Metastatic Osteolytic Angioleiomyosarcoma Induced by a Foreign Body in a Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

An adult female Eastern Grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) was examined for lameness due to a mass located at the right tibiotarsal joint. Radiographs revealed a metal arrowhead‐shaped foreign body within the mass alongside a pathologic fracture. Grossly, at necropsy, there was a multilobulated and haemorrhagic mass with intralesional metal fragments, associated osteolysis of the tibiotarsus and pulmonary metastatic nodules. Histologically the neoplasm was composed of plump elongated and fusiform cells that often formed concentrically around small vessels. The pulmonary nodules were composed of similar neoplastic cells, necrosis and haemorrhage. Neoplastic cells were positive immunohistochemically for vimentin and smooth muscle actin. The histological features, immunohistochemical profiles and behaviour of this tumour support a diagnosis of a primary angioleiomyosarcoma with lung metastasis associated with a metal foreign body.     

Extraction of cheek teeth using a lateral buccotomy approach in 114 horses (1999-2009)

Reason for performing the study: There are few published data regarding the success rates of cheek tooth (CT) removal by lateral buccotomy in the horse. Objectives: A retrospective study of 114 horses admitted to 2 private equine referral hospitals over a 10 year period (1999–2009), which underwent CT removal via a lateral buccotomy. Methods: Hospital records were analysed and details including case details, presenting complaint and results of all diagnostic tests and surgical reports were documented. Information obtained during post operative reassessment was also available for analysis. Long‐term follow‐up information (>2 months) was obtained for 112 horses. Results: Short‐term complications (<2 months) occurred in 24/77 horses (31%) undergoing exodontia of the maxillary CT and 10/37 horses (27%) involving mandibular CT, with the majority arising from partial wound dehiscence and infection following 16 extractions (47%). All healed well by second intention. Other complications included both temporary (n = 6) and permanent (n = 3) facial nerve paralysis, myositis (n = 4) and the inadvertent establishment of an oroantral fistula (n = 4). One myositis case was subjected to euthanasia 24 h post operatively. Five horses had persistent sinusitis following surgery due to dental remnants (n = 2) and excessive packing material (n = 1) found in the sinuses. No inciting cause could be found in the remaining 2 horses. One further horse suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at induction of anaesthesia. Of all horses, 92% operated on had returned to their previous level of work after >2 months with no complications. Conclusion: Horses with CT removal by a lateral buccotomy have a reasonable prognosis for long‐term outcome. Potential relevance: Performing a lateral buccotomy is a justified treatment alternative for the surgical removal of equine CT following unsuccessful attempts by standing oral extraction, offering advantages over alternatives such as retropulsion, endodontic therapy and periapical curettage.     

Assessment of the potential of dogs and cats as urban reservoirs of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses

Objective To determine whether dogs and cats are potential reservoirs of Ross River (RR) and Barmah Forest (BF) viruses
Method Young seronegative female dogs and cats were experimentally exposed to the viruses using Ochlerotatus vigilax (Skuse) mosquitoes.
Results Only one of the 10 dogs and one of the 10 cats exposed to RR developed neutralising antibody. None of the animals developed detectable viraemia or clinical signs. One dog and three cats exposed to BF developed neutralising antibody. In addition, a serological survey of sera obtained from domestic dogs and cats residing in the Brisbane region indicated that 23.7% and 1.3% of dogs, and 14% and 2% of cats, had neutralising antibodies to RR and BF respectively.
Conclusions Although dogs and cats are exposed naturally to these viruses, and can become infected, they are unlikely to be important urban reservoirs of either virus.     

Desflurane vapor pressure depression

Due to its high vapor pressure and low boiling point, desflurane requires a specially designed, electronically controlled, temperature and pressure compensated vaporizer to regulate agent delivery to the anesthetic circuit. However, if the vapor pressure and boiling point were decreased, desflurane could be used in any conventional variable bypass vaporizer. Raoult's Law states that the vapor pressure of a liquid is proportional to its molar fraction in a solution. Accordingly, propylene glycol was used as a solvent for desflurane, and the physical characteristics of this mixture were evaluated at various molar concentrations and temperatures. Desflurane boiling point increased and vapor pressure decreased as a nonlinear function of dilution, but these changes were less than predicted by Raoult's Law. Using a circle system with a breathing bag attached at the patient end and a mechanical ventilator to simulate respiration, an in‐circuit, nonprecision vaporizer containing 40% desflurane and 60% propylene glycol achieved a 11.5 ± 1.0% (mean ± SD) circuit desflurane concentration with a 5.2 ± 0.4 (0 = off, 10 = maximum) vaporizer setting. This experiment was repeated with a dog attached to the breathing circuit under spontaneous ventilation with a fresh gas flow of 0.5 L min^–1. Anesthesia was maintained for over two hours at a mean vaporizer setting of 6.2 ± 0.4, yielding mean inspired and end‐tidal desflurane concentrations of 8.7 ± 0.5% and 7.9 ± 0.7%, respectively. Within 5 minutes after cessation of anesthesia, the dog was awake, extubated and standing. In clinical practice, propylene glycol may not prove an ideal solvent for desflurane due to its instability in solution and substantial positive deviation from Raoult's Law. However, rather than alter the vaporizer to suit physical properties of anesthetic agents, this study demonstrates that it may also be possible to alter anesthetic agents to suit physical properties of the vaporizer.     

