Protective effects of bio-active ceramic water on alcohol-induced hepatic injury in pigs

Among many detrimental injuries, alcohol is implicated in hepatitis, fatty liver, hepatic fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of bio-active ceramic water on alcohol-induced hepatic injury in pigs. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were fed with bio-active ceramic water + normal liquid diet, bio-active ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol, and tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. For serological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analysis, all pigs were sacrificed at week 12. In group 3, serum ALT and AST levels increased, and mild fatty change and moderate necrosis were detected in the liver. Collagen fibers, myofibroblasts, and CYP2E1 were also increased or activated in group 3. In group 2, there were mild hepatic injuries compared to group 3. However, injuries and activations were not observed in the liver in group 1. We suggest that the bio-active ceramic water used in the present study had protective capability against ethanol-induced hepatic injury and that having no toxic effect on the pig liver. The bio-active ceramic water might be useful as a therapeutic drinking water in patients suffering from alcoholic liver diseases.     

Husbandry Factors and the Resumption of Luteal Activity in Open and Zero‐Grazed Dairy Cows in Urban and Peri‐Urban Kampala,Uganda

The study investigated the influence of selected husbandry factors on interval to resumption of post‐partum cyclicity among dairy cows in urban and peri‐urban Kampala. A prospective study of 85 day post‐partum period of 59 dairy cows in open (n = 38) and zero grazing (n = 21) systems was conducted on 24 farms. Cows of parity 1–6 were recruited starting 15–30 days post‐partum. Progesterone (P4) content in milk taken at 10–12 day intervals was analysed using ELISA. The cow P4 profiles were classified into ‘normal’ (< 56 days), ‘delayed’ (> 56 days), ‘ceased’ or ‘prolonged’ (if started < 56 days but with abnormal P4 displays) resumption of luteal activity and tested for association with husbandry and cow factors. Of the 59 cows, luteal activity in 81.4% resumed normally and in 18.6%, delayed. Only 23.7% maintained regular luteal activity, while the others had ceased (10.2%), prolonged (37.3%) or unclear luteal activity (20.3%). There were no differences between open and zero‐grazed cows. Milk production was higher (p < 0.05) in zero than open grazing, in urban than peri‐urban and in cows fed on brew waste (p < 0.001) compared with mill products and banana peels. Results suggest that luteal activity resumes normally in a majority of cows, although only a minority experienced continued normal cyclicity once ovulation had occurred, in the two farming systems irrespective of feed supplements or water, and that supplementing with brew waste is beneficial for milk production.     

Doublecortin-immunoreactive neuronal precursors in the dentate gyrus of spontaneously hypertensive rats at various age stages: comparison with Sprague-Dawley rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) are widely accepted in medical research because this model has been used for studies in neurodegenerative diseases such as vascular dementia and stroke. In the present study, we observed newly generated neuronal precursors using doublecortin (DCX, a marker of neural proliferation and differentiation) in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in SHRs compared to Sprague-Dawley rats (SDRs) at various age stages. DCX immunoreactivity, immunoreactive cell numbers and its protein level in the dentate gyrus of the SHRs were higher than those in the SDRs at postnatal month 1 (PM 1). At PM 8, DCX immunoreactivity, immunoreactive cell numbers and protein levels in both groups were markedly decreased compared to those at PM 1; however, they were higher than those in the SDRs. They were decreased in the both groups with age: DCX immunoreactive cells in the SDRs were few at PM 12. Our results indicate that newly generated neuronal precursors are more abundant in SHRs than in SDRs during their life.     

华北落叶松鞘蛾性信息素应用技术研究

1999年至2000年,山西省太岳山林局应用人工合成的华北落叶松鞘蛾性信息素对华北落叶松鞘蛾进行了监测,并开展了大量诱杀试验。结果表明,该引诱剂对华北落叶松鞘蛾雄蛾有较强的引诱作用,60个诱捕器在成虫扬飞期共诱到鞘蛾成虫51万头,应用诱捕器后,林地内华北落叶松鞘蛾被害率下降50.1％,虫口密度下降81.2％。可用于对华北落叶松鞘蛾的监测和防治。     

甘蔗与抗旱性相关差异蛋白质组分析

采用桶栽方式,对抗旱性强的F172和抗旱性弱的YL6甘蔗品种在苗期进行重度干旱胁迫处理后,应用蛋白质双向电泳技术进行差异蛋白质分析,分别找出差异显著的28和20个差异蛋白点,其中部分呈现上调表达,部分呈现下调表达,还有部分新增的蛋白点,因品种抗性不同而表现各异,F172叶片中的差异蛋白主要表现为上调表达,而YL6中大多表现为下调表达。在重度干旱胁迫下,抗旱性不同的甘蔗品种蛋白质丰度变化有显著差异。采用MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS鉴定所获得的差异蛋白,从YL6、F172中分别鉴定出18、14个蛋白的氨基酸序列,对所鉴定的蛋白质根据功能分为8类。YL6中参与自由基清除的2个,参与光合作用的6个,参与细胞生长和分裂的1个,参与基础代谢的6个,参与防卫反应的2个,未知功能蛋白1个。F172中参与自由基清除的1个,参与光合作用的2个,参与细胞生长和分裂的2个,参与基础代谢的4个,参与信号转导的2个,参与蛋白加工的1个,未知功能蛋白2个,其中22 k D干旱诱导蛋白的丰度明显提高,而在YL6中则检测不到此蛋白。这说明在干旱胁迫下抗旱性不同的甘蔗品种在蛋白质组成上有很大差异,推测这是不同甘蔗品种间抗旱性差异的重要分子基础。     

关于澳洲坚果主要推广品种的建议

为了筛选出适合我国种植的澳洲坚果品种,对我国澳洲坚果主产区9个主要品种的产量和品质进行分析。结合澳洲坚果产业的健康发展,建议我国目前的澳洲坚果主要推广品种使用桂热5号(Own choice)和桂热6号(900#),在广西、广东和攀枝花等地的辅助品种可使用桂热7号(695#)和桂热8号(788#)等,在云南辅助品种可使用桂热7号(695#)、桂热8号(788#)、344#、660#和741#等。     

基于VAR模型的农村居民消费结构演进与经济增长关系分析

通过构造一个由消费结构、第二产业结构、第三产业结构和GDP四个变量组成的VAR模型,对中国农村居民的消费结构与经济增长相互作用的关系及其动态特征进行了实证研究.通过设定的模型、格兰杰因果检验、预测方差分解和协整检验,发现经济增长会影响农村居民消费结构演变,而经济增长对第二产业结构的影响存在双向因果关系.     

Pyometra and unilateral uterine horn torsion in a sheep

A 13‐year‐old Romanov sheep presented for evaluation of vaginal discharge, depression and anorexia. Blood work demonstrated mature neutrophilia and marked hyperlactatemia. Transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound revealed echogenic fluid (pus) within the uterus. Purulent uterine fluid culture yield Escherichia coli. A diagnosis of pyometra was made. After medical treatment without clinical improvement, an exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a 360‐degree uterine left horn torsion was identified with the pyometra and multiple corpora lutea on both ovaries. Ovariohysterectomy was performed and the ewe recovered uneventfully.