Comparison of haemodynamic changes during two surgical methods for neutering female dogs

The aim was to investigate if intraoperative registrations of blood pressure and heart rate could be used to estimate surgical trauma. In a prospective clinical trial, registrations in eight dogs neutered by laparoscopic ovariectomy (LOE) were compared with eight dogs subjected to open ovariohysterectomy (OHE). For comparisons phases were used: phase zero = steady state after induction of anaesthesia; phase one = opening of abdomen; phase two = severing of ovarian pedicles; and, phase three = abdominal closure. During LOE, mean systolic blood pressure increased by 7 mm Hg (p = 0.05) and 15 mm Hg (p = 0.01) from phase zero to phase one and two, respectively, and during OHE by 3 mm Hg (ns) and 29 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), respectively. The increase from phase one to phase two differed between groups (p = 0.03). Heart rate did not change. Frequent intraoperative measurements of blood pressure appear a promising method for evaluating surgical trauma.     

The influence of genotype on the effects of impact damage on the accumulation of glycoalkaloids in potato tubers

Summary The effects of impact damage on the accumulation of glycoalkaloids in tubers were studied in a wide range of potato genotypes. Damage, caused by drop tests, resulted in increased glycoalkaloid levels, which sometimes exceeded the toxic limit of 20 mg/100 g fresh weight; there were large differences in levels between genotypes. When the total damage index was high, the severe damage types—shatter cracks and splits—were responsible for the initiation of glycoalkaloid synthesis in stressed tuber tissue, whereas the less severe damage types—bruises and black spot—were not. Genotypes which had the highest shatter crack indices often had the greatest increases in glycoalkaloids. The high correlation between the initial glycoalkaloid level and the increased level after damage showed that selection for low glycoalkaloid potato clones is important.

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Zusammenfassung Der Einfluss von Stossverletzungen auf die Glykoalkaloide in Knollen wurde an 18 bis 21 Sorten und Zuchtklonen untersucht. Die Knollen liess man von 150 cm H?he (1981) bzw. 100 cm H?he (1982) herabfallen, um Stossverletzungen unterschiedlicher Typen (Schwarzfleckigkeit, Quetschungen, Schlagrisse, Brüche) und unterschiedlicher St?rke hervorzurufen. Der Gehalt an Glykoalkaloiden (α-Solanin und α-Chaconin) wurde an unbehandelten und besch?digten Knollen bestimmt. In unbehandeltem Material wurden wechselnde Glykoalkaloidgehalte aufgefunden (Tab. 1). Die Falltests ergaben grosse Sorten-differenzen hinsichtlich der Verletzungsemp-findlichkeit. Eine Fallh?he von 150 cm verursachte hohe Indizes für die Gesamtbesch?digung (Tab. 2). Unter den einzelnen Besch?digungs-typen waren Brüche und Schlagrisse am h?ufigsten. Der Glykoalkaloidgehalt erh?hte sich signifikant in den Knollen mit Stossverletzungen, und in einer Sorte wurde die toxische Schwelle von 20 mg/100 g Frischgewicht überschritten (Tab. 1). Die Glykoalkaloidbildung war signifikant korrelliert mit dem Schwellenwert in unbehandelten Knollen. Sorten und Klone mit den h?chsten Schlagriss-Indizes zeigten die gr?ssten Zunahmen. Eine zweimalige Fallbehandlung ergab h?here Verletzungsindizes und die Glykoalkaloidgehalte stiegen weiter an. Die Werte schwankten dabei zwischen 4 und 53 mg Glykoalkaloid/100 g Frischgewicht. Drei Sorten/Klone überschritten 20 mg/100 g und drei andere waren nahe an der toxischen Schwelle. Eine Fallh?he von 100 cm bewirkte auff?llig niedrigen Anteile an Stossverletzungen (Tab. 3). Schwere Verletzungenstypen, z.B. Schlagrisse und Brüche, waren hier nicht so h?ufig als weniger schwere, wie Quetschungen und Schwarzfleckigkeit. Der Glykoalkaloidgehalt war verglichen mit demjenigen in unbehandelten Knollen nur geringfügig h?her (Tab. 1). Das Glykoalkaloidniveau der besch?digten Knollen war gut korrelliert mit dem ursprünglichen Niveau, es stand aber weder zum Gesamtindex der Stossverletzungen noch zum Index irgendeines besonderen Besch?digungstyps in Beziehung. Der Grund dafür lag vermutlich in der geringen Anzahl von Verletzungen, insbesondere in der geringen H?ufigkeit von Schlagrissen. Eine zweimalige Fallbehandlung erh?hte signifikant den Gesamtverletzungsindex und die H?ufigkeit der Quetschungen. Dabei ergab sich ein geringer Zuwachs an Glykoalkaloiden mit einer sortenbedingten Differenz von 2–20 mg/100 g Frischgewicht. Der Glykoalkaloidgehalt war jedoch nicht korrelliert mit dem Index der gesamten Stossverletzungen oder, vielleicht mit Ausnahme der Quetschungen, mit dem Index irgendeines besonderen Besch?digungstyps. Die Untersuchung zeigte, dass schwere Stossverletzungen eine Erh?hung des Glykoalkaloidgehaltes in Kartoffelknollen verursachen. Die Pflanzenzüchtung ist ein m?glicher Weg, um die Resistenz gegenüber mechanischen Besch?digungen zu erh?hen, wenngleich stets eine sorgf?ltige Behandlung notwendig ist, um die Besch?digungsh?ufigkeit in der Handelsware zu reduzieren. Die hohe Korrellation zwischen dem ursprünglichen Glykoalkaloidniveau und dem erh?hten Niveau nach der Besch?digungsinduktion zeigt, dass es wichtig ist, Kartoffelklone mit geringem Glykoalkaloidgehalt zu selektieren.

