Effects of long-term administration of enalapril on clinical indicators of renal function in dogs with compensated mitral regurgitation

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of long-term administration of enalapril on renal function in dogs with severe, compensated mitral regurgitation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 139 dogs with mitral regurgitation but without overt signs of heart failure. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to be treated with enalapril (0.5 mg/kg [0.23 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) or placebo, and serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations were measured at regular intervals for up to 26 months. RESULTS: Adequate information on renal function was obtained from 132 dogs; follow-up time ranged from 0.5 to 26 months (median, 12 months). Mean serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations were not significantly different between dogs receiving enalapril and dogs receiving the placebo at any time, nor were concentrations significantly different from baseline concentrations. Proportions of dogs that developed azotemia or that had a +/- 35% increase in serum creatinine or urea nitrogen concentration were also not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: And Clinical Relevance: Results suggest that administration of enalapril for up to 2 years did not have any demonstrable adverse effects on renal function in dogs with severe, compensated mitral regurgitation.     

The presence of fungi associated with sick building syndrome in North American zoological institutions.

A total of 110 sites from five zoological institutions were examined to determine whether fungi associated with sick building syndrome (SBS) were prevalent in the exhibits or night-time holding facilities and to investigate whether the presence of these organisms was associated with declining breeding rates or increases in morbidity and mortality (or both). Each site was sampled with an Andersen two-stage air sampler using Sabourauds dextrose agar media and a Burkard personal volumetric air sampler. Suspect surfaces were also sampled. High levels of airborne Penicillium chrysogenum, a fungal species associated with poor indoor air quality, were recovered from 16 sites out of all five institutions. Five culturable growth sites of Stachybotrys chartarum, a species strongly associated with SBS and commonly known as "black mold," were recovered from surfaces at two institutions. A wide range of other fungal species was recovered in low numbers from all institutions. A Fisher exact test analysis showed a significant nonrandom association between high levels of P. chrysogenum and sites with records of poor animal health. This study indicated that significant numbers of airborne fungi associated with SBS and poor indoor air quality are present in zoological institutions and that they could affect animal health and reproduction rates and zoo staff.     

An indoor air quality study of an alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) holding facility.

An environmental microbiologic investigation was conducted in an alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) holding facility in a zoo in the southeastern U.S. The facility had housed five alligators between March 1999 and February 2005. In the exhibit, one alligator died and all experienced poor health. It was hypothesized that environmental microbial contamination was associated with these issues. Samples were collected for fungal identification and quantification, microcystin analysis, and airborne mycotoxins. Analyses of air and water were conducted and an examination of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC) for design, maintenance, and operating issues was made. Two control sites, a facility for false gharials (Tomistoma schlegelii) and an off-site alligator breeding facility, were also tested. Morbidity and mortality records were examined for all sites. Results showed that, compared to the control sites, the test alligator facility and its HVAC system were extensively contaminated with a range of fungi. Nearly all sampled surfaces featured fungal growth. There were also significantly higher counts of Penicillium/Aspergillus-like and Chrysosporium-like spores in the air (P < 0.004). The design, maintenance, and operation of the HVAC system were all inadequate, resulting in poorly conditioned and mold-contaminated air being introduced to the facility. Morbidity records revealed solitary pulmonary disorders over time in three alligators, with one dying as a result. The other two alligators suffered from general malaise and a range of nonspecific symptoms. The control facilities had no morbidity or mortality issues. In conclusion, although no causal links could be demonstrated because of the nature of the morbidity data, environmental mold contamination appeared to be associated with the history of morbidity and mortality in the alligator exhibit.     

Inside-out red cell membrane vesicles: preparation and purification

Plasma membranes purified from human red cells were Converted into small vesicleS by disruption in alkaline buffer of low ionic strength. Most of these vesicles were inside-out. The presence of divalent cations prevented this inversion. The inside-out vesicles were separatcd from right-side-out vesicles by centrifugration to equilibrium in dextran density gradients.     

Departments and Disciplines: Stasis and Change: Significant multidisciplinary activity requires a redistribution of power within universities

Because I believe that the departmental power base of universities has been a major factor in resisting inevitable and continuing changes in the disciplinary boundaries of research and teaching, I predict that significant changes in the nature of departments are inevitable. Departments will either permit, or even seek, a realignment of their spheres of control over disciplinary activity or they will lose the power of control over basic academic decisions and rewards. To the extent that society at large expresses resistance to change, the status quo of departments may have a temporary lease on life. On the other hand, society's current disenchantment with academia may make radical internal change seem vital to the maintenance of public support, and even the survival of universities, and thus hasten changes in either departmental structure or departmental power. Within universities, resistance to such change is generally supported on the assumption that academic freedom will be threatened. Obviously, all change involves some risk, but a very significant limitation to academic freedom already exists in the pressures that many departments exert on members to restrict their intellectual activity to fit the departmental mold. Departments can regain their important role in fostering both academic freedom and academic responsibility for excellence if they will redefine their discipline-oriented identities and realign their priorities to include cross-disciplinary inquiry and teaching and greater responsiveness to the responsibilities and expectations of the university and society.     

The effect of high total ammonia concentration on the survival of channel catfish experimentally infected with Flavobacterium columnare

Ammonia concentrations in water can affect the severity of Flavobacterium columnare infections in fish. Two trials lasting 7 d each were conducted to determine the effect of a single immersion flush treatment of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN; 15 mg/L) on the survival of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus infected with E columnare; the chemical was added while the water flowed continuously through the tanks. Both trials consisted of four treatments: (1) no ammonia exposure and no bacterial challenge (control), (2) ammonia exposure only, (3) bacterial challenge only, and (4) both ammonia exposure and bacterial challenge. Two hours after exposure to ammonia, the highest un-ionized ammonia level was 0.43 mg/L. The percent un-ionized ammonia is based on TAN, temperature, and pH. Caudal fins from three fish in each treatment were sampled at 24 h posttreatment to be analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). No significant difference in survival (mean +/- SE) was noted between the channel catfish in treatment 1 (95.2 +/- 1.2%) and those in treatment 2 (95.6 +/- 1.0%); however, survival in both treatments 1 and 2 differed significantly from that in treatments 3 (8.5 + 4.5%) and 4 (41.8 +/- 12.7%). Treatment 4 catfish had significantly higher survival than treatment 3 catfish. Quantitative PCR data showed that treatment 4 fish had significantly less F. columnare (7.6 x 10(5)) than did treatment 3 fish (1.2 x 10(7)), and treatment 2 fish (8.5 x 10(3)) had significantly less bacteria than did treatment 1 fish (6.9 x 10(4)), indicating that ammonia limited the F. columnare infection. The highest mean concentration of the bacteria (3.9 x 10(7)) was found on moribund fish. The ammonia concentrations tested did not negatively influence fish survival but interfered with the infection process. An in vitro assay was also conducted to evaluate the direct effects of ammonia on F columnare.