Actinomycin D for Reinduction of Remission in Dogs With Resistant Lymphoma

Twenty-five dogs with malignant lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy were treated with actinomycin D at a median dose of 0.7 mg/m² (range, 0.5 to 0.9 mg/m²) every 3 weeks. The dogs treated had received between 2 and 8 chemotherapeutic agents (median 7), for a median of 266 days before being treated with actinomycin D. For 23 of the 25 dogs, previous chemotherapy included doxorubicin. No dog responded to actinomycin D chemotherapy.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF ALIMENTARY LYMPHOSARCOMA IN THE CAT

Clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic findings from 22 cats with gastrointestinal lymphosarcoma were reviewed. The most common clinical findings were anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy, depression, fever, anemia and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal radiographs of 12 cats revealed a mass associated with the gastrointestinal tract and/or mesentery, and decreased serosal detail, suggestive of peritoneal effusion. The most common ultrasonographic finding was transmural gastric or intestinal thickening associated with loss of normal wall layering, reduced wall echogenicity and localized hypomotility. As is noted in people, other patterns such as transmural-segmental, transmural-nodular, transmural-bulky and mucosal infiltration were represented. In 3 cats, mesenteric lymph-adenopathy was responsible for most of the mass-effect. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy, automated microcore biopsy, endoscopic biopsy or necropsy confirmed the diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in all cats. Chemotherapy was instituted in 19 cats. Only 6 cats had a complete response to treatment. The results of this study indicate that ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of feline alimentary lymphosarcoma and that biopsies can be obtained under ultrasonographic guidance.     

Pasteurella haemolytica A1 and Bovine Respiratory Disease: Pathogenesis

The severe fibrinonecrotic pneumonia associated with pneumonic pasteurellosis usually results from colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1(A1). Despite recent research efforts, the authors lack a detailed understanding of the interactions and host response to P. haemolytica in the respiratory tract. The authors hypothesize that management and environmental stress factors or viral infection alters the upper respiratory tract (URT) epithelium allowing P. haemolytica to colonize the epithelium. Once the URT is colonized, large numbers of organisms enter the lung where they interact with alveolar macrophages. Endotoxin, released from the bacteria, crosses the alveolar wall where it activates pulmonary intravascular macrophages, endothelium, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, complement, and Hageman factor leading to complex interactions of cells and mediators. It is the progression of this inflammatory response with neutrophil influx that is ultimately responsible for the pulmonary injury. Leukotoxin is a major virulence factor of P. haemolytica that allows it to survive by destroying phagocytic cells. At subcytolytic concentrations it may also enhance the inflammatory response by activating cells to produce mediators and release reactive oxygen metabolites and proteases.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF MULTILOBULAR OSTEOCHONDROSARCOMA IN 3 DOGS

Three dogs with multilobular osteochondrosarcoma of the skull were evaluated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Spin echo T1, T2, proton weighted and post contrast T1W images were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla magnet. The MR imaging findings were similar in all three dogs with mixed signal intensities in the T1W, T2W and proton weighted images and fairly large areas of contrast enhancement in the post contrast T1W images. The extent of brain and soft tissue involvement were well delineated and provided useful information concerning surgical planning. MR imaging provided a useful method of evaluating dogs with skull tumors.     

Intraperitoneal Circulation and Drainage in the Dog

The patterns of dispersion and drainage of a low viscosity, oil-based contrast medium within the peritoneal cavity were examined in 12 normal dogs. Intraperitoneal injection of contrast medium was cranial or caudal and drainage was by the sump-Penrose or open peritoneal method. Radiographs were made over a 96 hour period, before and after peritoneal drainage was established. Each dog was euthanatized and necropsied. The contrast medium was dispersed throughout the peritoneal cavity 15 to 30 minutes after cranial injection and 1 to 2 hours after caudal injection. Most of the contrast medium drained within 6 hours after open peritoneal drainage and within 24 to 48 hours after sump-Penrose drainage. At necropsy, there was complete encasement of all sump-Penrose drains and partial occlusion of all open peritoneal incisions by omentum adhered to the abdominal wound edges. Peritonitis was not grossly evident, but all dogs showed histologic evidence of an acute inflammatory reaction associated with the drain or wound edge.     

