bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glycated haemoglobin in various pathological conditions: investigations based on a new, fully automated method
Authors: Haberer B. , Reusch C. E.
Published: April 2008

A new automated affinity chromatographic method for determining glycated haemoglobin (GHb) in dogs and cats was tested. The method appeared to be practical, quick and accurate. The reference range, calculated on the basis of 50 healthy dogs and 43 healthy cats, lay between 2·4 and 3·4 per cent in dogs and 2·0 and 2·9 per cent in cats. Concentrations were not influenced by age or gender. GHb levels obtained for 21 dogs and 18 cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were significantly higher than those of the control animals, ranging from 4·5 to 8·6 per cent (median 6·1) in dogs and from 2·7 to 6·0 per cent (median 3.8 per cent) in cats. The GHb levels in 31 normoglycaemic dogs with anaemia ranged from 2·3 to 4·3 per cent (median 3·3 per cent), and those of 22 normogiycaemic cats with anaemia from 2·6 to 3·9 per cent (median 3·2 per cent); both sets of levels were significantly elevated compared to control group values. GHb concentrations in animals with polycythaemia, azotaemia or liver disease showed no significant deviations from the control group; in individual cases they were slightly elevated compared to the reference range. The automated measuring method employed can be used to determine GHb in dogs and cats. Anaemic animals should generally be excluded from the GHb determination.
Chronic hypoglycaemia in a hunting dog clue to secondary hypoadrenocorticism
Authors: Syme H. M. , Scott‐Moncrieff J. C.
Published: April 2008

A six‐year‐old neutered female pointer was referred for evaluation of seizures that occurred only in association with exercise. A tenacious ocular discharge was also evident and tear production was decreased bilaterally. Diagnostic testing revealed severe hypoglycaemia caused by secondary hypoadrenocorticism. Treatment was instituted with prednisone (5 mg, orally, once daily) and the seizures ceased. Tear production returned to normal without additional treatment. Glucocorticoid deficiency should be considered a cause of hypoglycaemic seizures once other, more common, causes have been ruled out.
Can owners assess outcome following treatment of canine cruciate ligament deficiency?
Authors: Innes J. F. , Barr A. R. S.
Published: April 2008

Forty‐seven owners of 48 dogs surgically treated for cranial cruciate ligament deficiency were asked to assess the outcome of treatment at one year postsurgery. A standard visual analogue scale assessment tool was used in all cases and owners were asked to score a variety of generic and disease‐specific features. The reliability and responsiveness of the assessment tool were estimated and found to be acceptable; generic features, such as ‘level of disability’, showed the greatest reliability and responsiveness. The results of assessments by owners were compared to assessments by a veterinary surgeon but few significant correlations were found. Assessments by owners appear to be a useful outcome measure in this disease but are unlikely to be directly comparable to assessments by a veterinary surgeon.
Endoscopy of the gastroduodenal mucosa after carprofen, meloxicam and ketoprofen administration in dogs
Authors: Forsyth S. F. , Guilford W. G. , Haslett S. J. , Godfrey J.
Published: April 2008

Endoscopy was undertaken to examine the gastroduodenal mucosa of 24 healthy dogs after seven days and again after 28 days of oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration. The dogs were divided into four groups. One group received ketoprofen (1 mg/kg every 24 hours), one group carprofen (2 mg/kg every 12 hours for seven days followed by 2 mg/kg every 24 hours), a third group meloxicam suspension (0·2 mg/kg every 24 hours), and the last group gelatin (one capsule every 24 hours). Serum biochemical and complete blood count parameters did not change significantly after NSAID administration. Gastroduodenal lesions were observed in 17 dogs, but in all cases these were mild to moderate. The dogs receiving gelatin or carprofen showed the fewest and the least severe lesions, although there was no statistically significant difference between the three test drugs and the control group (P 0–05). None of the dogs showed any clinical signs related to the gastrointestinal lesions.
Ultrasonographic comparison of adhesions induced by two different methods of gastropexy in the dog
Authors: Tanno F. , Weber U. , Wacker Ch. , Gaschen L. , Schmid V. , Lang J.
Published: April 2008

Ultrasonography was used to compare adhesions induced by two different methods of gastropexy in 16 dogs. An incisional gastropexy technique was used in eight dogs (group 1) and a ‘modified’ gastropexy technique in the remaining eight (group 2). The length and thickness of the gastropexy and the peristaltic activity of the stomach were measured ultrasonographically and compared between groups. Measurements for the two groups were taken in the early postoperative interval (two to four days), intermediate postoperative interval (eight to 20 days) and late postoperative interval (57 to 79 days). Both techniques were equally successful in forming permanent adhesions at two months postoperatively and there was no recurrence of gastric dilatation and volvulus. The length and thickness of the gastropexy were similar for both groups at two months postoperatively and there were no surgical complications with either technique. The modified gastropexy provides a technique that can easily be performed by a single surgeon, with no increased operative time or duration of anaesthesia, and with the formation of a permanent adhesion.
Aetiology and diagnosis of persistent nasal disease in the dog: a retrospective study of 42 cases
Authors: Tasker S. , Knottenbelt C. M. , Munro E. A. C. , Stonehewer J. , Simpson J. W. , Mackin A. J.
Published: April 2008

