Use of gyroscopic sensors for objective evaluation of trimming and shoeing to alter time between heel and toe lift-off at end of the stance phase in horses walking and trotting on a treadmill

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a shoe with an axialcontoured lateral branch would induce greater lateral roll of the forelimb hoof during the time between heel and toe lift-off at end of the stance phase (breakover). Animals-10 adult horses. PROCEDURE: A gyroscopic transducer was placed on the hoof of the right forelimb and connected to a transmitter. Data on hoof angular velocity were collected as each horse walked and trotted on a treadmill before (treatment 1, no trim-no shoe) and after 2 treatments by a farrier (treatment 2, trim-standard shoe; and treatment 3, trim-contoured shoe). Data were converted to hoof angles by mathematical integration. Breakover duration was divided into 4 segments, and hoof angles in 3 planes (pitch, roll, and yaw) were calculated at the end of each segment. Multivariable ANOVA was performed to detect differences among treatments and gaits. RESULTS: Trimming and shoeing with a shoe with contoured lateral branches induced greater mean lateral roll to the hoof of 3.2 degrees and 2.5 degrees during the first half of breakover when trotting, compared with values for no trim-no shoe and trim-standard shoe, respectively. This effect dissipated during the second half of breakover. When horses walked, lateral roll during breakover was not significantly enhanced by use of this shoe. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A shoe with an axial-contoured lateral branch induced greater lateral roll during breakover in trotting horses, but change in orientation of the hoof was small and limited to the first half of breakover.     

Is Wolbachia complicating the pathological effects of Dirofilaria immitis infections?

Human and animal parasitic filarial nematodes, which often are the cause of severe disease, harbor intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (Rickettsiaceae). It is thought that these bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune response to filarial infection. In order to determine the possible role of Wolbachia in heartworm disease, dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis were studied for specific antibody response to Wolbachia surface protein (WSP). Antibody subclasses were analyzed to determine immune response polarization. Dogs that died from heartworm disease were necropsied, and various organs were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine whether Wolbachia-derived molecules were present in tissue from infected dogs. Humoral response to the WSP was present in all infected dogs and appeared to be predominantly of the Th1-type. Several organs, including lung, liver, and kidney, contained positive-staining cells for WSP, confirming that the canine host does come into contact with Wolbachia-derived molecules.     

Vergleichende Untersuchungen an verschiedenen Backkürbissorten und ihre diätetische Bewertung

Zusammenfassung Die Verfasser prüften die organoleptischen Eigenschaften 14 verschiedener Kürbissorten, die Zusammensetzung von rohem und gebackenem Backkürbis sowie die biologische Wertigkeit seines Carotingehaltes. Die Durchschnittswerte der untersuchten Inhaltsstoffe sind die folgenden: Trockensubstanz 20%, Asche 1,47%, Refraktion 12,5%, Roheiweiß 1,54%, C-Vitamin 29,6 mg%, Carotin 3,8 mg%. Unter diesen machen sie auf den C-Vitamin- und Carotingehalt aufmerksam und bezeichnen Backkürbis auf Grund dieser letzteren Inhaltstoffe als wichtige Vitaminquelle im Winter.Bei den gebräuchlichen Backverfahren erfolgt bei 20–30% Gewichtsverlust ein durchschnittlich 62%-iger, auf den Trockensubstanzgehalt berechneter Verlust an C-Vitamin und ein etwa 55%-iger an Carotin. Nach Tierversuchen ist Backkürbis eine der besten A-Provitaminquellen, da bei mit Backkürbis ernährten Ratten der A-Vitamingehalt der Leber um 62% höher ist als bei den mit identischen Mengen Carotin enthaltenden gelben Rüben gefütterten Tieren.

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Summary The organoleptic properties of 14 various types of pumpkins, the chemical composition of raw and baked samples, and the biological value of their carotene content were investigated by the authors.The mean values of the results were as follows: dry matter content 20%, ash content 1.47%, refraction value 12.5%, crude protein content 1.54%, ascorbic acid content 29.6 mg%, carotene content 3.8 mg%. The authors point to the importance of the content of ascorbic acid and of carotene, on the basis of which baked pumpkins can be classified as an important winter source of vitamins.With the conventional baking technique, considering a mean weight loss of 20–30%, the losses of ascorbic acid and carotene, respectively, range 62 and 55%, in respect to dry matter content.According to animal tests, baked pumpkins are one of the best sources of provitamin A, as the content of vitamin A of the liver of rats consuming baked pumpkins was higher by 62% than the liver of rats fed with carrots containing equal amounts of carotene.

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Diätetische Bewertung verschiedener in Ungarn angebauter Zucker- und Wassermelonensorten

Zusammenfassung Bei 7 der Sortenprüfung unterzogenen Zuckermelonen- und 6 Wassermelonensorten untersuchten Verfasser die Verteilung im Zucker- und Säuregehalt sowie den Gehalt an Vitamin C und Carotin.Beim gesamten Untersuchungsmaterial wurde die quantitative und qualitative Verteilung der Kohlenhydrate und Säuren bestimmt.Den Untersuchungsergebnissen gemäß erhöht sich bei Zuckermelonen der Saccharosegehalt, bei Wassermelonen der Fructosegehalt in Richtung des Fruchtinneren, wo auch sowohl bei Zucker-, wie bei Wassermelonen die meiste Säure nachweisbar ist.Auf Grund des Gehaltes an Kohlenhydraten, Säure, Vitamin C und Carotin wurden die verschiedenen Melonensorten auch diätetisch bewertet.

