Treatment of a nonunion, secondary to gunshot fracture, of the distal radius with circular external fixation and rhBMP-2 in a cat.

OBJECTIVE: To report the successful use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in the treatment of an antebrachial non-union, secondary to gunshot fracture, stabilized with circular external fixation in a cat. PROCEDURE: Following a diagnosis of a highly comminuted gunshot fracture of the distal right radius and ulna, the fracture was stabilized with a circular external fixation. A two-ring frame was placed in closed fashion. RESULTS: The skin wound healed uneventfully by second intention in 21 days. Twenty-eight weeks after external fixation, bone healing was absent. 0.8mL of 0.2mg/mL of rhBMP-2 in two collagen sponges was placed in the bone defect. Eight weeks after rhBMP-2 implantation, an early bone healing response was noted on radiographic evaluation. Sixteen weeks after rhBMP-2 implantation, fracture union was achieved. DISCUSSION: To the authors' knowledge, 160 µg is the lowest reported dose of rhBMP-2 that leads to bony union in a cat. However as an individual case study, this report can not be used as evidence that rhBMP-2 at this lower dose is appropriate for use in all cats. Further studies are needed to establish the minimum efficient dose of rhBMP-2 in cats.

Description of the type of chemical restraint used by French veterinarians to perform hip dysplasia screening radiographs. A retrospective study based on 3302 radiographs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the type of chemical restraint used by French practitioners to perform official hip screening radiographs, to determine the proportion of dogs under general anesthesia versus dogs under sedation, and to search for a difference in hip dysplasia (HD) prevalence between the two groups. From September 2005 to August 2008, 3302 conventional ventrodorsal hip extended radiographs sent for official scoring to the same panellist were selected because information related to the type of chemical restraint had been provided. There were 2825 dogs under general anesthesia and 477 were sedated. Chemical restraint used by French veterinarians to perform HD screening radiographs is mainly based on general intra-venous anesthesia with an alpha2 agonist associated with ketamine. A single injection of alpha2 agonist is also mostly used for dogs which are radiographed while under sedation. A very low (1.7%) difference in HD prevalence was noted between the anesthetized and the sedated group. Except for acepromazine, which has been demonstrated to provide insufficient muscle relaxation to show evidence of hip laxity, the protocols seem acceptable as regards the Federation Cynologique Internationale requirements for HD screening.

Risk of simultaneous phenotypic expression of hip and elbow dysplasia in dogs: a study of 1,411 radiographic examinations sent for official scoring.

In order to look for phenotypic correlation between hip (HD) and elbow (ED) dysplasia, we used radiographic scoring obtained from 1,411 dogs of different breeds, which were evaluated for authoritative grading of both conditions. In this population, we found that the risk ratio for an animal to be simultaneously affected by HD and ED is 1.67. For a dog with ED, the risk ratio to be affected by HD increases as the ED grade increases. Similarly, for a dog affected by HD, the risk ratio to be affected by ED increases as the HD grade increases. In a dog affected by HD or ED, the clinician should look for the second condition in the same animal. Due to the low, yet positive correlation, selection against one trait will not affect the other trait sufficiently. Therefore selection has to be conducted at reduction of HD as well as reduction of ED.

Diagnostic value of ultrasonography to assess stifle lesions in dogs after cranial cruciate ligament rupture: 13 cases.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonographic diagnosis of lesions in the canine stifle associated with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Thirteen dogs that had a diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament rupture were included in this prospective clinical study. Two ultrasonographers who were unaware of specific historical and clinical data performed the sonography with a high frequency (8-16 MHz) linear transducer. Surgical treatment of the affected stifle was performed within two days of ultrasonography by a surgeon who was unaware of the ultrasonographic findings. The lesions observed during ultrasonography and arthrotomy were compared at the completion of the study. Visualisation of the superficial tendons (quadriceps and long digital extensor) and ligaments (patellar ligament, collateral ligaments) of the stifle using ultrasonography was excellent. However, the detection of deep stifle ligaments (cranial cruciate ligament and caudal cruciate ligament) was extremely difficult to perform using ultrasonography. For cranial cruciate ligament rupture, the sensitivity for ultrasonographic diagnosis was 15.4%. For meniscal lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for ultrasonographic diagnosis were 82%, 93%, 90% and 88% respectively. High frequency ultrasonography is a non-invasive method for accurately and efficiently detecting superficial ligaments, tendons and meniscal lesions associated with cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the stifle of non-sedated dogs.