Forty‐two dogs with a history of persistent nasal disease were evaluated by a combination of clinical examination, thoracic and nasal radiography, retroflexed endoscopy and biopsy, and anterograde rhinoscopy and blind nasal biopsy. A definitive diagnosis was made in 91 per cent of cases. Neoplasia was the most common diagnosis (33 per cent of cases), followed by inflammatory rhinitis (24 per cent). Other diagnoses included periodontal disease (10 per cent), aspergillosis (7 per cent) and foreign bodies (7 per cent). Adenocarcinoma was the most common tumour diagnosed. The clinical findings were found to be too variable to be used as specific diagnostic criteria. Anterograde rhinoscopy and retroflexed endoscopy had higher specificity and sensitivity than radiology for the diagnosis of neoplasia, inflammatory rhinitis, aspergillosis and foreign bodies. With a systematic approach to the investigation of persistent nasal disease, a definitive diagnosis can be successfully obtained in the vast majority of cases.
Synovial myxoma: magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of an unusual canine soft tissue tumour
Authors: Hayes A. M. , Dennis R. , Smith K. C. , Brearley M. J.
Published: April 2008

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hindlimb of a 10‐year‐old Labrador retriever was performed preoperatively to define the limits and invasive nature of a synovial myxoma. This unusual tumour in dogs has also only rarely been reported in humans, although the use of advanced imaging techniques has been more widely reported in the assessment of soft tissue tumours in people. MRI was an invaluable aid in the delineation of the extensive pathological changes associated with this tumour and consequently its surgical treatment. Amputation was performed and the dog remained disease‐free 18 months after surgery.
Atraumatic bilateral avulsion of the origins of the gastrocnemius muscle
Authors: Robinson A.
Published: April 2008

A golden retriever was presented with a prolonged history of a persistent lameness of the hindlimbs and the recent development of a plantigrade stance. Radiography showed bilateral chronic changes associated with the origins of both the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius muscles. Surgical correction was carried out sequentially, with good results three months postsurgically and after a three‐year follow‐up.
Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in six cats
Authors: Tomsa K. , Glaus T. , Hauser B. , Flückiger M. , Arnold P. , Wess G. , Reusch C.
Published: April 2008

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) was diagnosed in six cats during a three‐year period, based on clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings. Clinical signs were attributable to severe osteopenia (n=5) and hypocalcaemia (n=4), which had resulted in spontaneous fractures of long bones, scapulae, pelvis, nasal bones, or spine, and in excitation, muscle twitching or seizures, respectively. Serum parathormone levels were markedly elevated, and 1,25(OH)2‐vitamin D3mildly elevated, whereas 25(OH)2‐vitamin D3was mildly decreased compared to age‐matched healthy cats. Treatment was limited to short‐term parenteral calcium gluconate injections, as clinically indicated, a balanced diet and cage rest, which resulted in quick clinical recovery in four cases. The remaining two cats had to be euthanased because of progressive neurological deficits secondary to spinal fractures. At the time of writing, a multitude of commercial balanced diets is widely available and diseases secondary to dietary deficiencies have become rare. Nevertheless, NSH is still an important clinical entity, and should be considered in growing cats presenting with spontaneous fractures or seizures.
Leporacarus gibbus and Spilopsyllus cuniculi infestation in a pet rabbit
Authors: Pinter L.
Published: April 2008

A one‐year‐old male, chequered giant rabbit had a simultaneous infestation with both Leporacarus gibbus and Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Recurrent episodes of mild to severe pruritus had been noted over a period of two months. On clinical examination, partial alopecia and slightly erythematous skin with flea faeces was evident, although microscopic and cultural examinations of skin scrapings were negative for fungi. Parasitological examination, including adhesive tape strips of the rabbit's skin and fur, revealed L gibbus surface dwelling mites and the rabbit flea S cuniculi. The rabbit was successfully treated against both parasites with topical pyrethrin applied three times over a three‐week period, and the clinical signs resolved in four weeks.
Plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node in a cat
Authors: Welsh E. M. , Griffon D. , Whitbread T. J.
Published: April 2008

Plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node is described in an adult cat. The cat presented with a chronic history of inspiratory stridor and a slowly growing mass in the cranial cervical area. Clinical signs resolved after excision of the affected node. This appears to be the first clinical report of plexiform vascularisation of a retropharyngeal lymph node and its treatment in a cat.
Use of propranolol and potassium iodate in the presurgical management of hyperthyroid cats
Authors: Foster D. J. , Thoday K. L.
Published: April 2008

A prospective study was carried out using a combination of propranolol and potassium iodate to assess whether there were beneficial effects in preparing hyperthyroid cats for surgk thyroidectomy. Group A (n = 11) received propranolol from days 1 to 10, followed by propranolol and potassium iodate from days 11 to 20; group B (n = 10) received the reverse regimen. Blood samples were taken daily for subsequent determination of serum total L‐thyroxine (TT4), L‐triiodothyronine (TT3) and reverse T3(rT3) concentrations. The signs of hyperthyroidism improved in all Cats over the treatment period. At surgery, 36 per cent of the cats in group A had reference range serum TT4concentrations, while 89 per cent with initially elevated TT3concentrations had reference range concentrations. In group B., 10 per cent of the cats had reference range TT4concentrations, while 75 per cent with initially elevated TT3 concentrations had reference range concentrations. The drug regimen used in group A was better tolerated and more effective and offers an alternative before thyroidectomy in cats that cannot tolerate carbimazole.
Repair of a full thickness corneoscleral defect in a German shepherd dog using porcine small intestinal submucosa
Authors: Lewin G. A.
Published: April 2008

Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) was used, in conjunction with a conjunctival graft, to repair a full thickness corneoscleral defect resulting from the excision of a limbal melanoma in a German shepherd dog. The SIS was found to provide adequate mechanical support and to act as a suitable physical barrier in place of the excised cornea and sclera. Corneal vascularisation was present distant to the graft by two weeks postoperatively but this was effectively controlled with topical cyclosporin. By six weeks postoperatively, the graft had become incorporated into the cornea and sclera, and the associated corneal neovascularisation had resolved. From this initial case, porcine SIS would appear to be a suitable material for the repair of corneoscleral defects in dogs.
Pericardial mesothelioma in a dog: long‐term survival after pericardiectomy in combination with chemotherapy
Authors: Closa J. M. , Font A. , Mascort J.
Published: April 2008

A six‐year‐old male crossbred dog was presented with clinical signs of right‐sided heart failure. Echocardiography demonstrated a pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade, while pericardiocentesis and cytology did not reveal any evidence of malignancy. Pericardial drainage was performed twice over a period of three months to resolve haemodynamic impairment before a subtotal pericardiectomy was performed. Biopsy of parietal and visceral pericardium confirmed the diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma. Intrathoracic cisplatin combined with intravenous doxorubicin were administered, although neutropenia, mild azotaemia and alopecia were noted as adverse reactions to these drugs. Intravenous cisplatin was repeated 45 days later after the signs of nephrotoxicity had resolved. The dog was still free of disease after 27 months. Intrathoracic chemotherapy after pericardiectomy and early diagnosis are recommended to improve prognosis, having achieved long‐term survival in the present case.
Laminectomy for 34 dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and loss of deep pain perception
Authors: Scott H. W. , McKee W. M.
Published: April 2008

The case details and the results of treatment of 34 dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease, without deep pain perception, that had been treated by laminectomy and fenestration, are presented. The association of a number of potential prognostic factors with the neurological outcome is examined. Twenty‐one dogs (62 per cent) recovered neurological function, seven (21 per cent) failed to recover neurological function and three (9 per cent) developed progressive myelomalacia postoperatively, while three dogs (9 per cent) were euthanased intraoperatively because of diffuse myelomalacia. Twenty of the dogs that recovered neurological function showed a return of deep pain perception within two weeks of decompressive surgery. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in the outcome between dogs that took less than one hour to lose the ability to ambulate and dogs with a longer duration of onset of inability to ambulate. The extent of spinal cord swelling determined by myelography was not found to be a useful prognostic indicator.
Intestinal haemorrhage associated with colonic vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia) in a dog
Authors: Fan T. M. , Simpson K. W. , Polack E. , Dykes N. , Harvey J.
Published: April 2008

An eight‐year‐old, sexually intact, male, 37 kg crossbred dog was referred for investigation of two acute episodes of intestinal bleeding and severe anaemia within a five‐month period. There was no evidence of coagulopathy or underlying systemic disease. Technetium‐labelled red blood cell scintigraphy suggested the colon as the site of bleeding. Colonoscopy identified a focal area of dilated and tortuous mucosal blood vessels. Histopathology of the resected colon revealed vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia). At nine months post‐resection, the dog remained healthy and free of any overt intestinal haemorrhage.
Lipid storage myopathy in a cocker spaniel
Authors: Platt S. R. , Chrisman C. L. , Shelton G. D.
Published: April 2008

A six‐year‐old male cocker spaniel was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, with a three‐week history of generalised weakness and myalgia. Electrodiagnostic evaluation, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and thoracolumbar myelography were unremarkable. Biopsies from vastus lateralis and triceps muscles revealed numerous large lipid droplets within type 1 fibres and to a lesser degree within type 2 fibres. The resting plasma lactate was mildly increased and there was elevated urinary excretion of lactic, pyruvic and acetoacetic acids, increased urinary excretion of carnitine esters, and increased plasma alanine. This pattern of metabolite excretion is consistent with an, as yet undefined, block in oxidative metabolism.
Subdural injection of contrast medium as a complication of myelography
Authors: Penderis J. , Sullivan M. , Schwarz T. , Griffiths I. R.
Published: April 2008

In a retrospective evaluation of 654 canine and feline myelograms, 58 were found to have been complicated by injection of the contrast medium into the subdural space. The medium was present predominantly dorsal to the spinal cord, with a sharp dorsal border and an undulating ventral border. Confirmation that this myelographic appearance was due to subdural localisation was achieved using fresh cadavers injected with contrast medium labelled with Indian ink. It was further showed that the dorsal accumulation of contrast medium was due to the denticulate ligaments which restricted the ventral extension of the contrast medium.
Vaginal position and length in the bitch: relationship to spaying and urinary incontinence
Authors: Gregory S. P. , Holt P. E. , Parkinson T. J. , Wathes C. M.
Published: April 2008

