Effect of Transvenous Electrical Cardioversion on Plasma Cardiac Troponin I Concentrations in Horses with Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Whether electrical cardioversion of cardiac arrhythmias results in cardiomyocyte damage is unknown.
Objective: To describe effect of transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) on plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration in horses.
Animals: All horses presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation between May 2006 and October 2008 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Owners of 14 horses elected for TVEC and each horse was then enrolled (16 procedures).
Methods: Prospective observational study measuring concentrations of plasma cTnI before and after TVEC.
Results: Median cTnI concentration increased from 0.045 ng/mL at baseline (range 0.0–0.20 ng/mL) to 0.11 ng/mL after TVEC (range 0.0–3.73 ng/mL) ( P = .036). This increase was not associated with the number of shocks delivered, maximal energy delivered, cumulative energy delivered, chronicity of atrial fibrillation before cardioversion, or positioning of the pulmonary artery catheter.
Conclusions: The increase in cTnI is unlikely to be clinically important. The increase might be correlated with persistent atrial dysfunction after TVEC, suggesting that a longer convalescent period after the procedure could be warranted.     

Correction to: Water dynamics at the urban soil-atmosphere interface—rainwater storage in paved surfaces and its dependence on rain event characteristics

Journal of Soils and Sediments - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02796-9 .     

Water dynamics at the urban soil-atmosphere interface—rainwater storage in paved surfaces and its dependence on rain event characteristics

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The surface store governs the rainwater partition, e.g., water storage and evaporation on paved surfaces, especially for low-intensity and low-sum rain events,...     

Evoked potentials induced by transcranial stimulation in dogs

Evoked potentials were induced by transcranial stimulation and recovered from the spinal cord, and the radial and sciatic nerves in six dogs. Stimulation was accomplished with an anode placed on the skin over the area of the motor cortex. Evoked potentials were recovered from the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord by electrodes placed transcutaneously in the ligamentum flavum. Evoked potentials were recovered from the radial and sciatic nerves by surgical exposure and electrodes placed in the perineurium. Signals from 100 repetitive stimuli were averaged and analyzed. Waveforms were analyzed for amplitude and latency. Conduction velocities were estimated from wave latencies and distance traveled. The technique allowed recovery of evoked potentials that had similar characteristics among all dogs. Conduction velocities of potentials recovered from the radial and sciatic nerves suggested stimulation of motor pathways; however, the exact origin and pathway of these waves is unknown.     

Eosinophilic granuloma of the nasal skin in a dog

A recurrent mass removed surgically from the dorsocaudal aspect of the planum nasale in a 12-year-old dog was identified histologically as eosinophilic granuloma. The dog was treated orally with prednisone for 15 days, and the granuloma has not recurred.     

Multimeric analysis of von Willebrand factor before and after desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) administration intravenously and subcutaneously in male beagle dogs

Eight adult male Beagles were given 1 microgram of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP)/kg of body weight, SC or by slow IV infusion on separate occasions. Both routes of administration induced highly significant increases (P less than 0.0001) in plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor (vWf) antigen (Ag) and botrocetin cofactor (BCf) activity, an indication of platelet-associated vWf activity. In most instances, increases in plasma vWf:Ag and BCf values induced by SC injection were as large as or larger than those induced by slow IV infusion. With both routes of administration, BCf activity increased more than the vWf:Ag concentration, so that high BCf-to-vWf:Ag ratios were found in plasma after DDAVP administration. In plasma samples obtained before DDAVP administration, sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis resolved the vWf into a series of multimeric proteins with molecular weights similar to those of human vWf. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis of plasma samples obtained after DDAVP administration revealed mainly the larger molecules of vWf that were increased by DDAVP administration.     

Serum and liver lipase activity in chickens during the 1st month of life]

