Imaging characteristics and treatment of a penetrating brain injury caused by an oropharyngeal foreign body in a dog

A 4‐year‐old Border collie was presented with one episode of collapse, altered mentation, and a suspected pharyngeal stick injury. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography showed a linear foreign body penetrating the right oropharynx, through the foramen ovale and the brain parenchyma. The foreign body was surgically removed and medical treatment initiated. Complete resolution of clinical signs was noted at recheck 8 weeks later. Repeat MRI showed chronic secondary changes in the brain parenchyma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the advanced imaging findings and successful treatment of a penetrating oropharyngeal intracranial foreign body in a dog.     

Trace Element Concentration Patterns in Sediments of the Lower Rio Conchos,Mexico

A two-step sequential extraction of B, V,Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb in sediments from the lower RioConchos, Mexico, was used to identify sections of theriver where accumulation of these elements has takenplace. The concentrations of Mg, Fe and Al insediments were concurrently determined in order toinfer about the possible source of trace elements.According to their extractability, B and Pb werelabeled as more mobile, while Cr was the least mobile.Normalized concentration and partition coefficient(Kd) values along the lower Rio Conchos helpedidentify locations with abnormally large trace elementvalues. Sites near urban centers showed the mostaccumulation with respect to most elements, while thehighest B and Pb K_d values were found at sites farfrom urban areas and irrigation drain returns.Correlation analysis between sediment and waterconcentrations indicated a separate concentrationpattern for the sediments, most likely the result oftheir longer term element storing ability as comparedto water. In contrast, a high correlation was obtainedamong elements in sediments, with the exception of Band Pb. This study is a preliminary effort toquantitatively determine the impacts of irrigation andother human activities to the quality of one ofnorthern Mexico's most important rivers.     

Ghrelin Accelerates In Vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes

Ghrelin, apart from its metabolic role, is nowadays considered as a basic regulator of reproductive functions of mammals, acting at central and gonadal levels. Here, we investigated for possible direct actions of ghrelin on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and for its effects on blastocyst yield and quality. In experiment 1, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the presence of four different concentrations of ghrelin (0, 200, 800 and 2000 pg/ml). In vitro fertilization and embryo culture were carried out in the absence of ghrelin, and blastocyst formation rates were examined on days 7, 8 and 9. In experiment 2, only the 800 pg/ml dose of ghrelin was used. Four groups of COCs were matured for 18 or 24 h (C18, Ghr18, C24 and Ghr24), and subsequently, they were examined for oocyte nuclear maturation and cumulus layer expansion; blastocysts were produced as in experiment 1. The relative mRNA abundance of various genes related to metabolism, oxidation, developmental competence and apoptosis was examined in snap‐frozen cumulus cells, oocytes and day‐7 blastocysts. In experiment 1, ghrelin significantly suppressed blastocyst formation rates. In experiment 2, more ghrelin‐treated oocytes matured for 18 h reached MII compared with controls, while no difference was observed when maturation lasted for 24 h. At 18 and 24 h, the cumulus layer was more expanded in ghrelin‐treated COCs than in the controls. The blastocyst formation rate was higher in Ghr18 (27.7 ± 2.4%) compared with Ghr24 (17.5 ± 2.4%). Differences were detected in various genes’ expression, indicating that in the presence of ghrelin, incubation of COCs for 24 h caused over‐maturation (induced ageing) of oocytes, but formed blastocysts had a higher hatching rate compared with the controls. We infer that ghrelin exerts a specific and direct role on the oocyte, accelerating its maturational process.     

