High prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cattle,sheep, and goat bulk tank milk in Jordan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA and mecC methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in...     

Electroacupuncture-induced neural activation detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and elucidate the relationship between somatic acupoint stimulation and brain activation. ANIMALS: 40 New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Manganese-enhanced fMRI was performed in anesthetized rabbits manipulated with electroacupuncture (EA) on Zusanli (ST-36) and Yanglingquan (GB-34) acupoints. Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. T1-weighted images were acquired sequentially as follows: baseline, after mannitol injection, after manganese infusion, and 5 and 20 minutes after initiation of EA. RESULTS: Changes in focal neural activity were detected by use of manganese-enhanced fMRI. Stimulation on Zusanli (ST-36) for 5 minutes resulted in activation of the hippocampus, whereas stimulation on Yanglingquan (GB-34) resulted in activation of the hypothalamus, insula, and motor cortex. Activation became less specific after 20 minutes of EA. Furthermore, stimulation on ipsilateral acupoints led to bilateral brain activation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Each acupoint has a corresponding cerebral linkage, and stimulation on these points resulted in time-dependent neural activation. Understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways may provide a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

Prevalence of antibodies to equine viruses in the Netherlands

Summary The prevalence of antibodies to various viruses was investigated in a series of serum samples collected from horses in the Netherlands between 1963 and 1966 and from 1972 onwards. Neutralizing antibodies to equine rhinopneumonitis virus, equine arteritis virus and to equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2 were detected in respectively 76%, 14%, 66% and 59% of the equine serum samples tested. The observed incidence of serum samples positive to equine adenovirus in the complement fixation test was 39%. Precipitating antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus were detected only in serum samples from two horses imported from abroad. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to Myxovirus influenzae A / equi-1, M. Influenzae A / equi-2, and Reovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were present in respectively 82%, 50%, 10%, 33% and 3.6% of the serum samples tested. The most frequently observed incidence of antibodies to the various equine respiratory viruses occurred in the groups of horses having repeatedly contact with other horses.     

Two-dimensional,long-axis echocardiographic ratios for assessment of left atrial and ventricular size in dogs

Introduction

Left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) enlargement affect management and outcome of dogs with cardiac disease. Short-axis, two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) images, indexed to the aorta (Ao), are frequently used to identify cardiomegaly. Long-axis images offer complementary views of the left heart.

纳米TiO2悬浮液对烟草青枯菌杀菌活性的研究

纳米T iO2是一种半导体光催化剂,在近紫外光的激发下,可以产生强的杀菌活性。以烟草青枯菌P seudomonas solanacearum为试验对象,采用平板稀释法对自制的纳米T iO2悬浮液进行杀菌活性测定。结果表明:在阳光或汞灯下照射4h后,T iO2对烟草青枯菌的杀菌率可达90%以上。说明用纳米T iO2防治烟草青枯病具有一定的可行性。     

2-硝基-1-芳乙烯类化合物的设计合成及其对稻瘟病菌的抑制活性

为了筛选得到对稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe grisea具有较高抑菌活性的新型化合物,根据稻瘟病菌中1,3,8-三羟基萘酚还原酶（3HNR）的结构信息,设计合成了系列2-硝基-1-芳乙烯（2a~2e）和2-溴-2-硝基-1-芳乙烯（3a,3b）目标化合物,并测试了其对3HNR和稻瘟病菌的抑制活性,同时运用分子对接方法对目标化合物与3HNR可能的结合模式进行了分析。结果表明:大部分目标化合物对3HNR都有很好的抑制作用（IC503的抑制活性最好,IC50值为0.53 μmol/L。在50 μg/mL下,目标化合物对稻瘟病菌的生长具有不同程度的抑制作用,其中2e、3a和3b的抑制率高于96%;3a和3b的EC50值分别为16.4和11.6 μg/mL。分子对接方法分析结果表明,硝基苯乙烯骨架结构与稻瘟病菌的3HNR活性空腔的氨基酸残基有较好的相互作用,其中化合物3中的溴原子可与3HNR中Tyr223和Tyr178的羟基形成氢键,从而解释了化合物3对3HNR有较好抑制作用的原因。     

闽东南天然降雨雨滴特征的研究

该文在实测滴谱资料的基础上建立了闽东南地区雨滴大小分布函数。F=1-exp[-(d/3.58I^0.28)^5.19I0.11]并导出了雨滴中数直径、动能与雨强的关系为D₅₀=3.34I^0.29和E=36.04I^0.29。笔者认为两型对雨滴特征是有影响的。     

Crystalluria. Observations, interpretations, and misinterpretations

Crystalluria results from oversaturation of urine with crystallogenic substance. However, oversaturation may occur as a result of in vitro as well as in vivo events. The microscopic appearance of crystals only represents a tentative identification of their composition because variable conditions associated with their formation, growth, and dissolution may alter their appearance. Definitive identification is dependent on physical methods such as optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic analysis.     

Hemostatic changes in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis

Sepsis is a frequent source of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The goal of this case control study was to measure hemostatic changes in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis. Blood was collected within 24 hours of admission from 20 dogs that fulfilled the criteria for sepsis. Sepsis was defined as histologic or microbiological confirmation of infection and 2 or more of the following criteria: hypo- or hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, or leukopenia, leukocytosis, or > 3% bands. Culture and sensitivities were performed on appropriate samples from all septic dogs. Twenty-eight control dogs were enrolled on the basis of normal results of physical examination, CBC, serum biochemistry, and coagulation profile. Plasma samples were analyzed for prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP), D-dimer (DD) concentrations, antithrombin (AT) activity, and protein C (PC) activity. Data were compared between groups by chi-square or independent t-tests. PC (P < .001) and AT (P < .001) activities were significantly lower in dogs with sepsis compared to controls. Dogs with sepsis had significantly higher PT (P = .007), PTT (P = .005), D-dimer (P = .005), and FDP (P = .001) compared to controls. Platelet counts were not significantly different between groups. Ten of the 20 septic dogs (50%) died, but no association was identified between any of the measured variables and outcome. These findings are consistent with previous studies in animals with experimentally induced disease and in clinical studies of humans. On the basis of these results, further investigation of the role of AT and PC in canine sepsis is warranted.