Survival in Dogs with Nasal Adenocarcinoma: 64 Cases (1981–1995)

Case records of 64 dogs with nasal adenocarcinoma were reviewed. The effects of age, gender, tumor stage, presence of metastatic lesions, and treatment method on survival time were examined. Surgery groups included rhinotomy (n = 9), transnasal curettage (n = 29), and no surgery (n = 26). Chemotherapy groups included fluorouracil-cyclophosphamide combination therapy (n = 15), mitoxantrone (n = 7), and no chemotherapy (n = 42). Fifty-three dogs received fractionated cobalt 60 radiation therapy. Surgical procedure, chemotherapy group, and stage of primary tumor were not significantly associated with survival time ( P > .05). Dogs that received radiation therapy had a significantly longer median survival time (424 days) than dogs that did not (126 days) ( P = .0001). The presence of either regional lymph node or pulmonary metastasis was associated with significantly shorter median survival time (109 days) when compared to dogs without metastases (393 days) ( P = .0125). When only dogs that had received radiation therapy were considered, neither surgical treatment nor chemotherapy group was associated with significant changes in median survival time. An alternate staging system emphasizing the presence or absence of metastases is proposed. Key words: Chemotherapy; Metastasis; Radiotherapy.     

Evaluation of competition and light estimation indices for predicting diameter growth in mature boreal mixed forests

A series of conventional distance-independent and distance-dependent competition indices, a highly flexible distance-dependent crowding index, and two light resource estimation indices were compared to predict individual tree diameter growth of five species of mature trees from natural-origin boreal mixed forests. The crowding index was the superior index for most species and ecosites. However, distance-independent indices, such as basal area of competing trees, were also effective. Distance-dependent light estimation indices, which estimate the fraction of seasonal photosynthetically-active radiation available to each tree, ranked intermediate to low. Determining separate competition indices for each competitor species accounted for more variation than ignoring species or classifying by ecological groups. Species’ competitive ability ranked (most competitive to least): paper birch ≈ white spruce ≈> trembling aspen > lodgepole pine > balsam poplar. Stratification by ecosite further improved model performance. However, the overall impact of competition on mature trees in these forests appears to be small.     

Nitrogen mobilization, nitrogen uptake and growth of cuttings obtained from poplar stock plants grown in different N regimes and sprayed with urea in autumn

Nitrogen mobilization, nitrogen uptake and growth of cuttings obtained from poplar stock plants fertigated with different nitrogen (N) treatments and sprayed with urea in autumn were studied. Stock plants propagated from poplar cuttings were trained to a single shoot and fertigated with 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20 mmol l(-1) N during the first growing season. In October, a subset of stock plants from each N fertigation treatment was sprayed twice with either 3% urea or water, and overwintered outside. In March, total tree biomass and total N concentration and content of stems were estimated for stock plants in each treatment, and cuttings were taken from the middle of each stock plant and stored in plastic bags at 2 degrees C. In mid-April, cuttings were planted in 7.5-l pots containing N-free medium and grown outdoors with a weekly fertigation with nutrient solution containing 0 or 10 mmol l(-1) 15NH4 15NO3. In mid-July, cuttings were harvested, and new shoot (new stems and leaves), shank (old cutting stem) and roots were analyzed for new biomass growth and total N and 15N content. Growth of stock plants was positively related to N supply in the previous growing season. Foliar urea application in autumn had no effect on subsequent stock plant growth even though urea sprays increased both N concentration and content in stem tissues. Biomass growth of cuttings obtained from stock plants was closely related to their N content when the cuttings were grown in an N-free medium regardless of previous treatments applied to the stock plants. When N was supplied in the growth medium, the strength of the relationship between regrowth and N content of cuttings was significantly reduced. Cuttings from stock plants treated with foliar urea and grown in a N-free medium remobilized between 75 and 82% of their total N for new growth, whereas cuttings from plants receiving no urea spray remobilized only between 60 and 69% of their total N for new growth. Current N fertilization of the cuttings reduced the percentage of N remobilized. We conclude that new growth of poplar cuttings in spring was more dependent on currently applied N than on reserve N, and urea N applied as a spray in autumn was more easily remobilized than N taken up by roots during the previous season.     

Bilateral renal T-cell lymphoma with hepatic infiltration and secondary polycythemia in a dog: Utility of cytology slides

This is a case of bilateral renal T-cell lymphoma associated with secondary erythrocytosis in a dog. This case is distinctive in using clonality combined with immunocytochemistry to support the diagnosis, thus emphasizing the utility of cytology slides when histology is unavailable. This combination may be a unique canine lymphoma entity.     

Determination of capsaicinoids in habanero peppers by chemometric analysis of UV spectral data

A novel spectrophotometric method for the determination of capsaicinoids in habanero pepper extracts is described that does not require prior analyte separation. The method uses partial-least-squares (PLS-1) multivariate regression modeling techniques in conjunction with ordinary UV absorption spectral data obtained on alcoholic extracts of habanero peppers (Capsicum chinese). The PLS-1 regression models were developed by correlating the known total concentration of the two major capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) in the extracts as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with the spectral data. The regression models were subsequently validated with laboratory-prepared test sets. The validation studies revealed that the root-mean-square error of prediction varied from 4 to 8 ppm, based on the results obtained from models prepared from nine test sets. Once a regression model has been developed and validated, analyses of the extracts can be accomplished rapidly by ordinary spectrophotometric procedures without any prior separation steps.     

