Serum C-reactive protein concentration as an indicator of remission status in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in humans with various neoplasias, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if CRP could be used to detect different remission states in dogs with lymphoma. ANIMALS: Twenty-two dogs with untreated multicentric lymphoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, before each chemotherapy session, and at follow-up visits, resulting in 287 serum samples. RESULTS: Before therapy, a statistically significant majority of the dogs (P = .0019) had CRP concentrations above the reference range (68%, 15/22). After achieving complete remission 90% (18/20) of the dogs had CRP concentrations within the reference range, and the difference in values before and after treatment was statistically significant (P < .001). CRP concentrations of dogs in complete remission (median, 1.91; range, 0.2-103) were significantly different (P = .031) from those of dogs with partial remission (median, 2.48; range, 0-89), stable disease (median, 1.77; range, 1.03-42.65), or progressive disease (median, 8.7; range, 0-82.5). There was profound variation of CRP measurements within each dog. CONCLUSIONS: CRP is useful in determining complete remission status after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. However, the individual variation between dogs means CRP concentration is not sufficiently different in other remission states to permit its use in monitoring progression of the disease. Greater reliability in determining remission status might be achieved by combining CRP concentration with other serum markers.     

Habitat suitability and connectivity modeling reveal priority areas for Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) conservation in a complex habitat mosaic

Context

Conservation for the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), a federally endangered species in the United States of America, is typically focused on local maternity sites; however, the species is a regional migrant, interacting with the environment at multiple spatial scales. Hierarchical levels of management may be necessary, but we have limited knowledge of landscape-level ecology, distribution, and connectivity of suitable areas in complex landscapes.

Objectives

We sought to (1) identify factors influencing M. sodalis maternity colony distribution in a mosaic landscape, (2) map suitable maternity habitat, and (3) quantify connectivity importance of patches to direct conservation action.

Methods

Using 3 decades of occurrence data, we tested a priori, hypothesis-driven habitat suitability models. We mapped suitable areas and quantified connectivity importance of habitat patches with probabilistic habitat availability metrics.

Results

Factors improving landscape-scale suitability included limited agriculture, more forest cover, forest edge, proximity to medium-sized water bodies, lower elevations, and limited urban development. Areas closer to hibernacula and rivers were suitable. Binary maps showed that 30% of the study area was suitable for M. sodalis and 29% was important for connectivity. Most suitable patches were important for intra-patch connectivity and far fewer contributed to inter-patch connectivity.

Conclusions

While simple models may be effective for small, homogenous landscapes, complex models are needed to explain habitat suitability in large, mixed landscapes. Suitability modeling identified factors that made sites attractive as maternity areas. Connectivity analysis improved our understanding of important areas for bats and prioritized areas to target for restoration.

     

Studying the Effects of Two Various Methods of Composting on the Degradation Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sewage Sludge

The research comprised of studying the effect composting sewage sludge with sawdust and vermicomposting with earthworm Eisenia fetida has on the degradation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Raw rural sewage sludge prior composting was more contaminated with PAHs than urban sewage sludge, in both cases exceeding EU cutoff limits of 6 mg/kg established for land application. Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBahAnt), acenaphtylene (Acy) and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (IPyr) were predominant in rural sewage sludge, whilst the urban sewage sludge contained the highest concentrations of benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbFl), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkFl) and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (IPyr). Thirty days of composting with sawdust has caused a significant reduction of 16 PAHs on average from 26.07 to 4.01 mg/kg (84.6%). During vermicomposting, total PAH concentration decreased on average from 15.5 to 2.37 mg/kg (84.7%). Vermicomposting caused full degradation of hydrocarbons containing 2 and 6 rings and significant reduction of PAHs with 3 aromatic rings (94.4%) as well as with 5 aromatic rings (83.2%). The lowest rate of degradation (64.4%) was observed for hydrocarbons with 4 aromatic rings such as fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and pyrene. On the other hand, the highest level of degradation was determined for PAHs with 2 rings (100%), 3 rings (88%) and 6 aromatic rings in the molecule (86.9%) after composting with sawdust. Acenaphthene and pyrene were found to be the most resistant to biodegradation during both composting methods.     

