Ventral Locking Compression Plate for Treatment of Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy in a 3-Month-Old Warmblood Foal

Objective— To report a novel technique for cervical vertebral fusion in a foal with cervical vertebral malformation (CVM).
Study Design— Case report.
Methods— A 3-month-old Warmblood filly with ataxia, weakness, and stenotic myelopathy at the level of the articulation of the 6th (C6) and 7th (C7) cervical vertebrae had a 7-hole broad locking compression plate (LCP) applied to the ventral aspect of C6 and C7 using seven 5.0-mm locking screws. Revision surgery was required to replace the self-drilling screws, which had migrated, with longer non self-drilling screws. Fusion and growth of the vertebrae were monitored radiographically at 4, 10, and 16 months using radiography and the filly was followed for 32 months.
Results— The filly recovered well from the surgical procedures and by 30 months had improved by 2.5 neurologic grades. Ventral inter-central joint fusion was evident by 10 months. Continued vertebral growth occurred in all but the cranial physis of the C7 vertebral body.
Conclusions— A ventrally placed LCP provided adequate support for fusion and stability of cervical vertebrae.
Clinical Relevance— Use of an LCP applied ventrally offers an alternative to basket use in small or immature horses for fusion of cervical vertebrae.     

Pinless External Fixation of Mandible Fractures in Cattle

Objective — This report describes our experience with a new technique for stabilization of mandibular fractures in cattle using a pinless external fixator.
Study Design — Mandibular fractures were stabilized with a pinless external fixator, which is a modification of a unilateral AO/ASIF (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation)-fixator in which pins are replaced with bone clamps.
Animals — Seven dairy cattle between 1 and 5 years of age.
Methods — Fracture stabilization was achieved by using the pinless external fixator. Postoperative management included intravenous administration of sodium chloride-glucose and antibiotics. A suspension of ruminal contents from a normal cow together with linseed and grass pellets was administered with a gastric tube.
Results — Three to 10 days after surgery six of seven cows masticated comfortably. The only failure was a yearling with a 10-day-old open infected fracture. This animal was slaughtered 9 days after surgery because of additional problems. In six cases there was enough callus formation 33 to 54 days after surgery to stabilize the fracture. The fixation devices were removed under heavy sedation. The major complication was bone sequestration at the fracture site, which required additional treatment.
Conclusion — The pinless fixator has proven satisfactory for external stabilization of unilateral horizontal ramus fractures of the mandible in cattle.
Clinical Relevance — The technique provides good stability without penetration of the medullary cavity and damage to the tooth roots. Other advantages of the technique include ease of application, minimal surgical trauma, and the short surgical time for application.     

Susceptibility of mulesing wounds to oviposition and strike development by the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia caprina

The age and/or physical condition of mulesing wounds had a significant effect on both the oviposition response of L. cuprina and the ability of the wound to support a strike. Up to 48 h after mulesing, untreated wounds elicited a strong oviposition response in contrast with chemically treated wounds, although subsequent larval development was negligible. Seven to 9-day-old wounds, however, regardless of the wound treatment, were highly attractive oviposition sites, which subsequently developed into strikes; the D3 formulation of Defiance*S, however, significantly depressed strike development and shows promise as a mules wound treatment. A marked improvement in the wound healing 14 to 16 d after mulesing coincided with a significant decrease in oviposition. Only those sheep whose wound scabs remained broken, exposing pus and raw tissue, attracted oviposition; subsequent development of the eggs into strikes was negligible.     

Preliminary experiments on utilization of water hyacinth by grass carp

Preliminary aquarium experiments have been carried out on the feeding of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) to grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Via.). Eleven months old fish weighing 38 to 104 g were fed for 50 days exclusively on E. crassipes. Roots and leaves were accepted readily but the swollen petioles reluctantly. The fish developed well, producing 6.5g live weight from 10g dry matter of E. crassipes. The results suggest the possible use of grass carp for the solution of E. crassipes problems. Further extensive experiments are required in the field, however, to determine the influence of grass carp on the ecology of waters infested with this weed.     

