A retrospective study of (90)Strontium plesiotherapy for feline squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum

The responses of 15 cats with histologically (n=14) or cytologically (n=1) confirmed nasal squamous cell carcinoma treated with (90)Strontium plesiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Cats were treated such that a total dose of 50Gy was delivered at a depth of 2mm, administered in five fractions over a 10-day period. Of the cats, 11 were stage T(2), three were T(is) and one had only a cytological diagnosis precluding staging. Eleven of the cats achieved complete response (no visible lesion after 6-8 weeks) following the first cycle of therapy, and two cats with partial response achieved complete response with a second cycle of therapy. The remaining two cats achieved partial response following therapy, but further intervention was declined. Euthanasia was performed in these two cats because of progressive disease after 81 and 142 days. Of the 85% of cats that achieved a complete response, there was no recurrence of disease during a follow-up period of 134-2,043 days (median 652 days). In addition to prolonged disease-free survivals, (90)Strontium therapy produced excellent cosmetic results from the owners' perspective. These results demonstrate that superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the feline nasal planum responds excellently to (90)Strontium plesiotherapy, and this form of therapy may offer advantages over other alternatives currently available.     

Phosphorus in cold-water corals as a proxy for seawater nutrient chemistry

Phosphorus is a key macronutrient being strongly enriched in the deep ocean as a result of continuous export and remineralization of biomass from primary production. We show that phosphorus incorporated within the skeletons of the cosmopolitan cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus is directly proportional to the ambient seawater phosphorus concentration and thus may serve as a paleo-oceanographic proxy for variations in ocean productivity as well as changes in the residence times and sources of deep-water masses. The application of this tool to fossil specimens from the Mediterranean reveals phosphorus-enriched bottom waters at the end of the Younger Dryas period.     

Does Use of a Jig Influence the Precision of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy Surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the precision of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery when performed with or without a jig. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadaveric, adult greyhound hindlimbs (n=9 pair). METHODS: TPLO (n=18) was performed on each limb pair; 1 with and 1 without use of a jig. Measurements taken from pre- and postsurgical radiographs were osteotomy position, tibial plateau angle (TPA), varus-valgus malalignment, and tibial torsion. The null hypothesis was that TPLO precision was not affected by use of a jig. Student's t-test was used to investigate differences in TPA, osteotomy location, and frequency and extent of iatrogenic limb malalignment; P<.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in postsurgical TPA, tibial crest thickness, varus-valgus malalignment, or tibial torsion between TPLOs performed with or without a jig. Osteotomy location was significantly more distal when a jig was used (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Jig use did not improve the precision of TPLO surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Performing TPLO without a jig should reduce surgery time, eliminate complications related to placement of the distal jig pin and allow unhindered positioning of the osteotomy.     

An evaluation of radiography in studies of gastric evacuation in African catfish fingerlings

Groups of 3–4 g African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822; Family: Clariidae) were offered feeds of two types in three combinations: feed with a radio-opaque marker (Ballotini, 0.16–0.25 mm), feed without marker and a 50:50 mixture of marked and unmarked feeds. Stomach contents were estimated by X-radiography and gastrectomy just after meal termination and at different time intervals (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40 and 48 h). There were no significant differences among treatment groups confirming that there was no effect of the marker on feed preference and evacuation rate. Estimations of gastric evacuation rate calculated from gastrectomy and by X-ray sampling were not significantly different. Therefore, gastric evacuation rate of African catfish can be accurately estimated by feeding marked feed and then using X-radiography to monitor feed passage through the gut. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998