Comparison of oyster shell and calcium hydroxide as liming materials for immobilizing cadmium in upland soil

Cadmium is both readily available and highly toxic to plants and animals. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of oyster shell as a liming material on reducing plant cadmium (Cd) uptake and to compare oyster shell and Ca(OH)₂, a common liming material in Korea. Ground oyster shell and Ca(OH)₂ were applied at 0, 2, 4, and 8 Mg Ca per hectare to an upland soil contaminated manually with CdSO₄ (total Cd 8.96 mg kg^?1). Radish (Raphanus sativa L.) was sown on the contaminated soil. Oyster shell was less effective at increasing soil pH and net negative charge than Ca(OH)₂, but more effective at suppressing radish Cd uptake in both roots and shoots. The portion of Cd that is strongly bound to soil (fraction 5) increased more with oyster shell than with Ca(OH)₂. Radish plant Cd concentration was positively correlated with 0.1 N HCl-extractable Cd and negatively correlated with the residual Cd fraction (F5), indicating that an increase in the strongly bound Cd fraction played an important role in reducing radish Cd uptake in soil to which oyster shell was applied. The greater potential of oyster shell to decrease Cd extractability in soil and plant Cd uptake compared to Ca(OH)₂ might be attributed to the layered morphology of oyster shells. Based on these results, oyster shell could be a very good alternative liming material to reduce Cd phytoavailability in Cd-contaminated soil.     

Se-enriched mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus: distribution of selenium in cell walls and cell membranes/cytosol

The incorporation of Se to fungi has been studied, focusing on element distribution among different cellular compartments and, in particular, polysaccharide structures contained in cell walls. Se-enriched mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus were obtained in submerged cultures. The incorporation of selenium from the growth medium to mycelia was observed with the relative distribution between cytosol plus cell membranes fraction (CCM) and cell walls fraction (CW) of about 44 and 56%, respectively. CCM fractions were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography with on-line UV (280 nm) and ICP-MS detection (80Se). The results obtained showed selenium binding to components of different molecular masses (about 24% of total selenium coeluted with the compounds of molecular mass > 10 kDa). A polysaccharide-containing fraction of mycelia was treated alternatively with Tris-HCl at pH 7.5 or with chitinase. Better solubility and increased contribution of low molecular mass compounds were observed in chitinase extracts (UV detection), confirming the degradation of polysacharides by the enzyme. The total area under the ICP-MS chromatogram of chitinase extract was 2 times higher with respect to the area for Tris-HCl extract. Furthermore, the relative contribution of selenium in the low molecular mass fraction (molecular mass < 1 kDa) in chitinase extract was 72% as compared to 45% in Tris-HCl extract (based on peak area measurements with respect to total area under the chromatogram). The results obtained suggest selenium binding to chitin-containing polysaccharide structures in fungi cell walls.     

Factors affecting mortality of crossbred and exotic chickens kept under backyard systems in Yucatan, Mexico

Summary Chicken mortality was studied in 24 randomly selected smallholder flocks in one village in Yucatan, Mexico between July and December 1993. Each family received a package of 10 to 12 chicks of 3 weeks of age. Approximately half of the chicks were purebred and the remainder were crosses produced by mating exotic with local breeds. All smallholders were visited twice a week. Feeding and management (except vaccination and medication) were left to smallholders. Data were processed by Chi-square, Mantel-Haenzel test and survival analysis. Before reaching 140 days of age 43·2% of the birds died. The highest mortality was observed during the 113 to 140 days of age period and the lowest was in the period between 22 and 56 days of age. Of all birds, 10·5% died from coccidiosis and 7·6% from Marek’s disease. Of the risk factors investigated only medication and genotype showed significant effects on mortality. The effect of genotype was significant up to 112 days of age (P < 0·05). Crossbred birds lived longer than purebred; independently, medicated birds lived longer than non-medicated birds.

