ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs

This report, issued by the ACVIM Specialty of Cardiology consensus panel, revises guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD, also known as endocardiosis and degenerative or chronic valvular heart disease) in dogs, originally published in 2009. Updates were made to diagnostic, as well as medical, surgical, and dietary treatment recommendations. The strength of these recommendations was based on both the quantity and quality of available evidence supporting diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Management of MMVD before the onset of clinical signs of heart failure has changed substantially compared with the 2009 guidelines, and new strategies to diagnose and treat advanced heart failure and pulmonary hypertension are reviewed.     

The comparison of two different extenders for the improvement of large‐scale sperm cryopreservation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

In our study, a traditionally used (Grayling, already used in cyprinid species) and a newly tested (Pike) extender was tested to avoid sperm agglutination phenomenon following thawing during carp sperm cryopreservation. A large‐scale (elevated volume of sperm) freezing method in a controlled‐rate freezer using 5 ml straw and 10 ml cryotube was also systematically established. In all experiments, the sperm cryopreserved in using Grayling extender (except only one sample) showed an agglutination phenomenon (damaged and intact cells adhered to each other) after thawing where Pike extender resulted the regular cell suspension. No significant difference was observed between the two cryopreserved groups (Pike and Grayling extender) in all motility parameters using the 0.5 ml straw and the polystyrene box. Similarly, motility parameters did not show a significant difference in the two frozen groups with the 5 ml straw, also in the polystyrene box. A significantly higher progressive motility (pMOT, Grayling: 54% ± 8%, Pike: 37% ± 5%), straight line velocity (VSL, Grayling: 50 ± 5 µm/s, Pike: 39 ± 4 µm/s) and beat cross frequency (BCF, Grayling: 20 ± 1 Hz, Pike: 17 ± 1 Hz) was observed in the case of the grayling extender by the 5 ml straw cryopreserved in a controlled‐rate freezer (CRF) compare to the pike extender. A significantly higher VSL (Grayling: 45 ± 3 µm/s, Pike: 38 ± 4 µm/s) was observed by the grayling extender using the 10 ml cryotube than with the pike extender. Despite the randomly occurring differences in a few parameters, our new controlled freezing method using the newly tested Pike extender, the 5 ml straw or the 10 ml cryotube can be a good solution for the preservation of elevated volume of carp sperm.     

Rootstock Induced Seasonal Changes of N,P and K Nutrient Levels in Satsuma Mandarin cvs. ‘Okitsu’, ‘Clausellina’ and ‘Silverhill’

Rootstocks-scion relations have critical consequences about nutritional status, tree vigour, resistance to pest and pathogens, yield and yield quality. In this study, we therefore investigated seasonal variations of leaf mineral nutrient concentrations in Satsuma mandarin’s cvs. ‘Okitsu’, ‘Clausellina’ and ‘Silverhill’ budded on different citrus rootstocks under Dörtyol-Hatay, Turkey ecological conditions. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and K (potassium) concentrations of the leaves showed slightly similar trend each other, in general these nutrients reduced from January to March–April, and increased during the growing season until mid- and late summer, then decreased until December. Despite rootstocks did not significantly affect the leaf N, P and K concentrations rootstock-scion relation was pre-eminent and nutrient dependent. Most conspicuous scion dependent changes were recorded for K concentration whereas P concentration was little influenced. In terms of scion-rootstock combination, the range of N and K concentrations were 2.11% (‘Okitsu’/sour orange) to 2.34% (Silverhill/sour orange), and 1.09% (‘Okitsu’/Carrizo citrange) to 1.39% (‘Clausellina’/Carrizo citrange), respectively; but P concentrations were highly similar %0.13 (‘Okitsu’/sour orange) – %0.16 (‘Clausellina’/Carrizo citrange), in the entire growing season. It can be concluded that there are considerable differences in nutrient uptake ability of scion-rootstock combination.     

