Comparison of efficacy and toxicity of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone in combination chemotherapy for canine lymphoma

Forty-four dogs with multicentric lymphoma were treated using a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) induction protocol or treated using a cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, and prednisolone (CMOP) induction protocol. There was no statistical difference in signalment and the presence of historical negative prognostic factors between the groups. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the CHOP and CMOP groups were 222 d and 162 d, respectively (P = 0.75). The median survival time (MST) of dogs in CHOP and CMOP groups were 318 d and 242 d, respectively (P = 0.63). Anorexia and diarrhea episodes were significantly higher in the CHOP group than in the CMOP group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the CMOP protocol provides similar PFS, MST and causes fewer side effects compared to the CHOP protocol. Therefore, the CMOP protocol may be another treatment choice for canine multicentric lymphoma.     

Tenogenic induction of equine mesenchymal stem cells by means of growth factors and low-level laser technology

Tendons regenerate poorly due to a dense extracellular matrix and low cellularity. Cellular therapies aim to improve tendon repair using mesenchymal stem cells and tenocytes; however, a current limitation is the low proliferative potential of tenocytes in cases of severe trauma. The purpose of this study was to develop a method useful in veterinary medicine to improve the differentiation of Peripheral Blood equine mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs) into tenocytes. PB-MSCs were used to study the effects of the addition of some growth factors (GFs) as TGFβ3 (transforming growth factor), EGF2 (Epidermal growth factor), bFGF2 (Fibroblast growth factor) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) in presence or without Low Level Laser Technology (LLLT) on the mRNA expression levels of genes important in the tenogenic induction as Early Growth Response Protein-1 (EGR1), Tenascin (TNC) and Decorin (DCN). The singular addition of GFs did not show any influence on the mRNA expression of tenogenic genes whereas the specific combinations that arrested cell proliferation in favour of differentiation were the following: bFGF2 + TGFβ3 and bFGF2 + TGFβ3 + LLLT. Indeed, the supplement of bFGF2 and TGFβ3 significantly upregulated the expression of Early Growth Response Protein-1 and Decorin, while the use of LLLT induced a significant increase of Tenascin C levels. In conclusion, the present study might furnish significant suggestions for developing an efficient approach for tenocyte induction since the external administration of bFGF2 and TGFβ3, along with LLLT, influences the differentiation of PB-MSCs towards the tenogenic fate.     

药用红花生长发育规律的研究

根据药用红花根、叶、茎、分枝、花及生长中心的变化特点，将药用红花个体发育过程划分为莲座期、伸长期、分枝期、开花期及种子成熟期５个生育时期，红花一生有５２叶左右，以伸长期出叶速度最快，平均每２．０天出一叶，这一时期形成１７叶左右。叶面积在生育前期较小，至分枝期达最高值（４月中旬，３０７４．５ｃｍ＾２／ｐｉａｎｔ，叶面积指数５．５），且保持较高叶面积一定时间，以利于分枝和花的发育。红花在分枝期净同化率     

LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS PARAMETERS FOR THE INDUCED-NOZZLE DEVICE

The standoff of a submerged jet is smaller than a non-submerged jet in general. In order to increase the standoff of a submerged jet, the induced-nozzle device is presented with its inducing mechanism analysed in this paper. Under the various inducing medium, the effect of the ratio d2/d1 upon the device's properties is measured. Some reasonable parameters are given. When d2/d1=2.0, approximate straight region of the curve of the jet center line stagnation pressure varying with the standoff is L/d1= l0~12 for inducing air. The induced-nozzle device is compared with the conventional nozzle for shotting some samples. Several applied possibilities of the device are discussed.     

