MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF DISCOSPONDYLITIS IN DOGS

The diagnosis of discospondylitis is based mainly on diagnostic imaging and laboratory results. Herein, we describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 13 dogs with confirmed discospondylitis. In total there were 17 sites of discospondylitis. Eleven (81.1%) of the dogs had spinal pain for >3 weeks and a variable degree of neurologic signs. Two dogs had spinal pain and ataxia for 4 days. Radiographs were available in nine of the dogs. In MR images there was always involvement of two adjacent vertebral endplates and the associated disk. The involved endplates and adjacent marrow were T1‐hypointense with hyperintensity in short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images in all dogs, and all dogs also had contrast enhancement of endplates and paravertebral tissues. The intervertebral disks were hyperintense in T2W and STIR images and characterized by contrast enhancement in 15 sites (88.2%). Endplate erosion was present in 15 sites (88.2%) and was associated with T2‐hypointense bone marrow adjacent to it. In two sites (11.8%) endplate erosion was not MR images or radiographically. The vertebral bone marrow in these sites was T2‐hyperintense. Epidural extension was conspicuous in postcontrast images at 15 sites (88.2%). Spinal cord compression was present at 15 sites (88.2%), and all affected dogs had neurologic signs. Subluxation was present in two sites (11.8%). MRI shows characteristic features of discospondylitis, and it allows the recognition of the exact location and extension (to the epidural space and paravertebral soft tissues) of the infection. Furthermore, MRI increases lesion conspicuity in early discospondylitis that may not be visualized by radiography.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—SPINAL CORD HEMANGIOMA IN TWO DOGS

Intramedullary masses are a dilemma due to the limited access for a nonsurgical biopsy, thus, accurate imaging characterization is crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of two confirmed canine thoracic intramedullary hemangiomas are described. A capillary hemangioma was of mixed intensity but predominantly T2‐hyperintense and mildly T1‐hyperintense to spinal cord with strong contrast enhancement. A cavernous hemangioma had a target‐like appearance in both T1‐weighted (T1w) and T2‐weighted (T2w) images. In T2w images there was a small isointense center surrounded by a relatively large hyperintense area. In T1w images, there was a large isointense centre with a relatively small hyperintense periphery. Such characteristics should prioritize hemangioma as a consideration in a progressive myelopathy due to an intramedullary mass.     

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganesis: Tracking strains using their genetic differentiations by ISSR markers in Southern Turkey

There is no available data published related to the dissemination of bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) and its genetic diversity in Turkey. It is important to control new introduced inoculum sources by commercial seeds and seedlings. Pathogens were identified by morphological features and the identity was confirmed by PCR amplification using a specific primer PSA-4, PSA-R in addition to microbiological tests. ISSR markers showing high polymorphism ratios were selected and used to characterize Cmm strains. The collected strains were classified into different groups on the basis of ISSR-PCR fingerprints, which showed remarkable genetic specificity and diversity not previously identified in Cmm, suggesting that genetic differences are related to dissemination of the pathogen in the region. This is the first ever study carried out on the characterization of Cmm using ISSR. The selected ISSR primers to characterize Cmm can be used to determine genetic differences in further studies.     

