Computed tomographic retrograde positive contrast cystography and computed tomographic excretory urography characterization of a urinary bladder diverticulum in a dog

A one‐year‐old intact male German shepherd dog was referred with a 3‐month history of dysuria and pollakiuria. Physical examination revealed a large firm mass in the caudal abdomen. Findings from survey radiography, negative contrast cystography, computed tomographic (CT) retrograde positive contrast cystography, and CT excretory urography were consistent with a large urinary bladder diverticulum. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a normal wall appearance in the ventral compartment (true bladder) and marked thinning of the wall in the dorsal compartment (diverticulum). Both ureters inserted into the ventral compartment. The dorsal compartment was excised and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of urinary bladder diverticulum.     

Serum Levels of Cardiac Markers NT‐proANP and NT‐proBNP in Brachycephalic bitches at Different Gestational Stages

The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of natriuretic peptide precursors (NT‐proANP and NT‐proBNP) during pregnancy in brachycephalic bitches. Fifteen healthy multiparous bitches were selected for this prospective study. Serum levels of NT‐proANP and NT‐proBNP were measured during anoestrous and at 14, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days (2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th weeks) of pregnancy. Fourteen animals had normal gestations, and one bitch developed single foetus syndrome. The natriuretic peptide levels of this animal were not included in this study; however, it is important to report that its NT‐proANP levels were four times greater than those of normal patients. There was no significant difference (p = 0.072) in NT‐proBNP levels between anoestrous (0.20 ± 0.10 ng/ml) and the different pregnancy weeks (0.27 ± 0.12 ng/ml). There was a positive correlation (p < 0.0001) between NT‐proANP and gestational age, and the levels of this marker increased significantly (p < 0.0001) during the 6th (0.26 ± 0.06 ng/ml), 7th (0.28 ± 0.04 ng/ml) and 8th weeks (0.29 ± 0.05 ng/ml) when compared to anoestrous (0.18 ± 0.02 ng/ml). NT‐proANP serum levels are correlated with gestational development and may be indicative of cardiovascular adaptation in canine brachycephalic pregnancy.     

A single injection of corifollitropin alfa supplemented with human chorionic gonadotropin increases follicular recruitment and transferable embryos in the rabbit

Superovulation protocols are designed to achieve maximum embryo yields. Nevertheless, ovarian response control and the quality of obtained embryos are still a challenge. On the other hand, to save the superovulated embryos until their subsequent use, it is usual to cryopreserve them, so it is also crucial to assess their cryotolerance. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a single injection of corifollitropin alfa (FSH‐CTP) alone or supplemented with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and to determine the impact of this stimulation on in vitro and in vivo development of fresh or devitrified embryos. Our outcomes showed that ovulation rate and recovered embryos were significantly increased when hCG was used. In vitro development of fresh and devitrified embryos and survival at birth were not significantly affected by superstimulation treatment. Results of this study suggest that a single injection of long‐acting FSH‐CTP supplemented with hCG can be effectively used in rabbits to elicit an increase in ovulation rate and number of recovered embryos. Furthermore, we demonstrated that hCG supplementation had no negative effects in embryo cryosurvival and development, showing similar survival rate at birth than FSH‐CTP alone group.     

An assessment of the role played by some oxidation-related aldehydes in wine aroma

The levels of important oxidation-related aldehydes, such as methional, phenylacetaldehyde, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, and 3-methylbutanal, were determined in 41 different wines belonging to different types (young whites and reds, natural sparkling wines, oxidized young whites and reds, Sherry, aged red wines, Port wines). Except (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-heptenal, all of them could be found at levels above threshold. Different compositional patterns were identified: Sherry wines have large amounts of branched aldehydes but not of (E)-2-alkenals, wines exposed to oxygen can have large amounts of (E)-2-alkenals but not of branched aldehydes, while aged wine and Port have relatively large amounts of both classes of compounds. Different sensory tests confirmed the active sensory role of these compounds and revealed the existence of interactions (additive or synergic) between them and with other wine volatiles. (E)-2-Alkenals are related to flavor deterioration, while branched aldehydes enhance dried fruit notes and mask the negative role of (E)-2-alkenals.     

Temporal sequence of cell wall disassembly events in developing fruits. 2. Analysis of blueberry (Vaccinium species)

Softening and pathogen susceptibility are the major factors limiting the marketing of blueberries as fresh fruits, and these traits are associated with fruit cell wall structure. However, few studies that characterize wall modifications occurring during development and ripening have been reported for this fruit. In this study the ripening-associated modifications of blueberry fruit cell walls (composition, pectin and hemicellulose solubilization, and depolymerization) at five stages of ripeness have been analyzed. Xylose was found to be the most abundant noncellulosic neutral sugar associated with fruit walls, and the observed high Xyl/Glc ratio suggested that xylans, which are usually a minor hemicellulosic fruit wall component, are abundant in blueberry. The pectic matrix showed increased solubilization at early and intermediate stages of ripening, but no changes were detected in late ripening. Furthermore, little reduction in pectin polymer size occurred during blueberry ripening. In contrast, hemicellulose levels decreased as ripening progressed, and a clear depolymerization of these components was observed. A model for cell wall degradation in this fruit is discussed.     

