Comparison of ultrasonographic findings with clinical activity index (CIBDAI) and diagnosis in dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Intestinal wall thickness is neither a specific nor sensitive ultrasound parameter for detecting intestinal inflammation. We hypothesize that mucosal echogenicity, lymphadenomegaly, and secondary findings of the gastrointestinal tract would be more sensitive and specific markers for detecting and differentiating causes of chronic inflammatory bowel disease in dogs. Fifty-six client-owned dogs with chronic diarrhea and 10 control dogs were examined with two-dimensional, gray-scale ultrasound (time 0, 4, and 10 weeks post therapy) and small intestinal mucosal biopsies were performed at the 0- and 4-week time points. The clinical activity was assessed at each time point using the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI). Fifty-one dogs had inflammatory infiltration of the duodenal mucosa and were divided into three groups, food-responsive disease, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, and protein-losing enteropathy, based on their response to the different treatments and histology. Two different patterns of increased echogenicity of the mucosa were detected: hyperechoic speckles and hyperechoic striations. A normal, hypoechoic bowel mucosa in dogs with chronic diarrhea had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 81% for the diagnosis of food-responsive disease. Hyperechoic striations had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 96% for dogs with protein-losing enteropathy. Hyperechoic speckles were non-specific for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease. There was a significant relationship between ultrasound score and CIBDAI at t0, but not following therapy. Mucosal echogenicity may be a better parameter for detecting inflammatory bowel disease than bowel wall thickness in dogs with chronic diarrhea.     

A survey of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Diyarbakır,Turkey

A list is given of aphid parasitoids found in Diyarbakır Province, Turkey. In the survey, performed between 1998 and 2000, 16 species of aphid parasitoids were found on different hosts in Diyarbakır Province.Monoctonus mali is reported for the first time in the Turkish aphid parasitoids fauna. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003.     

Phyllonorycter apparella, a new record and a new pest of trembling aspen (Populus tremula) in Turkey

Phyllonorycter apparella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is a new record for the Turkish fauna and a new trembling aspen(Populus tremula L.) pest for Turkey. Its biology, damage and infestation ratio were studied in Sankami?. (Kars), Turkey, during 1996 and 1997.P. apparella has one generation a year. The developmental stages of the pest are described briefly. P.apparella hibernates in the adult stage. At the beginning of June, the adults appear. Females deposit their eggs on both leaf surfaces, generally one by one, 7–10 days after emerging. The early instars (sap-feeding larvae) start to mine mostly from the underside of leaves. Each mine has one larva, and each leaf may have up to 26 mines. The last instar (tissue-feeding larva) begins to pupate in the mine after mid August. The adults emerge from mid September to the beginning of October, and move to the trunks of old pine trees, where they hibernate in bark crevices. The infestation level may be as high as 90% of the leaves on some trees.     

Effect of some organic amendments on onion bulb rot

The effect of soil amended with stalks of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz) on onion bulb rot caused byFusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f.sp.cepae (Hanz.) Snyder Hansen andAspergillus niger v. Tieghem was tested in a soil naturally infested with the pathogens under field conditions. All treatments significantly reduced bulb rot incidence. The fungal and antibacterial populations varied among all of the amended tested soils. Heterotrophic fungal populations were more effective than heterotrophic bacterial populations in the suppression of disease. The highest population of fungal microflora was found in plots amended with sunflower stalks. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and available moisture content of amended soils have an indirect suppressive role on disease, by increasing the heterotrophic fungal population. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting June 18, 2002.     

Biochemical alterations induced by Zn and Cd individually or in combination in the serum of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>

Measurement of serum biochemical parameters in response to metal exposures can be especially useful to help identify target organs of toxicity as well as the general health status of animals. Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Zn, 1.0 mg/L Cd, and 5.0 mg/L Zn + 1.0 mg/L Cd mixture for 7 and 28 days, and alterations in serum enzyme activities and ion levels were measured. Significant changes in all the biochemical parameters were found to be time dependent. Following metal exposure, alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated at both exposure periods. No changes in activities of lactate dehydrogenase and lipase were observed in response to single or combined Zn and Cd exposure at 7 days while they increased at 28 days. Fish exposed to metals showed a decrease in cholinesterase activity at 7 days followed by a return to control levels at the end of the exposure period. The individual and combined effects of metals caused a decline in levels of Na⁺, Cl⁻, and Ca²⁺, especially at 28 days. K⁺ level increased at 7 days but it returned to control levels with increasing duration of exposure. This study indicated that the alterations in serum parameters may be a result of the target tissue (i.e., liver, gill, and kidney) damage and dysfunction induced by the metals and that these parameters can thus be used to assess the effects of metals on organisms.     

