Synovial regeneration in the equine carpus after arthroscopic mechanical or carbon dioxide laser synovectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare synovial regeneration in the equine carpus after mechanical or CO(2) laser synovectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Arthroscopic partial synovectomy was performed in the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twelve horses, 3 to 6 years of age, were randomly divided into 3 groups. METHODS: The antebrachiocarpal and intercarpal joints in each horse were randomly assigned a treatment such that each horse had one joint treated as a control (arthroscopic lavage), one in which a mechanical or CO(2) laser partial dorsal carpal synovectomy was performed, and one in which a combination of the mechanical and laser techniques was performed. The groups were euthanized for collection of specimens, respectively, at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The synovial membrane was evaluated grossly, histologically, and by transmission and scanning electron microscopes (TEM and SEM). RESULTS: The synovial villi failed to regenerate in all groups. At 1 month, the intimal cell layer was incomplete and the surface was still granulating. At 3 months, intimal regeneration was complete but more mature in the CO(2) laser synovectomy groups than in the mechanical synovectomy groups. Intimal regeneration was complete in all groups at 6 months. The subintima was replaced with fibrous tissue that separated the original subintimal vascular bed from the regenerated synovial surface. The CO(2) laser required preliminary training to operate effectively, and the air environment altered the intraoperative evaluation of the synovectomy site. CONCLUSIONS: Villous regeneration does not occur in horses after surgical synovectomy. All synovial membranes healed with a fibrous subintima and less populated intima. The CO(2) laser is capable of performing a more superficial synovectomy than that achieved with mechanical synovectomy using a motorized arthroscopic synovial resector. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mechanical or CO(2) laser synovectomy may be performed in the horse; however, additional evaluation is needed to determine the physiological significance of the lack of villus regeneration in this species. A combination of the resection techniques is not advised because of the increased risk of full-thickness capsular defects.     

Diets for Rearing the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius) in vitro

Female ambrosia beetles placed on media containing sucrose, yeast extract, casein, starch, wheat germ, cottonseed oil, salt mixture, agar, water and cacao sawdust or powdered cellulose excavated galleries, oviposited, and produced progeny that developed to maturity. Several generations have been raised in the laboratory on media inoculated with ambrosia fungi by the beetles.     

Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug in 31 dogs

Background: Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug was first reported in dogs by Hogan et al in 2005. Hypothesis: Use of the Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe, efficacious method of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion. Animals: Thirty‐one client‐owned dogs with PDA. Methods: Records of 31 dogs in which transarterial occlusion of PDA with an Amplatzer vascular plug was attempted were reviewed. Results: All dogs had a type II PDA, with 27 dogs having type IIA morphology and 4 dogs having type IIB morphology. Appropriate device deployment was achieved in 29 of 31 dogs. Postdeployment angiography in 21 dogs documented complete occlusion in 10 dogs, trivial residual flow in 5 dogs, mild residual flow in 2 dogs, moderate residual flow in 3 dogs, and severe residual flow in 1 dog. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography documented complete occlusion in 22 dogs, whereas 2 dogs had trivial residual flow, 2 dogs had mild residual flow, 2 dogs had mild to moderate residual flow, and 1 dog had severe residual flow. Of the 7 dogs with residual flow, 2 had complete occlusion 2–4 months postoperatively, 1 had moderate residual flow 1 month postoperatively, and 4 were lost to follow‐up. One dog required a larger device than was able to be deployed through the largest sheath placed in the femoral artery. Pulmonary embolization of the device occurred in 1 dog. Conclusion: We conclude that ductal occlusion with an Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe and efficacious therapy for PDA in dogs.