Evaluation of left ventricular function with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography after administration of dobutamine and esmolol in healthy beagle dogs

Unlike echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI) results in a near-exact assessment of cardiac structures and function. However, most veterinary studies have focused on dogs with normal cardiac function. We hypothesized that there would be significant differences in cardiac measurements between cardiac MRI and echocardiography when left ventricular (LV) function was abnormal. This study was undertaken to compare measurements of LV function produced by cardiac MRI and echocardiography in dogs whose LV function was altered by pharmacological agents. This study was conducted with six healthy beagle dogs. We increased left ventricular contractility by administration of dobutamine; we decreased cardiac contractility with esmolol. Stroke volume measurements were made by using both cardiac MRI and echocardiography under seven different conditions with general anesthesia: control, three doses of esmolol (100, 200, and 500 µg/kg/min), and three doses of dobutamine (10, 20, and 50 µg/kg/min). Experiments involving each condition were conducted at least 1 week apart. When LV contractility was normal, ejection fraction (EF) and stroke volume (SV), as measured by echocardiography and cardiac MRI, were not significantly different. However, when contractility was changed by pharmacological agents, EF and SV were overestimated by echocardiography, compared to MRI. Evaluation of cardiac function in patients treated with pharmacological agents should be conducted carefully because EF and SV measured by echocardiography can be overestimated, compared with EF and SV obtained by cardiac MRI.     

Cerebrospinal fluid flow in normal beagle dogs analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging

BackgroundDiseases related to cerebrospinal fluid flow, such as hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and Chiari malformation, are often found in small dogs. Although studies in human medicine have revealed a correlation with cerebrospinal fluid flow in these diseases by magnetic resonance imaging, there is little information and no standard data for normal dogs.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to obtain cerebrospinal fluid flow velocity data from the cerebral aqueduct and subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum in healthy beagle dogs.MethodsSix healthy beagle dogs were used in this experimental study. The dogs underwent phase-contrast and time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging. Flow rate variations in the cerebrospinal fluid were observed using sagittal time-spatial labeling inversion pulse images. The pattern and velocity of cerebrospinal fluid flow were assessed using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging within the subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum level and the cerebral aqueduct.ResultsIn the ventral aspect of the subarachnoid space and cerebral aqueduct, the cerebrospinal fluid was characterized by a bidirectional flow throughout the cardiac cycle. The mean ± SD peak velocities through the ventral and dorsal aspects of the subarachnoid space and the cerebral aqueduct were 1.39 ± 0.13, 0.32 ± 0.12, and 0.76 ± 0.43 cm/s, respectively.ConclusionsNoninvasive visualization of cerebrospinal fluid flow movement with magnetic resonance imaging was feasible, and a reference dataset of cerebrospinal fluid flow peak velocities was obtained through the cervical subarachnoid space and cerebral aqueduct in healthy dogs.     

部分地区猪细环病毒1型感染的流行情况调查

猪细环病毒1型是近年来发现的又一种环状DNA病毒,可能存在潜在致病作用。为了初步了解其流行情况,用PCR技术和ELISA技术对来自京津冀、华东与华南地区578头保育猪血清样品进行了检测。结果显示,猪细环病毒1型的核酸与抗体的猪场阳性率均为100%;核酸阳性率为73.88%,抗体阳性率为78.72%,二者之间无显著差异（P>0.05）。进一步分析发现,猪细环病毒1型的核酸阳性率和抗体阳性率都超过50%的猪场达到86.67%,都超过80%的占53.33%。调查结果表明,猪细环病毒1型感染在我国部分地区普遍流行,其在多数猪场的感染率很高。     

苯并芘对猪卵母细胞SHH信号通路影响的研究

如今空气污染问题仍广泛存在,其中苯并芘（Benzo （a） pyrene,BaP）是一种常见的空气污染物,对人和动物的健康具有严重影响。据报道,BaP可以显著降低卵母细胞IVM （卵母细胞体外成熟）能力,但机制尚不清楚。因此,本研究在猪卵母细胞IVM培养液中添加不同浓度BaP （50 μM、100 μM、200 μM）检测其对卵母细胞IVM能力的影响,并检测此过程SHH信号通路相关基因和蛋白的表达。结果显示50 μM BaP处理组卵母细胞IVM能力显著低于对照组（76.5 vs 68.1,P<0.05）,并随着BaP浓度增加进一步下降。同时,qPCR和免疫荧光染色检测发现,50 μM BaP处理组卵母细胞中SHH信号通路相关基因mRNA和蛋白表达量,均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。因此,本研究初步证明BaP可能通过破坏SHH信号通路降低猪卵母细胞IVM能力。     

Protein and energy concentrations of meat meal and meat and bone meal fed to pigs based on in vitro assays

