Arthroscopic surgical approach and intra-articular anatomy of the equine suprapatellar pouch

Objective— To describe a direct arthroscopic approach to the suprapatellar pouch (SPP), its intra-articular anatomy, and report our clinical experience with SPP arthroscopy.
Study Design— (1) Experimental study and (2) retrospective clinical study.
Animals— (1) Cadaveric equine hind limbs (n=24; 14 horses) and (2) 5 horses.
Methods— Four femoropatellar joints (FPJ) were dissected or injected with latex to document surface landmarks and topographic anatomy. (1) Arthroscopic exploration of 20 SPP (10 equine cadavers) was performed and described, followed by dissection. (2) Medical records of horses that had FPJ arthroscopy were reviewed for cases where SPP portals were required.
Results— (1) The optimal arthroscopic portal was located ∼10 cm lateral to the longitudinal patellar axis and 2 cm proximal to the patellar base in the intermuscular septum between the biceps femoris and vastus lateralis muscles. This approach allowed arthroscopic observation of the proximal aspect of the lateral and medial femoral trochlear ridges, the intertrochlear groove, the patellar base, and the synovial recess of the SPP. (2) Additional arthroscopic and instrument suprapatellar portals were used in 5 of 25 horses to complete lavage/debridement in osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and septic arthritis.
Conclusion— Suprapatellar arthroscopy improved arthroscopic observation of structures located proximally in the FPJ and facilitated surgical access to the SPP.
Clinical Relevance— SPP arthroscopy is a safe and complementary approach to traditional distal FPJ arthroscopy that could be helpful for inspection and removal of free fragments/debris/fibrin located in the SPP, for OCD lesions extending proximally, and fracture(s) involving the proximal aspect of the patella.     

Effects of buprenorphine, carprofen and saline on thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds in cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a prototype pressure stimulus device for use in the cat and to compare with a known thermal threshold device. ANIMALS: Eight healthy adult cats weighing between 3.0 and 4.9 kg. METHODS: Pressure stimulation was given via a plastic bracelet taped around the forearm. Three 2.4 mm diameter ball bearings, in a 10-mm triangle, were advanced against the craniolateral surface of the antebrachium by manual inflation of a modified blood pressure bladder. Pressure in the cuff was recorded at the end point (leg shake and head turn). Thermal threshold was also tested. Stimuli were stopped if they reached 55 degrees C or 450 mmHg without response. After four pressure and thermal threshold baselines, each cat received SC buprenorphine 0.01 mg kg(-1), carprofen 4 mg kg(-1) or saline 0.3 mL in a three period cross-over study with a 1-week interval. The investigator was blinded to the treatment. Measurements were made at 0.25. 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after injection. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in thermal or pressure threshold after administration of saline or carprofen, but thermal threshold increased from 60 minutes until 8 hours after administration of buprenorphine (p < 0.05). The maximum increase in threshold from baseline (DeltaT(max)) was 3.5 +/- 3.1 degrees C at 2 hours. Pressure threshold increased 2 hours after administration of buprenorphine (p < 0.05) when the increase in threshold above baseline (DeltaP(max)) was 162 +/- 189 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This pressure device resulted in thresholds that were affected by analgesic treatment in a similar manner but to a lesser degree than the thermal method. Pressure stimulation may be a useful additional method for analgesic studies in cats.     

In vitro algaecide effect of sodium hypochlorite and iodine based antiseptics on Prototheca zopfii strains isolated from bovine milk

Prototheca zopfii has been considered one of the most important causes of environmental mastitis in Brazil. These algae are refractory to conventional therapy and cause great damage to the mammary gland. The present study evaluated the in vitro algaecide effect of sodium hypochlorite and iodine based antiseptics on 27 P. zopfii strains isolated from the milk of cattle. Low concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (0.0390625-0.15625%) and iodine (0.15625-0.625%) were effective against the isolates. These antiseptics may be recommended for hygiene routines, pre and postdipping and cauterization of bovine mammary glands infected by P. zopfii.     

Antihyperlipidemic effect of Casearia sylvestris methanolic extract

Casearia sylvestris methanolic extract (MCE) was screened at doses of 125–500 mg/kg for its antihyperlipidemic activity. The antihyperlipidemic effect was evaluated in olive oil-loaded mice. Acute treatment caused inhibition in the triglyceride (TG) and serum lipase elevation-induced by 5 ml/kg of olive oil.     

