Relationship of Progesterone,Bovine Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein-1 and Nitric Oxide with Late Embryonic and Early Fetal Mortalities in Dairy Cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of progesterone (P4), bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-1 (bPAG-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels with late embryonic (LEM; day 28 to day 42) and early fetal mortalities (EFM; > day 42 to day 56) in dairy cows. Transrectal ultrasonography (6–8 MHz) was performed in 100 Holstein-Friesian cows at days 28, 42 and 56 after artificial insemination (AI; day 0) to diagnose pregnancy and to monitor the fate of the embryo. After ultrasound scanning of each cow, a milk sample was collected for assessment of P4 by an ELISA test and a blood sample was collected for assessment of bPAG-1, by using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay, and serum NO metabolites (nitrate + nitrite). Based on ultrasonographic examinations and bPAG-1-RIA, 41 of 100 inseminated cows were confirmed pregnant at day 28 after AI. Nine cows suffered of LEM, and 6 cows suffered of EFM and the overall pregnancy loss rate was 36.6% (15/41) between days 28 and 56 of pregnancy. By logistic regression analysis, there were no significant relationships between the level of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 28 after AI and the occurrence of LEM and EFM. Also, there were no significant relationships between the levels of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 42 and the occurrence of EFM. On the other hand, a significant relationship (P<0.05) was found between NO level at day 28 and the occurrence of LEM. In conclusion, measurement of the serum NO concentration at day 28 of pregnancy might help to predict the outcome of pregnancy by day 42 in dairy cows but further studies are needed to confirm this.     

Analysis of Local Sales Taxation in Rural Areas: An Oklahoma Case Study

This study examines the impact of tax rates and tax rate differentials in a trade area on local sales tax revenues. Sales data for FY 1986 were analyzed for the 75 nonmetropolitan communities in Oklahoma with populations between 2,500 and 50,000. Multiple regression techniques were used to estimate local tax revenues as a function of tax rates, tax rate differential and local community economic and locational attributes. The results indicate that the tax rate differential was not significantly related to local revenue collection in the overall sample, but that the differential was significant for rural communities with relatively higher tax rates. Tax rate, income, service sector employment and a gravity factor were also significant influences on local sales tax revenues. These results imply that, because of the unique characteristics of rural retail markets and the dominance of rural trade centers, these rural trade center cities are able to raise local tax rates and effectively export tax burden to nonresidents without significantly affecting their retail sales when the tax differential is not a large one.     

Simulation of insecticide influences on the population dynamics of the Colorado beetle

A weather-based simulation model of population development of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado beetle) has been extended to include the effects of insecticides. The dynamics of larvae (1st to 4th instar) and the resulting abundance of the adult summer generation has been simulated under the influence of insecticide applications. To describe the mortality caused by different insecticides on the stages of development of L. decemlineata, detailed experimental data are necessary. In this paper, preliminary experience to adapt the SIMLEP computer model to simulate insecticide action on L. decemlineata populations are published for the first time. These investigations aim at developing a more complete model which will be applicable to agricultural practice, not only to predict the dates of density maxima of the developmental stages of L. decemlineata, but also to estimate the need for and the required extent of insecticide applications, i.e. to guarantee optimum results from pesticide treatments.     

Changes in Cardiopulmonary Variables and Platelet Count During Anesthesia for Total Hip Replacement in Dogs

Changes in cardiopulmonary function and platelet count were determined in 22 dogs of various breeds that underwent total hip replacement with cemented femoral prostheses. In 11 dogs (group I) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was inserted without venting the reamed and lavaged femoral canal. In a second group of 11 dogs (group II) a urethral catheter (ID: approximately 2.7 mm) was placed into the medullary cavity before the insertion of PMMA. The application of PMMA resulted in a decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PETco₂) until 5 minutes after insertion of bone cement. Increases in arterial to end-tidal pCO₂ gradient [P(a-ET)co₂] and physiological dead space (V_D/V_T) were recorded between 2 minutes before and 5 minutes after insertion of PMMA in 12 dogs. A significant decrease in platelet count occurred in both groups of dogs. Decreases in arterial pO₂ (Pao₂), arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio (Pao₂/PAo₂), and percent O₂ saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood (Sao₂) were not statistically significant. No significant differences could be detected between data obtained from both groups of dogs. An increase in femoral intramedullary pressure caused by the insertion of PMMA and subsequent pulmonary microembolism by medullary contents has been considered the most likely cause for changes in pulmonary function. The lack of statistically significant differences in cardiopulmonary variables and platelet count between the two groups of dogs could have been related to inefficient pressure reduction by the method used.     

