Extracellular heat shock protein 70 levels in tumour-bearing dogs and cats treated with radiation therapy and hyperthermia

Hyperthermia is a form of a cancer treatment which is frequently applied in combination with radiotherapy (RT) to improve therapy responses and radiosensitivity. The mode of action of hyperthermia is multifactorial; the one hand by altering the amount of the blood circulation in the treated tissue, on the other hand by modulating molecular pathways involved in cell survival processes and immunogenic interactions. One of the most dominant proteins induced by hyperthermia is the major stress-inducible heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Hsp70 can be found in the blood either as a free-protein (free HSP70) derived from necrotic cells, or lipid-bound (liposomal Hsp70) when it is actively released in extracellular vesicles (EVs) by living cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 before and after treatment with RT alone or hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy (HTRT) in dogs and cats to evaluate therapy responses. Peripheral blood was collected from feline and canine patients before and at 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after treatment with RT or HTRT. Hsp70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed to determine the free and liposomal Hsp70 concentrations in the serum. The levels were analysed after the first fraction of radiation to study immediate effects and after all applied fractions to study cumulative effects. The levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 levels in the circulation were not affected by the first singular treatment and cumulative effects of RT in cats however, after finalizing all treatment cycles with HTRT free and liposomal Hsp70 levels significantly increased. In dogs, HTRT, but not treatment with RT alone, significantly affected liposomal Hsp70 levels during the first fraction. Free Hsp70 levels were significantly increased after RT, but not HTRT, during the first fraction in dogs. In dogs, on the other hand, RT alone resulted in a significant increase in liposomal Hsp70, but HTRT did not significantly affect the liposomal Hsp70 when cumulative effects were analysed. Free Hsp70 was significantly induced in dogs after both, RT and HTRT when cumulative effects were analysed. RT and HTRT treatments differentially affect the levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 in dogs and cats. Both forms of Hsp70 could potentially be further investigated as potential liquid biopsy markers to study responses to RT and HTRT treatment in companion animals.     

The fate of glycerol entering the rumen of dairy cows and sheep

This study investigated the fate of glycerol entering the rumen, in particular whether glycerol could be absorbed across the rumen epithelium. Three non‐lactating rumen‐fistulated cows were used to calculate the overall disappearance rate of glycerol in vivo and evaluate the rate of ruminal glycerol absorption. Rumen epithelial tissues isolated from sheep were used to characterise glycerol transport properties. The rate of rumen microbial degradation of glycerol was then studied in an in vitro system under anaerobic and thermo‐regulated conditions. The results showed that glycerol can be absorbed from the rumen in significant amounts. The fractional rate of absorption of glycerol was not affected by variations in glycerol concentration in the buffer solution in the in vivo study. The glycerol absorption apparently occurred largely by passive diffusion and was probably not facilitated by carriers. Glycerol also disappeared via microbial digestion and outflow from the rumen through the omasal orifice.     

Stress and pain response after oligofructose induced-lameness in dairy heifers

Lameness is one of the most painful conditions that affects dairy cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical signs and plasma concentration of several pain and stress biomarkers after oligofructose-induced lameness in dairy heifers. Lameness was induced using an oligofructose overload model in 12 non-pregnant heifers. Clinical parameters and blood samples were obtained at 48 and 24 h and at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after induction of lameness. Clinical parameters included heart rate, respiratory rate, ruminal frequency and lameness score. Plasma biomarkers included cortisol, haptoglobin, norepinephrine, beta-endorphin and substance P. Differences were observed in all parameters between control and treated heifers. The plasma concentration of biomarkers increased significantly in treated animals starting 6 h after induction of lameness, reaching maximum levels at 24 h for cortisol, 48 h for haptoglobin, 6 h for norepinephrine, 12 h for substance P and at 24 h for beta-endorphin. Overall, our results confirm that lameness associated pain induced using the oligofructose model induced changes in clinical parameters and plasma biomarkers of pain and stress in dairy heifers.     

