Instrumental functional diagnostics with the ROSY simulator.

The ROSY robot system has been developed to simulate movements of the jaw under stepper motor control. The areas of indication comprise functional diagnostics and production of designed occlusal splints. Moreover, this device can also be extended for use in other areas. The computer-assisted design of OR templates has become possible. The simulator also permits the production of implant-borne restorations with optimum implant loading.

Efficacy of a herd-specific vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus to prevent post-partum mastitis in dairy heifers.

A placebo-controlled field study was performed to evaluate the effect of a herd-specific vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus on intramammary infection (IMI), somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical mastitis. Three hundred and twenty-one heifers were assigned to two groups. Heifers in the vaccination group (n = 164) were vaccinated twice, i.e. 5 and 2 weeks before their expected calving date. Animals of the control group (n = 157) received the same treatment with a placebo containing no bacterial antigen. Quarter milk samples were collected immediately after parturition prior to the first machine milking, 3-4 weeks after calving and before the onset of treatment in animals with signs of clinical mastitis during the first 3 months after calving. For comparison of SCC the data from the monthly milk test records were evaluated. The prevalence of S. aureus in quarter milk samples taken at calving and 3-4 weeks post-partum did not differ significantly between the vaccine and control group. Incidence of clinical mastitis during the first 3 months after calving and the prevalence of S. aureus in quarter milk samples taken before the onset of treatment did not differ significantly between the groups. The SCC was lower in vaccinated than in control heifers. However, the difference was only significant on the third milk test day. Regarding prevalence of IMI with S. aureus and incidence of clinical mastitis the use of a herd-specific vaccine against S. aureus did not prove to be efficient on this farm.

Effect of teat dipping with a germicide barrier teat dip in late gestation on intramammary infection and clinical mastitis during the first 5 days post-partum in primiparous cows.

The effect of teat dipping with a barrier teat dip prior to parturition on intramammary infection (IMI) and clinical mastitis during the first 5 days post-partum was investigated in a split udder trial in 149 Holstein-Frisian heifers. Their left front and right hind quarters were dipped three times weekly (i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) with a barrier teat dip containing 0.1% polyvidon iodine from day 260 of gestation until parturition. The opposite quarters (right front and left hind quarter) served as untreated control. Bacteria were isolated from 52.2% of quarter milk samples collected immediately after parturition prior to first machine milking. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were predominantly found in the samples (29.2 and 35.6% of the positive samples, respectively). At parturition 6.7% of the heifers showed signs of clinical mastitis and another 27.5% developed signs of clinical mastitis during the first five days of lactation. No significant differences were found between treated and control quarters regarding IMI and incidence of clinical mastitis. Teat dipping prior to parturition in primigravid dairy heifers did not improve udder health in this trial.

Histomorphometric analysis of the proximal portion of the femur in dogs with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cancellous architecture of the proximal portion of the femur in dogs with osteoarthritis. ANIMALS: 30 dogs with coxofemoral osteoarthritis. PROCEDURE: All dogs had femoral head and neck excision or total hip arthroplasty. Histomorphometry software was used to analyze computer images of 100-microm-thick coronal and transverse plane sections of the head and neck of the femur. Histologic preparations of coronal and transverse sections of articular cartilage were graded. RESULTS: Bone volume/total volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and bone surface/total volume were significantly higher in the femoral head than femoral neck. Trabecular alignment (anisotropy) and separation were significantly higher in the femoral neck than femoral head. Anisotropy was significantly increased in the medial portion of the femoral head in the coronal plane and in the cranial portion of the femoral neck in the transverse plane, compared with healthy dogs. The medial half of femoral head cartilage that overlies the proximomedial cancellous bone region had significantly more degraded cartilage than the lateral half. Histologic grades for cranial and caudal halves of femoral head articular cartilage were similar. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most findings were similar to those in healthy dogs. Greater trabecular alignment in the proximomedial region of the femoral head and craniolateral region of the femoral neck in dogs with osteoarthritis suggests an altered transfer of load through the coxofemoral joint. Greater cartilage degradation on the medial half of the femoral head supports an association between increased trabecular alignment and cartilage degradation.

Primary osteosarcoma of the synovium in a dog.

