Esophageal Replacement in the Dog by Microvascular Colon Transfer

An orthotopic colon graft based on the middle colic artery and vein was implanted with microvascular technique and a stapling instrument in five dogs. The grafts were successful in four dogs. A similar colon autograft was used to replace the entire thoracic esophagus in five dogs. The recipient vessels were the left carotid artery and left external jugular vein. Four of the grafts failed because of kinking and thrombosis of the arterial supply (2 dogs) or the venous outflow (2 dogs). One graft, which had a viable vascular supply, developed a severe leak at the colon-to-stomach anastomosis, and the dog was euthanatized on day 3. The recipient vascular pedicle was modified and used successfully to replace a portion of the cervical esophagus in three dogs. The grafts survived, the dogs could swallow liquids and semisolid food well, and, at necropsy after 4 weeks, the anastomotic sites were well healed. The graft sites contained essentially normal colon mucosa.     

Zur Populationadynamik und Aktivitätszeit der echten Spinnen (Araneida) auf Kleefeldern in Ägypten

Population trend and time of activity of certain true spiders (Araneida), collected from clover foliage in Egypt A general survey of spider populations in a clover field at Assiut, Egypt, using the insect sweep net, revealed that their populations underwent violent oscillations throughout the growing season. However, number of spiders increased progressively and reached their peak late in May. The Salticidae, Tetragnathidae, and Thomisidae were the predominant families. They were amounted to 32, 23, 20 per cent of the total number of specimens collected during this study, respectively. The Clubionidae, Linyphiidae, and Lycosidae were collected in fewer numbers than the first three families. Data showed a possible occurrence of seasonal and temporal succession in the activity as well as relative population density of the studied spider families. Their maximum period of activity centered around Noon especially during January and February. However, this period was shifted to 8: AM and/or 8: PM during April and May.     

Effects of dietary arginine and lysine levels on growth performance and biochemical parameters of juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

ABSTRACT: To investigate the effects of disproportionate levels of dietary arginine and lysine on juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus , growth performance and biochemical parameters were evaluated by feeding five test diets, comprising different levels of arginine and lysine, to triplicate groups of juveniles (initial bodyweight 1.85 g) for 40 days. Crystalline amino acids were supplemented to test diets to correspond to the amino acid pattern found in the whole body protein of the Japanese flounder, except for arginine and lysine. After the feeding trials, plasma arginine, lysine and urea levels, excreted ammonia-N, and liver arginase activity were analysed. Survival, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and apparent protein retention were adversely affected ( P  <   0.05) by the deficiency in dietary arginine or lysine concentrations. An excess of either lysine or arginine in the diet did not depress growth when the diets contained adequate levels of either arginine or lysine, proving that there is no evidence for an arginine–lysine antagonism. Results for plasma arginine, lysine and urea levels, excreted ammonia, and liver arginase activity also demonstrated that Japanese flounder juveniles are not sensitive to excess dietary levels of lysine and arginine.     

Hepatic myelolipoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a cat

Hepatic myelolipoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed in an 11-year-old, desexed female Persian cat. The cat was initially referred for investigation of tachypnoea and dyspnoea. Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia is a common incidental finding in cats and is usually asymptomatic. Myelolipoma is an extremely rare benign tumour, composed of extramedullary haematopoietic cells and adipose tissue. Myelolipomas are hypothesised to result from metaplastic alteration, rather than a neoplastic process, although this theory cannot be substantiated. The present case is only the fourth report of such an unusual occurrence in cats and displays significant differences to previous reports. Hepatic entrapment and burgeoning of the mass within the pericardial sac resulted in cardiac tamponade and overt signs of right-sided cardiac failure. Surgical intervention was successful and despite concerns regarding the cat's clinical presentation and the gross appearance of the lesion(s), a good long-term outcome is anticipated.     

A multivariable prognostic model for equine colic patients

A survey of 1965 equine colic cases was conducted from August 1985 to July 1986 ten equine referral hospitals located througout the U.S.A. Two-thirds of the cases were randomly selected for model development (1336), while the remaining cases (629) were used only for subsequent validation of the model. The following outcomes were defined: (1) died or killed prior to discharge from the hospital; or (2) alive at the time of discharge. Only variables which were significant (P<0.05) in an initial bivariate screening procedure and for which there were less than 400 missing values were considered in the multivariable modelling. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed using a stepwise algorithm. The model used 666 cases and included the following variables: peripheral pulse (normal or weak), pulse rate, surgical or medical treatment, packed cell volume, self-inflicted trauma (absent or present) and capillary refill time. For each horse in the validation data set which had the appropriate variables recorded (n=335), the estimated expected probability of death (expected value) was calculated using the logistic regression equation. Using Bayes theorem, the post-test probability was calculated from the expected value (an estimate of the test odds) and the present probability (the case-fatality rate at each institution). Nomograms of predictive values for different case-fatality rates and expected values were constructed. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistics indicated that the model fitted the model data set well but the validation set poorly. However, when the observed case-fatality rates were compared with the average post-test probabilities for 0.10 increments of post-test probability, qualitatively, the model's performance was better.     

