How should the respiration rate be counted in cattle?

Respiration rate (RR) is a proficient indicator to measure the health status of cattle. The common method of measurement is to count the number of respiratory cycles each minute based on flank movements. However, there is no consistent method of execution. In previous studies, various methods have been described, including counting flank movements for 15 s, 30 s or 60 s as well as stopping the time for 5 or 10 breaths. We assume that the accuracy of the aforementioned methods differs. Therefore, we compared their precision with an RR sensor, which was used as the reference method in this study. Five scientists from the fields of agricultural science and veterinary medicine quantified the flank movement according to each of the five methods mentioned above. The results showed that with an average RR of 30 breaths per minute (bpm), all methods showed a high correlation to the values of the RR sensor. However, counting breaths for 60 s had the highest level of conformity with the RR sensor (Lin`s concordance correlation coefficient: 0.96) regardless of the level of RR. With rising RR, the inaccuracy increased significantly for the other four investigated methods, especially when counting 5 and 10 breaths. Therefore, we would recommend that counting for 60 s should be used as the standard method for future studies due to its high precision regardless of the level of RR.

Bilio-digestive double bypass for nonresectable pancreatic cancer.

In spite of extensive preoperative investigation, surgical exploration is often the only way to determine whether a pancreatic cancer is curatively resectable. If curative resection is not possible, palliation of cholestasis and eventual duodenal obstruction is mandatory. This is best achieved by construction of a bilio-digestive double bypass. Many different techniques have been described but considerable rates of delayed gastric emptying have added high morbidity to the procedure. We propose a retrocolic construction technique combining an omega loop with a Roux-en-Y reconstruction which to our knowledge has not been published before.

In vivo [125I]-iodobenzovesamicol binding reflects cortical cholinergic deficiency induced by specific immunolesion of rat basal forebrain cholinergic system.

In this study, radiolabeled iodobenzovesamicol (IBVM), which is known to bind with high affinity to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, was tested for its usefulness in imaging cortical cholinergic deficits in vivo. To induce reductions in cortical cholinergic input, the cholinergic immunotoxin 192IgG-saporin was employed. This has been shown to selectively and efficiently destroy basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in rats. The efficiency of the immunolesion was verified by histochemical acetylcholinesterase staining. [125I]-IBVM binding before and after lesioning was measured using autoradiography. Basal forebrain cholinergic cell loss resulted in a considerable reduction in [125I]-IBVM binding in the cholinoceptive target regions, but not in the striatum and cerebellum, brain regions that do not receive a cholinergic input by the basal forebrain cholinergic nuclei, suggesting that [123I]-IBVM has potential in imaging cortical cholinergic deficits in vivo, at least in animals.

KAI1, a new metastasis suppressor gene, is reduced in metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Down-regulation of KAI1 expression has been shown to be associated with formation of metastases or disease progression in prostate and pancreatic cancer. In the present study we analyzed the expression pattern of KAI1 in metastatic and nonmetastatic hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in comparison with normal livers to evaluate whether alteration of KAI1 also facilitates the metastatic ability in this malignancy. Thirty-nine primary HCCs and 10 normal liver tissue samples were studied for KAI1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression with use of Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. By Northern blot analysis, moderate to strong KAI1 mRNA expression was present in normal liver samples. In contrast, KAI1 mRNA expression in tissue samples of primary HCCs was markedly decreased compared with normal controls. The normal/tumor ratio of KAI1 mRNA expression was 2.6:1 (P <.01). Primary HCCs that gave rise to metastasis showed significantly lower KAI1 mRNA levels than nonmetastasized HCCs (P <. 05). As seen by in situ hybridization, moderate to strong cytoplasmic KAI1 mRNA staining was present in almost all normal hepatocytes. Bile ducts, blood vessels, and connective tissue showed no or only faint KAI1 mRNA expression in the normal liver samples. In nonmetastatic HCCs, the cancer cells exhibited in situ hybridization signals that were similar to the normal controls. In contrast, most of the primary HCC cells in samples with metastases showed only faint or moderate KAI1 mRNA expression predominantly in the perinuclear regions. When KAI1 mRNA expression of primary hepatocellular cancer cells was compared with metastasized cancer cells in lymph nodes, with intrahepatic satellite metastasis, or with peritoneal metastasis in the same patients, significantly lower (P <.01) KAI1 mRNA levels were present in the metastasized HCC cells. Reduced KAI1 mRNA in HCC cells seems to influence their metastatic ability and thereby enhances the malignant potential of HCC.

[Role of endoluminal ultrasonography in the treatment of rectal carcinoma]. / Le rôle de la sonographie endoluminale dans le traitement du carcinome du rectum.

Endoluminal sonography is an excellent technique in preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma. This minimally invasive technology makes individual planning of therapy possible and is a very good tool in postoperative follow-up and documentation. In comparison with the techniques of CT and MRI it is less expensive and the mobile unit can easily be moved e.g. into the operating theatre. There are no contraindications for this examination, postoperative tissue scars and metal implants will not disturb the imaging. We think that endoluminal sonography will be able to facilitate individual decision making in the treatment of rectal carcinoma.

An unusual manifestation of Meckel's diverticulum: bleeding and perforation--a case report.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding of the diverticulum from a peptic ulcer due to ectopic gastric mucosa makes up 25% of all complications in the disease. We report a case of a 20 year old male with chronic anemia, severe hematochezia and perforation due to Meckel's diverticulum. Segmental small bowel resection was performed. Difficulty of preoperative diagnosis is discussed, indication for incidental diverticulectomy is established and the literature reviewed.

Simultaneous measurements of radon and CO2 in spring water for earthquake prediction research

The correlation between the Vogtland microearthquakes and the fluctuations of 222Rn concentration in spring water and soil air have been investigate in the Saxon State Spa Bad Brambach since 1988. In contrast to the soil air, the results in spring water show significant radon anomalies for about 50

of the earthquakes or swarmquakes (Ml<4, epicentral distance < 70 km). Recent investigations have shown that CO2 outgassing due to tectonic processes may act as a gas lift for Radon. A model conception and first results of Radon and CO2 measurements in spring water are presented.(AU)