A study was undertaken to determine if the vagina might be a suitable site for the measurement of intra‐abdominal pressure during cystometry in the bitch. The position of the cranial vagina and vaginal length were measured radiographically and the effects of spaying and urinary incontinence on these variables were evaluated in 30 continent and 30 incontinent bitches. The study used retrograde vaginourethrograms which had been obtained from animals used in a previous study. The cranial vagina was intra‐abdominal on 36 of the vaginourethrograms, being least commonly intra‐abdominal in incontinent bitches (11/30). Vaginal position was related linearly to vaginal length and continence status (P<0·01), while its length was related to bodyweight (P<0·01). Allowing for bodyweight, neutered animals had significantly shorter vaginas than entire bitches (P<0·01). Measurement of intra‐abdominal pressure with concomitant measurement of intravesical pressure is essential if accurate assessment of detrusor pressure is to be determined during cystometry. The vagina is unlikely to be a useful location from which to measure intra‐abdominal pressure since any pressure‐measuring catheter inserted into it may fall outside the abdominal pressure zone. This is particularly true of neutered and/or incontinent bitches, the groups in which urodynamic investigations of urinary incontinence are most frequently indicated.
Extrahepatic biliary atresia in a border collie
Authors: Schulze C. , Rothuizen J. , Sluijs F. J. van , Hazewinkel H. A. W. , van den Ingh T. S. G. A. M.
Published: April 2008

Progressive lameness and leg pain were the predominant clinical signs in a 17‐week‐old male border collie presented for examination. On clinical investigation, extrahepatic cholestasis in association with rickets due to inadequate vitamin D resorption was diagnosed. The dog was treated parenterally with vitamin D and a cholecystoduodenostomy was performed. At 25 days postsurgery the lameness had resolved and bone structure was radio graphically normal. However, at six weeks postsurgery, the dog's condition deteriorated rapidly and euthanasia was finally performed at eight weeks postsurgery. At postmortem examination, Toxocara canis nematodes were found to have invaded the biliary system via the anastomosis between the gallbladder and duodenum, causing biliary and hepatic toxocariasis. The cause of the primary extrahepatic cholestasis was atresia of the common bile duct at the hepatic end. The liver tissue showed microscopic lesions of chronic extrahepatic cholestasis as well as acute inflammation associated with the nematode invasion. There was no postmortem evidence of bone lesions. Extrahepatic biliary atresia is extremely rare in animals and has not been described before in dogs. In contrast, it represents the most common cause of congenital cholestasis in children, occurring in approximately one per 10, 000 to 15, 000 live births.
Glycosylated haemoglobin assay of canine blood samples
Authors: Marca M. C. , Loste A.
Published: April 2008

A method for assaying canine glycosylated haemoglobin was evaluated. The method is a turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and the final reaction is bichromatically measured using a multichannel automatic analyser. Within‐run coefficients of variation (2–07 to 4.46 per cent) were permissible, but between‐run coefficients of variation (2.10 to 8–25 per cent) were slightly more elevated. The detection limit of this assay is 0.052 per cent. A sample dilution of 10 μl of sample and 500 pl of haemolysing reagent is recommended for routine analysis of canine blood samples. A normal reference interval of 1.39 ± 0.70 per cent was obtained from the glycosylated haemoglobin analysis in 82 healthy dogs and no statistically significant differences in relation to age or gender were observed. Some changes in glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations were noted throughout the ovarian cycle, although differences between dogs were evident. Since this assay specifically measures the glycosylated haemoglobin content in canine blood samples, it could be very useful for monitoring diabetic dogs.
Clinical application of prong‐type tissue anchors in small animal surgery
Authors: Robinson A.
Published: April 2008

Prong‐type tissue anchors were used in six dogs and one cat in a variety of orthopaedic procedures in order to aid repair and replacement of tendons and ligaments. All animals returned to normal function with minimal problems.
Cortisol concentrations following stimulation of healthy and adrenzpathic dogs with two doses of tetracosactrin
Authors: Frank L. A. , DeNovo R. C. , Kraje A. C. , Oliver J. W.
Published: April 2008

A prospective study was undertaken to compare intravenous tetracosactrin at doses of 5 μg/kg and 250 pg for diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism in dogs. Both healthy dogs and dogs with pituitarydependent hyperadrenocorticism were evaluated with the two doses of the drug, and serum cortisol concentrations were compared at 60 minutes post‐stimulation. Some of the dogs had additional samples taken at 90 and 120 minutes. For four dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, timed samples were also obtained at 150, 180 and 240 minutes post‐injection. Cortisol concentrations 60 minutes after stimulation with either 5 μg/kg or 250 μg intravenous tetracosactrin were similar for both healthy dogs and dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The lower dose can therefore be used for diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism in dogs.
Middle ear disease associated with congenital palatine defects in seven dogs and one cat
Authors: Gregory S. P.
Published: April 2008

