Comparisons of 3‐, 2‐Dimensional,and M‐Mode Echocardiographical Methods for Estimation of Left Chamber Volumes in Dogs with and without Acquired Heart Disease

Background: Real‐time 3‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3D) is a recent technique based on volumetric scanning, eliminating the need for geometric modeling of the cardiac chambers and minimizing the errors caused by foreshortened views. Hypothesis: Estimations of left ventricular (LV) end‐diastolic (EDV) and end‐systolic volume (ESV), and left atrial (LA) size, differ depending on the echocardiographic technique of estimation. Animals: Fifty‐one dogs with acquired heart disease and 34 healthy control dogs. Methods: Prospective observational study by M‐mode (Teichholz method), Simpson's modified 2‐dimensional (2D) method, and RT3D methods for estimation of LV volumes. LA size was evaluated by 2D and RT3D methods. Results: RT3D showed good agreement with 2D for EDV and ESV, whereas Teichholz method overestimated LV volumes in comparison with the other 2 methods by approximately a factor 2. There were no statistically significant differences among the 3 methods in estimating ejection fraction. Comparison between RT3D assessment of LA end‐systolic volume per kilogram (LAs/kg) and LA to aortic ratio (LA/Ao) measured by 2D relative to each other showed that the RT3D method underestimated LAs/kg at lower values, and overestimated it at higher values. The difference between methods increased with increasing LA size. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There was good agreement between RT3D and 2D methods of estimating EDV and ESV, whereas the Teichholz method overestimated LV volumes by approximately a factor 2. In comparison with RT3D, LA/Ao underestimated LA size, especially when LA was enlarged.     

Some Thoughts on Deep Digital Flexor Tenotomy

Deep digital flexor tenotomy is becoming increasingly popular as part of the treatment regimen for laminitis. The rationale for performing a tenotomy is based on the severity of the rotation of the third phalanx (coffin bone) in chronic laminitis cases with the goal of realigning the coffin bone relative to the ground. The procedure is safely performed in the mid-cannon bone and pastern regions. The farrier is an integral member of the treatment team in providing mechanical support to the foot after the surgical procedure.     

Effects of action potential duration restitution on ventricular arrhythmia in chronic heart failure rabbit hearts

AIM: To determine the effects of action potential duration restitution (APDR) on ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in Langendorff-perfused chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbit hearts. METHODS:Twenty male New Zea-land rabbits were equally divided into 2 groups randomly: control (CTL) group and CHF group. CHF was induced by abdominal aortic banding for 14 d. The echocardiography was applied to assess the cardiac function and structural change in both groups 4 weeks after the end of modeling. In the whole Langendorff-perfused hearts, the monophasic action potential (MAP) and the effective refractory period (ERP) were recorded and measured in ventricular chamber, and the action potential duration (APD) curves were also constructed in both groups. The burst pacing was used to induce APD alternans and VA. RESULTS: Compared with the same sites of CTL group, the 90% of MAP duration (MAPD90), the ERP, the maximal slope (Smax) of APDR curves were increased in CHF group (all P<0.05). The VAs in CHF group were easier to be induced than those in CTL group (all P<0.05). The coefficients of variation of Smax (COV-Smax) of APDR curves in CHF group were greater than those in CTL group (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Both Smax and COV-Smax of APDR curves increase during CHF to facilitate the ventricular arrhythmia.     

Diagnostic Approaches for the Assessment of Equine Chronic Pulmonary Disorders

Even though the respiratory system is one of the most accessible organs for diagnostic testing, it is not always easy to define chronic lower airway disease in the horse. Diagnostic procedures performed by first opinion veterinarians in the field are often restricted to taking the history and performing clinical examination. Respiratory tract endoscopy, tracheal or bronchoalveolar lavage, and blood sampling are sometimes used but other specific ancillary examinations are seldom performed in stable settings. Therefore, our objectives were to evaluate the diagnostic value of different techniques and examination types routinely used in the diagnostic workup of chronic equine lower airway cases in both stable and clinical circumstances. Another aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of different chronic pulmonary disorders among horses admitted to a Hungarian referral clinic. According to the conditional inference tree method, age of the horse, history, clinical examination, respiratory tract endoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology proved to be the most valuable tools to define pathology. It was also concluded that in 22% of cases, more specific ancillary diagnostic modalities, unavailable for the field veterinarian, were needed to establish the final diagnosis. According to our study, the most frequently diagnosed chronic pulmonary disorders in Hungary are of noninfectious origin, principally recurrent airway obstruction. Regardless of the cause, and interestingly including recurrent airway obstruction as well, these diseases occur primarily during the warm months.     