Proteomic Characterization of Equine Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a biofluid that is reflective of overall health. Although proteomic profiling of human CSF has been performed in the context of a variety of disease states, this report represents the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of equine CSF. A total of 320 proteins were confidently identified across six healthy horses, and these proteins were further characterized by gene ontology terms mapped in UniProt, and normalized spectral abundance factors were calculated as a measure of relative abundance. Theses results provide an optimized protocol for analysis of equine CSF and lay the groundwork for future studies involving the study of equine CSF in the context of pathogenic disease states.     

Urethral tumours in dogs

Urethral tumours in 21 dogs are reported. Transitional cell carcinoma was the most frequent presentation. A more deliberate radiographic protocol has enhanced diagnostic ability and has improved presurgical evaluation. The use of a transpubic surgical approach has allowed the direct examination of the affected urethra and excision or resection of focal and diffuse lesions in 10 dogs with periods of remission varying from eight to 22 months. The apparent success of the surgical technique underlines the necessity for early and careful investigation of the dysuric, haematuric case.     

USE OF INTRAOPERATIVE MESENTERIC PORTOVENOGRAPHY IN CONGENITAL PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT SURGERY

A retrospective study of the use of intraoperative mesenteric portovenography (IOMP) in the surgical management of congenital portosystemic shunts in 100 dogs and cats was performed. Each portovenogram was scored using a subjective visual analogue scale (VAS) and was assessed for the presence of portal atresia or hypoplasia. VAS scores and portal hypoplasia assessments were obtained for portovenogram images obtained for each animal both before shunt manipulation (preligation) and following the temporary, complete ligation of the vessel (postligation). In each patient, surgical records were reviewed to ascertain the degree of shunt attenuation that was achieved at surgery. Hepatic portal vasculature was significantly different on postligation compared with preligation IOMP. Sixty-two percent of animals had apparent portal hypoplasia or atresia on their preligation IOMP. The majority of these (81%) had an improvement in portal vasculature on postligation IOMP. It was concluded that both preligation and postligation IOMP provided valuable information regarding the morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts. An accurate assessment of an animal's portal vasculature could only be made following the interpretation of a postligation portovenogram, and these findings significantly influenced the surgical management of the patient. Although individuals with high postligation VAS scores were more likely to achieve full shunt attenuation at surgery, there was no quantifiable relationship between IOMP findings and the degree of shunt attenuation achieved.     

COMPARISON OF VISUAL ANALOG AND NUMERIC SCORING SCALES FOR ASSESSING INTRAOPERATIVE MESENTERIC PORTOVENOGRAPHY

A visual analog scale and a numeric scoring scale were designed for the assessment of dynamic intraoperative mesenteric portovenography in the dog and cat. Two independent observers evaluated both scoring scales for reproducibility (differences between observers) and repeatability (within-observer differences) in the assessment of 60 trial portovenograms. Agreement (interchangeability) of both scales was evaluated by comparing the scores obtained in the assessment of 200 portovenograms obtained from 100 dogs and cats. There was no statistical difference between the two observers when scoring the same portovenogram for either the visual analog scale (p = .730, reproducibility coefficient = 17.85 units) or the numeric scoring scale (scores identical, reproducibility coefficient = 0). There was no statistical difference, for either of the observers, when the same portovenogram was assessed on two separate occasions using the visual analog scale (observer 1, p = .35, repeatability coefficient = 17.93 units; observer 2, p = .42, repeatability coefficient = 8.27 units) or the numeric scoring scale (scores given by both observers were identical, repeatability coefficient = 0 for both observers). The results of comparison between the visual analog scale and numeric scoring scale confirmed that the two scoring systems were not directly interchangeable. Although both scoring systems demonstrated good reproducibility and repeatability, the numeric scoring scale possessed a number of inherent deficiencies that suggested it was not the method of choice for the assessment of the subjective data obtained from dynamic intraoperative mesenteric portovenography.     

Geographical ‘handicaps’ and small states: Some implications for the Pacific from a global perspective

Abstract: Research on the economic performance of small states has concentrated on the implications of small size and thin local markets. An interesting feature of many of the world's smallest states, of which the Pacific region has many, is that they face additional challenges than just small size. Many are remote from global markets for their products. In addition, a large number are also islands, many of which are also mountainous. Many of the smaller states are not just islands, but are also archipelagos. Hence in addition to small size, many of the world's small states also exhibit four other characteristics that may affect their economic performance: insularity, remoteness, being archipelagos and being highly mountainous entities. This paper examines the nature of the challenges posed by these four characteristics and seeks to produce empirical evidence of how difficult it has been to overcome these challenges. The paper draws on empirical evidence for 126 very small global states, dependent territories and highly autonomous regions. The paper then turns to the position of the Pacific small states and dependent territories.