The utility of screening diagnostic tests in identifying associative immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in dogs

The study aimed to (1) define the proportion of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) that have associative and non-associative disease and (2) evaluate the utility of screening diagnostic tests in identifying potential triggers of associative IMHA. Medical records of 78 dogs diagnosed with IMHA at a specialist hospital in Sydney from July 2008 to August 2017 were reviewed. The original diagnosis was revised according to published guidelines (Garden et al., 2019) as either diagnostic, supportive or suspicious for IMHA. Associative IMHA was confirmed if immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued within six weeks of effective treatment of a potential trigger. Associative IMHA was considered possible when a potential trigger was identified but its significance could not be confirmed. Associative IMHA was confirmed (3) or suspected (7) in 10 dogs (13%, confidence interval [CI] 7.1%–22%), with 68 cases presumed to be non-associative. Associative IMHA was present in 3/29 (10.3%) of dogs with criteria diagnostic for IMHA, 4/42 (9.5%) of dogs with criteria supportive for IMHA and 3/7 (42.9%) of dogs with criteria suspicious for IMHA. Abdominal ultrasound was performed in 68 dogs and identified possible triggers in five (7.3%, CI 3.2% to 16%). Thoracic radiographs were performed in 70 dogs but did not identify any potential triggers (0%, CI 0% to 5.2%). Urine culture was performed in 22 dogs and was positive in three (14%, CI 4.7% to 33.3%). Routine screening tests, particularly thoracic radiographs, have a low yield in identifying potential triggers of associative IMHA, but are more likely to be useful in dogs fulfilling less stringent diagnostic criteria of IMHA.     

Nutritional quality of a spun soya-bean protein: Comparison of biological and microbiological tests

A commercial spun soya-bean protein that had been subjected to mild alkali treatment in its manufacture, and the protein isolate from which it had been made, were evaluated in biological and microbiological tests. When diets were givenad lib. in tests with rats, growth was better on the parent protein; but with equal, restricted dietary intakes there was no difference between the two protein sources. The kidneys of all the rats appeared normal on histological examination and showed no signs of nephrocytomegalia, which has been found in the kidneys of rats given soya protein subjected to severe alkali treatment. Similarly in growth tests with chicks, there was no difference between the two proteins and it was concluded that the manufacturing process did not impair the nutritional quality of the spun protein. In microbiological assay tests withStreptococcus zymogenes, the available methionine of the alkali-treated material was consistently lower by about 20%. But when pronase was substituted for the papain normally used in the assay procedure there was no difference between the preparations; the methionine appeared fully available. The lower values following papain predigestion probably indicated a real though small difference in rate of proteolysis but this was clearly not significant in relation to biological availability for rats and chicks.     

Genetics of parthenocarpy in tomato under a low temperature regime: I. Line RP 75/59

Summary Genetics of parthenocarpy in line RP 75/59 was tested under natural low temperature conditions, under which only seedless fruits were produced. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that three recessive genes with additive effects are responsible for parthenocarpy. Linkage studies, using 40 morphological marker genes located among all tomato chromosomes except chromosome seven, revealed linkage of one gene to diageotropica (dgt) located on chromosome 1 L site 152, and a second gene to yellow verescent (yv) located on chromosome 6 L site 34. Location of the third gene involved in parthenocarpy could not be determined. To calculate the power of the linkage tests, a simulation was carried out for three genetic models; the results are presented graphically in two figures.     

Natural Sunlight Induced Photooxidation of Naphthalene in Aqueous Solution

There is surprisingly little data on the photooxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under environmentally relevant lighting conditions. The aqueous photooxidation reactions of naphthalene (the simplest and most water soluble PAH) were investigated using natural sunlight as a light source.Six of the major reaction products were identified, including 1-naphthol, coumarin, and two hydroxyquinones. The reactionproducts were consistent with initial [2,2] or [2,4] photocycloaddition reactions, with subsequent oxidations and/or rearrangements. The oxidation reactions in aqueous phase favoredproducts different from those observed in atmospheric oxidation reactions. However, similar photoproducts were observed withtitanium catalysts or in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Theproducts from aqueous photooxidation were also similar to the products resulting from naphthalene metabolism. The observedphotooxidation products were generated by mechanisms that areexpected to occur with other PAHs as well, and thus naphthaleneoxidation provides a model for possible photoreactions of largerPAHs.     

