Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with disseminated metastases of renal cell carcinoma in the dog: a case report

A 6-year-old, mixed breed, intact male dog showed signs of left carpal joint swelling and weakness of the forelimbs one month before presentation. The symptoms gradually progressed to bilateral carpal and tarsal joint swelling and tetraparalysis. There were a number of radiographically identified lytic-proliferative bone lesions noted on the axial skeleton. Hypertrophic osteopathy of the metacarpi and all distal long bones was also evident. Because of the deteriorating quality of life and guarded prognosis, the patient was euthanized and a complete necropsy was performed. Renal cell carcinoma, with metastasis to the lung, thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and the right adrenal gland, was diagnosed. To our knowledge, renal cell carcinoma with bone metastases and hypertrophic osteopathy has not been reported in dogs.     

Protective effects of oral microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine prepared by co-spray drying method

The efficacy of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae oral vaccine was investigated in microsphere dosage form. A co-spray drying process was used to apply an encapsulating material, Eudragit L30 D-55, to microspheres containing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens. The microspheres were generally effective (>93%) with protein release at pH 7.4, but almost none were released at pH 1.2, for 3 hr in an in vitro dissolution test. An SPF-swine model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the microspheres as an oral vaccine, and the related immune responses. The serum's systemic IgG against M. hyopneumoniae was evoked by ELISA analysis, after a 2nd immunization of all pigs. The vaccinated groups' mean lesion score was significantly lower after the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae challenge than that of the nonvaccinated/challenged groups (P<0.05). This study strongly suggests that the oral microspheres vaccine prepared by a co-spray drying method can provide effective protection against M. hyopneumoniae infection in pigs.     

Intestinal lactase activity in the suckling rat: influence of hypophysectomy and thyroidectomy

Intestinal lactase activity, which is high in the infant rat intestine but falls to a low level by the end of the third week, fails to decline in animals hypophysectomized at the age of 6 days. Treating these animals with thyroxine lowers lactase activity to the control level at 24 days, but cortisone is only partly effective. Thyroidectomy at 6 days also results in persistence of high lactase activity; thyroxine again is more effective than cortisone in reducing activity. The thyroid gland appears to play a previously unsuspected role in intestinal maturation.     

Serological Comparison and Molecular Characterization for Verification of Calla lily chlorotic spot virus as a New Tospovirus Species Belonging to Watermelon silver mottle virus Serogroup

ABSTRACT Calla lily chlorotic spot virus (CCSV) isolated from central Taiwan was recently identified as a tospovirus serologically but distantly related to Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV). To clarify the serological relationship between the two viruses, rabbit polyclonal antibody (PAb) to CCSV and mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to WSMoV NP or CCSV NP were produced in this investigation, using purified nucleocapsid protein (NP) as immunogens. The PAb to CCSV NP reacted stronger with the homologous antigen than with the heterologous antigen, with much lower A(405) readings in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and low-intensity banding in immunoblotting. MAbs produced to CCSV NP or WSMoV NP reacted specifically with the homologous antigens but not with the heterologous antigens in both ELISA and immunoblot analyses. The CCSV S RNA was determined to be 3,172 nucleotides in length, with an inverted repeat at the 5' and 3' ends and two open reading frames encoding the NP and a nonstructural (NSs) protein in an ambisense arrangement. A typical 3'-terminal sequence (5'-AUUGCUCU-3') that is shared by all members of the genus Tospovirus also is present in the CCSV S RNA. The CCSV NP and NSs protein share low amino acid identities of 20.1 to 65.1% and 19.9 to 66.1%, respectively, with those of reported tospoviruses. Phylogenetic dendrogram analysis indicates that CCSV is a distinct member in the genus Tospovirus. The results provide evidence that CCSV is a new species in the genus Tospovirus and belongs to WSMoV serogroup.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of hemoglobin-β gene of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque

The hemoglobin-β gene of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, was cloned and sequenced. Total RNA from head kidneys was isolated, reverse transcribed and amplified. The sequence of the channel catfish hemoglobin-β gene consists of 600 nucleotides. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence reveals one open reading frame and 5′- as well as 3′-untranslated regions. The open reading frame of the sequence potentially encodes 148 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 16.3 kDa. The pI and charge at pH 7.0 of the deduced hemoglobin-β protein were 7.28 and 0.47, respectively. Overall, 22 amino acid residues were conserved throughout the sequences, including His64 and His93, the sites for heme-binding. Unlike the counterpart of other common cultured fish such as Salmo salar, Oncorhynchus nerka, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Cyprinus carpio and Ctenopharyngodon idella, the hemoglobin-β of channel catfish did not have cysteine. The amino acid sequence of channel catfish hemoglobin-β shows 84% homology with that of Silurus asotus (both are in the order Siluriformes). However, comparison with those of other fish species shows homology ranging from 53 to 68%. Structural analysis by the 3D-PSSM program displays that channel catfish hemoglobin-β has eight α-helices, A–H.     

Pinnisterols A–C,New 9,11-Secosterols from a Gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp.

Three new 9,11-secosterols, pinnisterols A–C (1–3), were isolated from a gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp., collected off the waters of Taiwan. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The new sterols 1 and 3 displayed significant inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils, and sterol 1 was found to show moderate cytotoxicity in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).     

The assessment of rill irrigation and perforated pipes for Lowland paddy rice under the system of rice intensification (SRI)

Paddy and Water Environment - Irrigated paddy rice needs new strategies and tools to improve water use efficiency and productivity by applying just enough to sustain production with huge savings on...     

Functional processing of PET fabrics using boehmite/silica/thiazole dye hybrid materials

A series of hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes and prepared via the sol-gel process is synthesized from aluminum isopropoxide (AIP) and tetraethoxysilane using heteroaryl 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes. Heterocyclic 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes undergo a hydrolysis-condensation reaction with an appropriate proportion of AIP under a catalyst, at a constant ratio of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The structures of these hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes are characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The surface morphology of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics is evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images show uniform dyeing of the PET fabrics that confirms the reaction of the hybrid materials with the PET fabrics. The water contact angle, washing fastness, color evenness, air permeability, and warmth retention of the PET fabrics dyed with hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes are evaluated. The evaluation results indicate improved warmth retention property and good water repellency.