Method according to DIRSTINE (1968) was employed to study the activities of serum and liver lipase in White Leghorn cockerels during early post-incubation ontogenesis; as to serum lipase, two embryo intervals were also studied (the 13th and 20th day of incubation). From the average value of 4.4 ummol (13th day), serum lipase activity increased to the average value of 7.5 ummol (20th day). The first day after hatching the average value was 3.5 ummol which remained almost unchanged until the 9th day, with the exception of a slight drop the third day; an increase of activities was observed on the 13th day (4.9 ummol), 15th day (3.5 ummol), 21st day (7.6 ummol), 22nd day (5.5 ummol), and 24th day (8.8 ummol). The minimum average activity of 2.5 ummol was measured the 32nd day. Liver lipase activity was observed to drop from the first-day starting value of 20.6 ummol to 9.8 ummol (the second day), with a subsequent increase to 14.9 ummol (the 4th day). The maximum values were recorded the 13th day (26.2 ummol) and the 15th day (28.7 ummol) whereas the minimum average value was obtained the 32nd day (6.3 ummol). Liver lipase activity drop on the second day of age and serum lipase activity drop on the third day with subsequent increase are probably associated with the change from yolk-sac nutrition to feeding per os. Some stabilization of serum and liver lipase occurs the 32nd day; the values found in adult fowl were almost the same as the 32nd day values.     

Acaricide toxicity and resistance in larvae of different strains of Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The toxicities of eight structurally different acaricidal compounds to six‐legged larvae (first motile stage) of three laboratory strains of the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, and the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi, were evaluated following spray application. The larvae of five field‐derived strains of T urticae originating from France, Italy, Brazil, California and Florida were also tested for their susceptibilities to discriminating concentrations of several acaricides resulting in 95% mortality when applied to the organophosphate‐resistant laboratory reference strain WI. The spray bioassay used was robust and gave repeatable results with a wide range of acaricidal compounds, irrespective of their mode of action (ovo‐larvicides or primarily acting on motile life stages). Compounds tested were abamectin, azocyclotin, chlorpyrifos, clofentezine, deltamethrin, fenpyroximate, hexythiazox and pyridaben. Larvae of one of the laboratory strains of T urticae, AK, originally collected in Japan in 1996 and maintained without further selection pressure, exhibited 2000‐ and >4000‐fold resistance to the mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors pyridaben and fenpyroximate, respectively. Another strain of T urticae, AU, obtained from Australia and maintained in the laboratory under selection with hexythiazox and clofentezine since 1987 showed >770‐ and >1000‐fold resistance to clofentezine and hexythiazox, respectively. The same resistance pattern was observed against larvae of a laboratory strain of P ulmi, CE, also selected with hexythiazox. Larvae of one of the field‐derived strains of T urticae, BR, showed a lower susceptibility to a number of compounds, whilst the others were susceptible to all compounds except the organophosphates. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of a supplemental plate on the stiffness of a type I external fixator

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a supplemental plate on the stiffness of a six-pin unilateral external skeletal fixator. STUDY DESIGN: Mechanical testing performed on models. METHODS: Wooden (birch) dowels were used to create five models of a fracture. A commercially available external fixation system was applied to the model with a uniform unilateral six-pin fixator design. The models were mechanically tested with and without a supplemental plate attached to the 2 clamps adjacent to the fracture gap. Testing was conducted in axial loading, medial to lateral bending, and cranial to caudal bending. RESULTS: Results showed a 4.42-fold increase in stiffness in axial load, a 4.23-fold increase in stiffness in medial to lateral bending, and a 1.94-fold increase in stiffness in cranial to caudal bending with the addition of the plate. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a supplemental plate increases the mechanical stiffness of unilateral fixators. This was especially true in axial load and medial to lateral bending. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A supplemental plate can be used with unilateral fixators to increase stiffness of the fixator. Conversely, the plate can be removed to decrease stiffness without the removal of fixation pins.     

Bradycardia-Associated Syncope in 7 Boxers with Ventricular Tachycardia (2002–2005)

Background: Syncope is a recognized problem in Boxers and often is the result of rapid ventricular tachycardia (VT). Affected dogs may have echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy, but frequently have normal echocardiograms. Although VT is probably the most common cause of syncope in Boxers, neurocardiogenic bradycardia can also occur.
Objective: We describe 7 Boxers with comorbid VT and neurocardiogenic bradycardia, wherein the syncope was secondary to bradycardia rather than VT.
Animals: Seven Boxers were selected from a larger population of Boxers with Holter-documented VT because these dogs had documented bradycardia at the time of syncope.
Methods: Retrospective study.
Results: Although all dogs had Holter-documented VT, the etiology of the syncopal episodes was consistent with neurocardiogenic bradycardia.
Clinical Importance: Neurocardiogenic bradycardia or VT can occur as isolated problems in Boxers. In some Boxers, VT and potential or manifest neurocardiogenic bradycardia coexist. The administration of a β-blocker or sotalol to such dogs can aggravate or precipitate neurocardiogenic bradycardia-related syncope.