Some factors influencing the pH of apical and basal portions of Russet Burbank and Norgold Russet potatoes

Studies were made of pH changes of apical and basal portions of Russet Burbank and Norgold Russet potatoes during growth and in storage. Russet Burbank had a higher pH of the apical portion during the later stages of growth as compared to the basal portion. No significant differences between the two portions were found during growth with Norgold Russet. After a period of moisture stress the pH of the basal portion of Russet Burbank dropped significantly. The basal portion of both varieties at higher specific gravities had higher pH after storage than the apical portion. A highly significant negative correlation was obtained after storage between reducing sugar levels of tubers of different specific gravities and pH levels in both varieties. There were no significant differences in pH among storage temperatures of 34, 38, 42 and 45 F. However, the pH level at 48 F storage was significantly higher than at the other temperatures. The pH level of tubers from seedlings and varieties were poorly correlated with their reducing sugar contents after storage. It appears that pH can be an indicator of potential chip color only within the confined limits of a specific lot.     

Multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus spp. as a cause of non-responsive septic synovitis in three horses

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: Three Thoroughbred horses, a 6-week-old filly (Case 1), a 15-year-old broodmare (Case 2) and a yearling filly (Case 3), sustained synovial sepsis secondary to trauma.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Case 1 presented with a heel bulb laceration communicating with the distal interphalangeal joint. Arthroscopic lavage was performed and treatment commenced using systemic and local broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs. A pure growth of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Enterococcus gallinarum was cultured from samples of synovium and joint fluid. Antimicrobial treatment was changed according to the susceptibility results. Response to treatment was poor and despite repeat arthroscopic lavage and intra-osseous regional perfusion of antimicrobials the filly was subject to euthanasia 24 days after the initial injury. Post-mortem examination confirmed septic synovitis, cartilage degeneration and osteomyelitis.

Case 2 sustained a full thickness wound to the carpus which was sharply debrided and closed. The wound dehisced with effusion within the tendon sheath. Drainage was established and treatment included systemic broad spectrum antimicrobials, topical lavage with povodine-iodine and manuka honey infusion. A mixed infection including MDR Enterococcus faecalis was cultured from the synovial fluid. Antebrachiocarpal joint effusion developed 21 days after initial injury and joint sepsis was confirmed. Arthroscopic lavage and tendon sheath debridement were performed, followed by treatment with systemic and local antimicrobials. The mare improved and was discharged. Three months later lameness recurred and corticosteroids were administered intra-articularly. The mare became non-weight bearing lame and was subject to euthanasia. Post-mortem examination confirmed joint sepsis of the antebrachiocarpal and intercarpal joint.

Case 3 presented with a complete articular open fracture of the tibial crest. Under general anaesthesia the fracture was stabilised and the wounds debrided and closed. Systemic broad-spectrum antimicrobials were administered. Six days later the wound dehisced and a bone fragment was removed. Three weeks post-surgery the wound deteriorated with a purulent discharge. Culture of the discharge revealed a mixed bacterial infection, including a MDR Enterococcus faecalis. Femoropatellar joint involvement was confirmed, and treatment included joint lavage, local and systemic antibiosis, and manuka honey instilled into the wound. The filly initially improved, and then deteriorated such that euthanasia was performed.

DIAGNOSIS: All three cases had synovial sepsis with MDR Enterococcus spp.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased awareness of MDR pathogens in equine wound infections is essential. Prompt diagnostic testing, appropriate therapy, infection control strategies and on-going monitoring and management are vital to limit the clinical impact of these organisms.     

Medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia induction followed by medetomidine-propofol in ponies: infusion rates and cardiopulmonary side effects

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: To search for long-term total i.v. anaesthesia techniques as a potential alternative to inhalation anaesthesia. OBJECTIVES: To determine cardiopulmonary effects and anaesthesia quality of medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia induction followed by 4 h of medetomidine-propofol anaesthesia in 6 ponies. METHODS: Sedation consisted of 7 microg/kg bwt medetomidine i.v. followed after 10 min by 2 mg/kg bwt i.v. ketamine. Anaesthesia was maintained for 4 h with 3.5 microg/kg bwt/h medetomidine and propofol at minimum infusion dose rates determined by application of supramaximal electrical pain stimuli. Ventilation was spontaneous (F(I)O2 > 0.9). Cardiopulmonary measurements were always taken before electrical stimulation, 15 mins after anaesthesia induction and at 25 min intervals. RESULTS: Anaesthesia induction was excellent and movements after pain stimuli were subsequently gentle. Mean propofol infusion rates were 0.89-0.1 mg/kg bwt/min. No changes in cardiopulmonary variables occured over time. Range of mean values recorded was: respiratory rate 13.0-15.8 breaths/min; PaO2 29.1-37.9 kPa; PaCO2 6.2-6.9 kPa; heart rate 31.2-40.8 beats/min; mean arterial pressure 90.0-120.8 mmHg; cardiac index 44.1-59.8 ml/kg bwt/min; mean pulmonary arterial pressure 11.8-16.4 mmHg. Recovery to standing was an average of 31.1 mins and ponies stood within one or 2 attempts. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, ketamine anaesthesia induction avoided the problems encountered previously with propofol. Cardiovascular function was remarkably stable. Hypoxaemia did not occur but, despite F(I)O2 of > 0.9, minimal PaO2 in one pony after 4 h anaesthesia was 8.5 kPa. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The described regime might offer a good, practicable alternative to inhalation anaesthesia and has potential for reducing the fatality rate in horses.     

