Investigation of Senescence in Canine Fibroblasts

Introduction and Aims:  Primary and secondary cell cultures of canine dermal fibroblasts were used to test the suitability of several senescence-linked cellular markers to characterize the chronological age of dogs. In further studies these markers will be used to test the hypothesis that senescence-linked changes at the cellular level are representative for the observed inverse relationship of body mass and life expectancy in different dog breeds.
Methods:  In this study standardized skin samples of Beagles were used to analyse the cell morphology and several senescence-linked parameters as Cumulative Population Doubling Level, Highest Population Doubling Level, Culture Doubling Time and Life Span Completed to determine the replicative potential of fibroblasts. The samples were divided by the age of the donors into three groups ('young', 'middle' and 'old').
Results:  There are notable differences between the replicative potential of young and old Beagles at the cellular level. Preliminary results show that in fibroblast cultures obtained from the young group the highest population doubling level is higher and the culture doubling time is shorter then in cultures of the old group. Cultures from the young and middle-aged group cannot be distinguished by the measured parameters. For final results the complete statistical analysis of sampled data has to be carried out.
Conclusions:  Our results demonstrate a relationship between the chronological age of the skin donor and the replicative potential of the dermal fibroblasts. Therefore cellular senescence-linked markers could serve as suitable tools to compare the age of individual dogs of different breeds.     

A new phytase expressed in yeast effectively improves the bioavailability of phytate phosphorus to weanling pigs

We have recently expressed a new phytase enzyme in a yeast system. Three experiments with a total of 140 weanling crossbred pigs were conducted to examine the efficacy of this enzyme in improving the bioavailability of phytate-P in corn-soybean meal diets to young pigs. Experiment 1 compared the efficacy of this new phytase with a commercially available phytase (Natuphos, BASF) for 4 wk at an inclusion level of 1,200 U/kg of diet. Experiment 2 compared the responses of pigs to four doses of the new phytase supplementation (300, 600, 900, and 1,200 U/kg of diet) for 4 wk. Experiment 3 compared the efficacy of this new phytase and Natuphos at a marginally optimal dose (700 U/kg of diet) for 5 wk. A group of pigs were fed the P-deficient basal diet as a negative control in Exp. 1, and a group of pigs were fed the basal diet plus .17 or .22% inorganic P as a positive control in all experiments. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the two sources of phytase had similar ADG (564 vs 567 g), gain/feed (.597 vs .589), plasma inorganic P concentrations (8.9 vs 8.4 mg/dL), and mobility scores (4.25 vs 4.46) that were higher (P < .05) than those of the negative control. In Exp. 2, plasma inorganic P concentration was a fairly linear response to the phytase dose (r > .83) at wk 1 and 2. Overall ADG of pigs also tended to increase with the phytase dose (P = .15). In Exp. 3, pigs fed the two sources of phytase had ADG (483 vs 506 g) similar to that of the positive control (508 g). These two groups also had similar plasma inorganic P concentrations (7.7 vs 7.4 mg/dL) that were lower (P < .05) than those of the positive control group (9.7 mg/dL). There was no significant effect of dietary treatments on ADFI in all three experiments. In conclusion, our new phytase was as effective as Natuphos, at the inclusion level of 700 or 1,200 U/kg of a P-deficient, corn-soybean meal diet, in improving phytate-P utilization by young pigs.     

Disseminated lymphoma with large granular lymphocyte morphology diagnosed in a horse via abdominal fluid and transtracheal wash cytology

A 22‐year‐old Tennessee Walking Horse mare was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Teaching Hospital with a 3‐day history of lethargy, anorexia, and mild signs of colic. The mare had a several‐month history of weight loss and refractory cough. Physical examination revealed an increased respiratory rate, and crackles and wheezes were heard on thoracic auscultation. Thoracic ultrasonographic examination showed disseminated, minor, bilateral comet tail‐like lesions on the parietal pleural surfaces. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination was unremarkable. Trans‐rectal palpation revealed a firm small colon impaction with concomitant diarrhea. Laboratory data were characterized by a very pronounced acute inflammatory leukogram with severe neutropenia and significant left shift, evidence of hepatocellular damage/necrosis, cholestasis, and possibly mixed metabolic alkalosis and acidosis. On cytologic evaluation of a peritoneal fluid sample, there were many large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Large numbers of LGL were also observed on cytologic examination of a subsequent transtracheal wash. The final cytologic interpretation was disseminated lymphoma with LGL morphology. Due to worsening of the clinical signs and poor prognosis, the mare was euthanized. On necropsy and in histopathologic examination, disseminated lymphoma with LGL morphology was noted in a mesenteric lymph node, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and right dorsal colon. Lymphoma with LGL morphology is rarely diagnosed in the horse. This report provides unique cytologic findings of a case of disseminated lymphoma with LGL morphology in a horse, confirmed with histopathologic evaluation.     

Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks after conversion of subtropical natural forest to loblolly pine plantations

Pinus plantations have increased in Brazil, and native forest areas have been converted for timber production. The clearing and the long-term loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) land-use effects on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks were evaluated in a natural broadleaved forest and in loblolly pine sites cultivated for 29, 35, 38 and 49 years, as well the soil contribution as ecosystem carbon pool. According to the exponential-decay model fitted to changes in carbon stock, the initial soil carbon stock of 200 Mg ha^?1 to a depth of 100 cm in the natural forest decreased by 36% over 49 years of pine cultivation (around 72.4 Mg ha^?1 of C). Around two-thirds of this decrease occurred in the top 30 cm of the soil and intensively in the first 12 years of cultivation, but slowly faded as carbon stock tended to reach a new steady state after approximately 49 years of cultivation. The soil nitrogen stock in the natural forest was 14.2 Mg ha^?1 to a depth of 100 cm and decreased by 36% over the 49 years. This decrease was linear according to the fitted model, especially in the top 30 cm where nitrogen decline was 83% and was proportionally more intense than the carbon decline. Despite the soil carbon decrease, soil remained the largest carbon reservoir in the ecosystem for the growing rotation time of loblolly pine in this region.

