COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND POSITIVE CONTRAST COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ARTHROGRAPHY OF THE CANINE SHOULDER: NORMAL ANATOMY AND EFFECTS OF LIMB POSITION ON VISIBILITY OF SOFT TISSUE STRUCTURES

Soft tissue injuries of the shoulder are an important cause of forelimb lameness in dogs. The objectives of this canine cadaver study were to describe normal anatomy of shoulder soft tissue structures using computed tomography (CT) and computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and to determine the effects of positioning on visualization of shoulder soft tissue structures. Thirteen forelimbs were removed from eight canine cadavers. Two forelimbs were used for contrast dose optimization. For the remaining 11 forelimbs, shoulder CT and CTA were performed using three defined joint angles (140°, 90°, and 70°). For three forelimbs, CT and CTA images were compared with frozen anatomic sections to describe normal anatomy. Ten forelimbs were used for analysis of positioning effects. Soft tissue structures evaluated were the joint capsule, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A visual assessment score was assigned to each structure using a consensus of two observers. The range and mode of scores were calculated and compared for each modality and limb position. The shoulder joint capsule and medial and lateral glenohumeral ligaments were completely visible with CTA. All tendons and muscles were visualized in all the examinations except for the teres minor muscle tendon and the coracobrachialis muscle, which were not visible on all scans. Positioning the limb in an extended position significantly improved visualization of most soft tissue shoulder structures. Shoulder cartilage was best seen with CTA and with neutral or flexed positioning of the shoulder. Findings indicated that both CT and CTA are feasible imaging techniques for visualization of soft tissue structures of the canine shoulder.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—MULTICENTRIC LYMPHOMA OF GRANULAR LYMPHOCYTES IMAGED WITH FDG PET/CT IN A DOG

A 5‐year‐old female spayed bulldog was referred for mild dyspnea, decreased activity and appetite, occasional nonproductive cough, polydipsia, and polyuria. A 2‐deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐D‐glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan revealed unexpected activity in the heart, lungs, and mild generalized lymphadenopathy that led to the diagnosis of lymphoma of granular lymphocytes after nonspecific findings on imaging with standard modalities of echocardiography, thoracic radiography, and abdominal ultrasound. PET/CT scanning is a useful whole body imaging modality with high sensitivity for changes associated with canine lymphoma.     

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BRONCHIECTASIS IN 12 DOGS

Bronchiectasis is an irreversible dilatation of the bronchi resulting from chronic airway inflammation. In people, computed tomography (CT) has been described as the noninvasive gold standard for diagnosing bronchiectasis. In dogs, normal CT bronchoarterial ratios have been described as <2.0. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe quantitative and qualitative CT characteristics of bronchiectasis in a cohort of dogs with confirmed disease. Inclusion criteria for the study were thoracic radiography, thoracic CT, and a diagnosis of bronchiectasis based on bronchoscopy and/or histopathology. For each included dog, a single observer measured CT bronchoarterial ratios at 6 lobar locations. Qualitative thoracic radiography and CT characteristics were recorded by consensus opinion of two board‐certified veterinary radiologists. Twelve dogs met inclusion criteria. The mean bronchoarterial ratio from 28 bronchiectatic lung lobes was 2.71 ± 0.80 (range 1.4 to 4.33), and 23/28 measurements were >2.0. Averaged bronchoarterial ratios from bronchiectatic lung lobes were significantly larger (P < 0.01) than averaged ratios from nonbronchiectatic lung lobes. Qualitative CT characteristics of bronchiectasis included lack of peripheral airway tapering (12/12), lobar consolidation (11/12), bronchial wall thickening (7/12), and bronchial lumen occlusion (4/12). Radiographs detected lack of airway tapering in 7/12 dogs. In conclusion, the most common CT characteristics of bronchiectasis were dilatation, a lack of peripheral airway tapering, and lobar consolidation. Lack of peripheral airway tapering was not visible in thoracic radiographs for some dogs. For some affected dogs, bronchoarterial ratios were less than published normal values.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND CT FINDINGS IN A GRAY SEAL (HALICHOERUS GRYPUS) WITH HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS,PYELONEPHRITIS, AND NEPHROLITHIASIS

