施用活性硅降低重金属移动性的研究

该研究通过一系列的土柱实验研究土壤中硅和重金属的反应机制。土柱实验在可溶性镉、铜、镍和铅酸盐的情况下,用各种活性硅（硅藻土,沸石,无定形二氧化硅,浓缩单硅酸）处理灰森林土。所有富硅物质都用电子显微镜测试分析过。富硅物质对土壤中重金属的钝化试验结果表明：硅藻土和浓缩单硅酸比沸石和无定形二氧化硅更能降低重金属的移动性。重金属移动性的降低是由土壤溶液中单硅酸和重金属的反应,以及富硅物质表面对重金属的吸附实现的。重金属在土壤中移动的强度与自身种类有关。施用富硅物质可明显降低镉和镍的移动性,对铜和铅的效果不明显。     

Urinary catheterisation of female dogs: a comparison between three techniques for catheter placement

The objective of this study was to describe a new technique for urinary catheterisation of female dogs using a novel catheterisation device (NCD) and to compare the time taken to place a catheter using this technique with traditional techniques. A secondary objective was to survey participants on which of the techniques they preferred. Female canine cadavers of varying sizes were utilised and veterinary students who had not previously placed a urinary catheter were enrolled. Each participant performed three catheterisation techniques, Visual with speculum (SPEC), Blind Palpation (BP) and catheterisation with NCD on three sizes of dog. Time required using each technique was compared using Kaplan–Meier plots and mixed models Cox Proportional Hazards regression. Median times to catheterisation were 300 s (IQR 261–417 s) with the SPEC method, 420 s (IQR 253–545 s) with the NCD method and 725 s (574–1032s) with the BP method. Both SPEC and NCD methods were significantly faster compared to the BP method, with Hazard Ratios of 3.66 (95% CI 1.94–6.91, P < 0.001) and 3.57 (95% CI 1.87–6.81, P < 0.001), respectively. Six of nine participants found the NCD the easiest technique, 5/9 of the participants found the palpation technique most difficult and 4/9 found the speculum technique most difficult. BP appears to be the technique of least preference and increased time requirement. The novel urinary catheterisation device may provide a simpler method of visualisation of the urethral papilla and may provide a more sterile way of placing the catheter, although further investigation is needed to confirm this.     

A randomized trial investigating the efficacy and safety of water soluble micellar paclitaxel (Paccal Vet) for treatment of nonresectable grade 2 or 3 mast cell tumors in dogs

Background

Effective treatments for dogs with advanced stage mast cell tumors (MCT) remain a pressing need. A micellar formulation of paclitaxel (paclitaxel [micellar]) has shown promise in early‐phase studies.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The objective was to demonstrate greater activity for paclitaxel (micellar) compared with lomustine. The null hypothesis was μ_p = μ_L (ie, proportion of responders for the paclitaxel [micellar] and lomustine groups, respectively).

Animals

Two hundred and fifty‐two dogs with advanced stage nonresectable grade 2 or 3 MCT.

Methods

Prospective multicenter randomized double‐blind positive‐controlled clinical trial. The primary endpoint was confirmed overall response rate (CORR) at 14 weeks. A secondary endpoint, biologic observed response rate (BORR), also was calculated. Safety was assessed by the characterization and grading of adverse events (AE).

Results

Overall CORR (7% versus 1%; P = .048) and BORR (23% versus 10%; P = .012) were greater for paclitaxel (micellar) compared with lomustine. Paclitaxel (micellar)‐treated dogs were 6.5 times more likely to have a confirmed response and 3.1 times more likely to experience a biologic observed response. The majority of AE with paclitaxel (micellar) were transient and clinically manageable. Twenty‐seven dogs (33%) receiving lomustine were discontinued because of hepatopathy compared with 3 dogs (2%) receiving paclitaxel (micellar) (P < .0001; odds ratio 26.7).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Paclitaxel (micellar)'s activity and safety profile are superior to lomustine. The addition of an active and novel taxane to the veterinary armamentarium could fill a substantial need and, as its mechanism of action and AE profile do not overlap with currently available TKI, its availability could lead to effective combination protocols.     

