Spinal Root Origin of the Radial Nerve and Nerves Innervating Shoulder Muscles of the Dog

The ventral spinal root origin of the radial nerve, its muscle branches, and brachial plexus nerves which supply shoulder and thoracic musculature was determined in the dog. Electrophysiological signal averaging techniques measured evoked potential from specific ventral spinal roots to individual muscle nerves. The entire radial nerve received input from the sixth cervical (C6) through the second thoracic (T2) spinal roots. The most significant (p less than .05) input to triceps brachii came from C8 while the deep ramus of the radial nerve received its largest input from C7. The brachiocephalicus, suprascapular, and subscapular nerves all received their most significant (p less than .05) innervation from C6. Approximately 90% of the evoked potential to the axillary nerve originated from C7. The thoracodorsal nerve received most of its innervation from ventral roots C7 and C8. The lateral thoracic nerve which innervates the cutaneous trunci muscle was supplied by ventral roots C8-T2. Examination of innervation patterns suggests that only modest variation of spinal root input to specific nerves occurred between individual dogs.     

Effects of a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor in equine endotoxaemia

Thromboxane A2 may play a major role in circulatory shock. In some species, thromboxane synthetase inhibitors have a beneficial effect on shock induced by endotoxin, trauma, sepsis and administration of arachidonate. In some shock models, however, results with thromboxane synthetase inhibitors have been conflicting. The effect of UK-38,485, a selective thromboxane inhibitor, was evaluated in ponies injected with endotoxin intraperitoneally. Four groups of ponies were used to compare the effects of endotoxin alone, UK-38,485 alone, treatment with UK-38,485 before endotoxin challenge and treatment with UK-38,485 after endotoxin challenge. Haematological, metabolic, eicosanoid and clinical responses in each group were evaluated. The results indicated that UK-38,485 is an effective inhibitor of thromboxane A2 generation following endotoxin challenge. Prostacyclin values were elevated compared with baseline in ponies administered UK-38,485 and endotoxin. However, prostacyclin values were not significantly different from those of ponies receiving endotoxin alone. Furthermore, UK-38,485 failed to attenuate the haematological, metabolic and clinical manifestations commonly seen in the pony after endotoxin challenge.     

Evaluation of a novel immunomodulator composed of human chorionic gonadotropin and bacillus Calmette-Guerin for treatment of canine mast cell tumors in clinically affected dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of LDI-100, a preparation containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), in the treatment of dogs with mast cell tumors and to compare results with those from a control group receiving single-agent vinblastine. ANIMALS: 95 dogs with measurable grade II or III mast cell tumors. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomized to receive either LDI-100 (1.35 ng of BCG and 2 units of hCG, SC, q 24 h) or vinblastine (2 mg/m(2), IV, q 1 wk) for 6 weeks. Tumors were measured at baseline and day 42, and dogs were monitored for signs of toxicosis. Clinical performance scores were recorded at each visit. Differences in host factors (sex, weight, and age), clinical performance score, tumor response, and adverse events were analyzed. RESULTS: 46 dogs received LDI-100, and 49 dogs received vinblastine. No significant differences were found between the 2 treatment groups with regard to host factors or clinical performance score. Tumor response (>or=50% reduction) rates were similar between the LDI-100 and vinblastine group (28.6% and 11.7%, respectively). Dogs in the LDI-100 group had significantly less neutropenia than the vinblastine group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: hCG and BCG have immunomodulatory and antitumor effects against a variety of malignancies in humans and dogs. In this study, LDI-100 provided clinical responses comparable to single-agent vinblastine chemotherapy but without myelosuppression. LDI-100 is a promising new agent that should be further investigated for multimodality therapy of mast cell tumors in dogs.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUINE HEAD DISORDERS: 84 CASES (2000–2013)

The equine head is an anatomically complex area, therefore advanced tomographic imaging techniques, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are often required for diagnosis and treatment planning. The purpose of this multicenter retrospective study was to describe MRI characteristics for a large sample of horses with head disorders. Horses imaged over a period of 13 years were recruited. Eighty‐four horses met the inclusion criteria, having neurological (n = 65), sinonasal (n = 14), and soft tissue (n = 5) disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging accurately depicted the anatomy and allowed identification of the primary lesion and associated changes. There were good correlations between MRI findings and intraoperative or postmortem results. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the exact localization of the lesions, their size, and relation to surrounding structures. However, in the neurological group, there were 45 horses with no MRI abnormalities, 29 of which had a history of recurrent seizures, related to cryptogenic epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging was otherwise a valuable diagnostic tool, and can be used for studying a broad range of head disorders using either low‐field or high‐field magnets.     

切花芍药间作套种技术

为了提高切花芍药土地利用率及产出效益,根据市场需求,在每年6月至来年2月在切花芍药的大田进行间作套种。经过几年的生产实践,总结出了适宜切花芍药行间进行间作套种遵循的3个基本原则,2种主要模式及甜糯玉米、菠菜的间作套种技术。     

Lameness Associated with Mineralization of the Central Tarsal Bone and a Small Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in Two Sport Horses

The clinical features, response to local analgesia, and imaging findings of two mature sport horses with lameness associated with abnormal mineralization of the dorsal aspect of the central tarsal bone and a small osseous cyst-like lesion are described. Although the radiological findings and the lesions identified using magnetic resonance imaging were similar, the lameness characteristics and responses to perineural analgesia differed. One horse failed to respond to treatment and was retired. The second horse was humanely destroyed. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of an osseous cyst-like lesion distal to the subchondral bone plate of the central tarsal bone and extensive dense cancellous bone extending one-half the dorsoplantar depth of the bone.     

Inhibitory activity of Ecklonia stolonifera and its isolated phlorotannins against Cu2+-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation

Since the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the main causes of atherosclerosis, Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation and conjugated diene formation is currently being explored for the development of pharmaceutical drugs or functional foods for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The present work investigated the inhibitory effects on in vitro Cu²⁺-induced human LDL oxidation and conjugated diene formation of the methanol (MeOH) extract of the edible brown alga (Ecklonia stolonifera) and its different solvent-soluble fractions, as well as the phlorotannins isolated from them. The most active ethyl acetate fraction was selected for chromatographic separation to isolate six phlorotannins: phloroglucinol (1), dioxinodehydroeckol (2), eckol (3), phlorofucofuroeckol A (4), dieckol (5), and 7-phloroeckol (6). Compounds 3?C6 showed potent inhibitory activity against Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation as compared with probucol, a well-known clinical therapeutic agent for hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, when compound 5 (at levels of 9 and 4.5???M) was used in combination with probucol (4.5???M), they additively inhibited Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation. In addition, 3?C5 significantly prolonged the lag time of conjugated diene formation at 10???M. These results suggest that the potent antiatherosclerotic effects of E. stolonifera and its isolated phlorotannins may be partly attributed to the inhibition of Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation and conjugated diene formation.