Retrospective study of 338 canine oral melanomas with clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical review of 129 cases

Diagnostic records from 338 canine oral melanomas in 338 dogs received at the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (1992-1999) were reviewed. Of these tumors, 122 plus an additional 7 metastatic melanomas of unknown origin were selected for clinical follow-up, histologic review, and immunohistochemistry. Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, and Pekingese/Poodle mix breeds were overrepresented, whereas Boxer and German Shepherd breeds were underrepresented. There was no gender predisposition and the average age at presentation was 11.4 years. Forty-nine dogs were euthanized due to recurrence or metastasis. The average postsurgical survival time was 173 days. The gingiva and the labial mucosa were the most common sites. Most tumors were composed of either polygonal cells (27 cases, 20.9%), spindle cells (44 cases, 34.1%), or a mixture of the two (polygonal and spindle) (54 cases, 41.9%). Clear cell (3 cases, 2.3%) and adenoid/papillary (1 case, 0.8%) patterns were uncommon. The metastases of 6/6 oral melanomas had morphologic and immunohistochemical features similar to those of the primary tumors. Immunohistochemically, Melan A was detected in 113/122 oral (92.6%) and 5/7 (71.9%) metastatic melanomas. Only 4/163 nonmelanocytic tumors were focally and weakly positive for Melan A. Antibodies against vimentin, S100 protein, and neuron-specific enolase stained 129 (100%), 98 (76%), and 115 (89.1%) of 129 melanomas, respectively. Antibodies against other melanocytic-associated antigens (tyrosinase, glycoprotein 100) did not yield adequate staining. We conclude that Melan A is a specific and sensitive marker for canine melanomas.     

Influence of Sperm Cell Dose and Post-insemination Backflow on Reproductive Performance of Intrauterine Inseminated Sows

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the sperm cell dose and semen backflow on the pregnancy rate and number of embryos of sows inseminated once at 0-24 h before ovulation, using an intrauterine technique. The results were analysed from a total of 211 sows assigned to three groups inseminated with doses of 0.25 x 10(9) (T1), 0.5 x 10(9) (T2) and 1.0 x 10(9) (T3) spermatozoa. Semen backflow was observed in 95% of the females (143/151) evaluated for this purpose. The percentage of semen backflow is close to two-third of the volume and the percentage of sperm is around 15% of the infused sperm dose. Intrauterine insemination can be successfully performed provided that at least 0.5 billion of sperm cell dose is infused at an interval of 0-24 h before ovulation.     

Fibrous ingluvial foreign bodies in 33 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

The presentation, treatment and outcomes of 33 ingluvial fibrous foreign bodies in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are described. Vomiting, lethargy and weight loss were the most common presenting signs. Diagnosis was made on palpation of a mass in the crop (ingluvies). Both surgical and non‐surgical treatment regimens were evaluated. The overall mortality rate was 33%, suggesting fibrous materials are not safe for cockatiels to groom or ingest and should not be offered as cage accessories.     

Synchronous climate changes in antarctica and the north atlantic

Central Greenland ice cores provide evidence of abrupt changes in climate over the past 100,000 years. Many of these changes have also been identified in sedimentary and geochemical signatures in deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic, confirming the link between millennial-scale climate variability and ocean thermohaline circulation. It is shown here that two of the most prominent North Atlantic events-the rapid warming that marks the end of the last glacial period and the Bolling/Allerod-Younger Dryas oscillation-are also recorded in an ice core from Taylor Dome, in the western Ross Sea sector of Antarctica. This result contrasts with evidence from ice cores in other regions of Antarctica, which show an asynchronous response between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.     

Effect of blanching on the content of antinutritional factors in selected vegetables

The effect of blanching on the antinutritional content was studied in cabbage, turnip, collard, sweetpotato and peanut leaves. All the vegetables contained various amounts of phytic acid, tannic acid and/or oxalic acid. Tannic acid was found in largest amounts ranging from 1266.00 mg/100 g in cabbage to 491.00 mg/100 g in sweetpotato. Phytic acid content ranged from 0.31 mg/100 g in sweetpotato to 3.97 mg/100 g in collard. Oxalic acid was in trace amounts in cabbage and turnip; but high concentrations were found in sweetpotato (469.67 mg/100 g) and peanut greens (407.00 mg/100 g). Levels of both tannic acid and phytic acid were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by conventional and microwave blanching methods while oxalic acid levels were not significantly (p<0.05) reduced in most of the treatments by either of the blanching methods. In general, blanching is recommended as an effective method for reducing the antinutritional factors in green vegetables, however, further investigation on the heating times for both conventional and microwave blanching methods has been suggested.