An eight-year-old, spayed female Labrador retriever was presented for evaluation of left thoracic limb lameness. Radiographs of the left elbow revealed mineralization of the soft tissues surrounding the joint, with no evidence of periarticular bony lysis. Biopsy of the synovial tissues of the left radiohumeral joint yielded a diagnosis of osteosarcoma (OSA). The dog was treated with palliative radiotherapy, piroxicam, and carboplatin chemotherapy, which resulted in excellent pain control for approximately eight months. Amputation of the affected limb was then performed. Six months later, the dog developed multiple subcutaneous OSA metastases, and the dog was euthanized 15 months after diagnosis due to refractory vomiting. This report documents the first known case of primary OSA of the synovium in any species.

Histomorphometric analysis of the proximal portion of the femur in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cancellous bone architecture of the head and neck of the femur in healthy dogs by use of automated histomorphometry techniques in conjunction with histologic grading of articular cartilage. ANIMALS: 30 mature male dogs with healthy coxo-femoral joints PROCEDURE: Dogs were 1.5 to 4 years old and weighed 27 to 37 kg. Computer images of fine-detail radiographs of 100-microm-thick coronal and transverse plane sections of the head and neck of the femur (14 dogs) were analyzed by use of histomorphometry software. Statistical comparisons among histomorphometric indices of 4 regions were performed. Histologic preparations of coronal and transverse plane sections of femoral head articular cartilage (16 dogs) were graded. Median grades for lateral, medial, cranial, and caudal halves of the femoral head articular cartilage were determined. RESULTS: Bone volume/total volume, trabecular thickness and number, and bone surface/total volume were significantly higher in the femoral head than in the femoral neck. Anisotropy (trabecular alignment) and trabecular separation were significantly higher in the femoral neck than in the femoral head. Anisotropy was significantly higher in the caudal half of the femoral neck than in the cranial half. Cartilage had histologic grades indicating health without significant differences among lateral, medial, cranial, and caudal halves of femoral head cartilage. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A predictable cancellous architecture in the head and neck of the femur is associated with healthy cartilage.

[Effect of puerperal mastitis in primiparous cows on milk production, cell count and culling]. / Einfluss von peripartalen Mastitiden bei Erstkalbinnen auf Milchleistung, Zellgehalt und Abgangsrate.

A retrospective cohort study was performed to investigate the effect of clinical mastitis in heifers during the first week post partum (p.p.) on subsequent health and productivity. Primiparous cows that had calved between August 15th, 1996 and August 14th, 1997 (n = 1389) were included in the study. Milk samples were collected from each quarter post partum prior to first milking. The predominant group of bacteria found were Staphylococcus spp. (69%) followed by Streptococcus spp.(12%) and E. coli (5%). Intramammary infections at calving increased the risk of clinical mastitis within the first week p.p. The cow incidence of mastitis until day 7 p. p. was 38%. Cows were classified into three groups. Group 1: Animals with clinical mastitis prior to calving (n = 35); Group 2: Animals with clinical mastitis between calving and 7 days p. p. (n = 503); Group 3: Animals without mastitis until 7 days p. p. (n = 851). Mastitis prior to parturition and mastitis within the first week p.p. increased the risk of further cases of mastitis and culling during the first 45 days of lactation. Milk yield of Group 2 was lower and somatic cell counts were higher than in Group 3.

Arthrodesis of the shoulder for synovial osteochondromatosis.

A case of synovial osteochondromatosis (SOC) in a young deerhound's shoulder is reviewed. The age of onset and initially unaffected articular surfaces suggested primary SOC. Histological criteria for primary versus secondary osteochondromatosis are contradictory and unclear. Initial loose body removal and partial synovectomy resulted in several months of improvement but loose bodies returned. Severe degenerative changes were found one year after the initial exploratory surgery. Arthrodesis resulted in a functional, non-painful joint.

[A new ultrasound system for recording masticatory function in implant patients]. / Aufzeichnung von Kaumustern bei Implantatpatienten mittels eines neuen Ultraschall-Messsystems.

Chewing patterns were measured in patients with unilateral osseointegrated oral implant bridges. An intraindividual comparison was made between the implant-treated and the conventionally treated side. Measurements were made with a newly developed device operating on the principles of ultrasonics. A motor stepper-driven simulator (jaw replicator) was connected to investigate the occlusion during the terminal masticatory movements. No significant differences were found between the implant and the control side.

