Dolichocolon (redundant colon) in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

Dolichocolon (redundant colon) is an underdiagnosed cause of severe constipation in humans. The clinical presentation reported here in a rhesus macaque closely resembles that of intestinal adenocarcinoma, the most common neoplasia in macaques. Dolichocolon should be considered in differential diagnosis of macaques with anorexia, weight loss, and constipation.

A Large Segmental Mid-Diaphyseal Femoral Defect Sheep Model: Surgical Technique.

There are numerous animal models available to study bone healing as well as test strategies to accelerate bone formation. Sheep are commonly used for evaluation of long bone fractures due to similar dimensions and weight bearing environments compared to patients. Large critical-size defects can be created in sheep to facilitate the study of implantable materials, osteogenic proteins, and stem cell treatments.

Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of a Long-lasting, Highly Concentrated Buprenorphine Solution in Mice.

Buprenorphine is a commonly used opioid for mitigating pain in laboratory mice after surgical procedures; however, the dosing interval necessary for standard buprenorphine may require treatment every 4 to 6 h to maintain an adequate plane of analgesia. An alternative formulation that provides prolonged plasma concentration with long-lasting effects would be beneficial in achieving steady-state analgesia. We evaluated a long-lasting and highly concentrated formulation of buprenorphine (Bup-LHC) in mice.

Supernumerary Incisors in CB6F1 Mice Conditioned with Chemotherapy and Total Body Irradiation before Bone Marrow Transplantation.

Multiple adult female CB6F1 mice presented with supernumerary incisors after preconditioning with chemotherapy and total body irradiation for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Mice received nonmyeloablative total body irradiation (3 Gy) and either cyclophosphamide or bendamustine, followed by BMT and posttransplantation cyclophosphamide or bendamustine. Here we describe the clinical presentation, μCT findings, and histopathologic evaluation of the affected mice.

Silicon Foreign Body in the Cerebrum of a Rhesus Macaque ().

A male rhesus macaque with a cephalic chamber implant for neurophysiology recording presented with hemiparesis affecting the left thoracic and pelvic limbs at approximately 5 wk after craniotomy surgery. MRI indicated a 1×2-cm ovoid cerebrocortical cystic lesion immediately subjacent to the right hemisphere craniotomy and recording chamber. Transdural aspiration of sterile transudate and resultant decompression resolved the hemiparesis, and follow-up MRI at 1 mo indicated resolution of the lesion.

Distributed stimulation increases force elicited with functional electrical stimulation.

Objective: The maximum muscle forces that can be evoked using functional electrical stimulation (FES) are relatively modest. The reason for this weakness is not fully understood but could be partly related to the widespread distribution of motor nerve branches within muscle. As such, a single stimulating electrode (as is conventionally used) may be incapable of activating the entire array of motor axons supplying a muscle.

Well-differentiated Liposarcoma in a Bonnet Macaque ().

Here we describe the occurrence of a subcutaneous liposarcoma in a geriatric bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata). Clinical presentation was a rapidly growing, ulcerated, subcutaneous mass in the umbilical region of a 28-y-old intact female macaque. The mass was successfully removed through excisional biopsy, and histopathology provided a morphologic diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Dry bedding provides cost-effective enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Dry bedding has been shown to be an effective enrichment strategy for small groups of captive nonhuman primates housed in cages or in small enclosures with concrete flooring. However, dry bedding is used infrequently for large groups because of the perception that its use is time- and resource-intensive. We investigated the cost-effectiveness of this enrichment strategy in large groups (30 to 50 subjects) of rhesus macaques.

Misunderstanding and potential unintended misuse of acetaminophen among adolescents and young adults.

Acetaminophen is highly accessible yet potentially dangerous when used incorrectly. In attempts to address concerns about acetaminophen, the U.S.

Loss of naive T cells and repertoire constriction predict poor response to vaccination in old primates.

Aging is usually accompanied by diminished immune protection upon infection or vaccination. Although aging results in well-characterized changes in the T cell compartment of long-lived, outbred, and pathogen-exposed organisms, their relevance for primary Ag responses remain unclear. Therefore, it remains unclear whether and to what extent the loss of naive T cells, their partial replacement by oligoclonal memory populations, and the consequent constriction of TCR repertoire limit the Ag responses in aging primates.

Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation in an adult chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in an adult male captive chimpanzee. Although cardiovascular disease in general is common in human and great apes, diagnosis and treatment of PAH in nonhuman primates are uncommon. In the case we present, the adult chimpanzee was diagnosed with an arrhythmia during an annual physical examination and later with PAH during a scheduled cardiovascular evaluation.

Seasonal incidence and molecular characterization of Salmonella from dairy cows, calves, and farm environment.

The occurrence patterns and molecular characteristics of Salmonella are important for surveillance and control of the pathogens. Objectives of this study were to determine month-to-month variation and seasonal effects on the occurrence of Salmonella in dairy animals and environments and to characterize selected Salmonella isolates. A total of 7680 animal and environmental samples, collected monthly from a dairy farm, were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella during a 12-month study.

Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in diverse farm environments.

In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 illness have often been linked to the consumption of contaminated, undercooked ground beef. However, the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 has also been reported in other farm animals.

