Acute pancreatitis in two dogs given azathioprine and prednisone

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 2 dogs given azathioprine and prednisone. Prednisone and azathioprine had been given as immunosuppressive therapy for pemphigus foliaceus in dog 1 and for polymyositis in dog 2. Azathioprine was discontinued in both dogs. In dog 1, prednisone was reinstituted on day 6 of hospitalization. Prednisone was continued throughout the period of hospitalization in dog 2. Both dogs recovered without complication. Glucocorticoid therapy has been associated with the development of pancreatitis. In human beings, a common side effect of azathioprine is the development of drug-induced pancreatitis. Definitive identification of azathioprine as the cause of pancreatitis in these dogs was not possible; the owners refused to permit retreatment with the drug. Therefore, the synergistic action between these 2 drugs could not be ruled out as the cause of pancreatitis.     

A subacute toxicity study on 99m Tc stannous Glucoheptonate injection.

A subacute toxicity study on 99m Tc stannous glucoheptonate was performed with rats, dogs and rabbits, injected intravenously at ten to 100 times the human dose on a body weight basis. There were no abnormalities in the clinical status of any of the animals. No changes were found in urinalysis, blood chemistry or hematology in the rabbit nor in gross examination, renal histology or bone marrow smears in the rats and rabbits. Hepatic histology was also done. A focal area of necrosis in a liver of one rabbit that had been injected with 100 times the human dose was observed using light microscopy. Examination by electron microscopy in another group of rats and rabbits was prompted by the observation of that lesion. This revealed vacuolated and dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum and degranulated and vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum in all the test livers. X-ray microanalysis indicates that the ultrastructural changes are linked to the deposition of tin.     

Productivity of individual cranberry uprights in Washington and British Columbia

Yield-component partitioning of the individual cranberry upright (fruiting shoot) was undertaken using a model which included upright length, number of leaves, flowers, berries and seeds, and fruit weight. Repeat cropping of the upright during the following year was also modelled and tested. Fruit set was a major component of yield, but its action was sometimes indirect. Less important components were the number of seeds per berry, berry enlargement per seed, and upright length. Measures of antagonism of “fruiting” to floral initiation were obtained which partially explain the biennial bearing habit of uprights.     

Fertility of stallion spermatozoa isolated on albumin gradients

Fertility of stallion semen extended with bovine serum albumin (BSA) sucrose extender or cream-gelatin extender was compared. Pregnancy rates were 95% of 47 mares and 86% of 46 mares inseminated with BSA-sucrose and creamgelatin extended semen, respectively. Foaling rates and cycles per conception were not significantly different between treatment groups.Semen from 5 mature stallions was used in an attempt to isolate a population of highly motile spermatozoa. Immediately following collection, samples were evaluated for motility and forward movement. Seven to 10 ml of semen, extended 1:1 with BSA-sucrose extender, were pipetted onto BSA medium separation columns. After 1 hour incubation at 37°C, the top, middle and bottom layers were separately withdrawn from each separation column and pooled, respectively. A marked decrease (P<.001) was noted in the mean motility of spermatozoa in the top layer (35%) as compared to the mean pre-incubation motility (59%). Spermatozoa from middle and bottom layers were significantly (P<.001) more motile (70.6 and 87%) than those from the top layer and pre-incubation samples. Rate of forward movement (RFM) of spermatozoa in lower fractions was higher (P<.001) than RFM of spermatozoa in the top layer. Concentration of spermatozoa decreased (P<.001) as the concentration of BSA in the medium increased.     

Use of the partial farm budget technique to predict the economic impact of the flock management decision to use B-mode ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis

A computer spreadsheet was developed to predict the economic impact of a management decision to use B-mode ultrasonographic ovine pregnancy diagnosis. The spreadsheet design and spreadsheet cell formulas are provided. The program used the partial farm budget technique to calculate net return (NR) or cash flow changes that resulted from the decision to use ultrasonography. Using the program, either simple pregnancy diagnosis or pregnancy diagnosis with the ability to determine singleton or multiple pregnancies may be compared with no flock ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis. A wide range of user-selected regional variables are used to calculate the cash flow changes associated with the ultrasonography decisions. A variable may be altered through a range of values to conduct a sensitivity analysis of predicted NR. Example sensitivity analyses are included for flock conception rate, veterinary ultrasound fee, and the price of corn. Variables that influence the number of cull animals and the cost of ultrasonography have the greatest impact on predicted NR. Because the determination of singleton or multiple pregnancies is more time consuming, its economic practicality in comparison with simple pregnancy diagnosis is questionable. The value of feed saved by identifying and separately feeding ewes with singleton pregnancies is not offset by the increased ultrasonography cost.     

