Horizontal and vertical movements of juvenile bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in relation to seasons and oceanographic conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Electronically tagged juvenile Pacific bluefin, Thunnus orientalis, were released off Baja California in the summer of 2002. Time‐series data were analyzed for 18 fish that provided a record of 380 ± 120 days (mean ± SD) of ambient water and peritoneal cavity temperatures at 120 s intervals. Geolocations of tagged fish were estimated based on light‐based longitude and sea surface temperature‐based latitude algorithms. The horizontal and vertical movement patterns of Pacific bluefin were examined in relation to oceanographic conditions and the occurrence of feeding events inferred from thermal fluctuations in the peritoneal cavity. In summer, fish were located primarily in the Southern California Bight and over the continental shelf of Baja California, where juvenile Pacific bluefin use the top of the water column, undertaking occasional, brief forays to depths below the thermocline. In autumn, bluefin migrated north to the waters off the Central California coast when thermal fronts form as the result of weakened equatorward wind stress. An examination of ambient and peritoneal temperatures revealed that bluefin tuna fed during this period along the frontal boundaries. In mid‐winter, the bluefin returned to the Southern California Bight possibly because of strong downwelling and depletion of prey species off the Central California waters. The elevation of the mean peritoneal cavity temperature above the mean ambient water temperature increased as ambient water temperature decreased. The ability of juvenile bluefin tuna to maintain a thermal excess of 10°C occurred at ambient temperatures of 11–14°C when the fish were off the Central California coast. This suggests that the bluefin maintain peritoneal temperature by increasing heat conservation and possibly by increasing internal heat production when in cooler waters. For all of the Pacific bluefin tuna, there was a significant correlation between their mean nighttime depth and the visible disk area of the moon.     

The Effect of Epidural and General Anesthesia on the Healing of Colonic Anastomoses

Colonic anastomoses were performed on two groups of 13 dogs each. Epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia were performed in one group and general anesthesia only in the other. Intraoperatively, the epidural-general anesthesia dogs tended to bleed less, making the anastomosis less difficult. Histologic comparisons showed healing to be more advanced in the epidural-general anesthesia dogs compared to the general anesthesia dogs 24 hours and 7 days postoperatively. Differences were not noticed 14 and 28 days postoperatively. Bursting pressures were determined 24 hours after surgery. Differences between the groups were not noticed. Leakage occurred at 72% of the pressure determined to cause leakage in normal colons.     

Pemphigus Vulgaris Lacking Mucosal Involvement in a German Shepherd Dog: Possible Response to Heparin Therapy

Abstract— An 8 year old intact female German shepherd dog was presented with well demarcated symmetric facial erosions, ulcerations and crusting. Systemic illness was absent, and oral involvement occurred only late in the course of the disease. Skin biopsy specimens revealed suprabasal acantholysis primarily involving hair follicles and direct immunofluorescent testing showed intercellular deposition of IgG in the epidermis compatible with a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris. The clinical signs in this dog were not adequately controlled by immune suppression. Therapy with heparin alone, or combined with prednisolone, appeared to induce a transient remission. Résumé— Une femelle Berger Allemand de 8 ans a été présentée pour des lésions faciales bien circonscrites de la face: érosions, ulcères et croutes. 11 n'y avait pas d'atteinte de l'état general et l'atteinte buccale n'est apparue qu'en fin d'évolution. L'examen de biopsies cutanées a révélé la presence d'une acantholyse suprabasale atteignant primitivement les follicules pileux et l'immunofluorescence directe un dépöt intercellulaire d'IgG au niveau de l'épiderme, compatibles avec un diagnostic de pemphigus vulgaire. Les symptómes n'ont pas pu être controlés avec une thérapeutique immunosuppressive. Un traitement à base d'héparine seule, ou associée à la prednisone, a permis d'obtenir une rémission transitoire. Zusammenfassung— Eine 8 Jahre alte, unkastrierte Deutsche Schäferhündin wurde mit gut abgegrenzten symmetrischen Erosionen, Ulzera und Verkrustungen im Gesichtsbereich vorgestellt. Systemische Krankheitssymptome fehlten, Veränderungen im Mundhöhlenbereich traten nur spat im Krankheitsverlauf auf. Hautbiopsieproacn zeigten eine suprabasale Akantholyse, die hauptsächlich die Haarfollikel betraf, die direktc immunfluoreszenzuntersuchung ergab cine interzelluläre Ablagerung von IgG in der Epidermis: Befunde, die mit der Diagnose Pemphigus vulgaris überenstimmen. Die klinischen Symptome bei diesem Hund konnten durch immunsuppression nicht adaquat kontrolliert werden. Eine Behandlung ausschlicßlich mit Heparin oder Heparin in Kombination mit Prednisolon schien eine vorübergchende Abheilung zu induzieren. Resumen Una hembra intacta pastor alemán de 8 años fué presentada con una erosión facial simétrica, úlceras y costras. El animal no sufría enfermedad sistémica y las lesiones orales ocurieron en el curso tardío de la enfermedad. La biopsia de la piel reveló acantolisis suprabasal localizada fundamentalmente en los folículos pilosos, y un test de inmunofluorescencia directa demonstró deposición intercelular de Tg G en la epidermis, compatible con la diagnosis de Pemphigus vulgaris. El cuadro clínico de este animal no se controló por medio de terapia inmunosupresiva. El tratamiento con heparina sola, o combinada con prednisolona produjo una remisión transitoria.     

POTENTIAL FOR INTENSITY-MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY TO PERMIT DOSE ESCALATION FOR CANINE NASAL CANCER

We evaluated the impact of inverse planned intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) and on the normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs) of brain and eyes in dogs with nasal tumors. Nine dogs with large, caudally located nasal tumors were planned using conventional techniques and inverse planned IMRT for a total prescribed dose of 52.5 Gy in 3.5 Gy fractions. The equivalent uniform dose for brain and eyes was calculated to estimate the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of these organs. The NTCP values as well as the DVHs were used to compare the treatment plans. The dose distribution in IMRT plans was more conformal than in conventional plans. The average dose delivered to one-third of the brain was 10 Gy lower with the IMRT plan compared with conventional planning. The mean partial brain volume receiving 43.6 Gy or more was reduced by 25.6% with IMRT. As a consequence, the NTCPs were also significantly lower in the IMRT plans. The mean NTCP of brain was two times lower and at least one eye could be saved in all patients planed with IMRT. Another possibility with IMRT is dose escalation in the target to improve tumor control while keeping the NTCPs at the same level as for conventional planning. Veterinary     

The effects of formalin, malachite green and suspended solids on the respiratory activity of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. The influence of formalin and malachite green on ventilation rate, cough rate and oxygen consumption rate of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, was investigated. The effect of suspended silt on these parameters is also described. In all cases ventilation rate increased by up to 60%. Cough rate increased more dramatically by up to 300%. Some acclimation to the various treatments was observed. Rates of oxygen consumption increased markedly in all cases but particularly when the fish were exposed to silt, when an increase of 500 to 700% was noted. These data emphasize the need for stress-free husbandry when using prophylactics or disease treatments and demonstrate the high oxygen demand of fish in these conditions.