A review of equine laryngoplasty complications

Prosthetic laryngoplasty is a common treatment for equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). Complications of this surgery include immediate post operative problems, such as dysphagia, seroma formation, wound infection and sudden loss of arytenoid abduction. Longer term complications include gradual loss of arytenoid abduction, chronic coughing, arytenoid granulomas and dynamic upper airway collapse unrelated to RLN such as palatal dysfunction, and aryepiglottic fold or vocal fold collapse. However, the benefit of this procedure greatly outweighs these potential post operative complications, especially if appropriate surgical and post operative management practices are employed.     

The lumbosacral Plexus of the Barn Owl (tyto alba): Formation,branches and distribution

The aim of the present study is to reveal the anatomical structure of lumbosacral plexus of barn owl. Six barn owls were included in the study. Nerves originating from plexus were dissected individually, and findings of innervation areas of nerves were determined. Lumbosacral plexus of barn owl was observed to be formed by ventral rami of ten synsacral spinal nerves. It was found that while the r. cutaneus femoris lateralis, the n. obturatorius, the n. coxalis cranialis, the r. cutaneus femoris medialis, the n. cutaneus femoris cranialis and the n. femoralis originated from the lumbar plexus, the n. isciofemoralis, the n. cutaneus femoris caudalis, the n. coxalis caudalis and the n. ischiadicus originated from the sacral plexus. Consequently, when the results of the study were compared with information of different avian species, it was observed that differences focused on the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses and innervation level of digits.     

Traumatic injury to the parotid salivary gland or duct and the subsequent development of ipsilateral severe peripheral dental caries in two horses

This report describes two cases of unilateral traumatic injury to the parotid salivary gland or duct and the subsequent development of severe ipsilateral peripheral dental caries. Ultrasonographic examination of the parotid salivary gland and duct was indicative of parotid glandular atrophy in one case and demonstrated parotid duct obstruction in the second case. To the authors’ knowledge, the effects of the loss of function of the parotid salivary gland on the horse's dentition has not been documented and should be considered as a potential side effect of surgical ablation of the parotid salivary gland.     

The controversial histologic classification of canine subcutaneous whorling tumours: The path to perivascular wall tumours

Subcutaneous spindle cell tumours characterized by whorling growth patterns are common in dogs and are identified as a distinct entity. These tumours were misnamed as hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) because of some minor morphological parallels with their human counterparts. In veterinary medicine, the cell of origin of HPC has been under debate for a long time. Some authors have suggested a perivascular origin while others a perineural one. The evidence of the orientation of the neoplastic cells around the vessels and the expression of contractile proteins supported a perivascular origin while S100 expression and an inconsistent vascular connection supported a perineural origin. Despite the morphological similarities with peripheral nerve sheath tumours in humans, the perineural origin was supported mainly by the expression of markers with low specificity. On the contrary, the majority of studies have supported the perivascular origin of ‘old’ canine HPC. Since a variable degree of myoid‐pericytic differentiation was described, the term perivascular wall tumours (PWTs) were suggested to substitute HPC. Once the diagnostic criteria of PWTs were defined, the clinical behaviour and prognostic variables were investigated, demonstrating differences as compared with the group of canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) in general. PWTs are less aggressive, mostly locally invasive, and rarely metastasizing. Their behaviour seems to be less influenced by histological grade, suggesting that canine STSs are heterogeneous. The study of the biological behaviour of specific STS tumour types may be valuable in detecting differences which have passed unnoticed when STSs have been studied concomitantly.     

