Lens Lesions in the Elk

During the period 1973–1976, eyes from 17 elks (Alces a. alces L) were examined, bilateral cataract being found in nine elks, and a cataract found in an additional elk, from which only one eye was submitted for examination. Macro-scopically, the lenses were more or less deformed and reduced in size, being milky white or brownish grey and shrunk, their surface uneven and granular. Microscopically, there was a marked fluid accumulation between the lens fibers and apparently also a swelling of the lens fibers. Proliferation and swelling of epithelial cells were observed as well. Etiological factors are discussed.     

Plasminogen activation in the bovine udder

Plasmin is a serin protease with a broad substrate specificity which might cause disintegration of basal membranes, epithelium and surrounding matrix. Plasmin might also elicit degradation of tissue (Mullins & Rohrlich 1983).     

Surgical treatment of laryngeal paralysis in a cat

A one year old cat, with a history of respiratory dyspnea since it was eight weeks of age, was found to have abnormal function of the larynx. A castellated laryngofissure and bilateral ventriculocordectomy was performed. The respiratory distress was alleviated and the cat's personality changed from being apprehensive and elusive to that of a friendly, social animal. A slight cough remained and a fiberoptic examination four months postoperatively revealed that the right arytenoid drooped medially. Thirteen months after the arytenoid was sutured to the lateral wall of the pharynx, the cat is coughing less frequently and appears to be doing well.     

Surgical management of premature closure of the distal ulnar growth plate in a growing dog

Surgical management of deformity due to premature closure of the distal ulnar growth plate in a growing dog is discussed. The method of management selected was ulnar diaphyseal ostectomy with transphyseal wiring of the distal radius. Elbow subluxatin and degenerative joint disease as a consequence of premature ulnar closure are also discussed.     

Rotavirus antibody assays on monkey sera: a comparison of enzyme immunoassay with neutralization and complement-fixation tests.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of rotaviral antibodies was developed, using a purified, cell culture-grown SA 11 viral antigen and alkaline phosphatase as an enzyme label. This technique was evaluated by comparative testing with tube neutralization and complement-fixation assays on a collection of simian sera. There was close correlation between positive and negative results obtained by EIA and by neutralization. The EIA was as easy to perform as complement fixation testing, but showed greater sensitivity and fewer nonspecific reactions. Thus, EIA was shown to be a very suitable test for routine detection of rotaviral antibodies in serum. Results of neutralization tests suggested that the monkeys (mostly rhesus macaques) in the present study were infected with viruses varying in their antigenic relatedness to SA 11 virus and to a British isolate of calf rotavirus.     

The biomechanical properties of the feline femur

The purpose of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of feline long bone by testing cadaver bone from mature cats in compression, three-point bending, notch sensitivity and screw pull-out strength. The determination of these properties is of clinical relevance with regard to the forces resulting in long bone fractures in cats as well as the behaviour and failure mode of surgical implants utilized for fracture stabilization and repair in the cat. Cadaveric cat femurs were tested in compression, three-point bending and in three-point bending after the addition of a 2.0 mm screw hole. Cortical screws, 2.7 mm in diameter, were inserted in cadaveric cat femur samples for screw pull-out testing. The mean maximum load to failure of mid diaphyseal feline femurs tested in compression was 4201+/-1218 N. Statistical analysis of the parameter of maximum load tested in compression revealed a statistical difference between sides (p=0.02), but not location (p=0.07), or location by side (p=0.12). The maximum strength of mid diaphyseal feline femurs tested in compression was 110.6+/-26.6 MPa. The modulus of elasticity of mid-diaphyseal cat femurs tested in compression was determined to be 5.004+/-0.970 GPa. The mean maximum load to failure of feline femurs tested in three-point bending was 443+/-98 N. The mean maximum load to failure of feline femurs tested in three-point bending after a 2.0 mm diameter hole was drilled in the mid-diaphyseal region of each sample through both cortices was 471+/-52 N. The mean maximum load required for screw pull-out of 2.7 mm cortical screws placed in feline femurs tested in tension was 886+/-221 N. This data should be suitable for investigating fracture biomechanics and the testing of orthopaedic constructs commonly used for fracture stabilization in the feline patient.     

Peroxyl radical scavenging capacity, polyphenolics, and lipophilic antioxidant profiles of mulberry fruits cultivated in southern China

Twenty-seven cultivars of mulberry fruits ( Morus atropurpurea Roxb) were analyzed for their total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and peroxyl radical scavenging capacities. The proanthocyanidin contents of the fruit were also quantified using 4-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde assay, and characterization was attempted using electrospray ionization mass spectra. The phenolic compounds of mulberry fruits were characterized using HPLC with ESI-MS and diode array detection. Results showed that the content of mulberry fruits varied with different cultivars with total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, total proanthocyanidin content, and peroxyl radical scavenging capacities ranging from 0.060-0.244, 0.001-0.056, 0.001-0.015, and 0.301-1.728, respectively. Good correlations were observed among the phenolic, anthocyanin, and proanthocyanidin contents and the radical scavenging capacities of mulberry fruits. Mulberry fruits were found to contain low amount of proanthocyanidins. The high total phenolic content of mulberry fruits were mainly contributed by anthocyanins, rutin, and chlorogenic acids. The lipid soluble antioxidants are profiled by an HPLC method developed in-house, and the results of selected mulberry fruits revealed significant amounts of lutein and delta- and gamma-tocopherols but low alpha-tocopherol. Our results provide useful antioxidant nutritional information of a mulberry cultivar that has potential for large scale plantations.     

葡萄次生代谢UDP-糖基转移酶研究进展

UDP-糖基转移酶催化糖基转移反应,将糖基从活化的供体分子转移到受体分子上,从而调节受体分子在细胞内和机体内的性质,如生物活性、溶解性、可转运性。糖苷化是葡萄次生代谢很普遍的修饰反应,在次生代谢产物合成、贮存方面发挥重要功能。综述了与葡萄次生代谢产物生物合成相关的UDP-糖基转移酶的生化及分子生物学研究进展,并对今后这一领域需要进一步研究的问题作了讨论。