Resistance to spinosad in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), in greenhouses of south-eastern Spain

Susceptibility to spinosad of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), from south-eastern Spain was determined. LC(50) values of the field populations without previous exposure to spinosad collected in Murcia in 2001 and 2002 ranged from 0.005 to 0.077 mg L(-1). The populations collected in Almeria in 2003 in greenhouses were resistant to spinosad (LC(50) > 54 mg L(-1)) compared with the authors' highly susceptible laboratory strain. The highly sensitive laboratory strain leads to very high resistance ratios for the field populations (>13 500), but these ratios do not necessarily mean resistance problems and control failures (spinosad field rate 90-120 mg L(-1)). The populations collected in Murcia from some greenhouses in 2004 were also resistant to spinosad (RF > 3682). Spinosad overuse, with more than ten applications per crop, produced these resistant populations in some greenhouses. Spinosad showed no cross-resistance to acrinathrin, formetanate or methiocarb in laboratory strains selected for resistance towards each insecticide. Correlation analysis indicated no cross-resistance among spinosad and the other three insecticides in 13 field populations and in nine laboratory strains. The synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO), S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) and diethyl maleate (DEM) did not enhance the toxicity of spinosad to the resistant strains, indicating that metabolic-mediated detoxification was not responsible for the spinosad resistance. These findings suggest that rotation with spinosad may be an effective resistance management strategy.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and other wild ruminants from Spain

Serum samples from 441 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 161 other wild ruminant species, collected between 1993 and 2005 from six regions of Spain were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT 1:25 or higher) were detected in 15.6% of red deer. Statistically significant differences were observed among sampling sites with seroprevalence in red deer from Catalonia (42.2%) being significantly higher compared with other Spanish regions (8.7%) (P < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were not observed between T. gondii seroprevalence and sex, age or management of hunting estates (open versus fenced). Seroprevalence of T.gondii infection in other ruminants species was 24% of 79 fallow deer (Dama dama), 21.8% of 33 in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 33.3% of three Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), 20% of 10 chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), 10% of 10 barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), and 14.8% of 27 mouflon (Ovis ammon) in areas not including Catalonia, where no samples from these species were available. Serological results indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii among wildlife in Spain and suggest that consumption of raw or inadequately cooked meat, as well as handling carcasses of wild game, should be taken into account as a source of infection for humans.     

Disruption of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus thurifera</Emphasis> woodland structure in its northwestern geographical range: potential drivers and limiting factors

Enhancement of Juniperus thurifera recruitment and colonisation by oak and pine species has been related at the local level to changes in livestock pressure. We used forest inventory data from Castilla y León Autonomous Region (Central Spain), an area comprising 34% of the world range of J. thurifera, to assess whether this process is occurring at a larger scale. We compared tree composition and density in a set of 659 permanent plots over a 10-year period. Logistic models and redundancy analysis were used to assess the effect on this process of parameters such as livestock pressure, propagule availability and climatic conditions. Between 1992 and 2002, juniper woodlands became denser (1.31% juniper stem year⁻¹) and tree diversity increased due to rapid colonisation by oaks and pines (2.21% occupied plots year⁻¹). In addition, the presence of juniper increased in other types of forests at a moderate rate (0.6% y⁻¹). Thus, we observed both a disruption of the borders between current forest types and a generalised increase in α-diversity of tree species. The seed source was the main factor explaining colonisation rate, suggesting that the pace of colonisation is critically constrained by the spatial configuration of the landscape and the local propagule availability of the colonising species. If the current colonisation trends continue, monospecific juniper woodlands will become very scarce by the end of the twenty-first century.     

Geographically structured and temporally unstable growth responses of Juniperus thurifera to recent climate variability in the Iberian Peninsula

Geographically structured tree-ring networks are needed to fully understand the spatiotemporal variability in climatic sensitiveness of trees and to study their future responses to global warming. We aim to identify the spatially constrained structure of radial-growth patterns of the Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera L.) and to assess whether their climate–growth responses were unstable during the late twentieth century. Tree–ring width chronologies were built for 13?J. thurifera stands in Spain using dendrochronological methods and related to monthly climatic data. Sites were grouped according to their growth patterns using hierarchical cluster analysis. The relationships among geographical, climatic and stand features and their influence on radial growth were evaluated using redundancy analysis. The climate–growth relationships and their temporal stability were assessed using Pearson’s and moving bootstrapped correlations, respectively. Stands formed three geographical groups according to their high-frequency growth variation: North West and Centre, North East and South East. We found that J. thurifera radial-growth patterns depended on geographical and climatic factors, but not on the stand structure, and responded to a northwest–southeast gradient of decreasing rainfall and influence of Atlantic Westerlies and Mediterranean cyclonic activity. The positive response to June precipitation was unstable during the late twentieth century and started earlier in populations from western mesic sites than in eastern xeric sites. This pattern may be related to either decreasing water availability in western than in eastern sites or the resilience of J. thurifera growth from xeric sites in response to the increasing summer aridity.     

Increases in Growing Degree Days in the Alpine Desert of the San Luis Valley, Colorado

Most alpine ecosystem climate change studies identify changes in biota, several report abiotic factors and conditions, few report temperature changes, and few to none discuss growing degree days (GDD) changes. This study provides results of data analysis on changes in number of GDD in the alpine desert of the San Luis Valley (SLV) whose community is dominated by an irrigated agricultural region. Analysis indicates significant increases (p?<?0.05) in annual and growing season GDD₁₀, GDD_4.4 (potato), and GDD_5.5 (alfalfa) during 1994–2007 compared to 1958–1993. With one exception, all stations experienced significant increases in mean annual daily GDD between 0.12 and 0.50 day^?2 and growing season GDD day^?2 0.21 and 0.81. Higher temperatures increase numbers of GDD, quickening growth of crops and maturity at the cost of reduced yield and quality. Increases in GDD indicate the Valley’s agricultural region and economy may experience negative impacts as yields decrease and water use increases.