The effect of Prussian blue and sodium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on the faecal and urinary elimination of thallium by the dog.

After oral administration of sublethal doses of thallium (lower than 10 mg/kg) to dogs, 75.5 +/- 3.9 per cent of the dose was eliminated from the body--47 per cent faecal and 28 per cent urinary. Cumulative excretion reached 50 and 70 per cent after 10 and 25 days respectively, and was almost complete after 75 days. This was slightly lower at higher doses. The total body-burden of thallium, calculated from the cumulative excretion, decreased exponentially for at least the first 40 days with a half-time (T 1/2) of 6.5 days. Oral doses of Prussian blue after 10 days resulted in an acceleration of the thallium elimination from the body (T 1/2 2.5 days), an increase of the faecal (49 per cent) and a decrease of the urinary excretion (18 per cent). Nevertheless, the cumulative faecal and urinary thallium excretion was not influenced. Minor transitory influences of Prussian blue on the faecal thallium excretion could be observed up to day 26. After 40 days, Prussian blue could no longer influence the faecal thallium excretion. At no time did sodium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic (Na2EDTA) acid significantly change faecal or urinary thallium excretion.     

Inhibition of chitin synthesis by two 1-(2,6-disubstituted benzoyl)-3-phenylurea insecticides. II

The knowledge of the biochemical mode of action of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea (diflubenzuron) is presented, explaining the insecticidal effect. Like its structural analog, 1-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea (Du 19111), it inhibits chitin synthesis in the cuticle of larvae. Virtually complete inhibition was demonstrable 15 min after the application of diflubenzuron. Neither diflubenzuron nor Du 19111 has any effect upon chitinase activity either in vivo or in vitro. The insecticidal effect upon the cuticle, therefore, must be explained as an inhibition of chitin synthesis and not as an activation of chitin degradation. In contrast to the action of Du 19111, no accumulation of N-acetylglucosamine occurs upon treatment of larvae with diflubenzuron. Similarities and differences in the mode of action of both compounds are discussed, together with other effects reported in the literature.     

Cyclooxygenase ‐2 Expression in Mammary Tumors in Dogs and its Correlation to Histologic and Biologic Behavior

Introduction:  Cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox‐2) is the inducible form and the rate‐limiting enzyme, for conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Cox‐2 overexpression, common in carcinomas, is associated with increased growth rate, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis, and overall, both local and distant aggressive behavior. Cox‐2 overexpression has been detected in human and canine mammary tumors (MTs). Histopathology of canine MT is not always predictive of biologic behavior, and anecdotally, only 50% of the malignant MTs are expected to metastasize. We hypothesize that Cox‐2 expression correlates with aggressive behavior.
Methods:  This retrospective study evaluated 48 bitches, presented for excision of MT between 2000 and 2003 at FMVZ de Botucatu‐UNESP, Brasil. Follow‐up varied from 18 months to 24 months and included physical examination and thoracic radiographs. Histopathologic examination was performed in all tumors, as well as in metastatic lesions when detected in the follow‐up period. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of Cox‐2 in paraffin blocks (Rabbit polyclonal anti‐PGHS‐2. Oxford Biomedical). 10 adenomas, 10 carcinomas, 10 benign mixed tumors, 10 malignant mixed tumors and 8 cases of primary carcinomas and their metastatic lesions.
Results:  Expression of Cox‐2 varied among groups. Adenomas (32.1%), mixed benign tumors (38%), carcinomas (60.3%), malignant mixed tumors (65.8%), and metastatic carcinomas (81.25%) and their metastatic lesions (84.35%). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the benign and malignant counterparts and between carcinomas and metastatic carcinomas.
Conclusions:  Cox‐2 expression correlates with both histologic and biologic behavior in mammary carcinomas, and may serve as a predictor of metastatic potential.     

山区农业面源污染的防治途径及对策

结合重庆市地形地貌特点和山区农业面源污染发生的因子，提出山区农业面源污染的防治对策。一方面必需结合当地的自然环境条件和经济发展水平提出农业面源污染的防治规划；另一方面必需结合生态农业建设这一主线，使物质、能量在生态系统内良性循环。紧紧抓住产生农业面源污染源的因子——化肥、农药、农田秸杆、畜禽粪便、农村生活废物等，提出科学的防治和减少途径。     

Prepenetration stages in infection of clematis by Phoma clematidina

A detailed study of conidial germination, germ-tube growth and the formation of infection structures in Phoma clematidina , the causal agent of clematis wilt, is described for two clematis varieties differing in disease resistance. On both the resistant and susceptible varieties, the fungus entered leaves and stems by direct penetration of the cuticle, often, but not always, following the formation of infection structures. More germ tubes per conidium were formed on the susceptible host, but these germ tubes were on average shorter than on the resistant host. Although germ tubes regularly entered the plant via trichomes, stomata were not found to be sites of entry. Following penetration of the cuticle of resistant plants, germ-tube growth was sometimes restricted to the subcuticular region, and halo formation occurred at the sites where penetration was attempted. Subcuticular growth and halo formation were not observed on susceptible plants. These observations may partly explain the resistance of small-flowered clematis varieties to P. clematidina .     

