Evaluation of basal media for micropropagation of four highbush blueberry cultivars

Murashige and Skoog medium (MS), woody plant medium (WPM), and a mixture of equal parts of MS and WPM (MW) were compared for in vitro shoot proliferation and rooting of four highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) cultivars. During the multiplication stage, the shoots on WPM showed worse growth than the other shoots. The MW produced the best shoot growth. The shoots on MS grew well but tended toward hyperhydricity in the multiplication stage, especially in the case of ‘Bluecrop’ shoots. Rooting was worst in the shoots multiplied on WPM, while the best rooting percentage of ‘Bluecrop’ shoots was obtained on MS, and that of ‘O’Neal’ on MW. The rooted shoots developed a good root system and were easily acclimatized after potting.     

Prognostic significance of hypermethylation of death‐associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene CpG island in dogs with high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma

Death‐associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a serine/threonine kinase and a tumour suppressor gene. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas with inactivated DAPK through hypermethylation of a CpG island is known to result in a biologically aggressive phenotype in humans. This retrospective study was carried out to analyse the prognostic significance of DAPK CpG island hypermethylation in canine lymphoma. We hypothesized that DAPK CpG island hypermethylation can be a negative prognostic indicator in dogs with nodal high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma. Forty‐seven dogs with high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma, according to the updated Kiel classification, were evaluated after being treated with a CHOP (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone)‐based chemotherapy protocol. The methylation status of the DAPK CpG island was examined by methylation‐specific PCR. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using the Kaplan‐Meier analysis and log‐rank test. The cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the effect of multiple variables. Hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island was detected in 21 of the 47 dogs. The PFS and OS in dogs with the hypermethylation (median: 220 and 266 days, respectively) were significantly shorter than those of dogs without hypermethylation (median: 301 and 412 days, respectively) (PFS, P = .036; OS, P = .007). In the multivariate analysis, hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island remained an independent prognostic factor in predicting shortened PFS (P = .047) and OS (P = .021) as well as clinical substage b. Overall, hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island was a negative prognostic factor in canine high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma.     

Mineral and vegetable oils as effective dormancy release agents for sustainable viticulture in a sub-tropical region

Increasing restrictions on the use of agrochemicals in agriculture is a major limiting factor for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) growers, especially with respect to the use of hydrogen cyanamide as a bud dormancy-releasing compound, which is usually necessary in sub-tropical regions. In this context, a trial of the cultivar ‘Carmem’ was carried out in a commercial vineyard located in Paraná State, Southern Brazil, with the aim of developing an environmentally friendly and economically viable bud-break treatment. The following treatments were applied over two consecutive years: (i) control (water); (ii) 2% (v/v) vegetable oil (VO); (iii) 2% (v/v) mineral oil (MO); (iv) 2% (v/v) VO + 2% (v/v) MO; or (v) 3% (v/v) hydrogen cyanamide (HC). In both years, treatments (iv) and (v) increased bud-break percentages by a similar extent, from 24–25.0% to 60–95%. Both treatments also increased the number of berry clusters and yield, from 0.9–1.3 kg to 3.3–4.6 kg per vine, and decreased catalase activity in buds until 24 h after treatment. It appears that treatment (iv) could provide a substitute for the use of 3% (v/v) hydrogen cyanamide in viticulture in the sub-tropics, and could be a sustainable alternative based on lower cost and environmental impact.     

Comparison of the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern of the fiber gene and pathogenicity of serotype-1 fowl adenovirus isolates from gizzard erosions and from feces of clinically healthy chickens in Japan.

The fiber gene sequence and pathogenicity of the serotype-1 fowl adenovirus (FAdV-1) isolated from gizzard erosions and from clinically normal chickens were compared among isolates. The FAdV-99ZH strain, which induced gizzard erosions, had a nucleotide sequence of the long fiber gene that was different from that of the Ote strain, which did not induce gizzard erosions. The differences could be distinguished by use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The long fiber gene of 16 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions and 10 FAdV-1 isolates from the feces of clinically normal chickens was examined by use of PCR-RFLP analysis. All 16 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions had the same restriction patterns as those of strain 99ZH; however, 10 FAdV-1 isolates from normal chickens were classified into 3 groups. Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were inoculated orally with 2 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions or 3 FAdV-1 isolates from clinically normal chickens to determine the pathogenicity of each strain. Two of 2 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions induced gizzard erosions. Two of 3 FAdV-1 isolates from normal chickens had the same PCR-RFLP patterns as those of the Ote strain, but did not induce any gizzard erosions. However, 1 FAdV-1 isolate from clinically normal chickens had the same PCR-RFLP pattern as that of strain 99ZH and induced gizzard erosions. These results indicate that there are FAdV-1 strains that have different pathogenicity; one strain induces gizzard erosions, and the other does not. Use of PCR-RFLP analysis of long fiber genes may be able to distinguish between these two strains.     

