Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy in dogs with thyroid carcinoma

Currently, a histological diagnosis of highly vascularized canine (c) thyroid carcinoma (TC) is primarily obtained following excisional biopsy (EB) through thyroidectomy. Non-EBs are contraindicated in unresectable invasive cTCs due to their highly vascularized nature, which subsequently, lack histological diagnosis. We hypothesised ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (UGCNB) to be a safe biopsy technique to obtain an accurate histological diagnosis in unresectable TCs. Nine client-owned dogs with suspected naturally occurring TC, presented for surgical excision, were included. First, a UGCNB was taken from the cervical tumour, followed by EB. Haemorrhage following UGCNB was evaluated preoperatively and once the tumour was surgically exposed by visual inspection and ultrasonography. Histological analysis, including cell organisation, tumour capsular and vascular invasion, and immunohistochemistry were performed and compared between both biopsy specimens (i.e., UGCNB and EB) of the same dog. Pre- and peroperative visual inspection revealed minor, localised haemorrhage, subsequent to the UGCNB, in 7/9 dogs. Histology of the EBs confirmed TC in 8/9 dogs and was inconclusive in 1/9 dogs. Histology of the UGCNBs revealed neoplastic thyroid tissue in 7/9 UGCNBs and was inconclusive in 1/9 UGCNBs. The remaining UGCNB contained no mass related tissue and was, therefore, excluded. Histological parameters (i.e., cell organisation, tumour capsular and vascular invasion) were not concordant between 6/8 included UGCNBs and their respective EB. Immunolabelling for thyroglobulin and calcitonin was concordant between all eight included UGCNBs and their respective EB. The remaining evaluated immunohistochemical markers (i.e., cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], P-glycoprotein and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) were concordant between the included UGCNBs and the EBs in 6/8 dogs. To conclude, UGCNBs can be safely obtained in suspected cTCs and enable a reliable diagnosis of the thyroid origin, thyroid cell origin and potential therapeutic markers such as COX-2, P-glycoprotein and VEGF. Subsequently, UGCNB enables clinicians to establish an individually tailored treatment plan in dogs with unresectable TC.     

Response of the german cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) to a light source following exposure to surface deposits of insecticides

Adult male German cockroaches were exposed to surface deposits of insecticides for 5 min in the central compartment of a three-compartment choice chamber illuminated at one end. They were then allowed access to the escape compartments and their distribution recorded over the subsequent 60 min. Cockroaches exposed to pyrethroid insecticides rapidly accumulated in the escape compartment closest to the light source; the same effect was observed to a lesser extent following exposure to propoxur. Boric acid and bendiocarb deposits inhibited the movement of the cockroaches away from the light source, and fenitrothion deposits delayed it. Dieldrin had no effect on the distribution of cockroaches within the choice chamber. The reversal of the normal tendency of German cockroaches to move from a light area to a dark harbourage following exposure to pyrethroids may contribute to the flushing action observed when these chemicals are used for control of B. germanica populations.     

Irrigation facility relocations along the Arizona state route 85 corridor

In 1999 the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) began improvements along the State Route 85 (SR85) corridor between Gila Bend and Interstate 10 (I-10). At the time SR85 was a two-lane highway that carried a large volume of truck traffic between Interstate 8 near Gila Bend and Phoenix. The SR85 roadway improvements project is broken into phases. The first phase includes the construction of frontage roads and using these roads as a divided highway. Once the divided highway is completed, the final freeway cross section will be constructed between the frontage roads. The project impacted existing irrigation facilities for three irrigation districts located between the Gila River and I-10; the Arlington Canal Company, Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD) and Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID). The roadway improvements impact three main canals, turnouts from the main canal, main canal check structures, delivery structures, laterals, groundwater wells and tailwater collection systems. Three miles of irrigation facilities relocations were completed in various phases between 1999 and 2009. Total construction cost as of May 2009 is about $9.4 million. ADOT is currently working on 30% design plans for the main line between the Gila River and Broadway Road. The irrigation districts are coordinating with ADOT regarding the impacts to the irrigation facilities. In this paper we present the institutional and functional constraints to infrastructure modernization in an urbanizing area with historic irrigated agriculture. This process was complicated by the need to continue to operate the irrigation delivery facilities on an almost year-round basis.     

Comparison of Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Popliteal Lymphangiography in Normal Dogs

Objective: To (1) describe computed tomographic (CT) popliteal lymphangiography; (2) compare the number of thoracic duct (TD) branches detected by CT and by radiography after popliteal lymphangiography; and (3) to compare the number of branches detected after left and right popliteal lymphangiography. Study Design: Experimental study. Animals: Adult dogs (n=6). Methods: A randomly selected popliteal lymph node was percutaneously injected with 12 mL iodinated contrast medium through a 25‐g butterfly catheter over 4–5 minutes. Lateral and ventrodorsal (VD) thoracic radiograph projections and thoracic CT were performed. The procedure was repeated using the contralateral lymph node after a 48–72 hours washout period. Results: One dog had TD branches visible on CT but not on radiographs. A significantly greater number of TD branches were observed with CT popliteal lymphangiography compared with lateral and VD radiographic popliteal lymphangiography (P=.003 and P<.001, respectively). The number of visible TD branches observed between the 6th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae were not significantly different in these dogs (P=.146). A significant difference in number of TD branches observed was not found after left or right popliteal lymph node injection (P=.097). Conclusions: CT popliteal lymphangiography consistently identified a greater number of TD branches when compared with radiographic popliteal lymphangiography. Injection of either popliteal lymph node resulted in the same number of TD branches being observed.     

