Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid in dogs with type I intervertebral disc herniation

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in dogs with Hansen type I intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is classically described as normal or mildly inflammatory with a predominance of large mononuclear cells or neutrophils in severe acute herniations. However, we have observed a moderate to marked pleocytosis with a predominance of lymphocytes in some dogs with IVDH. HYPOTHESIS: Moderate to marked CSF pleocytosis occurs more commonly in dogs with type I IVDH than is reported in the literature. Lymphocytic predominance is more common than nonlymphocytic pleocytosis in dogs with chronic IVDH. ANIMALS: Four hundred twenty-three client-owned dogs with type I IVDH. METHODS: Retrospective study. Lumbar CSF of dogs with surgically confirmed type I IVDH was evaluated cytologically. Information obtained from medical records included signalment, prior clinical history, time from onset of signs to presentation, neurologic status, and intraoperative findings. Dogs with prior history and/or intraoperative evidence consistent with chronic IVDH before an acute herniation were termed acute-on-chronic (AOC). RESULTS: Pleocytosis (> 5 cells/uL) was present in 51% of dogs, including 23% with cervical IVDH and 61% with thoracolumbar IVDH. Moderate or marked inflammation (> or = 20 cells/uL) was identified in the CSF of 51% of dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH and pleocytosis. A predominance of lymphocytes was significantly more common in dogs examined > 7 days from onset of signs (P= .032) and in dogs with AOC IVDH (P= .0013). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Moderate to marked CSF pleocytosis in dogs with type I IVDH is more common than previously reported. Lymphocytic pleocytosis is most common in dogs with chronic progression or AOC IVDH. Lymphocytic inflammation in the CSF of some dogs might suggest an immune-mediated response to chronically herniated disc material.     

Triblock copolymer syntheses of mesoporous silica with periodic 50 to 300 angstrom pores

Use of amphiphilic triblock copolymers to direct the organization of polymerizing silica species has resulted in the preparation of well-ordered hexagonal mesoporous silica structures (SBA-15) with uniform pore sizes up to approximately 300 angstroms. The SBA-15 materials are synthesized in acidic media to produce highly ordered, two-dimensional hexagonal (space group p6mm) silica-block copolymer mesophases. Calcination at 500 degrees C gives porous structures with unusually large interlattice d spacings of 74.5 to 320 angstroms between the (100) planes, pore sizes from 46 to 300 angstroms, pore volume fractions up to 0.85, and silica wall thicknesses of 31 to 64 angstroms. SBA-15 can be readily prepared over a wide range of uniform pore sizes and pore wall thicknesses at low temperature (35 degrees to 80 degrees C), using a variety of poly(alkylene oxide) triblock copolymers and by the addition of cosolvent organic molecules. The block copolymer species can be recovered for reuse by solvent extraction with ethanol or removed by heating at 140 degrees C for 3 hours, in both cases, yielding a product that is thermally stable in boiling water.     

Western Encephalomyelitis Virus Infection in “Indicator” Chickens in Southern Alberta

Sera from indicator chicken flocks situated in southern Alberta near Lethbridge were tested by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) technique for antibodies to Western, Eastern and St. Louis Encephalitis viruses during the summer and early fall of the four years 1964 to 1967.

One chicken in 1964, 90 in 1965 and five each in 1966 and 1967 were positive to Western encephalomyelitis (WE) virus by hemagglutination-inhibition tests. All of the positive sera were confirmed by neutralization test (NT) in infant mice. No antibodies to the Eastern and St. Louis viruses were detected.

Infection with WE virus was detected in each of the four years, indicating that WE virus is endemic to southern Alberta with a marked seasonal incidence occurring between the second week in August and the third week in September.

An improved technique for filtering sera is described.

     

Epizootic of Western Encephalomyelitis Virus Infection in Equines in Alberta in 1965

The epizootic of equine encephalomyelitis in 1965 in Alberta was proved to be due to Western Encephalomyelitis virus infection by serological findings and virus isolations.

Sixty-three horses of 88 tested, showed a diagnostic rise of CF antibodies to Western Encephalomyelitis virus.

Western Encephalomyelitis virus was isolated from 5 brains of horses. Homologous antibodies were shown in 3 of these animals, the only ones from which blood specimens were received.

For the first time virological evidence is given that Western Encephalomyelitis virus infection in horses is found in more areas of Alberta and in regions situated further North than those previously suspected.

     

Synthesis of amino acids by the heating of formaldehyde and ammonia

The heating of formaldehyde and ammonia yields a product that, on hydrolysis, is converted into seven amino acids: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, proline, valine, glycine, and alanine. Glycine is the predominant amino acid. Inasmuch as formaldehyde and ammonia have been identified as compounds in galactic clouds, these experimental results are interpreted in a cosmochemical and geochemical context.     

Efficacy of tulathromycin in the treatment of bovine respiratory disease associated with induced Mycoplasma bovis infections in young dairy calves

The efficacy of tulathromycin in the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) due to Mycoplasma bovis was determined following experimental infection. Two highly pathogenic strains of M. bovis (with minimum inhibitory concentration values for tulathromycin of 1 and >64 microg/ml) were inoculated into 145 calves. Four days after inoculation, calves with clinical BRD were treated subcutaneously with saline or tulathromycin (2.5 mg/kg). Compared with saline, BRD-related withdrawals, peak rectal temperatures, and lung lesion scores were significantly lower for tulathromycin-treated calves (P < .01). Tulathromycin was highly effective in the treatment of BRD due to M. bovis in calves regardless of the minimum inhibitory concentration of the challenge strain (1 or >64 microg/ml).