How Virtual Reality is Changing Veterinary Medicine.

In a small, windowless room, four veterinarians simultaneously tie sutures, biopsy a liver, and perform minimally invasive abdominal surgery. No, this is not a typical operating room. It is a veterinary laparoscopic training laboratory—the first of its kind in the nation. Nearly four years ago, Dr. Boel Fransson, a board-certified small animal surgeon, designed what is now the Veterinary Applied Laparoscopic Training (VALT) laboratory at Washington State University. Although laparoscopic simulation training has been widely used in human medicine for more than a decade, similar training had not been available in animal medicine. A laparoscope is essentially a telescope used by surgeons to see inside body cavities while doing minimally invasive surgery through tiny incisions, often called keyholes. “Our laboratory is the first in the country to develop veterinary simulation training in laparoscopic surgery,” said Dr. Boel Fransson, director of the VALT laboratory. “I was very interested in technique development for the additional skills required for the minimally invasive surgeries we perform in clinical practice here at WSU.” 

 Laparoscopic surgery is being used more often in veterinary medicine because of the same advantages to patients as seen in humans. Risks associated with traditional open surgery are minimized, pain is reduced and easier to control, and patients often recover much more quickly. It is also a valuable tool that allows veterinarians to run diagnostic tests they may not otherwise be able to perform. Although the American College of Veterinary Surgeons requires training in minimally invasive surgical techniques, there was no other learning platform for surgeons in training except to participate in actual surgeries with a mentoring surgeon. Dr. Fransson and her colleague, Dr. Claude Ragle, a WSU board-certified equine surgeon and pioneer in equine laparoscopy, believe additional training outside the operating room is necessary to achieve higher competency levels. More training also means less risk to the patients Proper training in laparoscopic surgery can be simpler and safer than other surgical techniques. Training in the VALT lab, surgeons become accustomed to using actual surgical tools in small spaces while watching the magnified procedures on a television screen. Practicing the precise movements of laparoscopic surgery also helps the techniques to become second nature. Additional training minimizes unnecessary movements, surgery time, and increases accuracy. 

 The VALT lab began training veterinarians in 2008 with very basic equipment, such as a box trainer that uses real instruments to teach hand-eye coordination necessary for routine procedures such as suturing. Dr. Fransson later added canine abdomen models that train surgeons in the feel and size of the abdominal cavity and organs. The virtual reality, or VR, trainer was added to the lab earlier this year. After working on the VR trainer, surgeons receive printouts to learn how their techniques can be more efficient and safe. The software tracks the surgeon’s performance and provides an assessment of the surgeon’s skills. learn more @ please visit vcs.vetmed.wsu.edu/Research/VALT-Lab.

Flowering plant extract can meet sports nutrition demand

Flowering plant extract can meet sports nutrition demand: Growing demand for nitrate in sports nutrition products is being met by a new ingredient extracted from the flowering plant Amaranthus.

Egg powder (Powdered eggs.#eggs in a sachet.)

Egg powder is your delicious and your choice when you need to prepare an egg recipe fast .The egg powder contains all the nutrients eggs offer plus one extra factor,its handy.

The egg powder comes in 3 variants; the whole egg powder,egg-white powder and egg-yolk powder.

    This is how to use the powder You can serve with any food you desire.Its easy, convenient and very affordable.

Calcium EDTA to Treat Lead Poison in Pets.

Edetate Calcium Disodium, also known as Calcium EDTA, is a chelating agent used by veterinarians to treat lead poisoning in dogs and cats. It is used to treat other types of heavy metal toxicity in animals . Animals can get lead poisoning just as humans by ingesting a large amount of lead-containing materials. Pets and other animals get lead from paint, plumbing materials, linoleum tiles, lead foil, solder, golf balls, drinking water from lead pipes, lead weights, newspaper, certain dyes, insulation and a host of other lead-containing products and materials. Lead poisoning can cause an animal to experience both neurological and gastrointestinal complications. Common neurological signs include seizures, blindness, running aimlessly, running in circles, ataxia and behavioral changes. Gastrointestinal problems can include abdominal pain, vomiting, lack of appetite and either constipation or diarrhea. - Ingestion of lead and other heavy metals displaces calcium in the body. Therefore, many veterinarians use chelation therapy to aid in eliminating the lead or heavy metals while increasing calcium levels throughout the body. Prior to the administration of Calcium EDTA therapy, the animal’s blood lead concentration levels will be tested and then monitored throughout the therapy until the lead level in the blood is normal. Calcium EDTA is administered subcutaneously and only in a veterinary office or animal hospital setting where blood monitoring can be conducted.Calcium EDTA should not be administered to an animal with a pre-existing kidney condition. In some cases, a second round of Calcium EDTA is required if the first therapy isn’t fully successful. If your pet experiences vomiting or diarrhea while undergoing Calcium EDTA therapy, the veterinarian may prescribe a zinc supplement because this medication chelates zinc in addition to lead. Contributed by :Giano Panzarella for diamondbackdrugs.

