Perivascular wall tumour presenting as pastern mass in a Standardbred gelding

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for a mass on the palmaromedial right front pastern which was accompanied by progressively worsening lameness. The mass was firm to palpation and covered by normal skin. Ultrasonographically, a smooth encapsulated mass was present, medial to the flexor tendons and palmar to the neurovascular bundle. Because of a poor prognosis for future athletic performance without surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention and economic constraints preventing further diagnostics and treatment, the horse was euthanised. Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be a perivascular wall tumour, the first record of such a neoplasia in the horse.     

半胱胺对育成期水貂生长和饲料转化率的影响

选择健康育成期水貂208只,其中200只为试验组,8只为对照组,采用二因子试验设计:一个因子为半胱胺的不同添加量,分别按每千克体质量添加10、40、70、100、130 mg半胱胺;另一因子为半胱胺的不同添加间隔时间,分别为1、3、5、7、9 d 5个时间间隔.通过饲养试验研究了半胱胺对育成期水貂体质量增加、饲料转化率...     

Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina.

Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods.

Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.     

Assessment of Vein Diameter and Body Surface Temperature after High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on the Tarsal Joint in Healthy Horses

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on vein diameter and on body surface temperature changes in the tarsal joint area in a group of clinically healthy racehorses. The hypothesis of the study was that HILT increases vein diameter and body surface temperature in healthy tissue. The study involved 16 Thoroughbreds being subjected to ultrasonographic examination to assess changes of diameter of the cranial branch of the medial saphenous vein and thermographic examination to indicate temperature change of the dorsal surface of the tarsal joint, just before and immediately after HILT treatment. Vein diameter and mean surface temperature of the tarsal joint significantly increased after HILT treatment. In addition, the study was the first to describe the photothermal effect of HILT in healthy horses. More studies are necessary to specify the parameters of the procedure, that is, wavelength, energy density, or time of the procedure, depending on the patient’s individual characteristics and type of tissue.     

浅谈地下车站侧墙大块定型移动模架施工技术

随着城市地铁的飞速发展,地铁车站在条件满足的情况下大都采用明挖法施工。在施工主体侧墙时采用满堂红支架法施工,但因施工时工期较长且易存在一些质量通病,因此,近年来大块定型移动模架被得到了广泛的应用。     

某厂区办公楼的结构设计

笔者结合工程实例,采用SATWE软件对单跨框架结构进行计算分析,并浅析了设计中应重点注意的问题。     

Ultrasound-guided modified subcostal transversus abdominis plane block and influence of recumbency position on dye spread in equine cadavers

ObjectiveTo describe and evaluate an ultrasound-guided modified subcostal approach for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in horse cadavers in lateral or dorsal recumbency.Study designProspective, experimental cadaveric study.AnimalsStudy of one preserved foal and eight fresh adult horse cadavers.MethodsThe lateral and ventral abdominal wall of a preserved cadaver was dissected to identify the muscles and nerves. A unilateral standard TAP block technique was performed (60 mL of methylene blue dye–bupivacaine) on a fresh cadaver in right lateral recumbency. A modified subcostal technique was performed on the opposite side using a linear ultrasound transducer and in-plane approach. Injection points (two 30 mL dye) were at the level of the TAP (between the rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis muscles and ventral to the cutaneous trunci muscle) perpendicular to: 1) the mid-point between the xiphoid cartilage and umbilical scar; and 2) at a point between the caudal and middle thirds of the abdomen measured from the first injection point to the umbilical scar. The modified subcostal approach was performed in seven additional cadavers in both hemiabdomens, with three cadavers in lateral and four cadavers in dorsal recumbency. Ultrasound guidance was used with all injections.ResultsThe standard approach stained the sixteenth to eighteenth thoracic nerves (T16–T18). The modified subcostal approach performed in lateral recumbency provided greater spread (T9–T17) than dorsal recumbency (T12–T18) (p = 0.016).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe modified subcostal TAP approach resulted in extensive staining exceeding the standard approach. The nerves stained are consistent with production of ventral abdominal wall anesthesia in horses. Clinical studies are needed to verify these findings.     

水头可调薄壁堰式渠道流量智能测控系统优化试验研究

采用巴赞堰流公式计算流量的水头可调薄壁堰式渠道流量智能测控系统通过渠道流量量测与控制试验,验证了其精准的测流功能和智能控制技术的可行性。为进一步提高该测控系统运行的效率和稳定性,减少运行能耗,对矩形薄壁堰堰流公式进行水力试验研究,通过分析堰上水头和流量关系,拟合出矩形薄壁堰流量计算公式。通过向该拟合公式引入修正系数λ=0.848,将测控系统测得的堰上水头数据值代入该拟合公式求得的流量值与电磁流量计测得流量值的差值的平均值为-0.004L/s,标准差为0.119,线性相关系数R2=0.989 1。该拟合公式相对于巴赞堰流公式形式简单、参数较少、运算简便,同时也满足节水灌溉对精准测流的要求,更适用于水头可调薄壁堰式渠道流量智能测控系统,对于在灌区推广和使用该测控系统具有重要的意义。     

In Vitro Assessment of the Equine Hoof Wall Strains in Flat Weight Bearing and After Heel Elevation

Horseshoeing is a common practice, but effects on the hoof wall are poorly understood. Strain gauges were used to document and compare hoof behavior in vitro during flat weight bearing and after artificial heel elevation. Ten front limbs of Thoroughbred race horses, shod with conventional flat shoes, were used. Eight strain gauges were symmetrically distributed around the toe, quarters, and heels. Each limb was mounted to a testing machine (Kratos K5002; Kratos Dynamômetros, Ltda., Cotia-SP-Brazil) and subjected to a load equivalent to 30% of the donor's body weight. Strains (μ) were acquired by means of a computerized system and the results compared using Friedman and Wilcoxon statistical tests. There was greater strain variation when the heels were elevated. Compression predominated during flat weight bearing, with a tendency to horizontal traction after heel elevation. The changes in strain caused by heel elevation were not always symmetrical. Elevation of the heels tensed the toe and the medial quarter horizontally, increased load at the posterior portion of the hoof capsule, and hindered its expansion.