Congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation in a cat with myocardial fibro-fatty infiltration

Congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation were diagnosed in a 4-year-old castrated Birman cat with progressive signs of dyspnea, tachypnea, and lethargy. Echocardiography revealed massive right-sided heart dilatation with ascites and hydrothorax. Electrocardiogram recording showed atrial fibrillation. Medical therapy with diuretics, benazepril, and antithrombotic agents was unsuccessful. The owner requested euthanasia. In post-mortem examination, changes associated with myocardial fibro-fatty infiltration were confirmed. Changes were most marked in the right ventricular wall but with left ventricular involvement was detected.     

Dose-dependent in vivo effect of Rhodiola and Echinacea on the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in mice

Echinacea purpurea (EP) and Echinacea angustifolia (EA) are ones of the most important world's herbs with immunotropic activity. They were traditional medicinal plants used by North American Indians for the treatment of various illnesses. Now they are cultivated in many countries and are used mainly to treat respiratory tract infections. Rhodiola rosea (RR) and Rhodiola quadrifida (RQ) are medicinal plants originated from Asia and used traditionally as adaptogens, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory remedies. We previously reported, that extracts of underground parts of RR and RQ exhibited immunotropic activity. We have demonstrated in pigs that in vitro RR or RQ supplementation of blood lymphocyte cultures stimulated T cell proliferative response to Con A in lower, and inhibited it in higher Rhodiola extract concentrations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vivo effect of these herbal remedies on the in vitro proliferative response of mouse splenic lymphocytes to another T-cell mitogen- Phaseolus vulgaris haemagglutinin (PHA). We have found significant stimulation of proliferative response, in comparison to the controls, in mice fed lower doses of tested remedies, and inhibition, no effect or lower stimulation, in mice fed higher doses of these drugs.     

Single-agent gemcitabine chemotherapy in dogs with hepatocellular carcinomas

The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine in dogs diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eighteen dogs were examined retrospectively (4 massive HCC, 10 nodular HCC and 4 diffuse HCC). All dogs received gemcitabine at 350-400 mg m(-2) weekly for 5 weeks. Toxicity was graded using VCOG-CTCAE guidelines and response was monitored with serial abdominal ultrasounds. Fifteen dogs completed all five cycles. Toxicity was minimal and consisted of grade I/II vomiting, anorexia and diarrhoea and two episodes of grade III neutropenia. Median survival time for all dogs was 983 days. Median progression free interval was 971 days. Based on the results of this study, surgery remains the best treatment for HCC, despite incomplete resection. There was no improvement in the survival of those diagnosed with nonresectable HCC treated with gemcitabine chemotherapy.     

The effects of prenatal exposure to methylxanthines

This review discusses epidemiology and laboratory studies on the effects of prenatal methylxanthine administration on some systems developing organisms. They are mainly absorbed from coffee, tea and cocoa products such as cola beverages and chocolate bars. Prenatal methylxanthine exposure can induce several unfavourables changes in the developing organism, which are persistent even in later phases of life. Based on results obtained from animal studies, the effect on embryogenesis is not only poorly understood but also controversial. It is therefore important to study interspecies differences as results may differ depending on animals used and administration methods.     

Agricultural injuries in Central India: nature,magnitude, and economic impact

A study was carried out in Madhya Pradesh (Central India) to collect data on injury-causing agricultural incidents during the period 1995-1999. The overall incidence rate was 1.25/1000 workers/year. About 9.2% of the incidents were fatal, and most of the fatal incidents were due to tractors and snakebites (42.9% each). About 77.6% of all incidents were due to farm machinery, 11.8% were due to hand tools, and the remaining 10.6% were due to other sources like snakes, wells, etc. Data on 1,911 incidents reported in 10 leading newspapers published during the five-year period (1995-1999) from different regions of the state were also collected and analyzed, which indicated that only major or roadside agricultural incidents were reported in newspapers. Based on the survey data, it was estimated that in the year 2000 there would have been about 17,480 agricultural incidents in Madhya Pradesh, causing death to about 2,050 workers and injuries to about 16,770 workers, including amputations of limbs, burns, cuts, etc. Total monetary loss due to agricultural injuries in the state of Madhya Pradesh has been estimated as US $27 million/year.     

Direct spectrophotometric determination of ferbam (Iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate) in commercial sample and wheat grains using 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline

A procedure has been developed for the determination of iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate by converting it into the iron(II)-bathophenanthroline complex, which is then dissolved in acetone-water (1:1), and the absorbance is measured at 534 nm against a reagent blank. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.5-20 microg x mL(-1) in the final solution. The method is sensitive and highly selective and is used for the direct determination of ferbam in a commercial sample and in mixtures with various dithiocarbamates (ziram, zineb, maneb, etc.) and from wheat grains.     

肉仔鸡早期限制饲养的研究──限饲对肉仔鸡生产性能、腹脂垫及消化道的影响

试验选用1日龄AA肉仔鸡200只，随机分为四组，测定早期限制饲养对肉仔鸡生产性能、消化道、肝、胰及腹脂垫的影响。对照组全程自由采食，试验Ⅰ组4-10日龄限饲75％，试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组10-16日龄限饲75％和65％，每周测定体重和采食量，17和49日龄抽样测定消化道（嗉囊、腺胃、肌胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠）、肝、胰和腹脂垫的重量。结果表明：10─16日龄限饲65％组体重显著高于对照组和10-16日龄限饲75％组（P＜0.01），但与4-10日龄限饲75％组体重无明显差异（P＞0.05）。全程饲料效率限饲组优于对照组（P＜0.05）。各处理组间消化道、肝、胰、腹脂垫重差异不显著（P＞0.05）。     

环境温度对肉用仔鸡的影响

对肉鸡生产来说,创造适宜环境温度条件是发挥肉鸡遗传潜力的重要措施之一。50年代以来,在温度对禽类的影响方面已有许多研究,但国内对可控环境条件下,温度对肉用仔鸡生产性能、生理指标及鸡体营养成份影响的报道甚少。本文综述了肉用仔鸡对不同环境温度的生理反应,有助于明确在什么环境温度条件下,可获得最佳饲料转化率和最大生长率。