Effects of cortisol on pregnancy rate and corpus luteum function in heifers: an in vivo study

To determine whether glucocorticoids affect the function of the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, we examined the effects of exogenous cortisol or reduced endogenous cortisol on the secretion of progesterone (P4) and on pregnancy rate. In preliminary experiments, doses of cortisol and metyrapone (an inhibitor of cortisol synthesis) were established (n=33). Cortisol in effective doses of 10 mg blocked tumor necrosis factor-induced prostaglandin F(2α) secretion as measured by its metabolite (PGFM) concentrations in the blood. Metyrapone in effective doses of 500 mg increased the P4 concentration. Thus, both reagents were then intravaginally applied in the chosen doses daily from Day 15 to 18 after estrus (Day 0) in noninseminated heifers (n=18) or after artificial insemination (n=36). Pregnancy was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography between Days 28-30 after insemination. Plasma concentrations of P4 were lower in cortisol-treated heifers than in control heifers on Days 17 and 18 of the estrous cycle (P<0.05). However, the interestrus intervals were not different between control and cortisol-treated animals (P>0.05). Moreover, metyrapone increased P4 and prolonged the CL lifespan in comparison to control animals (P<0.05). Interestingly, in inseminated heifers, cortisol increased the pregnancy rate (75%) compared with control animals (58%), whereas metyrapone reduced the pregnancy rate to 16.7% (P<0.05). The overall results suggest that cortisol, depending on the physiological status of heifers (pregnant vs. nonpregnant), modulates CL function by influencing P4 secretion. Cortisol may have a positive influence on CL function during early pregnancy, leading to support of embryo implantation and resulting in higher rates of pregnancy in heifers.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under field conditions in Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rescued from illegal bile farming in Vietnam

Nine adult Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) previously rescued from illegal bile farming in Vietnam were examined via abdominal ultrasound and exploratory laparoscopy for liver and gall bladder pathology. Three bears demonstrated notable gall bladder pathology, and minimally invasive cholecystectomies were performed using an open laparoscopic access approach, standard 10 to 12 mmHg carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and a four-port technique. A single bear required insertion of an additional 5 mm port and use of a flexible liver retractor due to the presence of extensive adhesions between the gall bladder and quadrate and left and right medial liver lobes. The cystic duct was dissected free and this and the cystic artery were ligated by means of extracorporeal tied Meltzer knot sutures. The gall bladder was dissected free of the liver by blunt and sharp dissection, aided by 3.8 MHz monopolar radiosurgery. Bears that have had open abdominal cholecystectomies are reported as taking four to six weeks before a return to normal activity postoperatively. In contrast, these bears demonstrated rapid unremarkable healing, and were allowed unrestricted access to outside enclosures to climb trees, swim and interact normally with other bears within seven days of surgery.     

Linking individual-tree and whole-stand models for forest growth and yield prediction

Background： Different types of growth and yield models provide essential information for making informed decisions on how to manage forests. Whole-stand models often provide well-behaved outputs at the stand level, but lack information on stand structures. Detailed information from individual-tree models and size-class models typically suffers from accumulation of errors. The disaggregation method, in assuming that predictions from a whole-stand model are reliable, partitions these outputs to individual trees. On the other hand, the combination method seeks to improve stand-level predictions from both whole-stand and individual-tree models by combining them. Methods： Data from 100 plots randomly selected from the Southwicte Seed Source Study of Ioblolly pine （Pinus taedo L） were used to evaluate the unadjusted individual-tree model against the disaggregation and combination methods. Results： Compared to the whole-stand model, the combination method did not show improvements in predicting stand attributes in this study. The combination method also did not perform as well as the disaggregation method in tree-level predictions. The disaggregation method provided the best predictions of tree- and stand-level survival and growth. Conclusions： The disaggregation approach provides a link between individual-tree models and whole-stand models, and should be considered as a better alternative to the unadjusted tree model.     

Relationship of wood composition to growth traits of selected open-pollinated families of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus urophylla</Emphasis> from a progeny trial in Vietnam

Lignin and cellulose contents and wood basic density were related to diameter at breast height (DBH) in six fast-growing and five slow-growing families from a combined progeny test and seedling seed orchard of Eucalyptus urophylla grown for 10 years in northern Vietnam. The mean cellulose content of the fast-growing families was significantly higher than that of the slow growing-families (40.0 and 37.1%, respectively), and for individual trees cellulose content was significantly correlated phenotypically with DBH. Wood basic density was significantly lower in the fast-growing group than in the slow-growing group (0.506 and 0.535 g cm⁻³, respectively), and was significantly negatively correlated phenotypically with DBH. The lignin contents were not significantly different between groups. Cellulose content and wood basic density were not correlated. The main conclusion is that there is no obstacle to combining high growth rate with high cellulose content, for plantation of forests intended mainly for pulpwood.     

