Unilateral Seminoma in a Dromedary Camel

A 10‐year‐old, clinically healthy, male dromedary camel had presented a history of progressive unilateral testicular enlargement over the past 5 years. The animal had mated with 32 females during that period; all had conceived. The sex ratio of his offspring was one male to 31 females. Ultrasound examination of the right testicle revealed a diffusely heterogeneous parenchyma with no identifiable normal testicular tissue. The enlarged testicle was surgically removed. Macroscopically, the testicle had a glistening pink surface and contained multiple soft, bulging nodules. Histopathologically, a well‐differentiated, diffuse seminoma was diagnosed. In conclusion, this study describes the fertility, sex ratio, clinical findings and ultrasonographic imaging in a male dromedary camel affected with unilateral testicular seminoma.     

High-power directional emission from microlasers with chaotic resonators

High-power and highly directional semiconductor microcylinder lasers based on an optical resonator with deformed cross section are reported. In the favorable directions of the far-field, a power increase of up to three orders of magnitude over the conventional circularly symmetric lasers was obtained. A "bow-tie"-shaped resonance is responsible for the improved performance of the lasers in the higher range of deformations, in contrast to "whispering-gallery"-type modes of circular and weakly deformed lasers. This resonator design, although demonstrated here in midinfrared quantum-cascade lasers, should be applicable to any laser based on semiconductors or other high-refractive index materials.     

Modulation of nociceptive withdrawal reflexes evoked by single and repeated nociceptive stimuli in conscious dogs by low-dose acepromazine

ObjectivesTo investigate the modulation of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) and temporal summation (TS) by low‐dose acepromazine (ACP) in conscious dogs. To assess the short‐ and long‐term stability of the reflex thresholds.Study designRandomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled cross‐over experimental study.AnimalsEight adult male Beagles.MethodsThe NWR was elicited using single transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Repeated stimuli (10 pulses, 5 Hz) were applied to evoke TS. The responses of the deltoideus muscle were recorded and quantified by surface electromyography and the behavioural reactions were scored. Each dog received 0.01 mg kg^?1 ACP or an equal volume saline intravenously (IV) at 1 week intervals. Measurements were performed before (baseline) and 20, 60 and 100 minutes after drug administration. Sedation was scored before drug administration and then at 10 minutes intervals. Data were analyzed with Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks and Wilcoxon signed rank tests.ResultsAcepromazine resulted in a mild tranquilization becoming obvious at 20 minutes and peaking 30 minutes after injection. Single (I_t) and repeated stimuli (TS_t) threshold intensities, NWR and TS characteristics and behavioural responses were not affected by the ACP at any time point. Both I_t and TS_t were stable over time.Conclusions and clinical relevanceIn dogs, 0.01 mg kg^?1 ACP IV had no modulatory action on the NWR evoked by single or repeated stimuli, suggesting no antinociceptive activity on phasic nociceptive stimuli. The evidence of the stability of the NWR thresholds supports the use of the model as an objective tool to investigate nociception in conscious dogs. A low dose of ACP administered as the sole drug, can be used to facilitate the recordings in anxious subjects without altering the validity of this model.     

Thoracolumbar disc extrusion associated with extensive epidural haemorrhage: a retrospective study of 23 dogs

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features and outcome in dogs suffering from thoracolumbar disc extrusion associated with extensive epidural haemorrhage (DEEH) and treated with extensive hemilaminectomy (from three to seven vertebrae). METHODS: The records of 23 dogs with surgically confirmed DEEH were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: All cases were characterised by rapid progression to severe neurological dysfunction (grade III, V and VI). Myelography was performed in 21 cases and showed an absence (16 cases) or attenuation (five cases) of contrast medium column along three to seven vertebrae. In two dogs, magnetic resonance imaging was accurate in confirming extradural compression due to disc material and haemorrhage, determining the extent of compression and side of the lesion. All cases were treated surgically with extensive hemilaminectomy involving all the compressed spinal segments. Twenty-one dogs (91 per cent) recovered and regained ambulatory function. Two dogs, without deep pain perception before surgery, did not improve. A two-year follow-up history was available for 15 dogs. Disc extrusion recurred in two dogs (9 per cent), two and 20 months after surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Extensive hemilaminectomy can adequately decompress the spinal cord after DEEH and may produce a recovery and recurrence rate similar to thoracolumbar disc extrusion not complicated by extensive epidural haemorrhage.     

Cover Image,Volume 14, Issue 2

The cover image, by Riccardo Finotello et al., is based on the Original Article Canine pancreatic islet cell tumours secreting insulin‐like growth factor type 2 (IGF‐II): a rare entity, DOI: 10.1111/vco.12085 .

     

Relationship between interannual variation of amino acid profile and pollen content in honey from a small Argentinian region

With the objective of evaluating the utility of the amino acid profile in the characterization of honey samples, 39 honey samples of two different harvests from a particular production zone in Córdoba, Argentina, were analyzed. Multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), were applied to verify the correlation among the amino acid profiles, pollen percentages, and different harvests. PCA, CA, and MCA demonstrate the presence of differences of amino acid profiles between samples of the two harvests, such differences being mainly due to differences in pollen availability. Variation of the flora surrounding the apiary due to agricultural practices makes the analysis of amino acid profile typical for those cases with stabilized flora.     

Development of a competitive ELISA for the evaluation of sunflower pollen in honey samples

We report the development of a rapid, specific, and sensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for the evaluation of sunflower pollen in honey as a method alternative to melissopalynology, which is considered the standard technique for the evaluation of floral origin of honey. Two 33-36 kDa proteins, identified as characteristic of sunflower pollen, were isolated and used as coating antigens in the competitive ELISA. We verified its analytical performance by evaluating reproducibility, specificity, and exactitude in relation to melissopalynology. The competitive ELISA developed during this work is able to quantify sunflower pollen in honey, with a detection limit of 10%, showing linear response between 10 and 90%. The method afforded low cross reactivity with honey from other floral origin, thus evidencing an adequate selectivity. We also observed a significant correlation (r = 0.975; p < 0.001) when the proposed ELISA was referenced to melissopalynology. Hence, we conclude that the competitive ELISA constitutes a valuable and feasible alternative for authentication of sunflower honey. This work opens the possibility to develop similar assays for other pollen types.     

Metallothionein Induction in the Sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu) (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

We investigated metallothionein (MT) induction in the talitrid amphipod Talitrus saltator, a well-established biomonitor of trace metal contamination in the supralittoral environment, in response to laboratory exposure to Hg, Cd, or Cu for 3, 6, 24, and 48 h. Analyses were also carried out on animals collected in the wild from six localities along the Tuscan coast with different degrees of trace metal contamination. Animals exposed to Hg in the laboratory showed a strong dose-dependent increase of MT levels after 3 and 6 h; in the following hours (24 and 48 h), the MT concentrations reached control levels, possibly due to a general toxic effect of Hg. For the other metals, MT induction was observed in animals exposed to 10 ppm of Cd and 5 and 10 ppm of Cu. Therefore, despite the positive correlation between MT concentrations and trace metals in sandhoppers collected in the wild, the fast MT response observed in the laboratory suggests an inappropriate use of MT as biomarkers to assess trace metal pollution in coastal areas.