An alternative pathway electrosurgical unit injury in a dog

Objective: To report esophageal perforation, caused by alternative current pathway from the use of a monopolar electrosurgery unit (ESU), during routine orthopedic surgery in a dog. Study Design: Clinical report. Animals: Two‐year‐old male Labrador retriever. Methods: Medial meniscectomy and lateral suture stabilization were performed on a healthy Labrador retriever with a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament. Monopolar electrosurgery was used during the procedure for hemostasis and tissue dissection. Anesthetic monitoring was augmented with an esophageal electrocardiogram (ECG) probe. The day after surgery, the dog appeared dehydrated. After intravenous fluid therapy, respiratory distress was noted and thoracic radiography and contrast fluoroscopy revealed an esophageal perforation. Results: Exploratory surgery was planned to repair the defect. Cardiac arrest occurred after induction. Gross necropsy findings and histopathologic examination revealed lesions consistent with thermal necrosis of the esophagus and myocardial degeneration. An internal investigation of this medical device accident revealed that multiple factors may have contributed to the injury. Conclusions: An alternative current pathway from the monopolar ESU to the esophageal ECG probe resulted in a full‐thickness esophageal thermal injury and cardiac failure.     

The interleukin 10 response in ovine Johne's disease

Johne's disease is an enteric mycobacterial infection of ruminants that has significant global economic impact. The classic host reaction is one of an early T-cell mediate immune response, with predominant interferon gamma (IFNγ) activity; there is subsequent lowering of this response as animals reach the terminal stages of disease. Interleukin (IL)-10, which can suppress Th1-type and enhance Th2-type cytokine production, is considered to play a role in the later stages of Johne's disease. To determine the role of IL-10 throughout the course of Johne's disease we studied groups of sheep with either no Johne's disease (n = 10), natural infection (n = 30) or experimental infection (n = 58). Disease status of the animals was comprehensively assessed by culture of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Mptb), histopathology and serology. Antigen-specific IL-10 secretion in peripheral blood of sheep exposed to Mptb was significantly higher than in control animals (P < 0.001) as early as 4 months post-inoculation, and increased progressively. In ileal and jejunal lymph node cells, IL-10 secretion was also significantly higher in animals that were exposed to Mptb compared to controls (P < 0.05). The early IL-10 response seen in peripheral blood cells may be a reflection of early responses at sites of Mptb infection. IL-10 secretion from ileal and jejunal lymph node cells was significantly higher in exposed animals with no lesions or with paucibacillary lesions when compared to animals with multibacillary lesions. These novel findings demonstrate that increased IL-10 activity commences soon after exposure to the causative mycobacterium and may play a role in determining disease outcome.     

In vitro effect of ventriculocordectomy before laryngoplasty on abduction of the equine arytenoid cartilage

Objective: To determine whether ventriculocordectomy (VCE) performed before prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL) results in increased rima glottidis size compared with PL alone. Study Design: Experimental study. Animals: Equine cadaver larynges (n=13). Methods: Right arytenoid cartilages were maximally abducted using a standard PL technique. Standard PLs were then performed on the left side and the force required to maximally abduct the left arytenoid cartilage recorded (F_max). Photographs were taken of the rima glottidis at zero force and at five equal levels of force up to F_max. The force applied was released, left VCE performed, and photographs repeated. Arytenoid left:right angle quotients (LRQ) and glottic cross‐sectional area ratios (CSAR) were calculated at each force level in each condition (PL and VCE‐PL). Results: Mean LRQ and CSAR for both PL and VCE‐PL increased with increasing force, initially rapidly before plateauing at ～50% of F_max. LRQ and CSAR were significantly greater for VCE‐PL than for PL (P<.001). When VCE was performed before PL, 12% less force was required to achieve an LRQ of 0.8, and 45% less for a CSAR of 0.8. Conclusions: In vitro, VCE performed before PL enables the arytenoid cartilage to be abducted to a greater degree for a given PL suture force.     

Isolation and characterisation of equine influenza viruses (H3N8) from Europe and North America from 2008 to 2009

Like other influenza A viruses, equine influenza virus undergoes antigenic drift. It is therefore essential that surveillance is carried out to ensure that recommended strains for inclusion in vaccines are kept up to date. Here we report antigenic and genetic characterisation carried out on equine influenza virus strains isolated in North America and Europe over a 2-year period from 2008 to 2009. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from equines showing acute clinical signs and submitted to diagnostic laboratories for testing and virus isolation in eggs. The sequence of the HA1 portion of the viral haemagglutinin was determined for each strain. Where possible, sequence was determined directly from swab material as well as from virus isolated in eggs. In Europe, 20 viruses were isolated from 15 sporadic outbreaks and 5 viruses were isolated from North America. All of the European and North American viruses were characterised as members of the Florida sublineage, with similarity to A/eq/Lincolnshire/1/07 (clade 1) or A/eq/Richmond/1/07 (clade 2). Antigenic characterisation by haemagglutination inhibition assay indicated that the two clades could be readily distinguished and there were also at least seven amino acid differences between them. The selection of vaccine strains for 2010 by the expert surveillance panel have taken these differences into account and it is now recommended that representatives of both Florida clade 1 and clade 2 are included in vaccines.     

