Carvedilol in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by reduced systolic function, heightened sympathetic tone, and high morbidity and mortality. Little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of beta-blocker treatment in dogs with DCM. HYPOTHESIS: Carvedilol improves echocardiographic and neurohormonal variables in dogs with DCM over a 4-month treatment period. METHODS: Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomized study. Dogs with DCM underwent echocardiography, ECG, thoracic radiographs, and neurohormonal profiling, followed by titration onto carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg q12h) or placebo over a 4-week period and subsequently received 3 months of therapy. Primary study endpoints included left ventricular volume and function. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs received carvedilol and 7 received placebo. At study end, 13 carvedilol dogs and 5 placebo dogs were alive. There was no difference in the mean percentage change in left ventricular volume at end-diastole (LVVd), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVVs), and ejection fraction (EF) between treatment groups, suggesting that both groups experienced similar amounts of disease progression. Carvedilol treatment did not result in significant changes in neurohormonal activation, radiographic heart size, heart rate, or owner perceived quality-of-life. Baseline B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicted dogs in the carvedilol-treated group that maintained or improved their EF over the study duration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Carvedilol administration did not improve echocardiographic or neurohormonal indicators of heart function. The lack of effect may be related to severity of disease, carvedilol dose, or brevity of follow-up time. Statistical power of the present study was adversely affected by a high fatality rate in study dogs and small sample size.     

Factors associated with variation in Neospora caninum bulk-milk S/P ratios in initially bulk-milk negative testing Dutch dairy herds

We conducted a study on 81 initially bulk-milk ELISA negative dairy herds taken from a random sample of Dutch dairy herds to evaluate variation in bulk-milk S/P ratios and to study reasons for bulk-milk conversion. These herds were repeatedly (3-month intervals) tested between April 2004 and August 2005 and serostatus of all animals had previously been established as negative (N), low-positive (LP) or high-positive (HP). Of these herds, herd- and test-related factors associated with variation in sample over positive (S/P) ratios were analysed using a multivariable linear-mixed model with ‘herd’ as random effect. In addition, changes of animal serostatus in converting herds were described. S/P ratios were calculated as the optical density of the bulk-milk sample minus the optical density of the negative serum control divided by the difference in optical density between the positive and negative serum control.

Sixteen bulk-milk conversions in 12 dairy herds were seen with few indications of serological conversion in lactating cattle except for one herd in which recrudescence of infection appeared likely in nine cows. The effect of HP serostatus on bulk-milk S/P ratio was 2–3 times stronger compared with LP serostatus. In addition, bulk-milk S/P-ratio increased when the proportion of HP animals between 1 and 60 days in milk increased and decreased when the average milk-production level of the herd increased. Besides these herd-related factors, the use of different ELISA-testkits between test rounds had a significant effect on the S/P-ratio in bulk-milk samples.     

蒜和葱上二斑叶螨的发生为害及其抗药性监测

二斑叶螨寄主植物范围极广, 但其对百合科蔬菜造成危害的研究报道极少?本研究采集了来自北京海淀百合科蔬菜蒜和葱上的2个二斑叶螨种群, 生物测定结果显示, 2个种群对阿维菌素呈现出极高水平抗性, 对哒螨灵为中等以上抗性(LC50>5 000 mg/L), 对新型药剂联苯肼酯?虫螨腈和腈吡螨酯也表现出中等到高水平抗性?抗性基因突变频率检测发现, 与阿维菌素抗性相关基因G314D和G326E位点以及和哒螨灵抗性相关基因H92R位点的突变频率均高达100%, 为纯合抗性种群?因此, 本研究所测试的2个二斑叶螨种群对阿维菌素和哒螨灵单剂的敏感性极低, 需慎重选用这2种药剂, 而3种新型杀螨剂联苯肼酯?虫螨腈和腈吡螨酯在田间需轮换使用?     