Electrocardiogram abnormalities in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the captive chimpanzee population, little is known about the prevalence and etiology of heart disease in this species. We reviewed the physical exam records of 265 common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) for electrocardiogram abnormalities. During the 24-mo period reviewed (August 2003 through August 2005), 34 animals were diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias consisting of ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias, conduction disturbances, mixed arrhythmias, and bradycardia.

Genetic characterization of a diverse Escherichia coli O157:H7 population from a variety of farm environments.

Many of the current studies on the genetic diversity of Escherichia coli O157:H7 have focused on pathogenic clinical, veterinary, or food isolates. These studies did not explore the diversity of the larger population in the farm environment. Research on selected farm isolates address this wider diversity but have typically been limited to a specific geographic locale or farm type, thus giving limited insight into the greater diversity across geographic regions and varied environments.

Family medicine's search for manpower: the American Osteopathic Association accreditation option.

In recent years, family medicine has encountered problems recruiting and filling its Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residencies. In addressing these reverses, one increasingly popular strategy has been to acquire American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accreditation as a way to tap into the growing number of osteopathic graduates. This stratagem is founded on assumptions that parallel-accredited postdoctoral programs are attractive to doctor of osteopathy (DO) graduates, that collaboration with sponsoring colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) provides direct access to osteopathic students, and that DOs can play an important role in replacing the increasing scarcity of United States medical graduates who are selecting specialty residencies.

Development of a humanized monoclonal antibody with therapeutic potential against West Nile virus.

Neutralization of West Nile virus (WNV) in vivo correlates with the development of an antibody response against the viral envelope (E) protein. Using random mutagenesis and yeast surface display, we defined individual contact residues of 14 newly generated monoclonal antibodies against domain III of the WNV E protein. Monoclonal antibodies that strongly neutralized WNV localized to a surface patch on the lateral face of domain III.

Successful treatment of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in an adult chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Various congenital and acquired forms of heart disease have been reported in captive lowland gorillas, and heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric humans. However, the prevalence of heart disease is unknown in nonhuman great apes species. Indeed, little is known about heart disease in chimpanzees, although the species has been used in research for decades.

Immunization practices of pediatricians and family physicians in the United States.

Objective: To assess current practices and attitudes among pediatricians and family physicians across the United States regarding immunizations.

Design: Survey of a random sample of pediatricians and family physicians.

Subjects: Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics (N = 746) and American Academy of Family Medicine (N = 429).

Patient-specific reminder letters and pediatric well-child-care show rates.

The objective of this study was to determine whether patient-specific letters, which describe the content of an upcoming well-child appointment, improve the show rate of well-child appointments better than postcard reminders. In this prospective clinical trial conducted at a pediatric continuity clinic in a teaching hospital, 288 newborns were randomized to a letter, postcard, or control group. For every well-child appointment, families were sent either a letter pertaining to the particular well-child appointment or a postcard; the control group received no reminders.

Decision rules for predicting vaccination status of preschool-age emergency department patients.

We produced and tested rules to predict undervaccination among preschool-age emergency department (ED) patients. Data were gathered on demographics, vaccination status, health status, and health care utilization from parents, ED physicians, and ED charts at an urban teaching hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

Is an emergency department visit a marker for undervaccination and missed vaccination opportunities among children who have access to primary care?

The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) whether preschool-age patients who utilize the emergency department (ED) are undervaccinated compared with patients having the same primary care provider and (2) whether reducing missed vaccination opportunities in the primary care office can potentially reduce the differences in undervaccination between the groups. This retrospective cohort study involved two groups: 583 ED patients, aged 4 to 48 months, who had primary care providers; and 583 control subjects randomly selected from primary care sites and matched according to date of birth and primary care site. The major outcome variable was the point prevalence of undervaccination, defined as more than 60 days past due for a vaccine at the time of the ED visit, and for control subjects, at the time of their matched patient's ED visit.

Missed opportunities for childhood vaccinations in office practices and the effect on vaccination status.

To determine the rate of childhood under-vaccination, rate and types of missed opportunities (MOs) for vaccinations, and the contribution of MOs to the undervaccination of preschool-age children, the authors conducted a retrospective medical chart review in seven primary care settings in the Rochester, NY, area: a hospital clinic, a neighborhood health center, a group-model health maintenance organization, an urban group practice, a suburban group practice, a rural health center, and a rural private practice. The random sample included 1124 children having birth dates between March 15, 1988, and September 15, 1989. The main outcome measures were cumulative undervaccination rate, defined as the proportion of patients from each practice who were ever > 60 days past-due for a vaccination by 12, 18, or 24 months of age; undervaccination time, defined as the median number of months during which children were undervaccinated; number of MOs; visit types and conditions associated with the MOs; and the duration of undervaccination time attributable to MOs.

Improving influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma: a test of a computerized reminder system and an analysis of factors predicting vaccination compliance.

Fewer than 10% of children with moderate or severe asthma receive an annual influenza vaccination despite their heightened susceptibility to severe infections and recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee that all such children be vaccinated annually. Patient, provider, and system factors leading to this poor vaccination rate are not well understood. This study tested the effectiveness of a computerized reminder system in improving influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma and examined patient barriers to vaccination at one pediatric clinic in an urban teaching hospital.