Transcutaneous ultrasound over the right flank to diagnose mid- to late-pregnancy in the dairy cow

Objective   To investigate the practical application and image quality of transcutaneous ultrasonography across the right flank for the diagnosis of mid- to late-gestation in cattle.
Procedure   Dairy cows of known pregnancy status were used to establish criteria for the identification of mid- to late-stage pregnancy by transcutaneous ultrasonography. Factors involved in the practical application of transcutaneous ultrasound for routine use in pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle were also examined.
Results   Transcutaneous ultrasound, using a 3.5-MHz sector transducer applied over the caudodorsal right flank fold, allowed rapid and detailed visualisation of bovine pregnancy (i.e. fetus, fetal fluids, placentomes and/or fetal membranes) and could be used to establish criteria for the diagnosis of pregnancy. The commonly available cattle holding facilities of the herringbone dairy, rotary herringbone dairy, AI race or crush, and walk-through dairy all allow safe access to the right flank of a dairy or beef cow. However, transcutaneous scanning over the right flank is difficult in modern rotary turnstile dairies.
Conclusion   A 3.5-MHz sector transducer applied over the caudodorsal right flank fold allows detailed visualisation of the bovine fetus in most types of cattle-holding facilities. Further investigation of the sensitivity and specificity of this technique over the entire gestation period and its possible use in ageing of the bovine fetus is merited.     

Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in 110 dogs in Victoria, Australia

Objective   Evaluate the survival and prognostic indicators (i.e. breed predilection, season, blood transfusion, and the prevalence of autoagglutination) of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) in Victoria, Australia.
Design   Retrospective study of 110 diagnosed with primary IMHA at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital.
Results   In total, 80 of the dogs (72.7%) were discharged from hospital and 48 of 65 (73.8%) dogs available for follow-up were known to be alive at 1 year, giving an overall 1-year survival of 48 (50.5%) of 95 dogs for which survival data were available. Regarding breed, 80 (18.2%) of the 110 dogs were Maltese-breed dogs compared with 81 (7.4%) of 1100 control dogs (P < 0.001). Springer Spaniels (P = 0.02), Hungarian Vizslas (P = 0.02) and Airedale Terriers (P < 0.001) were also over-represented compared with the control sample. There was no evidence of an association between the occurrence of IMHA in dogs and season in this study. Receiving one or more blood transfusions did not affect survival to the time of discharge from hospital. On initial blood smear examination, 57 (51.8%) of the 110 dogs had spontaneous autoagglutination and its presence was associated with decreased survival to discharge from hospital (P = 0.03). Packed cell volume, white cell count, platelet count and serum total bilirubin on admission had no effect on survival to the time of discharge from hospital or 1 year later.
Conclusion   Dogs with IMHA have a guarded prognosis as only half are still alive 1 year after the acute event.     

美国、加拿大生物安全三级动物实验室考察报告

美国、加拿大对ABSL-3的设计均为三层。下方的尸体、污物处理层和上方的设备层及中间的动物实验室层。设计比较科学，人性化，其高度均达6m以上。配备有索道和电葫芦，以供动物移动使用；电动解剖台可按电钮升降调节解剖台的高度，动物尸体处理由Renderer cooker尸体处理器经高压、粉碎、干燥成肉陷状颗粒，粪便及污水收集在三个5000L容量的高压灭菌处理器中高压灭菌处理，设施内的灭菌采用环保的过氧化氢消毒设备。     

Computational neuroscience

The ultimate aim of computational neuroscience is to explain how electrical and chemical signals are used in the brain to represent and process information. This goal is not new, but much has changed in the last decade. More is known now about the brain because of advances in neuroscience, more computing power is available for performing realistic simulations of neural systems, and new insights are available from the study of simplifying models of large networks of neurons. Brain models are being used to connect the microscopic level accessible by molecular and cellular techniques with the systems level accessible by the study of behavior.     

A longitudinal study of veterinary students and recent graduates 2. Views of the veterinary profession

Objective To examine the development of attitudes and opinions relating to the veterinary profession.
Design Longitudinal study.
Population Students, 154 in all, who began studying veterinary science at The University of Queensland in 1985 and 1986.
Procedure Questionnaires were completed in the first and fifth year of the course and in the second year after graduation. The data were analysed using the SAS System for Windows.
Results Few changes in opinion over time were found on the role of the profession, or on the status and prestige of veterinarians. Changes did occur in views on the characteristics of a successful veterinarian, with increases in the perceived importance of interpersonal skills, and of the capacity to work hard, and decreases in the perceived importance of honesty and integrity, dedication and the prevention of cruelty. Attitudes hardened over time in relation to costs of treatment, non-payment of fees and availability out of hours. Individuals changed their opinion on whether to counsel or report an incompetent colleague, but the changes in one direction were approximately equal to those in the opposite direction.
Conclusions The attitudes and opinions of veterinary graduates result from experiences before and during their veterinary course. In general the perceived importance of interpersonal skills increases during the course, and the level of altruism decreases.