Negative hepatic computed tomographic attenuation pattern in a dog with vacuolar hepatopathy and hepatic fat accumulation secondary to cushing's syndrome

This report describes an unusual computed tomographic (CT) hepatic pattern, characterized by negative attenuation values (from –19.59 to –28.85 Hounsfield Units, HU) in a canine patient with severe Cushing's syndrome. Attenuation values of the splenic parenchyma (63.26 HU) and abdominal fat (–118.34 HU) were within normal limits. The negative hepatic attenuation values allowed a CT diagnosis of severe hepatic fatty infiltration that was subsequently confirmed by tissue‐core biopsy and histopathological examination.     

Heavy Metal Content of Plant Species along Nilüfer Stream in Industrialized Bursa City, Turkey

The Paraíba do Sul river is located in one of the most developed part of Brazil and receives many organic and industrial effluents directly affecting the ichthyofauna. Concentration of four heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb) were determined in two tissues (muscle and gonads) of three abundant fish species from different trophic levels (Oligosarcus hepsetus—carnivore, Geophagus brasiliensis—omnivore and Hypostomus luetkeni—detritivore) between November 2002 and April 2003. The aim was to test the hypothesis that the trophic level and the proximity from impacted areas influence levels of contamination and to assess if these species are indicators of large-scale habitat quality. Levels of heavy metals were detected by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence with Synchrotron Radiation (SR-TXRF) at the Brazilian National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS). Generally, gonads showed higher metal concentration than muscles, except for Cr. All examined metals, but Cu, exceeded the maximum permitted concentration (mpc) by the Brazilian legislation for human consumption in at least one tissue. O. hepsetus (carnivore) showed the highest contamination levels, followed by G. brasiliensis (omnivore) and H. luetkeni (detritivore). The middle-upper segment, which encompasses large urban areas, showed the highest levels of metal contamination in most cases. O. hepsetus showed the highest levels of contamination in muscles for Pb in the middle-upper river segment (7.98?±?3.73; mpc?=?2.0 μg g^?1) and for Cr in the upper (5.53?±?0.05; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) and middle-upper (4.20?±?0.85; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) segments, which indicates that human population should avoid to consume these fishes species from these segments of the Paraíba do Sul river.     

Humus-Rich Compost Increases Lettuce Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Mycorrhizal Colonisation, and Soil Fertility

Sandy soils, typical of Australia's west, either have little or no habitat protection for microbes including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are essential for nutrient cycling. To minimize this problem, the application of organic matter, such as humus-rich composts, is necessary during vegetable crop production. This study aimed at determining the effects of humus-rich composts on either indigenous or inoculated AM fungal colonisation in roots, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Quechua) growth, and soil fertility improvement. Four different humus-rich composts with varying humus contents were applied at the same standard rate to lettuce grown under glasshouse conditions for 10 weeks after sowing and compared with two low-humus composts and non-amended soil (control). Humus-rich composts significantly increased lettuce shoot growth, root growth, and AM fungal colonisation in roots. Humus contents in the composts were also correlated with lettuce shoot and root growth. Soil dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and fertility were increased with the application of humus-rich composts. These humus-rich composts, especially the compost of higher humic acid with and without AM inoculation, might have a significant role in sustainable vegetable production, for example lettuce growth. Overall, the results indicate that supplementation with humus-rich compost is highly beneficial to enhance soil fertility and potentially maintain the sustainability of vegetable production.     

Genetic differentiation between local populations of Ips typographus in the high Tatra Mountains range

Many studies have addressed the question of dispersal potential of Ips typographus, however the approach of molecular ecology have been used only in a few of them. Moreover, none of them has done it on fine scale of just one mountain range. Molecular analysis using a set of six polymorphic microsatellite markers was applied in this study. Adult beetles of I. typographus collected in 22 localities of the High Tatra Mountains were used for the study of genetic differentiation between rapidly expanded local populations of bark beetles after windstorm calamities in spruce stands. Almost none genetic differentiation among local populations or among larger spatial units has been revealed. Analyses did not indicate isolation of populations by distance or formation of population structure. This suggests high potential of I. typographus to disperse over large distances and even the possibility to overcome high mountains ridges.     

Changes in the photosynthetic activity of Microcystis colonies after gut passage through Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

The photosynthetic activity of cyanobacteria (predominantly Microcystis spp.) after passage through the digestive tract of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) was determined by CCD fluorescence imaging, using slow complementary area approach, during a 4‐day cultivation of fish faeces in algal ZBB medium. The cyanobacteria colonies exhibited a 92–95% reduction in of activity (P<0.001) after passage through Nile tilapia, whereas there was a significant (P<0.01) stimulation of photosynthetic activity after passage through the silver carp gut.     

