IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—ULTRASOUND-GUIDED ETHANOL SCLEROTHERAPY FOR A SIMPLE RENAL CYST

Solitary renal cysts are benign and in the majority of instances asymptomatic and do not require treatment. Nevertheless, treatment may be required if abdominal discomfort or pain, hypertension, infection or renal outflow obstruction occur. Under these circumstances, percutaneous management of the cyst is the easiest and fastest procedure, and no major complications are generally encountered. In this report we describe a patient with a solitary renal cyst treated successfully by a single injection of ethanol into the cyst. The sonographic appearance of the cyst changed from a well-defined hypoechoic structure to an ill-defined hyperechoic region. Canine renal cysts may be successfully managed in some instances by a single ethanol injection.     

Sedative effects of dexmedetomidine,dexmedetomidine–pethidine and dexmedetomidine–butorphanol in cats

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine, both alone and combined with pethidine or butorphanol, in cats. A prospective randomized blind study was performed. Thirty cats were randomly assigned to three groups of 10 animals: D: dexmedetomidine (20 μg/kg IM); DP: dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg IM) and pethidine (2.5 mg/kg IM); DB: dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg IM) and butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg IM). Quality of sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation and the possibility of performing some clinical procedures were compared using a multifactorial scale. Sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation increased progressively over time and did not differ in the three protocols. The three protocols facilitated the completion of several clinical procedures. The clinical variables studied showed a similar behaviour in the three protocols and remained close to the baseline, except for a drop in heart rate in protocol D. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine, either alone or combined with pethidine or butorphanol, offers suitable sedation, analgesia and relaxation to perform various clinical procedures in cats.     

Computed tomographic anatomy of the temporomandibular joint in the young horse

Reasons for performing study: The equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its surrounding structures can be difficult to investigate in cases with a clinical problem related to the region. Little previous attention has been given either to a computed tomographic (CT) imaging protocol for the joint or an interpretation of the structures displayed in CT images of the normal joint. Objectives: To provide a CT atlas of the normal cross‐sectional anatomy of the equine TMJ using frozen and plastinated sections as anatomical reference. Methods: Eight TMJs from 4 immature pure‐bred Spanish horses were examined by helical CT. Scans were processed with a detailed algorithm to enhance bony and soft tissue. Transverse CT images were reformatted into sagittal and dorsal planes. Transverse, sagittal and dorsal cryosections were then obtained, photographed and plastinated. Relevant anatomic structures were identified in the CT images and corresponding anatomical sections. Results: In the CT images, a bone window provided excellent bone detail, however, the soft tissue components of the TMJ were not as well visualised using a soft tissue window. The articular cartilage was observed as a hyperattenuating stripe over the low attenuated subchondral bone and good delineation was obtained between cortex and medulla. The tympanic and petrous part of the temporal bone (middle and inner ear) and the temporohyoid joint were seen in close proximity to the TMJ. Conclusions: Helical CT provided excellent images of the TMJ bone components to characterise the CT anatomy of the normal joint. Potential relevance: Detailed information is provided that may be used as a reference by equine veterinarians for the CT investigation of the equine TMJ and serve to assist them in the diagnosis of disorders of the TMJ and related structures (middle and inner ear). The study was performed at an immature stage and further studies of mature individuals are required in order to confirm that the clinical interpretation is not affected by changes occurring with age.     

基于寄生者-宿主相互作用的时空生态特征构建的协同进化框架:巢寄生研究中一个缺失的环节(英文)