Einsatz der Tracermethodik zur Lokalisierung von Nestzentren lästiger Hausameisen (Lasius brunneus LATR.,Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Summary By feeding¹³¹J mixed with a honey solution it was possible to label a colony ofLasius brunneus (LATR.) which is often a pest in buildings. Using a scintillation detector the distribution of the parts of the nest in an infested room could be determined. This was the precondition for a directed control. That method seems to be suitable also for a control ofMonomorium pharaonis (L.).      

Wirksubstanzen der Pflanzenschutz- und Schädlingsbekämpfungsmittel

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Die Situation im Pflanzenschutz als Problem der Qualitätsforschung

Summary Plant protection as a problem of plant quality-researchThe use of pesticides —although necessary for plant protection — gives rise to cogent criticism. This refers not only to overapplications of biocidal sprays but also to certain pesticides or herbicides themselves being rather suspect as far as their physiological and biochemical behaviour and/or their peculiar metabolism are concerned. This in turn eventually leads to rather a high accumulation of toxic residues of the pesticides or of their metabolites in food plants, the latter sometimes more toxic than the pesticide itself. Furthermore undesired alterations in plant constituents important to health may occur causing significant depressions in levels of ascorbic acid (spinach) and of carotene (carrots). Chemicals used as plantregulators such as 2,4-D and their derivates may cause a most severe detrimental effect to health (damage to the offspring) even when applied in very small concentrations ranging on nanogram-levels. Therefore the dictum of Paracelsus sola dosis facit venenum does not refer to plantregulators such as 2,4-D and related chemicals. Manifold is the propaganda pro agro- chemicals and their use by manufacturers of pesticides. But they are mostly not trustworthy, erroneous and easily to refute by significant facts.     

Bonga shad (Ethmalosa fimbriata) spawning tactics in an upwelling environment

Successful recruitment in small pelagic fish populations inhabiting upwelling zones is subject to variation in fecundity and is driven by spatial and temporal fluctuations in environmental conditions, that is, mainly sea surface temperature, salinity and food availability. These fluctuations in abiotic factors have stimulated small pelagic fish populations to exhibit specifically adapted spawning tactics. To better understand to what extent a short‐lived exploited fish species such as bonga shad Ethmalosa fimbriata has adapted to an upwelling environment, we have investigated the interrelationship between upwelling intensity as a proxy for productivity and population fecundity by means of a virtual population analysis. We found that females of intermediate size contributed significantly more eggs to the population's fecundity than smaller or larger ones. Our model results further indicate that E. fimbriata exhibits a spawning preference at water temperatures of around 25°C and upwelling intensities of around 2.5 m³ s^?1 m^?1. Hence, we hypothesize that climate change‐driven increases in sea temperatures and modifications of upwelling‐favourable winds could significantly impact the species’ reproductive biology. To understand how climate change might impact fisheries, spawning tactics of small pelagic fishes are important to assess as well as their recruitment success. Such information is particularly relevant in countries where the fishery is critical at socio‐economic level, to better implement fisheries management addressing multiple stressors.     

Agricultural practice changes with cultivating genetically modified herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape

To facilitate weed suppression, oilseed rape or canola (Brassica napus) has been genetically modified (GM) over the last two decades to incorporate herbicide tolerance (HT). The introduction of oilseed rape in commercial agriculture raises concerns about potential adverse agronomic and environmental effects linked to both the genetic modification and altered agricultural practice. How will this new crop modify the existing cropping practice? What are the potential agro-environmental implications of its introduction? This paper analyses and schematises recorded and conceivable agricultural practice changes with GMHT oilseed rape introduction and its likely agro-environmental effects. It develops a conceptual systematics of influencing factors, subsequent practice changes and likely agro-environmental effects. The results can be used to design the mandatory monitoring of adverse GM crop effects.