Canine atopic dermatitis: a retrospective study of 169 cases examined at the University of California, Davis, 1992-1998. Part II. Response to hyposensitization

One hundred and sixty-nine dogs were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, and treated with hyposensitization for at least 1 year based on the results of either intradermal skin tests (IDST) or enzyme-linked immunosorbant serum assays (ELISA). Excellent (i.e. hyposensitization alone controlled clinical signs), good (> 50% improvement), moderate (< 50% improvement) and no (clinical signs were unchanged) responses were seen in 19.5, 32.5, 20.1 and 27.8%, respectively. Age of onset, age when treatment was initiated or the duration of clinical signs had no influence on response to hyposensitization. Dogs having concurrent flea allergy dermatitis were statistically more likely to respond better than dogs with concurrent food allergies. Although not statistically significant, there were trends for Golden Retriever and male dogs to respond better than other breeds and female dogs, respectively. Dogs having more than 21 positive reactions in allergy tests and treated with more than 21 allergens had lower response scores, and a longer time course before achieving beneficial response. Lower response scores were seen in dogs having positive reactions to cultivated plants, grasses, trees or insects. There was no difference in response to hyposensitization whether based on IDST or ELISA results.     

PrP genotype and lamb birth weight in a scrapie-free environment: Is there an association?

The National Scrapie Plan (NSP) for Great Britain includes selective breeding programmes. These aim to reduce the frequencies of the ovine prion protein (PrP) genotypes at high risk of developing clinical disease (principally those containing the VRQ allele) within the national flock, and select for the low-risk ARR-containing genotypes. The aim of this work was to use available data from embryo transfer programmes in guaranteed scrapie-free environments to investigate whether there was a difference in lamb birth weight associated with the lamb's PrP genotype, which might affect survival. The first analysis utilised data from 355 Cheviot lambs born between 2001 and 2004. The analysis was then repeated using a larger data set of 737 Cheviot, Dorset and Suffolk lambs born between 1999 and 2003. The most important determinants of mean lamb birth weight were litter size, sex and recipient ewe breed, plus lamb breed in the three breed analysis. In both analyses the effects of all these variables are consistent and of the same order of magnitude. In the first analysis there was evidence for an apparent increase in mean lamb birth weight for the ARR-containing genotypes of 0.3 kg (95% C.I. 0.1–0.5 kg). Whereas, in the second data set there was evidence for a decrease in mean lamb birth weight for the VRQ-containing genotypes of − 0.6 kg (95% C.I. − 0.8 to − 0.4 kg). This had been masked in the first analysis by the categorisation of these genotypes with the ARQ/ARQ genotype. Within these flocks, in a scrapie-free environment, neither finding provides support for concerns that selection for low risk ARR-containing genotypes would be detrimental to lamb birth weight, which is considered to be the most important determinant of lamb survival. Extension of this work into field flocks, where scrapie-status cannot be easily assured, will require the collection of sufficient data to adjust for known direct effects as well as any additional potential confounding effects.     

Agreement among surgical pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of digits amputated from cats and dogs.

Agreement among pathologists interpreting histologic specimens is an area of interest within human pathology, but little work in this area has been reported in the veterinary literature. Agreement among pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of amputated digits from cats and dogs submitted to multiple diagnostic centers was examined. Histologic sections from surgical specimens were reviewed in a blinded fashion by two pathologists, and a comparison to the original diagnosis, as stated in the diagnostic report, was recorded. A total of 513 cases were reviewed, and complete agreement was reached in 409 (79.7%). Of the 104 instances of disagreement, 77 (74.0%) were considered to be of clinical significance. The diagnosis of keratoacanthoma was disagreed with in 19 of 21 diagnoses (90.4%). No other individual diagnosis was similarly disputed. The overall level of disagreement is large and is similar to that reported in human pathology and suggests that further study of this issue would be useful in veterinary pathology.     

Major gene resistance in Brassica napus (oilseed rape) is overcome by changes in virulence of populations of Leptosphaeria maculans in France and Australia

Resistance of Brassica napus (oilseed rape, canola) conferred by three different major resistance genes has been overcome by changes in virulence of Leptosphaeria maculans populations in France and Australia. In South Australia where B. napus cultivars with major gene resistance derived from Brassica rapa ssp. sylvestris were grown extensively, resistance was rendered ineffective within 3 years of commercial release of the cultivar. Disease severity was higher on cultivars with sylvestris-derived resistance than cultivars with polygenic resistance. This Australian situation is compared to that in France, where resistance conferred by the Rlm1 gene was overcome nation-wide in 5 years under commercial cropping practices, and also where a source of resistance introgressed into B. napus from B. juncea was rendered inefficient in 3 years in experimental field plots near Rennes.     

Response to Insulin Treatment and Survival in 104 Cats with Diabetes Mellitus (1985–1995)

