Recording uterine motility in the nonanesthetized bitch

Spontaneous and drug-induced uterine motility (UM) was recorded in 5 nonanesthetized bitches for 2 to 4 days. Catheter-tip pressure transducers were surgically implanted in 1 uterine horn, tunneled subcutaneously to exit from the skin over the dorsal lumbar area, and protected by a bandage. On the day after implantation, spontaneous UM was recorded in the awake bitch. Effects of IV prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (5 micrograms/kg of body weight) and oxytocin (0.05 USP U/kg) and IM PGF2 alpha (25 micrograms/kg) were measured. Estradiol (1 to 25 micrograms/kg) was administered and the study was repeated 24 hours later. In awake bitches, spontaneous UM was 190% greater than UM in anesthetized bitches. Uterine motility was increased by more than 100% after IV PGF2 alpha or oxytocin and by 52% after IM PGF2 alpha. Estradiol abolished spontaneous UM, but did not affect drug-induced responses. Seemingly, spontaneous and drug-induced UM can be documented in the nonanesthetized bitch.     

Renal effects of carprofen administered to healthy dogs anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate renal effects of carprofen in healthy dogs following general anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 10 English hound dogs (6 females and 4 males). PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to control (n = 5) or carprofen (5) groups. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (6 to 8 mg/kg [2.7 to 3.6 mg/lb] of body weight, i.v.) and maintained with isoflurane (end-tidal concentration, 2.0%). Each dog underwent two 60-minute anesthetic episodes with 1 week between episodes, and mean arterial blood pressure was maintained between 60 and 90 mm Hg during each episode. Dogs in the carprofen group received carprofen (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], p.o.) at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM the day before and at 7:00 AM the day of the second anesthetic episode. Glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were determined during each anesthetic episode by use of renal scintigraphy. Serum creatinine and BUN concentrations and the urine gamma-glutamyltransferase-to-creatinine concentration (urine GGT:creatinine) ratio were determined daily for 2 days before and 5 days after general anesthesia. RESULTS: Significant differences were not detected in BUN and serum creatinine concentrations, urine GGT:creatinine ratio, and GFR either between or within treatment groups over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen did not significantly alter renal function in healthy dogs anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane. These results suggest that carprofen may be safe to use for preemptive perioperative analgesia, provided that normal cardiorespiratory function is maintained.     

Formation of a complex with aluminum by ozone-treated kraft lignins and their low molecular weight fragments

The formation of a complex with aluminum by low molecular weight compounds and saponified ozone-treated kraft lignins was evaluated based on the decrease in pH of their solutions on the addition of 0.1 M AlCl₃. Decreases in pH were observed with the solutions containing compounds having adjacent carboxyl groups (oxalic acid), carboxyl/alcoholic hydroxyl groups (glycolic acid), carboxyl/formyl groups (glyoxylic acid), and phenolic hydroxyl groups (protocatechuic acid) on the addition of 0.1 M AlCl₃. The malonic and phthalic acids, having two carboxyl groups, were also effective. These results show that the compounds were effective in forming complexes with aluminum. This finding corresponds to the fact that aluminum toxicity is reduced by formation of a complex with aluminum, except in phthalic acid. The chemical structures stated above in ozone-treated kraft lignins contribute, at least partly, to the complex with aluminum. The pH of solutions containing saponified ozone-treated kraft lignins and alkaline-treated kraft lignin decreased more than that without modified kraft lignins on the addition of 0.1 M AlCl₃, showing that they were effective in forming a complex with aluminum. The high molecular weight part of saponified ozone-treated kraft lignin was effective in forming a complex with aluminum and in reducing its toxicity.     

