Stability yield indices on different sweet corn hybrids based on AMMI analysis.

Currently, sweet corn is considered an important crop due to its high sugar content and low starch content. Important sugars in sweet corn include sucrose, fructose, glucose, and maltose. The purpose of the present study was to use the yield indices of the eight examined sweet corn hybrids and the correlation of the yield indices together. Concentration is important for consumers in terms of yield indices. The research site was located at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen. The small plot experiment had a strip plot design with four replications. The previous crop was sweet corn; the plant density was 64 thousand/ha. The obtained result indicates that Biplot AMMI based on IPCA1 showed that the DB, NO, GS, and GB hybrids had stability and high performance in terms of yield indices. At the same time, fructose and glucose had stable parameters for the hybrids involved in the study. IPCA1 AMMI biplot showed that the ME hybrid had stability and high performance in terms of iron and zinc as well. IPCA2 AMMI biplot showed that DE, GB, and GS hybrids had stability and the highest performance on yield parameters in the scope of the research. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose had stable parameters on hybrids based on IPCA2. The DB and SE hybrids had desirable performance in Lutein and Zeaxanthin based on the biplot. The DE hybrid had a maximum performance on iron and zinc parameters.

Prediction of clinical outcome in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy - the role of NT-ProBNP and a combined response score.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for appropriately selected patients with heart failure. Response to CRT has been heterogeneously defined using both clinical and echocardiographic measures, with poor correlation between the two. METHODS: The study cohort was comprised of 202 CRT-treated patients and CRT response was defined at 6 months post-implant. Echocardiographic response (E+) was defined as a reduction in LVESV ≥ 15%, clinical response as an improvement of ≥ 1 NYHA class (C+), and biomarker response as a ≥ 25% reduction in NT-proBNP(B+). The association of response measures (E+, B+, C+; response score range 0-3) and clinical endpoints at 3 years was assessed in landmarked Cox models. RESULTS: Echo and clinical responders demonstrated greater declines in NT-proBNP than non-responders (median [E+/B+]: -52%, [E+]: -27%, [C+]: -39% and [E-/C-]: -13%; p = 0.01 for trend). Biomarker (HR 0.43 [95% CI: 0.22-0.86], p = 0.02) and clinical (HR 0.40 [0.23-0.70] p = 0.001) response were associated with a significantly reduced risk of the primary endpoint. When integrating each response measure into a composite score, each 1 point increase was associated with a 31% decreased risk for a composite endpoint of mortality, LVAD, transplant and HF hospitalization (HR 0.69 [95% CI: 0.50-0.96], p = 0.03), and a 52% decreased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.89], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Serial changes in NT-proBNP are associated with clinical outcomes following CRT implant. Integration of biomarker, clinical, and echocardiographic response may discriminate CRT responders versus non-responders in a clinically meaningful way, and with higher accuracy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The cohort was combined from study NCT01949246 and the study based on local review board approval 2011/550 in Lund, Sweden.

Effect of feed deprivation on selected parameters of lipid mobilisation and hepatic function in healthy Akhal Teke horses.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal and other systemic diseases of Equidae are often characterised by partial or complete inappetence. The catabolic processes may lead to lipid mobilisation and other metabolic disturbances. Evidence from earlier studies has revealed that during feed deprivation/inappetence, the conjugation of bilirubin is reduced causing a substantial rise of the total bilirubin and its unconjugated fraction. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesised that during feed deprivation, the serum concentration of free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (tBIL), total bile acids (tBA) and activity of GGT and GLDH increases, while the concentration of insulin and direct bilirubin (dBIL) decreases. STUDY DESIGN: Observational experiment. METHODS: Eleven horses were feed deprived for 96 h. Animals were closely monitored while blood samples were taken at the beginning, and then at 72, 84 and 96 h later. Variables of interest included serum FFA, TG, insulin, GGT, GLDH, total and direct BIL (t&dBIL), tBA and BUN. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics, paired t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc HSD test, and P≤0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Horses tolerated feed restriction without complications. During this time, the concentration of TG, FFA, BUN, dBIL and insulin significantly increased (P≤0.05), as well as the activity of serum GGT, while the concentration of tBIL, tBA and the activity of GLDH did not change significantly (P>0.05). MAIN LIMITATIONS: Sample size, lack of serum volatile fatty acid, cortisol and blood glucose measurements may have limited the value of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy Akhal Teke horses did not develop a catabolic crisis following 4 days of feed restriction and hyperlipaemia did not occur. Total BIL and tBA did not increase, thus were not useful indicators of inappetence in this group of horses.

Comparative examination of percussional and echocardiographic determination of the cardiac dullness area in healthy horses.

Since percussion started to be a method forgotten and not trusted by many practitioners, the aim of the study was to demonstrate whether this procedure could deliver exact data if done accurately and by a practised examiner. The trial presented here included 31 healthy warm-blooded horses. Percussion of the area of cardiac dullness and then echocardiographic imaging of the same region were performed. To obtain the relevant measurement points, the 4th and 5th intercostal spaces (ICS) were used on the left and the 4th ICS on the right side. On the left side, the dorsal border of cardiac dullness was determined in the 4th ICS (1st point). Then the ventral border of the cardiac dullness was determined at the same place (2nd point). This was followed by the examination of the same points in the 5th ICS (3rd and 4th points). The following step was to measure the distance of these points from the ventral border of the thorax, and also that between the 2nd and the 4th points. On the right side the same procedure was used in the 4th ICS only. Mean values/standard errors (in cm) of absolute values of differences between percussional and echocardiographic measurements were as follow. Left side, 4th ICS, dorsal border: 0.8/0.1; ventral border: 0.7/0.1; 5th ICS, dorsal border: 0.8/0.1, ventral border: 0.9/0.2; right side, 4th ICS, dorsal border: 0.8/0.2; ventral border: 0.7/0.1. Due to the close correlation between the results of the two techniques, it is reasonable to consider cardiac percussion as an integrated part of the physical examination.

