DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF RENAL AND OCULAR RESISTIVE AND PULSATILITY INDICES IN NORMAL DOGS AND CATS

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are indirect measurements of blood flow resistance that may be used to evaluate vascular changes in renal and ophthalmologic diseases. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal and ocular PI index in the unsedated dog and ocular RI and PI indices in the unsedated cat. The purpose of this study was to measure normal values for both intrarenal and ocular RI and PI within the same subject in unsedated clinically normal dogs and cats. Twenty-seven dogs and 10 cats were considered healthy by means of physical examination, CBC, biochemical profile, urinalysis, and ultrasonography. Systolic blood pressure was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Intrarenal and ocular arteries were scanned by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography to calculate RI and PI. No significant differences were noted between the values obtained for the right vs. the left kidney and eye. The upper values of these indices were calculated as mean+2 standard deviations resulting in 0.72 and 1.52 for dog renal RI and PI; 0.7 and 1.29 for cat renal RI and PI; 0.76 and 1.68 for dog ocular RI and PI; and 0.72 and 1.02 for cat ocular RI and PI.     

Integrating Econometric and Input-Output Models in a Multiregional Context

ABSTRACT This paper explores the extension of integrated econometric/input-output models from a single to a multiregional context. A number of methodological issues associated with existing treatments of extraregional relations in both traditional multiregional econometric models and the more recent single region integrated models are discussed. A series of new approaches are introduced that rely on the integration of econometric and input-output methods to specify extraregional linkages. A comparison of these alternative modeling approaches is undertaken using employment series for 5 regions in Southern California. The forecasting accuracies are evaluated in a series of out-of-sample forecasting experiments. The findings suggest that the forecasting performance of the multiregional extensions of the integrated approach is competitive with the performance of single region implementations. The performance of the alternative multiregional approaches is found to be relatively more sensitive to regionalization of the IO component and the level of industrial disaggregation than to the incorporation of distance in the specification of the multiregional linkages.     

Comparison of continuous infusion with intermittent bolus administration of cefotaxime on blood and cavity fluid drug concentrations in neonatal foals

Hewson, J., Johnson, R., Arroyo, L. G., Diaz‐Mendez, A., Ruiz‐López, J. A., Gu, Y., del Castillo, J. R. E. Comparison of continuous infusion with intermittent bolus administration of cefotaxime on blood and cavity fluid drug concentrations in neonatal foals. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  36 , 68–77. Healthy neonatal foals were treated with cefotaxime by bolus (40 mg/kg IV q6h for 12 doses; n = 10) or by infusion (loading dose of 40 mg/kg IV followed by continuous infusion of a total daily dose of 160 mg/kg per 24 h for 3 days; n = 5). Population pharmacokinetics was determined, and concentrations in cavity fluids were measured at steady state (72 h). Highest measured serum drug concentration in the bolus group was 88.09 μg/mL and minimum drug concentration (C_min) was 0.78 μg/mL at 6‐h postadministration (immediately before each next dose), whereas infusion resulted in a steady‐state concentration of 16.10 μg/mL in the infusion group. Mean cefotaxime concentration in joint fluid at 72 h was higher (P = 0.051) in the infusion group (5.02 μg/mL) compared to the bolus group (0.78 μg/mL). Drug concentration in CSF at 72 h was not different between groups (P = 0.243) and was substantially lower than serum concentrations in either group. Insufficient data on pulmonary epithelial lining fluid were available to compare the methods of administration for cefotaxime in this cavity fluid. Results support continuous drug infusion over bolus dosing in the treatment for neonatal foal septicemia to optimize time that cefotaxime concentration exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration of common equine pathogens.     