Association between porpoise presence and fish choruses: implications for feeding strategies and ecosystem-based conservation of the East Asian finless porpoise

The associations between feeding activities and environmental variables inform animal feeding tactics that maximize energetic gains by minimizing energy costs while maximizing feeding success. Relevant studies in aquatic animals, particularly marine mammals, are scarce due to difficulties in the observation of feeding behaviors in aquatic environments. This data scarcity concurrently hinders ecosystem-based fishery management in the context of small toothed-cetacean conservation. In the present study, a passive acoustic monitoring station was deployed in an East Asian finless porpoise habitat in Laizhou Bay to investigate potential relationships between East Asian finless porpoises and their prey. The data revealed that porpoises were acoustically present nearly every day during the survey period. Porpoise detection rates differed between spring and autumn in concert with activities of fish choruses. During spring, fish choruses were present throughout the afternoon, and this was the time when porpoise vocalizations were the most frequently detected. During autumn, when fish choruses were absent, porpoise detection rates decreased, and diurnal patterns were not detected. The close association between fish choruses and finless porpoise activities implies an “eavesdropping” feeding strategy to maximize energetic gains, similar to other toothed cetaceans that are known to engage similar feeding strategies. Underwater noise pollution, particularly those masking fish choruses, could interrupt finless porpoises’ feeding success. Fisheries competing soniferous fishes with finless porpoise could impact finless porpoise viability through ecosystem disruption, in addition to fishing gear entanglement.     

中美动物源微生物耐药性监测对比研究

抗微生物药物在保障动物健康和食品安全方面发挥了重要作用,为了应对日益严峻的微生物耐药性问题,动物源微生物耐药性监测是应对微生物耐药性风险的重要防控策略。在“同一健康体系”工作框架下,中国和美国积极进行动物源微生物耐药性监测。本文通过对比研究中美动物源微生物耐药性系统的监测设计、监测对象和监测数据应用情况,结合我国畜牧兽医行业现状,立足我国动物源微生物耐药性监测客观需求,旨在为我国动物源微生物耐药性监测工作提供参考。     

一种农业电网远程监测系统的设计

基于当前嵌入式的流行，设计了一套嵌入式网络服务器，对其设计方案及主要芯片端口和功能进行介绍，将其应用到农业电网远程监测系统中的网络通信，给出了系统的功能框图，所涉及到的技术有数据采集技术、实时网络通讯技术等等。     

大气压等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发和生长发育的影响

利用自制新型大气压等离子体装置对生菜种子进行处理,研究了不同电压的大气压等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发、幼苗生长及产量品质的影响。试验结果表明:不同电压的等离子体处理对生菜种子萌发的影响效果不同。其中,5610和5950 V处理对种子的萌发有促进作用,种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数与对照相比均有所提高,而6290~7310 V处理则抑制了种子的萌发,且电压越高抑制效果越明显。同时,等离子体处理种子α-淀粉酶活性提高,电导率降低,幼苗地上部鲜干质量、地下部鲜干质量、根体积、根活力及过氧化物酶活性也有不同程度的增加。不同电压的等离子体处理促进了生菜定植后的生长发育,产量最高比CK提高12.52%;生菜的维生素C、叶绿素、硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐含量等品质也有所改善。综合来看,5610和5950 V的等离子体处理效果较优。     

The Study and Development of Environment-Monitoring Biosensors

A review on environment-monitoring biosensors is presented.During recent years,various environment-monitoring biosensors are fast developed.They are applied to various areas,such as aquatic environment,atmosphere environment et al.The developing trend of environment_monitoring biosensors is also discussed.     

Monitoring and Assessment of Tie on the Caiyuanba Yangtze Bridge

The monitoring and assessment scheme of the Caiyuanba Yangtze Bridge is present by sensitivity analysis. The mechanics character of the six ties is studied by numerical simulation, and then the sensor location and selection are discussed considering the technique of sensor and construction situation. The trend of the displacement at the sensor location is analyzed according to different damage level of ties, the pattern associating with several displacements which are sensitive to damage at ties is bring forward to improve assessment reliability. The result can assist implement of structural health monitoring system to the same type as this bridge.     

Vehicle Monitoring Control and Scheduling Management System in a Scenic Area

In order to help tourists choose satisfying scenic spots, content hotels, convenient lines and convenient vehicles, vehicle monitoring control and scheduling management system in a scenic area is presented, which dispatches vehicle by appointments and the statistic of tourists at a sight spot and recommends the tour line by broadcasting in vehicle. Vehicle monitoring control and scheduling management system in a scenic area, a integrative vehicle management system, is an integration of GPS, GIS, trunked radio system, a management system of booking room and a tourist statistic system at a sight spot.