Presumptive increase in protein‐bound serum calcium in a dog with multiple myeloma

Abstract: An 11‐year‐old male castrated Australian Shepherd was presented with a history of lethargy, panting, and weight loss for 1 month. Physical examination revealed a moderately enlarged spleen. Laboratory abnormalities included thrombocytopenia and marked hypercalcemia, with hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and a monoclonal spike in the β‐globulin region on serum protein electrophoresis. Serum total calcium concentration was markedly increased (16.5 mg/dL, reference interval 8.9–11.4 mg/dL) but ionized calcium concentration (1.39 mmol/L) was within the reference interval (1.25–1.45 mmol/L). Isosthenuria was noted, but the dog was not polyuric or polydipsic. Serum parathyroid hormone concentration was within reference limits and parathyroid hormone‐related peptide concentration was 0 pmol/L. Radiographic findings were largely unremarkable. Results of cytologic evaluation of a fine‐needle aspirate specimen from the spleen indicated plasma cell neoplasia. Based on the results of the electrophoresis, splenic aspirates, radiographs, and hypercalcemia, a diagnosis of splenic multiple myeloma was made. The marked hypercalcemia, normal ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations, and lack of osteolytic lesions indicated a presumptive increase in protein‐bound serum calcium, likely due to binding to molecules of the paraprotein (M protein). Protein binding of calcium in dogs with multiple myeloma should be considered as a potential mechanism of elevated total serum calcium concentration.     

The effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on oilseed rape productivity and weed competition in short rotation

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of short crop rotation and organic amendments on rapeseed yield under weed competition conditions. The primary experimental plots consisted of either triticale or pea as a prior crop, consisting of four subplots with either 25 tons of composted cattle manure (CCM), 150?kg urea N ha^?1 (N), 25 tons composted cattle manure + 75?kg urea N ha^?1 (CCM?+?N), or no urea N or manure added as the control (C0). Rapeseed seed yield was not significantly affected by previous crops, except for rapeseed grown after pea which had slightly higher seed yield (2058?kg ha^?1) than those grown after triticale (1942?kg ha^?1). Plants that received CCM?+?N produced the highest amount of seed yield (2447?kg ha^?1), but were not significantly different from plants that received just urea N (2218?kg ha^?1). Weeds gained more biomass when the previous crop was pea compared to those whose previous crop was triticale. Weeds in plots that received CCM?+?N produced the greatest biomass, followed by N, and CCM plots, respectively.     

Pesticides to control ostracods grazing on blue-green algae

Means to control ostracods grazing on blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) important in fixing nitrogen in flooded rice soils were studied. The relative acute lethal toxicity (LC₅₀⁴⁸) to the ostracods Cyprinotus carolinensis and Heterocypris luzonensis grazing on Tolypothrix tenuis was 0.4 and 2.4 μg ml^?1 for carbofuran and 4.5 and more than 56.0 μ g ml^?1 for lindane. Complete inhibition of grazing was achieved with 1.0 and 25 μ g carbofuran ml^?1 and 0.1 and 5.6μ g lindane ml^?1 for C. carolinensis and H. luzonensis, respectively. Lindane at concentrations below 0.02 μ g ml^?1 stimulated feeding by C. carolinensis on the alga. Breakdown of carbofuran markedly reduced its effectiveness as a measure to control grazing, but lindane did not rapidly lose its effectiveness. The toxicity of carbofuran to C. carolinensis feeding on T. tenuis was not affected by pH. The difference in ostracod responses to the pesticides, which may be associated with resistance acquired through previous exposure, is an important consideration in designing practical means to reduce grazing in paddy fields.     

Hemodynamic Effects of Calcium Gluconate Administered to Conscious Horses

Calcium gluconate was administered to conscious horses at 3 different rates (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg/min for 15 minutes each). Serum calcium concentrations and parameters of cardiovascular function were evaluated. All 3 calcium administration rates caused marked increases in both ionized and total calcium concentrations, cardiac index, stroke index, and cardiac contractility (dP/dt_max). Mean arterial pressure and right atrial pressure were unchanged; heart rate de creased markedly during calcium administration. Ionized calcium concentration remained between 54% and 57% of total calcium concentration throughout the study. We conclude that calcium gluconate can safely be administered to conscious horses at 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg/min and that administration will result in improved cardiac function.     

Blood,plasma, and serum inorganic and organic reference values for two-year old Irish Thoroughbreds during the racing season

The concentration of 13 inorganic and organic components in the blood, plasma, and serum of 51 two-year old Irish Thoroughbreds were measured on seven occasions over a ten-month period including the racing season. Reference values were established for calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, glucose, and alkaline phosphatase. The components measured were those usually considered to be useful aids in clinical diagnosis. No significant differences were established between the best and worst eight track performers with the exception of inorganic phosphorus which in the best eight was significantly lower (P<0.01).     

