Colour Flow Mapping examination: An useful screening test for the early diagnosis of ductus venosus patency in canine newborns

Ductus venosus (DV) closure plays a key role in hepatic circulation adaptation to postnatal metabolic function, and DV patency might develop a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS). The noninvasive Color Flow Mapping (CFM) examination, a validated method to diagnose CPSS in adult dogs, is routinely performed to assess DV closure after birth in humans. This study aimed to describe the feasibility of the ultrasonographic evaluation of the DV after birth and to determine its closure time in healthy Great Dane neonates. Patency of DV in serial Color Flow Mapping (CFM) examinations and bodyweight (BW) were recorded on Days 0‐3‐6‐9 in 24 neonates that were classified as having patent (PDV) or closed ductusvenosus (CDV) basing on CFM signal presence/absence. Since the 3rd day, DV diameter was recorded. Data were analysed by ANOVA (p < 0.05). All dogs resulted healthy 1 year later. The number of PDV and CDV puppies at birth was not different on Day 3 (24 and 0 vs. 22 and 2, PDV and CDV, respectively), whereas it resulted different on Days 6 (24 and 0 vs. 14 and 10) and 9 (24 and 0 vs. 0 and 24); on Day 3, it was different compared to Days 6 and 9; on Day 6, it was different from Day 9. Reduction of DV diameter resulted positively related to neonatal BW growth. The CFM evaluation of DV closure after birth in Great Dane puppies represents a feasible technique. Present results suggest the time of functional closure in normal neonates within 9 days after birth. Thus, CFM examination, as an early screening test for DV patency evaluation, performed 10 days after birth, may identify suspicious dogs at risk that would require further investigations. Further studies are needed to deepen the role of a delayed closure in low bodyweight and preterm puppies.     

Comparison of different European rainbow trout populations under intensive production conditions

Growth and carcass quality of European rainbow trout populations were compared in a full sib family test over five experimental periods. In total, 131 full-sib families of 17 different populations, (i.e. 19 500 fish), were included. A special system for family testing in trout was developed. This consisted of separate hatching of single pair matings, separate rearing of families up to marketable size and common fattening under two stocking densities. Thus, growth was studied separately for the rearing and the fattening period. The observed differences in rearing and fattening weight between and within populations were quite distinct and of significance for production and breeding efficiency. Similar ranking of populations after fattening in different years and under different stocking densities indicated that the final weight was highly genetically controlled. Carcass characteristics determined at marketable size showed somewhat smaller differences between populations. Populations with the highest fattening weight did not generally produce the most valuable carcasses. The results are discussed with respect to their impact on breeding strategies.     

Improving cereal grain carbohydrates for diet and health

Starch and cell wall polysaccharides (dietary fibre) of cereal grains contribute to the health benefits associated with the consumption of whole grain cereal products, including reduced risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. The physiological bases for these effects are reviewed in relation to the structures and physical properties of the polysaccharides and their behaviour (including digestion and fermentation) in the gastro-intestinal tract. Strategies for modifying the content and composition of grain polysaccharides to increase their health benefits are discussed, including exploiting natural variation and using mutagenesis and transgenesis to generate further variation. These studies will facilitate the development of new types of cereals and cereal products to face the major health challenges of the 21st century.     

Bodenmikrobiologische Prozesse und Testaceen (Protozoa) als Indikatoren für Schwermetallbelastung

Soil microbial processes and Testacea (Protozoa) as indicators of heavy metal pollution The influence of the emissions from a copper smelter on soil microbial processes was investigated at 4 meadow sites along a concentration gradient in Brixlegg (Austria). The first site is within 300 m of the source, further sites are situated 1125 m, 2425 m and 5900 m from the smelter. Heavy metal pollution close to the smelter induced a decrease of microbial biomass, respiration, dehydrogenase activity and the related enzyme activities in soil samples (5–10 cm soil depth): Protease, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, actual and potential nitrification. Thus, soil microbial processes in the 5–10 cm layer appear to be directly affected by heavy metals. Regarding the testate amoebae, their low individual and species numbers at 5–10 cm soil depth obstruct clear trends of this animal group. However, comparing the heavy polluted site with the control area, abundances, species numbers and biomass of testate amoebae slightly decreased at the polluted site (5–10 cm). Contrary to the results in the 5–10 cm layer, most soil microbial processes as well as abundances, species numbers and biomass of testaceans in the upper soil (0–5 cm) seem to be more strongly influenced by the supply of organic substrate than by the content of heavy metals in the soil.     

Soil organic matter beyond molecular structure Part I: Macromolecular and supramolecular characteristics

This contribution reviews and discusses structural aspects of soil organic matter (SOM) and humic substances (HS) with special respect to the macromolecular and the supramolecular view. It can be concluded that (1) dissolved humic acids behave as supramolecular associations of relatively small molecules with an enormous flexibility of reaction of environmental conditions, (2) multivalent cations may increase the apparent molecular weight by the formation of coordinative crosslinks in dissolved and undissolved natural organic matter (NOM), (3) sorption nonlinearity in solid humic acids and SOM may be due to polymer properties of NOM, (4) sorbates affect sorbent characteristics of SOM, and (5) hysteresis and conditioning effects in SOM can up to now best be explained with the polymer analogy. A distinct polydispersivity of SOM over a wide range of molecular masses is to be assumed. The supramolecular and the macromolecular models were derived from humic acids with different composition and on the basis of different sample states. Although the supramolecular model has not explicitely been shown for unfractionated DOM, the combination of all discussed studies suggests supramolecular as well as macromolecular characteristics of NOM. Neither macromolecules nor small molecules can be fully excluded in solid and dissolved SOM. Microregions with different properties provide different types of sorption sites. SOM is suggested to be regarded as amorphous material. This point of view is not restricted to high molecular masses and may supplement our understanding of SOM by the model of physical aging.     

Occurrence of zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside in wheat

An LC-MS method was developed for the analysis of zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside and zearalenone in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The limit of determination for zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside and zearalenone was 10 microg/kg. The recovery rates were calculated to be 69% and 89% at a concentration of 100 microg/kg for zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside and zearalenone, respectively. Twenty-four Bavarian wheat samples from a 1999 harvest were analyzed. Zearalenone was present in 22 of 24 field samples, the levels ranged from 11 to 860 microg/kg. Zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside was found in 10 of the zearalenone positive samples (42%) at levels ranging from 17 to 104 microg/kg. The amounts of zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside were correlated to those of zearalenone (r2 = 0.86, b = 0.10). After gastrointestinal hydrolyzation, zearalenone-4-beta-glucopyranoside might be implicated in the development of a zearalenone-syndrome. Therefore, more attention should be focused on conjugated mycotoxins in food and feed.     

Mitotic Golgi partitioning is driven by the membrane-fissioning protein CtBP3/BARS

Organelle inheritance is an essential feature of all eukaryotic cells. As with other organelles, the Golgi complex partitions between daughter cells through the fission of its membranes into numerous tubulovesicular fragments. We found that the protein CtBP3/BARS (BARS) was responsible for driving the fission of Golgi membranes during mitosis in vivo. Moreover, by in vitro analysis, we identified two stages of this Golgi fragmentation process: disassembly of the Golgi stacks into a tubular network, and BARS-dependent fission of these tubules. Finally, this BARS-induced fission of Golgi membranes controlled the G2-to-prophase transition of the cell cycle, and hence cell division.     

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.