Expression of hLAMP‐1‐Positive Particles During Early Heart Development in the Chick

Heart development requires coordinated activity of various factors, the disturbance of which can lead to congenital heart defects. Heart lectin‐associated matrix protein‐1 (hLAMP‐1) is a matrix protein expressed within Hensen's node at Hamburger–Hamilton (HH) stage 4, in the lateral mesoderm by HH stages 5–6 and enhanced within the left pre‐cardiac field at HH stage 7. At HH stages 15–16, hLAMP‐1 expression is observed in the atrioventricular canal and the outflow tract. Also, the role of hLAMP‐1 in induction of mesenchyme formation in chick heart has been well documented. To further elucidate the role of this molecule in heart development, we examined its expression patterns during HH stages 8–14 in the chick. In this regard, we immunostained sections of the heart during HH stages 8–14 with antibodies specific to hLAMP‐1. Our results showed prominent expression of hLAMP‐1‐positive particles in the extracellular matrix associated with the pre‐cardiac mesoderm, the endoderm, ectoderm as well as neuroectoderm at HH stages 8–9. After formation of the linear heart tube at HH stage 10, the expression of hLAMP‐1‐stained particles disappears in those regions of original contact between the endoderm and heart forming fields due to rupture of the dorsal mesocardium while their expression becomes confined to the arterial and venous poles of the heart tube. This expression pattern is maintained until HH stage 14. This expression pattern suggests that hLAMP‐1 may be involved in the formation of the endocardial tube.     

Comparisons among MRI signs,apparent diffusion coefficient,and fractional anisotropy in dogs with a solitary intracranial meningioma or histiocytic sarcoma

Although MRI has become widely used in small animal practice, little is known about the validity of advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion‐weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. The aim of this retrospective analytical observational study was to investigate the characteristics of diffusion parameters, that is the apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy, in dogs with a solitary intracranial meningioma or histiocytic sarcoma. Dogs were included based on the performance of diffusion MRI and histological confirmation. Statistical analyses were performed to compare apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy for the two types of tumor in the intra‐ and peritumoral regions. Eleven cases with meningioma and six with histiocytic sarcoma satisfied the inclusion criteria. Significant differences in apparent diffusion coefficient value (× 10^?3 mm²/s) between meningioma vs. histiocytic sarcoma were recognized in intratumoral small (1.07 vs. 0.76) and large (1.04 vs. 0.77) regions of interest, in the peritumoral margin (0.93 vs. 1.08), and in the T2 high region (1.21 vs. 1.41). Significant differences in fractional anisotropy values were found in the peritumoral margin (0.29 vs. 0.24) and the T2 high region (0.24 vs. 0.17). The current study identified differences in measurements of apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy for meningioma and histiocytic sarcoma in a small sample of dogs. In addition, we observed that all cases of intracranial histiocytic sarcoma showed leptomeningeal enhancement and/or mass formation invading into the sulci in the contrast study. Future studies are needed to determine the sensitivity of these imaging characteristics for differentiating between these tumor types.     

The Epidemiology and Characteristics of Q fever and Co‐infections with Scrub Typhus,Murine Typhus or Leptospirosis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Database Study

Q fever (QF) is a worldwide zoonosis associated with outbreaks. Only a few nationwide studies regarding the surveillance and epidemiology of human QF have been reported. Although QF is endemic in Taiwan, a nationwide database investigation of the epidemiology and characteristics of QF and its associations with scrub typhus (ST), murine typhus (MT) and leptospirosis (LS) has never been reported. We analysed nationwide databases of suspected QF, ST, MT and LS cases from October 2007 to December 2014 obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan. A total of 468 (4.2%) QF cases were identified among 11 109 suspected QF cases. QF cases were mainly distributed in the southern and Kaohsiung–Pingtung regions but rarely in the eastern region. Compared to non‐QF cases, QF cases had significantly higher percentages of males (88.7 versus 66.2%) and high‐risk occupations (farming, animal husbandry or veterinary medicine) (16.2 versus 10.5%). But the percentages of specific animal contact, including cattle (0.6 versus 0.8%) and goats (0.9 versus 1.0%), were low in both. The majority of suspected QF cases (89.4%) were simultaneously suspected with ST, MT or LS, and the combinations of suspected diseases differed between regions. The number of suspected QF cases from the eastern region decreased since 2009, which was not observed in other regions. A total of 1420 (12.8%) cases had confirmed diseases, including QF (453, 4.1%), QF+ST (7, 0.06%), QF+MT (4, 0.04%), QF+LS (4, 0.04%), MT (186, 1.7%), ST (545, 4.9%), ST+LS (11, 0.1%) and LS (210, 1.9%). Compared to cases of unknown disease, QF cases had larger percentages of high‐risk occupations (16.2 versus 9.6%) but similar histories of animal contact (29.8 versus 25.1%). QF is an endemic disease in southern Taiwan. It is difficult to differentiate QF from ST, MT or LS only by high‐risk occupations and history of animal contact, and co‐infection of QF with these diseases should be considered.     

Evaluation of Associative Effect of Whole Corn Silage and Millet Straw by Gas Production Technique in vitro

This research adopted fermentation gas production method in vitro to evaluate the associative effect of whole corn silage (WCS) and millet straw (MS).The WCS was mixed with MS in the proportion of 100:0,80:20,60:40,50:50, 40:60,20:80 and 0:100 with 3 replicates per group.The gas production,pH,ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), volatile fatty acids (VFA), microbial crude protein (MCP) and dry matter loss (DML) for 24,48 and 72 h of varying forage combinations were analyzed.Single factor associative effects index (SFAEI) and multiply factors associative effects index (MFAEI) of different combinations were calculated. The results showed as follows:There were significant differences of gas production among different combinations (P<0.05),and the best combination was the WCS80 group. With creasing of the content of MS,DML decreased,but the DML of WCS80 and WCS100 were similar (P>0.05). The MCP concentration of WCS100 and WCS80 was extremely significantly or significantly higher than other groups (P<0.05;P<0.01). The VFA concentration showed significant differences among different combinations (P<0.05).Among the different combinations of WCS and MS,the MFAEI of WCS80 was the largest,and that were 0.5517,0.5094 and 0.9860 at 24,48 and 72 h,respectively. The best combination of WCS and MS was 80:20.     

Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody Against Lasalocid and Deveopment of Indirect Competitive ELISA Detection Method

To prepare monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against lasalocid (LAS) and establish an indirect competitive ELISA (Ci-ELISA) detection method,conjuaction of LAS-BSA and LAS-OVA were synthetized as the immunogen and coating antigen by using active ester method in this experiment. After 6 times of immunization,the spleen cells of mice and myeloma cells were fused. Finally,a hybridoma cell line that could stably secrete specific MAb against LAS was screened.The immunological subtype of the MAb was identified as IgG1,and its light chain was κ type.The titer of the ascites was 1:16 000, which showed no cross activity with monensin sodium, salinomycin sodium,maduramycin,cefalotin sodium and streptomycin sulfate. Ci-ELISA method was established based on the MAb against LAS with the linear equation was y=0.376x-0.2374(R²=0.9914), and the linear range was 5 to 1 000 ng/mL and the IC₅₀ was 90.22 ng/mL. The method was used to detect LAS in spiked samples and the recovery rate was 81.76% to 102.41% within the detection range,indicating that the method was successfully established with good accuracy and high sensitivity. The preparation of MAb against LAS and the establishment of Ci-ELISA method laid the foundation for the development of LAS detection kit.     

补饲不同品质饲草对哺乳期犊牛营养物质消化率和生长发育的影响

选择母体体格和体况相近，犊牛健康、出生体重和体尺相近的荷斯坦公犊牛10头，随机分为2组（n=5），分别补饲玉米秸秆（CFS）和青干草(H)，通过消化试验和饲养试验，探讨了犊牛哺乳期补饲不同品质的饲草对营养物质摄入量、消化率和生长发育的影响。定量饲喂牛奶，自由采食精料和饲草。结果显示：断奶时，2组牛精料采食量基本一致；粗料采食量H组高于CFS组(554.4 g/d和172.0 g/d,P<0.01)；H组干物质采食量高于CFS组13.4%，但差异不显著(P>0.05)。H组DM和EE消化率略高于CFS组(P>0.05)。H组NDF、ADF消化率比CFS组分别提高了17.53%(P<0.01)、101.26%(P<0.01)，但总干物质、粗蛋白质等其他营养物质消化率无明显差异( P>0.05)。H组日增重比CFS组提高了8.19%（696.3 g/d和753.2 g/d，P>0.05）；胸围、胸宽增量分别提高了5.20%、78.26%，但差异均不显著（P>0.05）；体高、体长增量组间无明显差异（P>0.05）。另外，观察到补饲H的犊牛后躯发育明显优于补饲CFS。结果表明：哺乳期间补饲青干草，可提高断奶时犊牛干物质采食量和营养物质消化率，特别是纤维性物质的摄入和消化；有利于小母牛更早、更多地利用粗饲料，有利于其向乳用方向发育。     

Undernutrition in the parental and first generation provokes an organ‐specific response to oxidative stress on neonates of second filial generation of Wistar rats

Undernutrition induces an increase of the oxidative stress that can predispose offspring to various diseases in adulthood through epigenetic reprogramming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intergenerational undernutrition on protein oxidation and antioxidant defence response on liver, heart and brain of the second‐generation neonates (F₂) of undernourished rats. For this purpose, both parents in parental (F₀) and first generation (F₁) were fed with a low‐nutrient diet. Body mass and length decreased (p < 0.05) in F₀, F₁ and F₂ being the F₁ males who exhibited a greater mass loss. A decrease in plasma albumin concentration was observed in F₂ neonates (p < 0.05) and also a mass loss of liver, heart and brain (p < 0.05), although proportionally to body length reduction. Undernutrition increased levels of protein oxidation in liver and heart (p < 0.05) but not in brain (p > 0.05) while catalase activity increased only in brain (p < 0.05). In summary, intergenerational undernutrition modifies the antioxidant status through an organ‐specific response, on F₂ neonate rats, where the brain increased catalase activity to prevent a severe oxidative damage and support the vital functions of this key organ to maintain vital functions.     

Effects of Different Milk Samples on Sensitization in BALB/c Mice

In order to study the allergenicity of camel milk,cow milk and human milk,sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) group (positive control group),cow milk group,camel milk group,human milk group and blank group (negative control group). Each group of mice received 1 mg/g BW samples and 0.3 μg/g cholera toxin (CT) per week,while mice in control group were received PBS and CT. After six weeks of intragastric administration,some allergic symptoms,the serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) levels,plasma histamine levels and vascular permeability were detected. The results showed that the body weight of mice in camel milk,human milk and blank groups were normally increased,while that in β-lg and cow milk groups tended to slow down. The serum-specific IgE,IgG1 levels and histamine level in β-lg and cow milk groups were extremely significantly higher than blank group (P<0.01),the vascular permeability was increased,and the allergy symptoms were obvious. While the specific IgE and IgG1 levels of camel milk group were extremely significantly lower than cow milk group (P<0.01),but there were no significant difference with human milk group (P>0.05),and the allergy symptoms were mild. This study showed that the sensitization of camel milk was lower than cow milk,and similar to human milk.