Correlation of DNA ploidy to tumor histologic grade, clinical variables, and survival in dogs with mast cell tumors.

By using flow cytometry, a retrospective analysis of the DNA content of 40 primary canine mast cell tumors and seven lymph nodes that contained metastatic mast cell tumor from 44 dogs of various breed, sex, and age was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of the tumors and nodes. These samples were chosen according to the following criteria: samples contained sufficient well-preserved tumor tissue in the paraffin block for processing, sufficient patient history data were available, clean and homogeneous cell suspensions were obtained after processing, and interpretable DNA histograms were produced on analysis. The ploidy data obtained were compared with the histopathologic grade, the anatomical site of occurrence, the clinical stage of the tumors, and the survival of the dogs. Over 70% (29/40) of the mast cell tumors were diploid. Three metastatic mast cell tumors in lymph nodes had the same ploidy status as their corresponding primary tumors. In five dogs, mast cell tumors from multiple sites in each dog displayed similar ploidy status. Of 26 dogs evaluated for survival times, 69% (18/26) had diploid tumors and 31% (8/26) had aneuploid tumors. When numbers of diploid versus aneuploid tumors were compared, no significant difference was found between any two grades, clinical stages, or anatomic sites. A significant difference (P = 0.02) was found, however, between aneuploid and diploid tumors when comparing Stage I and non-Stage I disease. The Kaplan-Meier survival plot indicated a tendency towards an increased survival within the first year in dogs with diploid versus aneuploid tumors (P = 0.06).     

Bilirubin excretion and bile flow in fed and fasted Brazilian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Fasted Brazilian squirrel monkeys (BrSMs) exhibited slightly higher serum bilirubin levels (0.30±0.05 mg/dl) than others in the fed state (0.13±0.01). The mean liver weight was 50% lower following a 22 h fast. The rate of bile flow was unaffected by fasting and averaged 13.8 l/min/kg and 47.5 l/min/100g liver in six BrSMs. No significant difference in mean bilirubin excretion/min was observed on a body weight basis following fasting. When the mean rate of bilirubin excretion was calculated as a function of liver weight, a two-fold higher rate was present in fasted monkeys, but only at the p=0.06 level of statistical significance. From data collected in this and earlier studies, it would appear that BrSMs represent the best animals studied to date to serve as experimental controls in comparative studies with Bovilian squirrel monkeys which exhibit a Gilbert-like syndrome.     

Salivary gland neoplasia in the dog and cat: survival times and prognostic factors

Twenty-four dogs and 30 cats with histopathologically confirmed salivary gland neoplasia were retrospectively reviewed in a multi-institutional study. The predominant presenting complaint for animals with salivary gland neoplasia was that of a mass being noted by the owner; other common complaints included halitosis, dysphagia, and exophthalmia. Siamese cats were overrepresented, indicating a possible breed predisposition. The most common histopathological type was simple adenocarcinoma. Cats had more advanced disease at diagnosis than did dogs, and clinical staging was prognostic in dogs. The median survival times for dogs and cats were 550 days and 516 days, respectively.     

Die Variabilität einiger Komponenten der Allogamieneigung bei der Kulturgerste (Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

Zusammenfassung Zur Einschätzung der Allogamieneigung der Gerste wurde die Variabilität der für die Anemophilie bedeutenden Merkmale Stigmatagröße, Antherenlänge und Antherenejektion geprüft. In Voruntersuchungen an 5000 Sommer- und 1000 Wintergersten konnten 155 Sippen gefunden werden, die zur Chasmogamie neigen. Bei der autogamen Kulturgerste sind die Anemophiliemerkmale gegenüber den allogamenHordeum-Species meist deutlich reduziert. Das betrifft besonders die Antherenlänge und die Antherenejektion, während die Stigmatagröße, die auch bei Autogamen den Ansatz und damit die Anzahl der Nachkommen beeinflußt, relativ wenig vermindert ist. In allen Merkmalen wurde eine große Variabilität der Komponenten der Anemophilie gefunden, auch bei der im allgemeinen strenger autogamen Sommergerste.

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Some aspects of the tendency to allogamy and their variability in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

Summary The variability of stigma size, anther length, and anther extrusion as important characters of anemophily was examined in barley to estimate its tendency to allogamy. 5000 spring and 1000 winter barleys were examined, 155 of which exhibited a tendency to chasmogamy. The characters of anemophily are reduced for the most part of autogamous cultivated barleys compared with allogamousHordeum species, especially as to anther length (table 4) and anther extrusion (table 5). There is a relatively little reduction of stigma size (table 3), because this character influences the seed set and with this the number of offspring in autogamous species too. A comparatively high variability could be found for all characters of anemophily even in spring barley, which is in general stronger autogamous than winter barley.

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(Hordeum vulgare L. s. 1.)

, : , . 5000 1000 155 , . , Hordeum, . , , (. 4) (. 5), ( . 3), , , , . , , , , .

     

Altered expression of G proteins in thyroid gland adenomas obtained from hyperthyroid cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether expression of G proteins (G(i) and G(s)) is altered in thyroid gland adenomas obtained from hyperthyroid cats. SAMPLE POPULATION: Adenomatous thyroid glands obtained from 8 hyperthyroid cats and thyroid glands obtained from 4 age-matched euthyroid cats. PROCEDURE: Expression of G(i) and G(s) was quantified in enriched membrane preparations of thyroid gland tissue, using immunoblotting with G(i) and G(s) antibodies and toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. RESULTS: Expression of G(i) was significantly reduced in thyroid gland adenomas from hyperthyroid cats, compared with normal thyroid gland tissue from euthyroid cats. Expression of G(s) was similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A decrease in expression of G in adenomatous thyroid glands of cats may reduce the negative inhibition of the cAMP cascade in thyroid cells, leading to autonomous growth and hypersecretion of thyroxine. Understanding the molecular mechanisms for hyperthyroidism in cats may lead to better treatment or, ultimately, prevention of the disease.     

