The rate of Salmonella spp. infection in zoo animals at Seoul Grand Park, Korea

Salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease that affects both people and animals. The incidence of reptile-associated salmonellosis has increased in Western countries due to the increasing popularity of reptiles as pets. In Korea, where reptiles are not popular as pets, many zoos offer programs in which people have contact with animals, including reptiles. So, we determined the rate of Salmonella spp. infection in animals by taking anal swabs from 294 animals at Seoul Grand Park. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 14 of 46 reptiles (30.4%), 1 of 15 birds (6.7%) and 2 of 233 mammals (0.9%). These findings indicate that vigilance is required for determining the presence of zoonotic pathogen infections in zoo animals and contamination of animal facilities to prevent human infection with zoonotic diseases from zoo facilities and animal exhibitions. In addition, prevention of human infection requires proper education about personal hygiene.     

Exogenous pituitary and recombinant growth hormones induce insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 resistance in pig adipose tissue

In the present study, pigs were treated daily for 7 days with exogenous porcine growth hormone (pGH; 70 micrograms/kg BW) in order to determine whether pGH induced insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (1GF-1) resistance in pig adipose tissue. In the first experiment, pituitary-derived pGH (ppGH) decreased basal and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis by 50%. Insulin sensitivity decreased more than 90% as the result of pGH treatment. Sensitivity and responsiveness to IGF-1 were decreased 50% by ppGH. In a second experiment, pigs were treated daily (70 micrograms/kg BW) with exogenous pituitary pGH (ppGH) or recombinant pGH (rpGH) for 7 days in order to determine if the effects of pGH were intrinsic properties of the hormone. Both rpGH and ppGH caused similar decreases in basal rates of lipogenesis, insulin- and IGF-1-stimulated lipogenesis, and insulin and IGF-1 responsiveness in pig adipose tissue. In summary, the decrease in adipose tissue growth of pigs treated chronically with pGH is due in large part to the suppression of fatty acid synthesis and a decrease in the ability of insulin to stimulate lipid synthesis in pig adipocytes. These responses are intrinsic properties of pGH since the effects of rpGH mimicked those of ppGH. The role and importance of a decrease in IGF-1 responsiveness remains to be resolved.     

广州地区十字花科蔬菜花叶病的传染途径及流行规律的初步研究

广州地区十字花科蔬菜花叶病(主要病毒是芜菁花叶病毒的油菜毒系和芜菁毒系)的越夏寄主,根据11年来的观察特别是1956—1958年间的实地调查结果,主要是小白菜、菜心和西洋菜。在野生植物中曾发现过2株蔊菜和1株荠菜自然感病,说明野生植物不是本病的重要毒源。室内试验结果证明,此病的自然传染媒介为萝卜蚜、桃蚜和普通红蜘蛛。黄条跳(虫甲)、斜纹夜盗蛾和菜粉蝶都不是本病的虫媒,病株的种子不会传病,中国菟丝子也不会传递本病。在带有未腐熟的病菜残体的土里进行直播,长出来的菜苗没有发病的;但是把菜苗移植在这样的土里,会有极小量的植株感病。根据1956年7月至1958年6月,每十日田间调查一次结果:萝卜蚜是广州地区最重要的传病媒介,桃蚜每年只在3—4月间略有发生,作用不大。根据这24个月的田间发病率,萝卜蚜(有翅蚜及无翅蚜)的虫口密度和气候情况,我们认为本地区本病的发生及流行程度主要受降水量和降水天数所影响,并认为可以从降水情况来预测约30日后的病害流行程度。     

杨树水泡型溃疡病菌生理特性的研究

 经试验杨树水泡型溃疡病菌分生孢子的萌芽不超过2小时。以2%葡萄糖溶液处理的孢子萌芽率最高为92.8%。冰箱保存14个月的分生孢子,经24小时的发芽率为73.5。     

Flow cytometric assessment of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether on spermatogenesis in rats

The effects of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) on testicular cell populations in rats were investigated by a flow cytometric method. Rats were administered by gavage with EGEE at the various doses of 0 (saline alone), 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight/day for 4 weeks. The treatment of EGEE caused decreases in the weight of testis and epididymis and in the number of testicular cells. Histopathologically, exfoliation of germ cells into the tubular lumen was observed at the doses of above 200 mg/kg. The treatment of EGEE at the dose of 400 mg/kg caused moderate testicular degeneration. A significant depletion of haploid cells and a disproportionate ratio of diploid and tetraploid cells were observed as determined by flow cytometric analysis. These results indicate that the toxic effect of EGEE on the male reproductive system may be strongly associated with the disproportion of testicular germ cells.     