Medical records of eight dogs and one cat with congenital palatine defects were reviewed retrospectively. Five of the dogs had nasal discharge and seven had radiographic signs of middle ear disease, but no clinical signs of ear disease were identified in any of the dogs, nor were any reported by their owners during a one‐ to five‐year follow‐up period. One dog had an ipsilateral impairment of hearing detected by brainstem auditory evoked responses. The cat had clinical and radiographic signs of middle ear disease. These findings suggest that, as in humans, congenital palatine defects in dogs and cats may predispose to middle ear disease. Any associated deafness could cause problems for working dogs.
Glucagon‐producingneuroendocrine tumour associated with hypoaminoacidaemia and skin lesions
Authors: Allenspach K. , Arnold P. , Gnus T. , Hauser B. , Wolff C. , Eberle C. , Kommlnoth P.
Published: April 2008

A nine‐year‐old neutered female crossbred Bernese mountain dog was diagnosed with superficial necrolytic dermatitis and a glucagon‐producing islet cell tumour. Laboratory findings included hyperglucagonaemia and hypoaminoacidaemia. The dog was euthanased because of progression of the disease, and necropsy revealed liver metastases of a neuroendocrine carcinoma with immunohistochemical expression of glucagon and somatostatin. This report represents a case of canine glucagonoma syndrome; the previously reported cases in dogs are also briefly described.
Diseases associated with pronounced eosinophilia: a study of 105 dogs in Sweden
Authors: Lilliehöök I. , Gunnarsson L. , Zakrisson G. , Tvedten H.
Published: April 2008

Records of 105 dogs with pronounced eosinophilia (>2.2 X l09eosinophils/litre) were evaluated in a retrospective study to determine diseases associated with the abnormality in dogs in Sweden. Inflammatory disease in organs with large epithelial surfaces, such as the gut, lungs or skin, was found in 36 per cent of the dogs. A further one‐quarter of the 105 cases were placed in the ‘miscellaneous’ category, which comprised various diseases found at low frequency. The most well defined diagnosis was pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophils in 12 per cent of the dogs. A further 11 per cent had parasitic disease caused by either sarcoptic mange or nasal mite. No atopic dog was found and rottweilers were over‐represented in most disease groups. Pronounced eosinophilia, in many cases transient, seems to be associated with a variety of disorders in dogs. In the present study, rottweilers appeared to be more prone to a high eosinophil response than other breeds.
Collie eye anomaly in the rough collie in Sweden: genetic transmission and influence on offspring vitality
Authors: Wallin‐Håkanson B. , Wallin‐Håkanson N. , Hedhammar Å.
Published: April 2008

Between 1989 and 1997,8204 rough collies were examined for collie eye anomaly (CEA) at up to 10 weeks of age. All dogs were positively identified and the results were registered under the Swedish Kennel Club genetic health programme. A significant decrease in litter size occurred if one of two affected parents had coloboma (3.8 pups) compared with litters from two chorioretinal dysplasia‐ (CRD‐) affected collies (5‐2 pups) or litters by two normal collies (5‐0 pups), indicating an influence of the coloboma genotype on offspring vitality. The prevalence of CRD in pups from normal x normal matings and CRD X CRD matings was significantly different from that expected under simple autosomal recessive inheritance (43 per cent versus 25 per cent and 85 per cent versus 100 per cent). The results are compatible with polygenic inheritance but not with simple autosomal recessive inheritance. CRD prevalence in offspring of CRD X coloboma matings was significantly lower than in pups of CRD X CRD matings, reflecting effects of the coloboma genotype on vitality. These results have important implications for breeding programmes and the genetic control of CEA.
Ventral marsupialisation in the treatment of gastric dilatation‐volvulus in two dogs
Authors: Mills J.
Published: April 2008

A ventral marsupialisation technique is described which was used successfully to manage gastric dilatation‐volvulus (GDV) in two large breed dogs. The procedure allowed the stomach to be completely and rapidly emptied and lavaged without peritoneal contamination. Drainage was maintained in the postoperative period for both dogs and the technique was expected to result in a permanent ventral gastropexy.
Traumatic subcutaneous translocation of the spleen in an Old English sheepdog
Authors: Anderson D. M. , Stidworthy M. , James R. , White R. A. S.
Published: April 2008

A 14‐month‐old entire male Old English sheepdog was presented with a slowly enlarging subcutaneous soft tissue swelling caudal to the last rib. Radiographic and ultrasonographic investigations demonstrated a soft tissue mass closely adherent to the body wall, with a coarse hypoechoic pattern. Surgical exploration revealed a mass with the gross appearance of splenic tissue. The mass was adhered to a healed paracostal abdominal tear. Histological examination confirmed the resected tissue to be normal spleen.
Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of a canine spinal cord injury
Authors: Gopal M. S. , Jeffery N. D.
Published: April 2008

A nine‐year‐old female crossbred dog was presented with tetraplegia following a fall. No vertebral abnormalities were detectable on plain radiographs of the cervical spine. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed absence of extraparenchymal compression and an area of oedema within the cervical spinal cord, suggesting a favourable prognosis. Following nursing care and physiotherapy, the dog recovered the ability to walk, although mild neurological deficits persisted in the left limbs.
Auricular chondritis in a cat
Authors: Delmage D. A. , Kelly D. F.
Published: April 2008

