Thrombelastography in dogs admitted to an intensive care unit

Background: Underlying conditions in dogs admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) can cause hemostatic dysfunction. Thrombelastography (TEG) may be useful in detecting hemostatic alterations as compared with standard coagulation tests. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare TEG results and those of standard coagulation tests in identifying hemostatic dysfunction in dogs admitted to an ICU and to investigate associations among the variables measured. Methods: Tissue factor‐activated TEG analysis, d ‐dimer and fibrinogen concentrations, antithrombin (AT) activity, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and platelet count were measured using standard techniques on 27 dogs admitted to ICU with a disease known to be associated with hemostatic dysfunction and in 31 clinically healthy control dogs. Results were compared between groups using nonparametric tests and κ analysis; principal component analysis (PCA) and Spearman rank correlation were used to measure associations among variables. Results: Fourteen of 27 ICU dogs had abnormal TEG tracings, which were used to classify the dogs as hypercoagulable (n=11), hypocoagulable (n=3), or normocoagulable (n=13). Hypercoagulable dogs had significantly increased d ‐dimer (P=.03) and fibrinogen (P=.01) concentrations compared with normocoagulable dogs. In ICU dogs, positive associations were identified between maximum amplitude (MA), α‐angle, fibrinogen concentration, and platelet count, and between PT, aPTT, and reaction time (R). Significant correlations were found between MA and fibrinogen (r_s=.76, P<.001) and between reaction time (R) and PT (r_s=.51, P=.003). Conclusions: TEG was useful in detecting hemostatic dysfunction in dogs in an ICU. Positive associations among variables may provide insight as to how overall coagulation status reflects alterations in clot strength and coagulation time. Dogs with TEG tracings indicative of hypercoagulability are likely in procoagulant states. Future studies of the incidence of thrombotic complications in dogs with hypercoagulable TEG tracings are warranted.     

Two types of radicals in whole milk powder. Effect of lactose crystallization, lipid oxidation, and browning reactions

Whole milk powder was stored in closed vials at 60 degrees C to induce crystallization of lactose within a short time scale. After an induction period of 3-4 days simultaneous crystallization of lactose, increase of water activity, formation of browning products, and increase of radical content took place. Radicals detected before lactose crystallization were characterized by a narrow ESR spectrum (g = 2.006) and could be depleted by removal of oxygen and therefore were assigned to oxidation processes. Late-stage radicals present after crystallization of lactose gave much wider spectra (g = 2.0048) and were independent of oxygen availability and assigned to late-stage Maillard reaction products. The study indicates that the processes of lactose crystallization, browning, and formation of radical species (g = 2.0048) are strongly coupled, while lipid oxidation is less dependent on the other processes.     

Bioavailability of triazine herbicides in a sandy soil profile

The bioavailability of atrazine was evaluated in a Danish soil profile (Drengsted) using a combination of soil sorption, transport and mineralisation methods as well as inoculation using Pseudomonas ADP. Sorption of atrazine decreased markedly with depth as indicated by K_d values of 5.2 l kg^-1 for the upper soil and 0.1 l kg^-1 for the subsoils. The transport of atrazine was evaluated using soil TLC plates and the resulting R_f values were 0.1 for the upper soil and 0.9 for the subsoil. Only a relatively small amount of atrazine leached through undisturbed soil columns taken from the upper 60 cm. Inoculating with Pseudomonas strain ADP (1᎒⁶ CFU g^-1 dry weight soil) revealed that the degradation of 0.01 ppm atrazine was fully completed (80% mineralisation) within 10 days in the subsoil, while it reached less than 15% in the upper soil. Over a period of 500 days, a total mineralisation of 37% of added atrazine in the upper soil was found (2 mg kg^-1 incubated at 20° C). However, in the subsurface soil where 0.02 mg kg^-1 of atrazine was incubated at 10°C, the degradation was slower, only reaching about 12%. Terbuthylazine mineralisation was found to be temperature-dependent and low (less than 5%) in the upper soil and very much lower in the subsoil. Desethylterbuthylazine was the most frequently found metabolite. Finally, Pseudomonas strain ADP inoculated into soils from different depths increased the mineralisation of terbuthylazine dramatically. Modelling using a "two-compartment model" indicated that desorption of terbuthylazine is the limiting step for its mineralisation.     

A generic framework to assess the representation and protection of benthic ecosystems in European marine protected areas

1. There is concern across the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) region that a consideration of vulnerable components and the wider support mechanisms underpinning benthic marine ecosystems may be lacking from the process of marine protected area (MPA) designation, management and monitoring.
2. In this study, MPAs across six European ecoregions were assessed from a benthic ecology perspective. The study included 102 MPAs, designated by 10 countries, and focused on three aspects regarding the role of the benthos in: (i) the designation of MPAs; (ii) the management measures used in MPAs; and (iii) the monitoring and assessment of MPAs.
3. Qualitative entries to a questionnaire based on an existing framework (EU project ‘Monitoring Evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas’, (MESMA) were collected by 19 benthic experts of the ICES Benthic Ecology Working Group. A pedigree matrix was used to apply a numerical scale (score) to these entries.
4. The results showed clear differences in scores between ecoregions and between criteria. The designation‐phase criteria generally achieved higher scores than the implementation‐phase criteria. Poor designation‐phase scores were generally reiterated in the implementation‐phase scores, such as scores for assessment and monitoring.
5. Over 70% of the MPA case studies were found to consider the benthos to some extent during selection and designation; however, this was not followed up with appropriate management measures and good practice during the implementation phase.
6. Poor spatial and temporal coverage of monitoring and ineffective indicators is unlikely to pick up changes caused by management measures in the MPA. There is concern that without adequate monitoring and adaptive management frameworks, the MPAs will be compromised. Also, there could be an increased likelihood that, with regard to the benthos, they will fail to meet their conservation objectives.
7. This assessment was successful in highlighting issues related to the representation and protection of the benthos in MPAs and where changes need to be made, such as expanding the characterization and monitoring of benthic species or habitats of interest. These issues could be attributable to an ongoing process and/or an indication that some MPAs only have ‘paper protection’.

