Influence of glucose dosage on interpretation of intravenous glucose tolerance tests in lean and obese cats

Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) are used in cats and other species to assess insulin sensitivity. Several dosages have been reported but the dosage that maximally stimulates insulin secretion in cats has not been determined nor has it been compared in lean and obese animals. IVGTTs were performed in 4 lean and 4 obese spayed female cats with 5 glucose dosages: 0.3 (A), 0.5 (B), 0.8 (C), 1.0 (D). and 1.3 (E) g/kg body weight (BW). Each cat received each dosage in a random design. The glucose disposal rate was significantly different only between lean and obese cats at the highest glucose dosage. The area under the curve for insulin increased significantly among A, B, C, and D in lean and among A, B, and C in obese cats but not between D and E in lean and among C, D, and E in obese cats. Baseline insulin secretion was significantly higher (P = .03) and 1st peak insulin secretion was approximately 50% lower in obese as compared to lean cats (P = .03). Lean but not obese cats reached baseline insulin concentrations at all dosages at 120 minutes. We conclude that the glucose dosage for maximal insulin secretion is 1.0 g/ kg BW in lean and 0.8 g/kg BW in obese cats, supporting routine use of 1 g/kg BW to maximally stimulate insulin secretion regardless of body composition. Obese cats showed an abnormal insulin secretion pattern, indicating a defect in insulin secretion with obesity and insulin resistance.     

含莫纳可林K红曲降低鸡蛋胆固醇效果的研究

48只68周龄的海兰褐蛋鸡分成三组，按0.5％和10％比例分别添加含0．4％莫纳可林K红曲于各组日粮内，饲喂22d，观测其对鸡蛋胆固醇变化的影响。结果表明，投药后5—6d，10％添加组和5％添加组蛋黄胆固醇开始下降；15—22d的胆固醇含量与1～5d相比，10％添加组和5％添加组分别下降了9．02％和5．10％，而对照组升高了5．22％。     

Policies Affecting Forestry Entrepreneurship

Many demand and supply-side policies impede or foster forestry entrepreneurship. A study was conducted to consolidate existing knowledge on policies influencing forestry entrepreneurship in Finland, Norway, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the USA, and to draw conclusions on these impeding and fostering factors. From the country studies it was difficult to find common structures on policies affecting forestry entrepreneurship. This is understandable because most policies in forestry are aimed at supporting sustainable forest management, wood production and ecological services of the forests rather than entrepreneurship as such. Despite the high variety of policies applied in the study countries, it can be concluded that strict public control on forests’ use and management potentially impedes forestry entrepreneurship. While these policies assist to correct market failure and to promote sustainability of forest management, they may also result into unnecessary and ineffective regulations that limit the opportunities for forestry entrepreneurship. A common feature promoting the demand for forestry entrepreneurship in some of the countries studied is the strong emphasis on forestry cooperatives, which were important institutions to support small-scale forestry entrepreneurship. In many study countries, different ad hoc programs are implemented to find new economic and entrepreneurial opportunities aside from the current use of wood and forests. Subsidies and tax incentives are commonly applied to reduce risks from making forestry investments or otherwise increase the economic return from timber production.     

Blood chemistry and acid-base balance in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss with experimentally-induced acute bacterial gill disease

Rainbow trout were experimentally infected with the causative agent of bacterial gill disease (BGD) (Flavobacterium branchiophilum) via bath challenge. All fish were cannulated with dorsal aortic catheters, had nasogastric tubes sutured in place for feeding, and were maintained individually, in plexiglass boxes with a flow-through water system. Fish were either fed, or unfed during the trial. Acute changes in blood gas, serum biochemistry and clinical parameters were monitored. By 24h post-challenge, BGD-infected trout that had been fed had significant hypoxemia, hypercapnia, increased blood ammonia, hypoosmolality, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and increased cough and respiratory rates when compared to control levels. Unfed BGD-infected trout had similar, but less severe blood gas and clinical changes, and no electrolyte disturbances. The BGD-induced hypoxemia is likely exacerbated by increased oxygen demands brought on by feeding. It is not known what association feeding has with the development of low serum ion levels in BGD-infected trout. This is the first study to report the use of fed fish, as opposed to unfed or starved trout, in obtaining blood chemistry values from indisturbed and cannulated animals.     

Expression of retinoid receptors in lungs of cattle,dogs, and pigs

Retinoids play an important role in lung development and immune response. The effects of retinoids are mediated through 2 families of retinoid receptors: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), with alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) subtypes in each family. To date, no data exist on the expression pattern of retinoid receptors in lungs of cattle, dogs, and pigs. Because of the biomedical importance of retinoid receptors in inflammation and immune responses, Western blot, immunohistology, and immunoelectron microscopy were used to determine the expression of retinoid receptors in normal lungs of cattle, dogs, and pigs (n = 2 for each species). Western blot showed expression of all 6 retinoid receptor subtypes in pig lungs. Immunohistology data indicated differential expression of retinoid receptors in airway epithelium, vascular endothelium, alveolar/septal macrophages, and alveolar septum in all 3 species. Electron microscopy showed nuclear localization of retinoid receptors in neutrophils and pulmonary intravascular macrophages. Retinoic acid receptors (RAR) α subtype were localized in cytoplasmic vacuoles of pig monocytes. These data indicate constitutive expression of retinoid receptors in the lungs of cattle, dogs, and pigs.