Rupture of the quadriceps tendon. A case report in a young dog.

A five-month-old, male, 16 kg, mixed breed dog was presented for an acute non-weight bearing lameness of the right hind limb. A subtotal avulsion of the quadriceps tendon at its patellar insertion was diagnosed through radiography and ultrasonography. Two nylon sutures secured with a stainless steel crimp were placed in a locking loop pattern in the quadriceps tendon and through a transverse 2.7 mm drill-hole in the patella. No external coaptation was used postoperatively. A full functional recovery was observed, and was followed for one year postoperatively. Quadriceps tendon rupture has not been described in the veterinary literature to our knowledge; in humans, quadriceps tendon rupture is a well known entity, often due to systemic disease resulting in weakening of the tendinous structures. In the case presented herein, the dog's history, young age and location, without underlying biochemical abnormalities, led us to believe that the observed lesion was of traumatic origin. The surgical treatment performed was based on that performed in humans and also that which has been investigated experimentally in the dog.

Knee joint ultrasonography of the ACLT rabbit experimental model of osteoarthritis: relevance and effectiveness in detecting meniscal lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a protocol for rabbit knee joint ultrasonography (US); to grade ultrasonographically the meniscal injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA); to assess with US the effectiveness of the ACLT; to compare final US with macroscopy for the evaluation of medial and lateral meniscal injuries depending on the age and weight when ACLT is performed. METHODS: Twenty-two skeletally mature and adolescent New Zealand white rabbits were housed during the same period at the Institut Claude-Bourgelat, Lyon, France. Surgical ACLT was performed in the left knee of nine adolescent and five adult rabbits. Final US and macroscopic semi-quantitative grading of the meniscal injuries were compared 5 months after ACLT. RESULTS: A standardised protocol was developed to evaluate the rabbit knee joint. US was performed in both control and ACLT knees. Normal and abnormal meniscal US appearances were described. A semi-quantitative scale to grade US meniscal injuries was created. Macroscopic and US total meniscal scores were significantly positively correlated (P<0.001, r=0.70). US detection of meniscal injuries was 92% sensitive and 87.5% specific compared to macroscopy. Positive and negative predictive values of US were, respectively, 92% and 87.5%. US detection of the ACLT effectiveness was 100% specific and 78.5% sensitive. CONCLUSION: A significant relationship was found between ultrasonographic and macroscopic grading of meniscal injuries. US was both specific and sensitive in detecting meniscal lesions. We propose US as a non-invasive, non-expensive, in vivo imaging technique for preclinical studies in the ACLT rabbit OA model.

Cloning, sequencing and structural analysis of 976 base pairs of the promoter sequence for the rat lipoprotein lipase gene. Comparison with the mouse and human sequences.

We cloned and sequenced the -976bp promoter of the rat lipoprotein lipase LPL gene. The sequence was compared with the mouse and human sequences. The homology between the rat and mouse LPL nucleotide sequences was not quite as strong in the promoter sequence as in the coding sequence. Among the 976nt promoter there were 118 divergences, i.e. 11.8%, compared to only 5.6% for the LPL coding region. However, within the 200nt immediately 5' to the transcriptional start site (proximal promoter), the divergence was only 4%. New potential cis-elements (such as CACCC, GATA, GC and GA boxes, IRS, Krox, MEF 2, E-box, CCArGG and 1/2 VDRE) were identified in the rat, mouse or human LPL gene.

