http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qWIlgemp9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy5THitqPBw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGoqzHD2ppA

On Why a Rabbit, Human and Rat Transferrin Might Have A Major Saddle Nose

The major saddle nose deformity leaves a patient with an obvious aesthetic deficit as well as an equally disturbing functional handicap. Reconstructing the collapsed dorsum and tip and simultaneously restoring nasal function present a formidable challenge which has elicited a wide variety of solutions ranging from the use of a toothbrush handle to split calvarial grafting.

As Murakami et al pointed out, the "variability exists to a large extent, because the saddle nose deformity is not a single entity but rather a spectrum of abnormalities." A pet store in Connecticut received a shipment of products last week. Products, meaning rabbits. Sentient nonhumans for sale. The rabbits were produced, of course, by a rabbit mill that supplies "pet" stores with live creatures whom humans will purchase without having any idea of the conditions they were produced under.

Or what happened to their mother, as an initial step in the investigation of the structure, evolution and developmental regulation of the glycogen phosphorylase gene family, we have isolated partial cDNAs to rat, rabbit and human muscle phosphorylase mRNAs. Sequence comparisons of these cDNAs in regions that encode portions of the enzyme located near and encompassing the C terminus show that there is a high degree of interspecies conservation of structure in this region.

Attempts to categorize saddle nose deformities are useful; however, they often lack the simple impact and clarity of the pre-operative photograph. Moreover, the categorizations have not led to a uniform approach to this complicated problem. Nevertheless, Tardy's classification of minimal, moderate, and major saddle nose deformities provides a helpful framework for discussion of reconstructive options. Minimal deformities demonstrate a supratip depression of 1 to 2 mm and are easily corrected with cartilage or fascial overlays. Moderate saddle nose deformities are characterized by a significant loss of dorsal height as well as columellar retraction and broadening of the bony pyramid.

This time of year, the demand for rabbits peaks because Easter is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after he was crucified than to buy a rabbit. Whom you will put in a cage for the rest of her life, without a fraction of the stimulation she should have. And who won't be able to do what comes naturally to her.

Conservation of amino acid and nucleotide sequence is high, approximately 96% and 90% homology, respectively, among all three species. In addition, most of the amino acid changes that have occurred conserve the chemical nature of the amino acid side-chains affected. The changes canA major deformity demonstrates "all of the stigmata of the moderately saddled nose, only to a more marked degree." In Tardy's opinion, an open approach may be warranted in these cases. We offer one solution to the major saddle nose deformity using a composite allo-implant of porous high-density polyethylene and purified acellular human dermal graft. While we readily admit that autogenous tissue is the preferred grafting material, we have encountered patients in whom this is not an option.k the carboxyl-terminal proline (residue 841) present in the rabbit enzyme and terminate at isoleucine (residue 840). The genetic basis for this difference in carboxyl termini is unknown. However, unlike the other amino acid changes, it cannot be accounted for by a single base-pair substitution.

But back to the bunny in question. He has two noses. The AP calls him "the nosey bunny" and notes that inbreeding or the parent's exposure to pesticides or poisons might be the culprit. A comparison of the 3' untranslated regions in these cDNAs shows that there has been little constraint on the evolutionary divergence of most of this region (70% homology among the three species). I bet crowds of people will flock to see the bunny. And maybe sales will increase. How auspicious for the owner of the pet store, who deals in sentient nonhumans!

There are, however, two repeated segments of DNA flanking the stop codons that are identical among all three species. Similar sequences are found within regions of DNA that contain a variety of transcriptional enhancers, suggesting the possibility that the repeats may be functional.

Deformities in animals who are mass-produced are not new. Nor are they surprising. And it's not cute and sweet that the greed of humans and our obsession with profiting from every inanimate object and every living being on Planet Earth trumps compassion . . . and even common sense.

Major saddle nose deformities typically require more augmentation than stacked septal or auricular cartilage can provide. Additionally, in patients seeking revision rhinoplasty, sufficient donor septal or auricular cartilage is often lacking. Resorption of irradiated cadaveric rib grafts has led us away from this material. Split calvarial bone grafts are our next recommendation for these patients; however, many patients refuse this option. In these patients we have turned to a composite allo-implant of PHDPE and acellular human dermal graft for reconstruction of the collapsed dorsum and tip.

Go to the House Rabbit Society for more on why purchasing a bunny as an Easter gift, or any other kind of gift, and in fact purchasing a bunny in general, is a terrible idea. And go to Make Mine Chocolate! (and vegan chocolate, I hope) for more on "breaking the cycle of acquisition and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home."