协同进化理论的中心思想,包括巢寄生者与其宿主之间共进化关系的理论,认为时间和空间模式可揭示一些关于生态和进化动态方面的重要信息。例如,关于遗传方式和基因流在决定由寄生导致的宿主所受选择的局域模式(如拒绝卵)以及因宿主的选择压力导致的寄生者所受选择模式(如模拟卵)中所起的作用,种群的遗传结构水平为此提供了重要信息。此外,随空间变化的非生物(如气候条件)和生物(动物的表型特征)因素可能还会直接或间接影响宿主和寄生者的种群及其相互作用。通过查阅文献,我们发现大量的证据支持时间及空间上的非生物环境对寄生者和宿主卵的形态及模拟程度有重要影响。而且,有研究表明,随地理和(或)时间而变化的特殊的宿主生活史特征可能会影响新宿主最初被利用的概率以及宿主与寄生者间共进化的方向和速度。本文全面总结了以往研究中关于寄生者和宿主之间相互作用的时空模式。该时空趋势以及拒卵行为的遗传学依据和基因流的显著作用,与协同进化的动态特征相一致。然而,基因流和寄生者宿主丰富度的时空格局变化可能会导致宿主和寄生者频繁产生在形态上与直觉相反的关系(如极少或者没有模拟),这或许说明了适应的局限性。我们列举了未来需要解决的一系列科学问题,认为关于寄生者和宿主的研究在检测协同进化的地理学理论以及其它一些假说中扮演着关键角色。     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ANATOMY OF THE NORMAL EQUINE LARYNX AND PHARYNX

The purpose of the present study was to describe normal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging anatomy of the equine larynx and pharynx and to present the optimal protocol, sequences, and possible limitations of this examination technique. Using a 0.3 T unit, the laryngeal and pharyngeal regions was imaged in two horses. The protocol consisted of sagittal and transverse T2-weighted (T2w) fast spin echo, transverse T1-weighted (T1w) spin echo, and dorsal high-resolution T1w gradient echo (both pre- and postcontrast enhancement) sequences. Euthanasia was performed at the end of the imaging procedure. Macroscopic anatomy of the cadaver sections were compared with the MR images in transverse, midsagittal, and parasagittal planes. There was good differentiation of anatomic structures, including soft tissues. The laryngeal cartilages, hyoid apparatus, and upper airway muscle groups with their attachments could be clearly identified. However, it was not always possible to delineate individual muscles in each plane. Most useful were both T2w and T1w transverse sequences. Intravenous application of contrast medium was helpful to identify blood vessels. The MR images corresponded with the macroscopic anatomy of cadaver sections.     

Productive Efficiency and Territorial Externalities in Small and Medium‐Sized Industrial Firms: A Dynamic Analysis of the District Effect

A series of works have analysed differential behaviour in terms of productive efficiency between companies inside a hypothetical industrial district and those outside the district. This objective has been addressed using measures of technical efficiency. The results obtained provide valuable information for quantifying the district effect at a given moment in time. However, constant changes in the market and business behaviour mean that it is worthwhile studying the business district effect from a dynamic point of view. In this study, we provide this new vision through the use of Malmquist productivity indices. This methodology enables us to analyse possible differential evolutions by comparing the productive efficiency of companies inside and outside a district over a period of time. An empirical application has been made on a set of small and medium‐sized Spanish ceramic producers during the period of economic expansion between 1996 and 2007.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT IN HEALTHY PURE-BRED SPANISH HORSES

The objective was to describe the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the soft tissue and bony structures of the temporomandibular joint in Pure-Bred Spanish horses using frozen and plastinated sections performed as anatomical references. The temporomandibular joint of five healthy Pure-Bred Spanish horses and the head specimens from 12 Pure-Bred Spanish cadavers that were subjected to euthanasia for reasons other than temporomandibular joint problems were studied sonographically and anatomically. An 11 MHz linear-array transducer was used to obtain longitudinal ultrasonographic images of the temporomandibular joint from rostral, lateral, and caudal approaches. For anatomic study, a gross dissection was performed on six temporomandibular joints. The other six head specimens were first frozen at -30 degrees C for 48h and then, at -70 degrees C for a week. Three millimeter thick anatomic sections were collected in the same plane as the sonographic planes. These sections were plastinated, photographed, and compared with the corresponding ultrasonographic images. The articular surfaces, the articular cartilage, the disc, the intra-articular fat tissue, the joint capsule, and other structures were clearly visualized sonographically. Structures identified on the ultrasonographic images were in accordance with those identified on the corresponding anatomic sections. We confirmed the appearance of structures of the equine temporomandibular joint that have been described previously but we also identified the caudal fibrous expansion of the disc, the caudal compartment of the dorsal synovial pouch, and the lateral ligament. Our results define a reference that will aid in sonographic evaluation of the equine temporomandibular joint region.