Twenty B equi-infected horses on 7 premises were identified; no horses tested positive for B caballi. Seven horses, including the index case, had clinical findings consistent with EP Dermacentor variabilis was considered find more the only potential tick vector for B equi collected, and all D variabilis specimens tested negative for Babesia organisms via PCR assay. Results of the epidemiological investigation suggested that B equi was spread by use of shared needles and possibly blood transfusions. All horses that tested positive were involved in nonsanctioned Quarter Horse racing, and management practices were thought to pose substantial
risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
Treatment and Outcome-Final outcome of B equi-infected horses was euthanasia, death from undetermined causes, or shipment to a US federal research facility.
Clinical Relevance-This investigation highlights the importance of collaboration between private veterinary practitioners, state veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and regulatory officials in the recognition, containment, and VX-809 price eradication of foreign animal disease. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2012;240:588-595)”
“Purpose: Newer continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have the advantage of smaller
size and increased durability. Questions remain regarding the safety and effects of long-term nonpulsatile flow, despite some animal and human studies showing that end-organ function is well maintained with pulsatile or axial-flow devices. This study investigated whether centrifugal devices have similar effects on end-organ function.
Methods: All patients who underwent LVAD implantation as bridge-to-transplant
(BTT) therapy from January 2004 through May 2007 were reviewed. Excluded were patients on biventricular support, destination therapy, temporary support, and patients who died within 30 days after LVAD implantation. The centrifugal device was the VentrAssist (Ventracor Ltd, Sydney, Australia); axial, the HeartMate II; and pulsatile, the HeartMate XVE (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA).
Results: During the study, 10 VentrAssist, Proteases inhibitor 30 HeartMate II, and 18 HeartMate XVE devices were implanted. Among the 3 groups, age, gender, weight, duration of LVAD support, and cause of heart failure were comparable. No significant differences were found between groups with respect to baseline renal function, hepatic function, or hematologic function. At 1 and 3 months of follow-up, renal and hepatic function either improved or remained within normal limits in all groups.
Conclusions: Centrifugal, axial, and pulsatile LVADs all provide adequate circulatory support to maintain appropriate end-organ function in patients with end-stage heart failure. The advantages of the newer continuous-flow devices can be safely applied to an increasing number of patients.