Serum C-reactive protein concentrations in dogs with multicentric lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is high in dogs with multicentric lymphoma, whether CRP concentration changes in response to chemotherapy, and whether CRP concentration can be used as a marker for relapse in dogs with multicentric lymphoma. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 20 dogs with multicentric lymphoma and 8 healthy control dogs undergoing chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) or with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and L-asparaginase (VCMA) and 20 other healthy dogs. PROCEDURES: Serum CRP concentration was measured weekly during the first month of chemotherapy and then at 3-week intervals until relapse in dogs with multicentric lymphoma, weekly for 16 weeks in healthy dogs undergoing chemotherapy, and once in the healthy dogs not undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: For both groups of dogs with lymphoma, mean serum CRP concentration during week 1 (prior to treatment) was significantly higher than mean concentrations following induction of chemotherapy and at the time of relapse. Mean serum CRP concentration in the healthy dogs undergoing chemotherapy was not significantly different at any time from mean concentration for the healthy dogs not undergoing chemotherapy. No significant differences were observed between dogs treated with CVP and dogs treated with VCMA. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that serum CRP concentration is high in dogs with multicentric lymphoma but that serum CRP concentration is not a useful marker for relapse and that chemotherapy itself does not affect serum CRP concentration.     

DNA-based methods for identification and quantification of small grain cereal mixtures and fingerprinting of varieties

The composition of cereal-based foods is a key factor in determining the quality and safety of the final product while the reliable identification of cereal species and cultivars are essential for the handling, marketing and processing of grain and for the protection of plant breeders' rights. Analytical methods have therefore been developed and applied to identify and quantify cereal species in food products and also to fingerprint and identify grain at the genotype and variety levels. DNA-based methods for the detection and quantification of mixtures of small grain cereals are reviewed, together with the recent development of molecular markers for varietal fingerprinting.     

Production of triacetylhydroxytyrosol from olive mill waste waters for use as stabilized bioantioxidant

A hydroxytyrosol triacetyl derivative was very efficiently produced as a highly pure stabilized antioxidant compound by a short treatment of olive mill waste water (OMWW) organic extracts, rich in hydroxytyrosol, with an acetylating mixture composed of HClO4-SiO2 and Ac2O (Chakborti and Gulhane reaction), in mild and safe conditions. A successive single step of middle pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) purification of the reaction product was performed, with an overall yield of 35.6%. (This process, including both the Chakborti and Gulhane reaction and the MPLC purification, is protected by an international patent under PCT/IT2005/000781.) The o-diphenol triacetyl derivative was also produced by direct reaction of hydroxytyrosol, previously purified by MPLC, with HClO4-SiO2 and Ac2O, with an overall yield of 29.5%. A further procedure for the production of the hydroxytyrosol triacetyl derivative was consistent with the direct treatment of raw OMWW with the acetylating agent and a single step of MPLC purification, with an overall yield of 27.6%. The purified natural triacetylhydroxytyrosol confirmed the same strong protective effects against the oxidative stress in human cells as the corresponding synthetic compound, likely because of the biochemical activation of the acetyl derivative into the active parent hydroxytyrosol by esterases. We therefore propose the utilization of OMWW for recovering hydroxytyrosol as a natural antioxidant in a chemically stabilized form, with a good yield, which can be potentially used as a nontoxic functional component in nutritional, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic preparations.     

Longitudinal field studies of Avian Metapneumovirus and Turkey Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus in turkeys suffering from colibacillosis associated mortality

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the exposure to Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and/or to Turkey hemorrhagic enteritis virus (THEV) was significant for the induction of episodes of colibacillosis in aMPV and THEV vaccinated turkeys. Colibacillosis-associated mortality was recorded and longitudinal virological studies performed in three consecutive turkey flocks reared in the same farm. aMPV and THEV diagnostic swabs and blood samples were made once a week up to 14 weeks of age. Swabs were processed by molecular techniques for viruses detection and antibody titres were evaluated. Field subtype B aMPVs were detected in all flocks at different ages of life always associated with respiratory signs and increase of colibacillosis-associated mortality. THEV has been consistently detected in all flocks since the 9th week of age. Vaccination with a single dose of the THEV commercial inactivated vaccine available in Italy seems does not protect the birds from the infection. Sequence comparison of the hexon protein of one of the THEV strains detected, and strains isolated worldwide, revealed high similarity between them. These results are consistent with the notion that the hexon protein, being the major antigenic component of the virus, is highly conserved between the strains. Results showed that field aMPV infection is directly correlated to colibacillosis-associated mortality. Less clear appears the role of THEV because the endemicity of aMPV makes difficult to evaluate its role in predisposing colibacillosis in absence of aMPV. It would be interesting to further investigate this issue through experimental trials in secure isolation conditions.     

Pharmacokinetics of IV Ketorolac in Horses Undergoing Orchiectomy

Ketorolac (KET) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for human use, with a potent analgesic activity, that is used in the relief of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. The pharmacokinetics of KET tromethamine was evaluated after single IV injection at 0.5 mg/kg body weight, after intubation and 10 minutes before surgery, to six Arabian colts undergoing orchiectomy. Intraoperative cardiorespiratory variables were monitored. Blood samples were collected for 36 hours, and serum samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromotography with ultraviolet-visible detection. During surgery, all monitored physiological parameters were stable. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and normocapnia were maintained throughout the procedure in all animals. No adverse effects were observed. The kinetics of KET was described by a two-compartment models, and also a noncompartmental analysis was performed. The distribution and elimination half-lives were t_1/2λ1$t_{1/2{\lambda }_1}$ 0.06 ± 0.02 and t_1/2λ2$t_{1/2{\lambda }_2}$ 0.59 ± 0.21 hours, respectively. Body clearance and mean residence time were 339.99 ± 120.19 mL/h/kg and 0.49 ± 0.22 hours, respectively. The volume of distribution at steady state and volume of distribution based on the terminal phase were 218.83 ± 134.26 mL/kg and 522.5 ± 529.3 mL/kg, respectively. The serum protein binding was 75.8 ± 2.9%. The results indicate that KET at 0.5 mg/kg IV was very rapidly eliminated and thus was likely not effective in the postoperative period. However, further studies including a control group and at higher doses are suggested to investigate the KET kinetics and the analgesic efficacy in horse and define the most appropriate dosage scheme.     