Effects of Soybean Fortification on Protein Quality of Tortilla-Based Diets Produced from Regular and Quality Protein Maize

The physiological development of laboratory rats fed with a typical indigenous tortilla diet was studied for two generations. The experiment compared casein control diet and five different types of diets: (1) a diet of tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM); (2) regular tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour containing vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, folic acid, and the microminerals iron and zinc (REDMF); (3) tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean meal (FEDMF); (4) tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour (EQPM); and (5) and, tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour fortified with 3% defatted soybean meal (FEQPM). The growth of rats fed FEDMF and FEQPM diets was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both generations than their counterparts fed EQPM, REDMF, or FM diet. Animals fed quality protein maize (QPM) tortilla had the highest protein digestibility, but the FEQPM and FEDMF diets had the highest biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and protein-digestibility-corrected EAA scores (PDCEAAS). The difference among treatments was more evident in the second-generation rats. The pregnancy rate, number of newborns/litter, litter weight, and newborn survival rate was also higher for rats fed FEDMF, EQPM, and FEQPM diets than their counterparts fed REDMF and FM.     

Imaging diagnosis--cervical spine chondroma in a dog

An extradural chondroma originating in the cervical spine was diagnosed in an 8-year-old, intact male Chow-Chow that presented acute cervical pain and chronic right thoracic limb lameness. Myelographic images were within normal limits. With magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, an extradural mass was identified at the level of the C4-C5 vertebrae. This mass was excised, and the histologic diagnosis was chondroma. Fifteen months after surgery, the dog was clinically normal, and no regrowth of the mass was identified on follow-up MR images. Spinal chondromas are rare tumors in the dog, but should be considered as a rule out for contrast-enhancing extradural vertebral masses.     

EFFECTS OF SEDATION WITH MIDAZOLAM AND BUTORPHANOL ON RESISTIVE AND PULSATILITY INDICES IN HEALTHY DOGS

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are indirect measurements of blood flow resistance that may be measured by pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonography. Chemical restrain may potentially alter the indices although it is required to perform ultrasonography in some patients. The purpose of this study was to describe values for both intrarenal and ocular RI and PI within the same subject in clinically normal dogs sedated with a midazolam and butorphanol combination and evaluate if there are any significant changes between sedated and nonsedated dogs. Fifteen healthy Beagle dogs were studied by Duplex Doppler interrogation in interlobar or arcuate arteries of the kidney and long posterior ciliary artery. Pulse rate and systolic blood pressure were also determined. All measurements were recorded before and after the administration of a sedative combination of midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg). Mean comparison tests (paired t-tests or Wilcoxon's rank-sum test) were used to determine if any significant differences existed between right and left renal values or right and left ocular values. A correlation study (Pearson or Spearman) was applied between RI, PI, and systolic pressure, and pulse rate. RI and PI were significantly higher in sedated Beagles than in unsedated Beagles. There was neither correlation between index and systolic blood pressure nor pulse rate. In conclusion, provided that normal RI and PI increase in sedated animals, then reference ranges should be higher when sedated--healthy or ill--animals are evaluated.     

USE OF TRANSSPLENIC INJECTION OF AGITATED SALINE AND HEPARINIZED BLOOD FOR THE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF MACROSCOPIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS IN DOGS

We describe the use of ultrasonography‐guided percutaneous splenic injection of agitated saline and heparinized blood for the diagnosis of portosystemic shunts (PSS) in 34 dogs. Agitated saline mixed with 1 ml of heparinized autologous blood was injected into the spleen of 34 sedated dogs under sonographic guidance. The transducer was then sequentially repositioned to visualize the portal vein, the caudal vena cava, and the right atrium through different acoustic windows. It was possible to differentiate between intrahepatic and extrahepatic shunts depending on the entry point of the microbubbles into the caudal vena cava. Portoazygos shunts and portocaval shunts could be differentiated based on the presence of microbubbles in the caudal vena cava and/or the right atrium. In one dog, collateral circulation due to portal hypertension was identified. In dogs with a single extrahepatic shunt, the microbubbles helped identify the shunting vessel. The technique was also used postoperatively to assess the efficacy of shunt closure. All abnormal vessels were confirmed by exploratory laparotomy or with ultrasonographic identification of the shunting vessel. Ultrasound‐guided transsplenic injection of agitated saline with heparinized blood should be considered as a valuable technique for the diagnosis of PSS; it is easy to perform, safe, and the results are easily reproducible.     

