Electroencephalography of Detomidine-Ketamine-Halothane and Detomidine-Ketamine-lsoflurane Anesthetized Horses During Orthopedic Surgery A Comparison

This study was done to compare the electroencephalographic (EEG) response evoked by orthopedic surgery in halothane- and isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Eight horses scheduled for bilateral arthroscopic surgery of the stifle were premedicated with detomidine (20 μg/kg) intravenously and five minutes later induced to anesthesia with ketamine (2.2 mg/kg) intravenously. Anesthesia was maintained with either halothane or isoflurane. Assignment of inhalation anesthetic was done randomly. The multiple of minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane required for anesthesia was significantly higher than the multiple of MAC of isoflurane (p < .05) required. Total amplitude of the EEG with halothane was smaller than with isoflurane (p < .05), but 13.0 to 32.0 Hz high frequency/0.0 to 3.9 Hz low frequency (|3/A) ratio was greater for halothane (p < .05). Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) was significantly (p < .05) higher with isoflurane than with halothane. The differences in EEG frequency shift observed suggest that isoflurane provided better analgesia than halothane for this group of horses.     

The effectiveness of vaccinating gilts against parvoviruses in a herd with endemic parvovirus infection

An inactivated vaccine against swine parvovirosis with a lipoid adjuvant was tested in a herd infested with parvoviruses. The titre of the haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies was studied at the time of the first pregnancy in two groups of gilts included in the herd at the age of 7.5 months - one group vaccinated, the other left untreated. In the vaccinated group the geometrical means of the titres were significantly higher than in the non-vaccinated group throughout the time of study. The difference in the average number of piglets per litter between the two groups was evaluated after parturition. On an average, the gilts of the vaccinated group had 1.5 more live pigs per litter (P less than 0.05). As also found, when the antibody titre increases by log 10, the number of piglets per litter increases by 1.55. On the basis of the results the vaccination of gilts against swine parvovirosis in endemically infested herds is considered an efficient preventive measure having a high economic effect.     

Assessment of lymphocyte and phagocytic functions in goats treated with glucan.

The effect of glucan, a biological response modifier of yeast origin, on different immune functions was studied after the intramuscular application in goats. The simultaneous administration of glucan with human serum albumin or tetanus toxoid significantly stimulated the antibody production to both antigens differing in their thymus dependency. Similarly, the phagocytizing activity of the blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes measured by the reductase colorimetric assay significantly increased one week after the glucan treatment. However, suppression of T-lymphocyte function in experimental animals was determined by the lymphocyte transformation test particularly in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. The results of the study indicate that glucan can modulate some elements of the ruminant immune response.     

Determination of antibodies to Streptococcus agalactiae in the milk of dairy cows using the ELISA test

A sensitive 4-layers ELISA test for determination of antibodies against the pathogens of Streptococcus agalactiae in cows' milk was used for diagnosis of mastitis, with the aim to broaden these methods. Antigen was linked on the solid phase in the form of the whole bacteria, and milk was tested, diluted in the ratio of 1:10. Antigen bound-specific antibodies were labelled with pig antibodies against bovine immunoglobulins and in the next layer with rabbit antibody conjugated with peroxidases against pig immunoglobulins. After test visualisation and reading on the photometre, the results were given in the positivity per cent as a 100-multiple of the proportion of absorbance of the unknown sample and the positive control after subtraction of the negative control. Milk was examined in 36 dairy cows from three various breeding herds by that method. The samples were parallelly examined bacteriologically and cytologically. In the milk of dairy cows with positive S. agalactiae finding, the main level of antibodies expressed a positivity per cent, was 15.0%, while in bacteriologically negative animals it was only 6.2%. The dairy cows were divided into 8 groups, characterizing various stages of mastitis, according to the results of the individual treatments.     

