PURPOSE: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new surgical option using endoscopic advancement to the peritoneal cavity through the stomach, colon, vagina, or urinary bladder without an abdominal wall scar (incision). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of transgastric gastroscopic intra-abdominal exploration with gastric incision and closure before the NOTES would be done. METHODS: Under general anesthesia of a female dog, one-channel gastroscope was advanced to the stomach and the lumen was irrigated with anti-bacterial solution. The anterior wall of the antrum was incised by about 1 cm with a needle knife; then, the gastroscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity. An exploration of the entire intra-abdominal cavity was performed. RESULTS: We were able to evaluate the stomach, the greater omentum, the diaphragm, the peritoneum, the urinary bladder, the bowel, the spleen, the liver, the gallbladder, the uterine horn, the uterine body, and the vagina, but could not evaluate the ovary, the kidney, and the pancreas. The observation of the abdominal cavity was followed by the gastric wall closure with a 135o endoclip. The dog was recovered after confirmation of secure closure of the incision site. CONCLUSIONS: Transgastric incision, closure, and abdominal exploration are feasible without an abdominal wall scar, and the NOTES can be one option for future abdominal operations in humans and needs to be further investigated.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Wall ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Colon ; Diaphragm ; Dogs* ; Female* ; Gallbladder ; Gastroscopes ; Horns ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Needles ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Pancreas ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Urinary Bladder ; Vagina

A 39-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife, and their 13-year-old daughter were found dead in their home. The man and his daughter were found lying in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected to four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes. Fragments of the burnt ignition briquette were found in the bucket located at her feet. His wife was found in a decomposed state lying on her right side in her bedroom. Autopsy findings for the man were unremarkable except for cherry pink lividity; the blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration was 73%. Autopsy findings were unremarkable for the woman as well, except for a few petechial hemorrhages and conjunctival congestion. The daughter showed no definite abnormalities; however, her blood and lung contained helium gas. The deceased man's suicide note, evidence gathered at the scene, and postmortem examination revealed that this was a case of dyadic death.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Carboxyhemoglobin ; Deception ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Foot ; Head ; Helium* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Nuclear Family ; Plastics ; Polypropylenes ; Prunus ; Spouses ; Suicide

This study was performed to assess the antiapoptotic effect of canine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treated on the canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) under cold ischemic conditions. The effect of preventing apoptosis of cMSCs was evaluated in the apoptotic condition induced by cold ischemic injury in vitro. To determine the progression of apoptosis, the changes in cell nucleus were observed using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescence staining. In addition, we examined the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and caspase-3 activity. When the cold hypoxic injury was applied to cMSCs, the apoptotic change was observed by DAPI staining, mitochondrial staining for MMP, and caspase-3 assay. PRP significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation of apoptotic cells in control groups were observed by DAPI staining. The MMP was recovered by the treatment of PRP. In addition, when the luminescence intensity was measured for caspase-3 activity, the value was significantly higher in the PRP treated groups than the control groups. The results of this study showed that the PRP may have a beneficial effect on apoptosis induced by cold ischemic injury.

Arthroscopy has become an attractive modality in the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases in toy breed dogs. However, the application of arthroscopy is limited by small joint space. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a stifle lever for joint distraction during stifle arthroscopy in toy breed dogs. Paired stifles (n = 32 each) collected from 16 cadavers of toy breed dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the stifle lever group or the external manipulation group. All stifles underwent arthroscopic cranial cruciate ligament transection, and the visualization of the medial meniscus was evaluated. Medial meniscal release (MMR) was then performed. Following arthroscopic examination, the success rates of MMR and damages of tibial and femoral cartilages were evaluated. Visualization of the medial meniscus was significantly better, and meniscal probing was significantly easier, in the stifle lever group than in the external manipulation group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups for MMR success or articular cartilage damage. Using the stifle lever on arthroscopic examination improved visualization and probing on the medial meniscus in toy breed dogs. The stifle lever can be used as a good modality in assessing medial meniscal pathology in toy breed dogs.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Menisci, Tibial ; Pathology ; Play and Playthings ; Stifle

PURPOSE: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new operation technique that utilizes natural orifices of the patient's body with the intention to puncture hollow viscera in order to insert an endoscope into a peritoneal cavity for incisionless surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic cecectomy through the rectum in one dog and the vagina in another dog. METHODS: This study was performed in two beagle dogs for rectal and vaginal approaches. A five-milimeter trocar was inserted into the abdominal cavity by the Hasson method and intra-abdominal pressure was maintained at 5 mmHg with CO2. After pneumoperitoneum was accomplished, the rectum or vagina was incised with a needle knife and a one-channel gastric endoscope was inserted into the abdominal cavity. Counter-traction was performed using a laparoscopic grasper introduced via the 5 mm trocar in the umbilicus. The cecum was dissected from the base by using a needle knife with the aid of laparoscopic counter-traction. The resected cecum was retrieved through the anus or vagina without pouch bag. The incised rectum was closed by using 90-degree endoclips whereas the incised vagina was not repaired. RESULTS: Cecectomies were successfully performed with both transrectal and transvaginal routes. Both cases had no complication and recovered from surgery uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic cecectomy with hybrid NOTES are feasible and safe. With the improvement of surgical experiences and further instrumental development, NOTES can be one option for human intestinal surgery.
Abdominal Cavity ; Anal Canal ; Animals ; Cecum ; Chimera ; Dogs ; Endoscopes ; Humans ; Intention ; Models, Animal ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Needles ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Punctures ; Rectum ; Surgical Instruments ; Umbilicus ; Vagina ; Viscera