Distribution of CD68‐, CD8‐, MHCI‐ and MHCII‐positive cells in the bull and ram testis and epididymis

The mammalian testis possesses a special immunological environment because of its properties of remarkable immune privilege and effective local innate immunity. The testicular immune privilege protects immunogenic germ cells from systemic immune attack, and local innate immunity is important in preventing testicular microbial infections. Thus, this study aimed to immunohistochemically demonstrate the distribution and localization of CD68‐, CD8‐, MHCI‐ and MHCII‐positive immune cells in the testes and epididymes. Negative immunoreactivity was detected in the seminiferous tubule epithelium and peritubular myoid cells of the testes upon staining in CD68, CD8 and MHC Class I. Positive CD68 immunoreaction was determined in the Sertoli cells and some Leydig cells. The detection of positive cells for CD8 clearly indicated the presence of lymphocytes. Furthermore, the staining with MHCI intensity was ascertained to vary from weak to moderate in the Sertoli and Leydig cells and connective tissue cells. MHCII‐positive immunoreactivity was determined in myoid cells and Leydig cells in the interstitial area. The epithelium of the epididymis showed positive staining for CD68 and CD8, but the stroma displayed a rather weak staining. In the ram epididymis, neither intraepithelial nor interstitial positive reaction was observed for MHCI. In the epididymis, the basal cells displayed a stronger staining for MHCII. In conclusion, these cells not only contribute to local immunity through their direct effects on the quality of fertility in males, but also contribute either directly or indirectly to immune privilege by minimizing the development of both autoimmune reactions and potentially harmful risks.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) after single intravenous and intramuscular injections

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cefquinome (CFQ ) following single intravenous (IV ) or intramuscular (IM ) injections of 2 mg/kg body weight in red‐eared slider turtles. Plasma concentrations of CFQ were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography and analyzed using noncompartmental methods. The pharmacokinetic parameters following IV injection were as follows: elimination half‐life (t _1/2λz) 21.73 ± 4.95 hr, volume of distribution at steady‐state (V _dss) 0.37 ± 0.11 L/kg, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC _0–∞) 163 ± 32 μg hr^?1 ml^?1, and total body clearance (Cl_T) 12.66 ± 2.51 ml hr^?1 kg^?1. The pharmacokinetic parameters after IM injection were as follows: peak plasma concentration (C _max) 3.94 ± 0.84 μg/ml, time to peak concentration (T _max) 3 hr, t _1/2λz 26.90 ± 4.33 hr, and AUC _0–∞ 145 ± 48 μg hr^?1 ml^?1. The bioavailability after IM injection was 88%. Data suggest that CFQ has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile with a long half‐life and a high bioavailability in red‐eared slider turtles. Further studies are needed to establish a multiple dosage regimen and evaluate clinical efficacy.     

On the measurement of formaldehyde release from low-emission wood-based panels using the perforator method

In Europe, the perforator method (EN 120) is the mostly used laboratory method of the wood-based panel industry. Usually, the measured perforator value depends on the moisture content of the boards. According to DIBt-100, the measured perforator values are corrected to a common moisture content (MC) of 6.5% using an established equation proposed by Jann and Deppe (1990). The correction factor of Jann and Deppe (1990) is based on the assumption that particle- and fibreboards change their perforator values to the same extent regardless whether increasing or decreasing the moisture content in the range of 3 ≤ u ≤ 9%. Application of this correction factor to particle- and fibreboards of higher moisture content than 6.5% can lead to biased corrected results in favour of low emission. The corrected values can also lead to paradoxical relation between the perforator values and emission in the low-emission region.     

