Intergrader agreement of foveal cone topography measured using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy.

The foveal cone mosaic can be directly visualized using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO). Previous studies in individuals with normal vision report wide variability in the topography of the foveal cone mosaic, especially the value of peak cone density (PCD). While these studies often involve a human grader, there have been no studies examining intergrader reproducibility of foveal cone mosaic metrics.

A therian mammal with sprawling kinematics? Gait and 3D forelimb X-ray motion analysis in tamanduas.

Therian mammals are known to move their forelimbs in a parasagittal plane, retracting the mobilised scapula during stance phase. Non-cursorial therian mammals often abduct the elbow out of the shoulder-hip parasagittal plane. This is especially prominent in Tamandua (Xenarthra), which suggests they employ aspects of sprawling (e.

Pure-Tone Hearing Thresholds and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in Sporadic Ataxia.

 Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is part of a genetic and clinical heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia.  To describe the results of audiological and electrophysiological hearing evaluations in patients with sporadic ataxia (SA).  A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with 11 patients submitted to the following procedures: anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological evaluation, tonal and vocal audiometry, acoustic immittance and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) tests.

The evolution of femoral cross-sectional properties in sciuromorph rodents: Influence of body mass and locomotor ecology.

In several groups of mammals, adaptation to differing functional demands is reflected in long bone cross-sectional properties (CSP), which relate to the resistance to compression and to bending loads in the craniocaudal and mediolateral directions. Members of the Sciuromorpha ("squirrel-like" rodents) display a diversity of locomotor ecologies and span three orders of magnitude in terms of body size. The availability of robust phylogenies is rendering them a suitable group to further substantiate the relationship of long bone CSP with locomotor ecology and body mass while taking the phylogenetic non-independence among species into account.

Water-flow variation and pharmacoepidemiology of tetracycline hydrochloride administration via drinking water in swine finishing farms.

Objective: To evaluate variation of drinking-water flow rates in swine finishing barns and the relationship between drinker flow rate and plasma tetracycline concentrations in pigs housed in different pens.

Design: Cross-sectional (phase 1) and cohort (phase 2) studies.

Sample Population: 13 swine finishing farms (100 barns with 7,122 drinkers) in phase 1 and 100 finishing-stage pigs on 2 finishing farms (1 barn/farm) in phase 2.

Pharmacology of tetracycline water medication in swine.

Medicating drinking water with tetracycline is commonly used in swine production systems to treat and prevent disease outbreaks. However, little information is known of the pharmacokinetics of this medication in water formulations. Twenty-four barrows, divided into 1 control group (of nontreated animals) and 3 equally sized treatments groups (n = 6/group), were treated with tetracycline water medication for 5 d at 125, 250, and 500 mg/L.

[Indications and technique for sclerotherapy of varicose veins].

Sclerotherapy is in general a very safe method for the treatment of teleangiectasias and reticular varicose veins done by an experienced therapist. The complication-rate is very low, with the use of Polidocanol the rate of skin-necrosis ranges between 0.001 and 0.

The stentless Toronto SPV bioprosthesis for aortic valve replacement.

The Toronto SPV bioprosthesis for aortic valve replacement has been prospectively evaluated in 100 patients, since March 1993. Intraoperative transoesophageal and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography were used to assess valve function. Follow-up was complete in 74 patients at 6 months and in 38 patients at 1 year.

Bone marrow fibroblasts from children with aplastic anemia exhibit reduced interleukin-6 production in response to cytokines and viral challenge.

Defects of the bone marrow microenvironment have been implicated in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia (AA). We examined granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-6 production in bone marrow fibroblasts from five children with AA in response to cytokines and viral challenge with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Cytokine-stimulated IL-6 production in patients' fibroblasts was significantly reduced, whereas GM-CSF production was found to be comparable to normal controls.

[New treatment methods in heart valve surgery--the Toronto SPV stentless bioprosthesis].

Stentless valves may be an alternative to conventional stented bioprostheses and homografts. From all tissue valves homografts proved to have the best long term results. But homografts are not always available.

The Toronto SPV bioprosthesis: one-year results in 100 patients.

Background: We studied the long-term results of heart valve replacement with the Toronto SPV bioprosthesis.

Methods: From March 1993 until July 1994 the Toronto stentless bioprosthesis was implanted in 100 selected patients with a mean age of 70.7 years.

[May recurrent goiter be resected bilaterally? Value and results of intraoperative laryngoscopy].

Operations for recurrent goiter are considered to range among the most difficult procedures in thyroid surgery and are marked by unusually high subsequent damages of the recurrent nerve. Results from 89 patients with recurrent goiter operated over the last six years and our own experiences with intraoperative laryngoscopy are presented. This procedure is applicable in 60% of all cases with true bilateral thyroid recurrency and accounts for a realistic help in deciding whether to continue the operation with simultaneous resection of the contralateral side.

