Surgical Correction of Congenital Bilateral Choanal Atresia in a Foal

Congenital bilateral choanal atresia was corrected surgically in a neonatal foal. Presenting clinical signs included complete obstruction of the upper airway, which had been relieved by tracheotomy. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic examination and contrast radiography. Bilateral nasal flaps were used to gain access to the caudal nasal cavity, allowing removal of obstructive tissue and restoration of normal respiration. Malocclusion developed secondary to surgical intervention and resultant damage to suture lines of developing flat bones of the skull. Nine months postoperatively, the asynchronous growth of the mandible and maxilla had not resulted in difficulty during mastication. Respiration, although audible during periods of exercise, was acceptable to the owners.     

An Open Patch-Graft Technique for Correction of Pulmonic Stenosis in the Dog

An open patch-graft technique for correction of pulmonic stenosis was performed in four dogs. A synthetic patch-graft was presutured to a partial-thickness incision in the right ventricular outflow tract and to the pulmonary artery along its cranial border. The pulmonary artery and right ventricle were incised during venous inflow occlusion, and dysplastic pulmonic valve leaflets were excised. The arteriotomy was closed by suturing the caudal margin of the incision to the patch-graft. The entire procedure was performed during mild hypothermia (30 degrees - 32 degrees C). The mean circulatory arrest time was 5.5 +/- 0.2 minutes. The mean systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve before surgery was 121 +/- 29 mm Hg; after surgery it was 9 +/- 2 mm Hg.     

TUMOUR ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS IN BOVINE HORN CANCER

SUMMARY: Tumour associated antigens in bovine horn cancer (HC) were demonstrated by immunodiffusion in agar gel and by immuno-fluorescence. Antiserums raised in/rabbits against sonicated pooled horn cancer tissue extracts and absorbed with normal antigens, reacted only with HC extracts on agar gel diffusion. Preparations of normal antigen (skin, horn core epithelium, lymph node and liver) and extracts from other tumours (fibroma, fibrosarcoma and myxoma) did not show any reactivity against absorbed antiserum in this test, the absorbed antiserum showing specific reactivity to HC extracts in gel diffusion tests was conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate. Many different HC, normal cells and cells from other tumours were incubated with the conjugate and examined by fluorescent microscopy. HC cells showed specific beaded fluorescence on the surface whereas such fluorescence was not observed in normal cells or cells from other tumours.     

Effects of hoeing and rototilling on some aspects of the population dynamics of pure stands of Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane)

Two naturally-established pure stands of Portulaca oleracea L. were used to study the effects of five disturbance schedules (early, midseason, late, repeated and no disturbance) on the development of purslane populations. In one stand disturbance was by rototilling and in the second stand by hoeing. In most disturbed plots, the re-established stands had densities which were not significantly less than those of the control plots. These stands were composed of plants established by seed germination (seed plants) and by regeneration of roots on severed stems (stem plants) or shoots on root and stem bases (root plants). The composition of these stands depended on the type of disturbance. Undisturbed stands were composed predominantly of seed plants. Disturbed stands had fewer than 55% seed plants. Hoeing resulted in a greater proportion of stem plants and a lower proportion of root plants than rototilling. All disturbances resulted in decreased dry matter yields per unit area. The maximum yields for the controls in the two stands were similar, regardless of differences in density, mean dry weight, size class distribution and time of establishment. Early disturbance resulted in significant decreases in seed capsule production while disturbance late in the season had minimal effects on seed production. The implications for control of purslane in crops are discussed.     

刚果(布)农业发展概况及对策

简述刚果(布)农业发展状况及其优越的自然条件和良好的社会条件。建议利用其优势创建良好的体制与机制,加强农业对外合作,加速推进与中国援刚果(布)农业技术示范中心在木薯领域的合作,扩大木薯种植面积,延长木薯产业链条,为逐步解决该国粮食安全问题、提高人们生活水平及保障国家的稳定发展提供参考。     

Modified Tenoscopic Method for Carpal Flexor Retinaculum Release in a Horse

Objective— To report the use of a proximolateral endoscopic portal with a distolateral instrument portal for carpal retinaculum release in a horse clinically affected with carpal canal syndrome. Study Design— Clinical report. Animals— A 4‐year‐old Thoroughbred female. Methods— Carpal canal syndrome secondary to traumatic suppurative tenosynovitis was treated by accessory carpal bone debridement and carpal retinaculum release using a tenoscopic approach to the carpal flexor synovial sheath through a proximolateral endoscope portal and a distolateral instrument portal. Results— Resolution of carpal sheath effusion and lameness occurred allowing racing 14 months later. Use of a distolateral instrument portal was not associated with complications or iatrogenic damage to neurovascular structures and reduced endoscope and instrument interference and offered easier access to the distal aspect of the carpal sheath. Conclusions— Carpal retinaculum release may be safely accomplished with a distolateral instrument portal when access to the distal aspect of the carpal sheath is needed. Clinical Relevance— The distolateral instrument portal described may be a useful alternative to a proximolateral portal when distal carpal sheath instrument access is necessary or advantageous.     

