A preliminary serological survey of viral antibodies in Peruvian sheep

This study reports the sero-prevalence of viral infections in sheep in Peru. Serum samples were collected from 34 mature healthy rams located in 3 different geographic regions of the country (north, central and south). The sera were tested for antibodies to the following viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); parainfluenza 3 (PI-3) virus; bovine viral diarrhea/border disease (BVD/BD) virus; bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1); bluetongue (BT) virus; ovine progressive pneumoniae (OPP) virus; bovine leukosis virus (BLV). The serological studies showed that 47% were positive for RSV; 82% for PI-3; 3% for BVD/BD virus; 49% for BT virus; 13% for OPP virus. Antibodies were not detected to bovine herpesvirus 1 or to bovine leukosis virus.     

松树枯梢病潜伏侵染的研究

研究表明在火炬松、湿地松、短叶松和马尾松健康梢上整年都能分离到松枯梢病菌,其中在火炬松上的得菌率为15％—37．7％,且大多数月份高于20％;湿地松上的得菌率稍低于火炬松,为7．5％～29．1％;短叶松梢上的得菌率是13．8％—57．1％,月份之间的差异较大;马尾松得菌率最低,为9．7％—22．4％,多数分离得菌率低于20％。健康梢的不同部位得菌率有一定差异,枝和新梢较高,芽稍低,叶最低。在1年中,健康梢上得菌率有3个高峰期,即4—5月、7—8月和10—11月,是潜伏侵染的的主要时期。将健康芽和梢进行诱发培养,lOd后组织块上及周围产生松枯梢病菌的分生孢子器,得菌情况与常规分离相似。在当年孢子散发之前,对健康梢套袋隔离试验,发现套袋梢仍会发病,说明在发病的春梢中,有一部分是由于潜伏侵染的松枯梢病菌造成的。从而证明松枯梢病菌在火炬松、湿地松、短叶松和马尾松上普遍存在潜伏侵染。     

儒家礼教论——论"仁"、"人性"、"文"和"礼"的关系

作为儒家哲学的一个重要范畴,"礼"是先秦儒家教育理论及其实践的核心范畴。儒家的教育理论是完全依靠"礼"如何与其他范畴互相关联而形成发展的。尤其是孔子、孟子和荀子所提出的"仁"、"人性"和"文"等范畴对体现出"礼"的教育内涵是不可缺少的。"仁"只有通过"礼"才能实现自己的价值,"人性"也依靠"礼"的内化过程而能够获得真正的发展。在这一点上,可以说"礼"是文明化了的传统中分化、发展下来的一切标准,"礼教"是以"博文"与"约礼"为主要内容而培养君子的先秦儒家的教育传统。     

创造优秀教师脱颖而出的环境

优秀教师是高等教育事业建设的宝贵财富,高校领导必须尊重他们,使用他们。这样,就得创造一个让他们尽情发挥才能的环境。要做到这些,高校领导需要有尊师爱才之心,有识才之智,有容才之量,有用人之识。只有创造一个优秀教师人才脱颖而出的环境,我们的高校才能兴旺发达,才能步入“世界一流”的行列。     

The basic biology of malignant melanoma: molecular mechanisms of disease progression and comparative aspects

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a life-threatening disease characterized by a highly aggressive biologic behavior in both humans and dogs. Despite improvements in diagnosis and patient care, most deaths from MM are due to metastases that are resistant to conventional treatment modalities. To ultimately reduce the mortality associated with metastatic disease, it is necessary to better define the fundamental molecular mechanisms of malignant tumor progression. The progression of disease is a consequence of the complex interactions between malignantly transformed cells and host factors. Characterization of the stages of tumor progression and the changes occurring in highly malignant cells is important for the development of effective treatment regimens. The dys-regulated molecular mechanisms of transformed melanocytes are presently being characterized. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the molecular phases in the progression of MM, which include genetic instability, dysregulated proliferation of melanocytes, increased invasion and metastasis, and angiogenesis.     

Adjuvants in veterinary vaccines: modes of action and adverse effects

Vaccine adjuvants are chemicals, microbial components, or mammalian proteins that enhance the immune response to vaccine antigens. Interest in reducing vaccine-related adverse effects and inducing specific types of immunity has led to the development of numerous new adjuvants. Adjuvants in development or in experimental and commercial vaccines include aluminum salts (alum), oil emulsions, saponins, immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs), liposomes, microparticles, nonionic block copolymers, derivatized polysaccharides, cytokines, and a wide variety of bacterial derivatives. The mechanisms of action of these diverse compounds vary, as does their induction of cell-mediated and antibody responses. Factors influencing the selection of an adjuvant include animal species, specific pathogen, vaccine antigen, route of immunization, and type of immunity needed.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Serum nitrate and nitrite in dogs with spontaneous cardiac disease

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) concentrations are high in dogs with chronic valvular disease (CVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) compared to healthy controls and to determine whether NO concentrations are correlated with type of cardiac disease, disease severity, medical therapy, or serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Blood was collected from 32 dogs with DCM, from 10 dogs with CVD, and from 10 healthy controls. Indirect determination of NO concentrations was performed by a commercial photoabsorbance assay that uses a Greiss reagent to measure the concentration of nitrite and nitrate (NN), end products of NO metabolism. TNF and IL-1 activities were measured by bioassay. Mean NN concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with heart disease (median, 4.57 microM; range, 0.00-31.05 microM) than in controls (median, 0.00 microM; range, 0.00-6.16 microM; P = .04). NN concentrations in dogs with cardiac disease were not correlated with type or severity of cardiac disease, medication type, or TNF and IL-1 concentrations. NN concentrations were inversely correlated with fractional shortening. The results of this study suggest that metabolites of NO are increased in some dogs with cardiac disease, but these increases appear to be independent of disease severity, TNF and IL-1 concentrations, and type of pharmacologic intervention.     

青海大黄产业化开发方案的研究

青海省黄南、果洛两州建立大黄人工种植基地,旨在研究和掌握野生大黄的生物学特性及生长发育规律,积极推广"人工育苗、自然生长"的生产模式及产业化运作模式,发挥产地中藏药资源优势,在逐步满足日益增长的市场需求,这将使以牧区扶贫和草原生态治理为目标的产业化项目实现预期的目的。     

Keratitis due to Histoplasma spp. in a horse

A 5-year-old Holsteiner gelding from Germany was presented 2 months after a whitish discoloration of the left cornea was observed. Cytologic examination revealed intra- and extracellular globular structures, up to 4 micro m in size, consisting of a central spherical deeply basophilic body surrounded by an unstained halo. The structures were morphologically consistent with Histoplasma spp. Infection with Histoplasma organisms is not endemic in Europe. Topical use of fluconazole was successful in eliminating Histoplasma organisms within 10 days of initiation of treatment.