Influence of methodology on electroencephalographic sleep and arousal: studies with reserpine and etryptamine in rabbits

In studies with reserpine and with etryptamine, quite opposite electroencephalographic effects were obtained when either of these two drugs was administered to rabbits prior to surgical preparation for EEG recording as opposed to the drug being given after the rabbits had been fully prepared for EEG recording. With the one method, EEG rhythms indicative of sleep were obtained, while with the other method, EEG rhythms indicative of central nervous system stimulation were obtained, although with both methods, the amount of drug, duration of drug in animal, and type of acute preparation were identical for both sets of findings. The presurgical injection procedure produced EEG results more in accordance with behavioral and biochemical findings, even though the conventional procedure is to administer the experimental drug after the animal has been prepared for EEG recording.     

Weed composition and cover after three years of soil fertility management in the central Brazilian Amazon: Compost, fertilizer, manure and charcoal applications

Soils of the lowland tropics in the central Brazilian Amazon are generally highly leached, acidic and nutrient-poor. Charcoal, combined with other soil amendments, might improve fertility but this, in turn, could lead to increased weed problems for agricultural production. This experiment was conducted to assess weed pressure and species composition on plots receiving various inorganic and organic soil amendments, including charcoal. Additions of inorganic fertilizer, compost and chicken manure resulted in increases in weed ground cover of 40, 22 and 53%, respectively, and increases in species richness of 20, 48, and 63%, respectively. When chicken manure was applied, dominance by a few weed species was reduced, such that different species were more evenly represented. Although charcoal additions alone did not significantly affect weed ground cover or species richness, a synergistic effect occurred when both charcoal and inorganic fertilizers were applied. The percentage ground cover of weeds was 45% within plots receiving inorganic fertilizer, 2% within plots receiving charcoal and 66% within plots receiving both amendments. Improvements in the fertility of nutrient-poor soils of the tropics might increase weed pressure and make the development of effective weed management strategies more critical. These effects on weed populations were observed nearly 2.5 years after the addition of charcoal, chicken manure and compost, and > 1 year after the last application of inorganic fertilizer.     

基于遥感的景观格局时空动态研究

基于试验区域1990年TM影像和2002年ETM+影像,采用遥感和地理信息系统相结合的技术方法,应用景观分析软件Fragstats3.3,对试验区域12 a来景观变化进行了动态研究。结果表明:12 a间,试验区域景观发生巨大变化。(1)1990～2002年间,森林面积大幅度减少,其他植被、裸地、建设用地、水域面积得到了增加,其中建设用地相对自身增幅最大,年平均增长率为20.9%。(2)两时期的景观基质均为森林,其他植被、裸地、建设用地、水域作为斑块单元镶嵌其中,5种景观类型相互之间转化频繁,森林主要转化为其他植被和裸地;同时其他植被、裸地也有大部分转化为森林,其原因是人工林的建立,转化后的景观森林的主导优势已不明显。(3)总体景观的破碎度呈增加趋势,但不同景观类型的破碎化指数的变化则表现不同,森林和水域表现出下降趋势,而其他植被、裸地、建设用地的景观破碎化指数则呈上升趋势,景观向无序状态发展。     

Marsupialization of Umbilical Vein Abscesses With Involvement of the Liver in 13 Calves

Omphalophlebitis with liver involvement was diagnosed by ultrasonography in 13 calves. In the initial surgical procedure, the infected umbilical vein was marsupialized by cranial trans-location in a median celiotomy and was flushed daily until healing occurred. In a second surgical procedure, the contracted umbilical vein was removed. Nine calves were clinically healthy after treatment. One had reformation of two abscesses because of inadequate post-surgical treatment. One calf was euthanatized because of an intussusception of the small intestine, and two calves had adverse reactions and developed septic shock when some of the lavage fluid, which was applied under pressure, entered the systemic circulation. It was concluded that umbilical vein abscesses should not be flushed under pressure in calves younger than 2 months of age. The principal advantages of cranial translocation of the umbilical vein in a median celiotomy are that only one abdominal incision is required and that the infected umbilical vein tissue does not have to be passed intraabdominally to a paramedian position.