不同抗旱措施在干旱半干旱地区公路绿化中的应用研究

干旱半干旱地区公路绿化时,幼树成活期间的水分供应很难满足,因而造成植树成活率低,见效慢。采用地膜、保水剂、生根粉几种抗旱措施,对馒头柳的土壤含水量、生长情况、叶绿素含量及成活率进行了比较试验。结果表明,这些措施均有一定的抗旱作用,其中保水剂效果最佳,其次为地膜,最后是生根粉。因此可以认为在干旱地区公路绿化,土壤含水量较低时,抗旱措施能保持幼树的稳定生长,提高公路绿化率。从经济角度考虑,树盘覆盖地膜成本低,是干旱地区公路绿化的最佳供水途径。     

Bovine herpesvirus 4-associated postpartum metritis in a Spanish dairy herd

In more than 10 Spanish dairy cows, a bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) associated postpartum metritis was confirmed by virus isolation, BHV4-glycoprotein B (gB) PCR and/or serology. In this study, 12 cows with, and, at the time of sampling, 3 cows without clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis from one large dairy herd in Spain were examined for bacterial and viral infections. Blood, placenta/caruncles and uterine contents were collected between day 1 and day 20 post-calving, and examined for the presence of bacteria and for viruses by virus isolation, BHV4 DNA by BHV4-gB PCR and/or BHV4 antibody titres. Bovine herpesvirus 4 was detected in 83% of the cases with clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis by virus isolation and/or BHV4-gB PCR. An increase of BHV4 antibodies was detected in all examined postpartum metritis cows and in the 3 cows without clinical metritis. Two of these 3 cows developed severe metritis a few dayss after collecting the first blood sample. A concurrent infections of BHV4 and bacteria, mainly Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Streptococcus sp., were detected in 73% of the examined uterine contents collected from postpartum metritis affected cows. This case-report study showed a clear association between BHV4 infections and acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows. In addition, the BHV4-associated postpartum metritis appeared to be an emerging syndrome in this Spanish herd.     

In vitro effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on canine neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes: PMNs) are essential for the host defense against various infections and are often injurious to the host, causing inflammatory diseases where tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is suggested to play an important role. Since an effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis has not been studied, canine PMNs were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)TNF-alpha in the present study to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis. PMN apoptosis and function to produce ROS were assessed by flow cytometry. Delayed apoptosis was observed in the PMNs treated with rhTNF-alpha at 100 ng/ml, accompanied by retention of capability to produce ROS. However, PMN apoptosis was accelerated by rhTNF-alpha combined with cycloheximide. Therefore, it is indicated that TNF-alpha is able to activate anti- and pro-apoptotic pathways in PMNs and that the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by TNF-alpha requires protein synthesis in the PMNs.     

不同施肥处理对黄泥土微生物生物量碳氮和酶活性的影响

通过室内培育实验,研究了不同施肥处理对黄泥土微生物生物量C、N和脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶活性的影响。培养过程中,单施化肥处理土壤微生物生物量C、N均呈下降趋势,施用有机肥处理的土壤微生物量C前期升高至一定水平后或保持稳定、或呈下降趋势,而微生物生物量N总体均呈下降趋势;不同施肥处理的脲酶活性呈前期上升后期下降趋势,而酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶则单施化肥处理呈上升趋势、配施有机肥处理呈下降趋势。与对照处理相比,单施化肥处理显著降低土壤微生物生物量C、N,高量施用化肥处理还显著降低土壤脲酶活性,但对酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性的影响并不明显。秸秆施用可显著提高土壤微生物生物量C、N和酶活性,特别是高量施用秸秆的效果更明显。施用猪粪由于同时带入了大量的活性养分,对土壤微生物生物量C、 N和酶活性的影响尚难评价。在高度集约农业利用下,继续保持较高的化肥施用量并不利于土壤生物质量的维护和提高,而秸秆直接还田才是保持土壤健康状态的有效措施。     

不同施肥措施对潮土有机碳平衡及固碳潜力的影响

以中国科学院封丘农业生态实验站的长期定位施肥试验为研究平台,研究不同施肥措施对潮土有机C含量的影响,并利用Jenny模型对不同施肥措施下的潮土有机C动态进行模拟。结果表明,施肥措施明显改变了潮土有机C含量,并且有机肥处理的作用效果要明显优于化肥处理。不同施肥措施不仅改变了潮土有机C的平衡水平,也影响了有机C的分解速率,NPK、1/2OM和OM施肥处理的有机C平衡值分别为7.19、7.75和9.37g/kg,而分解速率分别为0.038、0.113和0.1451/a。在目前施肥模式不变的情况下,与试验初相比,达到平衡时CK处理的潮土将会损失C1478kg/hm2,而NPK、1/2OM和OM处理的潮土则会分别增加C7376、7790和12066kg/hm2。因此,可以认为施肥处理促进了潮土的C固定。     

Retrospective evaluation of sildenafil citrate as a therapy for pulmonary hypertension in dogs

