A comparison of serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in shelter, feral, and pet cats

Upper respiratory infection (URI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in shelter cats. Malnutrition, specifically vitamin A deficiency, has been associated with respiratory tract infections in humans in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether feral cats and cats in shelters have lower serum vitamin A concentrations than pet cats, because it was surmised that a vitamin A deficiency may predispose these cats to develop URI. This was a cross-sectional study in which serum retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and beta carotene concentrations were measured from 48 shelter cats, 56 feral cats, and 42 pet cats, using HPLC. Retinol, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol concentrations were found to be significantly lower in the shelter and feral cat populations than in pet cats (p ≤ 0.0001). There was no evidence of an effect of sex or neuter status on vitamin concentrations. Sick feral cats had a higher beta carotene level than did healthy feral cats. Within shelter and feral populations, no other effect of health status was found. The lower mean serum retinol and tocopherol concentrations in the feral and shelter cat groups could be due to oxidative or other forms of stress, the amount of vitamin consumed, or combinations of these. Further studies are needed to determine whether supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins improves the health status of feral or shelter cats.     

Identification and Analysis of CYP7A1, CYP17A1, CYP20A1, CYP27A1 and CYP51A1 in Cynomolgus Macaques

Cytochromes P450 (P450) are important for not only drug metabolism and toxicity, but also biosynthesis and metabolism of cholesterol and bile acids, and steroid synthesis. In cynomolgus macaques, widely used in biomedical research, we have characterized P450 cDNAs, which were isolated as expressed sequence tags of cynomolgus macaque liver. In this study, cynomolgus CYP7A1, CYP17A1, CYP20A1, CYP27A1 and CYP51A1 cDNAs were characterized by sequence analysis, phylogenetic analysis and tissue expression pattern. By sequence analysis, these five cynomolgus P450s had high sequence identities (94–99%) to the human orthologs in amino acids. By phylogenetic analysis, each cynomolgus P450 was more closely related to the human ortholog as compared with the dog or rat ortholog. By quantitative polymerase chain reaction, among the 10 tissue types, CYP7A1 and CYP17A1 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in liver and adrenal gland, respectively. Cynomolgus CYP27A1 and CYP51A1 mRNAs were most abundantly expressed in liver and testis, respectively. Cynomolgus CYP20A1 mRNA was expressed in all the tissues, including brain and liver. Tissue expression patterns of each cynomolgus P450 were generally similar to that of the human ortholog. These results suggest the molecular similarities of CYP7A1, CYP17A1, CYP20A1, CYP27A1 and CYP51A1 between cynomolgus macaques and humans.     

Enterotoxigenicity,hemagglutination and cell-surface hydrophobicity in Aeromonas hydrophila,A. Sobria and A. Salmonicida

Thirty-one Aeromonas hydrophila, 13 A. sobria and two A. salmonicida strains of diverse sources were tested for enterotoxigenicity, hemagglutination and cell surface hydrophobicity. Although 93% of the culture supernatant fluids of the Aeromonas strains exhibited cytotoxic effects on Y1 adrenal and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, typical rounding of Y1 adrenal cells was reproducibly observed before cytotoxicity for 80% of the isolates within 1 h of exposure.Twenty-eight strains were positive for delayed permeability factor (DPF) activity in rabbit skin. Culture filtrates of 16 of 20 strains that were positive both in the Y1 adrenal cell test and for DPF activity elicited fluid accumulation in rabbit ileal loops. The DPF and ileal loop activities were neutralizable by cholera antitoxin. All, except two strains each of A. sobria and A. hydrophila, produced a heat-stable, rapid permeability factor (RPF) detected in rabbit skin. Heat-treated culture supernatant fluids of two A. hydrophila and one A. sobria isolate gave positive responses in the infant mouse assay. Nine other strains gave borderline reactions.When A. hydrophila and A. sobria isolates were grown in broth, approximately 90% agglutinated bovine, chicken, human group A and guinea-pig erythrocytes in the presence of mannose at 4°C and/or 20°C. The two A. salmonicida isolates produced mannose resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) of these four blood types.Hydrophobic interaction chromatography indicated adhesive potential in 61% A. hydrophila and 100% A. sobria strains expressing weak to strong hydrophobic cell surface properties. The results of these investigations strongly imply that the Aeromonas strains produce a cytotonic enterotoxin immunologically related to cholera toxin. Adhesive characteristics were commonly found in both clinical and routine isolates.     

板栗新树形—低干矮冠多主枝开心形

板栗低干矮冠多主枝开心形树体矮化通透,结果部位多,丰产稳产,便于宽行、矮密栽植,尤其适合山地丘陵栽植。该树形主干高度20-40cm,主枝4-5个,开张基角50?70?,各主枝间距20-30cm;每主枝配备2-3个侧枝,冠高控制在2.0-2.5m。树体整形3-5年完成,盛果期树采用三套枝轮替修剪,并辅以小幅更新,可保持树体通透健壮,延长结果期。     

A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians.

A formulary of drug dosages for use in lizards, snakes, and crocodilians based primarily on a survey of the existing literature is provided. The formulary is presented as a series of four tables: antimicrobial drugs; parasiticide drugs; anesthetic and analgesic drugs; and miscellaneous drugs. An extensive bibliography is included.     

Technical note: use of PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis for detection of bovine beta-casein variants A1, A2, A3, and B.

