Atherosclerosis associated with vasculopathic lesions in a golden retriever with hypercholesterolemia

A 2-year-old neutered male golden retriever dog presented for lameness secondary to ulcerations of multiple digital paw pads was diagnosed with vasculitis and hypercholesterolemia. Despite treatment, ischemic necrosis progressed to include all distal extremities and the dog eventually expired due to myocardial infarction secondary to severe atherosclerosis. The rapid demise and the dermatologic lesions may have been secondary to cholesterol embolism syndrome which has never before been reported in a dog.     

Cholera toxin promotes the generation of semi-mature porcine monocyte-derived dendritic cells that are unable to stimulate T cells

Cholera toxin (Ctx) is a powerful mucosal adjuvant with potential applications for oral vaccination of swine. Dendritic cells (DC) play a key role in the decision between immunity and tolerance, and are likely target cells for mediating Ctx functions in vivo. Therefore, we examined the capacity of Ctx to enhance stimulatory activity of porcine monocyte-derived DC (MoDC). Ctx promoted the development of a semi-mature DC phenotype, with decreased levels of MHC class II and CD40, but increased CD80/86 expression. These changes were associated with activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), but not NFkappaB or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Functionally, Ctx-priming greatly diminished T cell stimulatory capacity both in antigen-specific and superantigen-induced proliferation assays. The lower proliferation rate was not due to increased apoptosis of either DC or T cells. Ctx suppressed TNFalpha secretion by MoDC, but induced IL-10 production. The observed effects on T cell proliferation could only be partially mimicked by IL-10 alone. However, addition of recombinant TNFalpha to co-cultures of Ctx-primed MoDC and lymphocytes restored lymphocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Ctx-primed DC were not actively tolerogenic, since they could not suppress proliferative T cell reactions induced by untreated DC.     

Effects of high and low inspired fractions of oxygen on horse erythrocyte membrane properties, blood viscosity and muscle oxygenation during anaesthesia

ObjectivesTo evaluate whether a period of hyperoxia or after a period of hypoxia produced changes attributable to reactive oxygen species in anaesthetized horses.Study designProspective randomized experimental study.AnimalsSix healthy (ASA I) geldings, aged 4.5–9.5 years and weighing 510–640 kg^?1.MethodsAfter 30 minutes breathing air as carrier gas for isoflurane, horses were assigned randomly to breathe air as carrier gas (CG0.21) or oxygen as carrier gas (CG1.00) for a further 90 minutes. After an interval of 1 month each horse was re-anaesthetized with the other carrier gas for the 90 minute test period. Ventilation was controlled throughout anaesthesia. Arterial blood was sampled to measure gas tensions, lactate, cholesterol, vitamin E, 4-hydroxy-alkenals, 8-epi-PGF_2α, half haemolysis time, half erythrolysis time, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Muscle blood flow and oxygenation were evaluated by near infrared spectroscopy and coloured Doppler.ResultsAfter the first 30 minutes horses were hypoxemic. Subsequently the CG1.00 group became hyperoxaemic (PaO₂～240 mmHg) whereas the CG0.21 group remained hypoxaemic (PaO₂～60 mmHg) and had increased lactate concentration. No significant changes in vitamin E, 4-hydroxy-alkenals, or 8-epi-PGF_2α concentrations were detected. During the 90 minute test period the CG0.21 group had increased resistance to free-radical-mediated lysis in erythrocytes, whereas the CG1.00 group had slightly decreased resistance of whole blood to haemolysis. CG0.21 induced a progressive muscle deoxygenation whereas CG1.00 induced an increase in muscle oxygen saturation followed by progressive deoxygenation towards baseline.Conclusions and clinical relevanceDuring isoflurane anaesthesia in horses, the hyperoxia induced by changing from air to oxygen induced minimal damage from reactive oxygen species. Using air as the carrier gas decreased skeletal muscle oxygenation compared with using oxygen.     

Fracture of the proximal tibial epiphysis and tuberosity in 10 dogs

Ten dogs were presented with fractures of the proximal tibial epiphysis and tuberosity. All dogs had a cranioproximal-caudodistal angulation of the tibial plateau. Six dogs had marked caudal displacement of the proximal tibial epiphysis, five of which had also sustained fractures of the proximal fibula. The estimated mean angle of inclination of the tibial plateau of affected limbs was 45.8 +/- 9.6 degrees, which was significantly greater (P<0.0005) than the estimated mean angle of the normal contralateral limb 26.2 +/- 6.6 degrees. The mean angle of inclination of the tibial plateau of dogs with fibular fractures (n=5) was not significantly different from dogs without fibular fractures (n=5) (P>0.25). Five dogs were treated conservatively and five were treated by three different methods of surgical repair. Surgically treated dogs had significantly greater preoperative tibial plateau angles (P<0.05). All dogs regained full limb usage, regardless of the method of treatment chosen.     

Back to Nukunuku: Employment,identity and return migration in Tonga

Abstract: Return migration has escaped significant analysis in the Pacific island region. Both migration from and return migration to the Tongan village of Nukunuku are for multiple reasons, with migration centred on employment and education, and return centred on the social context of home and duty. Return is limited, with intentions not being matched with practice, and the village and national population not growing. However, return migrants acquire skills, capital and experience overseas, which can be transferred into a Tongan cultural context, although identities have changed during migration. Return migrants typically take up employment or acquire businesses on return, gain some social status from the outcome, and are neither failures nor retirees. Nonetheless, return engenders expectations and tensions exist between returnees and more established residents, although ultimately, return migrants contribute to household, local and national development, as part of an unfinished process.     

Analysis of antibiotic residues in liquid manure and leachate of dairy farms in Northern Germany

The scientific interest in the fate of antibiotic substances in the environment has increased during the past decades. Especially in animal husbandry, the assumed quantity of antibiotics excreted has caused major concerns as the environment can be contaminated by these compounds via different paths. In this study in Northern Germany, manure and leachate samples from dairy farms were analysed in order to verify if this kind of animal husbandry can be a source of antibiotic residues found in the environment. Neither in liquid manure nor in leachate were the analysed antibiotics detected. These results clearly show the minor importance of dairy cows as sources of antibiotic residues in the aquatic environment. To explain this fact, we propose the three following reasons: (i) the amount of antibiotics administered in dairy farming is low compared to pig or poultry production; (ii) manure storage is a useful process to minimize the antibiotic residues as the substances applied to dairy cows are sensitive to degradation processes during that period; (iii) excreted directly on grasslands, the substances degrade very quickly or adsorb to soil and are therefore not present in the leachate.     

Dynamic oxygen mapping in the root zone by fluorescence dye imaging combined with neutron radiography

Purpose  

The rooted zone of a soil, more precisely the rhizosphere, is a very dynamic system. Some of the key processes are water uptake and root respiration. We have developed a novel method for measuring the real-time distribution of water and oxygen concentration in the rhizosphere as a biogeochemical interface in soil. This enables understanding where and when roots are active in respect to root respiration and water uptake and how the soil responds to it.