Relationship between a plant-based ‘vegan’ pet food and clinical manifestation of multiple nutrient deficiencies in two cats

A topical subject in human nutrition is the steadily growing number of people choosing to limit or completely avoid all animal-derived food products either for moral dilemma, health concerns or both. To meet people's will of applying their dietary choices to their domestic animals, the pet food industry answered by launching on the market some plant-based diets. This leads to concerns about whether these diets are adequately formulated to satisfy the target species nutritional requirements, especially for cats which are still considered strict carnivores. This case report follows a 2-year-old male neutered Main Coon and a 1-year-old female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat, presented to the nutrition service of the University of Toulouse, France. Reason for consultation was lethargy with in anamnesis a recent dietary transition to a plant-based pet food. Dysorexia, lethargy and muscle waste were present at first consultation. Progressive weight loss developed during follow-ups. A macrocytic, non-regenerative anaemia with serum folates below reference were the main clinical features. Analysis of pet food showed multiple nutrients below minimum recommendation at the average daily intake of both cats. Folic acid supplementation improved dysorexia, and subsequent reintroduction of animal-derived ingredients in the diet restored appetite, weight and a normal mentation in both cases.     

Impact of soil surface disturbances on functional group diversity after clear-cutting in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) forests in southern France

The objective of this study was to analyze soil surface disturbances resulting from logging tractors, of different types (skidder and forwarder), used for clear-cutting in natural Aleppo pine forests and their consequences on plant species and functional group diversity.

Results indicate that shallow disturbances (litter left in place or removed) were more frequent than deep disturbances (topsoil removed, subsoil exposed, rut exposed) regardless of the logging tractor used. The forests with previously cultivated terraces were the least disturbed. Moreover, with the aid of a functional group analysis we distinguished four plant species response groups to soil surface disturbance types. The mosaic created by these groups after clear-cutting and log removal probably contributes to a rapid auto-regeneration of a mixed plant community similar to that existing just prior to the clear-cutting.     

Germinaiton and Growth Response of Oaks to Soils Under Quercus ilexL．Coppices

ＧｅｒｍｉｎａｉｔｏｎａｎｄＧｒｏｗｔｈＲｅｓｐｏｎｓｅｏｆＯａｋｓｔｏＳｏｉｌｓＵｎｄｅｒＱｕｅｒｃｕｓｉｌｅｘＬ．ＣｏｐｐｉｃｅｓＬｉＪｕｎｑｉｎｇＣｏｌｌｅｇｅｏｆＦｏｒｅｓｔＲｅｓｏｕｒｃｅｓａｎｄＥｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔ，ＢｅｉｊｉｎｇＦｏｒ...     

Analgesic comparison of meloxicam or ketoprofen for orthopedic surgery in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of 2 analgesic protocols (preoperative meloxicam or intraoperative ketoprofen administration) during the first 24 hours after orthopedic surgery in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind, prospective randomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: Sixty client-owned dogs. METHODS: Dogs with surgical orthopedic disorders were randomly separated into 2 groups: 30 dogs were administered 0.2 mg/kg meloxicam intravenously (IV) immediately before induction and 30 dogs were administered 2 mg/kg ketoprofen IV, 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS) and a cumulative pain score (CPS) preoperatively and at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after extubation. Selected serum biochemical variables were measured before and 24 hours after surgery and, buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) and whole blood clotting time (WBCT) were measured before and 8 hours after surgery. Dogs were anesthetized with propofol and maintained on halothane in oxygen. Any complications were documented for 7 days after surgery. Results were compared between the 2 groups for significant differences in VAS scores (2-sample t-test) and in CPS (Wilcoxon's 2-sample test). Moreover, results were analyzed for significant differences in area under the curve (AUC) for VAS (2-sample t-test) and CPS (Wilcoxon's 2-sample test) among groups. To assess the effects of treatments on biochemical and coagulation functions, pre- and postoperative mean values of BMBT and WBCT were compared within both treatment groups (paired t-tests) and between both groups (2-sample t-test). RESULTS: No significant differences in pain response or coagulation were found between meloxicam- and ketoprofen-treated dogs. In both groups, alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations were significantly increased compared with baseline. No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative administration of meloxicam is a safe and effective method of controlling postoperative pain for up to 24 hours in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analgesia after administration of preoperative meloxicam was comparable with administration of ketoprofen at the end of the surgery.     

东喜马拉雅地区高山栎类 (Quercus Sec.suber)种群变异和环境异质性研究(英文)

该文研究分布在我国东喜马拉雅地区 (云南和西藏 )及四川的高山栎类种群间的形态变异和遗传距离 .在自然条件下 ,这些栎类的生长形态随纬度的增加和降水的减少从高大的乔木变成矮小的灌木 .该地区多样的气候和复杂的地形条件为高山栎类提供了各种形态、生长和遗传变异的可能性 .种群内和种群间的遗传距离随生境条件、山地地形和主风方向的变化明显 ,但与水平距离关系不大 .西藏地区以地势险峻和气候多变为特色 ,云南地区以高山峡谷为特色 ,二地区高山栎的种群遗传距离分别为 0 396和 0 36 5,前者显著高于后者 (P <5% ) ,但却都高于四川地区的高山栎种群遗传距离 ,并达到极显著水平 (P <1% ) .环境的异质性越高 ,高山栎类的变异越大 ,种群变异和物种进化与气候、生境、地形地貌和土壤等环境的异质性密切相关 .尽管东喜马拉雅地区是以大陆性季风为主气候特征 ,但高山栎类的叶片、直径和根系对环境异质性的适应变异与分布在地中海地区的、冬雨夏旱气候条件下的冬青栎类 (Q .ilex)十分相似 .不同地区的环境异质性必然导致物种进化和种群变异的差异 ,然而 ,高山栎类种群在两个截然不同气候区内的高度相似性恰恰说明了它们可能来自于一个共同的祖先或从同一个地区演化而来 ,所以它们才有相同的适应策略