ASVCP reference interval guidelines: determination of de novo reference intervals in veterinary species and other related topics

Reference intervals (RI) are an integral component of laboratory diagnostic testing and clinical decision‐making and represent estimated distributions of reference values (RV) from healthy populations of comparable individuals. Because decisions to pursue diagnoses or initiate treatment are often based on values falling outside RI, the collection and analysis of RV should be approached with diligence. This report is a condensation of the ASVCP 2011 consensus guidelines for determination of de novo RI in veterinary species, which mirror the 2008 Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations, but with language and examples specific to veterinary species. Newer topics include robust methods for calculating RI from small sample sizes and procedures for outlier detection adapted to data quality. Because collecting sufficient reference samples is challenging, this document also provides recommendations for determining multicenter RI and for transference and validation of RI from other sources (eg, manufacturers). Advice for use and interpretation of subject‐based RI is included, as these RI are an alternative to population‐based RI when sample size or inter‐individual variation is high. Finally, generation of decision limits, which distinguish between populations according to a predefined query (eg, diseased or non‐diseased), is described. Adoption of these guidelines by the entire veterinary community will improve communication and dissemination of expected clinical laboratory values in a variety of animal species and will provide a template for publications on RI. This and other reports from the Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards (QALS) committee are intended to promote quality laboratory practices in laboratories serving both clinical and research veterinarians.     

Colossal Magnetoresistance Without Mn3+/Mn4+ Double Exchange in the Stoichiometric Pyrochlore Tl2Mn2O7

Structural analysis from powder neutron and single-crystal x-ray diffraction data for a sample of the Tl2Mn2O7 pyrochlore, which exhibits colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), shows no deviations from ideal stoichiometry. This analysis gives an Mn-O distance of 1.90 angstroms, which is significantly shorter than the Mn-O distances (1.94 to 2.00 angstroms) observed in phases based on LaMnO3 perovskites that exhibit CMR. Both results in Tl2Mn2O7 indicate oxidation states very close to Tl23+Mn24+O7. Thus, Tl2Mn2O7 has neither mixed valence for a double-exchange magnetic interaction nor a Jahn-Teller cation such as Mn3+, both of which were thought to have an important function in CMR materials. An alternate mechanism for CMR in Tl2Mn2O7 based on magnetic ordering driven by superexchange and strong spin-fluctuation scattering above the Curie temperature is proposed here.     

上海嘉定区杨白潜蛾的生物学特性及防治

2002～2004年对杨白潜蛾(LeucopterasusinellaHerrich-Schаffer)的生物学特性进行了研究,结果发现杨白潜蛾在上海1年发生5代,幼虫共5龄,1年有2个发生高峰期:6月中旬和9月中下旬;老熟幼虫作白色“H”形茧化蛹;以蛹在树干周围场所越冬;成虫产卵单列成行。药剂试验表明杀虫安、甲氨基阿维菌素、快绿扬、斑潜净对喷雾杨白潜蛾具有很高的防效,对杨树也有很好的保叶效果。     

Chromatin Configurations in the Ferret Germinal Vesicle that Reflect Developmental Competence for In Vitro Maturation

In several mammalian species, the configuration of germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin correlates with the developmental competence of oocytes. Yet, no study has been published on the configuration of GV chromatin in ferret, nor is it known whether a specific configuration predicts meiotic competence in this species, in spite of the potential importance of ferret cloning to the study of human disease and to species conservation efforts. Here, we report on an analysis of the chromatin configuration in ferret GV oocytes and on how they correlate with meiotic development. Three distinct configurations were identified based on the degree of chromatin condensation: (1) fibrillar chromatin (FC), featuring strands of intertwined chromatin occupying most of the visible GV region; (2) intermediate condensed chromatin (ICC), characterized by dense, irregular chromatin masses throughout the GV; and (3) condensed chromatin (CC), which is highly compact and centered around the nucleolus. We also found that chromatin configuration was related to the extent of association with cumulus cells in cumulus–oocyte complexes; CC-configured oocytes were most often surrounded by a compact cumulus layer and also a compact corona but FC-configured oocytes were associated with neither. In addition, increasing chromatin condensation corresponded to an increase in oocyte diameter. Finally, following in vitro culture, significantly more CC-configured oocytes underwent maturation to meiotic metaphase II than did FC- or ICC-configured oocytes. We conclude that, in ferret, chromatin condensation is related to the sequential achievement of meiotic competencies during oocyte growth and differentiation, and thus can be used as a predictor of competence.     