Effect of intravenous mannitol upon the resistive index in complete unilateral renal obstruction in dogs

Some studies have shown that relative to baseline, the renal resistive index (RI) remains unchanged in nonobstructed kidneys and increases in obstructed kidneys after administration of furosemide. To our knowledge, the effect of mannitol administration on the renal RI of dogs has not been reported. We evaluated the renal RI in 16 kidneys in 8 young adult dogs after administration of mannitol. The mean RI decreased significantly from baseline (P < .01). Additionally, left complete ureteral obstruction wasinduced in 5 dogs. Evaluation by Doppler ultrasonography was performed for 5 days. On the 5th day, Doppler examination was repeated at 30 and 60 minutes after administration of mannitol to obstructed dogs. After induction of left ureteral obstruction, the RI of the left kidney increased significantly over 5 consecutive days. Administration of mannitol decreased the RI in the nonobstructed contralateral kidneys, and thus the RI difference between obstructed and nonobstructed kidneys was increased above normal (P < .001). In conclusion, administration of mannitol may be useful as another diuretic agent to identify unilateral ureteral obstruction on Doppler sonographic examination.     

Green color protection of bamboo culms using one-step alkali pretreatment-free process

This study evaluated the protection effectiveness of alcohol-borne reagents for the green color of ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel). The results show that the types and concentrations of alcohol-borne reagents, the kinds of solvent, and the conditions of treatment greatly affected the green color of these two bamboo species. Without alkali pretreatment, an excellent green color protection (a* = −14.5) was obtained when the ma bamboo culms were treated with 0.5% methanol-borne copper chloride (CuCl₂) at 60°C for 30 min. Similar results were also obtained when ma bamboo culms were treated with 0.5% methanol-borne copper nitrate [Cu(NO₃)₂] at 60°C for 2 h (a* = −13.5). For moso bamboo, an attractive green color in the bamboo culms was achieved by treating the specimens with 1% methanol-borne copper acetate [Cu(CH₃COO)₂] at 60°C for 30 min. The a* value of treated specimens was −13.3. In addition, results demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment was more effective on green color protection than conventional water bath treatment. When moso bamboo was treated with 1% copper acetate at 60°C in an ultrasonic bath for only 15 min, a remarkable green color with an a* value of −13.6 was obtained on the bamboo epidermis.     

Seasonal variations in photosynthesis of Picea morrisonicola growing in the subalpine region of subtropical Taiwan

From January 1999 to May 2001, we investigated seasonal variations in the photosynthetic capacity of Taiwan spruce (Picea morrisonicola Hay.) growing in the subalpine region of subtropical Taiwan (23 degrees 29' N, 120 degrees 53' E, 2600 m a.s.l.). Photosynthetic capacity (near light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, Pnsat, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and soluble protein concentration of needles all increased from mid or late spring to early winter. Even when minimum air temperature of the measuring day dropped to near 0 degrees C, Pnsat remained at about 20% of the highest value observed in winter. There was a curvilinear relationship between Fv/Fm and the minimum or mean air temperature of the measuring day. The increase in Fv/Fm with temperature was slowed when the daily mean air temperature was above 7 degrees C, or the minimum air temperature was above 3 degrees C; however, when air temperatures dropped below these values, Fv/Fm varied sharply. Seasonal variations in Pnsat paralleled those in Fv/Fm and needle soluble protein concentration. In early or mid spring when air temperature and Fv/Fm increased, Pnsat and soluble protein concentration remained low. Multiple regression analysis showed that seasonal variations in Pnsat were affected by Fv/Fm, air temperature and needle soluble protein concentration, and the multiple regression equation could be used to estimate Pnsat in different seasons. We conclude that the decrease in photosynthetic capacity of Taiwan spruce in winter and its subsequent recovery in spring were mainly caused by photoinhibition and its reversal, and changes in needle soluble protein concentration. Another possible explanation for the delayed recovery of photosynthetic capacity in spring may be associated with the slow increase in needle soluble protein concentration.