Comparing Deterministic and Probabilistic Risk Assessments. A case study at a closed steel mill in southern Sweden (7 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope   Contaminated land is a high priority environmental problem in most of Europe and North-America. Sweden is no exception and generic guideline values have been developed for the initial assessment, but site-specific assessments are also needed. The generic guideline values are not applicable when the exposure conditions are different from the typical Swedish conditions or when the site contains a particularly sensitive ecosystem. The Swedish guideline values have, like in many other countries, been set by using deterministic point estimates for all variables and constants in the used multimedia model. The same approach is common also for site-specific assessments, and a limitation is that it fails to quantify variability and uncertainty. Probabilistic risk assessment provided a method to deal with this problem. Variability and uncertainty in the input parameters (variables or constants) are described by probability distributions, and likewise the output (risk or exposure) is presented as a probability distribution. A substantial number of probabilistic risk assessments for contaminated land at sites in North America, Europe and Asia have been published. However, an extensive review of the literature did not identify any study where probabilistic risk assessment was applied to a site contaminated by an iron or steel industry. Here we will describe such a case, where we have compared a deterministic point estimate with a probabilistic risk assessment for six elements and benzo[a]pyrene. Methods   The site had different metallurgical plants in operation for more than 100 years. Most parts of the steel mill were closed by the mid 1980s, and today the site is used by small-sized enterprises. The soil is contaminated with metals from the previous industrial operations. The present owner plans to develop the site and has therefore initiated extensive investigations of soil contamination. Sixty-two soil samples collected between 1997 and 2000 provided a good coverage of the whole site, and were analyzed for the content of different elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The exposure assessments were focused on six elements with high concentrations compared to the generic guideline values; arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). In addition, benzo[a]pyrene was included due to the high toxicity and comparatively high concentrations. Variability and uncertainty were characterized in a Monte Carlo simulation of exposures (10 000 iterations), and the exposures were evaluated with two land use scenarios; less sensitive use and sensitive use. Results and Discussion   The deterministic point estimates and the probabilistic estimates of the 95th percentile are in approximately the same ranges in the scenario of less sensitive land use. It is only the exposure for arsenic that is slightly above the toxicological reference value (TRV) in the deterministic assessment. In the probabilistic assessment, the exposure for all elements is below the TRV. The results for sensitive land use are applicable to a scenario where the site is developed for general housing. The deterministic point estimates and the probabilistic estimates of the 95th percentile are also here in approximately the same ranges, but the exposure exceeds the TRV for arsenic, cadmium and lead. Drinking water, vegetables grown on site and soil ingestion are the major exposure pathways for this scenario. In this assessment, the estimated intake distributions are applicable to a randomly selected individual. The probability distributions used here to characterize the different soil parameters are typically representing both variability and uncertainty, and the same is true the majority of the exposure variables. We therefore decided not to attempt to separate variability and uncertainty at this stage, but with additional data from a more in-depth site investigation it might be possible to achieve this. Conclusions and Outlook   To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on a probabilistic risk assessment on a former iron and steel works site. The materials handled by this industry were less toxic than for many other metallurgical operations, but contaminants may still severely limit the options for future land use. This case study shows that probabilistic exposure estimates for a set of soil contaminants can be quite similar to deterministic point estimates. The main difference is instead to be found in the additional information obtained with the probabilistic assessment. The sensitivity analyses show pathways and input variables that contribute most to variations in the total intake of each contaminant, e.g. dermal contact and ingestion of soil, vegetables and drinking water. This information can be used both in the planning of future land use and for active measures to reduce current exposure. The probabilistic assessment also provides information on the magnitude of exposure and the margin of safety. This information may facilitate risk communication between decision-makers and stakeholders. The presentation of results from probabilistic risk assessments is only briefly discussed in the literature and here we see a need for research and opportunities for enhancement. The choice of data analytical tools may then be of importance, since more complex multimedia models are rather difficult to decipher when implemented within traditional spreadsheet software. Some of the research needs are identified here and in a previous review article in this journal.     

Analysis of Genetic Relationships among Turkish Cultivars and Breeding Lines of Lens culinatis Mestile Using RAPD Markers

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA markers were used to determine the genetic relationships among Turkish lentil cultivars and breeding lines. Fourteen cultivars and thirteen breeding lines were evaluated to determine genetic variability using nine random 10-mer primers (among 45 primers). Forty-one reproducible bands were obtained, 54% of which were polymorphic. Genetic distances among cultivars and breeding lines were obtained from the simple matching coefficients (SM). The lowest genetic distance was observed between the cultivars of Ali Dayi and Kafkas with 5.0%, while ‘Seyran-96’ and ‘Ozbek’ had the highest genetic distance with 58.3%. An unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was performed on the distance matrix using Phylip software. The dendrogram clearly showed two distinct groups. The first group is composed of Akm 565 and Akm 563. The second group contains all the cultivars and remaining eleven breeding lines.     

The Impact of Wood Ash and Green Liquor Dregs Application on Ca, Cu, Zn and Cd Contents in Bark and Wood of Norway Spruce

To counteract nutrient depletion and acidification of forest soils, recycling of waste products from the forest industry has been suggested. Spreading of these waste products will probably change the concentration and availability of Ca and heavy metals in forest soils and thereby the contents of these metals in trees. This field study aimed at examining the influence of pellets of wood ash (ash) or a mixture of wood ash and green liquor dregs (ash+GLD) on the contents of Ca, Cd, Cu and Zn in wood and bark of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. The waste products were spread in an amount of 3000 kg ha^?1 in 1996 at a felling site in Sweden and in 1999 and 2002 young spruce trees, planted in 1995, were collected and wood and bark were analysed for Ca, Cd, Cu and Zn with AAS. Changes in the metal content of wood and bark of young spruce trees were found 3 and 6 years after spreading pellets of ash or ash+GLD compared with the control. The effect of the treatments on the metal contents of bark and wood differed and was larger after 3 years than after 6 years. Treatment with ash+GLD tended to have less effect on the metal contents of bark and wood than treatment with only ash. An increase in the contents of Cu and Zn in bark or wood, compared with the control, was only found for the ash treatment and only 3 years after application. Both the ash and ash+GLD treatment decreased the Cd content of the wood and/or bark after 3 years, and after 6 years it still was, or tended to be, lower than the control.     