     

Handheld mechanical nociceptive threshold testing in dairy cows – intra‐individual variation,inter‐observer agreement and variation over time

ObjectiveTo examine the use of handheld methodology to assess mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) on cows kept loose-housed.Study designProspective randomized partial cross-over experimental study. A one-factor (test day) design was used to evaluate MNT over time.AnimalsOne hundred and fifteen healthy, loose-housed Danish Holstein cattle.MethodsWe evaluated intra-individual variation, inter-observer agreement and variation over time of MNT using two handheld devices and two stimulation sites. Mechanical, ramped stimulations were performed with an algometer (6.5 mm diameter steel probe, 0–10.0 kgf) or an electronic von Frey device (plastic tip with diameter 0.8 mm, 0–1000 gf). Each cow received 5–6 consecutive stimulations within a 2 × 5 cm skin area on the dorsal or lateral aspect of the left third metatarsus until an avoidance reaction occurred. We investigated the difference in precision [expressed as coefficient of variation (CV)] between the combinations of devices and stimulation sites. The inter-observer agreement and the difference in MNT between test day 1, 3, 7, 10 and 24 were investigated for selected combinations. Data were analysed in mixed models and Bland-Altman as relevant.ResultsThe CVs did not differ [range 0.34–0.52 (p = 0.1)]. Difference between observers (95% limits) was 0.2 kgf (2.8) and 4 gf (369) for the algometer and von Frey device, respectively. Mechanical nociceptive threshold increased from 361 on test day one to 495 gf on test day 24 (p < 0.01).Conclusion and clinical relevanceAll methods showed a high degree of intra-individual variation, and no combination of device and stimulation site showed superior precision. Mean difference between observers was low, and MNT was not consistent over time. Further development of the methods is required before they can be used in research to investigate possible relations between claw lesions and hyperalgesia.     

Variation in rheological properties of gluten from three biscuit wheat cultivars in relation to nitrogen fertilisation

Rheological properties of gluten from three biscuit wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum, L., cv. Reaper, Ritmo, Encore) were studied. The cultivars were grown in two seasons (1997–1999) with three different nitrogen levels, and nitrogen fertiliser was applied using three different strategies. Protein and gluten contents were significantly affected by the N level (P<0.001), but inter-cultivar differences were only significant in 1999, when growing conditions were restricted by environmental factors. The viscoelastic properties of gluten were characterised by creep recovery and oscillation testing. The results showed a significant inter-cultivar effect (P<0.001), with an additional effect from the N level (P<0.001). Increasing levels of nitrogen fertiliser increased the viscous properties of gluten, through an increase of maximum strain and recovery strain, and through a decrease of the storage (G′) and loss modulus (G′′), whereas the phase angle, δ, increased. This increase in viscous behaviour is suggested to be attributed to a higher gliadin/glutenin ratio in the gluten. The fertiliser application strategy did not influence the rheological properties significantly. Thus, high N fertiliser application in biscuit wheat cultivation may be beneficial to obtain rheological properties, which are suitable for biscuit making.     

The effect of storage conditions on chemical content of raw potatoes and texture of cooked potatoes

Summary Texture of boiled potato tubers (cv. Beate) was studied over several months of storage at either 4 or 8 °C, in relation to dry matter content, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), methyl groups, glucose, starch and amylose. The dry matter content decreased significantly during storage at 4 °C, but increased at 8 °C due to evaporation. The insoluble NSP contained rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, fucose and glucose; the first three sugars decreased significantly after the first 7 weeks of storage. Fracturability and percent compression before break increased during storage at 8 °C, particularly percent compression after 15 weeks. The change in fracturability could partly be explained (R²=43.4%) by the content of the NSP and the increase in percent compression by dry matter (R²=91.8%). Changes in texture during storage at 4 °C, however, were not striking, and could not be explained by changes in the potato components that were analysed.     

Detection of potato leaf roll virus and potato viruses M,S, X and Y by dot immunobinding on plain paper

Summary Potato leafroll virus and potato viruses M, S, X and Y in green leaves were detected by dot immunobinding (DIB) on plain paper and on nitrocellulose membranes. On both materials, DIB could detect the presence of very small amounts of virus, e.g. 30 pg of purified PVX. The sensitivity of the DIB test on plain paper and on nitrocellulose was compared to Double Antibody Sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA) by serial dilutions of infected plant sap made in healthy plant sap. Detection of potato viruses by DIB on plain paper and nitrocellulose was found to be equally sensitive whereas DAS-ELISA was 2 to 8 times more sensitive. Possible simplifications of the DIB procedure to suit the requirements of a routine method were examined. The use of the DIB method for routine testing of potato viruses is discussed.