Canine fetal echocardiography: correlations for the analysis of cardiac dimensions

The aim of this study was to develop regression models for correlation of canine fetal heart development with body size to characterize normal development or suggest cardiac anomalies. Twenty clinically healthy pregnant bitches, either brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic, were examined ultrasonographically. Transabdominal fetal echocardiography was conducted every 4 days from the beginning of cardiac chambers differentiation until parturition. Ten cardiac parameters were measured: length, width and diameter of the heart; heart area; left and right ventricular dimensions; left and right atrial dimensions; and aortic and pulmonary artery diameter. Femoral length, biparietal diameter and abdominal cross-sectional area were also recorded. Regression equations were developed for each parameter of fetal body size, and linear and logarithmic models were compared. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was chosen to produce equations to calculate relative dimensions based on the correlations. Only the left-ventricular chamber differed between the two racial groups. Biparietal diameter was the independent parameter that produced the highest correlation coefficient for the most fetal cardiac dimensions, although good correlations were also observed using femoral length and abdominal cross-sectional area. Heart width and heart diameter were used as surrogates of cardiac development, as these measurements showed the best statistical correlation. Quantitative evaluation of fetal cardiac structures can be used to monitor normal and abnormal cardiac development.     

Tenogenic induction of equine mesenchymal stem cells by means of growth factors and low-level laser technology

Tendons regenerate poorly due to a dense extracellular matrix and low cellularity. Cellular therapies aim to improve tendon repair using mesenchymal stem cells and tenocytes; however, a current limitation is the low proliferative potential of tenocytes in cases of severe trauma. The purpose of this study was to develop a method useful in veterinary medicine to improve the differentiation of Peripheral Blood equine mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs) into tenocytes. PB-MSCs were used to study the effects of the addition of some growth factors (GFs) as TGFβ3 (transforming growth factor), EGF2 (Epidermal growth factor), bFGF2 (Fibroblast growth factor) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) in presence or without Low Level Laser Technology (LLLT) on the mRNA expression levels of genes important in the tenogenic induction as Early Growth Response Protein-1 (EGR1), Tenascin (TNC) and Decorin (DCN). The singular addition of GFs did not show any influence on the mRNA expression of tenogenic genes whereas the specific combinations that arrested cell proliferation in favour of differentiation were the following: bFGF2 + TGFβ3 and bFGF2 + TGFβ3 + LLLT. Indeed, the supplement of bFGF2 and TGFβ3 significantly upregulated the expression of Early Growth Response Protein-1 and Decorin, while the use of LLLT induced a significant increase of Tenascin C levels. In conclusion, the present study might furnish significant suggestions for developing an efficient approach for tenocyte induction since the external administration of bFGF2 and TGFβ3, along with LLLT, influences the differentiation of PB-MSCs towards the tenogenic fate.     

Immunological and pathological investigations in equine experimental uveitis

Background

The pathogenic mechanism of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is still poorly defined and many variations between experimental animal models and spontaneous disease exist.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate if Th17 cell-mediated response plays role in the pathogenesis of the used experimental model in horses and to reveal its pathological findings.

Methods

Experimental uveitis was induced in 6 healthy horses. The concentrations of retinal autoantigen CRALBP and IL-17 were measured using ELISA in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the 12 inflamed eyes as well as in 12 control non-inflamed eyes taken from 6 horses in slaughter house. After centrifugation of the two eye media, smears were prepared and cytological investigation was performed. Tissue specimens were taken from all eye globes and were submitted to histopathological investigation.

Results

CRALBP and IL-17 concentrations were significantly elevated in eye media of horses with experimental uveitis in comparison with controls. Cytological and histopathological findings corresponded to the changes characteristic of chronic immune-mediated inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltration of uvea, choroid, retina, and eye media as well as severe retinal destruction.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the involvement of the retinal autoantigen CRALBP as well as IL-17 in the pathogenesis of experimental uveitis in horses. These findings suggests that this experimental uveitis in horses may serve as a suitable animal model for investigation of IL-17- mediated immune response during spontaneous autoimmune uveitis in horses as well as in humans.

