Dyeing behavior of laser-treated polyester

Polyester fabric was pre-treated with laser, followed by dyeing. The experimental results revealed that the rate of dyeing was greatly increased but the final percentage of dye exhaustion at equilibrium did not show any significant change. Based on the thermodynamic parameter of dyeing, it was concluded that laser treatment could provide the possibility of developing a low temperature dyeing process. Morphological and thermal studies revealed that obvious surface structure changes occurred. In the morphological analysis, ripple-like structure was found after laser treatment. This ripple-like structure may have captured more dye particles which could improve the dyeing behavior of polyester fibre. On the other hand, thermal analysis result revealed that the surface of polyester becomes highly amorphous on laser treatment, due to ablation. Meanwhile, XPS analysis showed that hydrophilic functional groups were introduced on to the laser-treated polyester fibre surface. As a result, surface physical and chemical changes induced by laser affect the dyeing behavior of polyester fibre. However, the laser treatment could not impart any adverse effect on color fastness to crocking and washing.     

Episodic blindness and ataxia in a horse with cholesterinic granulomas

An 11‐year‐old Oldenburg mare presented following three episodes of acute, transient blindness, ataxia, and disorientation within the preceding 7 months. Clinical improvement, including return of vision, occurred within 1 week of initiating corticosteroid therapy for each of the three episodes. However, mild right‐sided miosis was a consistent finding on ophthalmic examinations. Routine clinicopathologic testing revealed no significant abnormalities, and testing of cerebral spinal fluid for selected infectious diseases was unrewarding. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a hyperattenuating mass with peripheral mineralization in the rostroventral aspect of each lateral ventricle. The mare was euthanized due to a guarded to poor prognosis. On histopathology, the masses consisted of clusters of cholesterol clefts admixed with leukocytes, mineral deposits, and connective tissue. Cholesterinic granulomas of the lateral ventricles and hydrocephaly were diagnosed. Cholesterinic granulomas should be considered a differential diagnosis in horses presenting for intermittent blindness.     

Fibrinous pericarditis and cardiac tamponade in a 3‐week‐old pony foal

A 3‐week‐old Pony of the Americas foal presented with a history of respiratory distress presumed to result from Actinobacillus equuli pleuropneumonia and septic arthritis. Failure of transfer of passive colostral immunity was suspected, but not confirmed, based on a history of the foal being separated from its dam shortly after parturition. Transient improvement was noted following thoracocentesis and removal of approximately 600 ml of pleural fluid but progressive clinical signs of congestive heart failure developed. Fibrinous pericarditis with evidence of cardiac tamponade was subsequently diagnosed via thoracic ultrasonography. Early clinical signs of cardiogenic shock were identified and fibrinopurulent exudate removed through a catheter placed with ultrasound guidance into the pericardium. The foal experienced cardiorespiratory arrest during the procedure and died despite resuscitative efforts. Post mortem examination identified extensive hypertrophy of the pericardium, septic arthritis, mild pleural effusion and focal bronchopneumonia. This report details the clinical evaluation, haematology, treatment and post mortem pathology of a foal with Actinobacillus equuli associated fibrinous pericarditis, as well as a brief review of cardiac tamponade.     

In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of selenium-containing phycocyanin from selenium-enriched Spirulina platensis

Both selenium and phycocyanin have been reported to show potent cancer chemopreventive activities. In this study, we investigated the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of selenium-containing phycocyanin (Se-PC) purified from selenium-enriched Spirulina platensis. The antioxidant activity of Se-PC was evaluated by using four different free radical scavenging assays, namely, the 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, superoxide anion scavenging assay, and erythrocyte hemolysis assay. The results indicated that Se-PC exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than phycocyanin by scavenging ABTS, DPPH, superoxide anion, and 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride free radicals. Se-PC also showed dose-dependent protective effects on erythrocytes against H 2O 2-induced oxidative DNA damage as evaluated by the Comet assay. Moreover, Se-PC was identified as a potent antiproliferative agent against human melanoma A375 cells and human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Induction of apoptosis in both A375 and MCF-7 cells by Se-PC was evidenced by accumulation of sub-G1 cell populations, DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation. Further investigation on intracellular mechanisms indicated that depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi m) was involved in Se-PC-induced cell apoptosis. Our findings suggest that Se-PC is a promising organic Se species with potential applications in cancer chemoprevention.     