An immature gray seal was presented with lethargy, weight loss, vomiting and hematuria. Hepatic disease and urinary tract infection were suspected. Abdominal ultrasound showed hyperechoic structures with marked acoustic shadowing spread throughout both kidneys, but incomplete visualization of the liver. Abdominal CT showed mineral densities scattered throughout both kidneys and poor delineation of the liver. Due to the poor quality of life, the seal was euthanized. Postmortem examination showed ammonium urate nephroliths, pyelonephritis, and hepatic cirrhosis. This case report emphasizes the difficulty of characterizing liver disease with conventional 2D‐ultrasound and CT in a deep‐chested animal with minimal intra‐abdominal fat.     

COMPARISON BETWEEN 2‐18F‐FLUORO‐2‐DEOXY‐D‐GLUCOSE POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY AND CONTRAST‐ENHANCED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR MEASURING GROSS TUMOR VOLUME IN CATS WITH ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most refractory feline malignancies. Most patients succumb due to failure in local tumor control. 2‐¹⁸F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F‐FDG PET) is increasingly being used for veterinary oncology staging as it highlights areas with higher glucose metabolism. The goal of the current prospective study was to compare gross tumor volume measurements using ¹⁸F‐FDG PET vs. those using computed tomography (CT) for stereotactic radiation therapy planning in cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Twelve cats with confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma underwent pretreatment ¹⁸F‐FDG PET/CT. Gross tumor volumes based on contrast‐enhanced CT and ¹⁸F‐FDG PET were measured and compared among cats. Mean PET gross tumor volume was significantly smaller than mean CT gross tumor volume in the mandibular/maxillary squamous cell carcinoma group (n = 8, P = 0.002) and for the total number of patients (n = 12, P = 0.006), but not in the lingual/laryngeal group (n = 4, P = 0.57). Mismatch fraction analysis revealed that most of the lingual/laryngeal patients had a large region of high‐¹⁸F‐FDG activity outside of the CT gross tumor volume. This mismatch fraction was significantly greater in the lingual/laryngeal group than the mandibular/maxillary group (P = 0.028). The effect of poor spatial resolution of PET imaging was greater when the absolute tumor volume was small. Findings from this study indicated that ¹⁸F‐FDG PET warrants further investigation as a supplemental imaging modality in cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma because it detected regions of possible primary tumor that were not detected on CT images.     

规模化养猪场处理废水对水稻中微量及重金属元素含量的影响

以迟熟中粳“淮稻5号”和经过无害化处理的规模化养猪场处理废水为供试材料,在减施N肥和不施入P、K肥的条件下,研究施入不同量废水对常规粳稻植株及籽粒中5种重金属元素和6种主要中微量元素含量的影响.结果表明:Pb、As、Ca、Mg和Fe元素含量均以基肥施入处理废水90 m3·hm-2、穗期施入处理废水120 m3·hm-2配施187.5 kg·hm-2 N肥处理为最高;Cd、Hg、Cr和Mn元素含量均以常规施肥处理为最高;Cu除籽粒外,以纯废水处理(基肥施入处理废水90 m3·hm-2、穗期施入处理废水120 m3·hm-2,不施入肥料)为最高;Zn除拔节期外,基肥施入处理废水90 m3·hm-2,穗期施入处理废水120 m3·hm-2配施187.5 kg·hm-2处理最高.As、Pb、Mg、Ca、Zn、Fe、Mn和Cu于各生育期在基施处理废水量相同的情况下,均随着穗期处理废水施用量的增加而增加,但是Hg、Cd和Cr与此相反.各处理中水稻籽粒Pb、Cd、Cr、As和Hg的含量均低于相应的污染物限量标准,而水稻植株和籽粒中Zn、Fe、Mn、Ca和Mg营养得到提高,特别是Fe和Ca的含量得到了强化.因此,与常规施肥处理相比,处理废水替代化肥能够提高水稻籽粒中的有益元素含量,同时并未引起重金属元素含量的显著上升,且使Hg、Cd和Cr含量下降.     

