The trans Golgi network: sorting at the exit site of the Golgi complex

The Golgi complex is a series of membrane compartments through which proteins destined for the plasma membrane, secretory vesicles, and lysosomes move sequentially. A model is proposed whereby these three different classes of proteins are sorted into different vesicles in the last Golgi compartment, the trans Golgi network. This compartment corresponds to a tubular reticulum on the trans side of the Golgi stack, previously called Golgi endoplasmic reticulum lysosomes (GERL).     

Multimodality characterization of a noncommunicating congenital duodenal duplication cyst causing pyloric outflow obstruction in a young dog

A 10‐month‐old German Shepherd Dog presented for evaluation of intermittent vomiting. Abdominal radiographs revealed a marked right cranial mass effect. Initial differentials included abscess/cyst or less likely neoplasia from undetermined origin. On abdominal ultrasound the mass appeared cystic and thin walled. Computed tomography revealed a large cystic lesion originating from the pyloroduodenal junction causing pyloric outflow obstruction. A noncommunicating duodenal duplication cyst was found on exploratory laparotomy and further confirmed with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Enteric duplication cyst should be considered as a differential in young dogs with gastrointestinal signs and a cystic abdominal mass detected with different imaging modalities.     

Pathology of Brucella ovis infection in red deer stags (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract

AIM: To describe the pathology of the reproductive tract of red deer stags with active Brucella ovis infection and in stags in which B. ovis infection had resolved.

METHODS: Twenty-three red deer stags of varying history were slaughtered and their epididymides and accessory sex glands examined grossly and by histopathology. At the time of slaughter five of the stags had an active B. ovis infection of 24–55 days duration following exposure to infected rams, 10 stags had been experimentally infected with B. ovis by intravenous inoculation 649 days previously and had developed an active infection but the bacterial infection had resolved at least 308 days prior to slaughter, and eight stags had not been exposed to B. ovis at any time.

RESULTS: Of the five stags with an active infection, one had gross enlargement of the epididymides that could be detected by scrotal palpation. Histological lesions in all five stags included mild to severe, predominantly non-suppurative epididymitis, vesiculitis, prostatitis and ampullitis, with neutrophil exudation in associated glandular ducts. Additional lesions in the epididymides were spermatic granulomas and epithelial hyperplasia with intra-epithelial cyst formation. Of the 10 stags in which the bacterial infection had resolved, two had gross enlargement of the epididymides. The histological lesions were similar to those in stags with active infection but were generally milder, with increased periductal scar tissue in the epididymides. The lesions seen in stags resembled those seen in rams with B. ovis infection but they were usually less florid and had fewer plasma cells. No gross abnormalities or histopathological lesions were detected in the non-infected stags.

CONCLUSIONS: Only a small percentage of red deer stags infected with B. ovis develop lesions of epididymitis that can be detected by scrotal palpation. Gross and histological lesions of the genital tract of stags associated with B. ovis infection are similar to the lesions seen in rams. Lesions in stags persist for >300 days after the bacterial infection has resolved.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brucella ovis infection should be considered when there are gross lesions of epididymitis or histological evidence of inflammation in the epididymides or accessory sex glands of red deer stags. Retrospective diagnosis of B. ovis in stags could be achieved by histological examination of the reproductive organs.     

The Presence of Borrelia miyamotoi,A Relapsing Fever Spirochaete,in Questing Ixodes ricinus in Belgium and in The Netherlands

Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick‐borne bacterium that may cause relapsing fever in humans. As this pathogen has been discovered in Europe only recently, only little is known about its local impact on human health and its spatial distribution. In this study, we show the results of PCR screenings for B. miyamotoi in flagged Ixodes ricinus from Belgium and the Netherlands. B. miyamotoi was detected in nine of thirteen, and three of five locations from the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively. These outcomes indicate that B. miyamotoi is more spread than previously thought. The mean infection rate B. miyamotoi was 1.14% for Belgium and 3.84% for the Netherlands.     

