Determination of the Inflammatory Potential of Bioaerosols from a Duck‐Fattening Unit by Using a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay and Human Whole Blood Cytokine Response

Inhalation of bioaerosols from animal houses can induce acute inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract. Determination of the concentration of airborne endotoxins is widely used to characterize this risk. In this study, the activity of bioaerosol samples from a duck‐fattening unit to induce interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in human blood and to react with Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) was investigated. The activity detected in the whole blood assay correlated well with the endotoxic activity found in the LAL assay (Spearmen's ρ = 0.902). However in all samples, the inflammation‐inducing potential was overestimated by the LAL assay. It is assumed that this overestimation could be, in part, a result of an overestimation of the inflammatory potential of endotoxins originating from Pseudomonadaceae by the LAL assay. Pseudomonadaceae were regularly isolated from the air of the duck‐fattening unit. The results presented here indicate that the whole blood assay can be used besides the LAL assay as an additional method to characterize the inflammation‐inducing potential of bioaerosols.     

The effect of intravenous fresh frozen plasma administration on fibrinogen and albumin concentrations in sick neonatal foals

This study investigated the immediate (6 h or less) effects of fibrinogen and albumin contained in transfused equine origin fresh frozen plasma on those proteins when measured in sick neonatal foals. Fibrinogen and albumin concentrations were measured in the administered plasma and in 31 sick foals at admission to a referral neonatal intensive care unit. Additional samples were obtained from the foals at 2 and 6 h following transfusion. No changes in albumin concentration were recognised. The main determinant of fibrinogen concentration following transfusion was the concentration of fibrinogen in the foal at admission. Importantly, intravenous transfusion of equine fresh frozen plasma did not result in immediate (6 h or less) increases or decreases in the fibrinogen concentration in the recipient foals. Fibrinogen from the donor contained within transfused plasma will not directly affect fibrinogen concentrations measured at later times.     

Stabilization of Sacroiliac Luxation in 40 Cats Using Screws Inserted in Lag Fashion

Objective: To (1) identify prognostic indicators for stability after stabilization of sacroiliac luxation with screws inserted in lag fashion and (2) report dorsoventral dimensions of the sacrum in cats. Study Design: Multicenter retrospective study. Sample Population: Cats (n=40) with sacroiliac luxation. Methods: Case records and radiographs of cats presented at the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital Cambridge and the Royal Veterinary College Hatfield for screw fixation of sacroiliac luxation were reviewed. Dorsoventral dimensions of 15 feline cadaveric sacral bodies were measured to identify the appropriate implant size for use in fixation with screws inserted in lag fashion. Results: Of 40 cats, 13 had left, 14 right, and 13 bilateral sacroiliac luxations. Of 48 screws analyzed, 42 (87.5%) were placed within the sacral body or exited ventrally and 6 (12.5%) were considered malpositioned. Screw purchase within the sacrum was statistically different between unstable and stable repairs (P=.001). Using confidence intervals for screw length within the sacrum and effect on stability, the lowest screw depth that contained 95% of the screws that did not loosen was ∼60% of the sacral width. Mean dorsoventral sacral dimension at its narrowest point was 5.9±1.14 mm. There was no significant difference in the incidence of implant loosening between those luxations that were 100% reduced and those that were <100% reduced (P=.7837). Conclusions: Screw purchase within the feline sacrum of at least 60% of the sacral width significantly reduces the risk of loosening. Clinical Relevance: Screw placement to a depth of 60% of the width of the feline sacrum is recommended.     

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.