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Summary Seven types of sugar melon and 6 types of water melon applied in selection experiments in Hungary were examined by the authors as regards sugar content, nature and quantity of acids, further the contents of ascorbic acid and carotene.The nature and quantity of sugars and acids were determined in the flesh and in the peels of all types examined.According to the analytical results, the content of sucrose of sugar melons increases when nearing the centre whilst in the case of water melons, the content of fructose becomes higher in the central portion.The content of acid showed maximum values in the centre with both sugar and water melons.The examined types of melons were also evaluated from a biological aspect, considering the contents of sugar, acid, ascorbic acid and carotene.

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Safety and efficacy of an attenuated strain of Salmonella choleraesuis for vaccination of swine.

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of a live Salmonella choleraesuis immunizing strain, obtained by repeated ingestion and recovery through porcine neutrophils. The strain was tested in mice and in pigs. The vaccine was safe and effective in controlled experimental trials, using clinical, pathologic, and microbiologic criteria. Vaccinated pigs were able to maintain normal weight gains during the 4-week observation period following challenge inoculation with a high dose of a virulent strain.     

Seroprevalence of Bartonella infection in American free-ranging and captive pumas (Felis concolor) and bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Bartonella henselae is the main agent of cat scratch disease in humans and domestic cats are the main reservoir of this bacterium. We conducted a serosurvey to investigate the role of American wild felids as a potential reservoir of Bartonella species. A total of 479 samples (439 serum samples and 40 Nobuto strips) collected between 1984 and 1999 from pumas (Felis concolor) and 91 samples (58 serum samples and 33 Nobuto strips) collected from bobcats (Lynx rufus) in North America, Central America and South America were screened for B. henselae antibodies. The overall prevalence of B. henselae antibodies was respectively 19.4% in pumas and 23.1% in bobcats, with regional variations. In the USA, pumas from the southwestern states were more likely to be seropositive for B. henselae (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55, 5.11) than pumas from the Northwest and Mountain states. Similarly, adults were more likely to be B. henselae seropositive than juveniles and kittens (PR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.93). Adult pumas were more likely to have higher B. henselae antibody titers than juveniles and kittens (p = 0.026). B. henselae antibody prevalence was 22.4% (19/85) in bobcats from the USA and 33.3% (2/6) in the Mexican bobcats. In the USA, antibody prevalence varied depending on the geographical origin of the bobcats. In California, the highest prevalence was in bobcats from the coastal range (37.5%). These results suggest a potential role of wild felids in the epidemiological cycle of Bartonella henselae or closely related Bartonella species.     

A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics

PSR B1931+24 (J1933+2421) behaves as an ordinary isolated radio pulsar during active phases that are 5 to 10 days long. However, when the radio emission ceases, it switches off in less than 10 seconds and remains undetectable for the next 25 to 35 days, then switches on again. This pattern repeats quasi-periodically. The origin of this behavior is unclear. Even more remarkably, the pulsar rotation slows down 50% faster when it is on than when it is off. This indicates a massive increase in magnetospheric currents when the pulsar switches on, proving that pulsar wind plays a substantial role in pulsar spin-down. This allows us, for the first time, to estimate the magnetospheric currents in a pulsar magnetosphere during the occurrence of radio emission.     

Computed tomographic evaluation of canine radioulnar incongruence in vivo

OBJECTIVE: To compare radioulnar incongruence (RUI) of normal canine elbows and elbows with arthroscopically confirmed medial compartment disease in vivo using systematic computed tomography (CT) measurements. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective comparison of RUI measurements in normal and dysplastic canine elbows. SAMPLE POPULATION: Right elbows of 25 medium-large breed, adult dogs with medial compartment disease and 9 medium-large breed, adult dogs with no elbow disease. METHODS: Transverse CT images of proximal radioulnar articulation were reformatted to dorsal and sagittal planes. RUI in 3 locations of the forelimb's medial coronoid was measured. Arthroscopy confirmed diagnosis of medial compartment disease in the diseased group. RUI measurements of the diseased and normal elbows were compared. RESULTS: Cumulative statistical analysis of RUI in all planes revealed no significant difference between the normal and abnormal elbows (P = .61). The abnormal elbows had negative mean RUI at the mid (P = .56) and cranial (P = .24) coronoid regions that were not significantly different from normal elbows and mean positive RUI at the base coronoid that was significantly greater than in normal elbows (P = .00082). CONCLUSION: Canine elbows with established medial compartment disease do not have significant RUI at the medial coronoid region at the time of diagnosis when compared with normal elbows. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: If RUI is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of medial compartment elbow disease in the dog, it does not appear to be present at the time of diagnosis of disease. Ulnar or radial osteotomies do not appear to be indicated for restoration of normal radioulnar articular surface alignment.