Transverse shrinkage variations within tree stems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melia azedarach</Emphasis> planted in northern Vietnam

This study quantified variations within tree stems in tangential shrinkage (α_T), radial shrinkage (α_R), and tangential/radial shrinkage ratio (α_T/α_R) of Melia azedarach grown in two different sites in northern Vietnam. The overall values of α_T, α_R, and α_T/α_R were 7.05%, 4.38%, and 1.64, respectively. The variation pattern in α_T and α_R was found to increase gradually from pith to bark and this trend was similar on both sites. In radial direction, the α_T/α_R decreased significantly from 10 to 50% of the radial length from pith before approaching a constant value toward the outside. The transverse shrinkage variation with height was very small and without statistical significance. There were strong positive relationships between transverse shrinkage and basic density (BD). This implies that the selection for high wood density may lead to increase wood transverse shrinkage. In addition, the α_T and α_R had significant positive linear relationships with both acoustic wave velocity (V_L) and dynamic modulus of elasticity of log (DMOE_log). This result suggests that it might be possible to sort lumber with large transverse shrinkage by stress wave method for M. azedarach planted in northern Vietnam.     

New monoterpene glycosides from Paeonia lactiflora

Three new monoterpene glycosides named 4-O-methyl-paeoniflorin (1), isopaeoniflorin (2), and isobenzoylpaeoniflorin (3), together with two known monoterpene glycosides, paeoniflorin (4) and benzoylpaeoniflorin (5), were isolated from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.     

越南安息香的低温半致死温度与抗寒适应性

以越南河内(Hanoi)、江西吉水(Jishui)、湖南资兴(Zixing)3个产地1年生越南安息香幼苗为试材,采用人工模拟低温处理技术进行低温处理,测定电解质外渗率,并配合Logistic方程对不同产地枝条的半致死温度(LT50)进行了拟合;测定低温处理下各产地越南安息香的MDA含量、根系活力,并观察不同产地越南安息香1年生幼苗的恢复情况.结果表明,3个产地越南安息香耐低温能力差异显著,半致死温度值LT50在-14.93～-9.48℃之间,抗寒性强弱排序依次为:Zixing＞ Jishui＞ Hanoi;幼苗叶片MDA含量、根系活力及抽条指数均反映出产地抗寒性强弱与半致死温度基本一致.     

A gamma-shaped detection function for line-transect surveys with mark-recapture and covariate data

We have developed a procedure for estimating animal population size from aerial survey data collected simultaneously by two observers on the same sighting platform. We used a line transect sample design where transects follow elevation contours in mountainous terrain. Because our 10 data sets from aerial line transect surveys, conducted over a terrestrial environment, consistently show unimodal detection shapes, we chose a gamma-shaped detection function that is unimodal and admits covariates. We fit models separately to data from each observer, and then used all of the data to estimate the probabilities at the apex of the detection curves. We used a Horvitz-Thompson estimator to estimate the population size. We illustrate our procedure on a recently collected brown bear data set.     

Anti-Inflammatory Components of the Starfish Astropecten polyacanthus

Inflammation is important in biomedical research, because it plays a key role in inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, asthma, and even cancer. In the present study, we describe the inhibitory effect of crude extracts and steroids isolated from the starfish Astropecten polyacanthus on pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Among those tested, compounds 5 and 7 showed potent inhibitory effects on the production of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.82 ± 0.11 to 7.00 ± 0.16 μM. Potent inhibitory activities were also observed for compound 1 on the production of IL-12 p40 and IL-6 with values of 3.96 ± 0.12 and 4.07 ± 0.13 μM, respectively, and for compounds 3 and 4 on the production of IL-12 p40 with values of 6.55 ± 0.18 and 5.06 ± 0.16 μM, respectively. Moreover, compounds 2 (IC₅₀ = 34.86 ± 0.31 μM) and 6 (IC₅₀ = 79.05 ± 2.05 μM) exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on the production of IL-12 p40, whereas compounds 3 (IC₅₀ = 22.80 ± 0.21 μM) and 4 (IC₅₀ = 16.73 ± 0.25 μM) moderately inhibited the production of TNF-α and IL-6, respectively.     

Penicillinolide A: A New Anti-Inflammatory Metabolite from the Marine Fungus Penicillium sp. SF-5292

In the course of studies on bioactive metabolites from marine fungi, a new 10-membered lactone, named penicillinolide A (1) was isolated from the organic extract of Penicillium sp. SF-5292 as a potential anti-inflammatory compound. The structure of penicillinolide A (1) was mainly determined by analysis of NMR and MS data and Mosher’s method. Penicillinolide A (1) inhibited the production of NO and PGE₂ due to inhibition of the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Penicillinolide A (1) also reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production, and these anti-inflammatory effects were shown to be correlated with the suppression of the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α, NF-κB nuclear translocation, and NF-κB DNA binding activity. In addition, using inhibitor tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), a competitive inhibitor of HO activity, it was verified that the inhibitory effects of compound 1 on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and NF-κB DNA binding activity were partially associated with HO-1 expression through Nrf2 nuclear translocation.