Changes in c‐erbB‐2 Immunoexpression in Feline Endometrial Adenocarcinomas

Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (c‐erbB‐2), an oncoprotein with potential prognostic marker and therapeutic use, is overexpressed in several human and animal tumours. But information regarding this molecule in feline tumours is scarce. This study aimed to assess the changes in the immunohistochemical expression of c‐erbB‐2 in feline endometrial adenocarcinomas (FEA) compared to normal endometrium. An immunohistochemistry assay using a specific antibody against c‐erbB‐2 was performed in FEA samples (n = 34) and in normal endometrium in the follicular (FS; n = 12) and luteal (LS; n = 11) stages. In FEA, the c‐erbB‐2 immunoexpression was assessed in neoplastic epithelial cells whilst in normal endometria it was individually evaluated in the surface and the superficial and deep glandular epithelia (SE, SGE and DGE, respectively). In FS and in LS, all the epithelia were positive for c‐erbB‐2; positivity was higher in the SE and the SGE than in DGE. Twenty of the 34 FEA samples (58.8%) were positive for c‐erbB‐2 immunolabelling. Nevertheless, its expression was higher in all the epithelia in the FS compared to FEA (p ≤ 0.0001) or the LS (p = 0.016). The results presented herein suggest that c‐erbB‐2 molecule is differently expressed in the feline endometrium through the oestrous cycle and though it may also be involved in feline endometrial carcinogenesis, a question remains unanswered on the importance of additional pathways of epithelial proliferation in the neoplastic changes in feline endometrium.     

A health service for horses.

The current position of the horse in the United Kingdom is discussed and the attitudes of the horse-owning public are examined. It is suggested that there are welfare, economic and practical advantages to owners and the veterinary profession in a veterinary health scheme for horses. A scheme which has been tried successfully in the field is discussed.     

鹿蹄草等中草药对油桃采后褐腐病抑制效果研究

在离体和活体条件下,测定鹿蹄草、厚朴等中草药单剂及鹿蹄草为主的各中草药复配组合对油桃采后褐腐病菌的抑制效果。结果表明:11号(鹿蹄草+厚朴+大黄),14号(鹿蹄草+高良姜+虎杖)复配组合在离体试验中抑菌效果最好,10 mg/mL浓度的抑制率分别达到89.77%,85.50%;两种组合的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)分别是1.25,2.5 mg/mL;最小杀菌浓度(MBC)分别是2.5,5.0 mg/mL。活体抑菌测定结果表明,11号和14号复配组合对油桃褐腐病菌有不同程度延缓侵染和抑制作用,但不能完全防治;0.05 mg/mL扑海因与11号组合20 mg/mL,0.10 mg/mL扑海因与11号组合10 mg/mL均能完全抑制褐腐病菌在油桃果实上的发生和蔓延。     

The 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake: mosaicking the megathrust from seconds to centuries

Geophysical observations from the 2011 moment magnitude (M(w)) 9.0 Tohoku-Oki, Japan earthquake allow exploration of a rare large event along a subduction megathrust. Models for this event indicate that the distribution of coseismic fault slip exceeded 50 meters in places. Sources of high-frequency seismic waves delineate the edges of the deepest portions of coseismic slip and do not simply correlate with the locations of peak slip. Relative to the M(w) 8.8 2010 Maule, Chile earthquake, the Tohoku-Oki earthquake was deficient in high-frequency seismic radiation--a difference that we attribute to its relatively shallow depth. Estimates of total fault slip and surface secular strain accumulation on millennial time scales suggest the need to consider the potential for a future large earthquake just south of this event.     

Differences in measurement of membrane thickness in hens' egg shells

The widely varying values given for the membrane thickness in hen's eggs suggest that a critical comparison of the methods of measurement is necessary. The membrane thickness was measured in pieces of isolated membranes, in decalcified sections and in ground sections. The first method gave the lowest values, probably owing to the impossibility of separating the whole of the membranes from the calcified shell. The other two methods showed an average difference in results of only 7.2–10.5 per cent. It was concluded that the actual thickness of dry egg shell membranes can only be measured in sections and that, without correction, such values should not be compared with those taken in isolated membranes.