Effect of wounding on cell wall hydrolase activity in tomato fruit

Changes in the activity of the cell wall hydrolases – polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15), pectinesterase (EC 3.2.1.11) and β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) – have been investigated following wounding of tomato fruit pericarp tissue (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Ailsa Craig). In ripening fruit wounding appears to arrest the further synthesis of polygalacturonase. β-Galactosidase synthesis may also have been arrested in ripening fruit. The level of pectinesterase declined over the first 24 h following harvest, and since this was apparent in both wounded and unwounded tissue may be related to a harvest, rather than a wounding effect. There was a recovery of activity in intact fruit by 48 h after harvest but this seems to be impaired in wounded tissue. In the case of pectinesterase, this observation was extended to examine the changes in isoform profile and it appeared that the decline of this enzyme may be associated with the reduction of one specific isoform — PE2. In contrast to ripening fruit, wounding of fruit at the fully ripe stage appears to have no significant effects on the activities of any of these three enzymes.     

The hepato-renal syndrome of cultured turbot. Its effect on a 2-year trial of farm reared turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

The development of hepatic and renal lesions in cultured turbot on two semi-commercial diets is analysed. The results indicate that the conditions are indeed linked and there-fore the term “hepato-renal syndrome” is valid, and that dietetic variation influences the incidence.     

Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma: 18 cases (1992-2008)

OBJECTIVE-To determine outcome of dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma treated with various multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocols and identify factors associated with prognosis. DESIGN-Retrospective case series. ANIMALS-18 dogs with presumed primary hepatic lymphoma. PROCEDURES-Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS-8 dogs had a complete remission (CR), with a median remission duration of 120 days. Dogs with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or a combination of hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia were less likely to achieve a CR. Overall median survival time (MST) was 63 days (range, 2 to 402 days). In a multivariate analysis, response to treatment and serum albumin concentration were associated with MST. Dogs that did not achieve a CR had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs that did achieve a CR (13 vs 283 days, respectively). Dogs with serum albumin concentration < 2.5 g/dL at the time treatment was initiated had a significantly shorter MST than did dogs with serum albumin concentration within reference limits (10 vs 128 days, respectively). There was also a positive correlation between serum albumin concentration and survival time (r = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results suggested that dogs with primary hepatic lymphoma that underwent chemotherapy had a poor prognosis, with a low response rate. Dogs that responded to treatment had a better prognosis, and dogs with hypoalbuminemia had a poorer prognosis.     

Preliminary investigation of somatosensory evoked potentials in equine headshaking

The aim of this study was to develop a technique for recording electrical activity of the equine cerebral cortex following application of a noxious electrical stimulus to the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve in order to investigate trigeminal nerve neurophysiology in control and headshaking horses. Triphasic somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded using subcutaneous needle electrodes in four control and four headshaking horses under general anaesthesia. Dural electroencephalography electrodes were used to record SEPs in one further control and one further headshaking horse. Headshaking horses appeared to have decreased middle latency and inter-peak intervals following stimulation of the trigeminal nerve compared with control horses, supporting abnormal trigeminal nerve physiology in equine headshaking.     

Land managers’ willingness-to-sell defines conservation opportunity for protected area expansion

Spatial prioritization techniques are increasingly applied in the design of protected area networks, which are regarded as the cornerstone of nature conservation efforts. These techniques are becoming ever more sophisticated, but are still founded primarily upon biological data. A common assumption made in most spatial prioritizations is that land throughout a planning region is available for acquisition. We interviewed land managers in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, and mapped their willingness-to-sell their land using a psychometric analytical technique. We examined the, (i) degree to which vegetation type targets are achieved across a planning region, (ii) areal and cost efficiency, and (iii) spatial configuration, of candidate protected areas identified as important for achieving conservation targets. We found that only 10 out of 48 land managers were willing-to-sell their land. Only seven, five and one of the 19 vegetation types, respectively, could achieve their conservation targets of 10%, 30% and 50% when unwilling land managers were removed from the analysis. Assuming unwilling land managers could be convinced to sell if offered a premium price, the cost of acquiring all lands was between 6.20% and 30.67% more expensive than 2006 land prices. Accounting for implementation opportunities and constraints, such as land manager willingness-to-sell, not simply identifying biological priorities, is of fundamental importance for ensuring spatial prioritizations deliver maps with the potential to usefully guide expansion of protected area networks which can be feasibly implemented.     

