THE USE OF DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING TO EVALUATE THE SPINAL CORD IN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL DOGS

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a specialized magnetic resonance sequence to determine the direction of water molecule motion. Our hypothesis was that information derived from DTI will be significantly different in dogs with a spinal cord lesion compared with a normal dog. Eleven normal dogs and six dogs with a spinal cord lesions were imaged. DTI was performed along with standard T1‐ and T2‐weighted sequences in transverse and sagittal planes. Fractional anisotrophy and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were obtained using regions of interests centered on the cranial aspect, middle cranial, middle caudal, and caudal aspects of the spinal cord. In normal dogs, the DTI sequence was characterized by normal fiber tracking with no statistical difference between the four sections of spinal cord (P>0.05). In the dogs with a spinal cord lesion, there was a significant difference in fractional anisotropy between the two groups (P=0.0003) and the ADC analysis statistical significance (P=0.048) at the caudal most site. Based on these findings, DTI is a potentially useful method to evaluate the spinal cord in dogs.     

Labor Market Segmentation in Urumqi,Xinjiang: Exposing Labor Market Segments and Testing the Relationship between Migration and Segmentation

Labor market segmentation and migration are two phenomena that are dramatically reshaping the spatial, economic, and social relationships of many urban cities in both developed and developing countries. To this point, the bulk of Chinese literature falls within the context of area studies, without much effort to link Chinese migration and emerging labor market outcomes to larger global trends and discourse. This research attempts to link the body of internal Chinese migration and emerging labor markets to labor market segmentation theory, primarily developed by urban economists and sociologists. My findings provide evidence that applying labor market segmentation theory to examine emerging markets in China offers fruitful results that help to identify the new urban stratification that exists in China. I employ a set of quantitative methods using employee‐level field data that I collected in Urumqi in 2008 to identify distinct segments within Urumqi's labor market and argue that migration is a major driver of labor market segmentation. Cluster analysis shows Uyghur minorities and women are found to be overwhelmingly concentrated in the lower sector, composed mostly of “bad” jobs. Discriminant analysis reveals that migrant status and ethnicity are the most important variables that deepen the gap among the labor market segments. The social inequality created as a result of market segmentation can partially explain Uyghur discontent in the region and the July 2009 riots, one of the worst riots in Xinjiang's modern history.     