Comparison of nitrogen and irrigation strategies in tomato using CROPGRO model. A case study from Southern Italy

The CROPGRO simulation model was calibrated for processing tomato in Southern Italy with a 2002 data set and validated with three independent data sets with acceptable results. Subsequently this model was combined with 53 years of local historical weather data and it was used as a research tool to evaluate the benefits, risks and costs of 23 different interactive irrigation and/or N-management scenarios. Irrigation water was applied (i) on reported dates with 3 and 5 days intervals and application rates of 15 and 25 mm or (ii) with automatic irrigation initiated at residual soil moisture levels in the upper 30 cm of the soil profile of 25, 50, or 75%. Three amount levels of N application (100, 200 and 300 kg ha⁻¹ as ammonium nitrate) were considered. A simple economic analysis, including tomato marketable yield and price, irrigation and nitrogen cost and other fixed production costs, was used to estimate expected net return for each management scenario.     

Effect of ethanol and red wine on ochratoxin a-induced experimental acute nephrotoxicity

Ochratoxin A (OTA), is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin present in wine, which is nephrotoxic in humans. Our working hypothesis is that natural substances in wine may counteract OTA toxicity. Thirty-six rats were randomized to OTA dissolved in saline, red wine, or 13.5% ethanol or to OTA-free wine, ethanol, or saline. OTA (289 microg/kg of body weight/48 h) was administered by gastric gavage for 2 weeks. Serum creatinine, tubular enzymuria, renal lipohydroperoxides (LOOH), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and renal superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) were determined in renal tissue. OTA alone produced significant increases in renal lipoperoxides and significant decreases in SOD and GSH/GSSG ratio. In red wine or ethanol, OTA was less nephrotoxic, reducing oxidative damage as revealed by LOOH. In OTA-wine and OTA-ethanol groups, SOD activity was higher than in the OTA-treated one, suggesting that both ethanol and nonalcoholic fractions may preserve antioxidant reserve. GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly preserved only in the OTA-wine group and not in OTA-ethanol. Red wine may exert a protective effect against OTA nephrotoxicity by limiting oxidative damage. The ostensible protection afforded by ethanol deserves further investigation.     

Radiographic vertebral left atrial size: A reference interval study in healthy adult dogs

Thoracic radiography is a useful technique for the evaluation of cardiac dimensions, especially when echocardiography is not possible. The vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) has recently been proposed as a new radiographic method for quantifying left atrial dimensions in dogs. The aims of this retrospective, reference interval, observational study were to describe values for VLAS in a group of healthy adult dogs and to compare intraobserver and interobserver agreement for VLAS versus vertebral heart score (VHS) methods. Thoracic radiographs of 80 healthy adult dogs were evaluated. Normal left atrial size was determined based on an echocardiographic left atrial‐to‐aorta ratio < 1.6. The VLAS and vertebral heart score values were measured from right lateral radiographs. The correlations between VLAS, the vertebral heart score, and the left atrial‐to‐aorta ratio were evaluated. The effects of body weight, sex, and age were also tested using regression analyses. The median value of VLAS were 1.9, with a reference interval of 1.4‐2.2. A positive correlation was found between VLAS and vertebral heart score values (r = 0.53; P < .0001). No effect of body weight, sex, and age on VLAS was detected. Excellent intraobserver and interobserver agreements were found for both VLAS and vertebral heart score methods (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥ 0.91). Findings from this sample of healthy dogs indicated that VLAS is a repeatable radiographic method for quantifying left atrial size. Further studies are warranted to evaluate this measure in clinically affected dogs.     

Olive mill wastewater spreading and AMF inoculation effects in a low-input semi-arid Mediterranean crop succession

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to evaluate, in a marginal semi-arid Mediterranean agro-ecosystem (Sicily-Italy), the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and raw olive mill wastewater (OMW) (40 and 80 m³ ha^?1) on forage (durum wheat-snail medick intercropping) yield, and grain production of broad bean and chickpea. AMF inoculation significantly increased (+13.6%) forage dry biomass and durum wheat nitrogen (+22.8%) and phosphorus (+32.5%) uptake. AMF inoculation, significantly promoted broad bean phosphorus uptake (+11.5%) and root nodule number (+13.9%) in the absence of OMW. OMW spreading reduced weeds in the forage (?31.3%), root nodule number (?29.7%) and dry weight (?22.7%) in broad bean. OMW also significantly increased snail medick dry biomass (+19.3%) as compared to control treatments (0, 40 and 80 m³ H₂O ha^?1, average production 361 g m^?2), and broad bean grain yield with a production of 2.46 ± 0.12 and 1.94 ± 0.09 Mg ha^?1 with and without OMW, respectively. During the experiment AMF colonization was not affected by OMW volumes. The results obtained showed that in a marginal Mediterranean agro-ecosystem: 1) OMW, notwithstanding spreading volumes, is a valuable amendment to maximize legume yield while 2) AMF inoculation is a valuable practice to improve biomass production and N and P uptake in wheat.     

Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)

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