Reproducible infection model for Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

Experiments were carried out to establish an infection and disease model for Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens. Previous experiments had failed to induce disease and only a transient colonization with challenge strains had been obtained. In the present study, two series of experiments were conducted, each involving four groups of chickens with each group kept in separate isolators. A coccidial vaccine given at 10 times the prescribed dosage was used to promote the development of necrotic enteritis. In the first experiment, cultures of C. perfringens were mixed with the feed at day 9, 10, 11, and 12, and the coccidial vaccine was given at day 10, whereas in the second experiment, C. perfringens cultures were mixed with the feed at day 17, 18, 19, and 20, and the coccidial vaccine was given at day 18. Chickens were examined at day 9, 11, 12, and 15 (Experiment 1), and at day 17, 18, 20, and 24 (Experiment 2). There was no mortality in any of the groups; however, chickens in the groups receiving both coccidial vaccine and C. peifringens developed the subclinical form of necrotic enteritis, demonstrated by focal necroses in the small intestine, whereas chickens in control groups or groups receiving only coccidial vaccine or only C. perfringens cultures developed no necroses. The results underline the importance of predisposing factors in the development of necrotic enteritis.     

Identification of RSVP14 and RSVP20 components by two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western-blotting.

We have already shown that RSVP14 and RSVP20, two ram seminal plasma (SP) proteins postulated to be involved in sperm capacitation and gamete interaction can protect spermatozoa against cold-shock. In this study, we use two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) for the analysis of SP proteins of Rasa Aragonesa rams, using enhanced protein solubilization in the presence of tributyl phosphine (TBP) and a polyacrylamide linear gradient gel with a narrow pH range (4-7). The image analysis of the 2D map detected 195 protein spots, with isoelectric points (pIs) ranging from 4.5 to 6.6, and molecular weight (M(r)) from 11.7 to 90.4. Staining of 2D gels with Pro-Q Emerald 300 Glycoprotein Stain revealed that most significant proteins in ram SP are glycosylated. The removing of protein N-linked oligosaccharides improved the gel resolution. 2D-PAGE analysis of the whole fraction 6 (F6) separated from ram SP by exclusion chromatography showed six main protein spots, four (a, b, c, d) in the 14 kDa and two (e, f) in the 20 kDa region. Western-blot analyses indicated that the anti-P14 antibody recognized four spots on the SP map, 4, 5, 6 and 7, that matched with spots a, b, c, d of F6 map. The anti-P20 antibody recognized spots 13 and 14 of SP map that corresponded to spots e, f of F6 map. The deduced sequences by de novo sequencing evidenced that protein spots 7 and 13 have significant similarities to BSP family, while protein spots 4 and 14 did not appear to be homologous with any reported protein in the current mammalian Proteinbank databases.     

Seroepidemiology and genotyping of hepatitis E virus in Singapore reveal rise in number of cases and similarity of human strains to those detected in pig livers

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes 20 million infections worldwide yearly, of which only about 3.3 million are symptomatic. In developed Asian countries, HEV strains detected in human sera and in food sources were genetically similar, suggesting that indigenous HEV infections may be largely food‐borne. To assess the burden of hepatitis E in Singapore, we performed a seroepidemiologic study of the infection. Additionally, we carried out HEV genotyping on archived, residual HEV IgM‐positive serum samples collected between 2014 and 2016 (n = 449), and on pig liver samples (n = 36) purchased from wet markets and supermarkets. Our study shows a rise in hepatitis E incidence (IgM) from 1.7 to 4.1 cases per 100,000 resident population from 2012 to 2016 and an increase in hepatitis E IgG positivity rate among residents from 14% in 2007 to 35% in 2016. Other findings also suggest the epidemiology of hepatitis E in Singapore has shifted, from it being mainly a disease imported from the Indian subcontinent, to one that is now increasingly prevalent in our resident population. Genotypes obtained from 143 human samples identified the majority to be genotype 3 (n = 121), 21 to be genotype 1 and one to be genotype 4. Further phylogenetic analyses suggest genotype 3a to be the cause of indigenous infections in residents, which showed genetic similarity to the genotype 3a strains detected in pig livers. This link between the strains in the majority of human samples and those in pig livers consumed by the public suggests a possible food‐borne route of HEV infection in Singapore.