Angularis oris axial pattern buccal flap for reconstruction of recurrent fistulae of the palate

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of an axial pattern flap based on the angularis oris artery and vein for reconstruction of palate defects. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case report ANIMALS: Two dogs with recurrent oronasal fistulae. METHODS: Oronasal fistulae previously treated by buccal mucosal random pattern flaps that subsequently dehisced were repaired using an angularis oris-based buccal tissue axial pattern flap. This flap was developed by full thickness incision of the cheek tissue, excluding the skin, about the angularis oris vascular pedicle resulting in a vascularized flap covered by oral mucosa on one side. RESULTS: In one dog, the repair was intact and healed 6 months after surgery. In the second dog with a fistula that resulted because of radiation necrosis, approximately 95% of the defect healed with a small (<1.0 cm(2)) area of dehiscence. Repair of this persistent fistula with a random pattern buccal flap failed and this small fistula remained with minimal clinical signs. CONCLUSION: An axial pattern flap based on the angularis oris artery and vein can be used to repair difficult or recurrent palate defects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Angularis oris axial pattern flaps provide an additional effective option for repair of defects in the hard and soft palate to the distal gingival margin of the canine tooth or beyond, depending on skull conformation. Advantages of this flap include its highly vascular and robust character, high degree of mobility and a surface of tough buccal mucosa.     

Evaluation of PCR to detect Theileria parva in field-collected tick and bovine samples in Tanzania

The ability of PCR to detect infections of Theileria parva, the cause of East Coast Fever, in field-collected tick and bovine samples from Tanzania was evaluated. PCR-detected infection prevalence was high (15/20, 75%) in unfed adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks that fed as nymphs on an acutely-infected calf, but low (22/836, 2.6%) in unfed adult R. appendiculatus collected from field sites in Tanzania. Tick infection prevalence was comparable to that in previous studies that used salivary gland staining to detect T. parva infection in field-collected host-seeking ticks. Of 282 naturally-exposed zebu calves, seven had PCR-positive buffy coat samples prior to detection of Theileria spp. parasites in stained buffy coat cells or lymph node biopsies. Evidence of Theileria spp. infections was detected in stained smears of lymph node biopsies from 109 calves (38.6%) and buffy coat samples from 81 (28.7%), while buffy coat samples from 66 (23.4%) were PCR-positive for T. parva. Implications of these findings for the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR are discussed.     

Fibrocartilaginous emboli in a tayra (Eira barbara): a case report.

An 8-yr-old male tayra (Eira barbara) was presented with acute onset of pelvic limb paralysis. Radiography was unremarkable. Neurologic examination showed signs consistent with an intramedullary lesion between the second thoracic and fifth lumbar spinal cord segments. The animal's condition did not improve after 4 days of aggressive glucocorticoid therapy, and euthanasia was performed. Histologic examination of the spinal cord showed amorphous emboli suggestive of cartilaginous fragments within spinal veins. A diagnosis of fibrocartilaginous emboli was made, the first known case in a mustelid.     

Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes

Understanding how environment, crop management, and other factors, particularly soil fertility, influence the composition and quality of food crops is necessary for the production of high-quality nutritious foods. The flavonoid aglycones quercetin and kaempferol were measured in dried tomato samples (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Halley 3155) that had been archived over the period from 1994 to 2004 from the Long-Term Research on Agricultural Systems project (LTRAS) at the University of California-Davis, which began in 1993. Conventional and organic processing tomato production systems are part of the set of systems compared at LTRAS. Comparisons of analyses of archived samples from conventional and organic production systems demonstrated statistically higher levels (P < 0.05) of quercetin and kaempferol aglycones in organic tomatoes. Ten-year mean levels of quercetin and kaempferol in organic tomatoes [115.5 and 63.3 mg g(-1) of dry matter (DM)] were 79 and 97% higher than those in conventional tomatoes (64.6 and 32.06 mg g(-1) of DM), respectively. The levels of flavonoids increased over time in samples from organic treatments, whereas the levels of flavonoids did not vary significantly in conventional treatments. This increase corresponds not only with increasing amounts of soil organic matter accumulating in organic plots but also with reduced manure application rates once soils in the organic systems had reached equilibrium levels of organic matter. Well-quantified changes in tomato nutrients over years in organic farming systems have not been reported previously.     

