木业企业如何为抑制气候变化做贡献

英国第一个气候周(Climate Week)组织者称,采取主动应对气候变化的行动(pro-climate action)会有助于企业和生意的发展。各行各业都在积极采取行动支持抑制气候变化的努力。气候周是一个新的机会来展示最得意的成绩。方式多样,可以是开会,发表新的研究成果或只是宣传更有利于环境的实用的经营之道。气候周也是企业在对未来有重要意义的问题上取得领先地位的良机。木业企业如何为抑制气候变化做贡     

15-Ketodihydro-PGF2α, Progesterone and Uterine Involution in Primiparous Cows with Induced Retained Placenta and Post-partal Endometritis Treated with Oxytetracycline and Flunixin

Retention of the foetal membranes (RFM) and post‐partal endometritis are common problems in dairy cows. Among other things, the disease is characterized by a bacterial endometritis with aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria. From an endocrine perspective, cows with RFM have high levels of 15‐ketodihydro‐PGF_2α (PG‐metabolite) immediately after parturition but these levels fall rapidly within 2 weeks post‐partum (early PG‐metabolite elevation). After this decline, the PG‐metabolite levels increase again and the levels (at this time of a lower magnitude) remain elevated during the period of uterine infection (late PG‐metabolite elevation). The aim of this study was to investigate the PG‐metabolite profiles in cows with retained placenta and post‐partal endometritis treated with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor flunixin (F), either alone or in combination with oxytetracycline (T). The study was accomplished over 2 years with 12 primiparous cows in each experiment. As a model for RFM, preterm parturition was induced in late‐pregnant heifers by injecting PGF_2α (25 mg i.m) twice with a 24 h interval. In each experiment, the cows were divided into four groups and treated with either T (10 mg/kg b.w. i.m. once daily), F (2.2 mg/kg b.w. p.o. twice per day), a combination of T and F (dosage, as above), or conservatively (0). The treatment periods lasted from day 11 to day 14 post‐partum (pp) in experiment 1 (after placental shedding, groups T1, F1, TF1 and 0) and from day 3 to day 6 pp in experiment 2 (before placental shedding, groups T2, F2, TF2 and 0). Jugular vein blood samples were collected for analyses of PG‐metabolite and flunixin. Uterine biopsies were collected twice weekly for investigation of endometrial microbiology. Rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examinations were performed three times per week for investigations of uterine and cervical involution and ovarian activity. No attempts were made to remove the placentas manually. The experiment lasted until day 56 pp. The induction of parturition was successful in all heifers and 22 of 24 animals had RFM. All RFM cows had bacterial endometritis, based on bacteriological examinations. Flunixin treatment (F1, TF1, F2 and TF2) suppressed PG‐metabolite levels significantly (p=0.006) during the period of treatment in both experiments. However, the early flunixin treatment only suppressed PG synthesis partially. Late oxytetracycline treatment (T1) did not influence the PG‐metabolite levels but oxytetracycline treatment (T2 and TF2) before placental shedding significantly altered the kinetics of the early PG‐metabolite elevation compared with other treatments. Late PG‐metabolite elevation was significantly correlated to duration of uterine infection and cervical involution. In conclusion, flunixin treatment of cows with retained placenta either before or after placental shedding suppresses prostaglandin synthesis. However, early treatment, when the release of prostaglandins is high, might need more intensive treatment in order to prevent the PG synthesis effectively. Oxytetracycline treatment during the period immediately after parturition before placental shedding might influence the PG‐metabolite profile and suggests a bacteriological contribution to the high levels of PG‐metabolite seen during the first 2 weeks pp in cows with retained placenta. In this study, a correlation between prostaglandin release, the final cervical involution and the end of infection was found. This suggests a link between uterine endocrinology, bacteriology and involution in cows with retained placenta.     

Recording uterine motility in the nonanesthetized bitch

Spontaneous and drug-induced uterine motility (UM) was recorded in 5 nonanesthetized bitches for 2 to 4 days. Catheter-tip pressure transducers were surgically implanted in 1 uterine horn, tunneled subcutaneously to exit from the skin over the dorsal lumbar area, and protected by a bandage. On the day after implantation, spontaneous UM was recorded in the awake bitch. Effects of IV prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (5 micrograms/kg of body weight) and oxytocin (0.05 USP U/kg) and IM PGF2 alpha (25 micrograms/kg) were measured. Estradiol (1 to 25 micrograms/kg) was administered and the study was repeated 24 hours later. In awake bitches, spontaneous UM was 190% greater than UM in anesthetized bitches. Uterine motility was increased by more than 100% after IV PGF2 alpha or oxytocin and by 52% after IM PGF2 alpha. Estradiol abolished spontaneous UM, but did not affect drug-induced responses. Seemingly, spontaneous and drug-induced UM can be documented in the nonanesthetized bitch.     

Does Mechanical Manipulation of the Reproductive Organs Cause a Prostaglandin Release in the Heifer During Embryo Transfer?

One of the problems encountered in embryo transfer (ET) in cattle is the wide variation in pregnancy rates. Many factors, of either embryonic, maternal or environmental origin, influence the result of the ET (Sreenan & Diskin 1987). An important environmental factor is the method of transfer. Pregnancy rates are generally lower following non-surgical, compared with surgical transfer. In addition, the skill and experience of the operator is of great importance. Furthermore, pregnancy rates tend to decrease the longer the transfer catheter remains in the uterus (Rowe et al. 1980). One suggested reason for this is uterine trauma or irritation caused by the catheter with a subsequent endometrial inflammation. As the uterine environment is of great importance for the establishment of pregnancy, an inflammatory reaction would certainly diminish the chances for embryo survival. There is a possibility that the endometrium becomes damaged mechanically during the transfer procedure. This might be more pronounced in animals where ET is difficult to perform, due to anatomical reasons and/or, an inexperienced operator. Furthermore, when a longer time is needed for passing the cervix and placing the embryo in the tip of the uterine horn, the pregnancy rate seems to be influenced negatively.     