Importance of oil overlay for production of porcine embryos in vitro

Technologies to edit the zygote genome have revolutionized biomedical research not only for the creation of animal models for the study of human disease but also for the generation of functional human cells and tissues through interspecies blastocyst complementation technology. The pig is the ideal species for these purposes due to its great similarity in anatomy and physiology to humans. Emerging biotechnologies require the use of oocytes and/or embryos of good quality, which might be obtained using in vitro production (IVP) techniques. However, the current porcine embryo IVP systems are still suboptimal and result in low monospermic fertilization and blastocyst formation rates and poor embryo quality. During recent years, intensive investigations have been performed to evaluate the influence of specific compounds on gametes and embryos and to avoid the use of undefined supplements (serum and serum derivate) in the incubation media. However, little consideration has been given to the use of the mineral oil (MO) to overlay incubation droplets, which, albeit being a routine component of the IVP systems, is a totally undefined and thus problematic product for the safety of gametes and embryos. In this review, we provide an overview on the advantages and disadvantages of using MO to cover the incubation media. We also review one important concern in IVP laboratories: the use of oils containing undetected contamination. Finally, we discuss the effects of different types of oils on the in vitro embryo production outcomes and the transfer of compounds from oil into the culture media.     

Therapeutic Ultrasound as a Potential Male Dog Contraceptive: Determination of the Most Effective Application Protocol

Ultrasound is one of the most promising forms of non‐invasive contraception and has been studied in several animal models. The objective of the current investigation was to determine the most practical and effective application protocol for dog sterilization. A total of 100 dogs were divided into five equal groups. Group A received 5‐min applications three times performed at 48‐hr intervals and covering the entire testicular area at frequency of 1 MHz; Group B received 5‐min applications three times performed at 48‐hr intervals over the dorso‐cranial area of the testis at frequency of 3 MHz; Group C received three sequential 5‐min applications (at 5‐min intervals between applications) covering the entire testicular area at frequency of 1 MHz; Group D received 15‐min applications two times performed at 48‐hr intervals and covering the entire testicular area at frequency of 1 MHz. The experimental groups' ultrasound had an intensity of 1.5W/cm². The Control Group had the same procedure as Group A, but with the transducer switched‐off. Dogs were surgically castrated 40 days following the treatment for histological examination. Azoospermia, testicular volume reduction and apparently irreversible testicular damage were achieved by Group A. No effects were noticed in the other groups. Testosterone levels remained within physiological range with all application protocols. A regimen of three applications of ultrasound at 1 MHz, and 1.5 W/cm², lasting 5 min with an interval of 48 h was effective as permanent sterilization in the dog without hormonal impact.     

Deep-Sea coral evidence for rapid change in ventilation of the deep north atlantic 15,400 years Ago

Coupled radiocarbon and thorium-230 dates from benthic coral species reveal that the ventilation rate of the North Atlantic upper deep water varied greatly during the last deglaciation. Radiocarbon ages in several corals of the same age, 15.41 +/- 0.17 thousand years, and nearly the same depth, 1800 meters, in the western North Atlantic Ocean increased by as much as 670 years during the 30- to 160-year life spans of the samples. Cadmium/calcium ratios in one coral imply that the nutrient content of these deep waters also increased. Our data show that the deep ocean changed on decadal-centennial time scales during rapid changes in the surface ocean and the atmosphere.     