Use of radiographic measures and three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging in surgical correction of an antebrachial deformity in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-year-old 7.4-kg (16.3-lb) castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of intermittent lameness and an antebrachial angular limb deformity. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The left forelimb had gross antebrachial external rotation (approx 90 degrees ) and marked procurvatum. Radiography revealed a severe partially compensated biapical antebrachial angular limb deformity. Measurements of medial proximal radial angle (MPRA) and lateral distal radial angle (LDRA) were obtained from orthogonal radiographs of the proximal and distal segments of the radius, respectively. Elbow joint-to-carpus translation was quantified. Deformities were localized and quantified by the center of rotation of angulation (CORA) method. Computed tomographic 3-dimensional image reconstructions of the antebrachium and carpus were completed to create 3 life-size stereolithographic models. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 2 closing wedge radial osteotomies were performed at the level of the CORAs and stabilized with bone plates and screws. RESULTS: Frontal and sagittal plane alignments were corrected to 8 degrees and 15 degrees , respectively (reference limits, 0 degrees to 8 degrees and 8 degrees to 35 degrees , respectively). The MPRA was corrected from 55 degrees to 68 degrees , and LDRA was corrected from 32 degrees to 76 degrees (values considered normal are approx 85 degrees and 87 degrees , respectively). Elbow joint-to-carpus translation was improved by 42.5%. After 8 weeks, radiography revealed bone union. Owners considered the outcome acceptable, on the basis of limb appearance and lack of lameness at 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A segmental radiographic planning technique combined with the CORA method, computed tomography, and stereolithography may be useful in the characterization of and planning corrective surgery for forelimb deformities in dogs.     

Plasma and urine electrolyte and mineral concentrations in Thoroughbred horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis after consumption of diets varying in cation-anion balance

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma, urine, and fecal electrolyte and mineral concentrations differ between clinically normal horses and Thoroughbreds with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) after consumption of diets varying in cation-anion balance. ANIMALS: 5 Thoroughbred mares with RER and 6 clinically normal mixed-breed mares. PROCEDURE: Each of 3 isocaloric diets designated as low, medium, and high on the basis of dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) values of 85, 190, and 380, respectively, were fed to horses for 14 days. During the last 72 hours, 3 horses with RER and 3 control horses had daily urine and fecal samples obtained by total 24-hour collection. Remaining horses had urine samples collected daily by single catheterization. RESULTS: For each diet, no differences existed between horses with RER and control horses in plasma pH, electrolyte concentrations, and creatine kinase activity or in urine pH and renal fractional excretion (FE) values. Plasma pH, strong ion difference, bicarbonate and total carbon dioxide concentrations, and base excess decreased and plasma chloride and ionized calcium concentrations increased with decreasing DCAB. Urine pH decreased with decreasing DCAB. The FE of chloride and phosphorus were greatest for horses fed the low diet. The FE values for all electrolytes exept magnesium did not differ between urine samples obtained by single catheterization and total 24-hour collection. Daily balance of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, and potassium did not differ significantly among horses fed the various diets. CONCLUSIONS: In clinically normal horses and in horses with RER, the DCAB strongly affects plasma and urine pH and the FE of sodium, potassium, chloride, and phosphorus.     

Successful drug development despite adverse preclinical findings part 1: processes to address issues and most important findings

Unexpected adverse preclinical findings (APFs) are not infrequently encountered during drug development. Such APFs can be functional disturbances such as QT prolongation, morphological toxicity or carcinogenicity. The latter is of particular concern in conjunction with equivocal genotoxicity results. The toxicologic pathologist plays an important role in recognizing these effects, in helping to characterize them, to evaluate their risk for man, and in proposing measures to mitigate the risk particularly in early clinical trials. A careful scientific evaluation is crucial while termination of the development of a potentially useful drug must be avoided. This first part of the review discusses processes to address unexpected APFs and provides an overview over typical APFs in particular classes of drugs. If the mode of action (MoA) by which a drug candidate produces an APF is known, this supports evaluation of its relevance for humans. Tailor-made mechanistic studies, when needed, must be planned carefully to test one or several hypotheses regarding the potential MoA and to provide further data for risk evaluation. Safety considerations are based on exposure at no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of the most sensitive and relevant animal species and guide dose escalation in clinical trials. The availability of early markers of toxicity for monitoring of humans adds further safety to clinical studies. Risk evaluation is concluded by a weight of evidence analysis (WoE) with an array of parameters including drug use, medical need and alternatives on the market. In the second part of this review relevant examples of APFs will be discussed in more detail.