Comparison of the caudal lung borders determined by percussion and ultrasonography in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of thoracic percussion and ultrasonography with the help of distance measurements and statistical methods in the determination of the caudal lung border in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Examinations were performed on 11 healthy, warm-blooded horses of different breeds, age and grade of disease. First, the caudal lung border was determined by the traditional indirect percussion method in the 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th intercostal spaces at the end of inspiration and expiration on both sides of the thorax. To apply standardised measurements, a fix point was chosen as described earlier by the same authors for healthy horses. The distance between this point and the caudal lung border was measured with a tape-measure. Percussion was followed by ultrasonographic determination of the caudal lung border. Measurements were performed in the same way as described for the percussion technique. Mean values and standard errors of absolute values of differences between percussion and ultrasonographic measurements were the following, in centimetres (10th, 12th, 14th and 16th intercostal spaces). Left side expiration: 1.4, 0.4; 0.8, 0.2; 0.9, 0.2; 0.8, 0.4; left side inspiration: 0.8, 0.3; 1.5, 0.3; 1.4, 0.3; 1.1, 0.3; right side expiration: 2.1, 1.0; 2.1, 0.5; 1.6, 0.5; 0.8, 0.1; right side inspiration: 1.5, 0.7; 1.2, 0.6; 0.8, 0.2; 0.8, 0.3, respectively. Ultrasonography proved to be reliable in determining the caudal lung borders in horses with RAO. Results of the percussion examination did not differ significantly from those of the ultrasound method which was used as a reference technique. The differences between inspiration and expiration were greater in horses with RAO than in healthy horses in a previous study. Based on these results, percussion can be used as an integrated part of the physical examination in diagnosing caudal shift of the caudal lung border of horses suffering from RAO.

Two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic measurements of cardiac dimensions in healthy standardbred trotters.

The aim of the study was to establish normal echocardiographic values of healthy Standardbred trotters not published previously. Twenty-three clinically normal horses weighing between 350 and 490 kg were examined in the same manner: first a thorough physical and then detailed echocardiographic examination were performed. Standardised two-dimensional (2D) and guided M-mode echocardiographic imaging techniques were used to measure interventricular septal thickness (IVS), left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular wall thickness (LVW), left atrial internal diameter (LAID) in end-systole (s) and end-diastole (d) and aortic diameter (AOD) in end-diastole. Mean, range and standard deviation of the different parameters were calculated. The mean values (in centimetres) were as follow (2D/M-mode): IVSs: 4.6/4.7; IVSd: 3.1/3.0; LVIDs: 7.0/7.0; LVIDd: 10.7/10.7; LVWs: 3.9/3.9; LVWd: 2.7/2.7; LAIDs: 10.4/-; LAIDd: 11.3/-; AODd: 7.2/-. Results of two-dimensional and M-mode measurements were compared to each other and to normal values obtained from other breeds.

The surgical technique and the age of the horse both influence the outcome of mosaicplasty in a cadaver equine stifle model.

Six pieces of grafts, 6.5 mm in diameter, 20 mm in length, were taken from each of 170 cadaver hindlimbs, using the cranial surface of the medial femoral trochlea for harvesting. The age of the horses varied between 4 months and 23 years. 30 limbs under the age of 12 years were selected for transplantation. Three of six grafts were transplanted into the medial femoral condyle using different combinations of tunnel depth and dilation. With ageing, a significant decline in transplantability was detected. In general, mosaicplasty cannot be recommended in horses above 11 years. Based on a previous clinical case (Bodó et al., 2000), a good surface alignment was indeed achieved with a combination of graft length drilling and dilation in most cases. However, the occasional entrapment of cartilage debris under the graft prevented perfect alignment in the present cadaver study in 27% of the grafts transplanted in this manner. Since the protrusion of grafts never exceeded 1.5 mm, we conclude that drilling 3-5 mm deeper than graft length with graft length deep dilation can avoid disadvantageous protrusion of the transplanted hyaline cartilage caps, achieving bone decompression at the same time.

Paraintestinal mesenteric abscess and chronic peritonitis in a bull.

A 2-year-old bull was examined because of intermittent anorexia, signs of mild colic, and weight loss of 3 weeks' duration. A tympanitic resonance (ping) could be heard during simultaneous auscultation and percussion of the right paralumbar fossa, and a mass could be felt in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdominal cavity during palpation per rectum. Right flank laparotomy was performed, and intraoperative ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration were used to determine that the mass was an abscess. However, the abscess could not be removed or drained into the colon because of extensive adhesions to other organs. Because the owner refused to pursue continued medical treatment, the bull was euthanatized. At necropsy, the abscess was found to be connected to a caudal mesenteric lymph node through a fistula. Histologic evaluation of the lymph node revealed hyperplastic lymphadenitis, and an alpha-hemolytic streptococcus was recovered from the abscess fluid. The most likely possibility for the findings in this bull were that the lymphadenitis was of hematogenous origin and that the abscess developed as a direct extension of the infectious process, similar to development of mesenteric abscesses in horses with chronic streptococcal infection (i.e., strangles).