Anthocyanin absorption and antioxidant status in pigs

The effect of a simultaneous intake of food or flavonoids on anthocyanins absorption and antioxidant status in pigs was investigated. Twelve male pigs at 27.1 +/- 0.7 kg BW fitted with jugular venous cannulae were maintained in individual metabolic crates. The animals were each given one of three dietary treatments in random order: blackcurrant powder (BC) to give a dose of 100 mg total ACNs/kg BW mixed either with water and sugar (Diet A), cereal (Weet-Bix), milk, and sugar (Diet B), or cereal, milk, sugar, and an additional flavonol (rutin, approximately 100 mg/kg BW) (Diet C). The four major anthocyanins of BC, delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, were identified and quantified by HPLC-PDA in all three diets. In the pig plasma, four peaks with a reversed pattern to those of anthocyanins in the BC extract were detected. The total amount of anthocyanins absorbed was not significantly different between the three diets, but the rate of absorption and subsequent decline was slower following administration of diet B and C than diet A. All three diets increased antioxidant capacity when measured by the FRAP assay but not when measured by the ORAC and non-protein ORAC assay. However, the increase was delayed and did not appear until 4 h after ingestion, at a time when plasma anthocyanin levels had returned to baseline. The present study demonstrates that the simultaneous intake of food or other flavonoids delays the absorption profile for anthocyanins. Our results also suggest that the increase in antioxidant capacity is not due to dietary anthocyanins but may be due to metabolites that result from anthocyanin consumption.     

Opportunities for agent‐based modelling in human dimensions of fisheries

Models of human dimensions of fisheries are important to understanding and predicting how fishing industries respond to changes in marine ecosystems and management institutions. Advances in computation have made it possible to construct agent‐based models (ABMs)—which explicitly describe the behaviour of individual people, firms or vessels in order to understand and predict their aggregate behaviours. ABMs are widely used for both academic and applied purposes in many settings including finance, urban planning and the military, but are not yet mainstream in fisheries science and management, despite a growing literature. ABMs are well suited to understanding emergent consequences of fisher interactions, heterogeneity and bounded rationality, especially in complex ecological, social and institutional contexts. For these reasons, we argue that ABMs of human behaviour can contribute significantly to human dimensions of fisheries in three areas: (a) understanding interactions between multiple management institutions; (b) incorporating cognitive and behavioural sciences into fisheries science and practice; and (c) understanding and projecting the social consequences of management institutions. We provide simple examples illustrating the potential for ABMs in each of these areas, using conceptual (“toy”) versions of the POSEIDON model. We argue that salient strategic advances in these areas could pave the way for increased tactical use of ABMs in fishery management settings. We review common ABM development and application challenges, with the aim of providing guidance to beginning ABM developers and users studying human dimensions of fisheries.     

Variability in S-Alk(en)yl-l-Cysteine Sulfoxides in Garlic within a Seven-Month Period Determined by a Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The composition of garlic (Allium sativum L.) may vary among cultivars and, moreover, change over time, thereby affecting both biological activity and flavour....     

Unilateral invasive intraocular melanoma with choroidal and optic nerve involvement resulting in bilateral vision loss in a Labrador Retriever

A 10-year-old male castrated Labrador Retriever cross was referred for evaluation of acute vision loss. Ophthalmic examination revealed mild left sided exophthalmos, bilateral resting mydriasis, an absent direct and reduced consensual PLR in the left eye and reduced direct and absent consensual PLR in the right eye. Examination of the cornea and anterior segment with slit lamp biomicroscopy was unremarkable. Indirect fundoscopy revealed a left optic nerve head obscured by a darkly pigmented lesion. Fundic examination in the right eye was unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a smoothly marginated, lobulated cone to irregularly shaped, strongly T1 hyperintense, T2 and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hypointense, strongly contrast enhancing mass closely associated with the entire left optic nerve, extending across the optic chiasm and into the right optic nerve ventrally. Full clinical staging revealed no evidence of metastasis. Exenteration of the left eye was performed. Histopathology revealed an unencapsulated, poorly demarcated, multilobulated and infiltrative pigmented mass that was effacing the posterior choroid and optic nerve. The mass was composed of a moderately pleomorphic population of heavily pigmented polygonal cells arranged in sheets and clusters, displaying moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The population of cells contained moderate amounts of abundant brown-black granular pigment consistent with melanin within the cytoplasm. Mitotic figures averaged approximately three per ten 400× fields (2.37 mm²). This is the first report of a melanocytic tumor invading along the optic nerve and tract to result in contralateral vision loss.