Bone-metastasizing squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin in a dog

Bone-metastasizing squamous-cell carcinoma of a 6-year-old female Bedlington terrier is reported. The dog was operated on for a squamous-cell carcinoma in the axillary region. Four weeks after operation the dog developed signs of anaemia. It also became weak and showed neurological signs. Radiographs revealed areas of rarefaction in two vertebrae and densities in the lungs suggesting tumour metastases. The animal was destroyed and metastases were found in the axillary and internal iliac lymph nodes, the lungs, the first thoracic vertebra and the third lumbar vertebra. The tumour mass in the thoracic vertebra protruded into the spinal canal and compressed the spinal cord. The tumour cells in the primary tumour were of anaplastic type. Résumé. Un carcinome squamo-cellulaire, métastasiant les os est rapporté chez un Bedlington terrier femelle de six ans. On a opéré le chien d'un carcinome squamo-cellulaire dans la région axillaire. Quatre semaines après l'opération le chien a développé des signes d'anémie. Il s'est aussi affaibli et a montré des signes neurologiques. Des radiographies ont révélé des surfaces de raréfaction dans deux vertèbres et les densités dans les poumons ont suggéré des métastases de tumeur. L'animal a été detruit et on a trouvé des métastases dans les n?uds lymphatiques, iliaques internes et axillaires, les poumons, la première vertèbre thoracique et la troisième vertèbre lombaire. L'excroissance dans la vertèbre thoracique a fait saillie dans le canal vertébral et a comprimé la moelle épinière. Les cellules de la tumeur dans la tumeur primaire étaient de type anaplastique. Zusammenfassung: Von einem Knochen-metastasierenden schuppenzelligem Karzinom in einem 6 Jahre alten weiblichen Bedlington-Terrier wurde berichtet. Man operierte den Hund an einem schuppenzelligen Karzinom in der Achsellymphdrüsengegend. Vier Wochen nach der Operation entwickelte der Hund Anzeichen von Anämie. Auch wurde er schwach und zeigte neurologische Symptome. Röntgenaufnahmen zeigten Gebiete von Rarefactio in zwei Rücken-wirbeln und Verdichtungen in der Lunge liessen auf Tochtergeschwulste deuten. Man tötete den Hund und Metastasen fanden sich in den Achsellymphdrüsen und den innerlichen Darmbein-lymphknoten, der Lunge, dem ersten Brustwirbel und dem dritten Lendenwirbel. Der Massen-tumor in dem Brustwirbel ragte bis in den Kanal der Wirbelsäule hinein und drückte auf denWirbelsäulenstrang. Die Tumorzellen in dem Primärtumor waren vom anaplastischen Typ.     

Endotoxin-induced bovine mastitis: immunoglobulins, phagocytosis, and effect of flunixin meglumine

Milk whey immunoglobulins (Ig) and phagocytosis of staphylococci by milk polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMN) were measured in 12 cows (allotted to 6 pairs) during acute bovine mastitis induced by intramammary inoculation of endotoxin. Six of these cows (or 1 in each pair) were treated with flunixin meglumine and were compared with the others (given only saline solution). The endotoxin inoculation comprised 10 micrograms of Escherichia coli O26:B6 lipopolysaccharide injected into one of the rear quarters (mammae). Flunixin meglumine was administered parenterally at a dosage of 1.1 mg/kg every 8 hours (total of 7 doses) beginning at 2 hours after endotoxin was injected. Milk samples were obtained, and whey samples were prepared from each quarter of each cow 3 times before inoculation and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, and 336 hours after endotoxin was inoculated. Significant increases (P less than 0.05) in milk whey IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA concentrations were observed in whey samples from endotoxin-inoculated quarters. Greatest relative increase was seen for IgG2. Increased whey Ig concentrations were not observed in quarters which were not inoculated with endotoxin. Concentrations of whey IgG1 and IgM in endotoxin-inoculated quarters were significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased in flunixin meglumine-treated cows, compared with those in saline solution-treated cows. Significant increases in phagocytosis of staphylococci by milk PMN were observed in whey samples from endotoxin-inoculated quarters. Significant differences in PMN phagocytosis were not found in whey samples from cows given flunixin meglumine when compared with whey samples from cows given saline solution.     

Attempts to stimulate mitosis in cultured trophoblast cells of cattle embryos

Trophoblast from Day-14 bovine embryos was cultured in medium containing mitogens to determine if the mitotic index could be altered. Trophoblast from each of 15 embryos was cultured in minimum essential medium (Eagles) with 20 % fetal calf serum (control) or in this medium supplemented with pokeweed mitogen (1 %, v/v), phytohemagglutinin (1 %, v/v), concanavalin A (1 %, v/v) or thymidine (2 mg/ml). No mitogenic effect was observed due to any of the treatments. However, mitotic indexes were significantly lower when pokeweed (P < 0.05) or thymidine (P < 0.01) was added to the medium. A highly significant (P < 0.001) variation in mitotic index between embryos was observed.