A case of perosomus elumbis in a Holstein calf.

Perosomus elumbis is an occasionally found congenital anomaly of unknown etiology and is characterized by partial or complete agenesis of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae and ankylosis of the hindlimbs. A 2-day-old female Holstein calf presented nearly normal forelimbs but flexure and ankylosis of the hindlimbs. The vertebrae and pelvic malformations and agenesis were radiographed and then necropsied. Mild ankylosis of the hindlimbs, absence of cauda equina, left scoliosis in state of fusion of T11 and T12 and complete fusion of L4 and L5, narrowed pelvic canal and misshapen ilium were confirmed. However, abnormal development or agenesis was not observed in the urogenital and intestinal system in this calf.

Laparoscopy vs. laparotomy for embryo transfer to produce transgenic goats (Capra hircus).

This study was performed to produce transgenic Korean native goat (Capra hircus) by laparoscopic embryo transfer (ET) to overcome the limitations of ET performed by laparotomy. Transgenic embryos were produced by DNA pronuclear microinjection of in vivo zygotes. The recipient goats were synchronized for estrus by using an introvaginal progesterone devices as a controlled internal drug-releasing insert (CIDR) for 13 days and injection of 400 IU PMSG 48 h before removal of the insert. Embryos were transferred on day 3 and 4 after removal of the insert. Recipient goats were deprived of feed for 48 h, then suspended in a laparotomy cradle at an angle of 45 degrees . After obtaining a sufficient pneumoperitoneum, the laparoscope and forceps were inserted abdominally through 5 mm trocar sleeves. Examination of the ovaries and uterus was performed and then 213 embryos were transferred into the oviducts via the infundibula of 76 recipient goats. To compare pregnancy rates, ET was also performed by laparotomy in 82 recipient goats. The pregnancies in the recipient goats were diagnosed by ultrasound on day 30 after embryo transfer. The pregnancy rate with laparoscopic ET was significantly higher than with ET performed by laparotomy (46.1% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.05). In addition, the pregnancy rates were compared between ovulated and non-ovulated ovaries of the recipient goats in the laparoscopic ET group. No significant difference was observed between the pregnancy rates of ovulated and non-ovulated ovaries (41.3% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05) suggesting that ET may also be possible in non-ovulated recipients through artificial rupture of Graafian follicles. These results suggest that laparoscopic ET is a highly efficient method for the transfer of goat embryos.

Harlequin ichthyosis in a HanWoo calf.

Ichthyosis (fish scale disease) is a rare hereditary disease and characterized by excessive cutaneous scale formation. A male HanWoo calf born by natural service was found with fissures and thickened, scaly, cutaneous plates covering over 90% of its body. Histopathological feature was excess compact orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis involving surface of the epidermis and follicular epithelia. The calf had small malformed ears, ectropion, eclabium and an abnormal nose. Gross and histopathologic findings in calf were consistent with those of harlequin ichthyosis, and it was the first observed harlequin ichthyosis in HanWoo cattle.

Recurrence quantification analysis of sleep electoencephalogram in sleep apnea syndrome in humans.

The aim of this study is to elucidate whether the results of recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) of sleep EEGs in sleep apnea syndrome are valuable for analyzing sleep EEGs in sleep apnea syndrome. We investigated the ability of RQA to discriminate sleep stages and to characterize the different behaviors of sleep EEGs in sleep apnea syndrome. RQA was applied to EEG signals during sleep stages 1, 2, slow wave sleep (SWS), REM and the stage 'awake.' The sleep EEG signals were obtained from the MIT-BIH polysomnographic database. To examine the differences in the RQA measures for all sleep stages, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analysis were performed. From the results, all sleep stages could be distinctly discriminated by means of the RQA measure of %RATIO. We observed that stage 1 and REM had fewer recurrences, and that stage 2 was more autocorrelated than the other stages. The different dynamic behaviors of wakefulness and sleep EEG were also observed. Of significant interest was the observation that RQA was able to distinguish stage 1 from REM. In conclusion, we suggest that the information obtained from RQA of sleep EEGs in sleep apnea syndrome is valuable for its analysis, and that RQA constitutes a useful tool for analyzing sleep EEGs in subjects with sleep apnea syndrome.