First genetic characterization of equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) in Turkey

Equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) is a cause of repiratory tract infection in equids. In present study for the first time in Turkey, the prevalence of EAdV-1 in nasal swab samples obtained from horses showing respiratory symptoms was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and molecular characterization of the hexon gene detected in the Turkish (TR) strain was performed. Overall, the prevalence of EAdV-1 was found low (1.4%) as indicated by a positive PCR reaction from the nasal swab extracts tested. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial sequences of the hexon gene of a TR-EAdV-1 strain with those of previously isolated AdVs from different mammals and an EAdV-1 M1 strain showed that the EAdV-1 strains were placed into a unique cluster. Although the TR-EAdV-1 strain was closely related to CAV-1, CAV-2 and bat adenovirus reference strains, larger-scale studies are necessary to better understand the molecular epidemiology and population structure of EAdV-1 in Turkey.     

Effects of photoperiod on salsolinol‐induced prolactin secretion in goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relation between salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) release and photoperiod in goats. A single intravenous (i.v.) injection of SAL was given to adult female goats under short (8 h light, 16 h dark) or long (16 h light, 8 h dark) photoperiod conditions at two different ambient temperatures (20°C or 5°C), and the PRL‐releasing response to SAL was compared to that of thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) or a dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist, sulpiride. SAL, as well as TRH or sulpiride, stimulated the release of PRL promptly after each injection in both 8‐ and 16‐h daily photoperiods at 20°C (P < 0.05). The area under the response curve (AUC) of PRL for the 60‐min period after injections of saline (controls), SAL, TRH and sulpiride in the 16‐h daily photoperiod group was greater than each corresponding value in the 8‐h daily photoperiod group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the AUC of PRL among the values produced after the injection of SAL, TRH and sulpiride in 16‐h daily photoperiod group; however, the values produced after the injection of TRH were smallest among the three in the 8‐h daily photoperiod group (P < 0.05). The PRL‐releasing responses to SAL, TRH and sulpiride under a short and long photoperiod condition at 5°C resembled those at 20°C. These results show that a long photoperiod highly enhances the PRL‐releasing response to SAL as well as TRH or sulpiride in either medium or low ambient temperature in goats.     

Maintaining the carbon–oxygen balance in residential areas: A method proposal for land use planning

The efforts to mitigate CO₂, one of the greenhouse gases causing global warming and climate change problems, have an important place in the worldwide agenda. One of the factors that cause CO₂ emissions is energy use in residential buildings, hence urban residential use is one of the areas on which mitigation efforts are focused. As land use planning determines the spatial development, density and form of residential areas, it has a direct role in the formation of residential emissions. However, these efforts to mitigate emissions could not yet be integrated with land use planning. It is possible to list the reasons as the mitigation efforts are made either on the building scale (mitigation of residential emissions by technological–architectural solutions) or on a global–regional scale (development of carbon sinks), the focus on transportation sector, and in land use planning, lack of considering the potential of urban green areas to mitigate emissions. By taking into consideration the O₂ production potential of green areas, a method proposal for land use planning is developed in this study to maintain the carbon–oxygen balance in residential areas. Depending on the form and density of the residential areas developed in a plan, the necessary size of green areas in such a plan is estimated by the method proposed. The varying emission amounts in different residential areas with diverse housing types, the number of actively used residential units, and local vegetation differences are included in the estimate. Therefore, an estimation method proposal that could be easily used in land use planning and that considers local differences is presented in the paper.     

Development of EST‐SSR markers for diversity and breeding studies in opium poppy

All publicly available opium poppy expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences, totalling 20 885, were assembled into unigenes and examined for simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Nearly 19% of the 14 957 unigenes contained SSRs with 4% harbouring more than one SSR. Average density of the SSRs was 1 SSR per 3.6 kb of non‐redundant EST sequence. Trinucleotide SSRs were most frequently identified (39%), and many of the most prevalent motifs were AT‐rich. Flanking primers were designed for 86% of the SSRs and 67 primer pairs were tested on 37 opium poppy accessions and seven related species. All markers were transferable to the related species. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values for the markers were intermediate for comparisons within opium poppy (average of 0.27) and slightly higher for comparisons across species (average of 0.29). The markers were found to be useful for diversity analysis as they successfully distinguished among Turkish opium poppy accessions and land races.