Restoration of the anterior dentition of a Canadian beaver (Castor canadensis)

An eight-year-old beaver lost one of its upper central incisors through unknown causes. As the anterior teeth of this species continually erupt in a similar manner to rodents' teeth, the unopposed lower incisor had over-erupted perforating the palate and entered the nasal cavity. The height of the lower incisor tooth was reduced and a cobaltchromium alloy bridge was constructed which was attached to the remaining upper incisor. The occlusal surface of the bridge was of sufficient width that both incisors could contact it. It was cemented into place with composite resin cement and cross-pinned through the labial surface of the metal into the tooth substance. It is unknown how such treatment will affect the biological processes underlying the continually erupting incisor and the animal is being monitored for any adverse effects.     

Attitudes and perceptions of veterinary paraprofessionals in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats

AIM: To survey the attitudes and perceptions of veterinary paraprofessionals in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats.

METHODS: In December 2011, veterinary paraprofessionals (VP) from throughout New Zealand were invited to participate in an online survey. Eleven questions, which were divided into five sections, were used to determine demographic information, the respondents’ assessment of pain after commonly performed surgeries in dogs and cats, their opinions on provision of analgesia, who had responsibility for pain monitoring and the use of any formal pain scoring system in the practice.

RESULTS: Data from 165 respondents were able to be used, and 162 (98%) respondents to the survey were female. According to the respondents’ estimates, fracture repair in dogs and repair of diaphragmatic hernias in cats had the highest pain score following surgery. Neutering procedures involving dogs were scored higher than for cats (p<0.01). All respondents agreed that animals benefit from perioperative analgesia. The veterinary nurse was reported to be predominantly responsible for monitoring pain in animals postoperatively by 116/165 (70.3%) respondents. Of 165 respondents, 154 (93%) considered that their knowledge of pain and assessment of pain could be enhanced.

CONCLUSIONS: This survey reflects the attitudes and perceptions of a sample of VP in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats. The results indicate that all respondents believe that surgery results in sufficient pain to warrant analgesic therapy. Routine neutering surgeries were considered to be more painful in dogs than in cats. The current survey also provides information to educators on potential areas of focus, given that 93% of respondents felt that their knowledge of pain and assessment of pain could be enhanced.     

Pronuclear Embryo Yield in Canindé and Saanen Goats for DNA Microinjection

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of donor breed on pronuclear‐stage embryo yield to be used for DNA microinjection in a transgenesis goat program. Twelve Canindé and twelve Saanen goats were heat synchronized using a progestagen‐cloprostenol treatment. Forty‐eight hours before the sponge removal, superovulation was induced with a total administration of 4.4 mg/kg bodyweight NIH‐FSH‐P1, given twice daily in decreasing doses over 3 days. In addition, goats received 100 μg of GnRH and they were hand‐mated at 36 and 48 h after progestagen removal. Embryo recovery was performed by oviduct flushing at 72 h after sponge removal. Embryos were microinjected with a DNA construct and noticeable swelling of the nuclei was the criterion for successful microinjection. The total diameter, cytoplasm diameter, zona pellucida thickness and pronuclei diameter were measured for each microinjected embryo. A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of fertilized ova was observed in Canindé (89.9%) than Saanen (36.2%) goats. In addition, Canindé donors produced a higher percentage of pronuclear embryos when compared with Saanen: 72.5% vs 20.6% (p < 0.05), respectively. Successful microinjection was verified in 96.7% and 73.3% of times in Canindé and Saanen embryos, respectively (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed for all morphometric parameters except for cytoplasm diameter. In conclusion, under our study experimental conditions, Canindé were more efficient than Saanen goats concerning the pronuclear embryo yield and manipulation. The use of Canindé goats in transgenesis programs could be increase the interest in their breeding and could be contribute to saving them from extinction.     

Study of the clinical effects of postoperative parenteral nutrition in 15 horses

Several clinical variables were compared in two groups of 15 horses recovering from resection and anastomosis of a strangulated small intestine; 15 were treated with parenteral nutrition and 15 were starved routinely. There was some evidence that parenteral nutrition had a short-lived adverse effect on both the catheter sites and gastric emptying, but there were no marked adverse clinical effects and no evidence of any improvement in the horses' condition.     

鸡β-防御素在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及复性

鸡β-防御素(gallinacin-3,Gal3)是鸡体内重要的防御因子,本试验研究了鸡Gal3融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中高效表达的规律,并探索了重组蛋白质的复性工艺.结果表明,加入诱导剂后1h,开始有可检出量的重组蛋白质表达,2h的表达水平已接近最大量;化学诱导剂IPTG 0.2～1.2mol/L对重组蛋白的产量没有明显影响.经Lablmage软件分析,融合蛋白的产量可达菌体总蛋白的35%以上,且主要以包涵体形式存在.将所获包涵体用8mol/L尿素溶解后,分步稀释于含有氧化型谷胱甘肽和还原型谷胱甘肽的复性系统中,重组蛋白得到完全复性.12mg/L复性的重组鸡Gal3能抑制肠炎沙门氏菌的生长,24mg/L能抑制肠致病型大肠杆菌的生长.     

A model to predict water temperature in plastic-covered outdoor mass algal culture systems

The design, construction and operation of a 100 m² rectangular plastic-covered culture system for green algae (chlorella, scenedesmus) is described. A simple simulation model which predicts water temperature with an accuracy acceptable for estimating algal growth rate has been developed. Although simulated and measured observations showed significant statistical agreement, the model tends to underestimate daily maximum temperature and overestimate daily minimum temperature. The model can be readily adapated for usage in other parts of the world.     

Critical roles for Rac1 and Rac2 GTPases in B cell development and signaling

The Rac1 guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) has been implicated in multiple cellular functions, including actin dynamics, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, and migration resulting from signaling by multiple receptors, including the B cell antigen receptor (BCR). We used conditional gene targeting to generate mice with specific Rac1 deficiency in the B cell lineage. In the absence of both Rac1 and the highly related Rac2, B cell development was almost completely blocked. Both GTPases were required to transduce BCR signals leading to proliferation, survival and up-regulation of BAFF-R, a receptor for BAFF, a key survival molecule required for B cell development and maintenance.     

SAGP基因克隆及反义表达载体的构建

为了研究不同启动子驱动的反义SAGP抑制内源ADP-Glc PPase小亚基编码基因表达的效果,创造适于外源基因表达的突变体,利用RT-PCR方法,由马铃薯块茎cDNA克隆获得ADP-Glc PPase小亚基编码基因(SAGP)的1 821 bp cDNA。核酸数据库检索和序列比对分析表明,已克隆的SAGP基因cDNA推测编码607个氨基酸组成的多肽,其中第312和411的天冬酰氨均突变为丝氨酸。以pCambia为基础,分别构建了CaMV35S和GBSSI块茎启动子驱动的小亚基cDNA反义结构植物表达载体。