Medical records of 104 cats with diabetes mellitus were reviewed. Information from 54 cats that had multiple blood glucose concentrations evaluated at least 5 times over a minimum of 3 months, beginning at the time insulin treatment was initiated, was used to evaluate the efficacy of insulin in treating diabetes mellitus. Fourteen of 54 cats were treated with protamine zinc insulin (PZI), 26 with ultralente insulin, and 14 with lente insulin. Six, 29, and 19 cats had good, mediocre, and poor glycemic control, respectively, based on mean blood glucose concentrations, whereas 31, 21, and 2 owners thought clinical response was good, mediocre, and poor, respectively. No significant difference was found in glycemic control among cats treated with PZI, ultralente, or lente insulin. Glycemic control was significantly (P < .05) better in 33 cats without than in 21 cats with concurrent disease. All 104 cats were used to calculate survival data. Fifty-one of 104 cats were alive at the time of the study. Mean (± standard deviation [SD]) and median survival times were 24 (± 16) and 20 months, respectively, in the 51 cats still alive at the end of the evaluation, and 25 (± 4) and 17 months, respectively, in the 53 cats that had died during the period of evaluation. Pancreatic abnormalities identified in 37 cats that underwent necropsy included chronic pancreatitis (n = 17), acute to subacute pancreatitis (n = 2), exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 7) and adenoma (n = 1), islet cell atrophy and vacuolar degeneration (n = 27), and islet amyloidosis (n = 8). No association was found between glycemic control and islet amyloidosis or exocrine pancreatic neoplasia, or between survival time and chronic pancreatitis, islet amyloidosis, or exocrine pancreatic neoplasia. In conclusion, diabetic cats evaluated in this study showed a variable response to exogenously administered insulin, ranging from excellent to poor. By maintaining mean blood glucose concentrations under 300 mg/dL, clinical signs were improved, and owners were satisfied with insulin treatment. Concurrent potentially insulin-antagonistic diseases were common and deleteriously affected glycemic control and survival time.     

Right Dorsal Colitis

Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis of the right dorsal colon was diagnosed by necropsy or by exploratory celiotomy and biopsy in 13 horses with a primary clinical complaint of either colic, diarrhea, or weight loss. Clinical signs varied from acute fulminating diarrhea (possibly with fever), colic, dehydration, endotoxic shock and death, to a chronic condition manifested by mild intermittent colic up to several months in duration, and weight loss with or without mild diarrhea. In a large percentage of the horses, those affected had been hypovolemic and received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or had received inappropriately high doses of phenylbutazone before the onset of illness. Experimental treatment of two horses with high doses of a phenylbutazone oral paste preparation (6 gm once daily for 5 days) and limitation of their water intake to approximately one half of maintenance requirement (for 5 days) resulted in reproduction of ulcerative colitis involving only the right dorsal colon, which was apparent at necropsy examination 11 and 15 days after initiation of drug use. It was concluded that localized ulcerative lesions in the right dorsal colon may be a previously unreported manifestation of toxicity due to the administration of NSAID.     

光肩星天牛对干旱胁迫下复叶槭挥发物的嗅觉反应

对干旱胁迫下3a生复叶槭的挥发物进行了鉴定。当复叶槭受到干旱胁迫时，9种化合物释放量升高(包括：丁醇、戊醇、反—2—己烯—1—醛、顺—3—己烯—1—醇、戊醛、戊酸、己醛、己酸、苯乙酮)，而长叶烯释放量降低：复叶槭复水后苯乙酮升高，但其他挥发物释放量降低。通过GC—EAD检测了光肩星天牛对其中某些化合物的触角电位反应，并使用诱捕器和人工合成单体进行了田间生测实验。丁醇、戊醇和顺—3—己烯—1—醇能引起光肩星天牛的触角反应，这一结果在田间实验中得到了证实。这表明干旱胁迫在光肩星天牛选择寄主植物方面起着重要作用。     

Tree size dependence of litter production, and above-ground net production in a young Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stand

The study was carried out in a 9-year-old hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl.), stand over a span of three years from July 1992 to June 1995, primarily to predict litter production from exteral tree dimensions by combining open-top clothtrap and clipping methods. Litter production was virtually concentrated in October and November. Stem cross-sectional area at the crown base was proved to be the reliable predictor of litter production, and that single regression model was evolved irrespective of year. The regression model had proportional constants of 2.696 × 10⁻² and 3.540 × 10⁻² kg cm⁻² year⁻¹ for leaf litter and total litter production, respectively. Utilizing the model, leaf litter production of the stand was assessed to be 5.04, 5.12, and 4.99, and total litter production to be 6.48, 6.58, and 6.40 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the first, second and third year, respectively. Biomass increment was 6.67, 7.80, and 7.70, tree mortality was 0.15, 0.13, and 0.41, and insect grazing was 0.09, 0.05, and 0.002 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the first, second and third year, respectively. Above-groud net production was therefore 13.39, 14.55, and 14.51, Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and biomass accumulation ratio (biomass/net production) was 1.86, 2.21, and 2.76 year for the first, second and third year, respectively. Considering data from earlier studies and the results of this study, biomass accumulation ratio,BAR (year), of hinoki stands was best related to above-ground biomass,y (Mg ha⁻¹), using the power function:BAR=0.112y ^0.936. Excluding seedling stands, leaf efficiency (above-ground net production per unit leaf mass) of hinoki stands was 0.91±0.02 (SE) Mg Mg⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrespective of stand biomass or age.     

Evaluation of Bacterial Effects on Folic Acid Loss in Fortified,Nixtamalized Corn Masa Flour

Many Mexican women are deficient in folic acid. Fortification of the corn tortilla could be an effective way to help increase the folic acid levels among the Mexican population. Previous studies have shown significant folic acid losses in the masa dough as it is held before baking. This loss in folic acid could be owing to utilization by lactic acid bacteria naturally present in the masa. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bacteria native to corn masa on the folic acid content in masa. Bacteria in dough samples from six mills in Guadalajara, Mexico, were isolated and identified. Bacterial isolates were inoculated into sterile fortified corn masa flour, which was converted to masa and held at 56°C for 0, 3, and 6 h, replicating the conditions of freshly milled masa as held before baking. All samples, including the control, showed losses of folic acid between 66 and 79% w/w in the first 3 h of incubation. Because folic acid degradation in the sterile control sample was not different than the inoculated sample results, the decline in folic acid was not owing to bacteria (mainly Streptococcus spp.) present in the masa flour but appeared to be a chemical degradation related to time and temperature.