Mucopolysaccharidosis in a domestic short-haired cat--a disease distinct from that seen in the Siamese cat.

A 10-month-old male domestic short-haired cat was examined because of progressive lameness, a broad face with depressed nasal bridge, small ears, corneal clouding, and multiple bone dysplasia. The cat excreted excessive amounts of glycosaminoglycan (a component of connective tissue) in its urine and had evidence of lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans in fibroblasts and neurons. Activity of alpha-L-iduronidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycosaminoglycan degradation, was deficient in cultured fibroblasts and leukocytes. The mucopolysaccharidosis was distinct from that seen in Siamese cats in terms of the pathologic changes and the specific enzyme deficiency.     

Rutile-bearing refractory eclogites: missing link between continents and depleted mantle

A mass imbalance exists in Earth for Nb, Ta, and possibly Ti: continental crust and depleted mantle both have subchondritic Nb/Ta, Nb/La, and Ti/Zr, which requires the existence of an additional reservoir with superchondritic ratios, such as refractory eclogite produced by slab melting. Trace element compositions of minerals in xenolithic eclogites derived from cratonic lithospheric mantle show that rutile dominates the budget of Nb and Ta in the eclogites and imparts a superchondritic Nb/Ta, Nb/La, and Ti/Zr to the whole rocks. About 1 to 6 percent by weight of eclogite is required to solve the mass imbalance in the silicate Earth, and this reservoir must have an Nb concentration >/= 2 parts per million, Nb/La >/= 1.2, and Nb/Ta between 19 and 37-values that overlap those of the xenolithic eclogites. As the mass of eclogite in the continental lithosphere is significantly lower than this, much of this material may reside in the lower mantle, perhaps as deep as the core-mantle boundary.     

Bioavailability of tryptophan in selected foods by rat growth assay

Tryptophan bioavailabilities were estimated in 16 protein sources using 10 day rat growth assays with casein as the reference protein. Growth responses of rats fed test food diets were compared to growth responses of rats fed basal diets with graded levels of tryptophan ranging from 50 to 100 mg of tryptophan/100 g diet. Estimates of tryptophan availabilities were 85–100% for all products except whole wheat cereal (73%) and pinto beans (59%). Results of a previous study on lysine availability indicated that poor response to pinto beans was due either to poor digestibility or to the presence of some unidentified growth inhibitor.     

Micromechanical "Trampoline" magnetometers for use in large pulsed magnetic fields

A silicon micromechanical magnetometer was constructed and successfully used in 60-tesla pulsed magnetic fields of less than 100-millisecond duration. The device is small, inexpensive to fabricate, and easy to use. It features a fast mechanical response (up to 50,000 hertz) and extremely high sensitivity yet is relatively robust against electrical and mechanical noise. Quantum oscillations in the magnetization of a 1-microgram sample of an organic superconductor, kappa-[bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene]2Cu(NCS)2, have been observed with this device.     

Equine hyperimmune serum protects mice against Clostridium difficile spore challenge

Clostridium (C.) difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in horses. Vancomycin and metronidazole have been used as standard treatments but are only moderately effective, which highlights the need for a novel alternative therapy. In the current study, we prepared antiserum of equine origin against both C. difficile toxins A and B as well as whole-cell bacteria. The toxin-neutralizing activities of the antibodies were evaluated in vitro and the prophylactic effects of in vivo passive immunotherapy were demonstrated using a conventional mouse model. The data demonstrated that immunized horses generated antibodies against both toxins A and B that possessed toxin-neutralizing activity. Additionally, mice treated with the antiserum lost less weight without any sign of illness and regained weight back to a normal range more rapidly compared to the control group when challenged orally with 10⁷ C. difficile spores 1 day after serum injection. These results indicate that intravenous delivery of hyperimmune serum can protect animals from C. difficile challenge in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, immunotherapy may be a promising prophylactic strategy for preventing C. difficile infection in horses.     

Comparison of first-opinion and second-opinion histopathology from dogs and cats with cancer: 430 cases (2001–2008)

Second-opinion histopathology is intended to detect clinically significant discrepancies that have a direct impact on patient care. We sought to determine if this practice at our institution affected patient management and prognosis. First- and second-opinion histopathology reports from cases were retrospectively reviewed. Reports were considered to be in diagnostic agreement, partial diagnostic disagreement or complete diagnostic disagreement. Four hundred and thirty cases were studied. In 70% of cases there was a diagnostic agreement. In 20% of cases, there was partial diagnostic disagreement, where diagnoses were the same but information such as grade or lymphatic and/or vascular invasion was changed. In 10% of cases, complete diagnostic disagreement resulted from a change in degree of malignancy (malignant to benign, or converse; 7%) or a change in cell type (3%). In 17% of the cases evaluated, the histopathology review prompted a change in treatment or prognosis. These findings support the use of second-opinion histopathology as an important part of patient care.     

Ganglioradiculitis (sensory neuronopathy) in a dog: clinical,morphologic, and immunohistochemical findings

A 9-year-old Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with ganglioradiculitis (sensory neuronopathy). This idiopathic disease of mature dogs is characterized by a profound loss of sensory nerve function due to mononuclear inflammatory infiltration of peripheral ganglia and spinal nerve roots, with destruction of sensory neurons. Immunohistochemistry demonstrates that the infiltrating cells are primarily T lymphocytes and that immunoglobulins are not present on the cell membranes of affected neurons. The pathogenesis of ganglioradiculitis remains unclear, but the evidence points to a cell-mediated immune mechanism.     

Anesthetic effects of different volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block in cattle

Objective

To evaluate three volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block to perform castration in cattle.