The objective of this study was to develop equations for estimating ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of meat meal (MM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as feed ingredients for pigs based on in vitro assays. Test ingredients were 4 sources of MM and 3 sources of MBM. Ash and CP contents of the ingredients ranged from 3.8% to 33.1% and 46.8% to 82.9% (as-is basis), respectively. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of CP was determined and ileal digestible CP content was calculated by multiplying CP content by IVID of CP. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM) was determined and ME was calculated using gross energy, CP contents, and IVTTD of DM. The IVID of CP and IVTTD of DM ranged from 77.2% to 88.7% and from 82.7% to 92.4%, respectively. Calculated ileal digestible CP and ME contents ranged from 37.8% to 73.5% DM and 2,405 to 3,905 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Ash contents were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with CP (r = −0.99), in vitro ileal digestible CP (r = −0.97), gross energy (r = −1.00), in vitro digestible energy (r = −0.97), and adjusted ME (r = −0.97). The most fitting equations for ileal digestible CP and adjusted ME were: ileal digestible CP (% DM) = 11.91 − 0.90 × Ash (% DM) + 0.74 × IVID of CP (%) (R² = 0.99) and adjusted ME (kcal/kg DM) = 130.85 − 50.90 × ash (% DM) + 47.06 × IVTTD of DM (%) (R² = 0.99). To validate the accuracy of the prediction equations for ME, mean bias and linear bias were determined using a regression analysis. Calculated ME values of MM and MBM were in a good agreement with data obtained from animal experiments based on a statistically insignificant bias in the models. In conclusion, ME concentrations of MM and MBM as swine feed ingredients can be calculated using ash concentration and in vitro disappearance of dry matter.     

供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响

利用在缸内加装电热塞的ZS1115单缸柴油,实现纯甲醇(M100)燃料的扩散燃烧,利用柴油机热效率高的优点,提高甲醇燃料的能量转换效率。通过改变供油提前角,研究不同供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响,并与原单缸柴油机燃用0#柴油进行对比。试验结果表明:供油提前角对甲醇发动机动力性、经济性及排放均有影响。与原机燃用0#柴油相比,燃油消耗率上升,使用成本降低;HC排放量升高,CO和NOX排放量降低。供油提前角提前4°CA时CO排放最少,最低平均减少23.89%;供油提前角退后2°CA时NOX排放最少,最低平均减少94.74%。     

黄淮海地区大豆生产机械化现状与发展趋势

机械化在大豆全程生产中发挥着重要作用。为此,针对黄淮海地区大豆机械化生产现状,分析了目前大豆机械化生产中存在的问题,对大豆产业发展,从"种子处理技术""机械化精密平播免中耕技术""科学施肥,合理使用杀虫剂和除草剂""大力推广大豆机械化收获技术"等方面简要阐述黄淮海地区大豆生产全程机械化的发展趋势。     

宽幅高效离心式双圆盘撒肥机设计与试验

为解决现有水旱田撒肥机械作业效率低、撒肥量调节技术落后、施肥均匀性稳定性差等实际问题,设计了一种同轴驱动的离心式双圆盘撒肥机。介绍了整机结构与工作参数,研究设计了撒肥传动系统、撒肥盘结构、排肥量液压调节装置等,并确定了关键结构和参数,同时进行了试验研究。试验结果显示,推肥板推肥角度-20°~30°可调,撒肥幅宽达到50m,总排肥量稳定性变异系数低于6%,施肥均匀性变异系数低于16%。研究结果表明,撒肥机工作性能稳定、撒肥量可控、抛撒均匀,整机设计满足水旱田宽幅高效撒肥作业要求。     

Comparison of emission estimates for non‐CO2 greenhouse gases from livestock and poultry in Korea from 1990 to 2010

It has often been claimed that non‐carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (NCGGs), such as methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated greenhouse gases, are significant contributors to climate change. Here we nvestigate emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide from livestock and poultry production, which is recognized as a major source of those NCGGs, in Korea over the period of 1990 through 2010. Based on the data on livestock and poultry populations, emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide are first derived based on the Tier 1 approach. Then, the Tier 2 approach is adopted to obtain emission estimates of methane and nitrous oxide from cattle, which are known to be the largest sources of these NCGGs and account for about 70% of emissions from livestock and poultry in Korea. The result indicates that the Tier 2 estimates of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management are significantly different from the Tier 1 estimates over the analysis period.     

Utilization of digital differential display to identify differentially expressed genes related to rumen development

This study aimed to identify the genes associated with the development of the rumen epithelium by screening for candidate genes by digital differential display (DDD) in silico. Using DDD in NCBI's UniGene database, expressed sequence tag (EST)‐based gene expression profiles were analyzed in rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum and other tissues in cattle. One hundred and ten candidate genes with high expression in the rumen were derived from a library of all tissues. The expression levels of 11 genes in all candidate genes were analyzed in the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum of nine Japanese Black male calves (5‐week‐old pre‐weaning: n = 3; 15‐week‐old weaned calves: n = 6). Among the 11 genes, only 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), aldo‐keto reductase family 1, member C1‐like (AKR1C1), and fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) showed significant changes in the levels of gene expression in the rumen between the pre‐ and post‐weaning of calves. These results indicate that DDD analysis in silico can be useful for screening candidate genes related to rumen development, and that the changes in expression levels of three genes in the rumen may have been caused by weaning, aging or both. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science