Transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra metastatic to the eyes in a dog

Hyphema and secondary glaucoma were ocular manifestations of disseminated neoplasia in a 4-year-old dog. The dog was euthanatized following enucleation after disseminated intravascular coagulopathy had developed. The histopathologic diagnosis was transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra, with metastasis to the lungs, heart, adrenal gland, and eyes.     

Redox cycling induces spermptosis and necrosis in stallion spermatozoa while the hydroxyl radical (OH•) only induces spermptosis

Oxidative stress is a major factor explaining sperm dysfunction of spermatozoa surviving freezing and thawing and is also considered a major inducer of a special form of apoptosis, visible after thawing, in cryopreserved spermatozoa. To obtain further insights into the link between oxidative stress and the induction of apoptotic changes, stallion spermatozoa were induced to oxidative stress through redox cycling after exposure to 2‐methyl‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (menadione), or hydroxyl radical formation after FeSO₄ exposure. Either exposure induced significant increases (p < 0.05) in two markers of lipid peroxidation: 8‐iso‐PGF_2α and 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE). While both treatments induced changes indicative of spermptosis (caspase‐3 activation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential) (p < 0.01), menadione induced sperm necrosis and a dramatic reduction in motility and thiol content in stallion spermatozoa. Thus, we provided evidence that oxidative stress underlies spermptosis, and thiol content is a key factor for stallion sperm function.     

Accuracy of fetal age estimates using transrectal ultrasonography for predicting calving dates in dairy cows in seasonally calving herds in New Zealand

AIM: To describe the accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography for predicting calving dates in dairy cows under typical New Zealand conditions and to assess potential risk factors for differences between predicted and actual calving dates.

METHODS: Data were collected from 116 seasonally calving herds over 2 years in a retrospective single cohort study. Transrectal ultrasonography was undertaken by experienced veterinarians (n=12) to determine if cows were pregnant, and if so to estimate fetal age. Predicted calving date was calculated by adding 282 days to the estimated conception date. Accuracy was assessed using differences between predicted and actual calving dates for each animal. Potential risk factors for animals calving >10 days before or after their predicted calving date were assessed using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS: The study population comprised 83,104 cows over the 2 years of the study; 75,037 (90.3%) cows calved within 10 days of their predicted calving date, 3,683 (4.4%) calved >10 days earlier, and 4,384 (5.3%) >10 days later, than predicted. Risk factors for calving >10 days before or after the predicted calving date included having >1 artificial insemination (AI) before pregnancy diagnosis (p=0.03), where the cow’s most recent AI was <21 days before the end of the herd’s AI period (p<0.01), and where the diagnosis was made at the second or third herd-visit (p<0.01). The probability of calving being >10 days later than predicted also increased when the fetus was ≥13 weeks old at pregnancy diagnosis (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this study, >90% of cows diagnosed pregnant by veterinarians using transrectal ultrasonography calved within 10 days of the predicted calving date. In herds where herd reproductive performance is high, it would be expected that more cows would conceive to their first AI, and potentially fewer cows would have AI close to the end of the herd’s AI period, which would increase diagnostic accuracy. Where herd managers rely on accurate predicted calving dates they should be informed about realistic expected accuracy. For greatest accuracy, a complete AI history should be made available to the person performing the pregnancy diagnoses and cows at most risk of having inaccurate predicted calving dates should be identified.     

Do Computer‐Assisted,Morphometric‐Derived Sperm Characteristics Reflect DNA Status in Canine Spermatozoa?