Studies on the artificial propagation of Monopterus albus (Zuiew)

Artificial propagation of Monopterus albus (Zuiew) was conducted during their spawning season in the present study. Different doses of luteinizing-hormone-releasing-hormone analogue (LHRH-A) were tested for inducing the ovulation of brood females. No significant difference was found in the degree-hours and fertilization rates between three different doses (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 μg LHRH-A g^-1 fish). A fertilization solution of 0.3% NaCl produced significantly higher fertilization rates than the other three solutions (0.5% NaCl, 0.65% NaCl and water). Fertilization times ranging from 5 to 2 0 min gave no significant difference in the fertilization rates. The embryonic and larval development of M. albus was observed and illustrated. The hatching time of eggs of M. albus was about 140 h in the 28-3 0^oC water temperature range. Using Tubifex spp. for the first food for the larval nursery gave higher growth rate than two other foods, zooplankton and artificial food.     

Turtles on the edge: movement of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) along oceanic fronts, spanning longline fishing grounds in the central North Pacific, 1997–1998

Nine juvenile loggerhead sea turtles tracked during 1997 and 1998 in the central North Pacific by satellite telemetry all travelled westward, against prevailing currents, along two convergent fronts identified by satellite remotely sensed data on sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll and geostrophic currents. These fronts are characterized by gradients in sea surface height that produce an eastward geostrophic current, with gradients in surface chlorophyll and SST. Six of the turtles were associated with a front characterized by 17°C SST, surface chlorophyll of about 0.2 mg m^–3, and eastward geostrophic current of about 4 cm s^–1, while the other three turtles were associated with a front with 20°C SST, surface chlorophyll of about 0.1 mg m^–3, and eastward geostrophic flow of about 7 cm s^–1. These results appear to explain why incidental catch rates of loggerheads in the Hawaii longline fishery are highest when gear is set at 17°C and 20°C, SST. Further, from the seasonal distribution of longline effort relative to these fronts, it appears that the surface longline fishing ground lies largely between these two fronts during the first quarter and well to the south of the 17°C front, but including the 20°C front, in the second quarter. These findings suggest seasonal or area closures of the longline fishery that could be tested to reduce incidental catches of loggerheads. Finally, these results illustrate the insights which can be achieved by combining data on movement of pelagic animals with concurrent remotely sensed environmental data.     

Trophic history of Hawaiian green turtles as revealed by stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S) in the bones of museum specimens

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Serum and skin IgA concentrations in normal and atopic dogs

Objective To compare serum and skin surface IgA concentrations from atopic and normal dogs.
Procedure IgA concentrations in sera and skin washings of 20 clinically normal dogs that had no history of pruritus or skin disease were compared to those obtained in 20 dogs with a diagnosis of atopy determined by history, clinical examination and positive intradermal skin test.
Results There was no significant difference in the mean serum IgA concentration in normal dogs (252 ± 187 mg/L) versus atopic animals (314 ± 327). When skin washings from all sites in both groups were compared, atopic dogs had significantly greater concentrations of IgA in their skin washings than normal dogs as evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the individual sites of the skin washings of atopic and normal dogs.
Conclusion IgA concentrations of skin washings in atopic dogs were greater than in normal dogs. Further investigations need to determine if the greater concentrations were caused by nonspecific inflammation or by secretion of allergen-specific IgA onto the skin surface.     

正确理解和掌握兽药使用说明书

兽药的标签和说明书是帮助认识和了解药品性质的主要途径.要合理、正确地使用兽药,必须充分理解和掌握药品说明书的内容,注意辨明成份和文号,避免重复用药和防止用假药,注意药品的适应症,遵循用法与用量,注意不良反应和禁忌症,注意合理保存药品,防止失效.