Haematology of subclinical fatty liver in dairy cows

The relationship between liver fat content and haematology was investigated in 369 cows from eight herds sampled in the second week after calving. High levels of fat in the liver were associated with a depression in total white cell count and in neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. There was no correlation between liver fat content and the percentage of E rosetting lymphocytes, packed cell volume or haemoglobin concentration. The changes in peripheral white cell counts may be related to the increased incidence of post parturient disease in cows with fatty liver.     

In vitro evaluation of topical biocide and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs

Background – Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an important canine pathogen, and the emergence and widespread dissemination of meticillin‐resistant strains (MRSP) is of significant concern. Multidrug‐resistant infections may require alternative approaches, such as the use of topical therapy. There is minimal information about the in vitro susceptibility of meticillin‐susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) and MRSP to biocides and topical antimicrobials. Hypothesis/Objectives – The hypothesis was that clinical isolates of MSSP and MRSP would not have universal susceptibility to topical biocides and antimicrobials. The goal of this study was to assess the susceptibility of a collection of S. pseudintermedius isolates to selected antimicrobials and biocides. Animals – The study was performed on clinical isolates of MSSP and MRSP from dogs with skin and soft tissue infections collected throughout North America between 2006 and 2008. Methods – The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of chlorhexidine digluconate, benzalkonium chloride, triclosan, accelerated hydrogen peroxide, geranium oil, tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract were tested for 25 MRSP and 25 MSSP isolates from dogs using the agar dilution method. The MICs of fusidic acid, bacitracin and mupirocin were determined using Etests. Results – Triclosan demonstrated excellent activity against all bacterial isolates, with no growth at the lowest concentration evaluated (MIC ≤ 0.5 μg/mL). Conversely, grapefruit seed extract did not inhibit growth at the highest concentration tested (MIC > 3.84 μg/mL). All isolates were susceptible to mupirocin, fusidic acid and bacitracin. There were no significant differences noted in the range, MIC₅₀ or MIC₉₀ between MSSP and MRSP isolates. Conclusions and clinical importance – While isolates were susceptible to most of the tested compounds, universal susceptibility to all compounds with potential antimicrobial activity cannot be assumed, and specific testing is required.     

Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy and spinal cord decompression in a lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)

A 16-yr-old, castrated male lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) presented with acute bilateral pelvic limb paralysis. Cisternal and lumbar myelograms demonstrated right-sided spinal cord compression at T13-L1. During an extradural hemilaminectomy, chronically ruptured disk material was removed at T13-L1, with moderate venous dilatation observed cranially. The macaque fully recovered from clinical signs within 2 mo.     

A whole-genome assembly of Drosophila

We report on the quality of a whole-genome assembly of Drosophila melanogaster and the nature of the computer algorithms that accomplished it. Three independent external data sources essentially agree with and support the assembly's sequence and ordering of contigs across the euchromatic portion of the genome. In addition, there are isolated contigs that we believe represent nonrepetitive pockets within the heterochromatin of the centromeres. Comparison with a previously sequenced 2.9- megabase region indicates that sequencing accuracy within nonrepetitive segments is greater than 99. 99% without manual curation. As such, this initial reconstruction of the Drosophila sequence should be of substantial value to the scientific community.     

Local Control of Microdomain Orientation in Diblock Copolymer Thin Films with Electric Fields

Local control of the domain orientation in diblock copolymer thin films can be obtained by the application of electric fields on micrometer-length scales. Thin films of an asymmetric polystyrene-polymethylmethacrylate diblock copolymer, with cylindrical polymethylmethacrylate microdomains, were spin-coated onto substrates previously patterned with planar electrodes. The substrates, 100-nanometer-thick silicon nitride membranes, allow direct observation of the electrodes and the copolymer domain structure by transmission electron microscopy. The cylinders aligned parallel to the electric field lines for fields exceeding 30 kilovolts per centimeter, after annealing at 250°C in an inert atmosphere for 24 hours. This technique could find application in nanostructure fabrication.     

Xanthine oxidase activity in vitro: effects of food extracts and components

There is significant interest in the direct antioxidant activities of dietary polyphenols, due to associations between consumption of polyphenol-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and decreased incidence of oxidative-stress related disease. However, indirect antioxidant action, such as the inhibition of ROS-producing enzymes, may be equally relevant to health benefits through a general reduction in oxidative stress in vivo. To this end, the effects of food extracts and individual compounds on the in vitro activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) were assessed, many for the first time. Several compounds were shown to be potent inhibitors in vitro, including hesperetin and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate with IC50 values of 39 and 49 microM, respectively. Of the extracts, cranberry juice, purple grape juice, and black tea were the most potent, with IC50 values of 2.4, 3.5, and 5.8% of extracts, respectively. Some samples were shown to promote XO activity over the concentration ranges tested, including orange juice and pink grapefruit juice. Certain "inhibitors", such as purple grape juice and black tea, promoted XO activity at low concentration. The possible role of dietary inhibitors of XO in reducing oxidative stress in vivo is discussed.