A molecular dynamics simulation on the self-assembly of ABC triblock copolymers. 3. Effects of block composition in asymmetric triblock copolymers

The self-assembly of asymmetric ABC triblock copolymers in the ordered structure is investigated using an isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics simulation. Unlike symmetric ABC triblock copolymers, more fascinating morphologies are observed in asymmetric ones because of a larger difference of incompatibility between the components. Various modes of self-assembly in assymmetric ABC triblock copolymers are also observed depending on the block composition. When the composition of block A is changed from 0.125 to 0.25 at the samef _B =0.25, the morphological transition from the “cylinder in cylinder” to “cylinders at cylinder” structure is observed in the simulation. In the case of ABC triblocks withf _B =0.5, a lamellar-type structure is changed to a cylinder-type structure with increasing the length of block A. When the mid-block length increases further tof _B =0.625, the “spheres on cylinder” structure is observed in both the A₁₀B₅₀C₂₀ and A₂₀B₅₀C₁₀ triblocks. From these results, the phase diagram of ABC triblock copolymers can be constructed. Dedicated to Professor Won-Jei Cho on the occasion of his retirement.     

番木瓜环斑花叶病的电镜观察

 番木瓜环斑花叶是一种危险性的病毒病。用浸出法及2%磷钨酸负染的病叶汁标本,在电子显微镜下观察到线状颗粒,呈长而稍弯的线状构造,直径为10-15nm,平均为12.5nm,长度最长为1200nm,最短为200nm,长度在700-800nm的线状颗粒最多,占总数的69.3%。在病叶的超薄切片中,同样也观察到线状颗粒。这些线状颗粒多达几百个,平行排列,集中成束,位于靠近细胞壁的原生质中。健叶不论采用浸出法或超薄切片制备的标本,均未观察到与上述相同或相似的线状颗粒。所以,我们认为这些线状颗粒不是番木瓜的细胞成分,而是病原病毒的一种构造。
此外,我们还观察到感染细胞内叶绿体变小、变形及其基质和淀粉粒减少的现象。     

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。     

Soybean mosaic virus Helper Component-Protease Alters Leaf Morphology and Reduces Seed Production in Transgenic Soybean Plants

ABSTRACT Transgenic soybean (Glycine max) plants expressing Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) helper component-protease (HC-Pro) showed altered vegetative and reproductive phenotypes and responses to SMV infection. When inoculated with SMV, transgenic plants expressing the lowest level of HC-Pro mRNA and those transformed with the vector alone initially showed mild SMV symptoms. Plants that accumulated the highest level of SMV HC-Pro mRNA showed very severe SMV symptoms initially, but after 2 weeks symptoms disappeared, and SMV titers were greatly reduced. Analysis of SMV RNA abundance over time with region-specific probes showed that the HC-Pro region of the SMV genome was degraded before the coat protein region. Transgenic soybean plants that expressed SMV HC-Pro showed dose-dependent alterations in unifoliate leaf morphologies and seed production where plants expressing the highest levels of HC-Pro had the most deformed leaves and the lowest seed production. Accumulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs putatively targeted by miRNAs was analyzed in leaves and flowers of healthy, HC-Pro-transgenic, and SMV-infected plants. Neither expression of SMV HC-Pro nor SMV infection produced greater than twofold changes in accumulation of six miRNAs. In contrast, SMV infection was associated with twofold or greater increases in the accumulation of four of seven miRNA-targeted mRNAs tested.     

A modified fluorometric method to quantify the concentration effect (pI50) of photosystem II-inhibiting herbicides

Chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves of isolated thylakoids were measured in the absence and in the presence of various concentrations of photosystem II-inhibiting herbicides. A mathematical program was applied to simulate the curves. Based on these simulated curves a new method is developed to determine the concentration effect (pI₅₀) of the herbicides. The results of the new method correspond well with reported values in the literature. The method is very convenient and time-saving.     

Cross-protective immunity and the serological classification system for Bacteroides nodosus

The relationship between the serological classification system for serogroup B and for serogroup H of Bacteroides nodosus and cross-protection between subgroups within these serogroups was examined. Protection against ovine footrot following vaccination was achieved against other subgroup strains provided sufficient cross-reactive antibody was induced by shared pilus antigens. Within serogroup B, better cross-protection against one subgroup was obtained with a pili vaccine than a whole cell vaccine which correlated with higher pilus antibody titres induced by the former. For serogroup H, a lack of cross-protection and serological reactivity between subgroups was demonstrated, which indicates that the prototype strain of subgroup H2 should be designated a new serogroup.