Comparative Effects of Autologous and Homologous Seminal Plasma on the Viability of Largely Extended Boar Spermatozoa

Sperm handling, associated to artificial reproduction technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or the use of flow cytometry for cell analysis or sorting imposes volumetric extension of the sperm suspension and decreases sperm viability, presumably because of the removal of seminal plasma (SP) components. This study evaluated whether a 10% v/v of autologous SP (retrieved from the same donor boar) or homologous SP (e.g. from any of the four fertile boars included, other than the one providing the spermatozoa) would differently affect the viability of boar spermatozoa subjected to large extension in a simple saline medium [phosphate-buffered saline and 0.1% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), PBSm] to a concentration of 0.3 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml and incubated for 2 h at 30 degrees C. Sperm viability was monitored as membrane integrity [using the fluorophore carboxyfluorescein diacetate (C-FDA) and propidium iodide (PI)], mitochondrial function (using the fluorophore R-123) and motility characteristics [using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA)]. Substraction of the SP and extension followed by incubation in PBSm significantly (p < 0.05) decreased sperm viability, which could be restored by addition of autologous SP. Furthermore, exposure of the extended spermatozoa to homologous SP (from any other individual boar) significantly (p < 0.05) varied with the source of the sire; some boars exerting beneficial effects (even surpassing the effects of the autologous SP; p < 0.05) while at least one boar negatively (p < 0.05) influencing the viability of the incubated spermatozoa. It is concluded that SP should be present when incubating highly extended spermatozoa. As a result of the obvious differences among boars, it would be advantageous to examine the ability of SP to maintain sperm viability prior to the use of SP pools during sperm handling in vitro.     

Comparison of the effects of asparaginase administered subcutaneously versus intramuscularly for treatment of multicentric lymphoma in dogs receiving doxorubicin

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of asparaginase administered s.c. versus i.m. for treatment of multicentric lymphoma in dogs receiving doxorubicin. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 49 dogs with multicentric lymphoma. PROCEDURE: Dogs were treated with doxorubicin every 3 weeks, for a total of 5 treatments, and were given 3 weekly treatments of asparaginase, s.c. or i.m. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, mean plasma asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, and glutamic acid concentrations were determined in dogs before and during treatment with asparaginase (10,000 U/m2 of body surface area, once a week for 3 weeks). Asparaginase was administered s.c. in 23 dogs and i.m. in 26 dogs. Variables evaluated included time to response to chemotherapy, remission and survival times, and clinical and serum biochemical indicators of toxicoses. RESULTS: Using the World Health Organization's staging system for lymphoma, 30 dogs were in clinical stage III and 19 were in clinical stage IV. One week after asparaginase treatment, plasma asparagine concentrations were low and plasma aspartic acid, glutamine, and glutamic acid concentrations were high. Differences in plasma amino acid concentrations were not found between s.c. and i.m. groups. For dogs in clinical stage IV, i.m. administration of asparaginase significantly decreased the number of days to complete remission, compared with s.c. administration (8 vs 17 days, respectively). For dogs in clinical stage III, i.m. administration favorably increased the duration of first remission (191 vs 103 days) and survival time (289 vs 209 days). Overall, dogs treated i.m. had a faster response to chemotherapy (9 vs 15 days), a longer remission (191 vs 109 days), and a longer survival time (286 vs 198 days), compared with all dogs treated s.c. Asparaginase toxicoses were not observed regardless of the route of administration. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For dogs with multicentric lymphoma that are receiving doxorubicin, i.m. treatment with asparaginase is more effective than s.c. treatment.     

Low-Dose Insemination in Pigs: Problems and Possibilities

Low-dose AI procedures are required by the pig industry to efficiently utilize emerging sperm technologies, such as cryopreservation and sex-sorting. Currently, several different procedures for inseminating with a low or very low number of spermatozoa have been described. Deep intrauterine insemination allows the deposition of the spermatozoa in the depth of the uterine horn, allowing a significant reduction in the number of spermatozoa inseminated with maintenance of optimal reproductive performance. Intra-oviductal laparoscopic insemination has been recently applied in pigs. This technique has proved to be applicable with diluted and sex-sorted spermatozoa. This review discusses several problems encountered during the development of deep intrauterine insemination and intra-oviductal laparoscopic insemination of pigs and provides potential solutions for the practical application of both the technologies.