Factor XII and partial prekallikrein deficiencies in a dog with recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Factor XII deficiency and impaired prekallikrein activity were diagnosed in a 1-year-old Chinese Shar Pei. The dog experienced repeated episodes of intestinal hemorrhage and diarrhea. Laboratory findings were compatible with blood loss (iron deficiency anemia and hypoproteinemia). Necropsy findings suggested mild infiltrative bowel disease that could have been responsible for the dog's diarrhea, but no explanation for the severe recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage could be found. Factor XII deficiency is uncommon in the dog and is not associated with hemorrhagic tendencies. The factor XII deficiency in this case may have contributed to the gastrointestinal hemorrhage.     

Studies of the spectrum of nonesterified fatty acids in blood and muscle tissue of swine. 1. Effect of genotype (muscular substance)

The percentual composition of unesterified fatty acids in M. longissimus dorsi was determined by means of gas chromatography, and its correlations with the given genotype and pork condition were studied. Polyene fatty acids recorded from the Piétrain race deviated (C-18:2, C-18:3, C-20:4) from values recorded from large white and improved land race pigs. Animals of PSE nature were like Piétrain probands, in that their monoene acids were higher and diene acids lower by percentage than the comparable values in animals of normal pork condition.     

Determination of plasma lysosomal enzyme activity and its relationship to severity of injury following blunt vehicular trauma in dogs

Objective: To determine plasma β‐d ‐glucuronidase (βG) activity in the first 4 hours following injury in dogs struck by a motor vehicle, and to evaluate whether the degree of enzyme activity is correlated with the severity of injury. Design: A prospective clinical study. Setting: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Animals: Thirteen client‐owned dogs that were presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania between June and August 1999 for blunt vehicular trauma. Ten healthy student and staff‐owned dogs served as controls. Interventions: None. Measurements: Plasma was analyzed for βG enzyme activity at the time of presentation (n=13), and 1 and 4 hours (n=7) following presentation to the Emergency Service for blunt vehicular trauma. The results were compared with enzyme activity from healthy controls evaluated serially over 4 hours. Fluorometric analysis using 96‐well microtiter plates was used to perform the enzyme assays. The relationships between presentation (n=13) and 4 hours (n=7) of enzyme activity and 3 indices of metabolic and physical disturbance (serum pH, serum lactate and Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score) at the time of presentation were also investigated. Main results: Of the 13 dogs, 7 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for comparison of enzyme activity of the trauma over time. A statistically significant difference in βG activity was found in the trauma group (mean 75.6±10.4 U) at 4 hours following presentation compared with controls (mean 48.0±6.4 U). This difference was suggested by 1 hour following presentation (trauma group, mean 70.4±10.9 U; control group, mean 49.8±5.5 U), although it did not reach statistical significance. Thirteen dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria for comparison of only presentation enzyme activity with trauma severity score, serum lactate, and serum pH. No statistically significant relationship was found between the βd ‐glucuronidase activity and the presenting ATT score, serum lactate concentration, or serum pH at either presentation or 4 hours, although the power of these analyses was low. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the activity of βG, a lysosomal enzyme, increases significantly in the systemic circulation in dogs 4 hours following blunt trauma. Additional research to include more severely injured dogs, a larger number of dogs, and to follow the course of injury for a longer period of time would be beneficial to further characterize βG activity following blunt trauma.     

Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.     

Use of a fast test to detect rotavirus in feces

The commercially available immunoassay "OnSite Rotavirus" was used for the detection of animal rotaviruses in 113 faecal samples. The sensitivity of the test was 88% and the specificity 96% compared with reference methods (EIA, EM). This test would detect approximately 4.4 x 10(6) to 1.8 x 10(7) virus particles per ml. The presence of virus could be demonstrated in fresh faecal samples from cattle, horses and pigs within a few minutes. The rotaviruses of group A were identified independently of the virus serotype. Further results and additional problems of using this test kit are described.     

Quantitative und qualitative Veränderungen im A-Horizont von Sandböden nach Umwandlung von Dauergrünland in Ackerland

Quantitative and qualitative changes in soil properties of A- horizons of sandy soils caused by conversion of grassland to arable land Changes in physical soil properties and in soil organic matter of the A-horizons due to the conversion of permanent grassland to arable land are quantified and described as a function of time for sandy soils. The study was carried out in an area northeast of Hannover. A decrease of about 100 t/ha C_org (- 57%), 5 – 6 t/ha N_org (- 58%) and 1 t/ha S_t (- 58%) was measured for a period of 2 – 4 years after grassland conversion. Thereby the quality of the soil organic matter remains unchanged (no changes of the C/N ratio and of the distribution of N_org in 5 N-fractions). However, an increase of soil bulk density from 1.0 to 1.3 g/cm³ and a decrease of total pore volume from 0.59 to 0.47 were observed. The fast mineralization of soil organic matter in the A-horizon following the conversion of grassland soils results in a temporary heavily increased nitrate input into the groundwater. Furthermore mineralization and leaching of nitrate and sulfate induces an acidification push in the soil by a proton release in the order of 350 keq/ha during a 2 – 4 years period. However, this proton production is compensated quantitatively by several applications of lime or marl by farmers and by the buffering of bases cations released from mineralized soil organic matter.     

细胞分裂素:杨树气孔运动的调节剂

通过在三种杨树无性系，Ｉ－２１４（Ｐｏｐｕｌｕｓ×ｅｕｒａｎｅｒｉｃａｎａｃｖ．Ｉ－２１４）（ｌｔａｌｉｃａ）、中东杨（Ｐ．ｂｅｒｏｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）（Ｂｅｒｏｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）和群众杨（Ｐ．ｐｏｐｕｌａｒｉｓ３５－４４）（Ｐｏｐｕｌａｒｉｓ）一年生盆栽插条苗的木质部导入ＡＢＡ和细胞分裂素，研究了这两类激素在气孔调控中的作用。尽管不同无性系的气孔在对ＡＢＡ的敏感性上存在显著差异，但ＡＢＡ仍可导致气孔的关闭，然而在蒸腾流中的细胞分裂素（与ＡＢＡ共导入或分别导入）可以明显地抑制ＡＢＡ的作用。并且玉米素还能推迟土壤干旱所诱导的气孔关闭，在水分胁迫条件下，内源细胞分裂素浓度下降而同时ＡＢＡ上升．据此提出了复合胁迫信号的概念，即在根冠通讯中，是ＡＢＡ和细胞分裂素共同调控气孔的运动。另外还研究了玉米素、激动素、６－ＢＡ等不同细胞分裂素与ＡＢＡ的相互作用，结果发现６－ＢＡ与玉米素和激动素的作用相反，它不能抑制ＡＢＡ的作用，反而促进其对气孔的关闭