Efficacy of metoclopramide for treatment of ileus in horses following small intestinal surgery: 70 cases (1989–1992)

Summary: In this retrospective study, postoperative ileus was studied in horses having resection of the small intestine followed by a jejunojejunal (n=35) or a jejunocaecal (n=35) anastomosis. Twenty-six horses received no metoclopramide, 27 received metoclopramide as an intermittent intravenous infusion and 17 horses received metoclopramide as a continuous intravenous infusion (0.04 mg/kg/hour). Horses receiving a continuous infusion of metoclopramide had a reduced total volume (P< 0.001), shorter duration (P< 0.001), and a slower rate (P< 0.001) of postoperative gastric reflux, and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (P< 0.01) when compared to horses receiving no metoclopramide and horses receiving metoclopramide as an intermittent infusion. Horses having jejunocaecostomy performed had a larger volume (P< 0.05), longer duration (P< 0.05), and a greater rate (P< 0.05) of postoperative gastric reflux, and a longer postoperative hospital stay (P< 0.001) than horses undergoing jejunojejunostomy. Horses that had an abdominal drain placed during surgery had a longer length of intestine resected (P< 0.05) and a longer postoperative hospital stay (P< 0.05) than horses without an abdominal drain. Horses that died or were euthanased during the postoperative period had a greater total volume (P< 0.05), longer duration (P< 0.05), and greater rate of postoperative gastric reflux (P< 0.01), a longer length of small intestine resected (P< 0.01), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (P< 0.05) than horses that survived until discharge from the hospital. In a multivariate regression analysis the continuous infusion of metoclopramide was the only variable that contributed significantly to predicting the total volume (P< 0.001; r²= 0.24), duration (P< 0.001; r²= 0.24) and rate (P< 0.001; r²= 0.25) of postoperative gastric reflux. We concluded that metoclopramide given as a continuous intravenous infusion decreased the incidence and severity of ileus following small intestinal resection and anastomosis in horses.     

Follicular Dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog

Résumé— Une étude clinique et histologique a été conduite chez 27 chiens d'eau portugais présentant des dépilations cycliques, focales et non inflammatoires. Les observations histologiques ont été comparées aux biopsies réalisées sur 6 adultes normaux et 25 chiots normaux de la même race, sans histoire familiale de dépilations. La chute du poil chez les chiens alopéciques est dûe à une dysplacie folliculaire avec mélanisation anormale des unités pilo-sébacées. Les observations histopathologiques particulières consistent en une apoptose proéminente des kératinocytes des gaines épithéliales internes et externes, et une dissolution de la matrice pilaire des follicules anagènes. L'observation d'une tendance familiale avec apparition précoce suggère un mécanisme héréditaire pour cette dysplasie. [Miller, W.H., Jr., Scott, D.W. Follicular dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog (Displasie folliculaire du chien d'eau portugais). Resumen— Se llevó a cabo un estudio en 27 Perros de Agua Portugués con pérdida de pelo ciclica, no-inflamatoria y regionalizada. Los hallazgos histológicos se compararon con biopsias de 6 adultos normales y de 25 carchorros de la misma raza sin antecedentes familiares de pérdida de pelo. La pérdida de pelo en el grupo de animales alopécicos era debida a una displasia folicular con melanización anormal de los complejos pilosebáceos. Como hallazgos histológicos únicos cabe destacar la presencia de un notable número de queratinocitos apoptóticos en la vaina folicular interna y externa asi como la disolución de la matriz del pelo en los foliculos en anagen. Se detectó una tendencia familiar la aparición de esta displasia a temprana edad, lo que sugiere una base herediteria. [Miller, W.H., Jr., Scott, D.W. Follicular dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog (Displasia folicular en el Perro de Aguas Portugués). Abstract— A clinical and histologic study was conducted on 27 Portuguese water dogs with non-inflammatory, regionalized, cyclic hair loss. Histologic findings were compared with biopsies from six normal adult and 25 normal puppy Portuguese water dogs with no known relatives with hair loss. The hair loss in the alopecic dogs was due to a follicular dysplasia with abnormal melanization of the pilosebaceous units. Unique histopathologic findings included prominent apoptosis of keratinocytes in the inner and outer root sheath, and dissolution of the hair matrix of anagen hair follicles. A familial tendency with an early age at onset was noted, suggesting an inherited basis for the dysplasia.     

