Portovenogram findings in cases of elevated bile acid concentrations following correction of portosystemic shunts.

The case records of 36 cats and dogs undergoing surgical correction of a single extrahepatic portosystemic shunt were reviewed. In 12 animals, the shunt was fully ligated during the first surgical procedure, while, in the remaining 24, the shunting vessel could only be partially ligated. Assessment of serum bile acid concentrations demonstrated complete shunt occlusion in 15 of these latter 24 animals (63 per cent) between one and six months postoperatively. Ten animals (28 per cent) had persistently high serum bile acid concentrations postoperatively. Portovenogram findings in these individuals revealed six that demonstrated shunting solely through the original vessel; In five of these, full shunt attenuation was achieved at second surgery. Further shunt manipulation was not possible in the sixth case due to extensive adhesion formation. In the remaining four animals with raised bile acid concentrations, the portovenogram demonstrated shunting through the original vessel as well as the development of multiple acquired shunts.     

Myometrial activity during natural and dexamethasone-induced parturition in the cow

Myometrial activity was monitored during natural and dexamethasone-induced parturition in 8 Holstein dairy cattle, using strain gauge transducers. Four gauges were attached to the serosal surface of the gravid uterine horn, dividing it into thirds. Parturition was induced in 2 of 4 heifers and 2 of 4 cows (group 1); the remaining animals were allowed to calve spontaneously (group 2). Chains of low-amplitude contractions (repeated small deviations from base line) were detected before parturition was induced, and these were more common at distended parts of the uterus. Uncharacteristically sharp peaks followed by small rhythmic contractions, during preinduction recording, indicated that the myometrium was responsive to fetal movement even several days before parturition. By 18 hours before parturition, discrete single contractions appeared independently of contraction chains, and the first tubocervical peristaltic contraction waves were detected. The mean area under recorded contraction curves (uterine work) increased quadratically and the frequency of contractions decreased linearly from 12 hours before parturition to 2 hours after parturition. There was also an increase in the proportion of tubocervical waves over this period, and contraction chains were no longer present. During the second stage of labor, distended and undistended parts of the uterus were equally active, and forceful maternal straining was associated with larger sustained contractions. Fetal membrane rupture was accompanied by a doubling in the rate of passage of contraction waves along the length of the uterus. After the calf was expelled, contractions became extremely regular, and the majority progressed in a tubocervical direction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Histoplasmosis in a dog from New Brunswick

A young dog was presented with a history of chronic diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss. Histoplasma capsulatum was suspected, based on cytologic examination of lymph node aspirates and peritoneal fluid, and confirmed by fungal culture. To our knowledge, this is the first case of histoplasmosis diagnosed in a dog in Atlantic Canada.     

Adverse Reactions in Horses that Underwent General Anesthesia and Cervical Myelography

Background

The study was prompted by a perceived high prevalence of myelographic complications varying in severity and type, and attributed to the contrast material or the procedure.

Hypotheses

1. Any adverse reaction (AAR) is associated with a change in CSF volume induced either by removal of CSF or addition of contrast material. 2. AAR occurs more frequently in horses with higher premyelography neurologic grade. 3. Nonspecific hyperthermia is attenuated by anti‐inflammatory and osmotic agents.

Animals

Horses (n = 278) that underwent myelography between 2000 and 2012 at 5 institutions: A (87), B (68), C (65), D (46), and E (12).

Methods

Multi‐institutional, retrospective, observational cross‐sectional study.

Results

AAR were observed in 95/278 (34%) horses, were associated with longer general anesthesia time (P = .04) and higher contrast‐medium volume (P = .04); euthanasia because of AAR was performed in 5/278 (2%) horses. Adverse neurologic reactions were the most common type of complication observed occurring in 15/278 (5%) and 42/235 (18%) of horses in the intra‐ and postmyelography periods. A relationship between AAR and premyelography neurologic grade was not identified (P = .31). Nonspecific hyperthermia was observed in 25/235 (11%) horses; no relationship was observed with administration of anti‐inflammatory drugs and osmotic agents (P = .30).

Conclusions and clinical importance

The category of AAR occurred in one‐third of the horses generally was mild and self‐limiting. These reactions were associated with increased contrast‐medium volume and longer anesthesia time; but, no specific procedural recommendations could be made because of small odds ratios (OR) of <2 for each 1 mL increase in contrast material and for each 1 minute of additional anesthesia time.     

A mutation of the cellulose-synthase-like (CslF6) gene in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) partially affects the β-glucan content in grains

The chemical induced barley mutant m351 was first selected for its low level of mixed-linkage (1–3,1–4) beta-D-glucan (MLG) in an experimental effort to search for barley lines with varied grain MLG contents. The MLG decrease in m351 was associated with increased levels of fructans and crude fiber, but maintained the same plant characteristics under field conditions. The mutation was mapped to a genetic locus flanked by two SSR markers, Bmag369 and Bmag564, on chromosome 7H. Molecular cloning of the CslF6 gene from the m351 line revealed the presence of a point mutation, causing a substitution of an alanine for threonine at position 849 in the amino acid sequence of the corresponding protein. The resultant protein retains some functionality and affects other components in the m351 grain. Those metabolic changes associated with MLG reduction in m351 is the first case reported of a partially functional CslF6 gene in cereal grains. The results contribute to better understanding of the functional effects of the CslF6 gene and the mutant has potential implications in grain end-use quality improvement.     

Estimating the mass of asteroid 253 mathilde from tracking data during the NEAR flyby

The terminal navigation of the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft during its close flyby of asteroid 253 Mathilde involved coordinated efforts to determine the heliocentric orbits of the spacecraft and Mathilde and then to determine the relative trajectory of the spacecraft with respect to Mathilde. The gravitational perturbation of Mathilde on the passing spacecraft was apparent in the spacecraft tracking data. As a result of the accurate targeting achieved, these data could be used to determine Mathilde's mass as 1.033 (+/- 0.044) x 10(20) grams. Coupled with a volume estimate provided by the NEAR imaging team, this mass suggests a low bulk density for Mathilde of 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter.     

A potent and broad neutralizing antibody recognizes and penetrates the HIV glycan shield

The HIV envelope (Env) protein gp120 is protected from antibody recognition by a dense glycan shield. However, several of the recently identified PGT broadly neutralizing antibodies appear to interact directly with the HIV glycan coat. Crystal structures of antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) PGT 127 and 128 with Man(9) at 1.65 and 1.29 angstrom resolution, respectively, and glycan binding data delineate a specific high mannose-binding site. Fab PGT 128 complexed with a fully glycosylated gp120 outer domain at 3.25 angstroms reveals that the antibody penetrates the glycan shield and recognizes two conserved glycans as well as a short β-strand segment of the gp120 V3 loop, accounting for its high binding affinity and broad specificity. Furthermore, our data suggest that the high neutralization potency of PGT 127 and 128 immunoglobulin Gs may be mediated by cross-linking Env trimers on the viral surface.