Oxidative stress inducers potentiate 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated pre-cardiac edema in larval zebrafish

We reported the involvement of oxidative stress and prostaglandins including thromboxane and prostacyclin in pre-cardiac edema (early edema) caused by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). While the involvement of oxidative stress in TCDD-induced toxicity has been frequently reported, the mechanism of its action is still unclear. In the present study, oxidative stress inducers including paraquat, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and rotenone augmented early edema (edema) induced by a low concentration of TCDD (0.1 ppb) at 55 hr post fertilization (hpf), while each of them alone did not cause edema. Edema caused by TCDD plus oxidative stress inducers was almost abolished by antioxidants, an antagonist for thromboxane receptor (ICI-192,605) and an agonist for prostacyclin receptor (beraprost), suggesting that the site of action of these inducers was in the regular signaling pathway after activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor type 2 (AHR2) by TCDD. Oxidative stress inducers also enhanced edema caused by an agonist for the thromboxane receptor (U46619), and the enhancement was also inhibited by antioxidants. Sulforaphane and auranofin, activators of Nrf2 that is a master regulator of anti-oxidative response, did not affect U46619-evoked edema but almost abolished TCDD-induced edema and potentiation by paraquat in both TCDD- and U46619-induced edema. Taken together, the results suggest that oxidative stress augments pre-cardiac edema caused by TCDD via activation of thromboxane receptor-mediated signaling in developing zebrafish. As paraquat and other oxidative stress inducers used also are environmental pollutants, interaction between dioxin-like compounds and exogenous source of oxidative stress should also be considered.     

三种镰刀菌引起的板栗内腐病病原菌鉴定

为明确板栗内腐病的病原,采用组织分离法分离纯化BL-5、BL-7和BL-9共3株病原菌,通过柯赫氏法则、形态学特征及分子生物学技术对病原菌进行鉴定。结果显示,BL-5在PDA培养基上初期菌丝白色,菌落中心部位有淡红色素,后期菌落逐渐变成深红色,菌落中心可见黄色菌丝;BL-7在PDA培养基上菌落呈白色、绒毛状,分生孢子长椭圆形或梨形、颜色透明、具隔膜;BL-9在PDA培养基上菌丝呈棉絮状,初期菌落呈粉红色,随着菌落的生长,后期菌落颜色逐渐变为浅黄色或褐色,分生孢子中间粗、两头较细长,似镰刀形,弯曲或直立,具有厚垣孢子。BL-5、BL-7、BL-9的ITS序列分别与Fusarium graminearum KJ847741、Fusarium proliferatum MW686898、Fusarium equiseti KU984711的序列同源性均达99%。因此,结合形态学特征和分子生物学特征,判断引起板栗内腐病的3种镰刀菌分别为禾谷镰刀菌（Fusarium graminearum）、层出镰孢菌（Fusarium proliferatum）、木贼镰刀菌（Fusarium equiseti）,为板栗内腐病的有效防治提供了依据。     

Short-term survival and mortality rates in a retrospective study of colic in 1588 Danish horses

Background

Outcomes of colic treatment are of great interest to clinicians, horse owners and insurers. One commonly used criterion of success is the overall short-term survival rate. This is used as to compare treatments and to measure quality of veterinary care, but may be biased by demographic or social factors such as attitudes towards animal suffering and euthanasia. The aims of this study were to 1) describe and analyse characteristics in horses with signs of colic referred to the University Hospital for Large Animals (UHLA), University of Copenhagen, Denmark over a 10-year period and 2) to compare these rates with those published in other comparable studies.

Results

The overall survival rate for colic horses over the 10-year study period was 68% (confidence intervals (CI): 66–71%; 1087/1588). In the medical group, 1093 horses, short-term survival was 87% (CI: 85–89%). Thirty one % of referred horses were given diagnoses requiring surgical intervention (CI: 29–33%). In this group 32% of the horses were euthanized before surgery (CI: 28–36%; 159/495). Of the surgical cases 27% (CI: 23-31%) were euthanized or died during surgery. Of the horses that recovered from surgery 25% died or were euthanized (CI: 19–32%; 48/189), while 75% survived to discharge (CI: 68–81%).

Conclusions

The short term survival rates of Danish horses with colic were similar or lower to those reported from other countries. Apart from variability of veterinary care, attitudes towards euthanasia vary among the countries, which may bias the outcomes. This study indicates that qualitative interview studies on owners’ attitudes towards animal suffering and euthanasia need to be conducted. Our opinion is that survival rates are not valid as sole indicators of quality of care in colic treatment due to selection bias. If the survival rates are to be compared between hospitals, techniques or surgeons, prospective studies including mutually agreed-on disease severity scores and a predefined set of reasons for euthanasia are needed.     

A method for calculating numerical estimates of gear selectivity curve

The present paper proposes a method for estimating the numerical curve of gear selectivity without the assumption of function of selectivity curve and estimating confidence intervals, using data of catch per unit effort at length for several nets of different mesh sizes obtained from fishing experiments. The paper assumes such geometric similarity as the selectivity is the same if the rate of fish length to mesh size is the same. The basic idea is due to a technique of numerical integration that uses the derivatives at various points. The natural logarithm of selectivity is expressed by an approximation equation using its cumulated derivatives. The values of derivatives at various lengths are calculated from the data. The confidence intervals are made from the bootstrap samples. The method was applied to the data of catch at length by mesh size of gill net for pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha . Data collection, modification and issues of the method are discussed.     

Role of sodium bicarbonate on the initiation of sperm motility in the Japanese eel

ABSTRACT:   In order to find out the role of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) on the initiation of sperm motility in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica , interactions were investigated between NaHCO₃ and various reagents (K⁺ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine [4-AP], ammonium chloride [NH₄Cl], sodium acetate and calcium chloride [CaCl₂]) that could regulate internal factors (intracellular K⁺, intracellular pH [[pH]_i] and intracellular Ca²⁺) in sperm motility. Contradictory effects of NaHCO₃ were observed (i.e. an inhibitory effect when 4-AP was absent and a promoting effect when 4-AP was present). Sodium bicarbonate inhibited the initiation of sperm motility in the Japanese eel. However, NaHCO₃ restored the motility of immotile sperm that 4-AP inhibited. The inhibitory effect of NaHCO₃ disappeared with the addition of NH₄Cl, which raised [pH]_i, but the promoting effect was not affected by [pH]_i. Although NaHCO₃ recovered motility in the presence of 4-AP, this recovery was also observed with the addition of CaCl₂ instead of NaHCO₃. In the initiation of sperm motility in the Japanese eel, two roles for NaHCO₃ are suggested: an inhibitory role relating to the regulation of [pH]_i and a promoting role relating to the uptake of another initiation factor, which could be Ca²⁺.     

新疆南疆一起猪繁殖与呼吸综合征的诊断

为了明确新疆南疆某猪场猪一起疫情发病原因,本研究采用发病情况调查、临床症状检查、病理学剖检、病理组织学观察和RT-PCR方法进行系统分析。结果诊断为该猪场猪感染猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒,且初步鉴定为高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征。该诊断结果为该场乃至新疆南疆猪病的诊断和防制提供一定的方法和指导意义。