Perioperative administration of antimicrobials associated with elective surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs: 83 cases (2003-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perioperative antimicrobial use associated with elective surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 83 dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed and antimicrobial use practices were evaluated for dogs with no other problems that would affect antimicrobial use decisions. RESULTS: Antimicrobials were administered before or during surgery to 75 of 83 (90%) dogs. Timing of administration with respect to first incision, intraoperative administration, and duration of administration were variable. Antimicrobial administration began after surgery in 3 (3.6%) dogs. Fifty-five of 65 (85%) dogs treated before surgery received the first dose within 60 minutes of the first incision. Time from first antimicrobial administration to closure of the incision ranged from 15 to 285 minutes (mean +/- SD, 141 +/- 53 minutes). If a guideline of repeated administration every 2 hours after first administration until closure of the surgical site was used, 22 of 43 (51%) dogs received the required intraoperative dose, whereas 6 of 32 (19%) dogs that did not require intraoperative treatment were treated. Twenty-four (29%) dogs received antimicrobials after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Certain discrepancies between antimicrobial use practices in this study and standard guidelines used in human medicine were evident.     

The effect of land use type on net nitrogen mineralization on abandoned agricultural land: Silver birch stand versus grassland

The effect of land use type on the dynamics and annual rate of net nitrogen mineralization (NNM) in a naturally generated silver birch stand and in a grassland, both on abandoned agricultural land, was assessed in situ in the upper 0–20 cm soil layer using the method of buried polyethylene bags. Annual NNM rate in the birch stand (156 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) was higher than in the grassland (102 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹); in both cases NNM covered a major part of the plants annual nitrogen demand. The rate of NNM in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer in the birch stand (99 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) exceeded the respective rate of NNM in the grassland (51 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) roughly two times. In the grassland the rates of NNM in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers were equal; in the birch stand NNM in the 0–10 cm layer was 1.7 times higher than in deeper 10–20 cm layer. The intensity of daily NNM in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer in the birch stand was the highest in June and in the grassland in May, 776 and 528 mg kg⁻¹ N day⁻¹, respectively. In our study no significant correlation was found between NNM and the environmental factors monthly mean soil temperature, soil moisture content and pH.     

Ultrasound-guided vessel catheterization in adult Yorkshire cross-bred pigs

Objective

To describe an ultrasound-guided approach for venous and arterial vascular access and catheterization in anesthetized adult Yorkshire cross-bred pigs.

Effect of age and physiological status on sperm storage 24 hours after artificial insemination in broiler breeder hens

1. Uterovaginal junction (UVJ) tissues were collected 24 h after artificial insemination (AI) from 85- and 125-week-old broiler breeder hens in three physiological states: laying hard shell eggs (HS), laying shell-less eggs (SL) and non-laying (NL). This was confirmed by egg production records and visual appraisal of the oviduct at the time of necropsy. 2. Three longitudinal sections of each UVJ were evaluated microscopically and sperm host glands (SHG) were scored in 5 categories: glandular morphology evident but not lumen present, basophilic stained epithelium and no spermatoza present, glands that contained one to five spermatozoa; glands that contained 6 to 20 spermatozoa and glands that contained more than 20 spermatozoa. 3. Laying hens (HS and SL) at 85 weeks of age had significantly more sperm host glands (SHG) containing spermatozoa than NL hens. At 125 weeks of age HS and SL hens had significantly more unscorable glands. 4. The only category that showed no difference between age and physiological status group was the empty category. No significant differences were observed for any gland category in 82- and 125-week-old NL hens. 5. A greater proportion of the 85-week-old group of HS and SL hens had more SHG containing spermatozoa and fewer unscorable glands that the 125-week-old birds. The only category that showed any difference within the SL group was the low category.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress markers for the early diagnosis of allograft rejection in feline renal allotransplant recipients with normal renal function

The purpose of this study was to identify oxidative damage to renal allografts during graft rejection by evaluating changes in oxidative markers and plasma lactate levels in feline renal allotransplant recipients. Heterotopic renal allotransplantations were performed between 8 adult feline cross-matched donors. Following 14 d of immunosuppression, the drugs were discontinued to allow allograft rejection. Baseline and serial postoperative evaluations of serum creatinine, plasma lactate, plasma thiobarbituate reactive substances (TBARS), plasma creatol, urine creatol, and renal sonographic cross-sectional area were performed. When sonographic evaluation revealed the absence of blood flow to the allograft, the rejected kidney was nephrectomized and evaluated histopathologically. Allograft rejection occurred in all cats by day 26. A significant elevation in body temperature occurred during the rejection period. No significant change was observed between any of the time periods for plasma TBARS, creatol, or urine creatol. There was a significant decrease in plasma lactate levels throughout the study. Markers of oxidative stress from venous blood did not reflect renal allograft rejection in cats with a normally functioning native kidney. Renal allograft rejection may be associated with significant increases in body temperature and warrants further investigation.     