Determining resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium verticillioides</Emphasis> and fumonisin accumulation in African maize inbred lines resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus</Emphasis> and aflatoxins

Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus cause Fusarium ear rot (FER) and Aspergillus ear rot (AER) of maize, respectively. Both pathogens are of concern to producers as they reduce grain yield and affect quality. F. verticillioides and A. flavus also contaminate maize grain with the mycotoxins fumonisins and aflatoxins, respectively, which has been associated with mycotoxicosis in humans and animals. The occurrence of common resistance mechanisms to FER and AER has been reported. Hence, ten Kenyan inbred lines resistant to AER and aflatoxin accumulation were evaluated for resistance to FER, F. verticillioides colonisation and fumonisin accumulation; and compared to nine South African lines resistant to FER and fumonisin accumulation. Field trials were conducted at three localities in South Africa and two localities in Kenya. FER severity was determined by visual assessment, while F. verticillioides colonisation and fumonisin content were quantified by real-time PCR and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Significant genotype x environment interactions was determined at each location (P ≤ 0.05). Kenyan inbred CML495 was most resistant to FER and F. verticillioides colonisation, and accumulated the lowest concentration of fumonisins across localities. It was, however, not significantly more resistant than Kenyan lines CML264 and CKL05015, and the South African line RO549 W, which also exhibited low FER severity (≤5%), fungal target DNA (≤0.025 ng μL^?1) and fumonisin levels (≤2.5 mg kg^?1). Inbred lines resistant to AER and aflatoxin accumulation appear to be promising sources of resistance to F. verticillioides and fumonisin contamination.     

Antifungal potentials of some botanicals on Sclerotium rolfsii schum., the causal pathogen of damping-off of Gmelina arborea Roxb. in Ibadan,Southwestern Nigeria

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Gmelina arborea (Gmelina) is a drought-tolerant tree species with rapid growth. It has excellent wood properties, and these have made this tree an...     

Low water exchange Gracilariopsis bailiniae Zhang & B.M. Xia culture in intensive milkfish culture effluents: effects of seaweed density on seaweed production and effluent treatment

This study tested the feasibility of a low-cost seaweed biofiltration system for pond-based aquaculture through an indoor-integrated fish-seaweed culture experiment using weekly nutrient supply regime and different seaweed stocking densities. The culture experiment was conducted in glass aquaria that were stocked with Gracilariopsis bailiniae at 3 densities (low = 0.5 kg m^?2, middle = 2 kg m^?2 and high = 3.5 kg m^?2) and provided either with effluents from intensive milkfish (Chanos chanos) culture or with effluent-free seawater (control) as nutrient source. Stocking density was used as a factor in optimizing nutrient availability for growth and nutrient removal under such low water exchange conditions. Our results showed that G. bailiniae cultivated in milkfish effluents had higher growth, biomass and nitrogen yields than those cultivated in effluent-free seawater. Among the different stocking densities tested, highest growth rate (1.03 % day^?1) was obtained in the middle density. Increasing biomass and nitrogen yields were also obtained at this density until the end of the culture period. Poorer growth rates at low and high stocking densities were attributed to light limitation from phytoplankton and self-shading, respectively. Due to seaweed treatment, average outflow concentration of NH₄ ⁺ was reduced from half of its pretreated level. This study showed that a weekly effluent supply at 2 kg m^?2 seaweed stocking density can sustainably support the growth of G. bailiniae as long as the dissolved nutrients are present at high levels.     

Diurnal variations in hypothalamic monoamine levels in the teleostChanna punctatus (bloch) in response to melatonin under two photothermal conditions

Hypothalamic dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels exhibited marked day-night variations under ambient photoperiod and temperature (12L12D; 17±1°C) with peak values at mid-light phase. The 16L8D; 22±1°C treatment reversed the diurnal rhythm of 5-HT, but not that of DA and NA. However, there was an overall increase in the levels of the catecholamines on exposure to the long photoperiod and high temperature. The administration of melatonin in the fish held on 16L8D; 22±1°C regime restored the 5-HT rhythm to that of the 12L12D; 17±1°C control group, but with elevated mid-photophase value. However, there was no effect of the indole treatment on the 5-HT rhythm under the 12L12D; 17±1°C regime. Melatonin causes a significant reduction of NA level in both the groups, while DA level did not change in either group.