Use of a 1.5 mm butterfly locking plate for stabilization of atlantoaxial pathology in three toy breed dogs

The objective of this study was to describe the use of a titanium 1.5 mm locking plate in the stabilization of atlantoaxial pathology in three toy breed dogs. Two dogs with atlantoaxial subluxation and another dog with an axial fracture, confirmed by diagnostic imaging, were stabilized via a ventral approach with a 1.5 mm titanium 5-hole locking butterfly-plate. Surgical reduction and stabilization were assessed by computed tomography and radiography after surgery. Follow-up evaluation for resolution of neurological signs and possible complications was performed in all three dogs. For long-term assessment, a telephone follow-up was performed. A considerable improvement of neurological signs occurred within two to four weeks after surgery. An excellent clinical outcome was identified in all three patients. Adequate stabilization and resolution of neurological signs in all three dogs was achieved. The stabilization of atlantoaxial surgical conditions in toy breeds with the 1.5 mm titanium 5-hole butterfly locking plate appears to be an effective means of surgical treatment.

Monitoring Butterfly Abundance: Beyond Pollard Walks

Most butterfly monitoring protocols rely on counts along transects (Pollard walks) to generate species abundance indices and track population trends. It is still too often ignored that a population count results from two processes: the biological process (true abundance) and the statistical process (our ability to properly quantify abundance). Because individual detectability tends to vary in space (e.g., among sites) and time (e.g., among years), it remains unclear whether index counts truly reflect population sizes and trends. This study compares capture-mark-recapture (absolute abundance) and count-index (relative abundance) monitoring methods in three species (Maculinea nausithous and Iolana iolas: Lycaenidae; Minois dryas: Satyridae) in contrasted habitat types. We demonstrate that intraspecific variability in individual detectability under standard monitoring conditions is probably the rule rather than the exception, which questions the reliability of count-based indices to estimate and compare specific population abundance. Our results suggest that the accuracy of count-based methods depends heavily on the ecology and behavior of the target species, as well as on the type of habitat in which surveys take place. Monitoring programs designed to assess the abundance and trends in butterfly populations should incorporate a measure of detectability. We discuss the relative advantages and inconveniences of current monitoring methods and analytical approaches with respect to the characteristics of the species under scrutiny and resources availability.

FTY720 and two novel butterfly derivatives exert a general anti-inflammatory potential by reducing immune cell adhesion to endothelial cells through activation of S1P3 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a key lipid regulator of a variety of cellular responses including cell proliferation and survival, cell migration, and inflammatory reactions. Here, we investigated the effect of S1P receptor activation on immune cell adhesion to endothelial cells under inflammatory conditions. We show that S1P reduces both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated adhesion of Jurkat and U937 cells to an endothelial monolayer. The reducing effect of S1P was reversed by the S1P1+3 antagonist VPC23019 but not by the S1P1 antagonist W146. Additionally, knockdown of S1P3, but not S1P1, by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) abolished the reducing effect of S1P, suggesting the involvement of S1P3. A suppression of immune cell adhesion was also seen with the immunomodulatory drug FTY720 and two novel butterfly derivatives ST-968 and ST-1071. On the molecular level, S1P and all FTY720 derivatives reduced the mRNA expression of LPS- and TNF-α-induced adhesion molecules including ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and CD44 which was reversed by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, but not by the MEK inhibitor U0126.In summary, our data demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism by which S1P, FTY720, and two novel butterfly derivatives acted anti-inflammatory that is by suppressing gene transcription of various endothelial adhesion molecules and thereby preventing adhesion of immune cells to endothelial cells and subsequent extravasation.

Ewald Böhmer als Sharpless, Rollenbild, Brustbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F03080

Karl Gentner als Pinkerton, {[N.N.], Rollenbild, Doppelbildnis, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F03848

Karl Gentner als Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, Rollenbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F03879

Karl Gentner als Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, Rollenbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F03900

Else Gentner-Fischer als Kate Pinkerton, Rollenbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F03957

Lisbeth Sellin als Cio-Cio-San, Karl Gentner als Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, Rollenbild, Doppelbildnis, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F04108

Lisbeth Sellin als Cio-Cio-San, Karl Gentner als Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, Rollenbild, Doppelbildnis, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F04110

Lisbeth Sellin als Cio-Cio-San, Karl Gentner als Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, Szenenfoto, Doppelbildnis, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F04111

Hanns Lange, Rollenbild, Hüftbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F05120

Elisabeth Rosenkranz als Madama Butterfly, Rollenbild, in: Giacomo Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F06055