Acute pulmonary edema after diazepam-ketamine in a dog

An 8-year-old mixed-breed dog was anesthetized for colonoscopy. Moderate sedation was produced by premedication with glycopyrrolate, acepromazine, and hydromorphone, and anesthesia was induced by IV injection of diazepam and ketamine. Frothy, reddish-colored fluid flowed from the endotracheal tube immediately after endotracheal intubation but ceased after several minutes. Furosemide was injected IV. Anesthesia was maintained by sevoflurane in oxygen. Ventilation and arterial blood pressure were satisfactory, however, after oxygen was administered to maintain normal hemoglobin saturation. Radiography revealed changes consistent with a diagnosis of pulmonary edema. The following day, ventricular premature contractions developed and atrial dissociation, valvular regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension were diagnosed on echocardiography. The proposed etiology is either profound transient hypotension and/or pulmonary hypertension induced by ketamine. The cardiac abnormalities that were present the following day suggest that myocardial dysfunction after induction of anesthesia was more severe than was apparent as assessed by routine physical examination and monitoring methods.     

NITRATE UPTAKE KINETICS AND METABOLIC PARAMETERS IN TWO RICE VARIETIES GROWN IN HIGH AND LOW NITRATE

A study was conducted on the effect of nitrate (NO₃) levels on nitrate uptake kinetics and nitrogen (N) metabolism in two rice varieties, Piaui (landrace) and IAC-47 (improved). At 27 days after germination (DAG) N supply was suspended for 72 h, and then restored as 0.2 or 2 mM nitrate. The nitrate uptake kinetics was determined by the depletion method. Plants were harvested at 0, 6, and 24 h. Plants of the Piaui variety under 0.2 mM nitrate showed higher V_max and lower K_M, indicating higher efficiency of nitrate uptake at low supply. In the sheaths of both varieties, there was a greater accumulation of nitrate and lower activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase. The V-H⁺-ATPase activity increased between 0 and 6 h accompanying the nitrate influx, suggesting that the activity of this proton pump is necessary for the antiport activity (H⁺/2NO^? ₃) involved in the accumulation of nitrate into vacuoles.     

The effects of acid rain on nitrogen fixation in Western Washington coniferous forests

We investigated both the current status of N₂ fixation in western Washington forests, and the potential effects of acid rain on this vital process. Even the low concentrations of SO₂ presently found in the Northwest are thought to have an adverse effect on N₂ fixation by limiting the distribution of the epiphytic N₂-fixing lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria, which is found mainly in deciduous forests. A close relative, L. oregana, was found to be the major N₂ fixer in old-growth coniferous forests. It fixes less N₂ following exposure to H₂SO₄ of pH 4 or less. A more serious threat to N₂ fixation than acid rain is the practice of deliberately suppressing red alder to keep it from competing with Douglas fir. Also, L. oregana is a late successional species and does not develop in forests where short cutting cycles are practiced.     

Lipid Nutrition and Feeding of Cobia Rachycentron canadum Larvae

This study examined the fatty acid composition of cobia Rachycentron canadum eggs and yolksac larvae, as well as the ovaries of wild caught females as an initial guide to lipid nutritional requirements. A 2-wk feeding study also was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of four dietary treatments on the growth and survival of cobia larvae. Cobia eggs in the tailbud stage contained 31.4 ± 1.3 μg lipid/egg. After hatching, the amount of lipid decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 28.3 ± 0.3 to 23.2 ± 0.1 μg lipid/larvae during the yolksac larval stage (days 1 to 3 after hatching). Ovaries from wild caught adults and captive spawned eggs and yolksac larvae contained high levels of PUFAs with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) accounting for approximately 80% of the total suggesting that cobia larvae may have a high dietary requirement for these fatty acids. For the feeding study, larvae were fed: 1) Artemia only; 2) enriched rotifers for 1 d only + microparticulate diet (day 313); 3) enriched rotifers for 3 d (day 3–5) + Artemia (day 3–13); and 4) enriched rotifers for 6 d (day 3–8) + Artemia (day 3–13). Cobia larvae began feeding on rotifers 3 d after hatching and on newly hatched Artemia nauplii by the fifth day following the onset of exogenous feeding (day 7). On day 7, no differences in larval growth were found among larvae fed rotifers for 3 versus 6 d, whereas larvae fed only Artemia or rotifers for I d followed by microparticulate diet were significantly smaller (P < 0.05) and did not survive beyond day 9 and 13, respectively. The results of the feeding study indicate that cobia larvae require rotifers for a minimum of 4 d following the onset of exogenous feeding.     

