A retrospective study of visceral and nonvisceral hemangiosarcoma and hemangiomas in domestic animals.

Cases of hemangiosarcoma submitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory during a 6-year period were reviewed. Visceral hemangiosarcomas represent less than 2% of canine specimens submitted for histologic examination and nonvisceral hemangiosarcoma less than 1%. Most nonvisceral hemangiosarcomas of dogs occur in skin. Hemangiosarcomas are less common in cats and usually occur in skin. They are also rare in other animal species. Animals with nonvisceral hemangiosarcomas are usually mature; dogs and cats average 10 years of age. The tumors develop in many different locations, and there is no sex predilection. A wide variety of dog breeds are affected, but Italian greyhounds, greyhounds, and whippets are overrepresented. Clinical outcomes of 76 cases of nonvisceral hemangiosarcomas in dogs and cats were obtained from submitting veterinarians. Completeness of excision of a tumor is the most important factor that can be used in predicting clinical outcome for an affected dog or cat. In all cases in which the animals were clinically normal for at least 1 year after surgical removal of a nonvisceral hemangiosarcoma, the margins were reported to be free of neoplastic cells. Degree of differentiation, mitotic rate, size of tumor, and presence or absence of epidermal ulceration, mast cells, or solar elastosis did not correlate with clinical outcome.     

Accurate machine learning-based germination detection,prediction and quality assessment of three grain crops

Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological reactions and forms the basis of crop productivity and yield on which a growing global population relies. However, to develop improved plant cultivars that are capable of increased productivity, methods that can accurately and quickly quantify photosynthetic efficiency in large numbers of genotypes under field conditions are needed. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging is a rapid, non-destructive measurement that can provide insight into the efficiency of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. To test and validate a field-deployed fluorescence imaging system on the TERRA-REF field scanalyzer, leaves of potted sorghum plants were treated with a photosystem II inhibitor, DCMU, to reduce photochemical efficiency (FV/FM). The ability of the fluorescence imaging system to detect changes in fluorescence was determined by comparing the image-derived values with a handheld fluorometer. This study demonstrated that the imaging system was able to accurately measure photochemical efficiency (FV/FM) and was highly correlated (r = 0.92) with the handheld fluorometer values. Additionally, the fluorescence imaging system was able to track the decrease in photochemical efficiency due to treatment of DCMU over a 7 day period. The system’s ability to capture the temporal dynamics of the plants’ response to this induced stress, which has comparable dynamics to abiotic and biotic stressors found in field environments, indicates the system is operating correctly. With the validation of the fluorescence imaging system, physiological and genetic studies can be undertaken that leverage the fluorescence imaging capabilities and throughput of the field scanalyzer.     

Monoclonal Gammopathy in a Dog With Chronic Pyoderma

A monoclonal gammopathy composed of immunoglobulin G, with concurrent light-chain proteinuria and generalized lymph node plasmacytosis, was associated with chronic pyoderma in a dog. A uniform population of plasma cells was observed cytologically and histologically in multiple lymph node specimens. A diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance was eventually made by exclusion of other known causes of monoclonal gammopathy, resolution after antibiotic therapy, and no evidence of lymphoproliferative disease after 11 months of follow-up and subsequent necropsy. This report expands the diagnostic considerations for monoclonal gammopathies in the dog.     

Nodular dermatofibrosis and cystic renal disease in three mixed-breed dogs and a Boxer dog

Three mixed-breed dogs and a Boxer dog with nodular dermatofibrosis are described. The three mixed breed dogs had concurrent renal epithelial cysts ( n  = 2) or renal cystadenomas ( n  = 1); these lesions were visualized antemortem on ultrasonographic examination. One of these dogs was a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever-Gordon Setter mixed breed which survived 5 years after diagnosis, and was euthanized for unrelated causes. The Boxer dog had renal cystic adenomatous hyperplasia and renal cystadenocarcinomas which were not visualized on ultrasonographic examination but were diagnosed at necropsy.     

Effect of Leptin on In Vivo Goat Embryo Production

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leptin administration during superovulation on in vivo goat embryo production. Ten mature does were superovulated with 133 mg follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) i.m. in six descending doses at 12‐h intervals. The goats received 4.8 μg/kg human recombinant leptin s.c. (leptin group, n = 5) or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) (control group, n = 5) with the first and second FSH doses. The does were mated and subjected to embryo collection by transcervical technique 6 days later. The total number of cells per embryo and the number of cells with fragmented DNA were assessed in selected blastocysts by combining Hoechst 33342 and terminal dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) staining. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) were determined by electrochemiluminescence from the day of FSH treatment, on the day of superovulatory oestrus and on the day before embryo collection. Compared with the control group, the does that received leptin had a higher number of transferable embryos (p < 0.005), fewer embryos classified as degenerated (p < 0.001) and fewer TUNEL‐positive cells/blastocyst (p < 0.001). The number of transferable embryos was positively correlated with E₂ concentrations on day of oestrus (r = 0.562; p < 0.01) and P₄ concentrations on the day of embryo collection (r = 0.912; p < 0.001). We concluded that in vivo leptin administration during FSH treatment improved embryo quality and affected ovarian steroidogenesis in superovulated goats.     

Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars

Objective The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-ranging feral horses was conducted to allow preliminary comparisons with the movement of confined domestic horses. Procedures A lightweight global positioning system (GPS) data logger modified from a personal/vehicle tracker and mounted on a collar was used to monitor the movement of domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and internal fence designs for 6.5-day periods. Results In the paddocks used (0.8–16 ha), groups of domestic horses exhibited a logarithmic response in mean daily distance travelled as a function of increasing paddock size, tending asymptotically towards approximately 7.5 km/day. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance travelled also dependent on paddock size. Without altering available paddock area, paddock design, with the exception of a spiral design, did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled. Feral horses (17.9 km/day) travelled substantially greater mean daily distances than domestic horses (7.2 km/day in 16-ha paddock), even when allowing for larger paddock size. Conclusions Horses kept in stables or small yards and paddocks are quite sedentary in comparison with their feral relatives. For a given paddock area, most designs did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled.     

Predatory Dinosaurs from the Sahara and Late Cretaceous Faunal Differentiation

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) fossils discovered in the Kem Kem region of Morocco include large predatory dinosaurs that inhabited Africa as it drifted into geographic isolation. One, represented by a skull approximately 1.6 meters in length, is an advanced allosauroid referable to the African genus Carcharodontosaurus. Another, represented by a partial skeleton with slender proportions, is a new basal coelurosaur closely resembling the Egyptian genus Bahariasaurus. Comparisons with Cretaceous theropods from other continents reveal a previously unrecognized global radiation of carcharodontosaurid predators. Substantial geographic differentiation of dinosaurian faunas in response to continental drift appears to have arisen abruptly at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous.     

Plasma cell stomatitis-pharyngitis in cats: 40 cases (1973-1991).

Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and treatment results of 40 cats with the histologic diagnosis of plasma cell stomatitis-pharyngitis are discussed. Median age was 7.1 years, with no discernable sex predilection. Anorexia and difficulty prehending food were the most common clinical signs. Hyperproteinemia with associated hyperglobulinemia was the most common laboratory finding. Of various treatments, administration of corticosteroids or injectable gold (aurothioglucose) proved most effective in controlling the clinical signs.