Assessment of histamine, bradykinin, prostaglandins E1 and E2 and carrageenin as vascular permeability agents in the horse

The vascular leakage induced by histamine, bradykinin, serotonin and prostaglandin E1 and E2 was assessed. The test agents were injected intradermally into the shaved thoracic skin of horses and the vascular leakage estimated either semi-quantitatively by recording the diameter of the lesions or by measuring the actual volume of extravasated plasma in microliters using iodine-125-labelled human serum albumin (125I-HSA) as a marker in the blood plasma. Using the latter method, the vascular leakage induced by carrageenin and the effect of coadministered prostaglandins E1 and E2 upon the vascular leakage of both histamine and bradykinin were also investigated. No obvious lesions resulted when serotonin (10(-2) mol/l) was injected but histamine and bradykinin produced circular lesions which increased in diameter for approximately 30 min. The size of the lesions and volume of extravasated plasma was dose dependent. On a molar basis, bradykinin (10(-6) mol/l, 10(-5) mol/l) was more potent than histamine but they were equipotent at 10(-4) mol/l. The size of the lesions induced by carrageenin were independent of their anatomical location on the thorax. Except for the second hour, the hourly volume of vascular leakage increased until the fifth hour when the experiment was concluded. The maximum vascular leakage resulting from the injection of prostaglandin E1 or E2 (1, 10, 100 or 1000 ng) was 7 microliters but when co-administered with bradykinin (10(-6) mol/l), the volume of leaked plasma increased from 29 to 78 microliters. No synergy was observed when either prostaglandin was co-administered with histamine (10(-5) mol/l).     

Fractures of the distal phalanx of the forelimb in eight foals

Fractures of the distal phalanx of the forelimb were diagnosed in 5 colts and 3 fillies ranging in age from 2 weeks to 5 1/2 months at the time of fracture. Three fractures entered the distal interphalangeal joint and 6 fractures (one foal had bilateral fractures) were nonarticular. All foals with articular fractures became sound with conservative treatment. Four of 5 foals with nonarticular fractures became sound with conservative treatment and 1 foal developed separation of the hoof at the coronary band after application of acrylic around the hoof. On the basis of our observations in these foals, sagittal articular and nonarticular distal phalangeal fractures in foals should be treated conservatively. Foals so treated would have an excellent prognosis for return to soundness.     

麦田天敌监测资料统计标准的研究

通过对麦田天敌消长规律的调查分析,从害虫防治和天敌利用的角度出发,提出天敌的最低利用指标,并作为划分天敌发生盛期的依据。同时提出用天敌高峰日发生量和发生盛期天数、后期网捕天敌量作为划分天敌发生程度的指标,并在麦田天敌监测资料统计中进行了具体应用。     

Effects of rapamycin-treated HSP60-pulsed dendritic cells on th e progression of the atherosclerotic plaque in mice

AIM:To evaluate whether tolerogenic dendri tic cells (DC) loaded with heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) inhibit the progression of aortic atherosclerotic plaque in hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E (Apo- E) -null mice.METHODS:Bone marrow derived DC of the mice were loaded with HSP 60 and co-cultured with rapamycin to generate tolerogenic DC.The tolerogenic DC ,DC loaded only HSP60 and PBS were injected into the ApoE-null mice at 8 weeks of age for three times at a one-week interval.8 weeks after the last injection,aorta were harvested for HE staining and anti-CD4+T cell immunostaining.Resp onses of pleenic cells to HSP60 were also evaluated.RESULTS:Compared with DC,DCHSP60 expressed higher levels of CD86,and stimulated T lymphocytes to proliferation significantly,while the tolerogenic DC expressed lower levels of CD86,and inhibited T lymphocytes to p roliferation.After immunization with different injection,the numbers of CD4+ T cells in plaque were increased significantly in DCHSP60 group vs in PBS g roup (P<0.01).On the other hand,they were reduced significantly in rap-DC HSP60 group vs in PBS group (P<0.01).Plaque areas in the tolerog enic DC group were smaller than that in the PBS group (P<0.01).Stimulated by HSP60,pleenic cells in tolerogenic DC group secreted more IL-10,while in DC HSP60 group more IFN-γ secretion was observed.CONCLUSION:HSP60 specific tolerogenic DC immunization attenuate d the progression of plaque,indicating a new immune therapy for atherosclerosis.     

