In Ovo Electroporation of Embryonic Chicken Spinal Cord in Combination with Ex Vivo Slice Culture for Live Imaging of Vertebrate Neuronal Differentiation.

To investigate the cell behavior underlying neuronal differentiation in a physiologically relevant context, differentiating neurons must be studied in their native tissue environment. Here, we describe an accessible protocol for fluorescent live imaging of differentiating neurons within ex vivo embryonic chicken spinal cord slice cultures, which facilitates long-term observation of individual cells within developing tissue.

The effect of bedtime snacks on fasting blood glucose levels in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To investigate the effect of different bedtime snacks (higher carbohydrate versus lower carbohydrate versus no snack) on first morning fasting blood glucose levels (BGLs) in women with diet-controlled gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and borderline fasting glucose levels.

Methods: This prospective randomised crossover trial enrolled women with diet controlled GDM between 24 and 34 weeks gestation who had two or more first morning fasting BGLs between 4.7 and 5.

Citizen science reveals unexpected solute patterns in semiarid river networks.

Human modification of water and nutrient flows has resulted in widespread degradation of aquatic ecosystems. The resulting global water crisis causes millions of deaths and trillions of USD in economic damages annually. Semiarid regions have been disproportionately affected because of high relative water demand and pollution.

Air-Quality Assessment of On-Site Brick-Kiln Worker Housing in Bhaktapur, Nepal: Chemical Speciation of Indoor and Outdoor PM Pollution.

Brick workers and their families in Nepal generally live in poorly ventilated on-site housing at the brick kiln, and may be at higher risk for non-occupational exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution and subsequent respiratory diseases due to indoor and outdoor sources. This study characterized non-occupational exposure to PM by comparing overall concentrations and specific chemical components of PM inside and outside of brick workers' on-site housing. For all samples, the geometric mean PM concentration was 184.

The effects of polyester (terylene) fibre implants on normal equine superficial digital flexor tendon.

Aim: To determine the effect of polyester (terylene) fibre implants on normal equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon structure.

Methods: Normal forelimb SDF tendons (n=24) of 12 horses were divided into unoperated, sham-operated, and implanted (terylene fibre implant) groups. Horses were assessed for lameness and ultrasonographic changes to SDF tendons at intervals up to 48 weeks post-operatively.

Unusual congenital deformities of the lower limb in two calves.

Congenital deformities of the lower limb were observed in 2 calves from different properties. One was a newborn Holstein-Friesian bull calf with polydactyly and polypodia of the right fore-limb. The other was an 8-month-old Friesian/Jersey crossbred heifer calf, which had a mirror image duplication of the plantar/palmar half of the distal portion of the digits.

Progressive myelopathy and neuropathy in New Zealand Huntaway dogs.

Aim: To investigate the nature and cause of a progressive ataxia in three 20-month-old Huntaway dogs that were litter mates.

Methods: Affected dogs were examined before they were humanely killed and submitted to necropsy. Selected formalin-fixed tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium bovis infection in a dog.

Aim: To describe the clinical course of a dog infected with Mycobacterium bovis causing a granulomatous pneumonia.

Clinical Findings: The dog initially presented with a persistent cough, inappetence and weight loss. Clinical findings included a fever, dyspnoea and tachypnoea, with haematological evidence of a mild neutrophilia and hypoalbuminaemia.

Bicipital tendinitis and tenosynovitis in the dog: a study of 15 cases.

Aim: To describe the clinical, radiographic, and sonographic features of 15 dogs with bicipital tendinitis and tenosynovitis, classify them according to cause, and evaluate the long-term efficacy of treatment.

Methods: Dogs exhibiting forelimb lameness with pain localised to the biceps tendon were included in the study. Sonographic examination of the tendon and tendon sheath, and radiographic examination including positive contrast arthrograms of the shoulder joint were performed, and assessed for features consistent with biceps tendon disease.

The evaluation of processed cancellous bovine bone as a bone graft substitute.

Objective: To determine the ability of a novel bovine cancellous bone xenoimplant to act as an osteoconductive graft in an ovine femoral defect model. An autograft harvested from the xenoimplant site was placed in a contralateral limb defect for comparison.

Material And Methods: The xenoimplant used had been rendered immunologically inert by a novel defatting and deproteinating process.

Ability to work and owner satisfaction following surgical repair of common calcanean tendon injuries in working dogs in New Zealand.

Aim: To report the long-term outcome (return to work and owner satisfaction) following surgical treatment of common calcanean tendon (Achilles tendon) injuries in working dogs in New Zealand.

Methods: Ten New Zealand Huntaway or Heading dogs (working Collies) with complete or partial tears of the common calcanean tendon, were treated using locking-loop suturing and casting, with (7) or without (3), a calcaneo-tibial screw. All dogs were actively in work on sheep or cattle farms at the time of injury, and return to work was the desired outcome.