Genetic analyses of resistance of the wheat differential cultivars Carstens V and Spaldings Prolific to two races of Puccinia striiformis

Genetic analysis of resistance of wheat seedlings to two races of Puccinia striiformis was conducted on F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations from crosses Carstens V (CV) × Lee, Spaldings Prolific (SPA) × Lee and CV × SPA. F₂ generations from crosses of CV and SPA with Strubes Dickkopf (SD) were also studied. The plants were classified into six resistance classes and analysed by factorial correspondence analysis and nonhierarchical classification. The two P. striiformis isolates tested were a French isolate of race 43E138 and a Lebanese isolate of race 2E16, selected for the differences in their virulence spectra for the common differential cultivars Strubes Dickkopf and Nord Desprez. Resistance of CV and SPA was recessive and dominant to races 43E138 and 2E16, respectively. CV possessed three or four resistance genes, one of them being expressed with both races. Two genes of CV had a cumulative effect for resistance to 43E138 and two or three gave dominant resistance to 2E16. SPA had three resistance genes, all of which gave resistance to 2E16 and two of which also gave resistance to 43E138. SPA had one gene in common with CV for resistance to both races. Furthermore, the gene for resistance to race 2E16 in CV and SPA was allelic with a gene in SD, and was probably Yr25 .     

Comparison of Crinipellis perniciosa isolates from Brazil by ERIC repetitive element sequence-based PCR genomic fingerprinting

Fifty isolates of Crinipellis perniciosa originating from Theobroma cacao , Heteropterys acutifolia and Solanum lycocarpum , from six states within Brazil, were characterized through ERIC-PCR, representing the first application of this method for molecular characterization within C. perniciosa . Phenetic analysis of banding patterns revealed a separation of isolates on the basis of host of origin, with T. cacao -derived isolates showing only a 0·2 similarity level to a cluster comprising the isolates from H. acutifolia and S. lycocarpum . Considerable intraspecific variability was observed within C. perniciosa isolates from T. cacao , with distinct groups observed correlating with geographical origin. Given that a number of isolates from T. cacao from the Amazon region grouped with isolates from Bahia state, this work discusses the possibility that current C. perniciosa populations pathogenic on T. cacao in Bahia originated from the Amazon region, rather than from alternative host plants.     

Purification and some properties of Papaya meleira virus, a novel virus infecting papayas in Brazil

'Meleira', or 'sticky disease', is currently the most damaging papaya disease in the mid-eastern Brazilian growing regions. Consistent disease transmission via latex injection, presence of similar isometric particles in the laticiferous vessels of diseased plants, and detection of double-stranded DNA in naturally and experimentally infected papaya trees suggest that a virus is the causal agent. Conclusive evidence for viral aetiology was previously lacking, mostly because every attempt to purify the putative virus from infected papayas had failed. Following the successful purification and partial characterization of the meleira virus, healthy papaya seedlings injected with purified virus particles later developed typical symptoms of the disease. Negatively stained, isometric, full and 'empty' purified virus particles measured 42 and 38 nm, respectively. The viral genome was a single dsRNA molecule of about 12 kbp. Several capsid proteins, ranging in size from 14·4 to 45 kDa, were consistently revealed by PAGE. Papaya meleira virus (PMeV) appears to represent a novel group of viruses, with no known similar counterpart among known plant-, vertebrate-, invertebrate- or prokaryote-infecting viruses.     

Functional Analysis of ABC Transporter Genes From Botrytis cinerea Identifies BcatrB as a Transporter of Eugenol

The role of multiple ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter genes from the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in protection against natural fungitoxic compounds was studied by expression analysis and phenotyping of gene-replacement mutants. The expression of 11 ABC (BcatrA–BcatrK) and three MFS genes (Bcmfs1, Bcmfs2 and Bcmfs4) was studied. All genes showed a low basal level of expression, but were differentially induced by treatment with cycloheximide and the plant defence compounds camptothecin, eugenol, psoralen, resveratrol and rishitin. The latter compounds induced expression of BcatrB at a high level. Eugenol was more toxic to BcatrB gene-replacement mutants than to the control isolates. Eugenol also caused an instantaneous increase in mycelial accumulation of the fungicide fludioxonil, a known substrate of BcatrB. However, there was no difference in virulence between the wild-type and BcatrB gene-replacement mutants on Ocimum basilicum, a plant known to contain eugenol. The results indicate that BcatrB is a transporter of lipophilic compounds, such as eugenol, but its role in virulence remains uncertain.