Effects of delayed serum separation and long-term storage on the measurement of thyroid hormones in equine blood samples

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of delaying the separation of serum from the clot and of long-term storage of serum samples on the measurement of thyroid hormones in blood from horses using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The measured concentrations of T3 and T4 were not affected by leaving serum on the clot for as long as 24 hours at room temperatures. Storage of serum for 19 to 22 months at -20 degrees C resulted in significant increases of measured T4, but not T3. These studies support previous work demonstrating that thyroid hormones are resistant to degradation, immunologically stable, and reasonably insensitive to potential problems of routine specimen handling when measured with an immunoassay.     

Continuous lumbar hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disc disease in an Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

A 13-yr-old Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) was presented for an acute onset of paraplegia. Spinal imaging that included plain radiographs, myelography, and computed tomography performed under general anesthesia revealed lateralized spinal cord compression at the intervertebral disc space L4-5 caused by intervertebral disc extrusion. This extrusion was accompanied by an extensive epidural hemorrhage from L3 to L6. Therefore, a continuous hemilaminectomy from L3 to L6 was performed, resulting in complete decompression of the spinal cord. The tiger was ambulatory again 10 days after the surgery. This case suggests that the potential benefit of complete spinal cord decompression may outweigh the risk of causing clinically significant spinal instability after extensive decompression.     

Phosphorus toxicity in the Proteaceae: A problem in post-agricultural lands

South African Proteaceae are adapted to the low soil phosphorus (P) concentrations of the Cape Floristic Region. The efficient P uptake by Proteaceae means that these plants experience phosphorus (P) toxicity at lower rhizosphere [P] than crop plants. This is only problematic when cultivating Proteaceae (and many plants from this region) on previously agricultural land with high residual soil [P]. In this study we hypothesize that P toxicity will result in element imbalances in leaves of Proteaceae and information from this study aims to facilitate ameliorative treatments. Phosphorus toxicity was induced on-farm in Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ (Proteaceae) with subsequent mapping of element distribution in non-necrotic leaf tissue using micro particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. Phosphate supply up to 0.01 mM in a fertigation solution resulted in increased stem length of Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ while P concentrations in excess of this resulted in decreased stem length, increased leaf [P] up to 0.25% (w/w) and, between 1 mM and 5 mM P supply, typical P toxicity symptoms were observed. High P supply (5 mM P) resulted in increased leaf [P] in most leaf tissues including the epidermis, where calculations from an equilibrium speciation model indicated that there was 30% more dissolved PO₄³⁻ in the epidermis compared to leaves at low P supply (0 mM added P on soil with 34 mg P kg⁻¹). Concomitantly, bundle sheath and epidermal [Ca] were reduced and 10% more Ca was predicted to be adsorbed and precipitated as hydrapatite at high P supply. High P supply resulted in increased leaf [Cl] and [Mn] in all tissues studied; decreased total leaf [Fe], bundle sheath, xylem, phloem and epidermal [Fe] and decreased total leaf [Zn] and xylem and phloem [Zn]. The observed symptoms of P toxicity in Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ (necrosis in some plants, chlorosis and leaf rosetting) co-occurred with (1) excess PO₄³⁻, which may bind Ca in the epidermis (leading eventually to necrosis); (2) reduced [Fe] and increased [Mn] (leading to chlorosis) and (3) reduced total and vascular [Zn] (leading to leaf rosetting).     

Predicting land cover changes and their impact on the sediment influx in the Lake Balaton catchment

The land cover pattern in the Lake Balaton catchment (Hungary) has been changing since decollectivization in the 1990s. These land cover changes significantly impact the landscape connectivity, controlling the influx of sediments into the lake. A comparison of high resolution land cover maps from 1981, 2000 and 2005 showed a significant extensification of the agriculture with land cover conversions from arable land and vineyards to grassland and forest. For each land unit transition probabilities were assessed using logistic regression techniques to evaluate to which extent land cover changes are controlled by physical or socio-economic parameters. A stochastic land cover allocation algorithm was applied to generate future land cover patterns. The landscape connectivity for each of the simulated land cover patterns was assessed by means of a distributed routing algorithm. The simulations suggest that further land abandonment in the upslope parts of the catchment will cause a non-linear reduction of average soil erosion rates. The changes, however, have a relatively low impact on the sediment volume entering the lake because of the land unit’s poor connectivity with permanent river channels. The major contributors to the lakes sediment load are the vineyards near the lakeshore. They are likely to be maintained because of their touristic value. A significant reduction of the total sediment input in the lake can be expected only if soil conservation measures in the vineyards near the shorelines are undertaken.     

Cover Image,Volume 16, Issue 1

The cover image, by Alexandra Keller et al., is based on the Original Article The JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in canine mastocytoma, DOI: 10.1111/vco.12311