Distribution of muscle fiber type in fetal equine gluteus medius muscle

The gluteus medius muscles were removed from a four-year-old female Welsh pony and her nine-month-old fetus. The muscles were divided into sections which were histochemically examined to determine the variation in the distribution of fast-twitch-glycolytic (FG), fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG), and slow-twitch oxidative (SO) muscle fibers throughout the entire cross-section of the muscle. The fetal muscle had a larger percent of FOG fibers and smaller percent of SO fibers than the same muscle from the mare. Variation in the distribution of muscle fiber type within the fetal gluteus medius was found. This is the first study of fiber type variation in fetal equine muscle.     

Improvement of internal color of oranges stored in oxygen-enriched atmospheres

‘Hamlin’, ‘Parson Brown’ and ‘Pineapple’ oranges were stored for 4 weeks at 15°C in a continuous flow of (1) air, (2) 20 mg 1^?1 ethylene (C₂H₄) in air, (3) 40% O₂ + 60% N₂, or (4) 80% O₂ + 20% N₂, followed by 2 additional weeks in air. Fruits stored in the C₂H₄ atmosphere lost rind chlorophyll faster, and the rind turned orange quicker, than fruits in the other atmospheres. However, most of the fruits stored in the C₂H₄ atmosphere had paler endocarp and juice than fruits stored in the other atmospheres. Fruits stored in 80% O₂ had the palest rind, but their endocarp and juice color were the deepest orange. Color change was detectable after 2–3 weeks and continued to develop until the end of the experiments. In 40% O₂ fruit, response was intermediate.The respiration rate of ‘Pineapple’ oranges during 4 weeks of storage in the test atmospheres was highest in the fruits stored in C₂H₄, almost as high in fruits stored in 80% O₂, and lowest in fruits kept in 40% O₂ or in air. Fruits stored in the different atmospheres did not differ significantly in total soluble solids content, total acidity, or pH of the juice, and the atmospheres did not adversely affect the flavor of the juice.     

Evaluation of the association between initial proteinuria and morbidity rate or death in dogs with naturally occurring chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UP:C) > or = 1.0 at initial diagnosis of chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with greater risk of development of uremic crises, death, and progression of renal failure in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 45 dogs with CRF PROCEDURE: Dogs were prospectively assigned to 2 groups on the basis of initial UP:C < 1.0 or 2 > or = 1.0. The association between magnitude of proteinuria and development of uremic crises and death was determined before and after dogs with initial UP:C > or =1.0 were assigned to 3 subgroups and compared with dogs with initial UP:C < 1.0. Changes in reciprocal serum creatinine concentration were used to estimate decrease in renal function. RESULTS: Initially, dogs had similar clinical characteristics with the exception of systolic blood pressure and UP:C. Relative risks of development of uremic crises and death were approximately 3 times higher in dogs with UP:C > or =1.0, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0. Relative risk of adverse outcome was approximately 1.5 times higher for every 1-unit increment in UP:C. The decrease in renal function was of greater magnitude in dogs with UP:C > or =1.0, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Initial UP:C > or =1.0 in dogs with CRF was associated with greater risk of development of uremic crises and death, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0. Initial determinations of UP:C in dogs with naturally occurring CRF may be of value in refining prognoses.     

Treatment of tracheal collapse with an intraluminal stent in a miniature horse

A 7-month-old miniature horse was referred for respiratory distress. Tracheal collapse at the level of the thoracic inlet was diagnosed. An intraluminal nitinol stent was placed with endoscopic guidance. Respiratory function was restored immediately after stent placement. The main complication observed during a 14-month follow-up period was growth of granulation tissue through the stent, which was controlled satisfactorily by electrocautery performed during endoscopy with the horse standing. Treatment of tracheal collapse with an intraluminal stent is an effective, practical, and minimally invasive procedure in miniature and young equids and ponies.     

Evaluation of the efficacy and duration of immunity of a canine combination vaccine against virulent parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis virus, and distemper virus experimental challenges

The results of this study confirmed that dogs vaccinated subcutaneously with a commercially available multivalent vaccine containing modified-live canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 2, canine parvovirus type 2b, and canine parainfluenza virus antigens were protected against sequential experimental challenge 55 to 57 months after initial vaccination given at 7 to 8 weeks of age. All 10 vaccinates were protected against clinical diseases and mortality following parvovirus and infectious canine hepatitis experimental infections. All vaccinates were protected against mortality and 90% against clinical disease following distemper challenge. These data support at least a 4-year duration of immunity for these three "core" fractions in the combination vaccine.     

Glyceraldehyde bridging between flavanols and malvidin-3-glucoside in model solutions

Hydroxyl radicals (.OH) seem to have an important role in the oxidation of wine constituents and the production of important electrophilic aldehydes and ketones. In this experiment, glyceraldehyde, a .OH oxidation product of glycerol, recently described in wine, reacts with (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and malvidin-3-glucoside (Mv3gl), in model solutions, yielding new condensed phenolic compounds. The adduct compounds formed were separated by means of reversed phase liquid chromatography and detected and characterized using UV-vis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Flavanol-flavanol and anthocyanin-flavanol adducts linked with glyceraldehyde yielded compounds with m/z ratios for their main ions, in positive ion mode, of 653.2 for the (+)-catechin dimer or the (-)-epicatechin dimer and 855.5 for Mv3gl/(+)-catechin or Mv3gl/(-)-epicatechin dimers. The possible occurrence of these compounds in wine is suggested, and the potential role of these and related reactions in wine aging is discussed.     

On-farm eradication of foot-and-mouth disease as an alternative to mass culling

A control and eradication programme for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was initiated on a 1500-sow farm in Asia as an alternative to mass culling. The programme was based on mass vaccination and exposure to FMD virus to ensure the development of effective immunity throughout the population. Pigs are not long-term carriers of FMD virus and it should be eliminated by 21 days after infection. Entry of breeding stock was temporarily halted and the sow herd was partially depopulated in order to create a buffer between the infected and uninfected animals. After exposure to the virus and partial depopulation, the virus was eliminated through unidirectional pig flow and strict all-in/all-out procedures, and by thorough cleaning and disinfection of the buildings. Twelve months after the initial outbreak, the eradication plan was completed and successful. In parallel with the eradication programme, a small-scale isolated weaning project was carried out with the sow population that was moved out of the affected farm; 708 piglets were weaned to a separate facility 300 m away. No clinical signs of FMD were observed and the piglets remained serologically negative.     

Medical treatment of osteoarthritis in the horse - a review

The medical treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in the horse is one of the most utilized therapeutic regimens in the equine practice. It is important to understand the anatomy of synovial joints and the pathophysiology of the disease process to treat OA adequately. Once a thorough understanding of the disease process is comprehended the proper combination of systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intraarticular steroids, viscosupplementation and chondroprotectants can be used to treat the disease and inhibit further progression of degenerative changes to the cartilage surface. The equine practitioner is faced with many choices for controlling inflammation in OA. This review presents the background and appropriate uses of various NSAIDs such as phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, naproxen, and carprofen as well as their associated toxicities. Various steroid formulations exist for intraarticular (IA) administration and much has been learned in the past decade regarding correct dosage, frequency of administrations, indications and toxicity. This review presents IA steroids and their indications in addition to various chondroprotective drugs that also exist to control inflammation and provide viscosupplementation. Data are also given on disease modifying OA drugs such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate that have more recently become available to the equine practitioner.