Adaptation and evaluation of the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire and nutrient database for Canadian populations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite assumed similarities in Canadian and US dietary habits, some differences in food availability and nutrient fortification exist. Food-frequency questionnaires designed for the USA may therefore not provide the most accurate estimates of dietary intake in Canadian populations. Hence, we undertook to evaluate and modify the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) and nutrient database. METHODS: Of the foods queried on the DHQ, those most likely to differ in nutrient composition were identified. Where possible these foods were matched to comparable foods in the Canadian Nutrient File. Nutrient values were examined and modified to reflect the Canadian content of minerals (calcium, iron, zinc) and vitamins (A, C, D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate and B12). DHQs completed by 13 181 Alberta Cohort Study participants aged 35-69 years were analysed to estimate nutrient intakes using the original US and modified versions of the DHQ databases. Misclassification of intake for meeting the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) was determined following analysis with the US nutrient database. RESULTS: Twenty-five per cent of 2411 foods deemed most likely to differ in nutrient profile were subsequently modified for folate, 11% for vitamin D, 10% for calcium and riboflavin, and between 7 and 10% for the remaining nutrients of interest. Misclassification with respect to meeting the DRI varied but was highest for folate (7%) and vitamin A (7%) among men, and for vitamin D (7%) among women over 50 years of age. CONCLUSIOn: Errors in nutrient intake estimates owing to differences in food fortification between the USA and Canada can be reduced in Canadian populations by using nutrient databases that reflect Canadian fortification practices.     

The impact of land-claim on macrobenthos,fish and shorebirds on the forth estuary,eastern Scotland

1. The impact of land-claim on the intertidal areas of the Forth estuary, eastern Scotland is described. It is shown that in recent times almost 50% of the intertidal area has been destroyed for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, harbours and industrial development. 2. The loss of infaunal invertebrate biomass and production from the intertidal habitat has been calculated for each part of the estuary, and by summation for the whole estuary. The loss is discussed in relation to the total biomass and production, both intertidally and subtidally, of the estuary. It is shown that proportionately more biomass and production may have been lost than area. 3. The impact of land-claim on estuarine fish is calculated. Land-claim has removed 24% of the natural fish habitats in the Forth estuary, and thereby removed 40% of their food supply. 4. The impact of habitat loss on birds was observed for one area where observations continued throughout a period of land-claim. For individual bird species at Torry Bay, land-claim had consequences ranging from neutral to substantially negative. Significant declines were found for overwintering populations of dunlin and bar-tailed godwit. Comparisons of pre- and post-land-claim bird feeding usage of this area, showed that the impact of land-claim on local bird populations differed between species. The large scale loss of habitat on the Forth seems likely to have reduced the size of some shorebird populations which overwinter on the estuary. 5. It is concluded that when considering the impact of land-claim on estuaries that, as found in some previous studies, a simple consideration of area lost may be inadequate to describe the effects of land-claim, and the consequences for animals living within the estuary may differ considerably amongst themselves and from area to area.     

Naphthalophos combinations with benzimidazoles or levamisole as effective anthelmintics for sheep

Objective: To investigate the relative efficacy and safety of the anthelmintic naphthalophos in sheep, either given alone or in combination with benzimidazole (fenbendazole and albendazole) or levamisole anthelmintics.
Design: A parasitological study using faecal egg count reduction tests, a validating slaughter trial and field safety trials.
Procedure: Faecal egg count reduction tests were carried out on 13 farms. Naphthalophos and combinations of naphthalophos with levamisole and fenbendazole were included in the drench tests. On one property a controlled efficacy study was carried out to validate faecal egg count reduction test findings. In this trial, sheep were slaughtered 10 days after treatment and the remaining parasites recovered from the gastro-intestinal tract. Safety trials were carried out on eight farms where approximately 50 000 sheep were treated with naphthalophos and albendazole that were tank mixed in the backpack.
Results: The efficacy of naphthalophos alone in faecal egg count reduction tests ranged from 59 to 98% with one test showing 95% reduction. The efficacy of naphthalophos and levamisole ranged from 74 to 100%, with 5 farms showing 95% reduction. The efficacy of naphthalophos and fenbendazole ranged between 88 and 100% with 95% reduction achieved on 10 farms. The controlled efficacy study showed a good correlation between the faecal egg count reduction tests and numbers of parasites recovered, except for Nematodirus where the faecal egg count reduction tests overestimated efficacy. The mortality rate in the safety trials was 0.05%, with most fatalities occurring on one farm.
Conclusion: The combination of naphthalophos and fenbendazole was more effective than a combination of naphthalophos and levamisole, and will provide a sufficiently safe drench rotation option.