OBJECTIVE To describe the pharmacokinetics of morphine, lidocaine, and ketamine associated with IV administration of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of a morphine-lidocaine-ketamine (MLK) combination to calves undergoing umbilical herniorrhaphy. ANIMALS 20 weaned Holstein calves with umbilical hernias. PROCEDURES Calves were randomly assigned to receive a CRI of an MLK solution (0.11 mL/kg/h; morphine, 4.8 μg/kg/h; lidocaine, 2.1 mg/kg/h; and ketamine, 0.42 mg/kg/h) for 24 hours (MLK group) or 2 doses of flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h) and a CRI of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.11 mL/kg/h) for 24 hours (control group). For all calves, the CRI was begun after anesthesia induction. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and at predetermined times for 120 hours after initiation of the assigned treatment. Noncompartmental analysis was used to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters for the MLK group. RESULTS During the CRI, steady-state serum concentrations were achieved for lidocaine and ketamine, but not morphine. Mean terminal half-life was 4.1, 0.98, and 1.55 hours and area under the concentration-time curve was 41, 14,494, and 7,426 h•μg/mL for morphine, lidocaine, and ketamine, respectively. After the CRI, the mean serum drug concentration at steady state was 6.3, 616.7, and 328 ng/mL for morphine, lidocaine, and ketamine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE During the CRI of the MLK solution, steady-state serum concentrations were achieved for lidocaine and ketamine, but not morphine, likely owing to the fairly long half-life of morphine. Kinetic analyses of MLK infusions in cattle are necessary to establish optimal dosing protocols.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of slice thickness on CT perfusion analysis of the pancreas in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 12 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES After precontrast CT scans, CT perfusion scans of the pancreatic body were performed every second for 30 seconds by sequential CT scanning after injection of contrast medium (iohexol; 300 mg of 1/kg) at a rate of 3 mL/s. Each dog underwent CT perfusion scans twice in a crossover-design study with 2 different slice thicknesses (2.4 and 4.8 mm). Computed tomographic pancreatic perfusion variables, including blood flow, blood volume determined with the maximum slope model, times to the start of enhancement and peak enhancement, permeability, and blood volume determined by Patlak plot analysis, were measured independently by 2 reviewers. The CT perfusion variables were compared between slice thicknesses. Interoperator reproducibility was determined by ICC calculation. RESULTS Interoperator reproducibility of CT perfusion variable measurements was excellent on 2.4-mm (mean ± SD ICC, 0.81 ± 0.17) and 4.8-mm (0.90 ± 0.07) slice thicknesses, except for time to peak pancreatic enhancement on 2.4-mm-thick slices, which had moderate reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.473). There was no significant difference in measurements of blood flow, blood volume by either method, times to the start and peak of pancreatic enhancement, or permeability between slice thicknesses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results supported that a thin slice thickness of 2.4 mm can be used for assessment of pancreatic perfusion variables in healthy dogs.

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic variability of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae within various swine production flows. Four M. hyopneumoniae positive production flows, composed of 4 production stages, were selected for this study. Laryngeal and/or bronchial swabs were collected from each production stage within a flow, for a period of 4 months up to 3 years. A multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis was performed to assess the genetic variation of M. hyopneumoniae within and across production flows through the identification of variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) types. A maximum of 6 M. hyopneumoniae VNTR types were identified in a single flow, in which VNTR types appeared to be flow specific. An identical VNTR type was detected across several production stages for up to 3 years. In this study, minimal M. hyopneumoniae genetic variation was evidenced within and across production flows.

