Clinical trials. Company, researchers battle over data access

A dispute between university-based researchers and the corporation that funded their study is threatening to erupt into a $7 million to $10 million legal battle. Last week, the researchers reported that a large clinical trial of an immune system booster to treat HIV-infected people found that the drug isn't effective in slowing progression to AIDS or reducing mortality. The company that developed the drug tried to block publication of the study unless the researchers included the company's analysis of a subset of the data that suggests the drug might help some people. The researchers refused.     

Callosal Section: Its Effect on Performance of a Bimanual Skill

Four out of five monkeys showed no lessening of the ability to perform a motor habit requiring concurrent movement of the two hands in opposite directions when the callosum was cut after training. However, in only one animal was there significant transfer, between the hands, of a shape-discrimination habit learned postoperatively.     

The immunological approach to pregnancy diagnosis: a review

The developing embryo/fetus bears antigens which are foreign to the mother and it could be expected that immune rejection of the conceptus would occur. One of the reasons why the fetus is not rejected is because a depression of the maternal immune response takes place during pregnancy. Serum from pregnant animals of several species has been shown to contain a factor, early pregnancy factor (EPF), which is immunosuppressive. EPF has been detected as early as six hours after mating and its detection could aid diagnosis of early pregnancy in all species.     

Wounds of the pastern and foot region managed with phalangeal casts: 50 cases in 49 horses (1995–2006)

Objective   Describe the use of a phalangeal cast as treatment for wounds in the pastern and foot region of horses. Secondly, to evaluate the healing and soundness of horses treated with phalangeal casts.
Design   Retrospective study of 49 horses.
Procedures   Medical records of 49 horses that were treated with a phalangeal cast for 50 cases of wounds in the pastern and foot region at equine referral hospitals from 1995 to 2006 were reviewed and follow-up information was obtained.
Results   Treatment consisted of wound debridement, lavage, wound closure (28 wounds), cast application and antibiotics (84%). At follow-up, the majority of horses were sound (42 of 47 wounds, 89.4%), three horses were still lame and one horse was euthanased because of persistent lameness. Three horses were lost to follow-up. There was no statistical difference between the outcomes of horses treated acutely (<24 h) or after a 24-h delay. Similarly, the involvement of synovial structures in the wound did not significantly influence outcome.
Conclusions   In this study, wounds involving the pastern and foot that were treated with a phalangeal cast carried a good prognosis for soundness (89.4%) and cosmetic healing (89.5%). The phalangeal casts were well-tolerated and effective.