Comparison of ultrasonographic findings with clinical activity index (CIBDAI) and diagnosis in dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Intestinal wall thickness is neither a specific nor sensitive ultrasound parameter for detecting intestinal inflammation. We hypothesize that mucosal echogenicity, lymphadenomegaly, and secondary findings of the gastrointestinal tract would be more sensitive and specific markers for detecting and differentiating causes of chronic inflammatory bowel disease in dogs. Fifty-six client-owned dogs with chronic diarrhea and 10 control dogs were examined with two-dimensional, gray-scale ultrasound (time 0, 4, and 10 weeks post therapy) and small intestinal mucosal biopsies were performed at the 0- and 4-week time points. The clinical activity was assessed at each time point using the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI). Fifty-one dogs had inflammatory infiltration of the duodenal mucosa and were divided into three groups, food-responsive disease, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, and protein-losing enteropathy, based on their response to the different treatments and histology. Two different patterns of increased echogenicity of the mucosa were detected: hyperechoic speckles and hyperechoic striations. A normal, hypoechoic bowel mucosa in dogs with chronic diarrhea had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 81% for the diagnosis of food-responsive disease. Hyperechoic striations had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 96% for dogs with protein-losing enteropathy. Hyperechoic speckles were non-specific for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease. There was a significant relationship between ultrasound score and CIBDAI at t0, but not following therapy. Mucosal echogenicity may be a better parameter for detecting inflammatory bowel disease than bowel wall thickness in dogs with chronic diarrhea.     

Effect of antidotal N-acetylcysteine on the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in dogs

The effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the pharmacokinetic parameters of acetaminophen (AP) in adult female beagles were studied. Each of eight dogs received a single i.v. injection of 150 mg/kg of AP as a 5% solution in a vehicle of 40% aqueous propylene glycol at 0 h. Each of four AP-treated dogs (Group I) received an oral dose of 140 mg/kg NAC as a 20% aqueous solution at 0 h, and 70 mg/kg at 30 min and 1 h post-AP administration. Four dogs (Group II) served as controls and received isotonic saline orally. Mild signs of AP toxicosis seen in both groups within 2-3 h of AP administration including depression, weakness, recumbency and methaemoglobinaemia. Relative to Group II, treatment with NAC (Group I) enhanced the elimination of AP from the body as indicated by the decreased plasma half-life (t1/2 = 1.06 h for Group I v. 1.78 h for Group II) and a higher elimination rate constant (beta = 0.67/h for Group I v. 0.40/h for Group II). Changes in the area under plasma concentration curve data (AUC = 0.39 mg.h/ml for Group I v. 0.65 mg.h/ml for Group II) were associated with a 61% increase in total body clearance of AP in Group I. The apparent volume of drug distribution Vdarea was not affected.     

A rate equation model of stomatal responses to vapour pressure deficit and drought

Background  

Stomata respond to vapour pressure deficit (D) – when D increases, stomata begin to close. Closure is the result of a decline in guard cell turgor, but the link between D and turgor is poorly understood. We describe a model for stomatal responses to increasing D based upon cellular water relations. The model also incorporates impacts of increasing levels of water stress upon stomatal responses to increasing D.     

片形吸虫病病原的研究概况

片形吸虫病是反刍动物的一种重要的寄生虫病之一，可引起严重的经济损失。近年来有关片形吸虫病病原的研究较为迅速，尤其是病原的种类以及病原代谢的研究更为热烈。本文将从病原的种类及分布、病原的糖类代谢、脂类代谢和蛋白质代谢作一简单概述。