Protection conferred by vaccination with Blacksburg and Komarov strains of Newcastle disease virus against Newcastle disease in Bangladesh

Summary An evaluation was undertaken of the efficacy of vaccination of day-old chicks with the Blacksburg (B1) strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) followed at various times by vaccination with the Komarov (K) strain. Antibody was detected by the haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test one week after vaccination with B1 and titres peaked at three weeks and had declined to undetectable levels by nine weeks.After subsequent vaccination with K strain at five, seven or eight weeks of age levels of HAI antibody (titre 80 to 640) were detected after three weeks. Birds vaccinated at seven weeks were tested for antibody and resistance to challenge beyond 19 weeks of age. In this group the HAI titres remained constant (80 to 640) up to 32 weeks of age and then steadily declined to 10 to 20 at 44 weeks of age.A linear relationship between HAI titre and virus neutralising index (VNI) was demonstrated with a range of selected sera. Only birds with an HAI titre of 80 or greater resisted artificial challenge. It is recommended that, following B1 vaccincation at day-old and K vaccination at seven weeks old, revaccination with K strain should be performed at intervals of not more than seven months.

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Proteccion Conferida Mediante Vacunacion Con Las Cepas Blacksburg Komarov Del Virus De Newcastle En Bangladesh

Resumen Se llevó a cabo una evaluación de la eficacia de la vacunación de pollitos de un día, con la cepa Blacksburg (B1) del virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle, seguida de varias aplicaciones vacunales periódicas con la cepa Komarov (K). Se detectaron anticuerpos mediante la prueba de inhibición de la hemaglutinación, una semana después de la vacunación con B1, los títulos alcanzando el pico a las tres semanas y declinaron a niveles no detectables a las nueve semanas.Después de aplicaciones vacunales periódicas con la cepa K, a las cinco, siete u ocho semanas de edad, se detectaron anticuerpos mediante la prueba de inhibición de la hemaglutinación (títulos 80 a 640), después de tres semanas. Las aves vacunadas a las siete semanas, recibieron una descarga y se les hizo prueba de anticuerpos, después de las 19 semanas de edad. En este grupo los títulos de anticuerpos permanecieron constantes (80 to 640) hasta las 32 semanas de edad y después declinaron lentamente a 10 ó 20 a las 44 semanas de edad.Se demostró una relación lineal entre los títulos hallados y el índice viral neutralizante, en un rango de sueros seleccionados. Solamente las aves con títulos de 80 o más altos resistieron la descarga artificial. Se recomienda que, seguidamente a la vacunación con B1 a un día de edad y con K a las siete semanas, las revacunaciones con la cepa K debería hacerse con intervalos de no más de siete meses.

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Protection Conferee Contre La Maladie De Newcastle Au Bangladesh Par La Vaccination A L'Aide Des Souches Blacksburg Et Komarov De Virus De La Maladie De Newcastle

Résumé Une evaluation de l'efficacité de la vaccination de poussins d'un jour à l'aide des souches Blackburg (B1) du virus de la maladie de Newcastle, suivie à différents moments par la vaccination à l'aide de la souche Komarov (K), a été entreprise. Les anticorps furent détéctés par inhibition de l'hemagglutination (HAI), une semaine après la vaccination avec la souche B1 et le titre atteignit un pic à 3 semaines pour décliner jusqu'à des niveaux indétectables à neuf semaines. A la suite de vaccinations consécutives avec la souche K à cinq, sept ou huit semaines, les niveaux d'anticorps HAI furent détectés après trois semaines. Les oiseaux vaccinés à sept semaines furent examinés pour les anticorps et la résistance à une épreuve au delà de 19 semaines d'âge. Dans ce groupe les titres HAI sont restés constants (80 à 640) jusqu'à l'àge 32 semaines, puis ont diminué régulièrement jusqu'à 10 à 20 à l'âge de 44 semaines.Une relation linéaire entre le titre HAI et l'index de neutralisation du virus (VNI) a été démontrée sur une gamme de sérums choisis. Seuls les oiseaux ayant un titre HAI de 80 ou plus ont résisté à l'épreuve artificielle. On recommande que, après une vaccination B1 à un jour, et une vaccination K à l'âge de sept semaines, une revaccination K soit réalisée à des intervalles n'excédant pas sept mois.