Equatorial X-ray Emissions: Implications for Jupiter's High Exospheric Temperatures

Observations with the High Resolution Imager on the Rontgensatellit reveal x-ray emissions from Jupiter's equatorial latitudes. The observed emissions probably result from the precipitation of energetic (>300 kiloelectron volts per atomic mass unit) sulfur and oxygen ions out of Jupiter's inner radiation belt. Model calculations of the energy deposition by such heavy ion precipitation and of the resulting atmospheric heating rates indicate that this energy source can contribute to the high exospheric temperatures(>800 kelvin at 0.01 microbar) measured by the Galileo probe's Atmospheric Structure Instrument. Low-latitude energetic particle precipitation must therefore be considered, in addition to other proposed mechanisms such as gravity waves and soft electron precipitation, as an important source of heat for Jupiter's thermosphere.     

Large-Scale Synthesis of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes

Large-scale synthesis of aligned carbon nanotubes was achieved by using a method based on chemical vapor deposition catalyzed by iron nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous silica. Scanning electron microscope images show that the nanotubes are approximately perpendicular to the surface of the silica and form an aligned array of isolated tubes with spacings between the tubes of about 100 nanometers. The tubes are up to about 50 micrometers long and well graphitized. The growth direction of the nanotubes may be controlled by the pores from which the nanotubes grow.     

Isolation of Mycoplasma synoviae from infectious synovitis of chickens

This report describes the first isolations of Mycoplasma synoviae from the synovial sheaths and joints of commercial chickens affected with synovitis in Australia. Over 4 years 3 separate outbreaks were investigated in which up to 20% of birds exhibited clinical signs of poor growth and "hot foot" syndrome (swollen inflamed footpads). Once an outbreak occurred, chronic infection of the farm usually ensued. Grossly the hocks and footpads were swollen by a purulent exudate and associated inflammatory changes with histological features of a severe acute synovitis. Seroconversion of the flocks occurred at the time of the development of lesions. M. synoviae specific antibodies were demonstrated by ELISA in the joint fluid of affected birds. It is concluded that the cases described are similar to avian infectious synovitis syndrome caused by M. synoviae previously described overseas.     

Impact of alkaline particulates on pH of rain water in India

Rain water samples were collected over a period of a decade from 1974 in Pune, a city which is relatively free from industrial pollution. They were also collected at 4 places during 1974 in the region of Bombay which is highly industrialized. The samples were analyzed for major chemical components and pH. The ionic balance was computed. Samples were collected at Delhi during 1965 and 1966 and were analyzed for pH. The values were compared with those reported for 1978. The total suspended particulates (TSP) were measured at Delhi during 1980 and analyzed for water soluble components. The rain water at all the places except near the industrial source was not acidic and was characterized by the presence of excess cations, particularly Ca. The acid rain near the industrial source was associated with excess anions, especially sulphate. The difference between the cations and anions was inversely proportional to the H⁺ ion concentration. The pH of rain water at Delhi which was in the alkaline range during 1965 and 1966 remained alkaline even after a period of 12 yr when the city developed industrially. The TSP in the region was rich with the basic components, mainly Ca, suggesting that the alkaline property of the soil dust is mainly responsible for neutralizing the acidic effects resulting from the anthropogenic gaseous pollutants.     

Inhalant anesthetic requirement in cats is animal-dependent

Minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of an inhalant is an indicator of its anesthetic potency. Individuals vary in their sensitivity to anesthetic agents as demonstrated by different individual MAC values. We hypothesized that individual animal sensitivity would be maintained with different inhalant anesthetics. As part of separate studies, six female DSH cats, aged 24 ± 2.5 (mean ± SD) months and weighing 3.5 ± 0.3 kg, were studied similarly on three separate occasions over a 12‐month period to determine the MAC of isoflurane (ISO), sevoflurane (SEVO), and desflurane (DES), respectively. In each study, chamber induction was followed by orotracheal intubation, and anesthesia was maintained via a nonrebreathing circuit. ECG, pulse oximetry, Doppler systolic blood pressure, end‐tidal gases, and esophageal temperature were monitored. End‐tidal gases were hand‐sampled from a catheter whose tip lay level with the distal end of the ET tube. Gases were analyzed by Raman spectrometry and, for each agent, the analyzer was calibrated with at least three gas standards. MAC was determined in triplicate using standard tail‐clamp technique. Data were analyzed by two‐way anova followed by Tukey's test and significant differences were found. Average MACs (%) for ISO, SEVO, and DES were 1.90 ± 0.18, 3.41 ± 0.65, and 10.27 ± 1.06, respectively. Body temperatures, Doppler systolic blood pressure, and SpO₂ were recorded at the time of MAC determinations for ISO, SEVO, and DES were 38.3 ± 0.3, 38.6 ± 0.1, 38.3 ± 0.35 °C; 71 ± 8, 75 ± 16, 88 ± 12 mm Hg; 99 ± 1, 99 ± 1, 99 ± 1%, respectively. Both the anesthetic agent and the individual cat had significant effects on MAC (p = 0.0001 and 0.0185, respectively). MAC varied between individuals and cats were consistent in their order of sensitivity to inhalant anesthetics across the three agents. Within this group of cats, the relationship of individual MAC to the group MAC for each of the three inhalant agents was maintained. This suggests that any individual may be consistently more or less sensitive to a variety of inhalant agents.