BONE SCINTIGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF AN ABNORMAL MEDIAL CORONOID PROCESS IN DOGS

Few reports have been published regarding the use of scintigraphy in the diagnosis of elbow joint lameness in dogs. Some authors have speculated about the potential use of bone scintigraphy and its suspected high sensitivity for the early diagnosis of abnormalities of the medial coronoid process (MCP) in dogs. Scintigraphy is used routinely in our institution in dogs presented for thoracic limb lameness and/or suspected of abnormalities of the MCP when radiographic findings were equivocal. Radiographic, scintigraphic, and surgical findings of the elbow joints of 17 dogs with elbow joint lameness were compared with radiographic, scintigraphic, and necropsy findings of the elbow joints of 12 clinically healthy Labrador Retrievers. Quantitative evaluation of scintigraphic images was performed to determine relative radiopharmaceutical uptake in the region of the MCP. Maximum relative uptake of the coronoid process in the normal dogs was taken as a threshold value to classify elbows as positive or negative for an abnormal MCP after all 24 elbows of the 12 healthy dogs were confirmed as being normal at necropsy. All 17 elbows from lame dogs were positive on scintigraphy and confirmed as having chondromalacia, a fissure, or fragmentation of the MCP. Based on our results, bone scintigraphy may be a valuable diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of abnormalities of the MCP in dogs, and particularly in older dogs where clinical and radiographic changes may be ambiguous.     

FEASIBILITY OF CONTRAST‐ENHANCED ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED BIOPSY OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODES IN DOGS

Our goal was to develop and validate a technique to identify the sentinel lymph nodes of the mammary glands of healthy dogs with contrast‐enhanced ultrasound, and evaluate the feasibility of obtaining representative samples of a sentinel lymph node under ultrasound guidance using a new biopsy device. Three healthy intact female adult hounds were anesthetized and each received an injection of octafluoropropane‐filled lipid microspheres and a separate subcutaneous injection of methylene blue dye around a mammary gland. Ultrasound was then used to follow the contrast agent through the lymphatic channel to the sentinel lymph node. Lymph node biopsy was performed under ultrasound guidance, followed by an excisional biopsy of the lymph nodes and a regional mastectomy procedure. Excised tissues were submitted for histopathologic examination and evaluated as to whether they were representative of the node. The ultrasound contrast agent was easily visualized with ultrasound leading up to the sentinel lymph nodes. Eight normal lymph nodes (two inguinal, one axillary in two dogs; two inguinal in one dog) were identified and biopsied. Lymphoid tissue was obtained from all biopsy specimens. Samples from four of eight lymph nodes contained both cortical and medullary lymphoid tissue. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound can be successfully used to image and guide minimally invasive biopsy of the normal sentinel lymph nodes draining the mammary glands in healthy dogs. Further work is needed to evaluate whether this technique may be applicable in patients with breast cancer or other conditions warranting evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in animals.     

The effects of weed cutting upon the biota of a large regulated river

1. The effects of macrophyte removal from a regulated reach of the River Great Ouse, UK, were recorded. The relationship between macrophyte cover, zooplankton distribution and 0+roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) distribution, diet and growth, were compared before, directly after, and over several weeks following weed-cutting operations. 2. Both zooplankton and fish were significantly associated with the macrophyte zone before weed cutting. It is suggested that this zone provides high food densities and refuge during periods of elevated flows. 3. Removal of all but a 2 m marginal strip of the macrophyte zone led to a rapid decline in the mean densities of planktonic Cladocera, probably as a result of increased washout, fish predation and starvation. This was accompanied by a rapid decline in the growth rate of the roach, which were forced to feed on the less nutritious aufwuchs. 4. It is suggested that river management involving weed cutting adjacent to one bank in alternate years would be sufficient to prevent loss of channel capacity and would provide a refuge for fish and zooplankton.     

LYMPHOMA AFFECTING THE URINARY BLADDER IN THREE DOGS AND A CAT

Three dogs and one cat with lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder are reported and the findings on abdominal radiographs and ultrasound are described. Mural lesions representing lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder were identified ultrasonographically in all animals. The most common complications associated with urinary bladder lymphoma were hydronephrosis and hydroureter. In two patients contrast radiography was necessary to detect leakage of urine in the peritoneal and retroperitoneal space. The radiographic and ultrasonographic signs were similar to those reported with other urinary bladder neoplasms; hence urinary bladder lymphoma could not be distinguished from the more common urinary bladder neoplasms, such as transitional cell carcinoma. It is important to include lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of urinary bladder wall thickening and mural mass in dogs and cats.