It is widely accepted that sperm morphology is a strong indicator of semen quality. As the sperm head mainly comprises the sperm DNA, it is have been proposed that subtle changes in sperm morphology may be related to abnormal DNA content. Semen from four mongrel dogs was used to investigate DNA quality by means of the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and for computerized sperm morphometry (CASMA). Each sperm head was measured for nine primary parameters [head area (A), head perimeter (P), head length (L), head width (W), midpiece width (w), midpiece area (a), distance (d) between the major axes of the head and midpiece, angle (theta) of divergence of the midpiece from the head axis] and four parameters of head shape [FUN1, L/W; FUN2, 4piA/P(2); FUN3, (L - W)/(L + W); FUN4, piLW/4A]. Significant differences were found in all CASMA-derived parameters among dogs (p < 0.001). Linear regression models including sperm head shape factors 1, 3 and 4 predicted the extent of DNA denaturation (p < 0.001). We conclude that the CASMA analysis can be considered a powerful tool to improve the spermiogram.     

Inherited epidermal dysplasia in Holstein-Friesian calves

Inherited epidermal dysplasia (IED), formerly called baldy calf syndrome, is a lethal disease of calves of Holstein-Friesian ancestry. The disease causes progressive illthrift and skin, horn and hoof lesions, which can be confused with inherited zinc deficiency. The clinicopathological features and ancestry of 10 affected calves in Gippsland, Victoria are described.     

Validation of actigraphy to assess circadian organization and sleep quality in patients with advanced lung cancer

Background

Many previous studies have documented seasonal variation in suicides globally. We re-assessed the seasonal variation of suicides in Finland and tried to relate it to the seasonal variation in daylength and ambient temperature and in the discrepancy between local time and solar time.

Methods

The daily data of all suicides from 1969 to 2003 in Finland (N = 43,393) were available. The calendar year was divided into twelve periods according to the length of daylight and the routinely changing time difference between sun time and official time. The daily mean of suicide mortality was calculated for each of these periods and the 95% confidence intervals of the daily means were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the means. In addition, daily changes in sunshine hours and mean temperature were compared to the daily means of suicide mortality in two locations during these afore mentioned periods.

Results

A significant peak of the daily mean value of suicide mortality occurred in Finland between May 15th and July 25th, a period that lies symmetrically around the solstice. Concerning the suicide mortality among men in the northern location (Oulu), the peak was postponed as compared with the southern location (Helsinki). The daily variation in temperature or in sunshine did not have significant association with suicide mortality in these two locations.

Conclusions

The period with the longest length of the day associated with the increased suicide mortality. Furthermore, since the peak of suicide mortality seems to manifest later during the year in the north, some other physical or biological signals, besides the variation in daylight, may be involved. In order to have novel means for suicide prevention, the assessment of susceptibility to the circadian misalignment might help.     

Distinct Effects of Boar Seminal Plasma Fractions Exhibiting Different Protein Profiles on the Functionality of Highly Diluted Boar Spermatozoa

The aim of this study was to evaluate how different protein profiles of seminal plasma (SP) fractions affect sperm functionality in vitro. Ejaculates from three boars were separated into six fractions. The fractions differed from each other in their sperm content, in their total SP protein content, and their spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II and heparin-binding protein (HBP) concentrations. Spermatozoa were mainly recovered in fraction 2 (sperm-rich fraction, >1800 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/ml), whereas the pre-sperm fraction 1 and the post-sperm fractions 4–6 contained low numbers of spermatozoa (<500 × 10⁶/ml). Except in fraction 2, the total SP protein concentration and the concentration of both, spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II and the HBPs increased with fraction order. Distinct time-dependent effects were observed on motility characteristics and membrane integrity of highly diluted boar spermatozoa upon incubation with a 10% dilution of the SP from each fraction. The highest sperm viability was recorded after exposure for 5 h to fraction 2, followed by fractions 1 and 3. The percentages of motile spermatozoa also differed significantly among fractions after 5 h of incubation. Spermatozoa incubated with SP of fractions 1–3 showed the highest percentage motility. We conclude that different SP fractions exert distinct effects on the functionality of highly diluted boar spermatozoa. Fractions 1–3 appear to promote sperm survival, whereas fractions 4–6 seem to be harmful for preserving the physiological functions of highly diluted boar spermatozoa.