OBJECTIVE To use the small data approach of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) to evaluate the transferability of reference intervals (RIs) for kinetic variables obtained with instrumented gait analysis (IGA) in dogs from an RI-originator laboratory to another laboratory that used the same data acquisition and analytic techniques for IGA in walking dogs. ANIMALS 27 adult client-owned dogs without evidence of lameness. PROCEDURES Dogs were individually walked at their preferred velocity on a pressure-sensing walkway for IGA at the Colorado State University Animal Gait Laboratory (CSU-AGL), and 6 valid trials were analyzed for each dog. The small data approach of the CLSI was then used to evaluate transferability of RIs previously established at the Purdue University Animal Gait Laboratory (PU-AGL). A linear model was used to establish weight-dependent RIs for peak vertical force (PVF). RESULTS Results indicated that RIs of dynamic weight distribution (DWD), DWD symmetry index, DWD coefficient of variation, PVF symmetry index, and PVF coefficient of variation were transferable from PU-AGL to CSU-AGL, whereas the weight-dependent RIs for PVF were not. Regression slopes for PVF versus body weight were greater for all limbs in dogs tested at the CSU-AGL, compared with historic results for dogs tested at the PU-AGL. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Use of the small data approach method of the CLSI to validate transference of RIs for IGA kinetic variables in walking dogs was simple and efficient to perform and may help facilitate clinical and research collaborations on gait analysis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the biomechanical strength and incidence of gap formation among canine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) constructs that underwent core tenorrhaphy only and those in which the core tenorrhaphy was augmented with skin staples or a continuous Silfverskiold cross-stitch (SXS) suture pattern. SAMPLE 42 cadaveric forelimb SDFTs from 21 musculoskeletally normal dogs. PROCEDURES Tendons were randomly assigned to 3 groups (14 SDTFs/group), sharply transected, and repaired with a core locking-loop suture alone (group 1) or augmented with circumferential placement of skin staples (group 2) or a continuous SXS suture pattern (group 3) in the epitenon. All constructs underwent a single load-to-failure test. Yield, peak, and failure loads, incidence of gap formation, and mode of failure were compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS Mean yield, peak, and failure loads differed significantly among experimental groups and were greatest for group 3 and lowest for group 1 constructs. The incidence of gap formation differed among the tested groups and was lowest for group 3 and highest for group 1. The most common mode of construct failure was the suture pulling through the tendon for group 1, staple deformation for group 2, and epitendinous suture breakage for group 3. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated epitendinous placement of skin staples around a core SDFT tenorrhaphy site improved the biomechanical strength and resistance to gap formation for the repair but was inferior to epitendinous placement of SXS sutures. Further research is necessary before skin staples are used for tenorrhaphy augmentation in clinical patients.

