Patterns of nodal metastases,biological behaviour and prognosis of canine mast cell tumours of the pinna: A multi-institutional retrospective study

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (cMCTs) of the pinna have been associated with an aggressive biological behaviour, although data remain scarce. The knowledge acquired over the past years on histologic gradings, and the value of lymph node (LN) staging, may help in better characterizing this anatomical presentation. The first aim was to describe the frequency, location, and histologic appearance of LN metastases in cMCT of the pinna. A second aim was to evaluate prognosis. Medical records of dogs with cMCT of the pinna, that underwent tumour and sentinel (SLN) or regional LN (RLN) excision, were reviewed. The influence of potential prognostic variables on time to progression (TTP) and tumour-specific survival (TSS) was investigated. Thirty-nine dogs were included: 19 (48.7%) had Kiupel high-grade (K-HG) and 20 (51.3%) had low-grade (K-LG) MCTs. Eighteen (46.1%) dogs underwent SLN mapping: the superficial cervical LN was at least one of SLN in 17 (94.4%) cases. Twenty-two (56.4%) dogs had LN metastases; the superficial cervical LN was always involved. On multivariable analysis, only K-HG was associated with increased risk of progression (p = .043) and tumour-related death (p = .021). Median TTP and TSS were 270 and 370 days in K-HG, respectively; these were not reached in dogs with K-LG tumours (p < .01). cMCTs of the pinna are often K-HG and are also associated with a higher frequency of LN metastasis; however, we confirmed the independent prognostic value of histologic grading. A multimodal treatment may lead to favourable long-term outcome. Moreover, the superficial cervical LN is most often the SLN.     

Latitudinal gradients in body size and sexual size dimorphism in fleas: males drive Bergmann's pattern

We tested for the effects of latitude and geographic range size (GRS) on body size, leg length, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) across 103 species of fleas, taking into account phylogenetic between-species relationships. When the data on body size were combined for males and females, the positive correlation between body size and latitude, but not GRS, was revealed. When the analysis was restricted to one sex only, the effect of latitude appeared to be non-significant for females, whereas male body size increased with an increase in latitude. Intraspecific body size variation was not associated with either the latitude or the latitudinal span of the geographic range, independently of which data subset was analyzed. No evidence of association between size-independent tibia length and latitude was found for either females, males, or both sexes combined. The degree of SSD decreased with a decrease in latitude but was not affected by GRS. We conclude that macroecological patterns might be manifested differently in males and females. This should be kept in mind while searching for these patterns.     

Detection of nonesterified (free) fatty acids in bovine serum: comparative evaluation of two methods.

A method comparison study for the determination and quantitation of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) in serum, using the commercial "NEFA C" enzymatic test kit, was performed using the spectrophotometric method recommended by the manufacturer and a modified procedure optimized for the use of a microplate reader, a 96-well microtiter plate, and small sample volumes (10 microl). Linearity, sensitivity, and precision using the test kit were determined for each method of detection. The assay was linear from 0 to 1.97 mEq/liter for both procedures, and the limits of detection were determined to be 0.22 (+/- 0.074) and 0.05 (+/- 0.002) mEq/liter for the spectrophotometer and microplate reader, respectively. Pairs of measurements for bovine serum samples were compared and evaluated by a mean difference plot method and not regression analysis, a method that has been shown to be inappropriate for method comparison studies. The difference plot was used to evaluate the systematic bias between the 2 methods. Random error is reported on the basis of SD differences, and "limits of agreement" are used to describe the maximum differences likely to occur between the 2 methods. Results suggest that the microplate reader method can be used reliably in place of the recommended spectrophotometric method. The microplate reader method is preferred because of its high throughput capabilities, simultaneous analysis of all the standards and samples, use of small sample and reagent volumes, and reduction in labor requirements and costs.     

俄罗斯常见野生食用菌资源

2003年～2007年间分别在俄罗斯远东、基洛夫、新西伯利亚和阿尔泰地区进行了菌类资源调查,共采集到各类真菌标本2000余号。介绍在俄罗斯上述地区民间食用或有关文献记载食用的真菌26个科180种,为了解和借鉴该国食用菌资源提供资料。     

Root System Distribution of Highbush Blueberry Crops of Various Ages in Medium-Textured Soils

The paper deals with the spatial distribution of root density in highbush blueberry plantations of various ages for a proper planting distance recommendation and a better irrigation and fertilization management. The environmental conditions consist of sandy-loamy soils and a continental temperate climate. Two highbush blueberry cultivars were studied, ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Blueray’. Root density (RD) and density of root cross-sectional area (RCSA) were investigated for various root diameters. It was found that the prevalent type of roots in highbush blueberry crops is the hair type, with root diameters less than 0.1?mm. Both RD and RCSA decreased with distance from plant and with soil depth; the 38-year-old crop showed a more developed root system versus the 8?year-old crop. In both cases the roots did not grow more than 0.6?m laterally and more than 0.7?m deep. According to these results, the planting distances in highbush blueberry could be reduced to substantially increase the number of plants/ha and fruit yield. Irrigation application should be carried out to wet a proper soil volume, about 0.6–0.7?m deep for older crops, and about 0.5?m deep for younger crops.     