The Medial Saphenous Fasciocutaneous Free Flap in Dogs

The purpose of this study was to identify the angiosome of the medial saphenous artery and vein and to evaluate the use of this cutaneous angiosome as a free skin flap in the dog. In phase 1 of this study, selective angiography of the medial saphenous artery performed in six canine cadavers showed that the skin covering the entire medial femorotibial area, the distal half of the caudal head of the sartorius muscle, and the gracilis muscle were perfused by the medial saphenous artery. In phase 2, a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous island flap was raised and sutured back to the skin edges of the donor wound in three dogs. One hundred percent survival of all of the flaps occurred. In phase 3, a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous microvascular free flap was transferred to a wound that was created over the dorsal metacarpal (n = 3) or metatarsal region (n = 3). The mean length ± SD of the medial saphenous vascular pedicle was 80 ± 13 mm (n = 5); the mean diameter ± SD of the medial saphenous artery was 2.8 ± 0.2 mm (n = 5) and the mean diameter ± SD of the medial saphenous vein was 4.2 ± 0.2 mm (n = 5). One hundred percent of all flaps survived (n = 6). Selective angiography of the distal cranial tibial artery (metatarsal wounds, n = 3) and the median artery (metacarpal wound, n = 3) was performed 3 weeks after surgery. All of the vascular anastomoses were patent and neovascularization of the wound beds was present. This free flap was found to be acceptable for cosmetic reconstruction of wounds located on the distal extremity.     

Myoperitoneal Microvascular Free Flaps in Dogs: An Anatomical Study and a Clinical Case Report

The purpose of the anatomical study was to identify potential myoperitoneal microvascular free flaps, in dogs, that are based on a single artery and vein. The angiosomes of the right deep circumflex iliac artery and left phrenicoabdominal (cranial abdominal) artery were evaluated in six medium-sized canine cadavers. The right deep circumflex iliac artery and left phrenicoabdominal (cranial abdominal) artery were injected with a mixture of barium and latex (equal parts). The entire right and left transversus abdominis muscles were dissected from the abdominal wall and radiographed. The angiograms of the deep circumflex iliac artery showed poor arborization of the vessels within the transversus abdominis muscle in all six cadavers. The angiograms of the phrenicoabdominal (cranial abdominal) artery showed consistent filling of the vascular bed of the cranial half of the transversus abdominis muscle flap in all six dogs. The vascular pedicle lengths and the diameter of the arteries and veins of both the deep circumflex iliac and phrenicoabdominal (cranial abdominal) myoperitoneal free flaps were found to be acceptable for microvascular anastomosis. The deep circumflex iliac flap was unacceptable because of inadequate vascular perfusion. The cranial abdominal artery had a consistent, large branch that supplied the cranial half of the transversus abdominis muscle, thereby making a myoperitoneal flap supplied by this vessel a potentially useful free flap. An 8-year-old male, neutered, mixed-breed dog was evaluated for possible repair of a large defect of the hard palate. Previous operations, using local tissue flaps, had been unsuccessful. A myoperitoneal free flap, based on the right cranial abdominal artery, and consisting of the cranial portion of the transversus abdominis muscle, was used successfully to reconstruct the hard palate. Migrating epithelium from the edges of the wound covered the myoperitoneal flap by 10 weeks after surgery. Therefore, the cranial abdominal myoperitoneal free flap can be considered for reconstruction of intra-oral defects that cannot be repaired using conventional local flap techniques.     

RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF PULMONARY FLUID CLEARANCE IN HEALTHY NEONATAL FOALS

We characterized the kinetics of postnatal equine lung using sequential thoracic radiography. The aim was to establish the earliest time when normal foals have clear, radiolucent lung fields, and to characterize the pattern of this clearance. Both right-to-left and left-to-right thoracic radiographs were acquired in lateral recumbency at peak inspiration within the first 30 min after birth and thereafter at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Radiographs were interpreted by three observers. The overall assessment of radiographic lung clearance was followed by the evaluation of individual lung quadrants to document changes in pulmonary radiographic patterns over time. We concluded that thoracic images in a healthy foal older than 4 h should be characterized by clear lungfields and that after this time distinctions between physiologic and pathologic conditions can be made. The ventral lung cleared first, presumably due to the greater flexibility of the thoracic wall in this anatomic region.     

A modelling approach using seedbank and soil properties to predict the relative weed density in organic fields of an Italian pre-alpine valley

In 1996, a study was conducted on the seedbanks of a pre‐alpine valley in northern Italy which had been organically farmed since 1986. The seedbanks were evaluated using soil cores taken from 16 organic fields located at various altitudes and seed numbers were determined using the ‘seedling emergence method’. Thirteen soil properties were also evaluated. In 2003, the germinable seedbank was assessed in five other fields chosen at random. Soil properties were evaluated by the same method as in 1996. Using the data of the first 16 fields as the analysis data set and those of the latter five as an independent validation data set, a quadratic weed seedbank‐soil properties model was built with partial least square regression analysis. The model estimates the relative abundance of the various species as the sum of the contribution of individual soil properties and has a high predictive capacity. With a novel graphic approach, it is possible to describe the nonlinear relationship between each soil property and weed species relative abundance, giving a rational, quantitative, explanation as to why some species are widespread (e.g. Chenopodium album, Galinsoga parviflora and Chenopodium polyspermum), whereas others tend to concentrate in specific fields (e.g. Spergula arvensis). The approach can, when some hypotheses hold, give a rational basis for the explanation of the relative abundance of species in a weed community and constitutes a useful methodology for study and research.