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a pathologic condition in dogs characterized by abnormally high pressures in the pulmonary circulation and has been associated with a poor outcome. Sildenafil is a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor that produces nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation. Sildenafil treatment decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in people with PH. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. The cardiology database was searched for dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. PH was defined as systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) > or = 25 mmHg at rest. Medical records were reviewed for the following information: signalment, duration and type of clinical signs before treatment, underlying disease, estimated or measured PAPs, dosage and dosing interval of sildenafil, and the effect of treatment on clinical signs and pulmonary arterial pressure and survival time. Thirteen affected dogs were identified. Clinical signs included collapse, syncope, respiratory distress, and cough. Duration of clinical signs before presentation ranged from 3 days to 5 months. An underlying cause was identified in 8 dogs. The median sildenafil dosage was 1.9 mg/kg. Ten dogs received concurrent medications. Median PAPs was 90 mmHg; 8 dogs were reevaluated after therapy, and the median decrease in PAPs was 16.5 mmHg. The median survival time of all dogs was 91 days. Sildenafil appeared to be well tolerated in dogs with PH and was associated with decreased PAPs and amelioration of clinical signs in most. Sildenafil represents a reasonable treatment option for dogs with pulmonary hypertension.     

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of benazepril in the treatment of chronic renal insufficiency in cats

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is a common disease in cats. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) have beneficial effects in humans with CRI by reducing the loss of protein in the urine and increasing life expectancy. HYPOTHESIS: The ACEI benazepril has beneficial effects on survival, clinical variables, or both as compared with placebo in cats with CRI. ANIMALS: 61 cats with naturally occurring CRI. METHODS: The cats were enrolled into a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Cats received placebo or 0.5-1 mg/kg benazepril once daily for up to 6 months. RESULTS: Urine protein/urine creatinine ratios were significantly (P < .05) lower with benazepril as compared with placebo at days 120 and 180. Three cats with placebo and 1 cat with benazepril were removed prematurely from the study because of deterioration of CRI or death. Cats were classified into 4 stages of CRI according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) classification scheme. Incidence rates of cats with IRIS classification stage 2 or stage 3 that remained in stage 2 or 3 without progressing to stage 4 were higher with benazepril (93 +/- 5%) as compared with placebo (73 +/- 13%). CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These results suggest a potential for benazepril to delay the progression of disease, extend survival time, or both in cats with CRI.     

Allele frequency and likely impact of the glycogen branching enzyme deficiency gene in Quarter Horse and Paint Horse populations

Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency (GBED), a fatal condition recently identified in fetuses and neonatal foals of the Quarter Horse and Paint Horse lineages, is caused by a nonsense mutation in codon 34 of the GBE1 gene, which prevents the synthesis of a functional GBE protein and severely disrupts glycogen metabolism. The aims of this project were to determine the mutant GBE1 allele frequency in random samples from the major relevant horse breeds, as well as the frequency with which GBED is associated with abortion and early neonatal death using the tissue archives from veterinary diagnostic laboratories. The mutant GBE1 allele frequency in registered Quarter Horse, Paint Horse, and Thoroughbred populations was 0.041, 0.036, and 0.000, respectively. Approximately 2.5% of fetal and early neonatal deaths in Quarter Horse-related breeds submitted to 2 different US diagnostic laboratories were homozygous for the mutant GBE1 allele, with the majority of these being abortions. Retrospective histopathology of the homozygotes detected periodic acid Schiff's (PAS)-positive inclusions in the cardiac or skeletal muscle, which is characteristic of GBED, in 8 out of the 9 cases. Pedigree and genotype analyses supported the hypothesis that GBED is inherited as a simple recessive trait from a single founder. The frequency with which GBED is associated with abortion and neonatal mortality in Quarter Horse-related breeds makes the DNA-based test valuable in determining specific diagnoses and designing matings that avoid conception of a GBED foal.     

Cyclooxygenase expression in the early stages of equine laminitis: a cytologic study

BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicate increased amounts of mRNA from inflammation-related genes in the prodromal stage of laminitis. HYPOTHESIS: Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) undergo distinct patterns of expression in equine laminae in the developmental stage (DEV) and acute clinical stage (LAM) of laminitis. ANIMALS: Horses selected from an outbred population were placed into 1 of 4 groups: DEV (n = 5), CON-3h (control group for DEV, n = 5), LAM (n = 5) and CON-10h (control group for LAM, n = 5). METHODS: Laminar and skin samples were obtained from (1) animals either undergoing leukopenia (DEV) or the onset of clinical signs of laminitis (LAM) after black walnut extract (BWE) administration and (2) animals either 3 (CON-3h) or 10 (CON-10h) hours after administration of water. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed for COX-1 and COX-2. RESULTS: Upon immunohistochemical analysis of all 4 groups, COX-2 was expressed by most viable epithelial cells in both laminae and skin. COX-1 exhibited similar epithelial expression to COX-2 in skin epidermis, but was expressed exclusively in the basal layer of laminar epidermis. COX-1 protein was not detectable in dermal vasculature of equine skin or laminae, whereas COX-2 was present in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells of dermal vasculature in both skin and laminae in all groups. A marked increase in laminar COX-2 protein concentrations was detected on immunoblotting in the DEV group, although a lesser increase was observed in the LAM group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: COX-2 protein expression is markedly increased in the resident laminar cell types in the developmental stage of BWE-induced laminitis.