We have optimized the polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique to screen the most frequent variants (A1, A2, A3, and B) of the bovine beta-casein gene. Five partly overlapping PCR products (233, 234, 265, 466, and 498 bp) of Exon VII of the beta-casein gene that encompass the target point mutations were heat-denatured, separated on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels, and silver-stained. Simultaneous detection of all variants in reference samples of known genotypes (A1A2, A2A2, A1A3, A1B, and A2B) was best achieved on 17% polyacrylamide (100:1 acrylamide:bis-acrylamide ratio) gels with the PCR product of 234 bp. These results were confirmed by sequencing the allele-specific SSCP bands directly excised from polyacrylamide gels. A population of 65 anonymous samples belonging to various breeds was then analyzed twice, without discrepancies in a blind trial. Routine beta-casein genotyping using PCR-SSCP is proposed as a cost-effective, fast, and sensitive technique.     

藜麦生物学特性及应用

藜麦(Chenopodium quinoa)为苋科藜亚科藜属一年生双子叶草本植物,起源于南美洲安第斯山脉,已有5 000多年的栽培历史。藜麦籽实富含蛋白质、氨基酸、不饱和脂肪酸、维生素、矿物质及膳食纤维,且低脂、低糖、零胆固醇,利用价值高,是未来最具潜力的作物之一。本文综合国内外相关研究,系统论述了藜麦的资源分布、生物学特性、抗逆生理特性、营养成分及栽培技术等,并阐述了藜麦产品开发应用、国内引种栽培技术的现状及存在的问题。建议开展藜麦种质资源和营养化学成分方面的研究,选育适合不同海拔地区种植的品种,充分挖掘营养价值,使其成为将来国民保健型植源性食物之一。     

Effects of hemolysis, lipemia, hyperbilirrubinemia, and anticoagulants in canine C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and ceruloplasmin assays

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects that hemolysis, lipemia, bilirubinemia, and anticoagulants might have on the most commonly used assays for C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, and determination of ceruloplasmin values in dogs. Solutions of hemoglobin, lipid, and bilirubin were added to serum aliquots. Additionally, serum and plasma samples with different anticoagulants (heparin, EDTA, and citrate) were obtained from healthy dogs. Hemolysis, lipemia, and hyperbilirubinemia interfered significantly with the C-reactive protein and ceruloplasmin results, but not with those for the serum amyloid A assay. The use of anticoagulants produced significant changes in the results for the assays tested. However, the magnitude of the differences caused by the interfering substances does not appear to have an important impact on the clinical interpretation of the tests.     

A study for the differentiation of Actinobacillus seminis, A. actinomycetem-comitans, Histophilus ovis and Pasteurella haemolytica

By using well-defined techniques under optimum conditions it is possible adequately to define the biochemical characteristics of typical A. seminis strains. A. seminis can be distinguished from Histophilus ovis on the latter's distinctive colony morphology, but it cannot be distinguished from Actinobacillus actinomycetem-comitans. These organisms, however, can be differentiated from Pasteurella haemolytica on serological grounds and the latter's greater pathogenicity for mice. It is appreciated, however, that intermediate forms occur which cannot as yet be satisfactorily allocated to any of the above-mentioned genera.     

The demonstration and characterization of deoxyribonucleases of streptococci group A, B, C, G and L.

Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. equi, S. equisimilis, S. zooepidemicus, Streptococcus group G and L were found to produce deoxyribonucleases (DNases) which were demonstrated using the Toluidine Blue DNA Agar (TDA) described for staphylococcal DNases. The activity of streptococcal DNases increased in the presence of Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ ions, the pH optimum was about 7.5 and native DNA was the best enzyme substrate. It is consequently recommended to modify the TDA according to these results for the demonstration of streptococcal DNases. All streptococcal DNases, except the DNase of S. zooepidemicus, were found to be heat-stable. Isoelectric focusing was a convenient technique for separation of streptococcal DNases and for estimation of the pI values of the DNases. S. agalactiae and S. dysgalactiae generally exhibited distinct species specific patterns in the isoelectric focusing experiments. The DNases produced by S. pyogenes were serologically related to the DNases of S. dysgalactiae and Streptococcus group G. A similar relationship was demonstrated between the DNases produced by S. equisimilis and Streptococcus group L.     

嗜酸乳杆菌、双歧杆菌和干酪乳杆菌的选择性计数

LC培养基只能计数干酪乳杆菌，MRS－水杨素（或山梨醇）培养基可以计数嗜酸乳杆菌和干酪乳杆菌，而MRS培养基可以计数嗜酸乳杆菌、干酪乳杆菌和双歧杆菌，于是通过减法原则就能从混合物中单独计数它们。另外，MRS－NNLP培养基也可用于选择性计数双歧杆菌。     

苯乙醇胺A半抗原、抗原及其制备方法的建立

在制备苯乙醇胺A半抗原、抗原和单克隆抗体的基础上应用直接竞争酶联免疫技术ELISA建立了一种检测动物组织和尿样中苯乙醇胺A残留量的方法。结果表明,半抗原改造成功,标准曲线线性检测范围为0.3μg/L~24.3μg/L,对尿样的检测限为0.3μg/L,对肉样的检测限为0.5μg/L,同其类似物交叉反应率均小于0.1%。该方法可应用于苯乙醇胺A在尿样、肉样中的快速筛查现场检测。     

A review of the pathophysiology, classification, and analysis of canine and feline cavitary effusions

Effusion is the abnormal accumulation of fluid within a body cavity that can result from a variety of disease processes. This article reviews the normal production and resorption of body cavity fluid and the pathophysiology of abnormal fluid accumulation. In addition, classification schemes, differential diagnoses, and currently available diagnostic tests for evaluation of effusions are reviewed.