Thyroid tumours in the dog

The clinical, radiological and histopathological features of 30 thyroid tumours in the dog are described. Ten tumours were considered suitable for surgical removal and in a follow-up period of between 14 and 36 months five dogs were still alive.     

中国基干鸟类综述

"基于鸟类(basal birds)"为一种类数量相对较少的化石鸟类,基干鸟类较另一鸟类群--"鸟胸类(Ornithothoraces)"原始;鸟胸类(包括现生鸟类和反鸟类)为一类种类数量很大、具有同一祖先、且来源于基干鸟类的鸟类群.在过去的15年里,共有产自中国的8个属、12个有效种基干鸟类发表,而产自的德国的始祖鸟为唯一的非中国产基干鸟类;当然,孔子鸟化石也发现于朝鲜.本文对产自中国的基干鸟类的形态学、系统发生和生态学进行了简单的综述.中国的化石材料对科学地了解鸟类的早期演化具有重要意义,揭示了基干鸟类个体相对较大、形态特征和生态环境变异也相对较大等特点.尽管有些明显的不确定因素的存在(例如热河鸟、会鸟和中鸟的相对系统关系存有争议),但是由于中国化石材料的存在,鸟类早期演化的真实场景已经愈加清晰.     

ASSESSMENT OF THREE RADIOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS FOR DETECTION OF FLUID IN THE RABBIT TYMPANIC BULLA

Otitis media in the rabbit commonly results in fluid accumulation in the tympanic bulla. Radiographic detection of fluid in the tympanic bulla is only moderately sensitive in the dog and cat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of radiographic detection of fluid in the rabbit tympanic bulla for three different radiographic projections. Forty rabbit cadavers were used. Half of the tympanic bullae were randomly allocated to be filled with soft tissue material. Following this procedure, each specimen was radiographed in three projections: dorsoventral (DV), rostro 40° ventral-caudodorsal (R40°V-CdDO), and left and right latero 40° ventral-laterodorsal (Lat40°V-LatDO). After imaging, each specimen was frozen and sectioned to determine the content of the tympanic bullae. Images were interpreted and scored independently by two board-certified radiologists. There was no significant difference in sensitivity or specificity between the three projections when compared with the gross findings following sectioning, but observer confidence was highest for the DV projection. Accuracy of radiographic fluid detection was similar to that reported in the dog and cat. The DV and R40°V-CdDO allow comparison of both tympanic bullae on a single radiograph, but the DV was subjectively easier to position, while the Lat40°V-LatDO requires two radiographs for comparison.     

An outbreak of lead poisoning in dogs

SUMMARY An outbreak of lead toxicosis in working dogs on a sheep farm is described. The affected dogs exhibited neurological signs which appeared to be initiated by straineous physical activity. Radiological examination and estimation of urinary delta aminolevolonic acid (U-ALA) was not found to be useful for clinical diagnosis but blood lead estimation was helpful in detecting and confirming dogs that were exposed to lead. Gross pathological lesions were absent in a lead poisoned dog. However, histopathological lesions were seen in brain and bone. Acid-fast lead inclusion were not detected in liver and kidney epithelial cells but were present in osteoclasts.     

Canine nasal aspergillosis: serology and treatment with ketoconazole

Seven cases of nasal aspergillosis in dogs were diagnosed using radiography, endoscopy, culture and serology. Treatment with oral ketoconazole (an imidazole derivative) at 40 mg/kg b. wt, alone or in combination with surgery resulted in three cures, while in four dogs this therapy was not successful. In all cases inappetance and hypoal-buminaemia were noted and rises in levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were recorded in six of the seven cases. Serological monitoring was conducted during the period of therapy and in cases that recovered a fall in titre was noted.     

VALUE OF A SINGLE-SHOT TURBO SPIN-ECHO PULSE SEQUENCE FOR ASSESSING THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUBARACHNOID SPACE AND THE CONSTITUTIVE NATURE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Three case history reports are presented to illustrate the value of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence for assessment of the subarachnoid space. The use of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence, which is a heavily T2-weighted sequence, allows for a rapid, noninvasive evaluation of the subarachnoid space by using the high signal from cerebrospinal fluid. This sequence can be completed in seconds rather than the several minutes required for a T2-fast spin-echo sequence. Unlike the standard T2-fast spin-echo sequence, a single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence also provides qualitative information about the protein and the cellular content of the cerebrospinal fluid, such as in patients with inflammatory debris or hemorrhage in the cerebrospinal fluid. Although the resolution of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence images is relatively poor compared with more conventional sequences, the qualitative information about the subarachnoid space and cerebrospinal fluid and the rapid acquisition time, make it a useful sequence to include in standard protocols of spinal magnetic resonance imaging.     

Development of a chick embryo heart cell for the cultivation of poliovirus

An epithelial-like cell has been developed in line culture that apparently is stable. Although initially isolated cells were incapable of supporting the growth of poliovirus, the cells of the sixth and later passages allowed virus to propagate. The early, nonsusceptible cells were fibroblastic in appearance, in contrast to the epithelial type, poliovirussusceptible, derived cell of later passages.