Treatment of a malignant pheochromocytoma in a dog using 131I metaiodobenzylguanidine

A 12 yr old castrated male Yorkshire terrier was presented with a history of an inoperable pheochromocytoma. Physical examination revealed a large, midabdominal mass. Neurologic examination was normal at presentation. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a 215 cm(3) mass in the region of the right kidney. Forty-eight hours after IV injection of 370 megabecquerels (MBq, equivalent to10 millicuries [mCi]) of metaiodobenzylguanidine labeled with radioactive iodine ([(131)I]MIBG), standard planar scintigraphy was performed. A diffuse area of moderate uptake was noted in the midabdominal region. The dog experienced stable disease for 1.5 mo after injection based on a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan; however, 5 mo after injection, repeat CT imaging revealed progression of the tumor, and a second IV injection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) of [(131)I]MIBG was administered. The dog died 3 wk after the second injection as a result of gastrointestinal blood loss that was believed to be caused by compression-induced bowel ischemia by the mass. A full necropsy was not performed, but the mass was removed for histologic evaluation, which confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. This report is the first to document the treatment of canine pheochromocytoma using [(131)I]MIBG.     

Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic features of 4 cases of canine congenital thoracic vertebral anomalies

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography features of 4 cases of canine congenital vertebral anomalies (CVAs) are discussed. Two of the cases represent unusual presentations for such anomalies that commonly affect screw-tail or toy breeds. Moreover, the combination of CVAs and a congenital peritoneo-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia has never before been imaged.     

Identification of isopeptide bonds in heat-treated wheat gluten peptides

Results in this paper confirm heat-induced isopeptide bond formation in wheat gluten. Heating (24 h, 130 °C) of wheat gluten [moisture content 7.4%] decreased its extractability in sodium dodecyl sulfate containing buffer (pH 6.8), even after reduction of disulfide (SS) bonds. Thus, both SS bonds and non-SS bonds were responsible for the extractability loss. Cross-links of the lysinoalanine and lanthionine type were not present in the heated samples, but heat treatment reduced levels of available amino groups. Heating of purified and alkylated high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) under similar conditions also resulted in extractability loss, demonstrating that cross-linking did not solely depend on the availability of cysteine or cystine. These observations indicated that heat treatment had induced isopeptide bond formation, resulting in larger and unextractable molecules. Heating HMW-GS lysine- and glutamine-containing peptides induced the formation of isopeptide bonds, thereby supporting the above hypothesis. The level of isopeptide bond formation increased with heating time.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Storage in Contrasting Reaches of a Sub-tropical River System

This study investigated the storage of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the biomass, bed sediments and water column of representative reaches of a sub-tropical river, the upper Brisbane River (UBR), Queensland, Australia, and contrasted instream storage with total wet season exports. In reaches which contained accumulated fine sediments, more than 87% of total P and between 50% and 92% of total N were stored in the surface sediments. The lower proportion of N in sediment at some sites was attributed to substantial differences in the N/P ratios of sediments and macrophytes. At one site, the riverbed was dominated by cobbles and boulders and total nutrient stocks were comparatively low and dominated by the biomass. In reaches with a narrow channel and intact riparian cover, biomass N and P were stored predominately in leaf litter, while in wider unshaded reaches, macrophytes dominated. Total instream storage in the mid to lower reaches of the UBR was ??50.9 T for N and ??18.1 T for P. This was considerably higher than total wet season N (??15.6 T) and P (??2.7 T) exports from the UBR. The first flow event in the river after a prolonged period of no flow resulted in the export of free-floating, emergent species Azolla. The estimated biomass of Azolla in the mid to lower reaches of the river was equivalent to approximately 24% and 9% of the total N and P flux, indicating that this may be a significant, previously unaccounted for, source at peak flow.     

Breeding objectives of Brangus cattle in Brazil

Our goal was to define a breeding objective for Brangus beef cattle in Brazil. Bioeconomic models were produced and used to estimate economic values (EVs). The scenarios simulated were typical full-cycle beef production systems that are used in tropical and subtropical regions. The breeding objective contained pregnancy rate (PR), warm carcass weight (WCW), mature cow weight (MCW), number of nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and tick count (TICK). Two models were used in series to estimate the EV. A deterministic model was used to simulate effects of PR, WCW and MCW on profitability with a constant parasite load. Subsequently, stochastic models were used to estimate economic values for TICK and EPG as consequences of their environmental effects on weight gains, mortality and health costs. The EV of PR, WCW, MCW, EPG and TICK, was US$1.59, US$2.11, −US$0.24, −US$5.35 and −US$20.88, respectively. Results indicate positive emphasis should be placed on PR (12.49%) and WCW (65.07%) with negative emphasis on MCW (13.92%), EPG (2.77%) and TICK (5.75%). In comparison with the indexes usually used, these results suggest a reformulation in the selection indexes of the beef production system in tropical and subtropical regions in order to obtain greater profitability.     

ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the diagnosis,classification, treatment,and monitoring of pulmonary hypertension in dogs

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by increased pressure within the pulmonary vasculature, is a hemodynamic and pathophysiologic state present in a wide variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and systemic diseases. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of PH in dogs. Comprehensive evaluation including consideration of signalment, clinical signs, echocardiographic parameters, and results of other diagnostic tests supports the diagnosis of PH and allows identification of associated underlying conditions. Dogs with PH can be classified into the following 6 groups: group 1, pulmonary arterial hypertension; group 2, left heart disease; group 3, respiratory disease/hypoxia; group 4, pulmonary emboli/pulmonary thrombi/pulmonary thromboemboli; group 5, parasitic disease (Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus); and group 6, disorders that are multifactorial or with unclear mechanisms. The approach to treatment of PH focuses on strategies to decrease the risk of progression, complications, or both, recommendations to target underlying diseases or factors contributing to PH, and PH-specific treatments. Dogs with PH should be monitored for improvement, static condition, or progression, and any identified underlying disorder should be addressed and monitored simultaneously.     

Commodity program flexibility and U.S. potato acreage

A new proposal for U.S. farm commodity programs would allow more flexibility in planting decisions on program acreage. This work examines the effect of such a proposal on potato production acreage. These results are used to project changes in total revenue accruing to existing potato producers and to the potato industry as a whole. The results indicate that the short term impact on the potato industry as a whole would be relatively minor but the impact could be unevenly distributed across producing regions of the U.S., causing some potential local discomfort.     

Titanium oxide nanoparticle effects on composition of soil microbial communities and plant performance

We examined the effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth of maize and soybean plants and associated soil microbial communities. Plants were grown in a greenhouse, and low levels of undoped or nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs were applied. Plant growth and nutrient content were determined, and effects of NPs on composition of soil microbial communities were examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (TRFLP) of rDNA. We found no significant effects of TiO₂ NPs on plant growth, nutrient content, or the composition of bacterial communities within the rhizosphere. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities were affected by application of undoped and nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs. This observation may be partially attributed to the small but significant TiO₂ NP uptake levels in the root tissues of both plants. Our results suggest that even low concentrations of TiO₂ NPs may influence some important groups of soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, but changes in the composition of microbial communities may not affect plant growth under conditions of adequate moisture and nutrients.