Hypercholesterolemia in Shetland sheepdogs

Plasma lipoprotein cholesterol in 64 clinically healthy Shetland sheepdogs was evaluated to assess whether the breed is more susceptible to hypercholesterolemia. The incidence of hypercholesterolemia was clearly higher in Shetland sheepdogs and mean plasma cholesterol level was significantly higher in Shetland sheepdogs than in control dogs. Blood biochemical examinations did not evidence the abnormalities, which imply the causative disorders, and thyroid hormone levels were not significantly different from the controls. These results suggest that the cholesterolemia is a primary disorder. Cholesterol fractionation by agarose gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation revealed that accumulation of alpha2-migrating lipoproteins was the common characteristic of dogs showing cholesterol level over 250 mg/dl in the breed. Increase in prebeta-beta-lipoproteins was also found in Shetland sheepdogs with marked hypercholesterolemia over 500 mg/dl. Therefore. Shetland sheepdogs may include more dogs with primary disorders in lipoprotein metabolism, which cause hypercholesterolemia. at least in Japan.     

Ultrasonographic findings in abdominal mast cell disease: a retrospective study of 19 patients

A retrospective survey from January 1989 to January 1999 of Tufts University Foster Hospital for Small Animals radiology records of 12 dogs and seven cats with cytologically or histopathologically confirmed abdominal mast cell disease was performed. Ultrasound changes in hepatic mast cell infiltration in dogs included a subjective increase in size, a diffuse increase in echogenicity, and one or more hypoechoic nodules. Ultrasound findings in the affected canine spleen included one or more hypoechoic nodules and a subjective increase in size. Two ultrasonographically unremarkable canine livers and one unremarkable spleen were found to be infiltrated by mast cells. The mast cell-infiltrated feline spleen was subjectively increased in size, mottled, irregular, or contained nodules. The affected lymph nodes in both dogs and cats were hypoechoic or inhomogeneous, subjectively increased in size, and rounded. Gastrointestinal involvement in cats was characterized by a thickened ileocecocolic junction or colon with loss of wall layering. Mast cells were not found in the gastrointestinal tract in any dog. One dog with mast cell infiltrate of the kidneys had multiple hypoechoic nodules in the cortex that distorted the outer contour of the kidney. Although these findings are not specific to the disease in either species, abdominal ultrasound is considered a useful tool for determining the extent of disease in small-animal patients with mast cell tumor if used in conjunction with histopathology or cytology.     

Persistent hypoglycemia induced by continuous insulin infusion in broiler chickens

1. Persistent hypoglycaemia was experimentally induced by insulin infusion to improve understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of blood glucose concentrations specific to chickens. 2. An osmotic minipump containing bovine insulin was implanted to deliver insulin in vivo at a constant rate (11.25 to 45 U/kg BW/d) for 5 d in 4-week-old broiler chickens force-fed a maintenance diet once a d. Birds infused with the highest dose of insulin died within 3 to 4 d. 3. In chickens continuously infused with insulin at 22.5 U/kg BW/d, fasting glucose concentrations in plasma determined every 3 h during the 3rd day of infusion were consistently and significantly lower than in controls. 4. Continuous infusion of insulin at 22.5 U/kg BW/d induced persistent hypoglycaemia (almost one-half the normal blood glucose concentration) lasting for at least 4 d in broiler chickens. 5. Insulin infusion did not significantly change plasma NEFA or protein concentrations and increased plasma GOT activity only at 1 of the daily experimental sampling points.     

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in urine of cows with renal parenchymal lesions

OBJECTIVE: To measure N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in urine of cows with renal diseases and to correlate values for NAG activity with renal lesions. ANIMALS: 8 lactating Holstein cows and a Japanese Shorthorn cow, all of which had renal disease. PROCEDURE: Urine samples were collected, and urinary NAG activity and creatinine concentration were measured. The NAG activity was expressed as units per gram of creatinine (NAG index). Cows were euthanatized, necropsy was performed, and correlations between results for urinary NAG index and histopathologic findings for the kidneys were evaluated. RESULTS: The NAG activity and NAG index in urine samples obtained from cows with interstitial nephritis were high, ranging from 4.2 to 13.6 U/L and 3.5 to 23.0 U/g, respectively. A cow with renal amyloidosis also had high values for urinary NAG activity and NAG index. Histologic examination of the kidneys revealed various kinds of parenchymal lesions. However, urinary NAG index in cows with enzootic bovine leukosis was low. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cows with renal diseases had high urinary NAG indexes that correlated well with their renal lesions, except for cows with enzootic bovine leukosis. Therefore, measurement of NAG index in urine samples has the potential to provide new perspectives on clinical diagnosis of renal disease in cattle.