Comparison of the microtitration agglutination test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of herds affected with swine dysentery

A method was designed to evaluate and compare the microtitration agglutination test (MAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies in swine sera to Treponema hyodysenteriae and thereby establish a method for determining the prevalence of swine dysentery (SD) in herds. According to sampling criteria based on the hypergeometric distribution, sera were collected from 3 age groups of swine from farms having a history of SD on the premises (SD+) recently or being free of the disease (SD-). The highest degree of test sensitivity was obtained when sera from market age swine were evaluated with the ELISA. Of 14 SD+ herds from which sera were obtained from market-age swine, 13 were positive with the ELISA (93%); none of the 8 SD- herds was positive. The detection rates of individual swine in the SD+ herds for the 2 tests by age group were as follows: MAT--adult swine 1.4%, market-age swine 6%, and weaned pigs 0.8%; ELISA--adult swine 16%, market swine 31%, and weaned pigs 0.5%.     

Relationships between fish and supralittoral vegetation in nearshore marine habitats

• 1. This study was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences in the species richness and community composition of fish assemblages in coastal nearshore habitats with differing compositions of supralittoral vegetation.
• 2. We sampled fish assemblages and conducted supralittoral vegetation surveys at 27 beaches on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Thirteen of the beaches had supralittoral vegetation characteristic of old‐growth coastal forests and 14 had been previously subjected to logging or other disturbances.
• 3. Physical features (e.g. substrate, salinity, etc.) were recorded at each beach to determine whether there were significant associations between supralittoral vegetation and beach characteristics as well as between beach characteristics and fish assemblages.
• 4. Across all 27 beaches, 1832 individuals of 31 species of nearshore fish were collected, primarily juvenile cottids and salmonids. Mean species richness did not differ between beaches with old‐growth versus secondary‐growth supralittoral vegetation; however, a higher cumulative number of species was found at beaches with old‐growth supralittoral vegetation.
• 5. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that beach characteristics and supralittoral vegetation were not significantly associated. Separate CCA for fish associations with beach characteristics and fish associations with supralittoral vegetation explained ～55% of the variance in fish assemblage composition, suggesting that fish assemblage composition is significantly affected by substrate, submerged vegetation, and physico‐chemical conditions as well as by the community composition of vegetation in adjacent supralittoral habitats.
• 6. Specifically, we found associations between supralittoral vegetation and penpoint gunnels (Apodichthys flavidus Girard), tidepool sculpins (Oligocottus maculosus Girard), Pacific staghorn sculpins (Leptocottus armatus Girard), arrow gobies (Clevelandia ios Jordan and Gilbert), shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata Gibbons) and kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus Gill). Juvenile chum (Oncorhynchus keta Walbaum) and coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum) salmon were strongly associated with supralittoral vegetation characteristic of mature coastal forests such as mosses and western red cedar (Thuja plicata) suggesting that some nearshore fish species may be affected by processes originating in terrestrial ecosystems.
• 7. Our results suggest that some nearshore fish species may be affected by removal of supralittoral vegetation.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Participants' willingness to consume soy foods for lowering cholesterol and receive counselling on cardiovascular disease by nutrition professionals

OBJECTIVES: To determine if participants would be interested in consuming soy foods to lower cholesterol in primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, and to identify the role physicians and registered dietitians have in providing dietary advice, about soy foods or other foods, for participants with elevated cholesterol. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative data from 12 focus groups were gathered from a convenience sample of 74 adults, aged 18-91 years, with and without high cholesterol (total cholesterol >200 mg dl(-1)). Participants were recruited from Minneapolis/St. Paul mainstream and natural foods grocery stores. Focus group interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim. Common themes were identified, coded and compared using NVivo computer software. RESULTS: Participants believed diet, lifestyle and genetics were the cause of high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few participants were aware of the Food and Drug Administration health claim for soy protein, yet many were willing to consume soy as part of lifestyle modification to prevent CVD. They reported preferring food and exercise over medication to treat high cholesterol. Few participants had ever received dietary advice from physicians on treating high cholesterol or CVD, and most doubted the accuracy of such advice. They believed registered dietitians were the most credible source of nutrition counselling and expressed an interest in physician referrals to dietitians. CONCLUSIONS: A collaboration and referral system between physicians and registered dietitians could increase CVD patients' consumption of soy foods as a means potentially leading to a reduced risk of heart disease in participants.     

Influence of the soil composition on the effects of benzoxazinoid allelochemicals on two soil nontarget organisms

Seven selected benzoxazinoid allelochemicals and synthetic reference compounds were tested for their lethal and sublethal effects in different field soils and standard soil on Folsomia candida and Poecilus cupreus by applying standard laboratory test procedures. The higher microbial activity in the field soils was most probably responsible for the reduced effects of test compounds on F. candida in the majority of all tests, whereas the higher organic carbon content in field soils was likely the reason for the reduced effects of test substances on P. cupreus.