The amino acid requirements of the growing chick. II. Growth and body composition of chicks fed on diets in which the proportions of amino acids are well balanced

The amino acid requirements for the growing chick determined by Hewitt and Lewis (1972a) were tested at different protein levels. Satisfactory growth was obtained with 22 to 24% protein in the diet dry matter. Nitrogen balance data indicated that a good balance between amino acids, with no deficiencies, had been achieved.

The results of Hewitt and Lewis (1972a) were evaluated in conjunction with other published reports and a new set of requirement values derived. These were tested in a second experiment at different protein and energy levels. Excellent growth was recorded to 3 weeks of age when the diet satisfied these values and contained 0.9% lysine and 21% protein with a metabolisable energy value of 3.25 kcal/g.     

Hierarchically ordered oxides

Porous silica, niobia, and titania with three-dimensional structures patterned over multiple length scales were prepared by combining micromolding, polystyrene sphere templating, and cooperative assembly of inorganic sol-gel species with amphiphilic triblock copolymers. The resulting materials show hierarchical ordering over several discrete and tunable length scales ranging from 10 nanometers to several micrometers. The respective ordered structures can be independently modified by choosing different mold patterns, latex spheres, and block copolymers. The examples presented demonstrate the compositional and structural diversities that are possible with this simple approach.     

Modulation of Glycolysis and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Influences Porcine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation

Glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) activities were modulated in porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) by the addition of inhibitors or stimulators of key enzymes of the pathways to elucidate their relative participation in oocyte maturation. The activities of glycolysis and PPP were evaluated by lactate production per COC and by the brilliant cresyl blue test, respectively. Glucose uptake per COC and the oocyte maturation rate were also evaluated. Lactate production, glucose uptake and the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II decreased in a dose‐dependent manner in the presence of the pharmacological (NaF) or the physiological (ATP) inhibitors of glycolysis (p < 0.05). The addition of the physiological stimulator of glycolysis (AMP) caused no effect on lactate production, glucose uptake or the meiotic maturation rate. The pharmacological (6‐AN) and the physiological (NADPH) inhibitors of PPP induced a dose‐dependent decrease in the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity and in the nuclear maturation rate (p < 0.05). The physiological stimulator of PPP (NADP) caused no effect on the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity. The glycolytic and PPP activities of porcine COCs and maturational competence of oocytes seem to be closely related events. This study shows for the first time the regulatory effect of ATP and NADPH as physiological inhibitors of glycolysis and PPP in porcine COCs, respectively. Besides, these pathways seem to reach their maximum activities in porcine COCs during IVM because no further increases were achieved by the presence of AMP or NADP.     

Molybdenum as a Plant Nutrient: II. The Effects of Molybdenum Deficiency on Some Horticultural and Agricultural Crop Plants in Sand Culture

For 12 genotypes of red raspberry, the expression of various fruiting lateral characteristics at different node positions on the cane is described by regression techniques. There was much variation in the expression of these characteristics in 1975. Lateral length and lateral node number usually increased towards the cane base; but in some genotypes the rate of increase was not constant and declined towards the base giving a curvilinear relationship. Reproductive characteristics such as fruit number were often constant for all cane node positions. These relationships differed in 1976 and 1977 but usually genotypes changed in a similar way. Where genotypes changed in a dissimilar way it was related to cane height in the previous year. Some factors which influence these developmental patterns and the possible role of the timing of floral initiation in determining them are discussed together with some practical implications.     

Ultrasound as a Mechanical Method for Male Dog Contraception

Therapeutic ultrasound (1.5 W/cm²) was investigated for its effect upon testicular size and consistency and semen quality in five dogs. Dogs were treated every other day with a total of three treatments and were examined up to 2 weeks after treatment. There was some tenderness after treatment and a significant decrease in testicular size and semen quality. This method may provide a suitable contraception technique in dogs and requires further investigation.