Racing performance following the laryngeal tie-forward procedure: a case-controlled study

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The laryngeal tie-forward procedure (LTFP) is becoming widely used for correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) despite the absence of an evidence-based assessment of its efficacy. HYPOTHESES: The LTFP returns racing performance to preoperative baseline levels and to that of matched controls; and post operative laryngohyoid position is associated with post operative performance. DESIGN AND POPULATION: Case-controlled study of racehorses undergoing a LTFP for dorsal displacement of the soft palate at Cornell University between October 2002 and June 2007. METHODS: The presence of at least one post operative start and race earnings ($) were used as outcome variables. Controls were matched by age, breed and sex from the third race prior to surgery. A novel radiographic reference system was used to determine laryngohyoid position pre- and post operatively. Data for definitively and presumptively diagnosed cases were analysed separately. RESULTS: During the study interval, 263 racehorses presented, of which 106 were included in the study; 36 had a definitive diagnosis of DDSP and 70 a presumptive diagnosis. Treated horses were equally likely to race post operatively as controls in the equivalent race. Treated horses had significantly lower earnings in the race before surgery than matched controls. The procedure moved the basihyoid bone dorsally and caudally and the larynx dorsally and rostrally. A more dorsal post operative basihyoid position and more dorsal and less rostral laryngeal position were associated with an increased probability of racing post operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Horses undergoing a LTFP are as likely to race post operatively as matched controls. The procedure restores race earnings to preoperative baseline levels and to those of matched controls. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: This study provides strong evidence supporting the use of the LTFP in racehorses. Further work is needed to determine the relationship between laryngohyoid conformation and nasopharyngeal stability in horses.     

Microscopic Particle Motions in Strongly Coupled Dusty Plasmas

The microscopic particle motions from the crystal to the disordered state of a dusty plasma with micrometer-sized silicon dioxide particle suspensions in a radio-frequency glow discharge system were studied through an optical microimaging system. Small-amplitude random motion around the lattice sites of the crystal state, relative domain motion with varying boundaries, cooperative hopping in the liquid state, and highly disordered motion with increasing radio-frequency power were observed. Chaotic states with different spatial scales under the coherent and stochastic coupling between dust particles and self-organized background plasma fluctuations were also demonstrated.     

Metapopulation dynamics, abundance, and distribution in a microecosystem

The experimental fragmentation of landscapes of a natural ecosystem resulted in declines in the abundance and distribution of most species in the multispecies animal community inhabiting the landscapes and the extinction of many species. These declines caused the deterioration of the positive interspecific relation between local population abundance and distributional extent in this community. However, when patches were connected by habitat corridors, an immigration "rescue effect" arrested declines in both abundance and distribution and maintained the observed positive relation between them. These results demonstrate the importance of metapopulation dynamics and landscape connectivity for the persistence of populations in fragmented landscapes.     

The role of a food engineer in fish diet research and formula development

This paper expands upon the role that food engineers play in the multi-discipline area of aquaculture engineering. The author explains why it is necessary to apply basic engineering principles to those areas which have had only a minor emphasis in past aquaculture research programs.     

Analysis of post-partum fertility in mares on a Thoroughbred stud in southern Victoria

This project surveys the reproductive performance of 154 foaling Thoroughbred mares on a commercial stud in southern Victoria. Of these, 96 were served on foal heat (FHS) and 58 were served at a subsequent prostaglandin-induced oestrus (PGS). The PGS group of mares performed more favourably in all aspects except the foaling-to-conception interval where there was a 9.4 day advantage to the FHS group. The first service conception rate in the FHS group was 47.9% compared with 55.2% in PGS mares. Second heat period conception rates were 46% vs 57.7% for FHS and PGS mares, respectively. Overall conception rates at the end of the breeding season were 83.3% in the FHS group and 89.7% in the PGS group. Pregnancy losses before day 45 and after day 45 were 10% and 9.3% in FHS mares and 3.9% and 3.6% in the PGS mares. Served oestrous periods per conception numbered 1.7 and 1.4 in the FHS and PGS groups, respectively.     

Rapid vacuolar sequestration: the horseweed glyphosate resistance mechanism

BACKGROUND: Glyphosate‐resistant (GR) weed species are now found with increasing frequency and threaten the critically important GR weed management system. RESULTS: The reported ³¹P NMR experiments on glyphosate‐sensitive (S) and glyphosate‐resistant (R) horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., show significantly more accumulation of glyphosate within the R biotype vacuole. CONCLUSIONS: Selective sequestration of glyphosate into the vacuole confers the observed horseweed resistance to glyphosate. This observation represents the first clear evidence for the glyphosate resistance mechanism in C. canadensis. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Uptake of drugs from topically applied anti-inflammatory preparations applied to racing animals

Objective To determine whether a drug detected in the blood or urine of a racing animal could have penetrated through the skin from a topically applied preparation.
Design Blood and urine of dogs and horses were analysed after topical administration of three common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory preparations.
Experimental method Dimethylsulphoxide was analysed using a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector. Phenylbutazone, its metabolites and lignocaine were analysed using a gas chromatograph with a mass selective detector.
Results Dimethylsulphoxide, phenylbutazone and ligno-caine were detected in dog urine after muliple applications of the preparations. The maximum concentration of dimethyl-sulphoxide in dog urine correlated with the concentration of dimethylsulphoxide in the preparation. Phenylbutazone penetrated the skin more effectively from the cream than from the solution or gel preparations. This penetration was independent of the concentration of dimethylsulphoxide.
Conclusion The superior penetration of phenylbutazone from the cream can be explained by it being present as a neutral molecule in an hydrophobic medium. It is proposed that phenylbutazone penetrates the skin of greyhounds most effectively by a hydrophobic lipid route which is likely to be different from the path by which dimethylsulphoxide penetrates the skin.