Pyloric outflow obstruction secondary to sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis in a dog

A 6-year-old, male neutered mixed breed dog was presented emergently with a three-week history of hyporexia, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Upon examination, the patient was dull, had generalised muscle atrophy, moderate abdominal pain and a mild amount of peritoneal effusion. A fluid-filled, distended, corrugated small bowel with marked gastroparesis and moderate peritoneal effusion was noted on abdominal ultrasonography. Endoscopy revealed hyperaemic and friable mucosa and a subjectively narrowed pylorus. Emergency exploratory celiotomy was performed due to worsening patient condition and revealed thick, diffuse, fibrous adhesions of the abdominal cavity. Based on these findings, sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) was suspected. A large mass of omentum adjacent to the greater curvature of the stomach had caused a pyloric outflow obstruction. Adhesiolysis was attempted but was unsuccessful due to the friability of the small intestines. The dog was humanely euthanased under anaesthesia. A diagnosis of SEP was confirmed via necropsy. No underlying cause was identified. This is the first known case of a pyloric outflow obstruction secondary to SEP in a dog. Although rare, this condition should be considered as a differential for dogs with signs of a pyloric outflow obstruction with concurrent ascites and abdominal pain, hyporexia, vomiting and diarrhoea.     

Microdamage in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon

The forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is an energy-storing tendon that is highly susceptible to injury during activities such as galloping and jumping, such that it is one of the most commonly reported causes of lameness in the performance horse. This review outlines the biomechanical and biothermal effects of strain on the SDFT and how these contribute to the accumulation of microdamage. The effect of age-related alterations on strain response and subsequent injury risk is also considered. Given that tendon is a slowly healing and poorly regenerative tissue, prompt detection of early stages of pathology in vivo and timely adaptations to training protocols are likely to have a greater outcome than advances in treatment. Early screening tools and detection protocols could subsequently be of benefit in identifying subclinical signs of degeneration during the training programme. This provides an opportunity for preventative strategies to be implemented to minimise incidences of SDFT injury and reduce recovery periods in elite performance horses. Therefore, this review will focus on the modalities available to implement early screening and prevention protocols as opposed to methods to diagnose and treat injuries.     

不同精粗比全混合颗粒饲粮对母羊营养物质表观消化率、氮代谢和能量代谢的影响

本试验研究了不同精粗比全混合颗粒饲粮对母羊营养物质表观消化率、氮代谢和能量代谢的影响,以确定母羊饲粮适宜精粗比[或中性洗涤纤维(NDF)水平]。试验采用单因素完全随机区组设计,将30只体况良好、8月龄、体重相近的杂交母羊(萨福克羊×阿勒泰羊)随机分为6个处理,每个处理5只羊,分别饲喂6种不同精粗比(85∶15、70∶30、55∶45、40∶60、25∶75、10∶90)的全混合颗粒饲粮。预试期10 d,消化代谢试验18 d,呼吸测热试验2 d。结果表明:1)全混合颗粒饲粮精粗比对母羊干物质(DM)、有机物(OM)和NDF表观消化率均产生了极显著影响(P<0.01),DM和OM表观消化率随精粗比的上升而升高,精粗比为55∶45的饲粮NDF表观消化率最高,与精粗比为85∶15和70∶30的饲粮差异不显著(P>0.05)。2)消化氮随着精粗比的上升而升高,过高或过低精粗比均不利于氮的沉积,精粗比为55∶45时,母羊对氮的利用效率最高。3)消化能、代谢能、总能消化率和总能代谢率均随着精粗比的上升而出现极显著的升高(P<0.01)。在本试验条件下,母羊对精粗比为70∶30和55∶45(NDF水平分别为37.78%和45.80%)的全混合颗粒饲粮消化吸收较好。     

Fatty acids identified in the Burmese python promote beneficial cardiac growth

Burmese pythons display a marked increase in heart mass after a large meal. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of this physiological heart growth with the goal of applying this knowledge to the mammalian heart. We found that heart growth in pythons is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy in the absence of cell proliferation and by activation of physiological signal transduction pathways. Despite high levels of circulating lipids, the postprandial python heart does not accumulate triglycerides or fatty acids. Instead, there is robust activation of pathways of fatty acid transport and oxidation combined with increased expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, a cardioprotective enzyme. We also identified a combination of fatty acids in python plasma that promotes physiological heart growth when injected into either pythons or mice.     

Diameter-Selective Raman Scattering from Vibrational Modes in Carbon Nanotubes

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that are found as close-packed arrays in crystalline ropes have been studied by using Raman scattering techniques with laser excitation wavelengths in the range from 514.5 to 1320 nanometers. Numerous Raman peaks were observed and identified with vibrational modes of armchair symmetry (n, n) SWNTs. The Raman spectra are in good agreement with lattice dynamics calculations based on C-C force constants used to fit the two-dimensional, experimental phonon dispersion of a single graphene sheet. Calculated intensities from a nonresonant, bond polarizability model optimized for sp2 carbon are also in qualitative agreement with the Raman data, although a resonant Raman scattering process is also taking place. This resonance results from the one-dimensional quantum confinement of the electrons in the nanotube.     

Pregnancy-associated Glycoprotein Profile during the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Egyptian Buffalo Cows

Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) concentrations were measured in buffalo cows starting from day 28 after breeding. Oestrus was synchronized in 10 buffaloes using two injections of 25 mg prostraglandin (PG)F_{2 α} (Lutalyse^®) at a 11-day interval. Blood sampling was conducted nearly twice weekly. Results indicated that plasma PAG concentrations in non-pregnant buffaloes were low (<0.20 ng/ml) during the whole experimental period (day 28 to 103), while in pregnant animals plasma PAG levels increased from day 28 (4.48 ± 0.92 ng/ml) until day 41 (27.27 ± 6.74 ng/ml), remaining high (20.71 ± 9.20 ng/ml) until day 103. Progesterone levels were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in pregnant (3.51–4.80 ng/ml) than in non-pregnant buffaloes (0.28–1.52 ng/ml). A significant difference (p < 0.0001) in plasma PAG concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant animals starting at day 28 after breeding suggests that PAG-radioimmunoassay could be suitable for pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes during this period. In conclusion, PAG test offers the advantages that it requires a single plasma sample for early pregnancy diagnosis as well as the accuracy of the test for the detection of pregnancy as early as day 28.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒S2基因B细胞表位嵌入型S-层蛋白在副干酪乳杆菌中的表达与鉴定

【目的】构建新型猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, PEDV)乳酸菌活菌疫苗载体。【方法】应用DNA重组技术将嗜酸乳杆菌S-层蛋白(SLP)基因及PEDV S2基因B细胞表位(EpitopeS2)融合基因(SLP-EpitopeS2)克隆到乳酸杆菌表达载体pTRK892中,构建重组载体pTRK-SLP-EpitopeS2,通过电转化方法将重组质粒导入副干酪乳杆菌中,获得重组副干酪乳杆菌。分别用SDS-PAGE、Western blotting和免疫荧光试验(IFA)鉴定目的蛋白在副干酪乳杆菌中的表达。【结果】PCR结果显示,成功扩增出大小为1 400 bp的目的条带,与插入融合基因大小一致,双酶切结果出现大小分别为1 400和4 700 bp的2条带,基因测序结果显示无碱基缺失和突变等,从而确定重组质粒pTRK-SLP-EpitopeS2构建正确。SDS-PAGE、Western blotting结果显示,在48 ku处出现与理论值大小一致的目的蛋白条带,表明融合基因SLP-EpitopeS2在副干酪乳杆菌中得到有效表达。IFA结果显示,...