Renal function in dogs with lymphosarcoma and associated hypercalcaemia

Renal function was investigated in 12 dogs with lymphosarcoma and accompanying hypercalcaemia. There was no age or breed predilection. Renal function was evaluated using the endogenous clearance of creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate and urinary and fractional excretion of endogenous substances. Standard serum biochemical determinations and urinalyses were also employed. Serum calcium concentrations were high (>2·99 mmol/litre) in ail dogs, while serum phosphorus concentrations approximated or were below those of normocal-caemic dogs in most cases. Hypercalcaemic nephropathy and impaired renal function were evident in all 12 dogs studied. Ten of the dogs (83 per cent) were isosthenuria and 11 (92 per cent) were hypercalciuric. Endogenous creatinine clearance was reduced by more than 50 per cent in all dogs examined. Urinary and fractional excretions of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride and potassium were increased over reference values. The observed alterations in renal function could be attributed to the direct effects of a high concentration of intrarenal calcium on renal tubular function and haemodynamics and to the presence of a renotropic factor that interacted specifically with the parathyroid hormone receptor in the kidney.     

Multiple skeletal metastases of osteogenic sarcoma in a dog.

A 9-year-old male German Shepherd Dog with osteogenic sarcoma involving the right humerus was treated by scapulohumeral disarticulation and adjuvant chemotherapy. Doxorubicin was used, at a dosage of 30 mg/m2 of body surface. Chemotherapy was unsuccessful, and 4 months after surgery, the dog developed multiple metastases of osteogenic sarcoma in the appendicular skeleton, a metastatic pattern rarely observed with primary bone tumors.     

THE VISIBLE ANIMAL PROJECT: A THREE-DIMENSIONAL, DIGITAL DATABASE FOR HIGH QUALITY THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTIONS

The "Visible Animal Project" (VAP) is comprised of axial anatomic cryosections and corresponding CT and MR images of a mature dog. The digital database is used for the creation of three-dimensional computer graphics of canine anatomy. The technique of cryodissection is described in detail. The combining of the corresponding CT and MR images, and cryosections as well as the data processing for the creation of three-dimensional reconstructions is presented and examples are shown. For the first time a complete high-resolution three-dimensional database of a dog is available, which can be used as the base for further high quality three-dimensional reconstructions, similar to the "Visible Human Project" (VHP).     

Soil Chemical and Physical Properties Associated with Suppression of Take-all of Wheat by Trichoderma koningii

ABSTRACT Trichoderma koningii, originally isolated from a take-all-suppressive soil in Western Australia, has been shown to protect wheat against take-all disease and increase grain yield in field trials in Australia, China, and the United States. However, within a region, the level of protection provided by T. koningii can dramatically vary between field sites. We evaluated suppression of take-all by this fungus in eight silt loams from the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the influence of 21 abiotic soil parameters on biocontrol activity. While T. koningii significantly increased plant growth and reduced disease severity in all eight silt loams, the level of protection varied significantly among the soils. Disease suppression was not associated with the conduciveness of a soil to take-all, but rather to the supportiveness of a soil to biocontrol activity. Biocontrol activity was positively correlated with iron, nitrate-nitrogen, boron, copper, soluble magnesium, and percent clay, and negatively correlated with soil pH and available phosphorus. Principal component factor analysis using these eight variables resulted in a three-component solution that accounted for 95% of the variation in disease rating. Least squares regression analysis (R(2) = 0.992) identified a model that included nitrate-nitrogen, soil pH, copper, and soluble magnesium, and described the variance in take-all suppression by T. koningii. Potential applications of these results include amending soil or inoculants with beneficial factors that may be lacking in the target soil and customizing biocontrol treatments for sites that have parameters predictive of a favorable environment for disease suppression.