Contractile activity and motility responses of the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis to classical anthelmintics and other compounds

A variety of compounds including classical anthelmintics and avermectin analogs were screened for their effects on movements of adult heartworms (HW) (Dirofilaria immitis). Contractile activity was measured by tension recording of spontaneous movements of intact HW coil preparations (6 min compound exposure) and motility was evaluated by observation of spontaneous, free movements in culture (3 and 7 days compound exposure). Results for female HW indicated that some compounds caused spastic paralysis of contractile activity and inhibition of motility in culture (bephenium, DL-tetramisole, and pyrantel); some caused only spastic paralysis of contractile activity (methyridine and disophenol); and some caused only inhibition of motility in culture (chlorpromazine, dithiazanine, 1-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, and 4-methyltropolone). Effects on motility in culture appeared to be lethal. The following compounds lacked effects: amprolium, 2-amino-2-thiazoline, bithionol, bitoscanate, bitriben, hexachlorophene, ivermectin, and 10 H-phenothiazine. A group of avermectin analogs was screened for effects only on motility in culture of both adult female and male HW. Several of the analogs affected motility, but the effects appeared to be non-lethal. Microfilaria release into the culture media was suppressed by two of the analogs (an aglycone and avermectin B2). The HW maintenance system used in the present study facilitated screening of compounds for effects on this parasite.     

Symbiosis between Euglena and damselfly nymphs is seasonal

An endosymbiotic association has been demonstrated between Euglena and nymphs of three species of damselfly. The hindgut of the nymphs is inhabited by the euglenoid only during the winter. Symbiotic associations involving green euglenoids and insects are virtually unknown.     

When Universities Become Publishers: University presses play significant roles in American higher education which will diversify and grow

American university presses, despite a narrow view of their duties and serious undercapitalization, have survived and have grown significantly in performance and in number. Their future development rests heavily on their capacity for making changes in policy and for implementing these changes. Therefore, let us hope, (i) that university presses will serve all fields of scholarly inquiry, including science and technology, responsively and equitably, (ii) that university presses will recognize their responsibilities for encouraging pedagogical, as well as scholarly, experimentation; (iii) that university presses, with the support of their universities, will establish a firm policy of increasing their capitalization through earned surplus; and (iv) that university presses will maintain their strong affiliation with other educational publishers but will base their associational relationships on a clearly defined view of their own mission and then proudly defend their progress toward its achievement.     

Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora in the postpartum mare

Equine postpartum uterine bacterial contamination was studied. Thirteen mares were examined at foaling, at foal heat and again at the second estrus if not bred at foal heat (n=7). Twenty-three percent (3/13) of the mares showed no uterine bacterial contamination immediately post partum. This was increased to 77% (10/13) by foal heat and 100% (7/7) by the second post-partum estrus. Few anaerobic bacteria were isolated and were quickly eliminated. Anerobic bacteria do not appear to be a problem in the postpartum mare. The mare is capable of quickly eliminating postpartum uterine bacterial contamination. Endometrial etiology was shown to be a good screening test for uterine bacterial contamination in the postpartum mare.Bacterial endometritis has long been recognized as a major cause of infertility in the mare.⁵,⁸,¹² Bacterial culture techniques over the years have been improved as have the interpretation of such results. It is generally agreed upon that the isolation of bacteria by itself is insufficient evidence of disease.³,¹⁶,¹⁷,¹⁹,²⁵ Certain bacteria, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, are known to be the major bacterial pathogens responsible for most of the cases of endometritis.⁷,¹⁸,²⁶ Isolation of bacteria in pure culture also is considered to be clinically significant; mixed cultures probably indicate insignificant contamination.²,²¹ The clinician also must consider the quantity of organisms isolated.¹,³,⁷,¹⁹,²⁶ Most pathogens occur in large numbers with heavy growth noted when cultured. In addition to kinds and quantity of bacteria isolated from the uterus, there also must be evidence of inflammation detected by physical examination of the genitalia, endometrial cytology and/or endometrial biopsy.⁴,⁹,¹⁴,¹⁵,²⁵,²⁷,²⁸The presence and significance of anaerobic bacteria in the mare's uterus has not been throughly addressed. It has been documented that aerobic and anaerobic bacteria play a significant role in postpartum uterine infections in the cow.²⁰Fusobacterium necrophorum and Corynebacterium pyogenes apparently have a synergistic effect to increase the severity of postpartum uterine infections in the cow.²⁰,²³ Anerobic bacteria, as well as mycoplasmas and viruses, have been suggested as possible causes of endometritis in the mare when evidence of inflammation is present but no aerobic bacteria are isolated.⁷,¹⁴,²¹,²⁷The purpose of this study was to document aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contamination of the uterus in the postpartum mare. Endometrial cytology was investigated to determine if there was a relationship between the presence of bacteria in the postpartum uterus and an inflammatory response.