Feline urticaria pigmentosa in three related Sphinx cats

Abstract A pruritic maculopapular eruption with clinical and histological features similar to urticaria pigmentosa of humans is reported in three related Sphinx cats. All cats shared the same grandsire, had a juvenile onset of disease, and demonstrated similar historical, clinical and histological findings. Physical examination revealed widespread bilaterally symmetrical, erythematous, partially coalescing, crusted macules and papules on the trunk, limbs, neck and head. A few macules exhibited a dark brown pigmentation. Dermatographism could not be elicited in any of the cats. Histological examination of papules revealed the présence of a perivascular to diffuse dermal and subcutaneous infiltrate of well-differentiated mast cells. In one cat where systemic involvement was pursued, evidence of internal disease was not found. Resumen Se describe en 3 gatos esfinge emparentados una erupción maculopapular pruritica con caracteristicas clinicas e histológicas similares a la urticaria pigmentosa en la especie humana. Todos los gatos compartian el mismo abuelo, desarrollaron la enfermedad en edad juvenil y mostraron hallazgos históricos, clinicos e histológicos similares. El examen fisico mostró pápulas y máculas costrosas, eritematosas, parcialmente unidas, generalizadas, bilaterales y simétricas localizadas en tronco, extremidades, cuello y cabeza. Algunas máculas mostraban una pigmentación marronácea oscura. No pudo provocarse dermatografismo en ninguno de los gatos. El examen histológico de las pápulas mostró la presencia de un infiltrado dérmico y subcutáneo perivascular a difuso compuesto por mastocitos bien diferenciados. No se encontró enfermedad sistémica en un animal en el que se evaluó esta posibilidad. [Vitale, C.B., Ihrke, P.J., Olivry, T., Stannard, A.A. Feline urticaria pigmentosa in three related Sphinx cats. (Urticaria pigmentosa felina en 3 gatos esfinge emparentados.) Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 227–233.] Résumé Les auteurs décrivent chez 3 chats Sphynx apparentés une eruption maculopapuleuse présentant des similitudes cliniques et histologiques avec l'urticaire pigmentaire humaine. Les 3 chats ont le même grandpère, présentent une apparition précoce des symptômes, et, une anamnèse, une clinique et une histologie similaires. L'examen clinique révèle des macules et des papules croûteuses à large distribution bilatérale et symétrique, érythèmateuses, partiellement coalescentes, sur le tronc, les membres, le cou et la tête. Quelques macules montrent une pigmentation brun foncé. La présence d'un dermographisme n'a pu être démontré chez aucun des chats. L'examen histologique des papules révèle la présence d'un infiltrat dermique et sous cutané périvasculaire à diffus de mastocytes bien différenciés. La recherche d'une atteinte systémique chez un des chats n'a pas montré d'atteinte interne. [Vitale, C.B., Ihrke, P.J., Olivry, T., Stannard, A.A. Feline urticaria pigmentosa in three related Sphinx cats. (Urticaire pigmentaire féline chez 3 chats Sphynx apparentés.) Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 227–233.] Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine juckende makulopapuläre Eruption mit klinischen und histologischen Befunden, die der Urticaria pigmentosa des Menschen ähneln, bei drei verwandten Sphinx-Katzen berichtet. Alle Katzen hatten den selben Großvater, zeigten einen Krankheitsbeginn im Jugendalter und wiesen ähnliche Befunde in der Vorgeschichte, Klinik und Histologie auf. Die klinische Untersuchung zeigte weit verteilte, bilateral symmetrische, erythematöse, teilweise koaleszierende verkrustete Maculae und Papeln am Rumpf, Gliedmaßen, Hais und Kopf. Einige maculae wiesen eine dunkelbraune Pigmentierung auf. Dermatographismus konnte bei keiner der Katzen ausgelöst werden. Die histologische Untersuchung der Papeln zeigte die Anwesenheit eines perivaskulären bis diffusen dermalen und subkutanen Infiltrates von gut differenzierten Mastzellen. Bei einer Katze mit systemischen Erscheinungen konnte die Ursache der inneren Erkrankung nicht gefunden werden. [Vitale, C.B., Ihrke, P.J., Olivry, T., Stannard, A.A. Feline urticaria pigmentosa in three related Sphinx cats (Feline Urticaria pigmentosa bei drei verwandten Sphinx-Katzen). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 227–233.]     

ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED CERVICAL CENTESIS TO OBTAIN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN THE STANDING HORSE

Horses with intracranial lesions and severe ataxia are not good anesthesia candidates; however, only one method to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the cervical region in a standing horse has been reported. This method is not performed routinely due to the difficulty for sample acquisition. Our hypothesis is that standing cervical centesis can be performed in horses without complication. Ultrasound‐guided centesis of the CSF between C1 and C2 in 11 clinically normal horses and two horses with neurologic signs were performed. Horses were sedated and ultrasound was used to identify the subarachnoid space and spinal cord between C1 and C2. With ultrasound guidance, a needle was introduced into the dorsal aspect of the subarachnoid space using a lateral approach. Ten milliliters of CSF was obtained and analyzed. Two normal horses in this study had moderate red blood cell contamination in the CSF (940 and 612 RBC/μl). One horse had 11 RBC/μl and the remaining horses had <4 RBC/μl. The total procedure time was approximately 2 min. No reaction was observed and no complications were detected up to 48 h after the procedure. Ultrasound‐guided centesis between C1 and C2 is a rapid procedure that causes minimal to no reaction in standing, sedated horses used in this study. The use of ultrasound to guide a standing C1–2 centesis of the subarachnoid space provides an additional route to obtain CSF for analysis in the equine patient.     

Who killed Porthos? Genetic tracking of a gorilla death

We describe a novel application of “forensic” genetics to study a key demographic event in a population of wild gorillas. We used microsatellite genotyping and non‐invasively collected DNA samples to identify one individual western lowland gorilla as being most likely to have caused the death of another in Lopé National Park, Gabon. Data from relatively few genotypes permitted the identification of female transfer events and the interpretation of individual behavior that was previously impossible using observational methods, thus providing rare behavioral data on an elusive forest‐dwelling species. Importantly, this study highlights the need for future studies of dispersal and local population structuring in forest populations, and more accurate population census methods. Genetic studies focusing on individual identification may play a valuable role in future gorilla conservation efforts.