How much carbon can the Siberian boreal taiga store: a case study of partitioning among the above-ground and soil pools

In the context of global carbon cycle management, accurate knowledge of carbon content in forests is a relevant issue in contemporary forest ecology. We measured the above-ground and soil carbon pools in the darkconiferous boreal taiga. We compared measured carbon pools to those calculated from the forest inventory records containing volume stock and species composition data. The inventory data heavily underestimated the pools in the study area(Stolby State Nature Reserve, central Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russian Federation). The carbon pool estimated from the forest inventory data varied from 25(t ha-1)(low-density stands) to 73(t ha-1)(highly stocked stands). Our estimates ranged from 59(t ha-1)(lowdensity stands) to 147(t ha-1)(highly stocked stands). Our values included living trees, standing deadwood, living cover, brushwood and litter. We found that the proportion of biomass carbon(living trees): soil carbon varied from99:1 to 8:2 for fully stocked and low-density forest stands,respectively. This contradicts the common understanding that the biomass in the boreal forests represents only16–20 % of the total carbon pool, with the balance being the soil carbon pool.     

Porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus (Gammaherpesvirinae) DNA in free-living wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Brazil

BackgroundSuid gammaherpesvirus 3, 4, and 5 (porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus – PLHV-1, -2, and -3) are viruses that infect domestic and feral pigs.ObjectivesThis study examined the presence of PLHV DNA in biological samples from free-living wild boars circulating in a Brazilian geographical region with a high density of commercial domestic pigs.MethodsLung samples of 50 free-living wild boars were collected by exotic wildlife controller agents between 2017 and 2019 in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Lung and spleen fragments were obtained from six fetuses collected by hysterectomy post mortem from a pregnant sow. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using consensus primers (pan-herpesviruses) was performed to detect PLHV DNA. The samples showing positive results for PLHV DNA were submitted to single-round PCR assays with the specific primers for identifying PLHV-1 (213-S/215-As), PLHV-2 (208-S/212-As), and PLHV-3 (886s/886As). The specificity of the species-specific PCR products was assessed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons.ResultsForty-eight (96%) of the 50 lung samples analyzed were positive for PLHV by PCR using pan-herpesvirus primers. In 33 (68.75%) of the positive samples, at least two PLHV species were identified simultaneously. The DNA of PLHV-1, -2, and -3 was found in free-living wild boars of all ages, but not in the fetuses, even though they were from a sow that tested positive for all three viruses.ConclusionThese viruses are endemic to the population of feral pigs in the Brazilian region evaluated, as well as in domesticated pigs.     

Genomic changes in generations of synthetic rapeseed-like allopolyploid grown under selection

Resynthesized Brassica napus L. is an important source for broadening genetic diversity and producing lines with desired characteristics. It is also a fine model to study the processes of genomic reorganizations in recently formed polyploids. We firstly performed molecular cytogenetic characterization of newly resynthesized rapeseed (B. rapa ssp. narinosa × B. oleracea ssp. capitata) and its parental species, and also examined genomic changes in hybrids of the succeeding generations grown under pressure of selection of yellow-seeded progeny. For karyotype studies, FISH/GISH with 45S, 5S rDNA, C genome specific BoB014O06 BAC clone and genomic DNA of parental B. rapa was performed. Synthetic S0–S2 hybrids had common rapeseed karyotypes (2n = 38) including 14 loci of 45S rDNA sites and 10 loci of 5S rDNA. Progeny selection led to gradual deletion of C genome chromosomes in hybrid karyotypes. So, in karyotypes of S6 and S7 hybrids, the chromosome number was reduced to 2n = 20–22, and only chromosomes of A genome bearing 10–13 loci of 45S rDNA and 8–10 loci of 5S rDNA, variations in chromosome number, chromosome rearrangements as well as examples of trisomy and monosomy were revealed. Our findings indicate an enhanced genome instability in resynthesized rapeseed lines developed under the pressure of selection which might lead to chromosome rearrangements or/and deletions and even elimination of the whole parental genome in hybrids in succeeding generations. The approach can be useful for the development of rapeseed lines with trisomy, chromosome addition/substitution lines important for genetics and plant breeding.