Comparison of Imaging Methods and Population Pattern in Dogs with Spinal Diseases in Three Periods between 2005 and 2022: A Retrospective Study

The aim of this study was the long-term comparison of the imaging methods used in dogs with neurologic diseases related to the spine and spinal cord. We also compared the occurrence of neurological diseases according to the localization, gender, age, and breed. As the availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased over the years, resulting in increased diagnostic and therapeutic success rates, the study was divided into three time periods (2005-2014, 2015-2018, and 2019-2022). Our results suggest changes in the population structure of the dogs studied and changes in the use of diagnostic methods that directly or indirectly influence the choice and success rate of therapy. Our results may be of interest to owners, breeders, practicing veterinarians, and insurance companies.

Prevalence of Periodontal Pathogens in Slovak Patients with Periodontitis and Their Possible Aspect of Transmission from Companion Animals to Humans

Oral health and diseases are greatly influenced by oral bacteria. During dysbiosis, bacterial composition changes, which can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis in humans is associated with periodontal pathogens such as Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Animal-to-human transmission of some of these pathogens has also been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in Slovak patients and to assess the possible risk of transmission of these pathogens from animals to their owners. The presence of periodontal pathogens in dental plaque was monitored by PCR. Amplified products were analysed using Sanger sequencing. T. forsythia isolates were assessed for the susceptibility to different antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. In humans, T. denticola, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and A. actinomycetemcomitans were present in 69.23%, 69.23%, 100% and 84.62%, respectively. Most isolates of T. forsythia were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, clindamycin and moxifloxacin, but they were resistant to metronidazole. The transmission of T. forsythia from animals to their owners was not proven based on sequence analysing. On the other hand, transmission of Porphyromonas gulae was confirmed, but the risk of its involvement in the pathogenesis of periodontitis in humans must be further investigated.

General Anesthesia Effect on Acid Base and Serum Calcium and Phosphorus Levels in Relation to Anesthetic Risk in Dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of general anesthesia on selected blood parameters in 53 surgical patients belonging to five ASA groups. The venous blood pH during the preoperative period was under physiological values only in the ASA V group of dogs. The lowest average values of pH levels were found in all ASA groups during the 30th minute of the surgical procedure. The pre-operative measurements revealed the average concentration of calcium in the blood serum below the physiological range in the groups with higher anesthetic risk, ASA III, IV and V. Most dogs with hypocalcemia during the whole monitored period were in the ASA III group (69.2%). After premedication and sedation a decrease in the concentration of calcium in all groups was observed, except for the ASA IV group. Changes in the concentration of calcium were significant in the ASA II group (P ≤ 0.01). Between the groups, there were no significant differences reported in calcium concentrations during the monitored period. The lowest average value of phosphorus concentration was recorded in the ASA III group and the highest in the ASA V group. In the postoperative period the increase in phosphorus concentrations was observed in all groups except ASA III. Acidaemia, hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia may present a potential risk mostly in endangered animals, so additional monitoring of these parameters, along with commonly used anesthetic monitoring, is essential and might be significantly helpful.

An inspection of pipe by snake robot

The article deals with development and application of snake robot for inspection pipes. The first step involves the introduction of a design of mechanical and electrical parts of the snake robot. Next, the analysis of the robot locomotion is introduced. For the curved pipe, potential field method is used. By this method, the system is able to generate path for the head and rear robot, linking the environment with obstacles, which are represented by the walls of the pipe. Subsequently, the solution of potential field method is used in inverse kinematic model, which respects tasks as obstacle avoidance, joint limit avoidance, and singularity avoidance. Mentioned approach is then tested on snake robot in provisional pipe with rectangular cross section. For this research, software Matlab (2013b) is used as the control system in cooperation with the control system of robot, which is based on microcontrollers. By experiments, it is shown that designed robot is able to pass through straight and also curved pipe.

A geometric approach to modeling of four- and five-link planar snake-like robot

The article deals with the issue of use of geometric mechanics tools in modelling nonholonomic systems. The introductory part of the article contains fiber bundle theory that we use at creating mathematical model of nonholonomic locomotion system with undulatory movement. Further the determination of general mathematical model for n-link snake-like robot is presented, where we used nonholonomic constraints. The relation between changes of shape and position variables was expressed using the local connection that was used to analyze and control system movement by vector fields. The effect of links number of snake-like robot on its mathematical model was investigated. The last part of this article consists of detailed description of modeling reconstruction equation for four- and five-link snake-like robot.