A case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia masked by Cushing’s disease in a dog

A 12-year-old, 3.5-kg, intact female dog was presented with polyuria, polydipsia, and a pendulous abdomen. Laboratory examinations showed elevated hepatobiliary enzyme levels and neutrophilic leukocytosis. The adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test confirmed hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Trilostane therapy managed the clinical condition and cortisol concentration. However, lymphocytosis and nonregenerative anemia developed after HAC remission. Bone marrow aspiration analysis revealed a lymphoproliferative disorder with a clonal T-cell population. Accordingly, the patient was diagnosed with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and concurrent HAC. Thereafter, chemotherapy was initiated, which improved the lymphocytosis. However, euthanasia was performed because of worsening quality of life at 45 weeks after the first presentation. These results suggested that CLL could be masked by excessive endogenous cortisol and discovered after HAC remission.     

Differentiation of porcine circovirus 1 and 2 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues from pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome by in-situ hybridisation

Non-radioactive digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled probes that can differentiate porcine circovirus (PCV) 1 from PCV2 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues by in-situ hybridisation were developed. A 349 base pair (bp) DNA fragment from open reading frame (ORF) 1 of PCV1 and a 481 bp DNA fragment from ORF2 of PCV2 generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used as PCV1 and PCV2 probes, respectively. A specific DIG-labelled PCV1 DNA probe did not hybridise with PCV2-infected PK-15 cells and vice versa. From the 40 field cases with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome tested by in-situ hybridisation, 30 (75 per cent) cases were PCV2-positive only and 10 (25 per cent) cases were positive for both PCV1 and PCV2. PCV1 and PCV2 DNAS were detected mainly in the macrophages of lymph nodes and spleens. Positive cells typically exhibited a dark brown to black reaction product mainly in the cytoplasm but also occasionally in the nucleus. In-situ hybridisation together with the differential probes developed in the present study represent an additional tool capable of differentiating of both types of PCV in formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues.     

POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY FEATURES OF CANINE NECROTIZING MENINGOENCEPHALITIS

A Yorkshire terrier and a Chihuahua were referred for acute onset, generalized tonic‐clonic seizures and were suspected to have meningoencephalitis based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. Brain lesions appeared hyperintense with T2‐weighted imaging and hypointense with T1‐weighted imaging, and were characteristic of necrotizing meningoencephalitis. Both dogs were diagnosed with necrotizing meningoencephalitis based on pathologic findings. Fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) was performed on both animals before euthanasia with the permission of the owner. In FDG‐PET images, these lesions seen in MR images were characterized by multifocal or diffuse hypometabolism. Our FDG‐PET results provided evidence of glucose hypometabolism in areas of necrosis and cavitation associated with necrotizing meningoencephalitis. FDG‐PET has the potential to provide valuable diagnostic information in dogs with suspected necrotizing encephalitis.     

交合嫁接法对苹果苗生长和伤口愈合的影响

1 991～ 1 992年以富士 /M 2 6/楸子为试材 ,用新发明的交合嫁接法和传统嫁接法 ,设置 3种嫁接试验 ,研究嫁接法对苹果苗生长和嫁接口愈合的影响。结果表明 ,嵌芽接比“T”形芽接、镶接比皮下接接穗新梢生长量大。秋季嫁接比春季嫁接接穗新梢生长量大。交合嫁接法耗时少 ,易掌握 ,其嫁接伤口在一个生长季内均能完全愈合或接近完全愈合。     

不同生长环境下水稻结实率数量性状位点的检测

以籼稻密阳23与粳稻吉冷1号配制所获得的F_2:3群体200个家系作为作图群体，在北京、昆明、三亚、公主岭和韩国春川等5个点进行水稻结实率的鉴定，并利用SSR标记对水稻结实率数量性状位点进行检测。结果表明，水稻结实率表型值及其在F₃家系群中的分布以及所检测到的QTL数目因生长环境不同而有较大差异，说明QTL与环境有明显的互作效应。水稻结实率在F₃家系群中呈接近正态或偏态的连续分布，是多个基因所控制的数量性状。共检测到与水稻结实率相关的QTL 14个，分布于第1、2、3、4、6、7、8、10和12染色体上，对表型变异的贡献率为4.9%～15.3%。分别位于第1、2、6和12染色体RM1~RM259、RM263~RM6、RM340~RM30、RM270~RM17区间的qSSR1、qSSR2、qSSR6和qSSR12至少在2种生长环境下均检测到，对表型变异的贡献率分别为4.9%～8.4%、4.8%～7.2%、7.6%～10.7%和7.4%～10.4%。以上多数QTL增效等位基因均来自吉冷1号，基因作用方式主要为部分显性或显性或超显性。     

Nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin does not affect yield-scaled nitrous oxide emissions in a tropical grassland

Urea is the most common nitrogen(N)fertilizer used in the tropics but it has the risk of high gaseous nitrogen(N)losses.Use of nitrification inhibitor has been suggested as a potential mitigation measure for gaseous N losses in N fertilizer-applied fields.In a field trial on a tropical Andosol pastureland in Costa Rica,gaseous emissions of ammonia(NH₃)and nitrous oxide(N₂O)and grass yield were quantified from plots treated with urea(U;41.7 kg N ha^-1application^-1)and urea plus the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin(U+NI;41.7 kg N ha^-1application^-1and 350 g of nitrapyrin for each 100 kg of N applied)and control plots(without U and NI)over a six-month period(rainy season).Volatilization of NH₃(August to November)in U(7.4%±1.3%of N applied)and U+NI(8.1%±0.9%of N applied)were not significantly different(P>0.05).Emissions of N₂O in U and U+NI from June to November were significantly different(P<0.05)only in October,when N₂O emission in U+NI was higher than that in U.Yield and crude protein production of grass were significantly higher(P<0.05)in U and U+NI than in the control plots,but they were not significantly different between U and U+NI.There was no significant difference in yield-scaled N₂O emission between U(0.31±0.10 g N kg^-1dry matter)and U+NI(0.47±0.10 g N kg^-1dry matter).The results suggest that nitrapyrin is not a viable mitigation option for gaseous N losses under typical N fertilizer application practices of pasturelands at the study site.     

根迹土壤根诱导的化学变化对植物吸收重金属的影响

It is increasingly recognized that metal bioavailability is a better indicator of the potential for phytoremediation than the total metal concentration in soils; therefore, an understanding of the inffuence of phytoremediation plants on metal dynamics at the soil-root interface is increasingly vital for the successful implementation of this remediation technique. In this study, we investigated the heavy metal and soil solution chemical changes at field moisture, after growth of either Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) or sunffower (Helianthus annuus L.), in long-term contaminated soils and the subsequent metal uptake by the selected plants. In addition, the fractions of free metal ions in soil solution were determined using the Donnan membrane technique. After plant growth soil solution pH increased by 0.2-1.4 units and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased by 1-99 mg L^-1 in all soils examined. Soluble Cd and Zn decreased after Indian mustard growth in all soils examined, and this was attributed to increases in soil solution pH (by 0.9 units) after plant growth. Concentrations of soluble Cu and Pb decreased in acidic soils but increased in alkaline soils. This discrepancy was likely due to a competitive effect between plant-induced pH and DOC changes on the magnitude of metal solubility. The fractions of free Cd and Zn ranged from 7.2% to 32% and 6.4% to 73%, respectively, and they generally decreased as pH and DOC increased after plant growth. Metal uptake by plants was dependant on the soil solution metal concentration, which was governed by changes in pH and DOC induced by plant exudates, rather than on the total metal concentrations. Although plant uptake also varied with metal and soil types, overall soluble metal concentrations in the rhizosphere were mainly inffuenced by root-induced changes in pH and DOC which subsequently affected the metal uptake by plants.     

Effects of fermented mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) by‐product diets on growth performance and carcass traits in growing‐fattening Berkshire pigs

This study was conducted to investigate effects of fermented mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) by‐product diets on the growth performance and carcass traits in growing‐fattening Berkshire pigs. The fermented diets mainly contained 40.0% mushroom by‐product, 20.0% formula feed, 26.0% rice bran and supplemental 0.1% probiotics. The mixed ingredients were fermented for 5 days at room temperature. Berkshire pigs (n = 225) were divided into five groups and three replications. The basal diets (C) were substituted by 10% (T1), 30% (T2), 50% (T3) and 70% (T4) fermented mushroom by‐product diets. Crude protein concentration and total calorie in fermented diets were significantly increased (P < 0.05) at the end of fermentation days compared with initial fermentation day. Body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass weight were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the T2, T3 and T4 groups than in the control group. Carcass grade was significantly better (P < 0.05) in the pigs fed fermented diets than in the pigs fed control diet and the ratio of high grade (1 plus 2 grades) was higher in the fermented diet groups compared with the control group. Therefore, although a diet of fermented mushroom by‐product decreased growth performance and feed efficiency, it improved the carcass grade in Berkshire pigs.