Prevalence of laryngeal paresis in dogs undergoing general anaesthesia.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of laryngeal paresis within a selected population of dogs and identify some of the distinguishing characteristics of affected dogs.

Design: A prospective study involving laryngoscopic examination of 250 dogs.

Procedure: The laryngeal movements of 250 dogs undergoing general anaesthesia were observed.

Pros and cons of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres in gastrointestinal disease.

Barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres are an alternative contrast agent for radiographic studies of the gastrointestinal tract. The spheres are a practical, efficient, and relatively inexpensive way to diagnose a number of relatively common gastrointestinal conditions. They are most useful in the diagnosis of chronic conditions.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in a crossbred dog.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was diagnosed in a 12-year-old male crossbred dog. Relevant history included polyuria and polydipsia of four months' duration. Physical examination revealed abdominal enlargement, seborrhoea and polypnoea.

Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between diet, growth rate and the presence of caudal cervical malformation in Doberman puppies.

Design: A prospective study of 15 Dobermann puppies from three unrelated litters, aged from 0 to 16 weeks.

Procedure: The growth rate in terms of body weight gain and increase in ulna length were measured weekly for all puppies.

The accuracy and reliability of linear measurements of the ulna for anthropometrical studies in dogs.

This study investigated the accuracy and reliability of measuring the distance between two surface landmarks (the point of the tuber olecrani and the proximal aspect of the stopper pad) as an indication of ulna length in the live dog. It was found that the chosen skin landmarks did correlate well with the length of the ulna bone. The reliability of such measurements was high when performed by a single person, however this fell to unacceptable levels when multiple people were used to make the measurements.

The canine intervertebral disk: part one: structure and function.

Intervertebral disk disease continues to be a common and debilitating condition of dogs. In the first of a two-part article on the canine intervertebral disk, the microscopic and ultrastructural anatomy of the normal, nonchondrodystrophoid disk is described. Specific attention is placed on elements of the structure which impart important functional attributes.

The canine intervertebral disk. Part Two: Degenerative changes--nonchondrodystrophoid versus chondrodystrophoid disks.

In the second of a two-part article on the canine intervertebral disk, the morphological changes which occur within the disk during aging and degeneration are described. Degeneration of the intervertebral disk appears to be a self-perpetuating process as a consequence of disruption to the annulus fibrosus, cellular remodeling, altered biomechanical loading, and nutritional deficiencies. In the nonchondrodystrophoid disk, premature acceleration of the aging process can occur following traumatic disruption to the annulus fibrosus.

Superficial digital flexor tendonitis in thoroughbred race horses: outcome following non-surgical treatment and superior check desmotomy.

Objective: This study documents the results of non-surgical treatment and treatment by superior check desmotomy in Thoroughbred racehorses with superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis.

Design: A prospective study was made of 124 thoroughbred racehorses with unilateral or bilateral SDF tendonitis.

Procedure: The flexor tendons were assessed by physical and ultrasonographic examination before treatment, and the lesions detected in affected tendons were characterised according to lesion type, length and cross-sectional area.

Reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament for tarsocrural luxation in the dog: a preliminary study.

Seven cases of tarsocrural subluxation/luxation resulting from ruptures of the medial collateral ligament were treated by double prosthetic replacement. The technique was a revision of an earlier described method without the use of metallic implants. Six (100%) of six cases not involving additional joint fractures had excellent clinical results with minimal compromise to range of joint motion.

Tendonitis of the branches of insertion of the superficial digital flexor tendon in horses.

Objective: To describe clinical findings, ultrasonographic features and outcome of injury to the branches of insertion of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in horses.

Design: Retrospective study of 14 cases.

Procedure: Fourteen Thoroughbred horses with tendonitis affecting the branches of insertion of the SDF tendon were examined for lameness, location and amount of swelling, and the presence of other musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Neutropenia with a probable hereditary basis in Border Collies.

This paper documents a disease of Border Collies characterised by chronic neutropenia which probably resulted in recurrent bacterial infections manifesting as osteomyelitis and sometimes gastroenteritis. The neutropenia occurred despite hyperplasia of the myeloid cells in the bone marrow and a shift to the right in myeloid cell maturation. The underlying defect is currently unknown but may result from the inability of neutrophils to escape from the bone marrow into the peripheral circulation.

Ununited anconeal process: lag-screw fixation.

A technique of lag-screw fixation for ununited anconeal process is described, and the results of surgery in eight dogs (on 10 elbows) treated by this technique are presented. Approximation of the process was confirmed postoperatively, and union was confirmed by radiographic followup in six of the 10 forelimbs from two-to-six months after surgery. Four other cases were lost to radiographic follow-up.

Treatment and outcome of chronic tenosynovitis in three horses.

Three horses were presented for treatment of chronic infections of the digital flexor tendon sheath. Clinical signs included severe lameness, and heat, pain and swelling of the digital flexor tendon sheath. The horses were treated with surgical lavage of the tendon sheath, systemic and local antibiotics, and analgesics.