Comparisons of conduct and affective disordered youth: a psychometric investigation of responses to the Children's Depression Inventory.

Scores on the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) for 103 affective and 125 conduct disordered psychiatric inpatients aged 6-17 were subjected to cluster analysis of variables using average linkage (with arccosine transformation) as a means of investigating differences in CDI response patterns between the two groups. Both vertical (hierarchical) and horizontal (nested) clusters were examined. The investigation indicated hierarchical clusters for the affective disordered group dealing with sadness and isolation, a negative self-image, and self-loathing. For the conduct disordered group, clusters centered hierarchically around a defeated attitude, being upset, not having fun anymore and not wanting to be with other people, and difficulty with academic performance.

Free autologous nerve grafting--comparison of suture materials.

The inferior alveolar nerve was reconstructed by grafting the sural nerve in 16 rabbits. Suturing was performed using the non-absorbable suture material Ethilon and absorbable Vicryl. The postoperative results were evaluated by measuring the following parameters: electrical stimulus threshold, conduction velocity, area of myelin sheaths, area of nerve fibres, number of nerve fibres, histogram of the diameter of nerve fibres. All these values are discussed, to give an idea of the healing process and to examine the influence of absorbable suture material.

Use of tracheloscopy and directed biopsy for evaluating cervical involvement in endometrial carcinoma.

Accurate assessment of cervical involvement in endometrial carcinoma (stage II) is often difficult. The value of tracheloscopy as a possible method for improving accuracy was assessed. One hundred one patients with endometrial carcinoma were studied; 28 were suspected of having cervical involvement on endocervical curettage, and 26 were evaluable. Only five patients were documented to have cervical involvement using tracheloscopy. This finding suggests that there is general overtreatment of patients with false-positive endocervical curettage. However, a definitive statement concerning the incidence of stage II disease in the series cannot be made because many patients received traditional preoperative radiation therapy, which may have eradicated intracervical disease missed by tracheloscopy, therefore falsely confirming stage 1 disease on history from subsequent hysterectomy specimens.

Residual tumor following radiotherapy for locally advanced carcinomas of the uterine cervix. Prognostic significance.

Over a five-year period from 1977 to 1982, 120 patients with locally advanced carcinomas of the uterine cervix were surgically staged by lymphadenectomy and laparotomy. Radiotherapy was then administered according to the pelvic extent of disease, and all patients underwent extrafascial total hysterectomy with adnexectomy at ten weeks after completing radiation therapy. The presence or absence of residual tumor in the hysterectomy specimen appeared to be an important prognostic factor in treatment success or failure. Patients with no residual tumor were found to have an excellent prognosis. Those with residual tumor clear of the resection margins were at risk for distant metastases. Only one survivor was noted in the group of patients in whom the margins of resection were involved with tumor, nearly all of these patients dying from local recurrences. Major operative morbidity in the series was minimal, and consisted of a single ureterovaginal fistula, which required urinary diversion.

Ovarian carcinoma: management of stress in patients and physicians.

A discussion of the management of ovarian cancer invariably involves the problems of death and dying faced by the patient, her family, and her physician. This paper attempts to deal with the general fears, anxieties, and problems of terminality, and also places attention on specific issues involved in living with the ongoing disease and its treatments. Focus is on the effects of the disease on the woman's self-image, on her family and relationships, on life outside the hospital, and on her relationship with her attending physician. Specific problems relating to the periods of (1) diagnosis, (2) operative management and treatment, and (3) terminality are discussed. Understanding the psychosocial realities of the patient provides the physician with added insights into methods to assist the patient in adaptation and coping with this ultimately fatal disease.

Tracheloscopically directed biopsy of the endocervical canal in stage II adenocarcinomas of the endometrium.

Endoscopic inspection of the endocervical canal (tracheloscopy) appears to be a rapid, reliable diagnostic technique to confirm the presence of endometrial neoplasms involving the endocervix found at fractional curettage. A series is presented in which 68% of patients with "positive" endocervical curettage were found to have no involvement of the endocervix by tracheloscopy and biopsy, which was confirmed by subsequent hysterectomy. The technique is discussed, and the use of this procedure in the staging of endometrial malignancies is recommended.