Mapping Zoonotic Disease.

Compiling data from hundreds of studies on past zoonotic disease outbreaks, Barbara Han, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, and her colleagues have mapped where current reservoirs are most likely to be found. The goal was to be able to predict where future pathogenic leaps from mammals to humans are likely to occur. “What we really want to do is shift the strategy from one of being defensive—always running around putting out fires—to one that’s preemptive,” Han told The Washington Post. “One step toward that goal is to figure out where things are, what’s carrying the known diseases and what’s their distribution.” But the results, published today (June 14) in Trends in Parasitology, are only a piece of the puzzle, she added. “It’s a hard game to play because there’s hundreds and hundreds of combinations of different zoonoses and carriers. We’d hoped to find a unifying theme, and instead there’s just 45 more questions that need to be answered.” Zoonotic diseases are not, for example, concentrated in tropical environments, as might be predicted. In fact, the subarctic—Alaska, northern Canada, and northern Russia—had the same number of zoonoses as the tropics, despite being home to fewer reservoir species. “Even though there are more species in the tropics, fewer of them carry zoonoses,” Han said in a press release. “In contrast, more of the species living in northern latitudes, such as the Arctic Circle, carry more zoonoses. Understanding the implications of this pattern in light of climate warming trends will be an important line of inquiry that should be addressed sooner rather than later.” Other hot spots included Europe—consistent with previous zoonotic mapping efforts—as well as Southeast Asia. Han and colleagues also turned up surprises when assessing which types of animal hosts harbor the most zoonotic pathogens. Rodents, for example, carried about the same number as carnivores, despite having nearly 10 times as many species. “I’m hoping to work together with people who really understand public health to think about the wildlife human interface, and the cultural things that permit or prevent that from happening,” Han told The Washington Post. “This is a multifaceted question and very complex . . . and the devil’s in the details.” Contributed by the scientist.

EGGS AND THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY.

Eggs could be used as a whole or in parts. Eggs can be separated using egg yolk separator, into egg yolk and egg white. This can be processed further into egg yolk or egg white powder. The intent of use will determine the product you go for. The egg can be used as a whole in the salon as hair treatment and booster. The hair is washed and parted, then properly mixed whole egg is applied to hair.The hair is then packed in steam cap and the person puts hair in steamer for 45 minutes after which its rinsed off. The benefit of this include 1) growth 2)hair treatment 3)hair food 4) glossy hair. The egg white is a good treatment for pimples and stretch marks. Apply egg white to a clean face and leave it for 10 minutes after which you wash off. The application of the egg white on areas with stretch marks,follows same principle. Apply the egg white to desired spots,leave for 10 minutes and rinse off. The regular treatment of face with egg white gives a clean and clear face devoid of blemish. The egg yolk is also a good base for body cream giving a clear completion.

EDUCATION AND EGG POWDER!!!.

The level of education in developing countries has nose-dived and data gathered showed that fewer children are going to school. This trend is fueled by the fact that many of the parents are indigent and need all the help they can get from their children and other family members on the farm.

 Communities with higher percentage of children in school were encouraged by the school feeding programme. These communities are beneficiaries of a system that provides a meal a day for students in school,this not only increased the number of students in school but also more healthy children who were hitherto malnourished. 

 This scheme also empowered more women as these host communities engage the women to prepare the nutritious meals and distribute to schools.This scheme not only benefited the children alone but the community as a whole because of the level of education and economic power. 

 The scheme mainly use poultry and poultry products to feed the students.The meal is often accompanied by eggs or chicken as protein source.The school feeding programme has expanded its reach to more countries and engaging more people. 

 The school feeding programme has also raised the bar by encouraging host communities to venture into agriculture to rear chicken and plant vegetables . This will be a rallying point for the community that will engage more people and feed more. 

 The feeding programme could also make use of powdered eggs to achieve same results.In communities where the need is severe as in emergency situations such as after an earthquake or flooding.The egg powder is safe,handy and hygienically packed to deliver wholesome nutritious meals. The egg powder can be sent to various locations,over long distances and it will still be fresh. 

The whole egg powder can be mixed with water or milk before frying.This can be combined with rice,potatoes or yam. In situations where children dont like vegetables,you can spice up the vegetables with the egg powder mixture for a more nutritious meal thats easily acceptable. Order for yours today.