Using midday stem water potential for scheduling deficit irrigation in mid–late maturing peach trees under Mediterranean conditions

Irrigation techniques that reduce water applications are increasingly applied in areas with scarce water resources. In this study, the effect of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies on peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. “Catherine”] performance was studied over three growing seasons. The experimental site was located in Murcia (SE Spain), a Mediterranean region. Two RDI strategies (restricting water applications at stage II of fruit development and postharvest) based on stem water potential (Ψ_s) thresholds (?1.5 and ?1.8 MPa during fruit growth and ?1.5 and ?2.0 MPa during postharvest) were compared to a fully irrigated control. Soil water content (θ_v), Ψ_s, gas exchange parameters, vegetative growth, crop load, yield and fruit quality were determined. RDI treatments showed significantly lower values of θ_v and Ψ_s than control trees when irrigation water was restricted, causing reductions in stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rates. Vegetative growth was reduced by RDI, as lower shoot lengths and pruning weights were observed under those treatments when compared to control. However, fruit size and yield were unaffected, and fruit quality was slightly improved by RDI. Water savings from 43 to 65 % were achieved depending on the year and the RDI strategy, and no negative carryover effect was detected during the study period. In conclusion, RDI strategies using Ψ_s thresholds for scheduling irrigation in mid–late maturing peach trees under Mediterranean conditions are viable options to save water without compromising yield and even improving fruit quality.     

Modeling soil water dynamics in a drip-irrigated intercropping field under plastic mulch

Intercropping, drip irrigation, and the use of plastic mulch are important management practices, which can, when utilized simultaneously, increase crop production and save irrigation water. Investigating soil water dynamics in the root zone of the intercropping field under such conditions is essential in order to understand the combined effects of these practices and to promote their wider use. However, not much work has been done to investigate soil water dynamics in the root zone of drip-irrigated, strip intercropping fields under plastic mulch. Three field experiments with different irrigation treatments (high T1, moderate T2, and low T3) were conducted to evaluate soil water contents (SWC) at different locations, for different irrigation treatments, and with respect to dripper lines and plants (corn and tomatoes). Experimental data were then used to calibrate the HYDRUS (2D/3D) model. Comparison between experimental data and model simulations showed that HYDRUS (2D/3D) described different irrigation events and SWC in the root zone well, with average relative errors of 10.8, 9.5, and 11.6 % for irrigation treatments T1, T2, and T3, respectively, and with corresponding root mean square errors of 0.043, 0.035, and 0.040 cm³ cm^?3, respectively. The results showed that the SWC in the shallow root zone (0–40 cm) was lower under non-mulched locations than under mulched locations, irrespective of the irrigation treatment, while no significant differences in the SWC were observed in the deeper root zone (40–100 cm). The SWC in the shallow root zone was significantly higher for the high irrigation treatment (T1) than for the low irrigation treatment, while, again, no differences were observed in the deeper root zone. Simulations of two-dimensional SWC distributions revealed that the low irrigation treatment (T3) produced serious severe water stress (with SWCs near the wilting point) in the 30–40 cm part of the root zone, and that using separate drip emitter lines for each crop is well suited for producing the optimal soil water distribution pattern in the root zone of the intercropping field. The results of this study can be very useful in designing an optimal irrigation plan for intercropped fields.     

改性木质素对砖红壤磷素有效性的影响

磷肥施入砖土壤后，土壤速效磷随着时间的推移，呈现下降的趋势。利用改性木质素缓释磷铵，可以有效地络合土壤活性钵，降低其活性，从而阻止土壤速效磷被固定，使土壤磷素维持在较高的水平。土壤中交换性钙和交换性镁对土壤速效磷的影响不大。     

边界线分析法评价小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系产量的限制因子

本研究旨在分析小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系限制作物产量的关键因子,为该体系的优化提供科学依据。采用农户调研的方式,对河北省曲周县的小麦/西瓜/玉米间作模式展开调查,主要调研内容是小麦和玉米的播种量、养分投入量和产量以及西瓜的养分投入量和产量,应用边界线分析方法评价小麦/西瓜/玉米间作高产体系的限制因子。结果表明,限制小麦产量的关键因子为小麦播种量,贡献率达17.8%,而养分投入量的贡献率分别为:P₂O₅ 12.5%、K₂O 11.7%、N 8.0%。限制西瓜产量的关键因子为钾肥投入量,贡献率达15.8%,N、P₂O₅的贡献率分别为14.2%和11.8%。限制玉米产量的关键因子为氮肥投入量,贡献率达20.6%,其他因子的贡献率分别为:K₂O 14.2%,P₂O₅ 11.5%,播种密度9.2%。因此,在小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系中,应适当调控小麦播量,优化西瓜的钾肥和玉米的氮肥投入量,促进该间作模式的产量优势。