育肥猪肠道疾病的特点与危害

育肥猪肠道疾病问题是当前规模化猪场最常见的问题之一,其病因复杂导致防控难度增加,常见发病原因分为病原性因素与非病原性因素两种。病原性因素如病毒、细菌、寄生虫等;非病原性因素如生产管理、饲料营养、应激等外部环境引起。在我国当前的养殖环境下,病原性因素引起的猪肠道疾病占据大多数,常见的导致育肥猪腹泻的疾病的病原微生物如细胞内劳森菌(引起猪回肠炎)、猪密螺旋体痢疾、大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、寄生虫及部分病毒性疾病等的感染在我国的猪场广泛存在,这些病原微生物会导致育肥猪群发生急性或慢性消耗性腹泻,使育肥猪发生成活率降低、饲料报酬下降、生长速度减缓、僵猪和残次猪比例升高等情况,给生长育肥猪的正常生长和出栏造成了很大的危害。文章通过对育肥猪肠道疾病的发病原因、发病特点与危害以及防控等方面进行了简要的阐述,以供参考。     

江西省奶牛白血病流行病学调查研究（初报）

作者以免疫琼脂扩散试验、血液学、流行病学和病理学等方法对江西省8个奶牛场2000多头奶牛进行了抽样检测,得以首次肯定奶牛白血病在江西的存在;其病理组织学可分为淋巴细胞性白血病和网织细胞性白血病二型,其发病规律等与前人报道基本一致.本文还对该病的控制提出了建议.     

奥硝唑等药物对慢性子宫内膜炎的疗效观察

摘要： 为提高水牛慢性子宫内膜炎的治愈和配种受胎率,笔者应用奥硝唑注射液、甲硝唑、头孢拉定粉针和奥硝唑+头孢拉定四组药物对水牛慢性子宫内膜炎进行治疗和疗效观察。结果①在药物有效率上,用药1dh后,四组的药物有效率分别46.67%、44.44%、31.25%和51.43%,IV组优于I、II、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）依次为I、II组、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;用药2d后,四组的药物有效率分别73.33%、66.67%、43.75%和82.86%,IV组优于I、II、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）,依次为I、II组、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;用药3d后,四组的药物有效率分别77.42%、70.37%、50%和88.57%, IV组优于I、II、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）,依次为I、II组、III组,差异显著（P＜0.05）。②在发情率上,4组药物分别为73.33%、74.07%、68.75%和77.14%,奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药组显著高于其余3组（P＜0.05）,奥硝唑、甲硝唑次之,头孢拉定组再次之;③在治愈率上,4组分别为66.67%、59.26%、56.25%和74.29%,奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药组显著高于其余3组（P＜0.05）,疗效最好,依次为奥硝唑、甲硝唑、头孢拉定;④在配种受胎率上,4组分别为63.64%、55%、54.55%和70.37%,奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药组显著高于其余3组（P＜0.05）,奥硝唑次之,甲硝唑、头孢拉定再次之;⑤在产活犊率上,4组分别为92.86%、81.82%、83.33%和94.74%,奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药组显著高于其余3组（P＜0.05）,奥硝唑次之,甲硝唑、头孢拉定再次之。试验结果表明,临床治疗母牛慢性子宫内膜炎以奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药效果最好,奥硝唑单独用药次之,甲硝唑和头孢拉定再次之。由此表明,奥硝唑、甲硝唑、头孢拉定、奥硝唑+头孢拉定对慢性子宫内膜炎对水牛慢性子宫炎的治疗均有效,其中以奥硝唑+头孢拉定联合用药效见效最快,疗程短,是最理想的药物组合;奥硝唑次之,甲硝唑再次之,头孢拉定最后。