Mouse epidermal development: effects of retinoic acid exposure in utero

Epidermal morphogenesis was studied in vivo following prenatal exposure to retinoic acid (RA). In pregnant mice, a single oral dose of RA on day 11.5 of gestation failed to induce histological changes in fetal epidermal development except in epidermal thickness. Epidermal thickness increased from 16.5 days post-coitum (dpc) onwards, and temporal and spatial epidermal modifications in keratins K5 and K14 related to proliferative activity of keratinocytes were observed. An RA effect on cell proliferation was supported by a statistically significant increase in the number of epidermal S-phase cells, containing BrdU-incorporated DNA in RA-exposed mice compared with nonexposed animals. The prolonged in utero action of RA on epidermal proliferative activity in fetuses and newborns suggests a long-term RA effect that may play a role on the development and evolution of diseases in adult skin.     

In vitro investigation of ceruminolytic activity of various otic cleansers for veterinary use

Knowledge of the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available ear cleansing products assists the practitioner to choose the best available product for specific clinical situations. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available canine ear cleansers. For this purpose, the ceruminolytic activity of 13 ear cleansers was evaluated using a standardized synthetic cerumen (SSC) that mimics the composition and texture of canine cerumen. The test products were incubated with mild agitation for 20 min with 500 mg of SSC previously compacted at the bottom of a test tube. Ceruminolytic activity was then assessed by quantifying the SSC removed by decantation. This procedure was repeated five consecutive times on each tube simulating repeated applications in the canine ear canal. Good repeatability among replicates was found in this assay, allowing direct comparisons between products. The final percentage of SSC elimination ranged from none (similar to water), between 8 and 39% for three products and up to 90% for one product (P<0.001). It is concluded that, in the experimental conditions used in this study, only 1/13 products had significant ceruminolytic activity.     

Pharmacokinetics and milk penetration of moxifloxacin after intravenous and subcutaneous administration to lactating goats

The pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin was studied following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) administration of 5 mg/kg to healthy lactating goats (n = 6). Moxifloxacin concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography assay with fluorescence detection. The moxifloxacin plasma concentration versus time data after IV administration could best be described by a two compartment open model. The disposition of SC administered moxifloxacin was best described by a one-compartment model. The plasma moxifloxacin clearance (Cl) for the IV route was 0.43 +/- 0.02 L/kg (mean +/- SE). The steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) was 0.79 +/- 0.08 L/kg. The terminal half-life (t1/2lambdaz) was 1.94 +/- 0.41 and 2.98 +/- 0.48 h after IV and SC administration, respectively. The absolute bioavailability was 96.87 +/- 10.27% after SC administration. Moxifloxacin penetration from blood to milk was quick for both routes of administration and the high AUCmilk/AUCplasma and Cmax-milk/Cmax-plasma ratios reached indicated a wide penetration of moxifloxacin into the milk. From these data, it appears that a 5 mg/kg SC dose of moxifloxacin would be effective in lactating goats against bacterial isolates with MIC < or = 0.20 microg/mL in plasma and MIC < or = 0.40 microg/mL in milk.     

Comparative fluorescein angiography of the normal sheep and goat ocular fundi

Fluorescein angiography without sedative or anesthetic agents was evaluated in 20 normal goats and 20 normal sheep. All of the angiographic phases were observed using 20 mg/kg fluorescein IV in both species. Fundus fluorescein angiography results revealed wide stars of Winslow in the tapetal fundus, central or marginal flow during the first part of the arterial phase, delayed filling of the focal areas in the choroid near the optic disc that often coincided with others in the disc, and lack of evidence of the 'striate area' in the tapetal fundi. In goats, the angiographic times were 6.54+/-1.25 s for the arterial phase (TA), 7.80+/-1.37 s for the arterio-venous phase (TAV), and 14.13+/-2.01 s for the venous phase (TV). I1: 1.30+/-0.30 s (time elapsing between TA and TAV), and I2: 6.20+/-1.60 s (time elapsing between TAV and TV). In sheep, times were 9.54+/-2.18 s TA, 11.73+/-2.10 s TAV, and 20.86+/-2.74 s TV. I1: 2.04+/-0.75 s and I2: 8.98+/-2.47 s, respectively. Due to the large size of the fundic vessels in sheep and goats, fluorescein angiography of the retinal vasculature can facilitate the study of the different vascular diseases in these species.     

