Long-Term Outcome ofEn BlocExtensive Resection of the Penis and Prepuce Associated with a Permanent Perineal Urethrostomy in a Gelding Affected by Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A 15-year-old gelding was referred for a orid, cauli ower-like ulcerated mass, enclosing penis and prepuce together with penile urethra showing a malodorous purulent and blood-stained discharge and larvae infestation. En bloc extensive resection of the penis and prepuce, without penile retroversion or pexy to ventral abdomen associated with a permanent perineal urethrostomy, was performed. Histology of the mass revealed a squamous cell carcinoma of penis and prepuce. e surgical technique that was adopted is a modi ed version of that already described that allows a more proximal resection of the penile body and is a valid option for treating advanced SCC lesions involving the penis. Early postsurgical complications (mild strangury, haemorrhage from the urethrostomy site and its partial dehiscence, and infection of the abdominal wound) were managed with a medical treatment and resolved within 5 to 12 days. ree years a er surgery the horse is in good body condition and does not show any sign of recurrence or disorders related to the surgery

Analgesic Effect of Butorphanol during Castration in Donkeys under Total Intravenous Anaesthesia

Pain management is necessary for all surgical procedures. Little scientific evidence about drug efficacy in donkeys is available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic ef- fect of butorphanol in donkeys undergoing orchiectomy under total intravenous anaesthesia with guaifenesin-ketamine-detomidine. A randomized blinded prospective clinical trial (Protocol n. 2021/0000338), was carried out on 18 clinically healthy donkeys undergoing bilateral orchiectomy. Patients were assigned to Group D (n = 8) or Group DB (n = 10) if receiving intravenous detomidine or detomidine-butorphanol respectively, before induction of general anaesthesia with ketamine- diazepam. Intraoperative muscle relaxation, nystagmus, palpebral reflex, heart and respiratory rate, and non-invasive blood pressure were evaluated every 2 min; time to prepare the patient, duration of surgery and anaesthesia and recovery score were recorded. Group D had significantly longer surgical time, higher heart rate, higher systolic and mean blood pressure (p < 0.05; repeated measure ANOVA), increased muscle rigidity and expression of palpebral reflex (p < 0.05; Mann–Whitney U test) than group DB. Top-ups with thiopental were statistically higher in Group D. Butorphanol and detomidine together produced a more stable anaesthetic plan. The low dosage of opioid and alpha-2-agonists and reduced rescue anaesthesia are responsible for a safer and more superficial anaesthesia, which is mandatory under field conditions

Human subjective response to aluminum coating surfaces

The research described in this study establishes whether measured physical material parameters could be used as a predictor of the human subjective response to the tactile and visual stimuli characteristics of aluminum coating surfaces. Twenty surfaces were used consisting of four uncoated aluminum substrates and four different type of coatings applied on each of the four uncoated substrates. Forty volunteers (20 female and 20 males) were asked to rate the surfaces using semantic differential scales. The results suggest that coatings obtained by matte polyurethane which contains a fine dispersion of silica microparticles have the capability to veil the effect of the manufacturing process of the aluminum substrates on both the felt slipperiness and felt roughness. The dynamic coefficient of friction was found to be a good predictor of the felt slipperiness with a negative power law exponent of 0.86 (R-2=0.85), confirming that greater friction is associated with less felt slipperiness. The physical gloss was also found to be highly negatively correlated (R-2=0.87) with the felt slipperiness of the tactile stimuli, suggesting that glossier surfaces could be mostly perceived as sticky. These results provide useful suggestions relating to the sensory perception and experience of materials, helpful for the industrial and product design in numerous application fields such as the automotive and electronics industries

Laparoscopic-Assisted Cystotomy and Cystostomy for Treatment of Cystic Calculus in a Gelding.

Objective: To report laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy and inguinal cystostomy fortreating bladder urolithiasis in a gelding.Study Design: Clinical report.Animals: Twelve-year-old Appaloosa gelding.Methods: A laparoscopic approach was used to locate and grasp the bladder,which was exteriorized through an enlarged instrument portal for cystotomy toremove the calculus. During withdrawal, the calculus fragmented into multiplepieces. To avoid urethral occlusion and facilitate elimination of these fragments,an inguinal cystostomy was created. The seromuscular layer of the bladder wascircumferentially secured to the abdominal fascia and bladder mucosa marginswere sutured to the skin.Results: At 2-year follow-up, the gelding was in good condition with mild urinescald of the left ventral abdomen.Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy was used for calculus removal andinguinal cystostomy for successful fragment elimination.[...

Fluorinated zirconia-based sol-gel hybrid coatings on polycarbonate with high durability and improved scratch resistance

Hard, scratch-resistant and transparent fluoropolymer-based hybrid coatings are successfully prepared through the sol-gel chemistry and investigated, in the attempt to correlate the chemical, physical and surface properties of these materials with the mechanical properties (i.e. hardness and elastic modulus) measured at the nanoscale by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The organic component of these coatings consists in a hydroxyl-functional fluoropolymer resin, which belongs to the class of chlorotrifluoroethylene-vinylether copolymers and exhibits remarkable properties such as easy handling, great weather resistance, good adhesion and flexibility of coatings. A functionalization of this copolymer is also performed using an isocyanate-functionalized silane in order to assure a covalent cross-linking of organic fluorinated resin with inorganic phases. The combination of the silanized chlorotrifluoroethylene-vinylether copolymer with different sols composed of silica and zirconia is used to obtain high scratch resistance and high durability coatings on polycarbonate. A series of three hybrid coatings with different zirconia/silica molar ratios (0.09/0.48) are developed and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), water contact angle measurements, pencil hardness and adhesion tests. AFM scratch hardness, coating wettability and surface composition measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are regularly monitored over long-term UVâ\u80\u93vis light exposure, to assess the durability of the hybrid coatings. Interestingly, the hybrid fluorinated coatings exhibit an improved scratch resistance and a superior long-term stability when exposed to an accelerated weathering, compared to pristine PC substrates. The mixed silica/zirconia hybrid coatings with a low and intermediate zirconia-to-silica ratio also show excellent mechanical strength, high level of hardness and superior integrity after long-term light exposure

IMPIANTO INTRALESIONALE DI PRP AUTOLOGO E TROMBINA BOVINA PER IL TRATTAMENTO DI LESIONI TENODESMICHE DEL CAVALLO: CONTRIBUTO CASISTICO

SUMMARY- The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and ultrasonographic efficacy of ultrasound-guided implant of autologous PRP and bovine thrombine in equine tenodesmic lesions. We applied the treatment on 13 lame horses with tenitis of the SDFT and of the DDFT, with proximal and distal insertional desmitis of the SL and desmitis of the AL-DDFT. The treatment was accompanied in all cases by a controlled exercise program and clinical and ultrasonographic controls on a monthly basis. We found a significative reduction of the lesional surface (CSA) after the first month, followed by a progressive improvement in echographic parameters (ES and FPS). On the basis of our results we can assess that intralesional injection of autologous PRP and bovine thrombine, is effective for treatment of equine tenodesmic lesions when combined with a proper exercise program.[...