Fusarium wilt‐resistant lines of Brazil banana (Musa spp., AAA) obtained by EMS‐induced mutation in a micro‐cross‐section cultural system

This study combined the micro‐cross‐section cultural system with in vitro mutagenesis induced by ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) to screen for fusarium wilt‐resistant lines of Brazil banana (Musa spp., AAA). The results indicated that the optimum EMS concentration and duration for the treatment of micro‐cross‐sections cut from the pseudostem of tissue‐cultured plantlet were 300 mm and 60 min, respectively. Under the optimal treatment, an average of 2·2 regenerated shoots were produced from each explant. One hundred regenerated plantlets were used for screening for fusarium wilt‐resistant lines by the early screening technique. The initial disease symptom – yellowing in lower leaves of susceptible plantlets – was observed 2 weeks after inoculation. After 2 months, only six plants survived – the putative fusarium wilt‐resistant lines. The fusarium wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4, was identified in the preliminary test field by a SCAR marker technique. Of the six putative resistant lines, five survived the preliminary field test. The regenerated plantlets from these five fusarium wilt‐resistant lines were subjected to early screening again, where they showed markedly reduced disease incidences compared with regenerated plantlets of Brazil banana (control). It was concluded that EMS‐induced mutation of banana through the micro‐cross‐section cultural system is potentially useful for banana improvement.     

Using micro particle diets to replace diatoms for feeding postlarval abalone Haliotis discus discus (Reeve.)

Feeding artificial micro diets instead of diatoms may allow a more constant and controlled form of nutrition, and thus results in lower mortality rate and increased growth. A 4-week trial was conducted to determine the growth and survival of postlarval Haliotis discus discus (Reeve.) postlarvae fed three experimental micro particle diets, and naturally occurring diatoms. A completely randomized design was adopted with each diet being replicated three times. All diets varied in terms of particle size and gross composition. Survival rate was significantly lower ( P  < 0.05) in the diatom diet (19.5 ± 2.1%) when compared with the K-1 diet (38.8 ± 8.9%), the K-2 diet (43.7 ± 5.6%) and the MD-Q diet (44.2 ± 14.8%). The size of postlarvae fed the four diets was not significantly different ( P  > 0.05). There was also little difference in the daily growth rate. Based on the results of this work for the preliminary implementation of artificial food as a replacement diet for diatoms, it seems that postlarval H . discus discus readily consumes artificial micro particle diets and has a superior survival rate when compared to that of diatoms.     

EVALUATION OF THE URETER AND URETEROVESICULAR JUNCTION USING HELICAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC EXCRETORY UROGRAPHY IN HEALTHY DOGS

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) using a protocol designed for evaluation of the ureters was performed on six normal purpose-bred research dogs. After noncontrast CT, a postcontrast scan was performed 3 min post midpoint of injection of 400 mgI/kg body weight of diatrizoate meglumine/sodium. Ureteral and ureterovesicular junction anatomy were readily assessed with minimal patient preparation. The ureters were similar in size to reported values and the renal pelvis, ureter, and ureterovesicular junction were easily identified on both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced scans. There was a significant relationship between bladder volume and interureterovesicular junction distance but not between bladder volume and ureterovesicular junction to internal urethral orifice distance. A reliable bony landmark for the identification of the internal urethral orifice could not be determined. The results of this preliminary study of normal anatomy should facilitate the clinical use of CT in the evaluation of ureteral disease (e.g., ureteral ectopia).     

含PAMAM改性硅胶的分子印迹聚合物的合成

利用微乳法合成了纳米硅胶,并利用聚酰胺胺(PAMAM)对其表面进行修饰以用作功能共单体、载体;以甲基丙烯酸为功能单体,甲基丙烯酸丙三醇三酯(TRIM)为交联剂,L-色氨酸为模板分子,通过微悬浮聚合的方法,合成了含有PAMAM改性硅胶的分子印迹聚合物.利用FTIR,SEM等方法对聚合产物进行了表征,并利用静态吸附和HPLC等方法研究了印迹球状的吸附分离性能.结果表明,印迹微球对水溶液中的色氨酸分子具有良好的分子识别能力,实现了对水溶液中色氨酸的识别.