Collaborative validation of the QuEChERS procedure for the determination of pesticides in food by LC-MS/MS

Seven FDA pesticide laboratories collaborated to develop and validate an LC-MS/MS method to determine 173 pesticides in <20 min. The average determination coefficient (r2) was >0.99 for all but two compounds tested. The limits of detection were <20 ng/mL for all compounds and <10 ng/mL for 363 of the 368 transitions reported. The method was used to determine pesticides in two AOAC sponsored proficiency samples. The LC-MS/MS determination was used for the analysis of oranges, carrots and spinach using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) method. Each matrix was fortified at 20, 100, 400, and 1000 ng/g. No false positive responses were detected in controls of the three matrices. 165 pesticides had recoveries between 70 and 130%, and 161 had minimum detection levels less than 10 ng/g. Recoveries of 169 compounds for the 1000 ng/g spikes were within 50-150%. A matrix effect study indicated all three matrices caused a small net suppressing effect, the most pronounced attributable to the citrus matrix. The procedure proved to be accurate, precise, linear, sensitive and rugged, and adds 100 pesticides to the scope of the FDA pesticide program.     

Bauxite residue fines as an amendment to residue sands to enhance plant growth potential—a glasshouse study

Purpose  

This glasshouse study was conducted to determine if amending bauxite residue sand with residue fines would improve its suitability as a growth medium. Alcoa’s West Australian operations mechanically separate residue into two size fractions: residue fines (which are dominated by particles <150 μm) and residue sands (>150 μm). Residue sand represents the primary material used as a growth medium for rehabilitation, and prior to amendments, it exhibits many characteristics unfavourable for plant growth.     

Speciation of heavy metals in garden soils: evidences from selective and sequential chemical leaching

Purpose  

Gardening (especially food growing) in urban areas is becoming popular, but urban soils are often very contaminated for historical reasons. There is lack of sufficient information as to the bioavailability of soil heavy metals to plants and human in urban environments. This study examines the relative leachability of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Zn, and Pb for soils with varying characteristics. The speciation and mobility of these metals can be qualitatively inferred from the leaching experiments. The goal is to use the data to shed some light on their bioavailability to plant and human, as well as the basis for soil remediation.     

Removal of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions Using Alum-Derived Water Treatment Sludge

The sorption of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using alum-derived water treatment sludge was investigated using the batch adsorption technique. Samples of sludge from two separate water treatment plants were used (one where alum was used alone and one where it was used in combination with activated C). The sorption characteristics of the two samples were generally very similar. Sorption isotherm data for all three ions fitted equally well to both Freundlich and Langmuir equations. Maximum sorption capacity and indices of sorption intensity both followed the order: Cr(III)?>?Pb(II)?>?Cr(VI). Kinetic data correlated well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggesting the process involved was chemisorption. Sorption was pH-dependant with percentage sorption of Cr(III) and Pb(II) increasing from <30% to 100% between pH?3 and 6 whilst that of Cr(VI) declined greatly between pH?5 and 8. HNO₃ at a concentration of 0.1?M was effective at removing sorbed Cr(III) and Pb(II) from the sludge surfaces and regeneration was successful for eight sorption/removal cycles. It was concluded that water treatment sludge is a suitable material from which to develop a low-cost adsorbent for removal of Cr and Pb from wastewater streams.     

Associations Between Dioxins/Furans and Dioxin-Like PCBs in Estuarine Sediment and Blue Crab

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between the quantity, toxicity, and compositional profile of dioxin/furan compounds (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in estuarine sediment and in the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Sediment and blue crab samples were collected in three small urban estuaries that are in relatively close proximity to each other. Results show that differences between PCDD/F and DL-PCB mass concentrations and total toxic equivalents (TEQ) toxicity in sediments of the three estuaries are reflected in those of the blue crab. TEQs are higher in the hepatopancreas of the crabs than in the sediment, but the concentration factor is inversely proportional to the TEQ in the sediments. Congener profiles in the crabs are systematically different from those in the sediments, and the difference is more pronounced for PCDD/Fs than for DL-PCBs, possibly due to differences in metabolization rates. Compared with sediment profiles, more lesser-chlorinated PCDD/Fs that have higher TEFs accumulate in crab hepatopancreas. This selective bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs results in a TEQ augmentation in crab hepatopancreas compared with sediments. The bioaccumulation in the blue crab is also selective for PCDD/Fs over DL-PCBs.