Comparison of medetomidine—morphine and medetomidine—methadone for sedation,isoflurane requirement and postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing laparoscopy

Objective

To compare the effects of intravenous (IV) medetomidine-morphine and medetomidine-methadone on preoperative sedation, isoflurane requirements and postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

Oxygreen process applied on nongerminated and germinated wheat: role of hydroxamic acids

Wheat samples were taken at different stages of germination characterized by their falling number (which is a relevant indicator of germination) from 400 to 60 s. Each batch was treated by the Oxygreen process, a treatment by ozone, in a closed sequential batch reactor. Leucotriene B4 (LTB 4) was induced by germination, but ozone treatment did not increase this effect. Extract obtained from these wheat batches was applied on human epithelial bronchial cells. Wheat extract from nongerminated wheat did not induce any DNA adduct. More the wheat germination gets underway, more DNA adducts are observed. In contrast, germination did not affect the cell viability. Ozonization of wheat exemplified genotoxic effects only if the wheat was germinated. The implication of hydroxamic acids is discussed. In conclusion, ozonization of wheat, of high milling quality, does not pose any problem.     

Suitable management options to improve the productivity of rice cultivars under salinity stress

Growing rice in saline soils by minimizing damage on growth and yield remains a challenge. We conducted field experiments in the Africa Rice research field located in the Senegal River delta (16° 11? N, 16° 15? W) to study the effects of three management options of fertilization e.g. (i) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization: NPK; (ii) NPK combined with zinc: NPK-Zn, and (iii) NPK combined with gypsum: NPK-gypsum on the soil salinity level, the nutrient uptake and the productivity of different rice cultivars. The whole objective of this study is to determine how zinc or gypsum associated to NPK fertilizer can improve the growth and productivity of rice crop in saline soil. Results showed that the initial soil salinity level was reduced rapidly in plots treated with gypsum. The leaf-K/Na ratio, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE), and grain yield of rice cultivars under the salinity stress were improved by the NPK-gypsum and NPK-Zn options relatively to the NPK option, suggesting that NPK-gypsum and NPK-Zn are suitable management options in reducing adverse effect of low K/Na, low ANUE as well as to improve rice yield under salinity stress.     

Lipid metabolism and cellular features of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue in pigs differing in IGF-II genotype

In pigs, a paternally (pat) imprinted mutation in the IGF-II gene is associated with increased muscle mass and decreased backfat thickness. The aim of this study was to determine whether this mutation influenced cellular, biochemical and metabolic features of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Muscle (trapezius) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) were collected from pigs (106kg) carrying (Qpat, n=6) or not carrying (qpat, n=7) the mutation. Adipocytes were isolated from those tissues by collagenase treatment. Lipid content and activity of lipogenic enzymes were determined using standard assays. Gene expression levels were determined by real-time PCR. Levels of IGF-II mRNA were higher (P<0.01) in muscle of Qpat than in that of qpat pigs, but they did not differ significantly between the two groups in SCAT. Whereas levels of IGF-I mRNA in muscle were similar in both groups, they were higher (P<0.05) in SCAT of Qpat pigs than in that of qpat pigs. Muscle lipid content and intramuscular adipocyte diameters were not influenced significantly by the IGF-II genotype. In SCAT, the reduction of backfat thickness in Qpat pigs compared with qpat pigs was associated with lower (P<0.05) lipid content and smaller (P<0.05) adipocytes, with no significant genotype-effects on expressions and/or activities of lipogenic enzymes. In summary, our results suggest that the IGF-II mutation altered body composition in pigs by favoring myofiber hypertrophy and repressing adipose cell development in SCAT.     

Inhibition of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici Germination and Partial Enhancement of Wheat Defenses by Milsana

ABSTRACT The prophylactic efficiency of Milsana against powdery mildew was evaluated on wheat (Triticum aestivum). A single short spraying on 10-day-old plantlets reduced the infection level by 85% and two long sprayings led to the total restriction of the disease. Although microscopic studies showed that Milsana treatments enhance hydrogen peroxide accumulation at the fungal penetration site, biochemical analysis did not allow us to correlate this accumulation with the activation of several enzyme activities involved in active oxygen species (AOS) metabolism. Only lipoxygenase activity, which is involved in both AOS metabolism and lipid peroxidation, showed a 26 to 32% increase 48-h posttreatment in leaves infiltrated with Milsana. This weak effect of Milsana on wheat lipid metabolism was confirmed at the lipid peroxidation level, which surprisingly, was shown to decrease in treated plants. In order to explain the high efficacy of Milsana, the fungistatic effect on conidia germination was also examined. In planta, we showed that a Milsana treatment resulted in a higher proportion of abnormally long appressorial germ tubes, whereas in vitro, it dramatically inhibited fungal conidia germination. The partial activity of Milsana in terms of defense response induction in the wheat/powdery mildew pathosystem and its newly described direct fungistatic activity are discussed.     

Tetralogy of Fallot in a 6-year-old albino ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Tetralogy of Fallot associated with bidirectional shunting across a large ventricular septal defect, was found in a 6-year-old ferret. The prognosis associated with tetralogy of Fallot is usually poor. This case is interesting given the advanced age of the ferret. The bidirectional shunting, responsible for an acyanotic disease, may explain the unexpected prolonged survival in this ferret.     

Identification of a stale-beer-like odorant in extracts of naturally aged beer

For a long time, beer staling has been a prime concern in brewery research. Yet, to improve flavor stability, better knowledge of all chemicals involved is still needed. From our aroma extract dilu-tion analyses (AEDA) applied to naturally aged lager beers emerged an old-beer-like odorant at RICP-SIL 5 CB = 1532 and RIFFAP = 2809, with a FD value close to that of trans-2-nonenal (the well-known cardboard off-flavor found in aged beers). Specific phenol extraction, GC cold trapping, and mass spectrometry (electron impact and chemical ionization) enabled us to identify it as 4-vinylsyringol. Although already mentioned in some fresh beers, this compound had never been highlighted as involved in the aging process of lager beers.