Sperm cryopreservation in the Far‐Eastern wildcat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus)

The Far‐Eastern wildcat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a rare and poorly investigated nondomestic felid species. An attempt of freezing and cryopreserving Far‐Eastern wildcat spermatozoa in CaniPlus Freeze (CPF) medium is reported. Sperm was collected by electroejaculation from five adult Far‐Eastern wildcat captive‐born males. Epididymal spermatozoa from five adult randomly bred domestic cat males were used as a reference. The viability of frozen–thawed spermatozoa evaluated by double staining with SYBR Green I and PI followed by the subsequent confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was 38.2% ± 3.0% for the domestic cat and 38.0% ± 10.2% for the Far‐Eastern wildcat. The motility of frozen–thawed spermatozoa was 30.8% ± 9.8% for the domestic cat and 33.7% ± 15.1% for the Far‐Eastern wildcat. Sperm morphology was assessed by light microscopy. The total percentage of normal spermatozoa after freezing and thawing was 51.9 ± 5.9 for the domestic cat and 55.0% ± 6.4% for the Far‐Eastern wildcat. Defects of flagella were the most frequently observed abnormalities in both species (32.2% ± 4.8% and 30.8% ± 4.4% of all reported anomalies for the domestic cat and Far‐Eastern wildcat, respectively). Domestic cat epididymal and Far‐Eastern ejaculatory spermatozoa fertilized in vitro‐matured oocytes of the domestic cat (30.0% ± 5.5% and 35.5% ± 15.0%, respectively). Taken together, these results suggest that the freezing of Far‐Eastern wildcat spermatozoa with CPF medium is a suitable method for Felidae cryopreservation.     

Distribution of lipids and fatty acids in the zooxanthellae and host of the soft coral Sinularia sp.

The lipid classes and the fatty acid (FA) compositions of the zooxanthellae, the host tissue, and intact coral were determined for the first time in a soft coral, Sinularia sp. The contents of monoalkyldiacylglycerol (MADAG), triacylglycerol, and polar lipids differed significantly between the zooxanthellae and the host fractions. The zooxanthellae were rich in polar lipids, whereas neutral lipids were concentrated in the host. MADAG comprised 35% of the host lipids and was practically absent in zooxanthellae. Hence, MADAG is only synthesized in animal tissues and serves as a biomarker for the host in the host–zooxanthellae association of these soft corals. Similar to the zooxanthellae of reef-building corals, the main FA in the zooxanthellae of Sinularia sp. were 18:4n-3, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3. In addition, 16:3n-4 and 16:4n-1 (8.9% in total) were found in these zooxanthellae. The ratios of 16:3n-4, 16:4n-1, 18:4n-3, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 in the zooxanthellae to those in the host tissue were 4.2, 11.2, 10.1, 11.0, and 9.1, respectively. The proportions of some FA and lipid classes in the intact coral and its fractions showed that zooxanthellate lipids comprised 36 ± 15% of the total lipids in Sinularia sp. Two tetracosapolyenoic acids (24:5n-6 and 24:6n-3) are proposed as a biomarkers of the animal tissue and indicators of the purity of the zooxanthellae fractions from soft corals.     

Marine Fungal Cerebroside Flavuside B Protects HaCaT Keratinocytes against Staphylococcus aureus Induced Damage

Cerebrosides are glycosylated sphingolipids, and in mammals they contribute to the pro-/anti-inflammatory properties and innate antimicrobial activity of the skin and mucosal surfaces. Staphylococcus aureus infection can develop, not only from minor scratches of the skin, but this pathogen can also actively promote epithelial breach. The effect of cerebroside flavuside B from marine sediment-derived fungus Penicillium islandicum (Aniva Bay, the Sea of Okhotsk) on viability, apoptosis, total caspase activity, and cell cycle in human epidermal keratinocytes HaCaT line co-cultivated with S. aureus, as well as influence of flavuside B on LPS-treated HaCaT cells were studied. Influence of flavuside B on bacterial growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus and its effect on the enzymatic activity of sortase A was also investigated. It was found S. aureus co-cultivated with keratinocytes induces caspase-depended apoptosis and cell death, arrest cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and increases in cellular immune inflammation. Cerebroside flavuside B has demonstrated its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, substantially eliminating all the negative consequences caused by co-cultivation of keratinocytes with S. aureus or bacterial LPS. The dual action of flavuside B may be highly effective in the treatment of bacterial skin lesions and will be studied in the future in in vivo experiments.