实验性鸡马立克氏病免疫病理学研究 Ⅳ:外周血液淋巴细胞扫描电镜观察

本研究应用扫描电镜,对健康雏鸡和人工感染马立克氏病雏鸡的外周血液淋巴细胞进行了形态观察。结果观察到:健康雏鸡外周血液淋巴细胞的形态和哺乳动物的相似,但缺乏典型的绒毛型淋巴细胞;接种马立克氏病强毒后30～40天,外周血液淋巴细胞几乎全是光滑型淋巴细胞;鸡马立克氏病毒对鸡外周血液淋巴细胞有一定的损伤作用。     

Functional electrical stimulation of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve using a vagus nerve stimulator in a normal horse

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of implanting an existing vagus nerve stimulating (VNS) electrode around the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The stimulus response characteristics required to achieve abduction of the ipsilateral arytenoid by the VNS electrode in the normal horse could then be determined. The electrode was wound around the left recurrent laryngeal nerve at the cervical level and connected to a pulse generator. Stimulus response characteristics were obtained by measuring stimulated arytenoid displacement endoscopically in the standing, non-sedated horse. A full and sustained abduction of the arytenoid was obtained with a stimulation frequency of 25 Hz and intensity of 1 mA with a pulse width of 250 μs.     

Effect of deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in alloxan-induced diabetic WBN/Kob rats

The relationship between hypertension and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has recently been reported in clinical research, but it remains unclear whether hypertension is a risk factor for DPN. To investigate the effects of hypertension on DPN, we analyzed morphological features of peripheral nerves in diabetic rats with hypertension. Male WBN/Kob rats were divided into 2 groups: alloxan-induced diabetic rats with deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) treatment (ADN group) and nondiabetic rats with DOCA-salt treatment (DN group). Sciatic, tibial (motor) and sural (sensory) nerves were subjected to qualitative and quantitative histomorphological analysis. Systolic blood pressure in the two groups exhibited a higher value (>140 mmHg), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Endoneurial blood vessels in both groups presented endothelial hypertrophy and narrowing of the vascular lumen. Electron microscopically, duplication of basal lamina surrounding the endothelium and pericyte of the endoneurial vessels was observed, and this lesion appeared to be more frequent and severe in the ADN group than the DN group. Many nerve fibers of the ADN and DN groups showed an almost normal appearance, whereas morphometrical analysis of the tibial nerve showed a significant shift to smaller fiber and myelin sizes in the ADN group compared with DN group. In sural nerve, the fiber and axon-size significantly shifted to a smaller size in ADN group compared with the DN group. These results suggest that combined diabetes and hypertension could induce mild peripheral nerve lesions with vascular changes.     

苦马豆素对小鼠细胞免疫功能的影响

【目的】探索苦马豆素(SW)对小鼠免疫器官发育、外周血液中细胞数及淋巴细胞增殖功能的影响,为SW免疫研究提供新的试验依据。【方法】将80只昆白系小鼠随机分为8组,其中5个试验组按0.05,0.2,0.8,3.2和6.4 mg/kg剂量每天灌服不同质量浓度的SW生理盐水溶液,连续21 d;其他3组均为对照组(分别为生理盐水组、环磷酰胺组和空白对照组)。检测小鼠胸腺和脾脏指数,用细胞分析仪检测外周血液中白细胞、红细胞及淋巴细胞数;用MTT法检测脾脏淋巴细胞的增殖活化。【结果】在SW剂量为0.2~0.8 mg/kg,小鼠脏器(胸腺和脾脏)指数及外周血液中的细胞数均增加;SW单独作用或其协同刀豆蛋白A(ConA)和植物血凝素P(PHA-P)刺激时,小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞的增殖活性增强,SW协同脂多糖(LPS)刺激时,小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞增殖活性降低。SW剂量为6.4mg/kg时,小鼠的脏器指数和外周血液中的细胞数均减少;无论小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞受丝裂原刺激与否,小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞的增殖活性均降低。【结论】SW可以通过提高小鼠脏器指数及外周血液中细胞数提高淋巴细胞的增殖活性,增强小鼠的细胞免疫功能;SW剂量为6.4 mg/kg对小鼠细胞免疫功能有抑制作用,提示SW对小鼠细胞免疫功能的影响具有选择性和双向调节作用。