COMBINATION OF RADIATION THERAPY AND FIROCOXIB FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANINE NASAL CARCINOMA

Carcinomas represent two‐thirds of canine nasosinal neoplasms. Although radiation therapy (RT) is the standard of care, the incidence of local recurrence following treatment is high. Cyclooxygenase‐isoform‐2 (COX‐2) is expressed in 71–95% of canine nasal carcinomas and has been implicated in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Accordingly, COX‐2 inhibition seems rational to improve outcome. Dogs with histologically confirmed, previously untreated nasal carcinomas were randomized to receive the combination of a selective COX‐2 inhibitor (firocoxib) and palliative RT (Group 1) or RT and placebo (Group 2). Patients were regularly monitored with blood tests, urinalysis, and computed tomography. Pet owners were asked to complete monthly a quality‐of‐life questionnaire. Twenty‐four dogs were prospectively enrolled. According to Adams modified system, there were five stage 1, five stage 2, three stage 3, and 11 stage 4 tumors. Two dogs had metastases to regional lymph nodes. Median progression‐free interval and overall survival were 228 and 335 days in Group 1 (n = 12) and 234 and 244 days in Group 2 (n = 12). These differences were not statistically significant. The involvement of regional lymph nodes was significantly associated with progression‐free interval and overall survival (P = 0.004). Quality of life was significantly improved in Group 1 (P = 0.008). In particular, a significant difference was observed for activity and appetite. Although not providing a significant enhancement of progression‐free interval and overall survival, firocoxib in combination with RT is safe and improved life quality in dogs with nasal carcinomas.     

Exploiting trap color to improve surveys of longhorn beetles

Journal of Pest Science - Longhorn beetles are commonly moved among continents within wood packaging materials used in trades. Visual inspections carried out at points of entry often fail to detect...     

Evidence for ozone formation in human atherosclerotic arteries

Here, we report evidence for the production of ozone in human disease. Signature products unique to cholesterol ozonolysis are present within atherosclerotic tissue at the time of carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that ozone production occurred during lesion development. Furthermore, advanced atherosclerotic plaques generate ozone when the leukocytes within the diseased arteries are activated in vitro. The steroids produced by cholesterol ozonolysis cause effects that are thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including cytotoxicity, lipid-loading in macrophages, and deformation of the apolipoprotein B-100 secondary structure. We propose the trivial designation "atheronals" for this previously unrecognized class of steroids.     

Effects of iron-based amendments on soil structure: a lab experiment using soil micromorphology and image analysis of pores

Purpose

Recent trends in soil green and sustainable remediation require an increased attention on environmental effects. The physical consequences of remediation practices on soil structure are very rarely investigated.

Material and methods

A laboratory experiment was carried out by adding iron grit to a sand (S), a silt loam (L), and a clay (C) soil subjected to several wetting-drying cycles. The physical effects of the treatment on soil pore system were identified and quantified combining physical measurements on repacked samples with image analysis of pores on resin-impregnated soil blocks and micromorphological analysis on thin sections.

Results and discussion

A negligible reduction of total porosity (P) resulted in S, and a slight increase was observed in the L and C soils. However, an important impact on soil structure was identified in pore size range >10 μm for the L and C soils, with the formation of new pores related to the differential shrink-swell behavior between soil matrix and added iron grains. Different plasticity of these soils also played a role in planar pore formation.

Conclusions

Effects of the addition of iron grit on soil pore system are strongly dependent on soil physical properties. The performed experiment showed that iron-based amendments can improve soil structure in low-plastic shrink-swell soil increasing porosity in the range of transmission pores (50–500 μm). This study showed the high potential of soil micromorphology and pore image analysis in order to evaluate the environmental impact of soil remediation practices.     

Prediction of blood orange MT firmness by multivariate modelling of low alterative penetrometric data set: A preliminary study

A study was conducted to evaluate a non-destructive method able to predict Magness–Taylor (MT) penetrometric firmness of blood oranges, potentially applicable for on-line selection. The method consisted of multivariate modelling of non-destructive penetrometric measurements performed on intact oranges with a 11.3 mm diameter probe by digital dynamometric equipment. The tests were carried out on 366 blood oranges (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Tarocco); 60 were used as a control group to verify the non-destructive nature of the tests. Four test factors were used on the fruit: two different levels of non-destructive deformation (1 and 3 mm), at two different deformation speeds (5 and 30 mm s^?1). In order to obtain the reference parameter (MT firmness), a destructive penetrometric test followed each non-destructive deformation on the same fruit (deformation of 20 mm at 1 mm s^?1). The force–deformation curves of the non-destructive tests were elaborated to calculate different texture parameters (max force, elasticity, work). These parameters with raw curve data (force values for constant deformation steps) were used, after autoscaling pre-processing, as X-block datasets in supervised multivariate modelling (partial least squares) to predict MT firmness values. Among the test factors used, the 30 mm s^?1 speed and 3 mm deformation provided the best overall prediction of MT firmness. This comprised an r value of 0.76 and standard error of prevision (SEP) of 2.99 N for a MT firmness mean value of 35.65 N (8.4%). The time needed to apply the selected deformation may lead to a sorting speed of about 10 fruit per second, representing an acceptable value for commercial application.     