Yeasts and algae isolated from cows with mastitis in the south-eastern part of Poland

The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of mycotic and protohecal mastitis in herds in south-eastern part of Poland. A total of 3091 milk samples from udder quarters with clinical and subclinical mastitis from 29 dairy herds was investigated in this survey. Milk samples were plated as soon as possible on blood agar (BA), Mac Conkey agar, aesculin-tallium acetate-crystal violet agar, and Sabouraud agar. A hundred and thirty one yeast (4.23%) and eleven Protoheca zopfii (0.35%) strains were isolated from cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis. All the isolated fungi were the yeast classified into 4 genera (Candida, Trichosporon, Saccharomyces and Rhodotorula). The most frequently isolated yeasts were Candida sp., C. kefyr, C. humicola, C. rugosa and C. inconspicua. Both fungi and algae were isolated first of all during a confinement-housing season.     

Food consumption patterns in an adult urban population in Beirut, Lebanon

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, measure and assess the food consumption pattern of the adult population living in Beirut, Lebanon, and to identify inadequate or excessive intake of food groups particularly linked to non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey was conducted in 2001. Dietary habits were assessed by means of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. SETTING: Dietary survey of the urban population (Beirut). SUBJECTS: Random sample of 444 adult subjects (aged 25-54 years) in Beirut. RESULTS: The mean consumption of food by the study population was estimated to be 3,030 g day(-1), providing an energy intake of 2,523.57 kcal day(-1). Fat contributed 38.9% to the average daily energy intake, protein 13.4% and carbohydrates 47.2%. Mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was approximately 367 g day(-1) and 45.3% of subjects consumed less than the recommended 400 g daily. Cereals contributed 324.5 g day(-1), providing 35.0% of daily energy intake, with bread being the most highly consumed (146.2 g day(-1)) in this food group. The mean intake of meat and poultry products was 91.7 g day(-1) and provided 8.8% of daily energy intake, with consumption of butchery products especially beef being the highest (47.6 g day(-1)) followed by poultry (36.1 g day(-1)). A low consumption of fish was noted (19.7 g day(-1)), with 73.6% of subjects consuming less than the recommended 2 servings of fish per week. Dairy products contributed 243.1 g day(-1) or 10.9% of daily energy intake, and milk was the least consumed dairy product (56.8% of consumers). The intake of added fats and oils, excluding those in cooked recipes, was 20.4 g day(-1); olive oil was not used in cooking but was added solely at the table and its mean intake was 5 g day(-1). The consumption of butter was low (0.86 g day(-1)) and vegetable oil was the type of fat mostly used in cooking. The average intake of alcoholic beverages was low (33.6 g day(-1)), accounting for 0.7% of total energy intake. Women had significantly higher intakes of milk, dairy products, vegetables and coffee than men (P < 0.05). The percentage of women who reported the use of low-fat items was significantly higher than that of men. Younger people (25-34 years) ate significantly more meat, sugar, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and consumed significantly less cooked vegetables and legumes, than older ones (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The rather high contribution of fat to daily energy intake, the low intake of fish and the relatively high percentage of people consuming less than the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables observed in this study suggest that the adult Lebanese population is at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and other non-communicable diseases, which provides the basis for recommending increased intakes of fish, particularly fatty fish, and fruits and vegetables.     

Organics captured from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft

Organics found in comet 81P/Wild 2 samples show a heterogeneous and unequilibrated distribution in abundance and composition. Some organics are similar, but not identical, to those in interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous meteorites. A class of aromatic-poor organic material is also present. The organics are rich in oxygen and nitrogen compared with meteoritic organics. Aromatic compounds are present, but the samples tend to be relatively poorer in aromatics than are meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. The presence of deuterium and nitrogen-15 excesses suggest that some organics have an interstellar/protostellar heritage. Although the variable extent of modification of these materials by impact capture is not yet fully constrained, a diverse suite of organic compounds is present and identifiable within the returned samples.     

From individual dispersal to species ranges: perspectives for a changing world

Dispersal is often risky to the individual, yet the long-term survival of populations depends on having a sufficient number of individuals that move, find each other, and locate suitable breeding habitats. This tension has consequences that rarely meet our conservation or management goals. This is particularly true in changing environments, which makes the study of dispersal urgently topical in a world plagued with habitat loss, climate change, and species introductions. Despite the difficulty of tracking mobile individuals over potentially vast ranges, recent research has revealed a multitude of ways in which dispersal evolution can either constrain, or accelerate, species' responses to environmental changes.