Développement des souches de Botrytis cinerea résistantes aux dicarboximides dans les vignes de la Suisse alémanique1

Pour tester la résistance aux dicarboximides (imides cycliques) des souches prélevées en plein champ, les spores sont appliquees sur des disques d'agar placés à l'envers sur des milieux nutritifs contenant les différentes concentrations du fongicide. L'évaluation est faite 4 à 5 jours après le début de l'essai afin d'exclure les souches susceptibles de s'adapter après quelques jours de contact à la matiere active en laboratoire. En 1979, on a isolé pour la première fois, à partir de prélèvements de plein champ, des souches tolérantes à l ou 3 ppm de matière active. Une augmentation du nombre de souches résistantes a été constatèe en 1980. La croissance du mycélium et la germination des spores sont inhibées à peu prés de la meme manière. Les souches résistantes ne montrent pas de diminution de vigueur de Finfection sur pommes. L'efficacité de la lutte anti-botrytis n'est pas encore diminuee dans les parcelles qui ont un grand pourcentage de souches résistantes.     

Superficial digital flexor tendon lesions in racehorses as a sequela to muscle fatigue: a preliminary study

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Racing and training related lesions of the forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon are a common career ending injury to racehorses but aetiology and/or predisposing causes of the injury are not completely understood. OBJECTIVES: Although the injury takes place within the tendon, the lesion must be considered within the context of the function of the complete suspensory system of the distal limb, including the associated muscles. METHODS: Both muscle and tendon function were investigated in vivo using implanted strain gauges in 3 Thoroughbred horses walking, trotting and cantering on a motorised treadmill. These data were combined with assessments of muscle architecture and fibre composition to arrive at an overview of the contribution of each muscle-tendon unit during locomotion. RESULTS: The superficial digital flexor muscle has fatigue-resistant and high force production properties that allow its tendon to store and return elastic energy, predominantly at the trot. As running speed increases, deep digital flexor tendon force increases and it stabilises hyperextension of the fetlock, thus reinforcing the superficial digital flexor in limb load support. The deep digital flexor muscle has fast contracting properties that render it susceptible to fatigue. CONCLUSION: Based on these measurements and supporting evidence from the literature, it is proposed that overloading of the superficial digital flexor tendon results from fatigue of the synergistic, faster contracting deep digital flexor muscle. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Future research investigating distal limb system function as a whole should help refine clinical diagnostic procedures and exercise training approaches that will lead to more effective prevention and treatment of digital flexor tendon injuries in equine athletes.     

微观蜡晶特征在流变曲线上的宏观体现

为了研究证明含蜡原油流变曲线和微观蜡晶两者之间存在一定的关联,测试了广范围剪切速率下的含蜡原油流变曲线,确立了微观蜡晶和流变曲线之间的定性关系,并且取得以下认识：广范围剪切速率下的含蜡原油流变曲线能够一定程度地体现微观蜡晶特征,其中低剪切速率下的流变曲线能够体现蜡晶形态,高剪切速率下的流变曲线能够体现蜡晶结构;并非温度越低,剪切速率对粘度的影响程度越大,在高剪切速率下,有可能存在相反的情况;在低温条件下,剪切速率存在一个临界值,只有当剪切速率大于该值时,粘度才会出现较为明显的下降;温度越低,形成的蜡晶网格结构越稳定,需要较大的剪切应力,蜡晶网格结构才能破坏。该研究成果深化了对含蜡原油流变性的认识,具有一定的理论意义。（图6,表1,参15）