Effects of unilateral topical administration of 0.5% tropicamide on anterior segment morphology and intraocular pressure in normal cats and cats with primary congenital glaucoma

Objective To determine the effects of topical 0.5% tropicamide on anterior segment morphology (ASM) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal and glaucomatous cats. Animals used Normal cats and cats with inherited primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Procedures Control IOP curves were performed in untreated normal and PCG cats. In the first experiment, tropicamide was applied OD in eight normal and nine PCG cats. IOP and pupillary diameter (PD) were measured at 0, 30, and 60 min, then hourly until 8 h post‐treatment. In a second experiment, six normal and seven PCG cats received tropicamide OD. High‐resolution ultrasound images were obtained at 0, 1, 5, and 10 h post‐treatment to measure ASM changes. IOP and PD were measured OD at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h. Results In untreated normal cats IOP OU decreased throughout the day. In PCG cats IOP OU had wide fluctuations over time. In normal cats IOP response varied in the treated eye but did not change significantly in untreated eyes. IOP significantly increased from baseline in both eyes of all treated PCG cats. Increases in IOP were associated with some ASM changes. Cats with PCG had a significantly smaller angle recess areas, diminished ciliary clefts and decreased iris‐lens contact. ASM changes were not strongly correlated with IOP in all cats. Conclusions The ASM of PCG cats is markedly different from normal cats, and clinically significant increases in IOP OU occur in cats with PCG after tropicamide treatment. The mechanism for this increase remains unclear.     

WHOLE-CROP VICIA FABA FOR CONSERVATION. A COMPARISON BETWEEN WINTER-, HORSE-, TICK-, AND BROAD-BEAN CULTIVARS

A trial containing cultivars of Vicia faba var. equina, minor and major was harvested as a whole-crop in 1971. The aim was to estahlish the DM yield obtainahle from a selection of spring-hean cultivars and evaluate this in relation to previously reported yields from winter heans. DM yields ranged from 48 to 86 hkg/ha over the three cutting dates. Significant differences were found hetween cv. in digesdhiUty, the range being 54 to 71%, and one hroad-hean cv. was shown to have a high digestihility at all cuts. Crude-protein contents of 13 to 19% were recorded. Percentage DM rose from 16 to 18% at the first cut to 23 to 45% at the third, hroad-hean cv. rising more slowly than horse- and dck-hean cv. Spring-bean cv. had a lower DM yield than winter cv. Horse hean was superior to tick bean in DM yield, percentage DM, and D-value. Broad-bean cv. proved difficult to dry and therefore may be more suitable for ensilage than dehydradon.     

Patent hepatic ciliated foregut remnant resulting in an umbilicobiliary sinus tract,with gallbladder agenesis,in an 8-wk-old male French Bulldog

Hepatic ciliated foregut remnants or cysts are congenital abnormalities resulting from retention of embryonic ciliated foregut within the liver. These structures are rarely reported in the human medical literature and have not been reported in the veterinary literature previously, to our knowledge. We describe here a case of an 8-wk-old male French Bulldog with a congenital patent hepatic ciliated foregut remnant resulting in an umbilicobiliary sinus tract. The dog also had concurrent gallbladder agenesis. The patient had yellow fluid discharging from the umbilicus, mimicking a patent urachus. Surgical exploration, removal, and histology provided a conclusive diagnosis of a hepatic foregut remnant and therapeutic resolution of the clinical signs. The histologic appearance of a hepatic foregut remnant is classical, namely a duct composed of 4 layers: an inner ciliated epithelial lining, loose connective tissue, smooth muscle, and a fibrous capsule.