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Résumé L'influence des endommagements par impacts sur les glycoalcalo?des dans les tubercules a été étudiée sur 18–21 variétés et clones de sélection. Les différents types d'endommagements (noircissement interne, meurtrissures, cavernes et fissures) ainsi que leur gravité sont analysés après une chute des tubercules d'une hauteur de 150 et 100 cm, respectivement en 1981 et 1982. La teneur en glycoalcalo?des (α-solanine et α-chaconine) est déterminée dans les tubercules n'ayant subi aucun traitement et dans les tubercules endommagés. Une grande variété de teneurs en glycoalcalo?des est observée dans les tubercules non endommagés (tabl. 1). Les tests d'impacts ont montré des différences variétales importantes, quant à la sensibilité à l'endommagement. La hauteur de chute de 150 cm a causé des indices d'endommagements élevés (tabl. 2). Les fissures et les cavernes sont les types d'endommagements les plus fréquents. La teneur en glycoalcalo?des augmente de fa?on significative dans les tubercules endommagés et pour une variété, le seuil de toxicité de 20 mg/100 g de poids frais est dépassé (tabl. 1). La réponse dans la formation de glycoalcalo?des est correlée de fa?on significative à la teneur initiale, dans les tubercules non endommagés. Les variétés et clones qui présentaient le plus grand nombre de cavernes ont eu les augmentations les plus fortes. Les traitements comprenant deux chutes ont donné les indices d'endommagements les plus élevés et des teneurs en glycoalcalo?des encore plus importantes. Celles-ci variaient entre 4 et 53 mg/100 g de poids frais. Trois variétés/clones ont dépassé les 20 mg pour 100 g et trois autres étaient très proches de ce seuil de toxicité. La hauteur de chute de 100 cm a conduit à des niveaux d'endommagements beaucoup plus faibles (tabl. 3). Les types d'endommagements graves, c'est-à-dire les cavernes et les fissures, furent moins fréquents que les autres types d'endommagements moins graves: les meurtrissures et le noircissement interne. Il n'y eut qu'une légère augmentation des teneurs en glycoalcalo?des, comparée à celles des tubercules non endommagés (tabl. 1). Le niveau de glycoalcalo?des dans les tubercules endommagés est fortement correlé au niveau initial, mais n'est pas lié à l'indice total d'endommagements ni à l'indice d'un quelconque type d'endommagement. Ceci est probablement d? au faible niveau d'endommagement et notamment à la faible quantité de cavernes. Les traitements comprenant deux chutes ont donné un indice total d'endommagements plus élevé avec davantage de meurtrissures. La teneur en glycoalcalo?des a légèrement augementé, avec des différences variétales de 2–20 mg/100 g de poids frais. Toutefois, les glycoalcalo?des ne furent pas correlés à l'indice total ou à l'indice d'un des types d'endommagements, excepté peut être les meurtrissures. Cette recherche montre que les endommagements graves par impacts provoquent l'augmentation des teneurs en glycoalcalo?des dans les tubercules de pomme de terre. La sélection des variétés est un moyen pour augmenter la résistance des tubercules à l'endommagement, bien que des précautions dans les manutentions sont nécessaires pour réduire les fréquences d'impacts des pommes de terre de commercialisation. La forte corrélation entre le niveau initial de glycoalcalo?des et son augmentation après endommagement montre que la sélection des clones à faible teneur en glycoalcalo?des est importante.