[Thrombosed popliteal aneurysm--a cause of acute lower leg ischemia].

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) frequently remain asymptomatic up to the event of acute thromboembolic occlusion. Acute occlusions in the femoro-popliteal level without cardial source of embolism, a pulsating tumor in the knee pit or preexisting abdominal-or groin aneurysms are suspicious for the disease. Between 01/87 and 07/93 we saw 21 popliteal aneurysms in 14 patients.

Hemodynamic assessment of the stentless Toronto SPV bioprosthesis by echocardiography.

Since March 1993 the Toronto SPVTM bioprosthesis has been implanted in 100 patients. Our prospective study evaluated the echocardiographic valve characteristics and the influence of the echocardiographic assessment on surgical technique. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was applied before and during surgery, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) postoperatively.

Aerosol transmission of a viable virus affecting swine: explanation of an epizootic of pseudorabies.

A Gaussian diffusion model was applied to an epizootic of pseudorabies in ten swine herds located in Decatur County, Indiana, USA to test the hypothesis that the virus can be spread via aerosol. The epizootic occurred during January to March, 1988, spreading through ten farms across an area of about 150 km2. The model included a receptor component that provided an estimate of viruses received by the pig within an enclosed barn.

Relationship between the indicators of performance and the weight of pneumonic lesions from pigs at slaughter.

Lungs from pigs at slaughter were examined and the extent of the lesions was estimated as the percentage by weight of the lung affected by pneumonia in relation to the weight of the whole lung. Linear regression analyses of mean daily gain in liveweight and days to slaughter on the percentage by weight of pneumonic lung were performed. Within a range between 3.

Growth and reproductive performance, during exposure to ammonia, of gilts afflicted with pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis.

From 2 to 4.5 months of age, 80 crossbred gilts were reared in a conventional grower unit where they were naturally exposed to mycoplasmal and bacterial pathogens that cause pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis. At 4.

Effect of galactan on selected microbial populations and pH and volatile fatty acids in the ileum of the weanling pig.

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of galactan on the colonization of E. coli and lactobacilli and ileal pH and volatile fatty acid production in the digestive tract of the weanling pig. In each of two replicate trials, eight 21-d-old nursing pigs were cannulated in the terminal ileum.

Association between growth indicators and volume of lesions in lungs from pigs at slaughter.

Conflicting findings exist among studies on the effect of pneumonia on growth in pigs. We determined the extent of pneumonia in market-weight pigs by use of an objective, volumetric method and linear regression analyses of mean daily gain and days-to-slaughter weight on the percentage of pneumonic lung. In a range of extent of pneumonia between 1.

Relationship to growth performance of pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis lesions detected in pigs at slaughter among four seasons.

A commercial swine herd was selected for study, because pigs at slaughter repeatedly had lung lesions consistent with enzootic pneumonia and had snout lesions typical of atrophic rhinitis. Pigs born during various seasons of the year were allotted to 4 investigations and were evaluated from birth to slaughter. Individual lungs and snouts were identified and collected at the slaughter plant and later examined for gross lesions of bronchopneumonia and atrophic rhinitis, respectively.

Effect of zearalenone on days 7 to 10 post-mating on blastocyst development and endometrial morphology in sows.

First litter sows in naturally occurring post-weaning estrus were hand mated to proven boars and were fed a diet supplemented with zearalenone, an estrogenic mycotoxin (1 mg zearalenone/kg body weight), or a control diet on days 7 through 10 after mating. Embryos (blastocysts) and endometrial biopsies were collected from control and treated sows on days 9, 11, and 13 after mating. All blastocysts harvested on day 9 were spherical; treatment of sows with zearalenone had no effect on blastocyst development.

Evaluation of use of progesterone to counteract zearalenone toxicosis during early pregnancy in gilts.

It has been shown that zearalenone disrupts early pregnancy in swine without altering intrauterine content of estradiol 17 beta or progesterone, embryo migration, or estradiol-17 beta synthesis by blastocysts. However, serum concentrations of progesterone were reduced 2 to 3 weeks after mating in gilts that ingested zearalenone. Therefore, progesterone was administered to gilts during early pregnancy to determine whether it could counteract the detrimental actions of zearalenone on embryonic development.

Epizootic of pseudorabies among ten swine herds.

An epizootic of pseudorabies in 10 swine herds located near Greensburg in Decatur County, Indiana was investigated. Records of Decatur County swine herds previously quarantined because of pseudorabies were obtained. For the 1988 epizootic, clinical findings were considered, location of each of the 10 swine herds in relation to the other herds was determined, and potential fomites were considered.