I. Immunosurveillance and tumorigenesis in BALB/c mice—1. Early reactive state in mesenteric granulomas

The cellular immune response in BALB/c mice mesenteric granulomas (MG) was analysed by the means of functional ultrastructure and the assessment of the presence or absence of asynchronous plasma cells in situ.

Results from this study establish: (a) the sequential events involved in the genesis of the oil-induced granulomas, (b) the weak T-cellular immune response and the almost absence of these cells in mitosis, (c) the presence of asynchronous plasma cells of type II was found in mice Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 and they were considered to be plasma cell mutants of temporary type, to indicate the first step of this cell alienation in tumorigenesis, (d) the high ratio of peritoneal macrophages was found and connected with what is known about it in the literature. It was speculated that the supraoptimal presence of peritoneal macrophages could have been responsible for the appearance of plasma cell mutants and (e) four morphological types of macrophages have been found in this animal's oil-induced MG, representing different stages of the monocyte transformation in situ.     

Feline tuberculosis and the danger it presents for man (author's transl)

After having recalled certain fundamental data on the tuberculosis of the cat, and particularly on the potential danger which it presents for man, the authors exposed their study on the serological diagnosis of this illness, based on the reactions of complement fixation, of conditioned hemagglutination and of kaolinoagglutination.This diagnosis remains of a limited interest, because of errors by excess or by deficiency, and should therefore be used in full knowledge of its limitations.     

Effects of calcium intake and parity on plasma minerals and bone turnover around parturition

Eight pregnant heifers (primiparous cows) and seven pregnant cows in their second, third and forth pregnancies (multiparous cows) were assigned to two groups and fed either a low calcium (Ca) diet (Ca, 0.46%) or a high Ca diet (Ca, 0.86%) ad libitum from 3 weeks before the expected calving date to 3 days after parturition. All cows were examined for a change in dry matter intake (DMI), plasma minerals and bone turnover around parturition. The dietary Ca level did not affect the DMI in both primiparous and multiparous cows. The DMI of primiparous cows was significantly lower than that of multiparous cows (P < 0.05) in both the low and high dietary Ca groups. The dietary Ca level did not affect the concentrations of plasma Ca, phosphorus, magnesium and parathyroid hormone throughout the experimental period. Plasma phosphorus in primiparous cows was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of multiparous cows around parturition. Plasma Ca and magnesium tended to be higher (P < 0.10) in primiparous cows. The dietary Ca level did not affect the plasma osteocalcin (OC) level measured as bone formation or the urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion measured as bone resorption before parturition in both primiparous and multiparous cows. After parturition, the plasma OC level was lower than it was before parturition in multiparous cows fed a low Ca diet, and in primiparous cows. There were no significant differences in urinary DPD excretion between each group before and after parturition. Both the plasma OC level and urinary DPD excretion of primiparous cows were significantly higher than those of multiparous cows in both the low and high dietary Ca groups.     

Effect of high environmental temperatures on ascorbic acid, sulfhydryl residue and oxidized lipid concentrations in plasma of dairy cows

Information on oxidative stress under hot conditions from the levels of cells to organs and the whole body has accumulated in the last decades. Although a hot climate decreased dairy performance, changes of oxidative stress markers under hot conditions have remained obscure. Therefore, the effect of high environmental temperature on ascorbic acid, sulfhydryl (SH) residue and oxidized lipids concentrations in plasma from a total of 128 dairy cows was investigated. The monthly average maximum day temperature varied from 9.2°C in January to 32°C in August of 2004 in this institute. High ambient temperatures increased the rectal temperature of dairy cows up to 39.3°C in August. One of the reducing equivalents in plasma, SH residue concentration, decreased in July compared with December (P < 0.05). Another antiradical molecule, ascorbic acid concentration in plasma, also decreased in July (P < 0.01). The oxidative stress index, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), which was produced from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids under oxidative conditions, increased in summer (P < 0.05). A significant positive relationship of SH residue and ascorbic acid concentrations in the hot season was observed (P < 0.01). A negative correlation between rectal temperatures and ascorbic acid concentrations in the hot season was obtained (P < 0.01). However, TBARS concentration varied independently of the SH residue and ascorbic acid concentration. These results suggest that the response of oxidative stress markers of SH residue, ascorbic acid and TBARS concentration to oxidative stress under hot conditions were not shown to be the same, and that oxidative stress in dairy cows in the hot season increased.     