Single fraction stereotactic radiation therapy (stereotactic radiosurgery) is a feasible method for treating intracranial meningiomas in dogs

The aim of this retrospective, pilot study was to evaluate stereotactic radiosurgery as a method for treating intracranial meningiomas in dogs. Included dogs had an imaging diagnosis of presumed intracranial meningioma, were treated using a standardized stereotactic radiosurgery protocol, and had a follow‐up time of >6 months after stereotactic radiosurgery. A single fraction of 16 Gy stereotactic radiosurgery was delivered to the tumor, with an internal simultaneously integrated boost to a total dose of 20–24 Gy to the central portion of the tumor. Thirty‐two dogs were sampled. One dog was euthanized in the periprocedural period, and 10 of the remaining 31 dogs (31%) experienced an acute adverse event (defined as declining neurologic function due to tumor progression or treatment‐associated complication within the first 6 months after stereotactic radiosurgery), three of which were fatal. Too few subjects (n = 6) had cross‐sectional imaging after stereotactic radiosurgery to determine an objective response rate; however, 17/30 (57%) dogs assessed for response had a perceived clinical benefit from treatment. The overall median survival time was 519 days (95% confidence interval: 330–708 days); 64% and 24% of dogs were alive at 1 and 2 years after stereotactic radiosurgery, respectively. Dogs with infratentorial tumor location and high gradient indices had shorter survival. There were no factors identified which were predictive of acute adverse event. Survival times reported herein are similar to what has previously been reported for other stereotactic and traditional fractionated radiotherapy protocols. Findings therefore supported the use of stereotactic radiosurgery as an alternative method for treating dogs with presumed intracranial meningiomas.     

Isohydrodynamic behavior in deficit-irrigated Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec and its relationship between yield and berry composition

Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapevines were irrigated at 70 or 23 % of estimated crop evapotranspiration throughout berry development over four growing seasons. Stomatal behavior was characterized by relating predawn leaf water potential and mid-morning stomatal conductance to mid-morning leaf water potential. Seasonal average weekly midday leaf water potential was lower in Cabernet Sauvignon than Malbec despite similar irrigation amounts. Both cultivars exhibited anisohydric behavior with midday leaf water potential decreasing linearly with declining predawn leaf water potential (r ² = 0.51) and stomatal conductance (r ² = 0.42). However, both cultivars utilized hydrodynamic mechanisms to maintain a soil-to-leaf water potential gradient of ?0.62 (±0.03) MPa under standard irrigation and ?0.75 (±0.04) MPa under reduced irrigation. Berry fresh weight and titratable acidity decreased, and the concentration of total anthocyanins increased in both cultivars in response to decreases in midday leaf water potential. The slope of regression equations for seasonal mean midday leaf water potential was used to estimate cultivar-specific levels of water stress associated with changes in berry weight and berry composition at fruit maturity.     

Volatile compounds and sensory attributes of wine from Cv. Merlot (Vitis vinifera L.) grown under differential levels of water deficit with or without a kaolin-based, foliar reflectant particle film

The volatile composition and sensory attributes of Merlot wines produced from vines under differing levels of water stress, with or without a foliar, kaolin-based particle film, were analyzed by stir bar sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS) and sensory evaluation. Vines were irrigated over consecutive vintages with 100, 70, or 35% of their estimated water requirements (ET(c)), or 35% until color change then 70% until harvest (35-70% ET(c)). Neither of the treatments consistently influenced ester concentrations or their relative amounts, though their concentrations varied from year to year. However, deficit irrigation had an effect on the concentration of terpene alcohols and norisoprenoids. Wines produced from vines under water deficit contained higher amounts of citronellol, nerol, geraniol, and β-damascenone, but linalool and β-ionone were not affected by deficit irrigation. Particle film did not affect volatile composition in the wine. Untrained panelists in 2007 and 2008 distinguished between wines from vines that received 100 or 35% ET(c) and between wines from vines that received 35 or 35-70% ET(c). Trained sensory panelists detected differences among wines for aroma, flavor, taste, and mouthfeel; however, significant interactive effects between particle film application and vine water status hindered interpretation of independent main effects.     

Use of detergent extracts of Brucella abortus RB51 to detect serologic responses in RB51-vaccinated cattle.

Serologic responses to the newly introduced rough Brucella abortus vaccine strain RB51 have been determined in a dot-blot format using gamma-irradiated RB51 cells as the antigen. Because gamma-irradiated cells are not easily prepared and the signal from cells was not always reliable, an alternative antigen was sought. Detergent extracts of B. abortus RB51 were prepared using zwittergent 3-14, Triton X-100, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and examined in a dot-blot format. Zwittergent 3-14 extracts and gamma-irradiated RB51 cells gave the same titers. Unlike gamma-irradiated RB51 cells, zwittergent 3-14 extracts produced signals consistently, and the signals were easily interpreted. Triton X-100 extracts interfered with signal development, and SDS extracts resulted in a high background signal. Western blot analyses revealed several outer membrane proteins in the zwittergent 3-14 extract. The major antigens in the extract had apparent molecular weights of <20,000.