Tissue engineering promotes tissue regeneration through biomaterials that have excellent properties and have the potential to replace tissues. Many studies show that bacterial cellulose (BC) might ensure tissue regeneration and substitution, being used for the bioengineering of hard, cartilaginous and soft tissues. Bacterial cellulose is extensively used as wound dressing material and results show that BC is a promising tissue scaffold (bone, cardiovascular, urinary tissue). It can be combined with polymeric and non-polymeric compounds to acquire antimicrobial, cell-adhesion and proliferation properties. To ensure proper tissue regeneration, the material has to be: biocompatible, with minimum tissue reaction and biodegradability; bio-absorbable, to promote tissue development, cellular interaction and grow; resistant to support the weight of the newly formed tissue. Its versatile structure, physical and biochemical properties can be adjusted by adapting the bacteria culturing conditions. The main biomedical applications seem to be as hard (bone, dental), fibrocartilaginous (meniscal) and soft tissue (skin, cardiovascular, urinary) substituents. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge, challenges and future applications of BC and its biomedical potential in veterinary medicine. It was focused on the main uses in regeneration and scaffold tissue replacement and, although BC showed promising results, there is a lack of successful results of BC use in clinical practice. Most studies were performed only at experimental level and further research is needed for BC to enter clinical veterinary practice.

Background: The investigation on the cardiocirculatory system in chinchilla has become increasingly important due to the use of the species in experimental medicine (toxicology, pathology, parasitology etc.). Even though initially this species was regarded with a strict economic interest, in the last period, chinchillas have become an increasingly-encountered patient in veterinary clinics and hospitals. Another aspect is the use of the species in medical research, as experimental model or in parasitology. The present study tackles a combined anatomical and radiological (angiographical) study to accurately describe the vascular anatomy of the initial part of the aortic arch (Arcus aortae).Materials, Methods & Results: The anatomical distribution of collaterals detached from arcus aorticus (brachiocephalic trunk and subclavian arteries) are highlighted in this paper. To do that, the classical stratigraphic anatomical investigation, followed by the radiological study with the help of the contrast substance injected into the vascular bed were used in combination. Several Chinchilla lanigera female carcasses, obtained from a private commercial farming unit in Cluj county, Romania were used for this study. Ten carcasses were used for the anatomical study, being injected into the vascular bed with a mixture of latex and acrylic dye, fixated into formaldehyde 5% and later dissected, while the other ten carcasses were injected at the level of the aortic arch with Visipaque 320 contrast substance and subjected to the angiographical procedure.The anatomical investigation was carried after an initial 5 day-fixation period, while the angiographic procedure was initiated using the TEMCO Grx-01 device and the Veterinary Digital Imaging System® as digital imaging processing software. This combined study shows the differential mode of emergence of the subclavian and carotid arteries in this species. The brachiocephalic trunk is the first large collateral branch arising from the initial part of the aortic cross while the left subclavian artery, in all studied cases, stems from this initial part of the aortic arch. The right subclavian artery arises from the terminal part of the brachiocephalic trunk, at the cranial border of the first rib. The continuation of the trunk is represented by right common carotid artery that follows the right jugular groove. The left common carotid artery emerges at the medial aspect of the first intercostal space as a collateral branch detached from the brachiocephalic trunk, in its initial sector. In respect to the collaterals emerging from the subclavian arteries, our study showed that in all studied cases, four branches arise in sequence- the internal thoracic, dorsal scapular, vertebral and superficial cervical arteries. The existence of the common trunks (internal thoracic, dorsal scapular arteries and superficial and deep cervical arteries (as described by other authors) was not confirmed on the investigated specimens.Discussion: The paper highlights some interesting facts referring to the specific morphology of the aortic arch in chinchilla, as literature data provides some divergent data. Some of the aspects noted are confirmed (the emergence of subclavian arteries) while some others are still subjects to discussion and further investigation (collateral branches of subclavian arteries). Our approach focuses also on the comparative aspects of the morphology of the branches emerging from the aortic arch. According to the available literature, the following species were used as comparison: leporids, Guinea pig, squirrel, yellow-necked mouse, Egyptian mouse, rat, armadillo, nutria, capybara, paca, fox and leopard.

No abstract

Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a biomaterial, consisting of collagen, proteoglycan glycosaminoglycan, glycoprotein and growth factors. This study was conducted within the Surgery Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca, on one healthy pig, four months, in November, 2013. After the pig was humanely euthanized, a segment of proximal jejunum was obtained following a midline abdominal wall incision. All mesenteric tissues, mucosa and serosa tunica were resected from the intestine using a sterile scalpel and moistened gauze in sterile saline. The material was rinsed in sterile saline and stored in a solution containing neomycin sulphate 10% at 4 degree Celsius. Up to ten days from sampling preserved SIS specimens can be used with success in the surgical procedures of corneal reconstruction in small animals.

Hoof health, detection and treatment of lameness are major challenges for veterinarians due to the high incidence in the herd and major economical loss. Early detection and treatment minimizes the losses, due to treatment costs and decrease of milk quantity. The research tried to elaborate a therapeutic protocol which minimizes the pain, and diminishes the recovery period by applying hoof blocks in lame cows. The study was performed on 180 dairy Holstein cows (at "Action Felix" Dairy farm) in Oradea, from June 2012 to June 2013, using two types of blocks: foam (Walkease) and wooden (BoviBond). The cows were divided in three lots. If the claw needs longer time for healing, the affected claw can be elevated by applying a foam hoof or wooden block to relieve the weight bearing from the affected claw. Resting the affected hoof is highly efficient to promote healing and pain relief. This encourages the cow to move around, to feed as the pain is relieved. The hoof blocks allows the cow to walk around freely, as the foam or wooden block wears down, the hoof disease is given time to heal. During a period of time, the blocks will worn down completely and the disease will be healed.