Bill impaction in a group of captive Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber).

Flamingos are filter feeders that only rarely ingest larger food items. Their bill anatomy is adapted to the suction, filtration, and ejection of a fluid medium. This case report documents a rare case of bill impaction in a group of Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) that were kept in a mixed exhibit together with roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) and scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber). The latter species received fatty minced meat as part of their diet, which was also accessible to the flamingos. Weakness and poor body condition of one flamingo were noted. On clinical examination, the animal was emaciated, hypoglycemic, and showed a severe impaction of the bill with a mixture of lard, mud, and sand. This mixture had compressed the tongue and eventually had most likely prevented further food intake. In five additional flamingos, a bulging of the gular area, similar to the extension of this area during the tongue-retraction stage of the feeding cycle, was noted and interpreted as a sign of tongue displacement by similar masses in their bills. All animals were caught and the masses removed. All animals resumed food intake immediately, and the emaciated animal rapidly improved in condition. Food presentation was changed so that the trays for the other species were no longer accessible to the flamingos, and no similar problems have been observed since that time.     

Response of growing-finishing pigs to decreasing floor space allowance and(or) virginiamycin in diet

Five hundred forty crossbred pigs were utilized in four trials (10 replications) at two stations to determine the separate and interacting effects of decreasing floor space allowance with or without the addition of virginiamycin to the diet on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were allowed .37, .33 or .28 m2/pig during the growing phase (23 to 55 kg) and .74, .66, .56 m2/pig during the finishing phase (55 to 100 kg) and fed either a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet plus 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg of diet. Floor space allowances were achieved by varying pen size, so the number of pigs and feeder space per pig were constant for all pens. During the growing phase, daily gain (P less than .01) daily feed intake (P less than .05) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) decreased as floor space allowance decreased. During the finishing phase and for the total test period, daily gain (P less than .01) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) were reduced but daily feed intake was not affected (P greater than .05) by restricted floor space allowance. The addition of virginiamycin to the diet had no effect on pig performance. The virginiamycin X floor space allowance interaction was not significant, suggesting that pigs fed a diet with or without virginiamycin responded similarly to restricted floor space allowance. The data suggest that the addition of virginiamycin to the diet was ineffective in overcoming the decrease in performance of growing-finishing pigs caused by crowded conditions.     

Antimicrobial supplementation of growing pigs: the effect of porcine sera fractions on in vitro muscle cell proliferation

Sera obtained from pigs before and after subtherapeutic levels of ASP250 supplementation (pre and post serum pools) have been subjected to comparative fractionation by using gel filtration and affinity chromatography on immobilized Cibacron Blue F3G-A. Comparable serum fractions obtained from pre- and post-ASP250 blood sera were assayed in muscle cell culture bioassays designed to measure their effect on proliferation. Pre- and post-ASP250 sera were subjected to gel filtration and divided into the following fractions: fraction 1, Kav less than .17; fraction 2, Kav = .17 to .41; fraction 3, Kav = .41 to .59. Post-ASP250 fractions 2 and 3 increased proliferation rate in cultured muscle cells to a greater extent than comparable pre-ASP250 fractions (P less than .001). Chromatography of fraction 3 on immobilized Cibacron Blue F3G-A showed that both pre- and post-ASP250 fraction 3 contained a putative inhibitor of myogenic cell proliferation as well as mitogenic factors. However, negative growth factor activity was greater in pre-ASP250 fraction 3 than in post-ASP250 fraction 3 (P less than .05). Additionally, positive growth factor activity was lower in pre-ASP250 fraction 3 than in post-ASP250 fraction 3 (P less than .05). These data suggest that levels and(or) activities of both positive and negative muscle growth factors in serum may be altered by the addition of antimicrobials to the diets of growing pigs.     

Investigation of the Role of Androstenedione-19-oic Acid in the Presence of 19-Norandrostenedione in Intact Male Horse Plasma Using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to confirm the presence of androstenedione-19-oic acid in intact male equine plasma and to show the source of 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma. Androstenedione-19-oic acid was recovered from acidified plasma by liquid–liquid extraction using methyl tert-butyl ether and separated on an Ace 5 C₈ column. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect the analytes in negative electrospray ionization mode. Limits of detection, quantification, and confirmation of the method were 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The linear dynamic range of quantification was 0.5–50 ng/mL. The presence of androstenedione-19-oic acid was confirmed in all plasma samples obtained from intact male horses but not those from gelded and female horses; the average concentration was 3.1 ± 1.6 ng/mL, suggesting androstenedione-19-oic acid is an endogenous compound only in intact male horse plasma samples. The conversion of androstenedione-19-oic acid to 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma was demonstrated by spiking androstenedione-19-oic acid into blank plasma and monitoring the generation of 19-norandrostenedione and its increase in concentration during storage. Results indicated that androstenedione-19-oic acid was readily converted into 19-norandrostenedione; the higher the storage temperature, the faster the conversion. The conversion was not affected by the types of plasma samples collected from gelded and female horses or by anticoagulants used in blood collection to harvest plasma. Compared with other matrices such as water, methanol, and phosphate-buffered saline, the conversion of androstenedione-19-oic to 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma was faster, suggesting that there is an unknown factor(s) in equine plasma that enhances the conversion.