DIAGNOSTIC SENSITIVITY OF ULTRASOUND,RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR GENDER DETERMINATION IN FOUR SPECIES OF LIZARDS

Gender determination is frequently requested by reptile breeders, especially for species with poor or absent sexual dimorphism. The aims of the current study were to describe techniques and diagnostic sensitivities of ultrasound, radiography, and computed tomography for gender determination (identification of hemipenes) in four species of lizards. Nineteen lizards of known sex, belonging to four different species (Pogona vitticeps, Uromastyx aegyptia, Tiliqua scincoides, Gerrhosaurus major) were prospectively enrolled. With informed owner consent, ultrasound, noncontrast CT, contrast radiography, and contrast CT (with contrast medium administered into the cloaca) were performed in conscious animals. Imaging studies were reviewed by three different operators, each unaware of the gender of the animals and of the results of the other techniques. The lizard was classified as a male when hemipenes were identified. Nineteen lizards were included in the study, 10 females and nine males. The hemipenes were seen on ultrasound in only two male lizards, and appeared as oval hypoechoic structures. Radiographically, hemipenes filled with contrast medium appeared as spindle‐shaped opacities. Noncontrast CT identified hemipenes in only two lizards, and these appeared as spindle‐shaped kinked structures with hyperattenuating content consistent with smegma. Hemipenes were correctly identified in all nine males using contrast CT (accuracy of 100%). Accuracy of contrast radiography was excellent (94.7%). Accuracy of ultrasound and of noncontrast CT was poor (64.3% and 63.1%, respectively). Findings from the current study supported the use of contrast CT or contrast radiography for gender determination in lizards.     

Derivative potentiometric stripping analysis (dPSA) used for the determination of cadmium,copper, lead,and zinc in Sicilian olive oils

Derivative potentiometric stripping analysis (dPSA) was utilized to evaluate the Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) content in olive oil samples produced in Sicily in the crop year 2000-2001. The repeatability of the method was attested at 86.36% for cadmium, at 94.94% for copper, at 99.00% for lead, and at 98.92% for zinc. Recovery tests were carried out, both on cleanup procedures and on extraction steps, on olive oil spiked at different levels; obtained recoveries were 84.52 +/- 9.86 for cadmium, 97.34 +/- 2.72 for copper, 100.68 +/- 0.67 for lead and 83.35 +/- 1.72 for zinc. Theoretic detection limits were 1.2 ng g(-1) for Cd, 3.6 ng g(-1) for Cu, 5.9 ng g(-1) for Pb, and 14.3 ng g(-1) for Zn. Found concentrations range were 15.94-58.51 ng g(-1) for Cu, 32.64-156.48 ng g(-1) for Pb, and 157.00-385.22 ng g(-1) for Zn. Copper, lead, and zinc were found in all samples. The main advantage of this determination consists of a not too aggressive metals extraction procedure using hydrochloric acid, which avoids losses of elements typical of sample calcinations methods.     

Studies on the phytotoxicity of acid smuts

Experiments were carried out to investigate, under controlled conditions, the effects of acid smut emitted by oil-fired power plants. The foliar response of 31 selected plant species was ranked and marked differences in sensitivity were observed. Anatomical features of the foliar lesions were described. The toxicity of smuts was largely dependent on their acidity and size. Toxicity was related to temperature but was completely independent of relative humidity in the range from 50 to 90%. No interactive effects were observed between acid smuts and some commercial fungicides, or treatments with asymptomatic concentrations of So₂ in fumigation chambers. Some growth parameters were negatively affected by acid smuts in radish.     

The umbric epipedon in the N Apennines,Italy—an example from the Vallombrosa Forest

The umbric epipedon is a diagnostic surface horizon recognized by both the World Reference Base for Soil Resources and the U.S. Soil Taxonomy. It is mainly characterized by a dark color, a moderate to high content of OM, and a base saturation of less than 50%. In the N Apennines, Central Italy, forest soils over 600–700 m a.s.l. often have this epipedon. This paper stresses the morphological, chemical, and biological properties of the epipedon, specifically in the Vallombrosa Forest, where considerable work has been done in the last decade. Here, the umbric epipedon forms on sandstone, in high forests of Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica, and Castanea sativa. It does not have homogeneous properties throughout its thickness and often is divided into two distinct genetic horizons, A1 and A2. The A1 horizon is thinner, darker, and richer in OM, more base‐saturated, and biologically more active than the underlying A2 horizon. The mean residence time of the bulk OM amounts to about a century in the A1 horizon, versus half a millennium in the A2. In both A1 and A2 horizons, the non‐humic fraction prevails in the OM; this could account for the high susceptibility of the umbric epipedon to degrade when the forest is clear‐cut or undergoes extensive uprooting due to windstorms or heavy snow loads. Significant discrepancies between the two A horizons have been found in regard to the microbial community. Umbric epipedons which developed under different tree species show minor differences, mainly concerning the microbial community.