertile Crescent. Domestic cats derive from at least five founders from across this region, whose descendants were transported across the world by human assistance.