A four‐year‐old male neutered domestic shorthaired cat developed bilateral thickening of the pinnae, with slight curling, intense erythema and pain. No ear canal disease was present. The cat was negative for feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus and feline coronavirus. Biopsy of the ear lesion revealed auricular chondritis. In humans, histologically similar lesions may involve the pinnae, nose, trachea, joints, eyes and heart, and the disease is termed relapsing polychondritis. The cat reported had a history of corneal damage, resulting in corneal vascularisation and opacity, eyelid distortion, necessitating an entropion operation, and radiological evidence of mild cardiac enlargement. The ear disease responded rapidly to treatment with prednisolone and, apart from slight thickening and curling of the pinnae, the cat remained normal and pain‐free. After two years, the prednisolone was withdrawn, and there was no recurrence of the condition in a follow‐up period of 14 months.
Idiopathic chronic penile protrusion in the dog: a report of six cases
Authors: Papazoglou L. G.
Published: April 2008

Idiopathic chronic penile protrusion was diagnosed in six dogs during a seven year period. All cases were treated surgically by using cranial advancement of the prepuce. The surgical technique was successful in four dogs, while the remaining two developed recurrence. In one of the latter cases, partial penile amputation was performed to correct the recurrent protrusion. Five dogs were available for follow‐up clinical examination and all were found to be normal.
Dermoid sinus in a golden retriever
Authors: Cornegliani L. , Jommi E. , Vercelli A.
Published: April 2008

A case of dermoid sinus is reported in a golden retriever. The skin lesion was characterised by a fistulous tract in the dorsal cervical region. Surgical dissection revealed a cyst connected by a fibrous cord to the seventh cervical vertebra.
Severe Deep Moist Convective Storms: Forecasting and Mitigation
Authors: Arnold David L.
Published: April 2008

Small‐scale (2–20 km) circulations, termed ‘severe deep moist convective storms’, account for a disproportionate share of the world's insured weather‐related losses. Spatial frequency maximums of severe convective events occur in South Africa, India, Mexico, the Caucasus, and Great Plains/Prairies region of North America, where the maximum tornado frequency occurs east of the Rocky Mountains. Interest in forecasting severe deep moist convective systems, especially those that produce tornadoes, dates to 1884 when tornado alerts were first provided in the central United States. Modern thunderstorm and tornado forecasting relies on technology and theory, but in the post‐World War II era interest in forecasting has also been driven by public pressure. The forecasting process begins with a diagnostic analysis, in which the forecaster considers the potential of the atmospheric environment to produce severe convective storms (which requires knowledge of the evolving kinematic and thermodynamic fields, and the character of the land surface over which the storms will pass), and the likely character of the storms that may develop. Improvements in forecasting will likely depend on technological advancements, such as the development of phased‐array radar systems and finer resolution numerical weather prediction models. Once initiated, the evolution of deep convective storms is monitored by satellite and radar. Mitigation of the hazards posed by severe deep moist convective storms is a three‐step process, involving preparedness, response, and recovery. Preparedness implies that risks have been identified and organizations and individuals are familiar with a response plan. Response necessitates that potential events are identified before they occur and the developing threat is communicated to the public. Recovery is a function of the awareness of local, regional, and even national governments to the character and magnitude of potential events in specific locations, and whether or not long‐term operational plans are in place at the time of disasters.
Olympic Cities: Regeneration, City Rebranding and Changing Urban Agendas
Authors: Gold John R. , Gold Margaret M.
Published: April 2008

Winning the right to host the Olympic Games is widely regarded as the most significant prize on offer in the never‐ending contest between the world's leading cities for prestige and investment. This essay explores the implications and significance of being an Olympic city. After recognising the Olympics as a mega‐event with inherent mega‐project tendencies, it provides a chronological survey that shows the changing agendas that host cities have brought to bear on staging the Games. The increasing scale of their ambitions is noted, particularly with respect to urban regeneration and city rebranding, while also recognising the financial and human costs involved. The next part throws light on contemporary practice through a study of the proposals for the Lower Lea Valley in London's East End – the site of the future Olympic Park for the 2012 Summer Games. The conclusion suggests an evolving research agenda, framed particularly around the London 2012 Games and the notion of legacy.
Combining Hydrometric and Hydrochemical Data Sets for Investigating Runoff Generation Processes: Tautologies, Inconsistencies and Possible Explanations
Authors: Lischeid Gunnar
Published: April 2008

The rapid increase of catchment runoff after the onset of rainstorms and the associated short‐term changes of stream‐water solute concentration are still poorly understood. These factors are dependent on the flowpaths that the water follows to the stream, and the length of time from rainwater infiltration to discharge. To study these processes, different approaches are used. Hydrometric data on, for example, discharge, groundwater level, soil matrix potential and soil moisture data, have a high spatial and temporal resolution. In contrast, hydrochemical data for solutes, isotopes and temperature, are spatial and temporal integrals. This article provides an overview of the different approaches that are used to investigate stormflow runoff, and critically examines apparent and actual tautologies and inconsistencies in them. Some of the inconsistencies can be traced back to a failure of the basic assumptions, whereas others remain to challenge our understanding of the runoff generation process. Finally, suggestions for future avenues of research in this field are made.
The Population Dynamics of Columnar and Other Cacti: A Review
Authors: Drezner Taly Dawn , Lazarus Barbi Lynn
Published: April 2008

