Enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay (ELISA). Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 46.
A nice visual description of ELISA if you are not familiar with the technique or wish a review. Recommend looking at the figures.
Questions:
1. What are some advantages for ELISA tests?
2. What are some disadvantages for ELISA tests?
3. What is specificity?
4. What is sensitivity?
Answers:
1. The assay is rapid and adaptable to automation; you can easily screen large numbers of samples; the assays are inexpensive.
2. Non-specific cross reactivity may cause false positive results; a positive result does not indicate an active infection, only that exposure has occurred; immunodeficient animals may not develop an adequate antibody response to use ELISA methodology in health surveillance of these animals.
3. Specificity is the number of true negatives/ (true negatives + false positives) x 100
4. Sensitivity is the number of true positives/ (true positives + true negatives) x 100

Assessing the value of television as environmental enrichment for individually housed rhesus monkeys: a behavioral economic approach. Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 48.
This paper attempted to determine if primates value watching TV - do they find it positive or aversive? They determined that TV watching is not a valued commodity and is highly elastic (small increase in "price" leads to large decreases in consumption). Sucrose generates more responding than was seen with the monkeys in this case. However, the monkeys would exhibit higher rates of lever pressing on days when TV was provided (reinforcing) than on days when it was not provided when the lever was pushed (extinction). One thing that may have hindered this study was the position of the lever as it required the monkeys to reach outside of the cage.
The paper is a good, concise description of a consumer behavior psychology design - probably worth reviewing.
Questions:
1. List four general categories of environmental enrichment.
Answers:
1. social, physical, nutritional, occupational, and sensory

Genetic Contamination of an SJL/J Mouse Colony: Rapid Detection by PCR-based Microsatellite Analysis. Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 54.
Used simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) and PCR to detect genetic contamination. Multiple genetically defined mice that can contaminate inbred strains. This contamination can lead to a loss of time and data. SSPLs are easier to select; they are in almost unlimited numbers in the genome of higher vertbrates; primers are easily available through the Internet; they are fast, simple and economical; small sample sizes are required; and they can detect divergence between substrains.
Question:
What is an SSLP?
Answer:
Microsatellites; Simple sequence length polymorphisms; mon-, di-, tri-, or tetrameric sequences repeated multiple times in tandem array. The differences are based in the numbers of repeats.

Determination of agreement between laboratory instruments. Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 56.
This paper describes the use of Bland-Altman plots for assessing the agreement of values between laboratory instruments. Regression analysis and correlation coefficient may not be appropriate.
Question:
What are advantages to Bland-Altman plots?
Answer:
Simple; non-mathematically intensive; easily interpreted graphical answer.

Comparison of cardiovascular parameters and/or serum chemistry profiles in conscious and anesthetized rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 60.
This article is essentially summed up in the abstract. So here is the abstract: The present study compares the cardiovascular parameters, hematology, serum chemistry, and blood gas levels of rhesus monkeys anesthetized with pentobarbital, isoflurane, ketamine and propofol. Hematology, serum chemistry, and blood gas levels were unaffected by the four anesthetic regimens. However, because of its formulation, propfol is inappropriate for use in animals in which changes in triglycerides will be evaluated. Compared to those in consciuos, unrestrained monkeys, heart rates were higher in anesthetized animals, but the rates of anesthetized animals were similar regardless of anesthetic agent used. In contrast, mean arterial blood pressure was lower in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital, propofol, or isoflurane than in the conscious monkeys. However, mean arterial pressure of ketamine-anesthetized monkeys was similar to that of the conscious monkeys.
Question:
1. What serum chemistry parameter will propofol affect and why?
2. Hematology, serum chemistry, and blood gas levels were unaffected by anesthesia with isoflurane, ketamine, pentobarbital, and isoflurane. T F
Answers:
1. Triglycerides in oil carrier.
2. True

A nonsurgical method for the placement of transpyloric (nasoenteric) feeding tubes using fluoroscopic guidance in dogs. Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 65.
The authors describe procedures to place a transpyloric (nasoenteric) feeding tube in canines. The ideal technique involves the use of air insufflation and patient positioning under fluoroscopic guidance in alert animals. They also assessed a passive technique, where the tube is placed into the stomach, then the dog is kept in lateral recumbency for 4 hours and the tube is allowed to move with normal peristalsis. The incidence of success was less with this technique, although it improved with the administration of GI stimulants such as metoclopramide.
Question:
1. What was a reported complication of the transpyloric feeding?
a. gastric ulceration
b. intestinal obstruction
c. facial bile cellulitis
d. none of the above.
2. What normal physiologic processes would cause the retrograde movement of the nasoenteric tube?
Answers:
1. C
2. Sneezing, vomiting

Quaternary Ammonium-Induced Cutaneous and Gastrointestinal Mucosal Lesions in a Dog. Contemporary Topics 38 (2): 69.
This paper describes the course of pathology for a dog who experienced an accidental exposure to QACs. She became depressed and anorexic, ulcerations on the dorsum of the tongue, expiratory stridor, a purulent discharge at the site of dermal exposure, and erythema at mucosal junctions. Endoscopy revealed gastric and duodenal ulcerations. She also developed anemia of chronic inflammation, cholestasis, and metabolic acidosis
The systemic effects of QAC have been associated with muscarinic and nicotinic responses, including a "curare-like" peripheral muscular paralysis.
Questions:
1. After dermal exposure to QAC, what should be used to rinse the skin?
2. What is the appropriate treatment for QAC ingestion (suspected or proven)?
Answers:
1. Soapy water as it inactivates QACs.
2. Always suspect that an animal has ingested it if dermal exposure occurs. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING due to the corrosive nature of the compounds. Activated charcoal should be administered.