     

复配材料超声处理对化肥控失效果的影响

利用超声波对化肥控失材料(LCM)进行修饰改性,结果表明对硫酸铵的控失效果随处理时间呈现先升高然后降低的规律,峰值出现在5min.本文对其机理进行初步探讨.     

两种沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对入侵植物的响应

为研究沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对不同种类入侵植物的响应,选取2种湿地入侵植物凤眼莲Eichhornia crassipes、水盾草Cabomba caroliniana和2种常见本地沉水植物黑藻Hydrillaverticillata、菹草Potamogeton crispus为研究对象,通过模拟试验探究在不同水深（0.2、0.4 m）和生长时期（生长初期和生长旺期）的本地沉水植物对2种入侵植物的响应。结果显示,当水深为0.4 m时更有利于黑藻的生长,并可削弱入侵植物对黑藻生长的消极作用,而水深对菹草的生长无显著影响;入侵植物种类对本地沉水植物的生长无显著影响,但影响方式却存在差异,其中水盾草倾向于直接抑制本地沉水植物的生长,而凤眼莲可以通过降低水体透明度以及总磷含量进而间接抑制本地沉水植物的生长。此外,外来植物在本地沉水植物生长初期入侵对本地沉水植物产生的消极影响较生长旺期入侵时更显著。表明凤眼莲及水盾草入侵对本地沉水植物生长的影响机制存在差异,本地沉水植物在适宜水深和生长旺期对2种入侵植物具有更强的抵抗能力。     

布鲁氏菌病无疫小区建设与成效

近年来,我国将无疫小区管理理念应用到布鲁氏菌病防控,以养殖场生物安全防控作为切入点,整合优化布鲁氏菌病关键技术措施,结合科学有效的监督管理,全面推动布鲁氏菌病防控工作。本文重点从建设主体、生物安全体系、监测要点等方面介绍了布鲁氏菌病无疫小区建设标准,总结了布鲁氏菌病无疫小区建设对于提升完善养殖场生物安全体系,推进养殖企业从传统防控到生物安全管理、风险管理转型升级,促进产业高质量发展等方面的成效,以期对下一步工作推进提供参考。     

无针免疫猪圆环病毒2型亚单位疫苗效果评价

为评价用无针注射器接种猪圆环病毒2型亚单位疫苗的安全性及免疫效果,为无针免疫的使用、推广提供数据支撑,将40头3～5周龄三元猪随机均分为4组,即有针注射1头份剂量组以及无针注射低（1/4头份）、中（1/2头份）、高（1头份）剂量组,分别于第1、21天开展两次免疫,观察试验前后动物的临床症状、体重变化,并对第7、14、21、28、42天各组动物体内抗体水平变化及免疫效率等进行研究。结果显示：采用无针注射器进行免疫时动物疼痛反应较小,注射速度快,免疫后各组动物精神状态、饮食、饮水、自发活动等无异常;与有针注射组动物相比,减量注射（1/4头份）可以显著促进仔猪增重（P <0.05）,同时可以达到和有针注射同样的免疫效果（P> 0.05）;同等剂量亚单位疫苗注射免疫后,无针免疫组动物体内抗体水平更高（P <0.01）,且各组动物体内抗体阳性率均可有效维持至试验结束。结果表明,用无针注射器接种猪圆环病毒2型亚单位疫苗安全性高、耐受性好、有效性稳定,无针注射器减量免疫可以达到有效保护作用的同时促进了仔猪生长,可尝试推广应用。     

砂轮约束磨粒喷射精密光整加工有效性实验验证

通过实验验证了砂轮约束磨粒喷射精密光整加工方法的有效性，利用M7120平面磨床对Q235A进行了喷射加工实验，用TALYSURF5轮廓仪测量了加工后的微观几何参数值，用扫描电镜和金相显微镜观察了表面微观形貌和断面金相组织变化。实验结果表明，该加工方法在表面粗糙度得到减小的同时，能明显去除磨削加工过度塑性变形，减少表面层污染和磨削烧伤，改善表面形状精度，实验结果和理论分析吻合，验证了该工艺方法的正确性。