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Factores Que Afectan La Mortalidad De Los Pollos Hibridos Y Exoticos (Criados Bajo Sistemas De Traspatio) En Yucatan, Mejico

Resumen Se estudió la mortalidad de pollos alojados en 24 corrales de peque?os propietarios seleccionados al azar en un pueblo de Yucatán, México de julio a diciembre de 1993. Cada propietario recibió un grupo de 10 a 12 pollos de 3 semanas de edad. Aproximadamente la mitad de los pollos eran de raza pura y el resto hibridos provenientes de cruce de una raza exótica con una local. Todos los corrales fueron visitados dos veces por semana. La alimentación y el manejo (excepto vacunas y medicamentos) corrieron a cargo de los propietarios. Los datos se analizaron por el test de Chi-cuadrado, test de Mantel-Haenzel y análisis de supervivencia. Antes de que alcanzaran los 140 días de edad el 43·2% de las aves murieron. La mortalidad más alta se observó entre los días 113 y 140 de vida, y la mortalidad más baja durante el periodo de 22 a 56 días de edad. De todas las aves, el 10·5% murieron de coccidiosis y el 7·6% de la enfermedad de Marek. De los factores de riesgo estudiados, solo la medicación y el genotipo mostraron efectos significativos sobre la mortalidad. El efecto del genotipo fue significativo a partir del día 112 de edad (P < 0·05). Las aves híbridas vivieron más que las razas puras; independientemente, las aves medicadas vivieron más que las no medicadas.

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Facteurs Affectant La Mortalite Des Poulets (De Race Ou Croises) Gardes En Systeme Ferme Dans Le Yucatan Au Mexique

Résumé La mortalité des poulets fut étudiée chez 24 petits éleveurs de volaille, choisis arbitrairement dans un village du Yucatan au Mexique entre les mois de Juillet et Décembre 1993. Chaque famille re?ut entre 10 et 12 poussins agés de 3 semaines. Près de la moitié des poussins furent de races pures, les autres étant issus de croisements entre races locales et exotiques. Tous les éleveurs furent visités deux fois par semaine. Les éleveurs décidèrent à propos de la nourriture et de la gestion mais pas de la vaccination ou des médicaments. Les données furent analysées par le test de Mantel-Haenzel, l’analyse de la survie et lex ². 43,2% des poulets moururent avant d’atteindre l’age de 140 jours. La plus grande mortalité fut observée entre les jours 113 et 140 et la plus faible entre les jours 22 et 56. 10,6% des poulets moururent de coccidiose et 7,6% par la maladie de Marek. Médicaments et génotype furent les 2 paramètres ayant des effets significatifs sur la mortalité. L’effet du génotype fut significatif jusqu’au jour 112 (P < 0,05). Les animaux issus de croissement vécurent plus long-temps que les poulets de race pure, indépendemment les poulets recevant des medicaments vécurent plus longtemps que ceux qui n’en eurent pas.

     

Multivariate analysis approach to evaluate a germplasm collection of Hedysarum coronarium L.

Autochthonous germplasm collected in Spain (Ca´diz and Baleares provinces), Italian ecotypes and cultivated material supplied by a commercial firm were analysed by using a multivariate approach applied to a set of morphological traits. According to these analyses the cultivated material could clearly be separated from the autochthonous germplasm. Variation was observed among the traits studied; Principal Stem Diameter, Leaf Area at Flowering and Susceptibility to Oidium were the main traits in grouping and separating sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) entries. A new ecotype (Tarifa) could be used in plant breeding as being a source of resistance to Oidium. The multivariate approach appears to be a valid system for germplasm evaluation in sulla with a higher discriminant capacity than multiple single trait analysis.     

Processing of crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) for the preparation of carotenoproteins and chitin.

Crawfish carotenoproteins and chitin are obtained by a combined process based on flotation-sedimentation and in situ lactic acid production. The carotenoprotein PF(1) obtained has a high content in essential amino acids, w-3-fatty acids, and carotene (mainly astaxanthin) and constitutes an excellent nutritional source for patients with malnutrition. The carotenoprotein PF(2) has a lower nutritional quality but with a substantial carotene content can be used as a feed for animals where coloration is required, such as salmon and trout bred under aquaculture. Chemical and spectrometric (FTIR and (13)C NMR) characterization shows the obtained chitin to be of high quality, similar to that available commercially, for medical and nutritional uses.