     

Millettia ferruginea from southern Ethiopia: Impacts on soil fertility and growth of maize

Growing agricultural crops under Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker, a tree that is endemic to Ethiopia, is an age-old practice in the country, but the beneficial effects of the tree on crops have not been scientifically quantified. To achieve this, four isolated and nearly identical Millettia trees growing on similar site conditions were selected and canopy coverage of each tree was divided into four radial transects. Four plots of 0.5 × 0.5 m were established on each radial transect at 0.5 to 1, 2.5 to 3, 4.5 to 5, and 6.5 to 7 m away from the tree bases. The control plot was established at 29.5 to 30 m. Composite soil samples from each of the four plots located at a comparable distance and at two soil depths, 0 to 10 and 20 to 30 cm, were collected and analyzed. The level of surface soil P, organic C, exchangeable base-forming cations and cation exchange capacity were all significantly higher (P < 0.000 to P < 0.015) under the trees than in the open field. Nutrient levels declined with depth and increasing distances from the tree trunk. Soil pH values did not show significant horizontal or vertical variations in all the soil samples analyzed. Maize plants grown on soils collected from underneath Millettia trees resulted in significantly better growth responses and higher dry matter yield as compared to the control (P < 0.001). Socioeconomic studies indicated that Millettia trees have good standing in the region both because of their desirable biological characteristics and because of their economic benefits.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Studies of Enteric Pathogens and γ-Globulin Levels of Neonatal Calves in Sweden

Viring, S., S.-O. Olsson, S. Alenius, U. Emanuelsson, S.-O. Jacobsson, B. Larsson, N. Linde and A. Uggla: Studies of enteric pathogens and γ-globulin levels of neonatal calves in Sweden. Acta vet. scand. 1993, 34, 271-279.– Faecal and blood samples were taken from 10-30% of calves, 36 hours to 14 days old, in 47 dairy herds in different regions of Sweden from September 1987 to October 1988 (Olsson et al 1993). Faecal samples from 279 calves were analysed for the presence of Escherichia coli (K99⁺), rotavirus and Cryptosporidium sp. Twenty (7.2%) of these samples were from diarrhoeic calves. An ELISA was developed and used for the rotavirus analysis. E. coli K99⁺ was detected in 11.5%, Cryptosporidium sp. in 6.1% and rotavirus in 5.4% of the faecal samples. The presence of rotavirus alone and the combination rotavirus and E. coli (K99⁺) was found to be associated with diarrhoea (p<0.001 and p<0.01 respectively).Blood samples from 327 calves were analysed for the level of total protein and γ-globulin. In 43 of these samples (13%) γ-globulin did not separate from the ß₂-region by electrophoresis. The mean total protein concentration was 53.6 g/1 in calves free from diarrhoea. The mean γ-globulin concentration, adjusted to 7 days age was 5.9 g/1. The 20 diarrhoeic calves had lower levels of both total protein and γ-globulin, compared with calves without diarrhoea, but the difference was not significant. One litre more of colostrum at the first feed increased the level of total protein of the calves’ sera by 1.4 g/1 (p = 0.05). Calves born between May and September had a 2.0 g/1 higher (p<0.001) serum concentration of γ-globulin than calves born between October and April.     