In this article, we review the population cycles of cacti, with an emphasis on the large, often keystone columnar cacti of the North American deserts. These and many other cacti often experience dramatic increases and declines in their numbers. Seeds that germinate in years that provide favourable conditions for regeneration and subsequently survive establish a cohort. We first review the limitations to estimating the age of any given individual; without this information, we cannot reconstruct the age of a population and reconstruct its age structure and demography. We then discuss the techniques for so doing, the data that are available, and the work that has been carried out on a few limited and isolated populations, primarily ofCarnegiea gigantea. We then link century‐scale population fluctuations with micro, local, regional and global climate factors, which include nurse‐plant relationships, periodic freezing and El Niño events, and proceed to elaborate on the factors that influence cactus demographics, such as dispersal, pollination, human impacts and climate change.
Assessment of Potential Human Health Risks Posed by Benzene in Beverages
Authors: Haws L.C. , Tachovsky J.A. , Williams E.S. , Scott L.L.F. , Paustenbach D.J. , Harris M.A.
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT:  A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that some beverages contained benzene at levels above the federal drinking water standard of 5 parts per billion (ppb). In tests conducted by the FDA, Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange (CLSCO) was reported to contain benzene levels as high as 87.9 ppb. The purpose of the present study was to better characterize benzene concentrations in CLSCO and to quantify potential human health risks. Twenty‐eight samples of CLSCO were obtained from retail stores in Houston, Tex., U.S.A. The mean benzene concentrations in 16 oz original and new formulation bottles were 90 and 0.18 ppb, respectively, while 64‐oz bottles contained an average of 3.38 ppb. A variety of exposure scenarios were evaluated to determine potential health risks using both deterministic and probabilistic techniques. In the deterministic analyses, upper bound point estimate cancer risks ranged from 5.4E‐6 to 8.7E‐8, while hazard indices (HI) ranged from 0.28 to 0.00104. Probabilistic analyses were conducted to develop more realistic cancer risk estimates. In these analyses, the 50th and 95th percentile cancer risk estimates were 3.7E‐6 and 8.0E‐6, and the 50th and 95th percentile hazard indices were 0.19 and 0.42, respectively. In conclusion, all cancer risk estimates and noncancer hazards met the typical health risk benchmarks established by the U.S. regulatory agencies (1E‐4 to 1E‐6 for cancer and hazard indices less than 1.0).
Trends in UV Irradiance of Tanning Devices in Norway: 1983–2005
Authors: Nilsen Lill Tove N. , Hannevik Merete , Aalerud Tommy N. , Johnsen Bjørn , Friberg Eva G. , Veierød Marit B.
Published: April 2008

Indoor tanning increases skin cancer risk, but the importance of different parts of the UV spectrum is unclear. We assessed irradiance of tanning devices in Norway for the period 1983–2005. Since 1983, all tanning models needed approval before being sold or used. UV Type 3 limits were valid from late 1992 (<0.15 W m−2 for CIE‐weighted, i.e. erythemally weighted, short and long wave irradiances). We analyzed data from 90% of the approved tanning models (n = 446 models) and two large inspection surveys in 1998/1999 and 2003 (n = 1341 tanning devices). Mean CIE‐weighted short wave irradiance of approved models increased from 0.050 W m−2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.045–0.055) in 1983–1992 to 0.101 W m−2 (95% CI 0.098–0.105) in 1993–2005, and mean long wave from 0.091 W m−2 (95% CI 0.088–0.095) to 0.112 W m−2 (95% CI 0.109–0.115), respectively. Inspection surveys revealed short wave irradiances much higher than that approved. In 1998–1999, only 28% (293/1034) of the devices were equipped with correct sunlamps and only 1 out of 130 inspected establishments fulfilled all requirements. In 2003, corresponding numbers were 59% (180/307) of devices and 2 out of 52 establishments. Mean short and long wave irradiances of the inspected tanning devices in 2003 were 1.5 and 3.5 times, respectively, higher than the irradiance of natural summer sun in Oslo. In conclusion, the short wave irradiance has increased in indoor tanning devices in Norway over the last 20 years. Due to the high long wave irradiance throughout this period, the percentage of short wave irradiance was much lower than for natural sun.
An Example of Data Technology Product: A Control Chart for Weibull Processes
Authors: Erto Pasquale , Pallotta Giuliana , Park Sung H.
Published: April 2008

This work proposes a new Shewhart‐type control chart of the Weibull percentile (i.e. the reliable life) as a practical example of a product attained following the Data Technology (DT) approach. DT is briefly introduced as a new discipline defined apart from Information Technology (IT). Following this approach, some specific Bayes estimators are selected from literature and then used to build the above new chart. These estimators allow to improve the control making use of any available kind of data (statistical and non‐statistical). The operative steps of DT approach are fully explained. The results are illustrated by means of a real applicative example.
Effects of Arterial Stiffness, Pulse Wave Velocity, and Wave Reflections on the Central Aortic Pressure Waveform
Authors: Nichols Wilmer W. , Denardo Scott J. , Wilkinson Ian B. , McEniery Carmel M. , Cockcroft John , O'Rourke Michael F.
Published: April 2008

