Three-dimensional cephalometric evaluation of maxillary growth following in utero repair of cleft lip and alveolar-like defects in the mid-gestational sheep model

Objective: To evaluate maxillary growth following in utero repair of surgically created cleft lip and alveolar (CLA)-like defects by means of three-dimensional (3D) computer tomographic (CT) cephalometric analysis in the mid-gestational sheep model. Methods: In 12 sheep fetuses a unilateral CLA-like defect was created in utero (untreated control group: 4 fetuses). Four different bone grafts were used for the alveolar defect closure. After euthanasia, CT scans of the skulls of the fetuses, 3D re-constructions, and a 3D-CT cephalometric analysis were performed. Results: The comparisons between the operated and nonoperated skull sides as well as of the maxillary asymmetry among the experimental groups revealed no statistically significant differences of the 12 variables used. Conclusions: None of the surgical approaches used for the in utero correction of CLA-like defects seem to affect significantly postsurgical maxillary growth; however, when bone graft healing takes place, a tendency for almost normal maxillary growth can be observed. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Importance of herd\u27s health preventive program for milk production and milk quality

U raduje prikazan model zdravstvene preventive mliječnih krava koji se sastoji od kontrole hranidbeno-metaboličkog statusa, reprodukcije i mastitisa, analize sastojaka mlijeka. Utvrđena je razmjerno velika rasprostranjenost supkliničkih poremećaja metabolizma i supkliničkog mastitisa. Prikazano je značenje provođenja takvih programa poglavito s gledišta podizanja konzumne i higijenske kakvoće mlijeka.Presented is the model of herd\u27s health preventive program, consisting of nutritional-metabolical control status, reproduction and mastitis, mostly on the basis of analysis of some milk constituents. The importance of performing such a program is stressed, particularly regarding the improving the milk quality

Importance of herd\u27s health preventive program for milk production and milk quality

U raduje prikazan model zdravstvene preventive mliječnih krava koji se sastoji od kontrole hranidbeno-metaboličkog statusa, reprodukcije i mastitisa, analize sastojaka mlijeka. Utvrđena je razmjerno velika rasprostranjenost supkliničkih poremećaja metabolizma i supkliničkog mastitisa. Prikazano je značenje provođenja takvih programa poglavito s gledišta podizanja konzumne i higijenske kakvoće mlijeka.Presented is the model of herd\u27s health preventive program, consisting of nutritional-metabolical control status, reproduction and mastitis, mostly on the basis of analysis of some milk constituents. The importance of performing such a program is stressed, particularly regarding the improving the milk quality

Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine blood flow during early pregnancy in mares

Transrectal color Doppler sonography was used for the noninvasive investigation of uterine blood flow in five mares. Both the left and right uterine arteries were scanned to obtain blood flow velocity waveforms during two consecutive estrous cycles and two early pregnancies in each mare. Blood flow was expressed as the time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) and the resistance index (RI). In all pregnancies the embryonic vesicle could be detected for the first time on Day 11 (day of ovulation: Day 0). No differences in mean TAMV and RI values of both uterine arteries were observed in comparison to the corresponding days of the estrous cycle until Day 11 of pregnancy (P>0.05). From Day 11 onwards, mean TAMV values were higher and mean RI values lower in pregnant mares than in cyclic mares (P0.05). From Days 15 to 29 of pregnancy, TAMV values were consistently higher and RI values lower in the uterine artery ipsilateral to the conceptus and they had a more distinct rise and decline, respectively, compared to the contralateral uterine artery (P0.05). The results show that uterine blood supply increases in mares during the second week of pregnancy compared to cyclic mares. Furthermore there are individual variations in blood flow between mares

The effect of exogenous estradiol benzoate and altrenogest on uterine and ovarian blood flow during the estrous cycle in mares

In recent years, a positive relationship between genital perfusion and fertility has been established; in species other than horses, uterine and ovarian perfusion was improved by exogenous estrogen but impaired by exogenous progestin. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of exogenous estrogen and progestin on uterine and ovarian blood flow in cycling mares. Five Trotter mares were examined daily during three estrous cycles. Mares were given no treatment, altrenogest (0.044 mg/kg BW) orally from Day 0 (ovulation) to Day 14 and estradiol benzoate (5mg i.m.) on Days 0, 5, and 10, in three cycles, respectively. There was no difference ( P > 0.05 ) in the length of untreated versus estrogen-treated cycles ( 22.8 +/-1.3 days and 23.2 +/= 1.5 days, respectively), but cycle length was increased (P < 0.05) in progestin-treated cycles (26.0 +/- 1.2). To facilitate comparisons among cycles with different lengths, data from Days 0 to 15 (diestrus) and from Days -6 to -1 (estrus) were analyzed. Transrectal Doppler sonography was used to evaluate blood flow in both uterine arteries and in the ovarian artery ipsilateral to the preovulatory follicle during estrus and ipsilateral to the corpus luteum during diestrus. Blood flow was assessed semiquantitatively using the pulsatility index (PI); high PI values indicated high resistance and a low perfusion and vice versa. An immediate effect of treatments occurred only after the administration of estradiol benzoate on Day 0; uterine PI values decreased (P < 0.05) between Days 0 and 1 and estrogen-treated mares but increased (P < 0.05) at the corresponding time in untreated cycles. Mean PI values for the uterine and ovarian arteries during both diestrus and estrus were higher (P < 0.05) in estrogen-treated versus untreated mares. Furthermore, mean uterine PI values during diestrus and estrus were higher (P< 0.05) in altrenogest-treated versus untreated mares. Neither estrogen nor altrenogest treatments had a significant immediate effect on ovarian PI values. Compared to untreated cycles, mean ovarian PI values were elevated (P < 0.05) only in the estrus following altrenogest administration. In conclusion, exogenous estrogen and progestin both decreased genital perfusion in cycling mares

Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine and umbilical blood flow during pregnancy in mares

Transrectal color Doppler sonography was used to investigate uterine and umbilical blood flow during pregnancy (duration, 46-48 weeks) in four mares. The resistance index (RI) and blood flow volume (VOL) of the uterine arteries ipsilateral and contralateral to the conceptus, and the presence of an early diastolic notch in the Doppler wave, were evaluated every 4 week throughout pregnancy. Fetal blood flow was calculated semiquantitatively every 2 week (from 20 to 40 weeks), using the RI of the umbilical arteries. During the entire period of investigation, there were no significant individual variations in uterine RI and VOL nor differences between the two uterine arteries. Mean RI decreased by more than half during pregnancy from 0.89 +/- 0.01 to 0.39 +/- 0.03, and mean VOL increased almost 400-fold from 69 +/- 37 to 27,467 +/- 8851 ml/min. There were relationships (P<0.0001) between week of pregnancy (x) and RI as well as VOL. These were described by the equations RI=0.938-0.150 ln(x) and VOL (ml/min)=7.621x(2.157). Log transformed total estrogen (TE) were related to RI (r=-0.879; P<0.05) as well as to VOL (r=0.888; P<0.05). The notch in the Doppler wave of the uterine artery disappeared between 18 and 26 weeks. There was a correlation (P<0.0001) between week of gestation (x) and RI values of the umbilical arteries; this was described by the equation RI=1.763-0.071x+0.001x2. Further studies are needed to determine whether transrectal color Doppler sonography could be used to identify mares at risk of abortion

Die Hodendurchblutung beim Hengst: Variabilität und Zusammenhänge zur Spermaqualität und Fertilität

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, zu überprüfen, ob beim Hengst erhobene dopplersonographische Messungen der Aa testiculares reproduzierbare Ergebnisse erbringen und inwieweit der testikuläre Blutfluss temporären (täglichen, saisonalen) Schwankungen unterliegt bzw. welchen Einfluss der Deckeinsatz auf den Blutfluss hat. Ferner wurde darauf geachtet, ob Zusammenhänge zwischen dem testikulären Blutfluss und der Spermienproduktion bzw. der Fertilität der Hengste bestehen. Insgesamt wurden 40 Hengste (Alter: 9,1±4,2 Jahre) zwischen Juli 2002 und Januar 2003 erfasst. Von allen Zuchthengsten wurde bis Juli 2002 Samen gewonnen, danach wurde eine achtwöchige Deckruhe eingehalten. Zwischen Oktober 2002 und Januar 2003 wurde bei 24 Hengsten (DR) die Deckruhe fortgesetzt, während von 16 Hengsten (DE) dreimal wöchentlich an den Tagen Montag, Mittwoch und Freitag Samen zum Zwecke der Kryokonservierung gewonnen wurde. Es wurden farbdopplersonographische Untersuchungen der Aa. testiculares im Samenstrang durchgeführt. Die Quantifizierung des Blutflusses erfolgte mit Hilfe des Pulsatility Index (PI) und des Blutflussvolumens (BFV). Sowohl die PI- (Median: 2,2; Medianabweichung MAD: 0,6; Min.: 0,8; Max.: 6,4) als auch die BFV-Werte (Median: 33,4 ml/min; MAD: 6,5 ml/min; Min: 14,9 ml/min; Max: 80,4 ml/min) zeigten eine hohe Variabilität. Einen Zusammenhang ließen die beiden Blutflussparameter nicht erkennen (r=-0,10; p>0,05). Die Intra-Class-Korrelationskoeffizienten wiederholter Untersuchungen waren relativ hoch (PI: 0,82 bzw. BFV: 0,85). Der testikuläre Blutfluss beim Hengst unterlag keinen tageszeitlichen und wöchentlichen Schwankungen (p>0,05). Während sich die BFV-Werte der Monate Juli, Oktober und Januar nicht unterschieden (p>0,05), fiel der PI zwischen Oktober und Januar ab (p0,05). Im Gegensatz dazu bestand eine positive Beziehung (r=0,56; p0,05). Die durchgeführten Untersuchungen zeigen, dass die Dopplersonographie beim Hengst eine geeignete Methode zur Bestimmung des testikulären Blutflusses darstellt. Es wurde zwar ein positiver Zusammenhang zwischen testikulärem Blutflussvolumen und der Gesamtspermienzahl nachgewiesen; bei fertilen Hengsten bestand jedoch kein Zusammenhang des PI zu spermatologischen Parametern und der Fertilitä