Therapeutic effects of thymoquinone in doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity via oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis

Cancer is a lethal disease that is characterized by uncontrolled cell division and proliferation, and it results in death in many organisms. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a therapeutic agent used for treatment of many cancer types, but it induces serious hepatotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to determine possible hepato-therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (THQ) on DOX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): Control, THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p for 14 days), Olive Oil (equal volume with THQ for 14 days), DOX (single dose, 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day) and DOX + THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p and DOX 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day). At the end of the experiment, liver tissues were extracted and evaluated histopathologically. eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 immunostaining were performed to determine the expression levels. TUNEL method was used to determine apoptotic index. Furthermore, liver tissue total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), TNF-α and TGF-β levels were measured by ELISA assay. The DOX group showed histopathological deterioration compared to Control group. Moreover, apoptotic index, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions increased in DOX group. While TAS level of the DOX group decreased, TOS level increased. TNF-α and TGF-β levels increased in DOX group. However, there was improvement in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. Moreover, apoptotic cell number, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions decreased in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. We concluded that thymoquinone can be used as a phytotherapeutic for reducing DOX-induced liver damage.     

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Inorganic Nutrient Concentrations in the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, Maine

A catchment-wide study was conducted to investigate the geography of nutrient dynamics in the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, Maine. While nutrient concentrations resembled relatively pristine waters, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exhibited dramatic spatial and temporal patterns. Though these rivers are underdeveloped, impacts of human activities upon nutrients are clear. Population was a good predictor for DIN and P concentrations for the Kennebec River, but a poor predictor in the Androscoggin River. Comparison of point-source discharges into each river indicated that the Androscoggin River is influenced by discharges from pulp and paper mills, a finding confirmed by reduced nutrient transport after the closure of two Androscoggin River mills. Nutrient ratio analysis demonstrated a dramatic shift towards Redfield ratios, with DIN:P ratios decreasing from about 200:1 in headwater reaches to below 16:1 near the river outlets. These results may aid in understanding blooms of toxic dynoflagellates in the Gulf of Maine. Ratios were also altered during a prolonged drought period. Results describe a simple relationship between increased nutrient input and human population within single watersheds, with implications for coastal zone ecosystems.     

Effect of Antarctic krillmeal on quality of farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Farmed Atlantic cod with a mean weight of 4.8 kg were maintained for 9 weeks in sea cages and fed diets where the dietary fishmeal component was substituted with increasing proportions (0%, 22%, 63% and 100%) of meal from Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Wild‐caught cod were included in the study as external control. At termination of feeding, all fish were slaughtered and muscle pH was immediately recorded. The fish were then stored on ice for three days and assessed for muscle pH and objective (skin and fillet colour, and fillet texture) and subjective (sensory evaluation) quality criteria. Replacement of fishmeal with krillmeal in the diets resulted in the skin colour above and below the lateral line to be more red than the control group without krillmeal substitutions, even though this difference was not significant, and with more yellow hue. Additions of krillmeal increased the muscle whiteness and yellow hue compared with the control group and wild fish. There was no difference in red hue between the groups. Muscle pH, texture or sensory attributes were unaffected by dietary inclusion level of krillmeal. Wild‐caught cod deviated in several aspects from the farmed cod. It is concluded that the replacement of fishmeal with Antarctic krillmeal in the diets two months before slaughter did not move the sensory attributes more towards wild fish.     

Effects of Wood Ash Dose and Formulation on Soil Chemistry at Two Coniferous Forest Sites

Harvesting stem biomass from the forest inevitably involves exporting nutrients from the ecosystem. The amount exported is increased when the logging residues are also removed for use as fuel. Recycling of the resulting wood ash has been advocated as a measure to compensate for the nutrient losses and to sustain future forest production. The physical formulation of the wood ash may have an important influence on its effects on soil properties. In this paper, we report effects of two different types of wood ash (one self-hardened and crushed, the other pelleted), with differences in solubility, on soil chemistry in the humus layer and upper 15 cm of the mineral soil, at two coniferous sites in south-central Sweden, 5 yr after their application. The crushed ash was applied at three doses (3, 6 and 9 ton ha^–1), while the pelleted ash was applied at only one dose (3 ton ha^–1). At both sites the soil was podzolized. The two sites differed with respect to soil conditions, despite being situated only a few kilometers apart. The application of wood ash increased both soil pH and base-cation content in the humus layer at both sites. In the mineral soil, the effects were less pronounced. Treatment effects on soil chemistry did not differ between the two ash formulations. The retention (i.e. the extractable amount of nutrients found in the soil that could be attributed to the ash application) of nutrients varied strongly between the two sites, and K retention (ca. 10%) was generally lower than that of Ca and Mg.