Several, but not many, cases of congenital meningeal hemangiopericytoma have been described to date. Herein, a case of meningeal hemangiopericytoma in a newborn is described. The patient was a 2-week-old boy with expanded fontanelles and frequent vomiting. A 5 cm sized mass was found in the left temporo-parietal lobe, which was well circumscribed and lobulated. Histologically the tumor was compatible with anaplastic (malignant) hemangiopericytoma, which showed pleomorphic nuclei, frequent mitotic figures and extensive hemorrhagic necrosis. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin, but negative for CD34, desmin and S-100 protein. Differential diagnosis for meningeal hemangiopericytoma was discussed, and the fact that meningeal hemangiopericytoma might have occurred congenitally was emphasized.
Desmin ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Necrosis ; S100 Proteins ; Vimentin ; Vomiting

Calving records of Holstein dairy cows from 2005 to 2010 comprising Goyang and Paju cities herd with 2,362 calving events representing 240 twin births were used to evaluate the effect of abomasal displacement and retained placenta after single or twin births on fertility. In retained placenta cows, the period of twin pregnancy (mean 270.5 days) was shorter than that of single pregnancy (mean 274.8 days), however first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 107.4 days, single: mean 92.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 154.8 days, single: 132.2 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.00 times, single: mean 1.87 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. In abomasal displacement cows, first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 122.9 days, single: mean 106.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 172.4 days, single: 152.0 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.16 times, single: mean 1.89 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. The prevalence of complication such as retained placenta, abomasal displacement with single or twin births increased first artificial insemination period, non-pregnant period, and number of insemination period.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Fertility ; Humans ; Insemination ; Insemination, Artificial ; Korea ; Parturition ; Placenta, Retained ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Prevalence ; Twins

The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and on the cardiovascular system were evaluated with dogs under isoflurane anesthesia. Eight healthy male beagles were randomly assigned to six study groups (five heads/group) with washout intervals of 7 ~ 31 days between experiments for recovery and anesthetic clearance. MAC of isoflurane and cardiovascular parameters were determined after EA at nonacupoint and and at acupoints LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8. Electroacupuncture for 30 minutes at LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8 acupoints lowered the MAC of isoflurane by 17.5 +/- 3.1%, 21.3 +/- 8.0%, 20.5 +/- 8.2% and 15.6 +/- 3.1%, respectively (p < 0.05). However, electrical stimulation of nonacupoint did not induce a significant change in MAC of isoflurane. In the cardiovascular system, the ST-36 group did not induce any significant change in cardiovascular parameters. In the TH-8 group, the mean and diastolic arterial pressure and the systemic vascular resistance were decreased. In the LI-4 group, cardiac output and cardiac index decreased after EA. These results indicate that EA at LI-4, SP-6 and ST-36 have advantages in isoflurane anesthesia in terms of reducing the dose of anesthetics and minimizing cardiovascular side effects.
Anesthesia, Inhalation/adverse effects/*veterinary ; Anesthetics, Inhalation/*pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Cardiac Output ; Dogs/*metabolism/physiology ; Electroacupuncture/*veterinary ; Heart Rate/drug effects ; Isoflurane/*pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli/*metabolism ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure/drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Resistance/drug effects

The pathogenesis of pancreatic pseudocyst is still not understood. A 5-year-old, 24-kg intact female Shetland Sheepdog was presented with anorexia and vomiting. Diagnostic imaging tests revealed that the left limb of the pancreas was thickened and contained two cystic lesions (6.3 × 5.6 × 4 cm³ and 3.5 × 4.6 × 5.5 cm³). During the laparotomy, lesions were opened with de-roofing of superabundant tissue, and omentalization was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully after surgery and was discharged on postoperative day 12. Histopathologically, it was diagnosed as chronic pancreatic pseudocyst. This case report describes the diagnosis and successful omentalization of pancreatic pseudocysts in a dog.

The pathogenesis of pancreatic pseudocyst is still not understood. A 5-year-old, 24-kg intact female Shetland Sheepdog was presented with anorexia and vomiting. Diagnostic imaging tests revealed that the left limb of the pancreas was thickened and contained two cystic lesions (6.3 × 5.6 × 4 cm³ and 3.5 × 4.6 × 5.5 cm³). During the laparotomy, lesions were opened with de-roofing of superabundant tissue, and omentalization was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully after surgery and was discharged on postoperative day 12. Histopathologically, it was diagnosed as chronic pancreatic pseudocyst. This case report describes the diagnosis and successful omentalization of pancreatic pseudocysts in a dog.
Animals ; Anorexia ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Dogs ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Vomiting