Human lipoprotein lipase last exon is not translated, in contrast to lower vertebrates.

We have sequenced the first fish (zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) cDNA clone. Similarities were found in mammalian LPL cDNA, but the codon spanning the last two exons (which is thus split by the last intron) is AGA (Arg) as opposed to TGA in mammals. Exon 10 is thus partially translated. These results were confirmed with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We also investigated whether mammal TGA coded for selenocystein (SeCys), the 21st amino acid, but found that this was not the case: TGA does not encode SeCys but is a stop codon. It thus appears that the sense codon AGA (fish) has been transformed into a stop codon TGA (human) during the course of evolution. It remains to be determined if the "loss" of the C-terminal end of mammalian LPL protein has conferred an advantage in terms of LPL activity or, on the contrary, a disadvantage (e.g., susceptibility to diabetes or atherosclerosis).

Comparison of the cDNA and amino acid sequences of lipoprotein lipase in eight species.

By aligning nucleotide and amino acid sequences of lipoprotein lipase in eight species (man, pig, cow, sheep, mouse, rat, guinea-pig and chicken), we found that the main domains (catalytic, N-glycosylation and putative heparin binding sites) are well conserved. The longest identical amino acid chain was encoded by a sequence between the end of exon 2 and the beginning of exon 3, emphasizing the importance of this region which encodes the beta 5-loop of the active site, among other domains. Exon 10 is entirely untranslated in the seven mammals studied here and contains species-characteristic deletions, insertions or elements rich in A or A + T. In chicken, the beginning of exon 10 is translated. These eight previously unreported alignments could be a useful tool for further studies on LPL function.

Homozygous deletion of exon 9 causes lipoprotein lipase deficiency: possible intron-Alu recombination.

We studied a homozygous deletion in the lipoprotein lipase gene at the molecular level. Comprising the end of intron 8, the whole of exon 9, and about two-thirds of intron 9, this 2.136-kb deletion caused complete lipoprotein lipase deficiency and severe hypertriglyceridemia (type I hyperlipoproteinemia). Intron 9 of a normal control subject was also sequenced in order to define the exact borders of the deletion. Up to now, only the first 0.721 kb of intron 9 had been sequenced. Thus the complete sequence of intron 9 (3.090 kb) is now available. Three Alu sequences were characterized in the normal intron 9, while the proband had only the third complete Alu sequence. The first Alu sequence was located in the deleted region, and only the left arm of the second was present, as the deletion began near its center. A stem-loop structure involving a 14-nt region towards the end of intron 8 and an Alu sequence in intron 9 might have led to the deletion. Sequence analysis showed that the three Alu sequences belonged to the 40-million-year-old Alu-Sa subclass.

Dental laboratory work authorization forms: a national survey of regulatory agency requirements.

This study reports a survey of the dental licensing agencies in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico concerning agency legislation and nomenclature of dental laboratory work orders. Differences in both legislation and nomenclature were found. Dental laboratory work authorization was the title most frequently used by the agencies. Nearly all agencies require a work order written by a licensed dentist to accompany all materials transmitted to a dental laboratory. This along with other sources of information may help to increase uniformity in the content of laboratory work authorization forms, thereby improving quality control in dental restorations made in commercial laboratories.

Dental laboratory work authorization forms: a survey.

Dental laboratory work authorization forms embrace a diversity of material content and design. This survey examined 51 dental laboratory work authorization forms and delineated each content item and format features into a frequency percentage. This information has a high potential for use in changing prospective dental laboratory and authorization form design.

[Syncope]. / Les syncopes.

Syncopes related to cerebral or cardio-vascular lesions, or resulting from a reflex or from a mixed origin should remain exceptional. Adequate knowledge of their possible etiology and of the curative and preventive measures to use, are very important. To avoid an irreversible issue every practitioner should master the resuscitation technics. Each office should have an adequate equipment for resuscitation and CPR courses should be taken every year.