Injectable eprinomectin for cattle: Tick efficacy and pharmacokinetics

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and efficacy of eprinomectin (EPM) against Rhipicephalus microplus in cattle of a new injectable form of EPM (Voss Performa®). The product was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 200 μg EPM/kg, in a single dose. The efficacy of EPM against R. microplus in cattle was evaluated through field and stall tests. Studies were performed to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of EPM with the purpose of better understanding the kinetics of the formulation. The formulation was effective in controlling R. microplus in both naturally and artificially infested cattle, providing efficacy greater than 95%. The results of pharmacokinetic study were C_max of 47.15 ± 22.20 ng/ml, T_max of 1.33 ± 0.492 days, T_1/2 of 2.96 ± 1.212 days, AUC_0–t of 228.08 ± 57.30 ng day ml⁻¹, and AUC_0-∞ of 240.50 ± 58.44 ng day ml⁻¹. Therefore, the new injectable EPM formulation becomes an important alternative for the control of cattle tick in Brazil.     

Effects of low-crude protein diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on fattening performance and nitrogen excretion of Holstein steers

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of low-crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on growth performance, nitrogen excretion, and carcass traits in Holstein steers. Steers consumed the following diets: (1) 17.2% CP on a dry-matter basis during the early period (from 7 to 10 months of age) and 14.5% CP during the late period (from 10 to 18 months of age; CON, n = 4, initial body weight [BW] 238 kg), and (2) 14.4% CP during the early period and 11.4% CP during the late period (AA, n = 4, initial BW 243 kg). The AA diet contains rumen-protected lysine and methionine. Except for CP intake, feed intake and body weight gain were not affected by dietary CP content. Total nitrogen excretion per metabolic BW tended to be lower (p < .10) in the early period and significantly lower (p < .05) in the late period with decreasing the feed CP content. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were lower in AA than CON. Carcass traits and total free amino acid contents of the longissimus thoracis muscle were not affected by dietary CP content. Adding rumen-protected lysine and methionine to a low-CP diet would reduce nitrogen excretion in fattening Holstein steers without affecting productivity.     

Assessment of biomarkers influencing treatment success on small intestinal lymphoma in dogs

This study aimed to determine a reliable therapeutic biomarker for localized small intestinal lymphoma (SIL) in dogs based on clinical and histopathological features. We retrospectively investigated 84 dogs with localized SIL, including 36 dogs receiving surgery and 48 dogs receiving chemotherapy. The dogs receiving surgery were divided into two subgroups: 18 dogs (group 1) with overall survival (OS) <120 days (median OS) and 18 dogs (group 2) with OS ≥120 days. Correspondingly, the dogs receiving chemotherapy were divided into 24 dogs (group 3) with OS <98 days (median OS) and 24 dogs (group 4) with OS ≥98 days. Clinical, haematological, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were comparatively evaluated among the four subgroups. There was no significant difference in OS between the surgery and chemotherapy groups. In dogs receiving surgery, the rate of Ki67‐positive cells was significantly increased in group 1 compared to group 2 and showed no significant difference between groups 3 and 4. In dogs receiving chemotherapy, the rate of O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 4 and showed no significant difference between groups 1 and 2. Additionally, our data showed that OS in dogs with higher Ki67 expression might be significantly increased by chemotherapy than by surgery, that of those with higher MGMT expression might be significantly increased by surgery than by chemotherapy, and Ki67 and MGMT were independent of each other. Indices of Ki67 and MGMT are suggested therapeutic biomarkers to determine the optimal first‐line treatment for localized SIL in dogs.     

Changes in the nutrient composition of potatoes during home preparation: III. Minerals

The effect of several cooking methods on the mineral content of three major U.S. potato varieties was assessed. Significant losses of minerals in potato flesh were minimal and were unaccountably associated with the Norchip variety grown in the Red River Valley. The Irish potato was found to contribute significantly to the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance for copper, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus in the diet of man.     

A proteomic analysis of Nipponia nippon (ID#162)

We investigated the proteome of a female Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon, ID#162) that died on March 10, 2010 at the Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center. Protein preparations from the brain, trachea, liver, heart, lung, proventriculus, muscular stomach, small intestine, duodenum, ovary and neck muscle were subjected to in‐solution shotgun mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analyses using an LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer. A search of the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gallus gallus databases revealed 4253 GI (GenInfo Identifier) numbers with the sum of the same 11 tissues examined in the Crested Ibis. To interpret the obtained proteomics data, it was verified in detail with the data obtained from the brain of the Crested Ibis. It has been reported that drebrin A is specifically expressed in adult chicken brain. In the shotgun proteomic analyses of the Crested Ibis, we identified drebrin A as a brain‐specific protein. Furthermore, Western blotting analysis of the protein preparations from 10 tissues of the Crested Ibis and 150‐day‐old hens using anti‐drebrin antibodies showed intensive expression of approximately 110 kDa polypeptides of drebrin in both brains. We believe firmly that the present data will contribute to initial and fundamental steps toward understanding the Crested Ibis proteome.