OBJECTIVE To compare a ventral and a left lateral endoscopic approach to coelioscopy in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). ANIMALS 18 adult bearded dragons. PROCEDURES In a randomized crossover design involving 2 surgical approaches, anesthetized bearded dragons first underwent coelioscopy with a ventral approach (left lateral of midline next to the umbilicus; animal positioned in dorsal recumbency) or left lateral approach (intercostal; animal positioned in right lateral recumbency) and then with the alternate approach. A 2.7-mm × 18-cm, 30° oblique telescope with a 4.8-mm operating sheath and CO2 insufflation at 2 to 5 mm Hg were used. Ease of entry into the coelom and ease of visual examination of visceral structures were scored. RESULTS Both approaches were straightforward, with the left lateral approach requiring significantly more time than the ventral approach. Scores for ease of visual examination for the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, left kidney, gonads, and fat body were good to excellent. Visual examination of the spleen and adrenal glands was difficult in most animals via either approach. The left kidney, testis, and vas deferens were easier to see with the left lateral approach, whereas the pancreas in females and gallbladder in both sexes were easier to see with the ventral approach. All bearded dragons recovered without complications from the procedures, except for one with nephritis, renal gout, and hepatic necrosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Both coelioscopy approaches could be safely and effectively used in bearded dragons. Choice of approach should be based on the coelomic structures requiring evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To compare the torsional mechanical properties of 2 external skeletal fixators (ESFs) placed with 2 intramedullary pin (IP) and transfixation pin (TP) size combinations in a model of raptor tibiotarsal bone fracture. SAMPLE 24 ESF-synthetic tibiotarsal bone model (polyoxymethylene) constructs. PROCEDURES Synthetic bone models were fabricated with an 8-mm (simulated fracture) gap. Four types of ESF-synthetic bone model constructs (6/group) were tested: a FESSA with a 1.6-mm IP and 1.6-mm TPs, a FESSA with a 2.0-mm IP and 1.1-mm TPs, an acrylic connecting bar with a 1.6-mm IP and 1.6-mm TPs, and an acrylic connecting bar with a 2.0-mm IP and 1.1-mm TPs. Models were rotated in torsion (5°/s) to failure or the machine angle limit (80°). Mechanical variables at yield and at failure were determined from load deformation curves. Effects of overall construct type, connecting bar type, and IP and TP size combination on mechanical properties were assessed with mixed-model ANOVAs. RESULTS Both FESSA constructs had significantly greater median stiffness and median torque at yield than both acrylic bar constructs; FESSA constructs with a 1.6-mm IP and 1.6-mm TPs had greatest stiffness of all tested constructs and lowest gap strain at yield. No FESSA constructs failed during testing; 7 of 12 acrylic bar constructs failed by fracture of the connecting bar at the interface with a TP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although acrylic bar ESFs have been successfully used in avian patients, the FESSA constructs in this study were mechanically superior to acrylic bar constructs, with greatest benefit resulting from use with the larger TP configuration.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is an important immune regulatorcritical for immune homeostasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that TGF-β1 has acrucial regulatory role in CNS development and potential implications forneurogenesis in a variety of TGF-β1-related CNS diseases: so the aim of the study toinvestigate the association of the TGFβ-1 gene polymorphism with its plasma proteinplasma level (TGFB-1)in ASD patients, It's a case – control study atotal of 94 patientswith ASD, their age ranging from 2 to 13 years and 100 apparently healthy childrenwere used as a control which were matched by age and sex. TGFβ-1 levels wasmeasured by ELISA and TGF-β1(Codon 10 +869 C/T) and TGF-β1(Codon 25:+915*G/C)Gene Polymorphism were detected by specific sets of primers.The meanvalue of TGF-β1 was significantly low in the autistic group (95.91pg / mm) ascompare with the control one (117.08 pg / mm) TGF-β1(Codon 10: +869*T/C) genepolymorphism showed heterogeneous results between autistic group and controlgroup

The aim of this study is to propagate the non-virulent Newcastle disease virus in thelaboratory, determination the cytopathic effects in the inoculated chicken embryos, andconfirmation of virus growth by serological and molecular techniques by performinghaemagglutination and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests,respectively. LaSota virus strain which is a live vaccine was used for this purpose. Nine-dayoldembryonated chicken eggs were inoculated with the virus and further incubated for 48hours; and the allantoic fluid was collected for further processing. Petechial haemorrhages andcongestions were observed in the inoculated embryos while in the un-inoculated eggs; theembryos were normal and did not show any lesion. Virus growth in the allantoic fluid wasconfirmed by performing haemagglutination and RT-PCR tests. These results support theisolation of other viruses in our laboratories, which will contribute to perform otherexperiments such as studying virus characteristics and observation of its pathological effects onthe embryos, preparation of viral antigens, sequencing of viral genome, and possiblydiscovering new viruses.

The purpose of this study was to describe some characteristic features of theintraglandular duct system in the lactating udder of adult indigenous cow by cast formingand radiography study. Ten udders of local breed cows (5 for resin cast formation and 5for radiological study), clinically appeared healthy and aged (2-5) years were obtainedfrom Al- shoala slaughter-house in Baghdad city. Our study primed to describe andinvestigate of the intraglandular duct system of the local cow breed. The present findingwas showed that the duct system was a network of unequal sizes tubules which wasbegins with the small intralobular ducts then interlobular duct empty into a collectingduct which drain the milk into the lactiferous sinus by a several of lactiferous duct, thelactiferous sinus forms a common cavity for each quarter of the udder which drain intothe teat sinus and then teat canal.