饲料中添加抗菌肽对红姑鱼幼鱼生长性能及血清激素水平的影响

【目的】评价抗菌肽(Antimicrobial peptides,AMPs)对红姑鱼(Sciaenops ocellatus)幼鱼生长性能和血清激素水平的影响。【方法】在基础饲料中添加不同剂量的抗菌肽(0,0.1,0.3和0.5g/kg)作为试验饲料(即A0,A100,A300和A500组),饲喂平均体质量为(1.57±0.17)g/尾的红姑鱼8周,测定各组红姑鱼生长性能、血清激素(GH、T3、T4和IGF-I)水平,A0和A300组红姑鱼停饲后不同时间点的血清激素水平及肌肉和肝脏中IGF-I mRNA表达丰度。【结果】A300和A500组红姑鱼增重率、饲料效率和蛋白效率都显著高于A0组(P0.05),A100、A300和A500组的蛋白沉积率和成活率显著高于A0组(P0.05)。A300和A500组含肉率和鱼体粗蛋白含量显著高于A0组(P0.05),对形体指标和体组成的其他指标均无显著影响(P0.05)。养殖4,6,8周抗菌肽对血清中GH水平无显著影响(P0.05);A300和A500组血清T3、T4和IGF-I含量显著高于A0组(P0.05)。停饲后72h内持续取样发现,A300组的血清IGF-I在停饲后2h时达峰值,且在2和4h时血清IGF-I含量显著高于A0组(P0.05)。A300组的IGF-I mRNA在肝脏和肌肉中的表达量在4h时达峰值(P0.05)。【结论】饲料中添加抗菌肽0.3g/kg可促进红姑鱼的生长,提高饲料效率,增加含肉率。抗菌肽与血清GH的分泌无显著相关性,但可提高血清IGF-I水平及IGF-I mRNA在肌肉和肝脏中的表达量。     

Comparison of sampling methodologies for site-specific management of Avena sterilis

The ability to manage weed infestations in a spatially precise manner requires efficient and accurate methods of mapping weed distributions. A study was conducted to compare four different ground-based methods for collecting georeferenced information on infestations of Avena sterilis in winter wheat and barley. Sampling was performed at harvest by scoring panicle density, either from the ground or from a combine, by counting the number of panicle contacts with a stick moved horizontally over the crop canopy by an observer walking through the field, and by sampling A. sterilis seed rain on the ground. No significant differences were observed among the populations estimated by the four methods. A partial budget analysis of the in-season costs and benefits of spraying patches using these methods showed that visual scoring from the combine was the most appropriate method for the creation of weed management maps to be used for patch spraying in the following season. As a large variety of spatial patterns may be found in fields, the recommended sampling method might be field-specific and optimality should be verified for general use.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF THE INTRAVASCULAR TRANSIT OF AGITATED SALINE IN NORMAL DOGS FOLLOWING ULTRASOUND GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS SPLENIC INJECTION

Portosystemic shunts (PSSs) allow portal blood to bypass the liver and enter the systemic circulation. Definitive diagnosis requires surgical identification, positive contrast portography, ultrasonography, or scintigraphy. This study was designed as a preliminary step to developing an alternative/adjuvant protocol to these imaging modalities. The main goals were to establish a technique for ultrasound‐guided percutaneous trans‐splenic injection of agitated saline, to evaluate the feasibility of performing the test to explore the postsplenic portal vasculature highlighted by the microbubbles, and to ascertain whether agitated saline microbubbles cross the sinusoidal barrier. Agitated saline was injected into the spleen of 20 healthy sedated dogs under sonographic guidance. The transducer was then repositioned to visualize the portal vein, the caudal vena cava, and the right atrium through different acoustic windows. Satisfactory results were achieved in all dogs. The microbubbles were visualized in all dogs as small intense echo signals within the portal vein at the level of the porta hepatis immediately after injection. In 18 out of 20 dogs, the echogenic signal of the microbubbles disappeared immediately once within the hepatic parenchyma, whereas in two dogs, the echoes from the microbubbles lasted for several seconds within the intrahepatic portal vasculature. The absence of microbubbles beyond the sinusoidal barrier in all of the healthy dogs included in this study makes trans‐splenic injection of agitated saline a candidate as an adjuvant technique for the diagnosis of PSS, being easy to perform and repeat, as well as safe and technically feasible.