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Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Pleuropneumonia in two horses caused by a tracheobronchial foreign body

Two horses suffering from a cough, purulent foul smelling nasal discharge, inappetence and intermittent fever were hospitalised at the Equine Clinic in Brno from 2008–2010. A diagnosis was made on the basis of endoscopic examination which revealed a foreign body (thorny branchlet) in the right caudal lobe bronchus in both horses. Pleuropneumonia developed as a complication in both horses. Following endoscopic extraction of the foreign bodies, both horses were treated using antibiotics and drainage of the pleural cavity. One of the patients recovered, the second was subjected to euthanasia at the request of the owner.     

A synaptic vesicle protein with a novel cytoplasmic domain and four transmembrane regions

Complementary DNA and genomic clones were isolated and sequenced corresponding to rat and human synaptophysin (p38), a major integral membrane protein of synaptic vesicles. The deduced amino acid sequences indicate an evolutionarily highly conserved protein that spans the membrane four times. Both amino and carboxyl termini face the cytoplasm, with the latter containing ten copies of a tyrosine-rich pentapeptide repeat. The structure of synaptophysin suggests that the protein may function as a channel in the synaptic vesicle membrane, with the carboxyl terminus serving as a binding site for cellular factors.     

Coagulopathy of the critically ill equine patient

Objective – To review the hemostasis literature relevant to development of coagulopathy in the critically ill equine patient.
Data Source – Original scientific and review articles.
Human Data Synthesis – Inflammation plays a critical role in the activation and amplification of clot formation, as well as the impairment of physiologic anticoagulant mechanisms, and fibrinolysis. Earlier identification of coagulopathy in patients at risk and restoration of physiologic hemostasis may result in better outcome. Development of scoring systems based on information other than coagulation markers alone may better identify patients with subclinical coagulopathy.
Veterinary Data Synthesis – Critically ill equine patients commonly at risk for coagulopathy include those with severe gastrointestinal disease, septic foals, and adults subjected to severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Publications provide information regarding coagulation markers helpful for identification of hemostatic dysfunction in specific patient populations, as well as information regarding the influence of coagulopathy on outcome. Data regarding clinically relevant information on therapeutic intervention are lacking.
Conclusions – The relationship between inflammation and endotoxemia and development of coagulopathy is better understood in both human patients and the critically ill equine patient. Prospective clinical trials evaluating clinically relevant and financially feasible approaches to treatment are still needed.     

Effects of genotype and environment on total anti-oxidant capacity and the content of sugars and acids in strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Summary

Total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) and the contents of mono- and disaccharides, and organic acids were determined in strawberry fruit from ten genotypes sampled from eight experimental sites in Norway in 2002 and 2003. The difference between genotypes was significant for all recorded traits, and it appeared possible to select for all traits in breeding programmes. On average, the Norwegian bred cultivar ‘Carmen’ had a TAC of 30.07 mmol kg^–1 fresh weight (FW), compared to 23.16 mmol kg^–1 FW in the standard cultivar ‘Korona’. TAC was negatively correlated with fruit size, rainfall and leaf surface humidity, but was positively correlated with the minimum temperature on the day prior to sampling. Mono- and di-saccharide contents were negatively correlated with both minimum and maximum temperatures, and with wind velocity. It was confirmed that the sugars:organic acids ratio was inversely related to the maximum temperature on the day before harvest, which supports anecdotal claims that strawberries grown in northern areas have, on average, better flavour.     

Korrelation zwischen spermatologischen Befunden and Hyaluronidase-Aktivität m Stiersamen

Inhalt Acht Stiere wurden nach der spermatologischen Qualität ihrer Ejakulate in 2 Versuchsgruppen unterteilt und von jedem Tier 8 Ejakulate als native, verdünnte und aufgetaute Samenproben für die spermatologischen and biochemischen Untersuchungen verwendet. Eine signifikant positive Korrelation bestand zwischen der geschätzten Motilität und dem durch die Supravitalfärbung ermittelten Prozentsatz lebender Spermien. Bei den Ejakulaten geringerer Qualität war ein rascher and stärkerer Verlust der Spermienbeweglichkeit infolge des Verdünnens und Gefrierens zu beobachten als bei Ejakulaten guter Qualität. Zwischen der Hyaluronidase-Aktivität und der Spermienmorphologie bestand kein gesicherter Zusammenhang. Wohl aber konnte eine statistisch signifikant positive Korrelation zwischen der Hyaluronidase-Aktivität and dem Prozentsatz unbeweglicher Samenzellen in verdünnten and aufgetauten Samenproben nachgewiesen werden. Contents Correlation between spermatological results and hyaluronidase activity in bull semen. Eight bulls were assigned to two groups according to the spermatological quality of their ejaculates. For spermatological and biochemical examination eight ejaculates from each animal were processed as undiluted, diluted and thawed samples. A significantly positive correlation was found between motility and percentage of living spermatozoa estimated by an eosine stain. Lower quality ejaculates displayed a quicker and more pronounced loss of motility upon dilution and freeze preservation than ejaculates with good quality. In diluted as well as in thawed semen samples a significantly positive correlation could be found between the percentage of hyaluronidase released into the seminal plasma and the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. There was no strict correlation between hyaluronidase activity and sperm morphology.