Dephytinization of wheat bran by fermentation with bakers' yeast,incubation with barley malt flour and autoclaving at different pH levels

Wheat bran is an important source of dietary fiber but also contains considerable amounts of phytic acid, which is known to impair mineral absorption. The present study was conducted to investigate the phytic acid reduction in coarse and fine wheat bran by fermentation with the different levels of bakers' yeast (3, 6 and 9%) for 8 h at 30 °C, incubation with the different levels of barley malt flour (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0%) for 8 h at pH 5.2 and 55 °C, and autoclaving at the different pH levels (pH 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 3.5) adjusted with acetic acid for 2 h. The phytic acid content of the wheat bran was effectively reduced by all treatments, and the phytic acid lost was in the range of 88.4–96.9%. Without addition of yeast or malt flour, or autoclaving without pH adjustment, the phytic acid content of the bran samples was reduced at most to 44.9% of the initial amounts under the investigated conditions. Increasing the concentration of yeast or malt flour or decreasing the pH towards 3.5 did not enhance the phytic acid reduction. The most reduction occurred after 2 h of yeast fermentation and malt flour incubation, and after 30 min of autoclaving, which made up 92–98% of the total phytic acid loss. Extending the treatment periods contributed nominally to further increase in the phytic acid reduction, and the rate of the phytic acid loss decreased progressively.     

污泥膨胀的原因及其控制方法

污泥膨胀不仅影响出水水质,增大污泥的处理费用,而且极易引起大量污泥流失,严重时可导致整个处理工艺失败。污泥膨胀分为丝状菌性污泥膨胀和非丝状菌性污泥膨胀,主要影响因素有污水水质、溶解氧、污泥负荷、冲击负荷以及运行方式和处理工艺等。通过临时控制措施、工艺设计控制措施、工艺运行控制措施可有效解决污泥膨胀问题。尽管当前有一些理论解释污泥膨胀问题,如表面积/容积比(A/V)假说,动力学理论,饥饿假说理论、NO假设,但缺乏充分的实验证明模型适用与否。需进一步完善污泥膨胀理论,为控制污泥膨胀提供严谨的理论依据。     

Dissolved components in precipitation water percolated through forest litter

Leaves lying on the forest floor are a major source of dissolved organic substances in soil and surface waters, and these substances have important effects in those environments. We used zero‐tension lysimeters to study the chemical characteristics of water percolating through litter from various species of forest trees. The leaching rates were greatest in the autumn and declined rapidly thereafter, especially for deciduous litter. During an annual cycle, 2.5–17% of the initial contents of the carbon in the litter was recovered as dissolved organic carbon in percolates. Humus‐like substances, hydrophilic acids and hydrophilic neutral compounds constituted the major fractions of dissolved C. Leachates from deciduous leaf litter were only partly biodegradable, and those from spruce needles were scarcely biodegradable. Low molecular weight organic acids constituted 0–12% of the dissolved organic carbon in the percolates of the first autumn sampling and decreased over time. Acetic and formic acids were present at the largest concentrations, up to 30 μmol l^?1 per g litter, and gluconic, pyruvic, fumaric, oxalic and citric acids were also frequent in significant concentrations. Among the aromatic acids, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid was identified in four out of five autumn samples. The organic components in litter leachates are important for the microbial activity in soil and surface waters. The organic acids enhance weathering and translocation of metals by their ability to form complexes. Litter is also a source of inorganic ions in soil solutions. The dominant cations in the percolates were K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and spruce litter also yielded large quantities of Al and Fe.     

Isolation of mildew resistant wheat-rye translocation lines from a double substitution line

A powdery mildew resistant double disomic wheat-rye substitution line carrying rye chromosomes 1R and 2R was crossed with normal bread wheats. The F₂ generation was analysed cytologically by C-banding. Wheat-rye chromosome translocations involving both rye chromosomes 1R and 2R were frequent in F₂. Lines with translocations of 1R and 2R were harvested separately. After four generations of selfing and selection for mildew resistance and fertility, fully fertile resistant lines were selected and analysed cytologically. Lines with 1BL/1RS and 2BS/2RL translocations were identified. The resistance on chromosome 1RS could not be shown to be different from control varieties carrying the same rye segment, while the resistance on 2RL is much broader than the earlier known 2RL derived resistance in the line Transec. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.