Surgical Stabilization of the Equine Cervical Spine

The Cloward technique for intervertebral fusion was utilized on 12 horses ranging from 3 months to 2 years of age. Of the 12 horses, 9 had been diagnosed as having equine cervical vertebral malformation (CVM) or "wobbles," and 3 were normal controls. A large hole was drilled from the ventral border of the vertebral bodies spanning the intervertebral disc and the vertebral end plates of the 2 articulating vertebrae. Frozen homologous bone dowels of slightly larger diameter from equine cadaver ilia were inserted in the holes. No adverse postoperative complication arose. Clinical improvement was seen in all horses with CVM. Three months postoperatively, partial or complete fusion was evident radiographically in 11 of the 12 horses. Necropsies were performed 3–6 months postoperatively to evaluate the quality of the fusion. Cadaver manipulation demonstrated reduced intervertebral movement at the operative site in all cases. The articulations of the equine cervical spine can be operatively fused by the Cloward technique, and surgically induced trauma is minimal. This technique can be used for stabilizing subluxations and may be applicable for treating fractures and osteolytic processes that have weakened vertebrae.     

Intraoperative Biopsy and Microscopy During Exploratory Laparotomies

Intraoperative biopsy and microscopy were evaluated, retrospectively, in 23 exploratory laparotomies. After comparing the surgical impression to the microscopic diagnosis obtained during surgery, the use of intraoperative cytologic and frozen section examination altered the surgical plan in 13 cases and reinforced the surgical plan in 10 cases. No cases had an intraoperative microscopic diagnosis that differed from the postoperative histologic examination of paraffin sections. Recommendations for selecting cases and for using intraoperative biopsy and microscopy are included.     

Effects of estradiol 17 beta implants on hematologic values and the chemiluminescence response of neutrophils of steers.

The effects of subcutaneous administration of a commercially available estradiol 17 beta implant on hematologic values and the chemiluminescence response of neutrophils were evaluated in 14 steers. Chemiluminescence and hematologic values were measured in treated (n = 8) and nontreated (n = 6) steers on days -14, -7, and -1 prior to implantation. Estradiol 17B was implanted into the treated group of steers on day 0, and blood samples were obtained from all steers on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50. The concentration of estrogen in serum was significantly (P = 0.0120) higher following implantation. Chemiluminescence and hematologic indices were not significantly affected by either implant status or serum concentrations of estrogen. The results of this study suggested that the use of implants containing estradiol 17 beta for promotion of weight gain in steers will not result in alterations of hematologic values or the neutrophil respiratory burst.     

Efficacy of QCDCR formulated CpG ODN 2007 in Nile tilapia against Streptococcus iniae and identification of upregulated genes

The potential of using a QCDCR (quilA:cholesterol:dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide:carbopol:R1005 glycolipid) formulated CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), ODN 2007, to confer protection in Nile tilapia against Streptococcus iniae infection was evaluated in this study. At two days post treatment, QCDCR formulated ODN 2007 elicited significant (P<0.05) protection to Nile tilapia, with relative percent survival of 63% compared to fish treated by QCDCR alone. To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective immunity elicited by ODN 2007, suppression subtractive cDNA hybridization technique was used to identify upregulated genes induced by ODN 2007. A total of 69 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified from the subtractive cDNA library. Quantitative PCR revealed that 44 ESTs were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated by ODN 2007, including 29 highly (>10-fold) and 15 moderately (<10-fold) upregulated ESTs. Of all ESTs, putative peroxisomal sarcosine oxidase was upregulated the highest. The 69 ESTs only included six genes that had putative functions related to immunity, of which only two (putative glutaredoxin-1 and carboxypeptidase N catalytic chain) were confirmed to be significantly upregulated. Our results suggest that the protection elicited by ODN 2007 is mainly through innate immune responses directly or indirectly related to immunity.     

Letters to the editor

Extract

In order to utilize spring growth efficiently under a system of grassland farming, a New Zealand dairy farmer endeavours to calve as many cows as possible within a four to six weeks' period. To maintain this calving pattern, herd members must conceive by 70 to 80 days after calving. Consequently normal postparturient uterine involution, together with a minimum of delay in the onset of ovarian activity and oestral cyclicity, is of vital importance. A study of these phenomena may be very rewarding in helping to achieve optimal reproductive efficiency.