Seroprevalence of equine herpesvirus 1 in Thoroughbred foals before and after weaning

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of equine herpesvirus 1 in foals around weaning and after weaning on two large Thoroughbred farms using a type-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine exposure to infection.
Design A longitudinal population study in groups of Thoroughbred weanling foals.
Study population Two hundred weanling Thoroughbred foals from a population of about 380 foals were enrolled on two adjacent stud farms in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Foals on both farms were weaned from February to May 1995 into randomly selected groups of 10 to 15 foals. Farms were selected because of their willingness to cooperate in the survey and because their detailed records of foals and their movements. They were representative of well-managed large Thoroughbred stud farms in New South Wales. Both studs had upper respiratory tract disease among weanling foals around weaning each year although the sero-prevalence of viral respiratory disease on either farm was not known before the study.
Procedure Serum was collected from foals within each group at fortnightly intervals from 9th February until 1st June 1995, and at a single follow-up period in August 1995. Each sample was tested in triplicate using an antibody-detection ELISA which is type-specific for EHV-1 and EHV-4 antibodies.
Results and conclusions There was serological evidence of EHV-1 infection both before and after weaning. The prevalence of EHV-1 antibody in the sample population increased during the study and individual cases of EHV-1 infection were identified. The increase was caused both by the seroconversion of foals within the groups and by the recruitment into the study of foals with pre-existing EHV-1 antibody. Evidence of EHV-1 infection in Thoroughbred foals after weaning has not been reported previously in Australia and this has implications for vaccination regimens.     

Effects of a weak DC electric field on root growth in Arundo donax (Poaceae)

Abstract

Electric fields can determine changes at the morphological and the physiological level in plants. Plants of Arundo donax L. (giant reed), obtained by set, grown on organic substrate were exposed to a DC electric field. A significant increase in growth rate was observed in the shoots and roots of treated plants. Treated roots also showed a modification in their morphology as compared to untreated ones. Our results point to a possibility of applying electric fields in plant propagation and reproduction.     

Unravelling landslide risk: soil susceptibility,agro‐forest systems and the socio‐economic profile of rural communities in Italy

Landslides are considered a form of physical soil degradation and are concentrated, especially in southern European countries, on inland and marginal rural areas. Low‐density, economically disadvantaged and poorly accessible areas are assumed to share a high landslide occurrence probability. However, an empirical verification of this assumption is still lacking for Mediterranean countries. This study investigates the spatial relation between a composite index of landslide risk and more than 100 indicators at the municipal level in Italy – a country with high landslide risk – exploring multiple territorial dimensions (population dynamics and settlements, job market and human capital, economic specialization and competitiveness, quality of life, agriculture and rural development, territory and environment). We combine nonparametric correlation, principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering, to profile municipalities according to their levels of landslide risk. The high landslide risk in certain areas of Italy is related to specific socio‐economic attributes (depopulation, ageing, tourism specialization, low density of economic activities, modest participation to the job market and crime intensity) and agro‐environmental features (low‐intensity cropping systems, natural landscapes and water resource availability).     

Use of seedling tubers from TPS in southern Italy

The TPS seedling tuber technique can be successfully adopted in developing as well as in developed countries as a standard agronomic system for potato production. Experimental work has been started in order to select the best parental lines and to evaluate the appropriate breeding schemes for the use of this technique in southern Italy. During 1989 48 true potato seed (TPS) families with different genetic backgrounds were tested for seedling tuber production and they produced a good yield. The seedling tuber families were tested for tuber production during 1990 by subdividing them in two size classes: 25mm-35mm and 35mm-45mm. The highest yield was attained by 4X x 2X families and the analysis of variance indicated significant differences with regard to tuber size and TPS families for both total and marketable tuber yield. This technique has significant potential for providing tubers for both the fall and winter crop in Italy.