Can Flush and Lock Solutions Used in Human Medicine Be Applied to Large Animal IV Therapy: A Systematic Review

A recent shortage of prepackaged heparinized saline (HS) syringes has led to the question of whether or not normal saline (NS) can be used to both flush and lock IV catheters in large animal medicine (LAM). Moreover, several known medication incompatibilities exist with IV heparin administration. This is of particular concern in veterinary medicine where limited to no compatibility data exists between “veterinary only” (non-Food and Drug Administration approved) medications and heparin. Most of the literature on this subject is in human medicine where flushing of peripheral IV lines (PIVL) is done safely and effectively with NS. The jugular lines inserted in LAM have characteristics that are more similar to PIVLs versus most central venous access devices used in human patients. In addition, LAM catheters are of larger diameter than those typically used in human medicine thereby reducing the risk of occlusion. Based on the data evaluated, flushing and locking all LAM catheters with of NS is a reasonable alternative method for maintaining IV patency and eliminating problems associated with medication-related incompatibilities or shortages of prepackaged HS syringes.     

Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities

Hand bones from a single individual with a clear taxonomic affiliation are scarce in the hominin fossil record, which has hampered understanding the evolution of manipulative abilities in hominins. Here we describe and analyze a nearly complete wrist and hand of an adult female [Malapa Hominin 2 (MH2)] Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa (1.977 million years ago). The hand presents a suite of Australopithecus-like features, such as a strong flexor apparatus associated with arboreal locomotion, and Homo-like features, such as a long thumb and short fingers associated with precision gripping and possibly stone tool production. Comparisons to other fossil hominins suggest that there were at least two distinct hand morphotypes around the Plio-Pleistocene transition. The MH2 fossils suggest that Au. sediba may represent a basal condition associated with early stone tool use and production.     

Continuous flow vapor generation for inductively coupled argon plasma spectrometric analysis. Part 1: Selenium

Total selenium is determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission using hydride vapor generation. A 1 g sample is wet ashed in a 16 x 150 mm 10 mL volumetric test tube on a programmed heating block with nitric, sulfuric, and perchloric acids at up to 310 degrees C. After treatment with hydrochloric acid, the selenium is reduced by sodium borohydride to hydrogen selenide is a simplified continuous flow manifold. A standard pneumatic nebulizer effects the gas-liquid separation of H2Se, which is quantified by ICP atomic emission at 196.090 nm. The instrument detection limit for the method has been determined to be 0.4 microgram/L. For a 10:1 dilution of a nominal 1 g sample, the detection limit is 4 micrograms/kg and the linear range is up to 4 mg/kg. The method has demonstrated statistical control for samples of biological and environmental interest and is especially well suited to analysis of small samples.     

Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma: 18 cases (1992-2008)

OBJECTIVE-To determine outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma treated with various multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocols and identify factors associated with prognosis. DESIGN-Retrospective case series. ANIMALS-18 dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma. PROCEDURES-Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS-8 dogs had a complete remission (CR), with a median remission duration of 120 days. Dogs with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or a combination of hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia were less likely to achieve a CR. Overall median survival time (MST) was 63 days (range, 2 to 402 days). In a multivariate analysis, response to treatment and serum albumin concentration were associated with MST. Dogs that did not achieve a CR had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs that did achieve a CR (13 vs 283 days, respectively). Dogs with serum albumin concentration < 2.5 g/dL at the time treatment was initiated had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs with serum albumin concentration within reference limits (10 vs 128 days, respectively). There was also a positive correlation between serum albumin concentration and survival time (r = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results suggested that dogs with primary hepatic lymphoma that underwent chemotherapy had a poor prognosis, with a low response rate. Dogs that responded to treatment had a better prognosis, and dogs with hypoalbuminemia had a poorer prognosis.     

Effects of a dietary antimicrobial (carbadox) on liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity and bile acid patterns in the young pig

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the antimicrobial carbadox (CX) on bile acid metabolism in the young pig. The pigs were fed a fortified, 19.5% crude protein, corn-soybean meal diet without or with 55 ppm CX. In Exp. I pigs were fed the diets for 28 d, then the level of activity of hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CH-7 alpha), the rate-limiting enzyme of bile acid metabolism, was measured. The CX-fed pigs gained faster (P less than .05) and more efficiently (P less than .05) and had lower (P less than .02) CH-7 alpha activity than the control pigs. In Exp. II, pigs ranging in weight from 12 to 15 kg were fitted with indwelling catheters in the hepatic portal (HP) and anterior vena cava (VC) veins. Radiolabeled chenodeoxycholic acid (CDC) was infused into the HP and blood samples from both veins were taken at meal time and hourly for 6 h following six meals over 3 d. Bile was collected 14 d after infusion. Concentrations of lithocholic acid (LC) in the bile and hyodeoxycholic acid (HDC) in the plasma were reduced by dietary CX. Dietary CX did not significantly affect metabolism of plasma CDC or hyocholic acid (HC) as measured by radioactivity. Meal time (0800 vs 1600) affected (P less than .05) plasma CDC radioactivity at all times and the level of HDC radioactivity 2 h post-prandial. There was a meal time X dietary treatment interaction (P less than .02) on plasma HC radioactivity 2 h post-prandial. These data suggest that dietary CX inhibited intestinal microbial degradation of CDC and HC.     

Presumptive Intramural Gastric Hemorrhage Secondary to Rodenticide Intoxication in a Dog

A dog being treated for demodicosis with ivermectin was presented for intermittent vomiting. The vomiting progressed to hematemesis and an underlying coagulopathy was diagnosed. The etiology of the coagulopathy was determined to be ingested brodifacoum. Ultrasound evaluation of the abdomen revealed thickened gastric wall that was suspected to be intramural hemorrhage. Most likely, the intramural hemorrhage and resulting thickening of the stomach wall led to the clinical signs and metabolic alkalosis. This case represents an typical presentation of hemorrhage secondary to rodenticide intoxication. (J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2001; 11(1):27–31, 2001).