MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE OPTIC NERVE

We describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging aspects of normal canine optic nerve, the diameter of the optic nerve as measured on MR images, and optimal MR sequences for the evaluation of the optic nerve using a 0.2 T MR unit. Three millimeter contiguous slides of the normal canine orbital region were acquired in transverse and dorsal oblique planes using a variety of tissue weighting sequences. It was apparent that detailed anatomic assessment of the optic nerve can be performed with low‐field MR imaging, but none of the sequences provided unequivocal superior image quality of the optic nerve. The mean diameter of the optic nerve sheath complex was 3.7 mm and of the optic nerve 1.7 mm. The intraorbital and intracanalicular parts of the optic nerve are consistently visible and differentiation between the optic nerve and optic nerve sheath complex is possible using low‐field MR systems.     

Adrenal steroid metabolism in birds: anatomy, physiology, and clinical considerations.

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system in birds is anatomically and functionally different from that in mammals. The adrenal gland structure and corticosteroid hormone physiology of birds will be reviewed. The anatomy and physiology sections of this article will be important for better understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and possible treatment of primary or secondary adrenal gland disease. Causes of hyper- and hypoadrenocorticism in birds also will be reviewed. The article will conclude with current indications and complications to the clinical use of glucocorticoids in birds.     

Calcium metabolism in birds.

Calcium is one of the most important plasma constituents in mammals and birds. It provides structural strength and support (bones and eggshell) and plays vital roles in many of the biochemical reactions in the body. The control of calcium metabolism in birds is highly efficient and closely regulated in a number of tissues, primarily parathyroid gland, intestine, kidney, and bone. The hormones with the greatest involvement in calcium regulation in birds are parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol), and estrogen, with calcitonin playing a minor and uncertain role. The special characteristics of calcium metabolism in birds, mainly associated with egg production, are discussed, along with common clinical disorders secondary to derangements in calcium homeostasis.     

Meperidine prolongs lidocaine caudal epidural anaesthesia in the horse

The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of caudal epidural administration of meperidine (MP), lidocaine (LD), and a combination of the two (MPLD) in six mature saddle horses. Horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments (MP 0.3 mg/kg; LD 0.2 mg/kg; and MPLD: MP 0.3 mg/kg and LD 0.2 mg/kg), with at least 1 week between treatments. Drugs were injected into the epidural space between the first and second coccygeal areas in conscious standing horses. Analgesia, ataxia, sedation, cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and rectal temperature were recorded at different intervals before (baseline) and after administration. Epidural administration of MPLD resulted in a longer duration of analgesia of the tail, perineum, and upper hind limb regions than did administration of MP or LD alone.     

Identification of a novel Bacillus species isolated from Calculus Bovis

A novel Bacillus species of Calculus Bovis (cow gallstone) was isolated and identified in this study. Morphological features, bacterial fatty acid analysis using a microbial identification system, carbon source utilization profiles using Biolog system and 16S rDNA sequencing were employed to identify the isolated bacterium. This isolated bacterium was observed to be Gram‐negative, aerobic growing, rod‐shaped and short chain. The results of bacterial fatty acid analysis and physiological characteristics were not matched to the database. The main fatty acids found in the bacterium were 65.96% branched chain saturated fatty acids (iso C_11:0, anteiso C_11:0 and iso C_13:0～anteiso C_19:0). The bacterium oxidized 35 carbon sources and weakly responded with 49 of the 95 different carbon sources analyzed with the Biolog identification system. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this bacterium was classified as a novel Bacillus species.     

Recovery of horses from general anesthesia in a darkened or illuminated recovery stall

ObjectiveTo assess whether recovery from general anesthesia, in an illuminated or a darkened stall, has an effect on time to first movement, time to standing, and recovery score.Study designProspective randomized clinical study.AnimalsTwenty-nine healthy, 2- to 5-year-old horses undergoing surgical correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate.MethodsEach horse was assigned randomly to recover in either an illuminated (n = 15) or a darkened stall (n = 14). For pre-anesthetic medication, all horses received intravenous (IV) xylazine (0.4 mg kg⁻¹) and butorphanol (0.02 mg kg⁻¹). Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg kg⁻¹) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg⁻¹) IV and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen. Vital parameters, end-tidal CO₂ and isoflurane were recorded at 5-minute intervals. At the conclusion of anesthesia, horses were placed in either an illuminated or a darkened stall and xylazine (0.2 mg kg⁻¹) IV was administered at extubation. Video cameras were used to record the horses while they were allowed to recover undisturbed. Video recordings were later viewed and recoveries were evaluated on a 100-point scale by three graders.ResultsHorses in illuminated and darkened recovery stalls were evaluated on total anesthesia time, minimum alveolar concentration hours of isoflurane, time to first movement, time to standing, and total recovery score. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measured parameters.ConclusionRecovering horses in a darkened versus an illuminated recovery stall may provide no benefit.Clinical relevanceDarkening the recovery stalls for horses recovering from general anesthesia may be unnecessary.     

Serum biomarker profiling in cancer studies: a question of standardisation?

Companion animals are exposed to similar environmental conditions and carcinogens as humans. In some animal cancers, there also appears to be the same genetic changes associated as in humans. However, little work has been carried out in cancer biomarker identification in animals. The recent dramatic advances in molecular medicine, genomics, proteomics and translational research will allow biomarker identification, which may provide the best strategies for veterinarians and clinicians to combat disease by early diagnosis and administration of effective treatments. Proteomics may have important applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and predictive clinical outcome that could directly change clinical practice by affecting critical elemen‐ts of care and management. This review summarizes the advances in proteomics that has propelled us to this exciting age of clinical proteomics, and highlights the future work that is required for this to become a reality. In this review, we will discuss the available proteomic technologies and their limitations, and highlight the key areas of research and how they have been used to discover cancer biomarkers. The principles described here are equally applicable to human and animal disease, but implementation of ‘omic’ technologies requires stringent guidelines for collection of clinical material, the application of analytical techniques and interpretation of the data.