Use of 64Copper Measurements to Diagnose Canine Copper Toxicosis

Inherited canine copper toxicosis is a serious problem in Bedlington terriers and West Highland White terriers, and may also be a problem in other less-studied breeds. Affected dogs become ill at midlife with progressive and ultimately fatal liver disease. Treatments for removal of copper and prevention of copper accumulation are available, but are most effective if begun before the dog becomes ill. Until recently diagnosis has not been available until the dog is 1 year of age, and then only by an invasive liver biopsy with determination of liver copper concentration. The authors studied the use of 64copper for early diagnosis of canine copper toxicosis. Two procedures were evaluated. The first involved measuring the concentration of 64copper in blood 24 hours after oral administration of the radioisotope. At this time, 64copper was associated primarily with ceruloplasmin secreted into the blood by the liver. This procedure is useful in the diagnosis of the human counterpart, Wilson's disease. However, the authors found it to be nondiscriminatory between affected and unaffected dogs. In contrast, the second procedure, which involved measuring 64copper excreted in stool during 48 hours after an intravenous dose of radioisotope, yielded results that differentiated most affected and unaffected dogs.     

Evaluation of Transmittance and Reflectance Pulse Oximetry in a Canine Model of Hypotension and Desaturation

Ten, anesthetized dogs were instrumented with three pulse oximeter probes; two lingual transmittance probes and one rectal reflective probe. Arterial oxygen desaturation was produced by decreasing the inspired oxygen concentration. Hypotension was produced with an infusion of nitroprusside. Simultaneous pulse oximeter readings (SpO₂) were compared to co-oximeter measured arterial saturation (SaO₂) collected over a range of SaO₂ (50–100%) and mean arterial pressures (40–100mmHg). Each of the monitors and means of evaluating SpO₂ studied provided accurate SpO₂ measurements over a range of mean arterial pressure from 40–100mmHg. All of the monitors tested tended to overestimate the SaO₂ when the arterial saturation was less than 70%.     

Topographic forcing of the atmosphere and a rapid change in the length of day

During June to September 1992, a special campaign was held to measure rapid changes in Earth's rotation rate and to relate these measurements to variations in the atmosphere's angular momentum, due principally to changes in zonal winds. A strong rise in both length of day and atmospheric momentum during a particular 6-day subperiod is documented, and this example of a short-period perturbation is identified with a specific regional coupling mechanism. Mountain torques within the southern tropics appear to account for most of the rapid momentum transfer between the solid Earth and atmosphere, with those across South America especially important.     

Soot in urban atmospheres: determination by an optical absorption technique

We have used the high optical absorptivity of urban and source particulates to trace their "graphitic" component. The optical absorptivity and the particulate carbon loading show a strong correlation. Analyses of the data indicate that primary soot emissions compose a major fraction of the carbonaceous aerosol and put a low limit on secondary organic material produced in correlation with the ozone concentration.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF FOREIGN BODIES IN SOFT TISSUES USING TURKEY MUSCLE AS A MODEL

Foreign bodies in the soft tissues are frequent problems in both veterinary and human medical practice. Radiography has been the principle tool for diagnosis, but is unable to define many foreign bodies. This study was undertaken to compare the sonographic and radiographic visualization for a variety of foreign bodies. Fresh turkey muscle (pectoral and thigh) with skin was used as the soft tissue model. Assorted foreign bodies were introduced 1 cm into the muscle. Materials examined were small wood fragments, steel wire, glass, nails, graphite, rock, BB pellets, and polystyrene plastic. Following introduction of the foreign bodies radiographs were obtained and the specimens were studied sonographically at 5.0 mHz and 7.5 mHz. All foreign bodies were visible with sonography. A bright echo with either acoustic shadowing or reverberations was present for all specimens. Radiographically metallic foreign bodies were visible but wood, some graphite, and plastic were not seen. We conclude that radiography should remain the primary imaging modality for foreign body detection because of its general availability and low cost. If radiography is negative ultrasound can detect and guide the removal of radiolucent foreign bodies.     

Replicative and cytopathic potential of HTLV-III/LAV with sor gene deletions

The genome of the human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) has the potential to encode at least three polypeptides in addition to those encoded by the gag, pol, and env genes. In this study, the product of the sor (short open reading frame) region, which overlaps the 3' end of the pol gene, was found to be a protein with a molecular weight of 23,000. An assay was developed for testing the ability of cloned HTLV-III proviruses to produce viruses cytopathic for T4+ lymphocytes. In the cell line used, C8166, neither the HTLV-III sor gene product nor the complete 3'-orf gene product were necessary for the replication or cytopathic effects of the HTLV-III.     

Ultrafast X-ray Pulses from Laser-Produced Plasmas

A high-temperature plasma is created when an intense laser pulse is focused onto the surface of a solid. An ultrafast pulse of x-ray radiation is emitted from such a plasma when the laser pulse length is less than a picosecond. A high-speed streak camera detector was used to determine the duration of these x-ray pulses, and computer simulations of the plasmas agree with the experimental results. Scaling laws predict that brighter and more efficient x-ray sources will be obtained by the use of more intense laser pulses. These sources can be used for time-resolved x-ray scattering studies and for the development of x-ray lasers.     

Holo-analysis of the efficacy of Bio-Mos in turkey nutrition

1. This holo-analysis of the effects in turkey nutrition of Bio-Mos(R) (BM) (Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY) aims to elaborate comprehensive empirical models for the assessment of responses under practical conditions and for its comparison with other potential pronutrient antibiotic replacements. 2. The data bank utilised was obtained from 54 publications on BM in turkeys from a total collection of 57 papers (1995-2003) on the use of saccharide products as turkey feed additives. These yielded 33 start-to-finish negatively-controlled feed intake, liveweight gain and feed conversion and 24 mortality effects in the USA, France and Poland, using 12,723 birds with a mean of 212 birds per treatment. 3. The feed, gain, conversion and mortality responses to BM compared with the relevant negative controls average -243 g, 57.0 g, -0.0156 and 1.29% with coefficients of variation of 451, 451, 705 and 426%, respectively. Beneficial gain, conversion and mortality effects were found in 52, 52 (33% jointly) and 52% of the tests, respectively. 4. Holo-analytical multiple regression models comparing conventional Por=0.10 out and less stringent Por=0.34 out partial regression coefficient standards, with and without>or=1.5xroot mean square error outliers, contain significant independent variables for negative control performance, duration, year of test, not-USA test, discontinuous dosage, cage housing, mash feed, feed antibiotic, feed anticoccidial, disease condition and high control (>10%) mortality. 5. These developmental models indicate fruitful pathways for future developments with an accent on the definition of specific dose-response relationships, whilst also confirming the value and future potential for BM in turkey production in praxis.     

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Vegetation in the Vicinity of Industries in Bangladesh

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - A study was conducted to investigate the heavy metal contamination of soil and vegetation in the vicinity of industries around Dhaka city in Bangladesh....