Communication between the distal interphalangeal joint and the navicular bursa in the horse at Computed Tomography Arthrography

Diffusion of drugs injected into the distal interphalangeal joint or the navicular (podotrochlear) bursa can influence diagnosis and treatment of foot pain. Previous anatomical and radiographic studies of the communication between these synovial structures have produced conflicting results and did not identify the location of any communication if present. This anatomic study aimed to assess the presence and site of communication between the distal interphalangeal joint and the navicular bursa in the horse by computed tomography arthrography. Sixty‐six pairs of cadaver forelimbs were injected with contrast medium into the distal interphalangeal joint and imaged by computed tomography arthrography. The presence of a communication, location of the communication and additional structural changes were assessed. Navicular bursa opacification occurred in 7 distal limbs (5.3%) following distal interphalangeal joint injection. One limb showed a communication through the T‐ligament and 6 limbs showed a communication through the distal sesamoidean impar ligament. In 3 cases, the communication through the distal sesamoidean impar ligament was associated with a distal border fragment. Our study showed that communication between the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa is uncommon and inconsistent. Clinically, the presence of a communication could (1) influence the interpretation of diagnostic analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint or the navicular bursa by facilitating the diffusion of local anaesthetic between these structures; (2) allow the drug and its potential adverse effects to spread from the treated synovial cavity to the non‐targeted synovial cavity; (3) be responsible for the failure of joint drainage in the case of sepsis.     

Post Hoc Assessment of Stand Structure Across European Wood-Pastures: Implications for Land Use Policy

Europe’s woodland and savanna rangelands, often part of silvopastoral systems known as wood-pastures, are deteriorating because of abandonment that leads to return to a forested state or lack of tree regeneration from overgrazing or tree and shrub removal. Despite numerous local studies, there has been no broader survey of the stand structure of European wood-pastures showing which systems are at risk of losing their semiopen character. This overview aims to 1) show some of the differences and similarities in wood-pastures from landscapes across Europe and 2) identify which of these wood-pastures are at risk of losing their semiopen character. We collated a dataset of 13 693 trees from 390 plots in wood-pastures from eight different European regions (western Estonia, eastern Greece, northern Germany, Hungary, northern Italy, southern Portugal, central Romania, and southern Sweden), including tree diameters at breast height, tree density, management type, and tree species composition. On the basis of their structural characteristics, we classified wood-pastures using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The PCA showed a gradient from dense wood-pastures with high levels of regeneration (e.g., in Estonia) to sparse wood-pastures with large trees but a lack of regeneration (e.g., in Romania). Along this gradient, we identified three main groups of wood-pastures: 1) sparse wood-pastures with mostly big trees; 2) dense wood-pastures composed of small trees, and 3) wood-pastures containing a wide range of tree ages. Our results show a large structural gradient in European wood-pastures, as well as regeneration problems varying in their severity, highlighting the importance of social-ecological context for wood-pasture conditions. To maintain the ecological and cultural integrity of European wood-pastures, we suggest 1) more comprehensively considering them in European policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and EU Habitats Directive, while 2) taking into account their structural characteristics and social-ecological backgrounds.     

Congenital malformations of the lumbosacral vertebral column are common in neurologically normal French Bulldogs,English Bulldogs,and Pugs,with breed‐specific differences

Congenital vertebral malformations are common findings on diagnostic imaging of the vertebral column in “screw‐tailed” brachycephalic dogs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of lumbosacral congenital vertebral malformations in French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs presenting for problems unrelated to spinal disease, as well as possible associations with the degree of tail malformation, lumbosacral intervertebral disc herniation, or spondylosis deformans. In this retrospective cross‐sectional study, CT scans of vertebrae L6 to S3 and of the coccygeal vertebrae were reviewed for type of congenital vertebral malformations (hemivertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, and spina bifida), lumbosacral intervertebral disc herniation, lumbosacral spondylosis deformans, and degree of tail malformation. In 76 (51.0%) of the 149 included dogs (53 French Bulldogs, 37 English Bulldogs, and 59 Pugs) at least one type of congenital vertebral malformations was found, with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae being the most common (34.2%). There was a significantly higher prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (54.2%) and lower prevalence of hemivertebrae (1.7%) in Pugs compared to English (13.5% and 24.3%, respectively) and French Bulldogs (26.4% and 32.0%, respectively). Tail malformation was significantly more severe in dogs with evidence of hemivertebrae. Congenital vertebral malformations are a common finding in the lumbosacral vertebral column of French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs. These anatomical variances need to be considered when interpreting diagnostic studies and when planning for neurosurgical and neurodiagnostic procedures. Furthermore, this study suggests a possible association between the degree of tail malformation and lumbosacral hemivertebrae.     

Parachlamydia acanthamoebae in domestic cats with and without corneal disease

Corneal samples of cats with and without corneal diseases were screened with a pan‐Chlamydiales PCR and specific PCRs for Parachlamydia, Protochlamydia, Chlamydophila felis, Acanthamoeba and feline herpesviruses (FHV‐1). Several corneal samples tested positive for Parachlamydia and related Chlamydiales, indicating cat exposure to these intracellular bacteria.     

Fresh israeli jaffa sweetie juice consumption improves lipid metabolism and increases antioxidant capacity in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from coronary artery disease: studies in vitro and in humans and positive changes in albumin and fibrinogen fractions

The contents of the bioactive compounds in the pummelo-grapefruit hybrid juice named Israeli Jaffa Sweetie and their influence on humans suffering from hypercholesterolemia were studied. It was found that Sweetie juice has a high content of bioactive compounds and a high antioxidant potential. Then 72 hypercholesterolemic patients, ages 43-71 years, after coronary bypass surgery recruited from the Institute pool of volunteers, were randomly divided into two experimental (EG1 and EG2) groups and one control (CG) group, each comprising 24 patients. The diets of EG1 and EG2 patients were daily supplemented with 100 or 200 mL of fresh Sweetie juice, respectively. Before and after diet consumption serum lipid levels, albumin and fibrinogen fractions, and their antioxidant capacities were determined. After 30 consecutive days of Sweetie juice supplemented diets, improvements in serum lipids levels were found in EG1 and EG2 versus CG: (a) total cholesterol, 7.34 versus 8.02 mmol/L, -9.5%, and 6.73 versus 8.02 mmol/L, -16.1%, respectively; (b) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 5.63 versus 6.37 mmol/L, -11.6%, and 5.03 versus 6.37 mmol/L, -21.0%, respectively; (c) total glycerides, 2.01 versus 2.27 mmol/L, -11.5%, and 1.71 versus 2.27 mmol/L, -24.7%, respectively. Serum albumin concentration was increased but not significantly in EG1 and EG2 versus CG: 47.5 versus 44.5 g/L, +6.7%, and 47.9 versus 44.5 g/L, +7.6%, respectively. A significant increase in the serum, albumin, and fibrinogen antioxidant capacities in EG2 and to a lesser degree in EG1 was observed. No changes in the CG were found. In conclusion, fresh Sweetie juice contains high quantities of bioactive compounds and has a high antioxidant potential. Diet supplemented with this juice positively influences serum lipid, albumin, and fibrinogen levels and their antioxidant capacities. Addition of fresh Sweetie juice to generally accepted diets may be beneficial for hypercholesterolemic patients.