Reproductive biology of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) along the East Coast of the United States

The reproductive biology of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) along the U.S. East Coast is examined from a collection 1437 females sampled from nearshore to the continental slope and from Florida to New York over a period of 3 years (2001–2003). In most years concurrent sampling along the coast was conducted over spring and summer months to resolve the initiation of spawning. We examined the spawning location, pattern and timing, and calculated the fecundity of fish from 600 to 840 mm in length. Based on macro- and microscopic analysis of female gonads, bluefish are multiple spawners with indeterminate fecundity. The presence of all stages of development in fully mature ovaries further indicates that bluefish have asynchronous oocyte development. Mean age at first maturity for female bluefish was 1.90 years and 480 mm total length. Mean batch fecundity was 402,247 eggs and ranged from 114,513 to 920,746 eggs, depending on age and weight. Direct observation of gonads showed imminent spawning in Florida and North Carolina during March to April, and from April to August from Virginia to New York. Given the progression of oocyte development over the range of space and time we sampled, we suggest that bluefish exhibit continuous spawning during their migration from the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) to Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB).     

Simultane Messung der Chlorophyll Fluoreszenz-Kinetik bei verschiedenen Wellenlángen als rasches Verfahren zur Frühdiagnose von Immissionsbelastungen an Waldbäumen: Ozoneinwirkungen auf Buchen und Pappeln

Simultaneous measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence-kinetics at two different wavelengths as a rapid and an early detection method of air pollution damage on trees: Ozone effects on beech and poplar . A newly defined light adaption index A_P shows the stress influence already before the comparable and known vitality index R_fd and the appearance of visible ozone symptoms on foliage.     

Mortality Rates and Associated Factors in Equine Colic Operations — A Retrospective Study of 341 Operations

A retrospective survey of 300 surgical treatments for colic involving 341 interventions was carried out to determine mortality rates and associated factors. These horses had been referred to the Ontario Veterinary College over the period September 1974 to February 1980. Data from the case records was collected and stored on a computer and statistical analysis was carried out using X² tests.

Fifty percent (150/300) of the horses survived to be discharged from the hospital. Fifty-two horses were euthanized during the operation and another ten horses should have been; if these cases are excluded the overall survival rate is 64.7% (150/232). A wide range of breeds were involved but the breed did not significantly affect survival. There was a significantly greater occurrence of serious colic in the two week to two month and one to two year age groups and significantly less in the two to four year age groups when compared with the total number of horses admitted over the same period. There was an even distribution of male and female horses but males showed a significantly lower mortality rate (57% of the males survived compared with 43% of the females). The size of the animal did not affect survival significantly. There was no seasonal variation when compared with the total number of equine patients.

Survival was significantly influenced by the lesion, the preoperative packed cell volume and total plasma protein and by the length of the surgical procedure.

     

Landscape capability models as a tool to predict fine-scale forest bird occupancy and abundance

Context

Species-specific models of landscape capability (LC) can inform landscape conservation design. Landscape capability is “the ability of the landscape to provide the environment […] and the local resources […] needed for survival and reproduction […] in sufficient quantity, quality and accessibility to meet the life history requirements of individuals and local populations.” Landscape capability incorporates species’ life histories, ecologies, and distributions to model habitat for current and future landscapes and climates as a proactive strategy for conservation planning.

Objectives

We tested the ability of a set of LC models to explain variation in point occupancy and abundance for seven bird species representative of spruce-fir, mixed conifer-hardwood, and riparian and wooded wetland macrohabitats.

Methods

We compiled point count data sets used for biological inventory, species monitoring, and field studies across the northeastern United States to create an independent validation data set. Our validation explicitly accounted for underestimation in validation data using joint distance and time removal sampling.

Results

Blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata), wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), and Louisiana (Parkesia motacilla) and northern waterthrush (P. noveboracensis) models were validated as predicting variation in abundance, although this varied from not biologically meaningful (1%) to strongly meaningful (59%). We verified all seven species models [including ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), blackburnian (Setophaga fusca) and cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea)], as all were positively related to occupancy data.

Conclusions

LC models represent a useful tool for conservation planning owing to their predictive ability over a regional extent. As improved remote-sensed data become available, LC layers are updated, which will improve predictions.