Use of a Medial Bone Plate for Repair of Radius and Ulna Fractures in Dogs and Cats: A Report of 22 Cases

Objective —This study evaluates the technique of medial bone plating in the repair of radius fractures in dogs and cats.
Study Design —A retrospective study was made of patients diagnosed with fractures of the radius that were stabilized by application of a bone plate to the medial side of the bone.
Animal Population —Sixteen client-owned dogs and 4 client-owned cats. The animals' ages varied from 5 months to 8 years, and their weight varied from 1.3 to 49 kgs.
Methods —Animals were evaluated using radiography or client assessment, or both.
Results —Medial plate application was technically easier to do than cranial plate application, the technique avoided the extensor tendons, and permitted greater versatility in the selection of smaller plates for the fixation of distal radius fractures. All fractures repaired by this method healed with no postoperative complications.
Conclusions —Medial plate application may be used for osteosynthesis of distal or middiaphy-seal radius fractures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of this technique in morphologically complex fractures. In patients with fractures of the proximal radius, cranial plate application is considered more appropriate.
Clinical Relevance —Medial plating of radial fractures has significant advantages compared with conventional plate application; it provides the surgeon with an alternative method of fixation for selected radius fractures in dogs and cats.     

THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL EXAMINATION IN THE CAT: NORMAL RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE USING POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIUM

The normal radiographic appearance of the feline upper gastrointestinal (UGI) examination following oral administration of barium sulfate suspensions was described. Important findings included the minimal gastric air and small bowel gas present on survey abdominal radiographs. Gastric appearance was nearly constant. A normal duodenal pattern, referred to as a "string of pearls", was described. Small bowel lumen size was consistently less than 12 mm. Small bowel mucosal patterns varied widely. The most commonly identified normal radiographic UGI patterns in this study were found consistently in a group of 26 cats thought to be without gastrointestinal disease. Because of the consistency of observation of many radiographic patterns, rapid gastric emptying, and a short small bowel transit time, normal UGI examinations in the cat present a more constant appearance than in the dog, thus making them more valuable as well as easier to conduct.     

Vegetable carbohydrates in human food. Preventive,prophylactic and epidemiological aspects

The composition of carbohydrates from 90 Danish vegetable foods has been determined by agronomist H. Englyst in the Institute of Hygiene, University of Aarhus, Denmark. The analyses are based on Southgate's method, modified and supplemented with gas chromatography (D.A.T. Southgate, G.J. Hudson & H. Englyst ‘The analysis of Dietary Fiber—The Choices for the Analyst’, J. Sci. Fd. Agric 1978). Results have been converted to contents per 100 gram food product (P. Helms & H. Englyst ‘Kulhydratsammensaetningen i vegetabilske fødevarer’, Husholdningsraadets Tekn. Medd. 1978/18; 3 p. 14) and transferred to magnetic cards as data-basis for a COMPUCORP^R calculator, which has been used in calculating the food consumption of households. Farmers' organizations in Denmark have made food surveys regularly since 1927, and from their archieves the consumption of vegetable carbohydrates during the years 1927–1977 will be presented. The appended table gives average values from two epochs, one before and one after the world war II. The figures illustrate known facts: that carbohydrate consumption has declined, and that the reduction is most pronounced for fiber-rich natural carbohydrate foods, whole-meal bread and potatoes. The role of carbohydrates, especially the undigestible fractions will be discussed from preventive and prophylactic aspects. Prevention is defined as intervention directed against specified diseases, e.g. constipation. Prophylaxis is used as a designation for measures aimed at an undefinable raising of the general resistance against environmental challenges. Epidemiological experiences will be taken into account, and consequences of possible modifications in processing and comsumption of vegetable carbohydrate foods will be evaluated.     

Use of transesophageal echocardiography for visualization of the patent ductus arteriosus during transcatheter coil embolization

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) enhances our ability to see the patent ductus arteriosus in the dog. The improved visualization may potentially improve our ability to perform transcatheter coil embolization in patients that are more likely to have a successful outcome. This report uses still and video images to detail the specifics of coil embolization as performed with the assistance of TEE and compares the images with those of angiography, surgery and postmortem examination.