     

PROGRESS ON IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY: UK-CHINA VIRTUAL JOINT CENTERS ON NITROGEN AGRONOM

● Virtual joint centers on N agronomy were established between UK and China. ● Key themes were improving NUE for fertilizers, utilizing livestock manures, and soil health. ● Improved management practices and technologies were identified and assessed. ● Fertilizer emissions and improved manure management are key targets for mitigation. Two virtual joint centers for nitrogen agronomy were established between the UK and China to facilitate collaborative research aimed at improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural production systems and reducing losses of reactive N to the environment. Major focus areas were improving fertilizer NUE, use of livestock manures, soil health, and policy development and knowledge exchange. Improvements to fertilizer NUE included attention to application rate in the context of yield potential and economic considerations and the potential of improved practices including enhanced efficiency fertilizers, plastic film mulching and cropping design. Improved utilization of livestock manures requires knowledge of the available nutrient content, appropriate manure processing technologies and integrated nutrient management practices. Soil carbon, acidification and biodiversity were considered as important aspects of soil health. Both centers identified a range of potential actions that could be taken to improve N management, and the research conducted has highlighted the importance of developing a systems-level approach to assessing improvement in the overall efficiency of N management and avoiding unintended secondary effects from individual interventions. Within this context, the management of fertilizer emissions and livestock manure at the farm and regional scales appear to be particularly important targets for mitigation.     

Cytologic findings from a benign giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath in a dog

A 6‐year‐old male neutered Australian Shepherd dog was presented for evaluation of a subcutaneous mass on the plantar aspect of the proximal left metatarsus. Fine‐needle aspirate smears contained numerous plump spindle cells and large multinucleated cells amongst a considerable amount of pink extracellular matrix. Histopathologic diagnosis of the tissue obtained during initial biopsy and eventual surgical cytoreduction of the mass was a benign giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCTTS). Immunohistochemically, the synovioblastic neoplastic cells were diffusely strongly positive for vimentin and S‐100, were multifocally moderately positive for cytokeratin AE1/3, and were negative for CD18, muscle‐specific actin (MSA), and melanoma‐associated antigen (mutated) 1 (MUM‐1). The dog recovered from surgery and underwent definitive radiation therapy to treat the local residual disease. Eight months later, the mass had not recurred. The diagnosis of GCTTS in this case supports previously published reports describing GCTTS as a relevant disease entity in dogs, and provides the first documentation of cytologic findings with this tumor. Further investigation is needed to correlate pathologic features with clinical behavior and response to therapy in dogs.     

Use of Contrast‐Enhanced Fluid‐Attenuated Inversion Recovery Sequence to Detect Brain Lesions in Dogs and Cats

Background

The diagnostic value of a contrast‐enhanced T2‐weighted FLAIR sequence (ceFLAIR) in brain imaging is unclear.

Hypothesis/Objectives

That the number of brain lesions detected with ceFLAIR would be no greater than the sum of lesions detected with nFLAIR and ceT1W sequence.

Animals

One hundred and twenty‐nine animals (108 dogs and 21 cats) undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head between July 2010 and October 2011 were included in the study.

Methods

A transverse ceFLAIR was added to a standard brain MRI protocol. Presence and number of lesions were determined based on all available MRI sequences by 3 examiners in consensus and lesion visibility was evaluated for nFLAIR, ceFLAIR, and ceT1W sequences.

Results

Eighty‐three lesions (58 intra‐axial and 25 extra‐axial) were identified in 51 patients. Five lesions were detected with nFLAIR alone, 2 with ceT1W alone, and 1 with ceFLAIR alone. Significantly higher numbers of lesions were detected using ceFLAIR than nFLAIR (76 versus 67 lesions; P = 0.04), in particular for lesions also detected with ceT1W images (53 versus 40; P =.01). There was no significant difference between the number of lesions detected with combined nFLAIR and ceT1W sequences compared to those detected with ceFLAIR (82 versus 76; P =.25).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Use of ceFLAIR as a complementary sequence to nFLAIR and ceT1W sequences did not improve the detection of brain lesions and cannot be recommended as part of a routine brain MRI protocol in dogs and cats with suspected brain lesions.     

Organ weights in primates and other mammals

In mammals the weight of the heart, kidney, lungs, and other organs can be related to total body weight through power laws (allometry). Weights of primate organs are analyzed by this technique. Allometric coefficients and size-independent organ-weight or body-form ratios may be used to compare primates, including humans, and other mammals.     

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic dehydrogenation of substituted cyclohexanones to phenols

Aromatic molecules are key constituents of many pharmaceuticals, electronic materials, and commodity plastics. The utility of these molecules directly reflects the identity and pattern of substituents on the aromatic ring. Here, we report a palladium(II) catalyst system, incorporating an unconventional ortho-dimethylaminopyridine ligand, for the conversion of substituted cyclohexanones to the corresponding phenols. The reaction proceeds via successive dehydrogenation of two saturated carbon-carbon bonds of the six-membered ring and uses molecular oxygen as the hydrogen acceptor. This reactivity demonstrates a versatile and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted aromatic molecules with fundamentally different selectivity constraints from the numerous known synthetic methods that rely on substitution of a preexisting aromatic ring.