Both breeds had similar kinematic patterns, but there were magnitude differences, especially of the elbow and stifle joints. Therefore, each breed should have a specific database.

This study was made to investigate the anatomical features of the white-eared opossum skull, by osteology and radiographic anatomy. For this, five animals were used without sexual distinction. The skull was examined by radiographic and macroscopic characteristics. The skulls were then subjected to maceration. The skull was described macroscopically according to standard views, i.e. dorsal and caudal, lateral, ventral, and midsagittal. The skull can be divided into facial (viscerocranium) and cranial (neurocranium) regions. The facial region was elongated and more developed than neurocranium. The supraorbital foramen was absent. The tympanic bulla is not well developed. The zygomatic arch was formed by zygomatic process of the temporal bone, zygomatic process of the maxilla, and temporal process of the zygomatic bone. There was no significant difference between bones found in this study when compared with those described for others mammals. These findings may contribute to the better understanding of the anatomy and biology of the white-eared opossum.

Exercises involving whole-body vibration are useful for stimulation and physical rehabilitation. However, it is necessary to verify its effects not only on musculoskeletal tissues but also on internal organs. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the whole-body vibration platform on the renal resistive index in healthy dogs. Ten clinically healthy dogs of different breeds, 6 males and 4 females, aged from 1.7-3.5 years (mean 2.1±0.6 SD) and weighing from 20.5-41 kg (mean 32.1±7.1 SD), were used. The dogs were submitted to one session on a whole-body vibration platform (Thera Plate) at 30 Hz frequency for 5 min, followed by 50 Hz for 5 min and finishing with 30 Hz for 5 min. The renal artery resistive index of the left kidney was measured before and immediately after the whole-body vibration platform session, using a spectral doppler ultrasound (Triplex doppler imaging). The mean resistive index values before and immediately after the session were 0.65 (±0.04 SD) and 0.63 (±0.05 SD), respectively. In conclusion, the resistive index is not altered by a single whole-body vibration session using the TheraPlate platform.

No abstract

Patella, the kneecap, is the best known and largest of the sesamoid bones and is present in the quadriceps femoris tendon. Typical patella appears in all extant mammals, with the exception of some marsupials and bats. No description about the white-eared opossum stifle was found in the available literature up to now. Thus, the knee joints of 16 Didelphis albiventris were examined by gross anatomy, histology, radiography and computed tomography images to determine the presence or absence of ossified patella in this animal. The most remarkable observation in white-eared opossum is the absence of a bony patella. The femoral trochlea is shallow, and the lateral gastrocnemius sesamoids are shown up in all opossums. The quadriceps femoris tendon is composed mainly of dense regular connective tissue with a classic fibrocartilage pad on the superficial surface of the tendon. The absence of a true patella seems to be typical for marsupials.