How to perform transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with atrial fibrillation

Electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is a well-established technique for restoration of sinus rhythm in humans. While transthoracic cardioversion is more commonly used, transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) has been reported as having higher efficacy at substantially lower energy levels. In horses, treatment of atrial fibrillation has essentially been limited to the administration of quinidine salts either orally or intravenously. TVEC provides an alternative to quinidine salts, especially for those animals in which quinidine is neither effective nor tolerated. The present report details this technique in horses, discusses possible complications of the procedure, and provides guidance for successful outcome. Still and video images are used to illustrate details with regard to TVEC techniques in horses. Please view supplemental material for the videos.     

Association of hyponatremia and hyperglycemia with outcome in dogs with congestive heart failure

Objective: To evaluate plasma sodium and glucose concentrations in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) prior to treatment and evaluate the differences between survivors and non‐survivors. Design: Retrospective study. Animals: Fifty‐nine dogs with CHF prior to receiving cardiac medication. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: The mean plasma sodium concentration in dogs with CHF was below the reference range (144–156 mmol/L) and significantly lower (P=0.009) in non‐survivors (141±6 mmol/L) compared with survivors (147±4 mmol/L). The mean plasma glucose concentration was above the reference range (76–117 mg/dL) and significantly higher (P=0.004) in non‐survivors (128±52 mg/dL) compared with survivors (100±13 mg/dL). Forty‐four percent of non‐survivors had concurrent low plasma sodium and high plasma glucose concentrations, whereas no survivors had both abnormalities (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Lower plasma sodium and higher plasma glucose are associated with a worse outcome in dogs with CHF.     

水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧不同密度试验

为了探索水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜栽培密度和技术,设计了6种不同抛秧密度的试验。结果表明,性状指标变化情况为:株高、穴穗数、穗长、穗总粒数、穗实粒数随抛秧密度的增加而减少,667m2穗数随抛秧密度的增加而增加,够苗期随密度的增加而提前,其他性状指标变化不大。667m2抛秧14 000、17 000和20 000粒谷秧的处理4、5、6产量较高,分别为760.3 kg/667m2、718.2 kg/667m2和712.8 kg/667m2,与其余3个处理间达显著或极显著水平。无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜的密度范围为1 4 000~20 000粒谷秧/667m2。     

粪肥施用对土壤团聚体的影响——Meta分析

粪肥施用为土壤输入大量有机质与养分,能影响土壤团聚体的形成和稳定性,大部分研究主要认为粪肥施用促进土壤大粒径团聚体的形成(marcoaggregate,≥0.25 mm),但进一步细分是对大团聚体(large marcoaggregate,>2 mm)还是小团聚体(small marcoaggregate,2 ~ 0.25 mm)的影响更大,研究存在较大差异。本文使用Meta分析收集了36篇相关文献,共267个团聚体数据,发现施用粪肥能显著增加土壤大团聚体和小团聚体含量,分别增加了95% 和17%,同时减少了土壤微团聚体(microaggregates,0.25 ~ 0.053 mm)和土壤粉黏颗粒(silt-plus and clay-size particles,<0.053 mm)含量,分别减少了14% 和20%。本文还从土壤因素、粪肥因素、气候因素3个角度的解释变量来分析粪肥施用对土壤团聚体影响不同的原因,结果发现土壤类型、土壤pH、粪肥种类和年均气温、年均降水量是造成不同研究结果差异的主要原因。     

土壤水分时间变异对油麦菜水分利用效率的影响机制

【目的】土壤水分根据其随时间的变异情况可分为稳定性和波动性土壤水分,稳定的土壤水分有利于提高作物的水分利用效率。我们研究了土壤水分的时间变异影响油麦菜水分、养分吸收利用效率的机制。【方法】以油麦菜(Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia)为供试作物于遮阳网室内进行盆栽试验。设两个供水处理：传统浇灌(traditional irrigation, TI)和负压灌溉(negative pressure irrigation,NPI),其所提供的土壤水分分别为波动性土壤水分和稳定性土壤水分。供水处理于油麦菜4叶期开始运行,用土壤水分仪测定土壤含水量,每两天测定一次,处理28天后收获。于NPI开始运行的第1、11、21和28天,测定油麦菜株高、叶片数、最大叶长和最大叶宽,同时用LI-6400便携式光合仪测定油麦菜叶片净光合速率(P_n)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(G_s),生化方法分析叶片抗旱生理指标游离脯氨酸(Pro)、丙二醛(MDA...