Brachial systolic and pulse blood pressures (BPs) are better predictors of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events than diastolic BP in individuals older than 50 years. The principal cause of increased systolic and pulse BP is increased stiffness of the elastic arteries as a result of degeneration and hyperplasia of the arterial wall. Recent studies have shown that central BP, the pressure exerted on the heart, brain, and kidneys, is a better predictor of CV risk than brachial BP. As stiffness increases, reflected wave amplitude increases and augments pressure in late systole, producing an increase in left ventricular afterload and myocardial oxygen demand. Vasoactive drugs have little direct effect on large human elastic arteries but can markedly modify wave reflection by altering stiffness of the muscular arteries and changing pulse wave velocity of the reflected wave from the periphery to the heart. Vasodilators decrease the amplitude and increase the travel time (or delay) of the reflected wave, causing a generalized decrease in systolic BP. The decrease in systolic BP brought about by this mechanism is grossly underestimated when systolic BP is measured in the brachial artery.
Perceived and Actual Stroke Risk Among Men With Hypertension
Authors: Powers Benjamin J. , Oddone Eugene Z. , Grubber Janet M. , Olsen Maren K. , Bosworth Hayden B.
Published: April 2008

The purposes of this study were to determine whether there is a significant correlation between the perceived and actual stroke risk among hypertensive patients and to identify patient characteristics associated with inaccurate estimation of stroke risk. The authors performed a cross‐sectional analysis of 296 men with hypertension who were enrolled in the Veterans Study to Improve the Control of Hypertension (V‐STITCH). A patient's actual stroke risk was calculated using the Framingham stroke risk (FSR); patients' perceived risk was measured according to a self‐reported 10‐point risk scale. The median 10‐year FSR was 16%, but the median perceived risk score was 5 (range, 1 [lowest] to 10 [highest]). There was no significant correlation between patients' perceived risk of stroke and their calculated FSR (Spearman ρ=−0.08; P=.16; 95% confidence interval, −0.19 to 0.03). Patients who underestimated their stroke risk were significantly less likely to be worried about their blood pressure than patients with accurate risk perception (12.4% vs 69.6%; P<.0001). The lack of correlation between hypertensive patients' perceived stroke risk and FSR supports the need for better patient education on the risks associated with hypertension.
Mechanisms and Treatment of Resistant Hypertension
Authors: Pimenta Eduardo , Gaddam Krishna K. , Oparil Suzanne
Published: April 2008

Resistant hypertension is defined as blood pressure (BP) that remains uncontrolled in spite of the use of ≥3 antihypertensive medications. Stricter BP goals, higher obesity rates, older age, and increased use of exogenous BP‐elevating substances are related to an increasing prevalence of resistant hypertension. The evaluation of patients with resistant hypertension is focused on identifying contributing and secondary causes of hypertension, including hyperaldosteronism, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, renal artery stenosis, and pheochromocytoma. Hyperaldosteronism is now recognized as the most common cause of resistant hypertension, and all patients with resistant hypertension should be screened with a plasma aldosterone/renin ratio even if the serum potassium level is normal. Treatment includes removal of contributing factors, appropriate management of secondary causes, and use of effective multidrug regimens. Recent studies indicate that the addition of spironolactone to standard treatment induces significant BP reduction in most patients with resistant hypertension.
Alcohol and Aggression: Perspectives on Controlled and Uncontrolled Social Information Processing
Authors: Bègue Laurent , Subra Baptiste
Published: April 2008

This paper reviews the main current social cognitive explanations of the effects of acute alcohol consumption on aggression: the cognitive disruption model, the attributional model, and model of automaticity. The cognitive disruption model posits that intoxication affects controlled processing arising from the impairment of executive cognitive functions by alcohol's pharmacological properties. The individual consequently focuses on the most salient and proximal situational factors, thereby spoiling self‐regulatory processes. According to the attributional model, drinkers expect alcohol to mitigate social sanctions following aggression by shifting blame to alcohol. These explicit expectations represent an extrapharmacological cause of the alcohol–aggression link. Finally, the model of automaticity implies that alcohol meanings stored in long‐term memory and activated in drinking contexts automatically trigger aggressive thoughts and behavior without the individual's awareness. The explanation of intoxicated aggression should integrate these co‐etiological social cognitive models that take into account pharmacological as well as extrapharmacological consequences of alcohol consumption.
Shared Reality, System Justification, and the Relational Basis of Ideological Beliefs
Authors: Jost John T. , Ledgerwood Alison , Hardin Curtis D.
Published: April 2008

Although it is tempting to think that one's political convictions reflect independent and unbiased thinking, research increasingly suggests that ideologies reflect motivational processes. The present paper integrates system justification and shared reality theories to propose that ideologies may function as prepackaged units of interpretation that spread because of basic human motives to understand the world, avoid existential threat, and maintain valued interpersonal relationships. The authors review evidence suggesting that affiliative motives may influence ideological beliefs to align with the progressive or conservative views shared within a given relationship or group. At the same time, such motives may lead disproportionately to the adoption of system‐justifying worldviews. Implications for the context dependence of ideological convictions, the role that shared reality may play in group conflicts, and the relational bases of revolutionary change are discussed.