Use of field records and competition results in genetic evaluation of station performance tested Swedish Warmblood stallions

The main objective of this study was to investigate possibilities to increase accuracy in the selection and test of Swedish warmblood stallions by combining information from stallion performance tests (SPT) with information from competitions and riding horse quality tests (RHQT). Data on 801 stallions judged at the SPT 1979–2005 were used for the analyses, which also included about 14 900 horses from the RHQT, 26 800 horses with results in show jumping and 14 200 horses with results in dressage competitions.Heritability coefficients were on average 0.41 for individual gaits under rider and 0.36–0.65 for jumping traits in SPT. Heritabilities for competition traits were 0.17 for dressage and 0.27 for show jumping. The heritability for overall conformation in SPT was 0.25. Genetic correlations between stallion performance test traits and competition results were 0.44–0.77 for gaits and dressage, and 0.78–0.96 for jumping traits in SPT and show jumping. The genetic correlation between conformation and results in dressage competitions was 0.22.For stallions participating in SPT in 2004 and 2005 accuracy increased when evaluating stallions by adding information from relatives that have taken part in RHQT and competitions. For show jumping accuracy changed from 0.60 to 0.68 for stallions born in Sweden, an increase with 13%, when information from RHQT and competitions in show jumping were used. For stallions born in a foreign country, the corresponding figure was, 5%, lower. For dressage the information from RHQT and competition results in dressage changed the accuracy from 0.41 to 0.55, an increase with 34%, for stallions born in Sweden. The improvement in accuracy for imported stallions was 11%.     

Feline primary nonhematopoietic malignant liver tumours: A multicenter retrospective study (2000–2021)

There is scant literature on primary nonhematopoietic malignant liver tumours (PMLT) in cats. In this retrospective study, medical data of 40 cats diagnosed with PMLT were reviewed over a period of 22 years (2000–2021). The most frequent epithelial tumours were hepatocellular (42.5%) and bile duct carcinomas (32.5%), only six (15%) cats had mesenchymal tumours. The median age was 13 years and clinical signs commonly included ano-/hyporexia (62.5%), apathy/lethargy (52.5%), weight loss (42.5%) and vomiting (35%). At initial diagnosis, metastases were confirmed in 1 (2.5%) and suspected in three (7.5%) cats. Massive was the most frequent morphology (75%). Most intrahepatic tumours were left-sided (54.2%) with the left medial lobe being primarily affected (25%). Extrahepatic tumours were rare (5%). In 34 (85%) cats, liver lobectomy was performed (surgery group), four (10%) were treated palliatively (non-surgery group), and two (5%) received no treatment. Intraoperative complications occurred in 11.8% with four (15.4%) postoperative deaths. Recurrence was detected in 28.6% at a median of 151 days (range, 79–684 days), while postoperative metastases were suspected in 21.4% at a median of 186 days (range, 79–479 days). The median survival time (MST) was significantly longer in cats of the surgery group (375 days) than in the non-surgery group (16 days) (p = .002). MST was 868 days for hepatocellular compared to 270 days for bile duct carcinomas (p = .06). In summary, liver lobectomy is associated with prolonged survival times and good prognosis in cats with hepatocellular, and an acceptable prognosis in cats with bile duct carcinoma.     

Influence of soil mineralogy and chemistry on site quality within geological regions in Sweden

The relationship between soil properties and forest site quality was investigated. The site quality functions currently used fail in predicting variations within regions and the purpose of this study was to evaluate if the local accuracy in forest resource assessments could benefit from the use of geological and geochemical data. The investigation was conducted in mid-Sweden within two geological regions. The mineralogy of the parent material (C horizon) was estimated using a method for normative mineralogical assessment and the soil chemistry was determined for five soil horizons. The importance of individual minerals for site quality was different within the two geological regions. Functional relations were established between the properties in different soil horizons and site index. The functions between mineralogy and site index were improved by splitting the data according to the geologically different regions. The mineralogy explained 37–61% of the variation in site index, whereas the properties in the upper soil profile (O–B horizon) related more strongly to site index (18–80%). Stronger relations could be established in the mineralogically rich than in the mineralogically poor area.     

Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of Escherichia coli strains associated with porcine pyelonephritis

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a severe problem in humans as well as in many domestic animals like pigs. The most frequent infectious agent in UTI is uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Such strains have been extensively characterised with respect to virulence and fitness factors as well as clonal type when it comes to human isolates. However, relatively little has been done to characterise the corresponding porcine strains. On this background we have analysed 20 porcine pyelonephritis E. coli strains isolated from infected pig kidneys. The strains were quite distinct from that of human uropathogenic strains with regards to adhesion profile and haemolysin production. Also, the clonal profiles differed from that of human infections since our strains all belonged to the E. coli clonal groups A and B1.     

Modelling Impacts of Atmospheric Deposition,Nutrient Cycling and Soil Weathering on the Sustainability of Nine Forest Ecosystems

To assess the impact of acid deposition on the long-term sustainability of nine oak, pine and spruce stands on sandy to loamy sandy parent material in Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands, a dynamic soil acidification model (ReSAM) was applied. Two deposition scenarios for the period 1990–2090 were used: a business as usual scenario (BAU) and a restrictive critical load scenario (CL). The BAU scenario leads to a strong decrease in both Al concentrations and pH in the topsoil of the Dutch and the Danish sites due to a decrease in the amount of amorphous Al compounds. The decline in pH leads to an enhanced release of base cations by silicate weathering. Despite the ongoing acidification, base saturation increases during the simulation period, due to both the increase in base cation weathering and an increased input from mineralization with the ageing of the tree stands. No change in Al concentration is predicted for northern Sweden as deposition levels are below critical loads. Soil chemistry at the recently replanted Swedish sites is dominated by changes in N cycling instead of by deposition. The CL scenario leads, especially after 2010, to a stronger decline in Al concentration compared with the BAU scenario, which is mainly caused by a reduction of the acid input. Up to 2010, a considerable acid input to the soil system is maintained as N supply is larger than the consumption of N by the trees. Despite the reduction of the deposition of S and N to critical loads, the readily available cation pools are still declining on the Danish and Dutch sites in 2090. It is concluded that deposition levels above critical loads lead to exhaustion of the pool of amorphous Al compounds and a decline in pH. Base saturation does not decline due to an increase in mineralization with stand age and an increase in weathering rate due to the decline in pH.     

Conditions related to solubility of rare and minor elements in forest soils

Soil solutions expelled by high‐speed centrifugation (13900 g) of intact soil sample cores at field moisture from 30 forest topsoils (A horizons of mainly Dystric and Eutric Cambisols, according to the FAO‐Unesco system) low in clay were subjected to analysis of 60 elements, using ICP‐MS and ICP‐AES. Concentrations measured were related to soil and soil solution properties assumed to be important for the solubility of elements, using stepwise regression analysis. On an average two thirds of the variability in soil solution concentration of elements were accounted for by, in particular, organic C concentrations, pH and/or nitrate concentrations of the solutions, varying among elements from 19 to 90 %. Concentrations of elements strongly positively related to soil solution acidity were Al, Be, Ge, Li, Ni, Pb, and Zn, strongly negatively related to acidity were Ca, Mo, and W. Most positively related to nitrate concentrations in soil solutions were B, Ba, Cd, Mg, Mn, and Sr; negatively were Nb, Ta, and Ti. Concentrations of organic C in the soil solutions correlated positively, often quite closely, with most of the other elements studied, including La, all the lanthanides, and with Ag, Br, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, In, P, Th, U, Y, and Zr. Soluble organic compounds were apparently ’︁carriers’ of these elements in the soil solution. The concentrations of elements in HNO₃ digests of the soils usually accounted for just little or no statistical variability of their soil solution concentrations.