Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is related with localization, proliferation, and overall survival in canine melanocytic neoplasms

A direct relationship has been firmly established between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and malignant behavior in human melanoma. This report examines the relationship between COX-2 expression and tumor location, mitotic and proliferative indices, degree of T CD3(+) lymphocyte infiltration, overall survival, and frequency of recurrence and metastasis of 57 melanocytic tumors (25 oral and 32 cutaneous). COX-2 was highly or moderately expressed in 88% of oral neoplasms (22 of 25), whereas for their cutaneous counterparts, COX-2 expression was low or insignificant in 75% of cases (24 of 32). High and moderate COX-2 expression levels were observed in 73% of melanocytic tumors with a mitotic index ≥ 3 per 10 high-power fields (26 of 36), whereas in 81% of tumors with a mitotic index < 3 (17 of 21), expression was mild or absent. There were 41 cases with known clinical outcomes; of those showing high, moderate, and mild COX-2 expression, 83.3% (10 of 12), 37.5% (3 of 8), and 25% (2 of 8) died, respectively, whereas 100% of animals showing no COX-2 expression (13 of 13) were still alive at the last follow-up. COX-2 expression was statistically correlated with tumor location, mitotic and percentage Ki-67 proliferative indices, and overall survival, frequency of neoplastic recurrence and metastasis. Regression analysis also showed disease-specific predictive value for COX-2 expression for subjects with melanocytic neoplasms. Additionally, only high COX-2 expression showed significant differences in overall survival, in comparison with moderate, mild, or absent expression. These results suggest that high COX-2 expression may be considered a prognostic biomarker and potentially as a target for therapeutic and preventive strategies in canine melanocytic neoplasms.     

Reactions of goldfish (Carassius auratus) to three suture patterns following full thickness skin incisions

Three different suture patterns (simple interrupted, interrupted horizontal mattress, subcuticular) were placed in a full thickness incision (skin and body wall) of 18 goldfish (Carassius auratus). After 14 days all fish were euthanized using benzocaine solution. The tissue reactions were evaluated by gross visual inspection and histopathological examination. The superficial inflammatory reactions were graded on a scale from 0 (no inflammation) to 3 (severe inflammation). The inflammatory response in histological examination was graded on a scale from 0 (no inflammatory response or normal skin tissue) to 5 (severe inflammatory response and necrosis). The interrupted horizontal mattress induced a moderately severe to severe inflammatory response and necrosis (grades 4–5) but the subcuticular suture induced a very mild to mild inflammatory response (grades 0–1). The simple interrupted suture induced a moderate to moderately severe inflammatory response (grades 2–4). In conclusion, results showed that a subcuticular suture is the most appropriate to use in the closure of a full thickness body wall incision.     

A Technique for Estimating Riparian Root Production

Belowground plant biomass plays a critical role in the maintenance of riparian ecosystems and generally constitutes the majority of the total biomass on a site. Despite this importance, belowground dynamics of riparian plant species are not commonly investigated, in part because of difficulties of sampling in a belowground riparian environment. We investigated the field utility of a root-ingrowth sampling technique for measuring root production. We established four streamside sampling sites in southeastern Oregon, and randomly located four plots within each site. In each plot we established two 7.6-cm–diameter sand-filled ingrowth cores in September of 2004. In September of 2005 we harvested the cores with the use of a vacuum sampling technique in which a 5.1-cm–diameter camphored polyvinyl chloride casing was driven into the center of the root core and sand and root materials were suctioned out. Root-length density was determined by computer image analysis, and roots were dried and weighed to determine production by weight. Results indicate that root-length density averaged 7.2 (± 0.7) cm · cm^-3 across sites and root-production index was 356.7 (± 20.6) g · m^-2. Our index to root production by weight was consistent with previous estimates of annual root production reported in the literature. Our sampling technique proved to be a practical solution for root sampling in riparian environments, and helps overcome some of the difficulties in sequential coring of saturated soils. Use of any ingrowth core technique to index root production can potentially bias production estimates because of the artificial, root-free environment of the core. However, these biases should be consistent across sites, making ingrowth cores useful for determining differences between manipulative treatments.     

Effects of multiple concurrent stressors on rectal temperature, blood acid-base status, and longissimus muscle glycolytic potential in market-weight pigs

Sixty-four market-weight (130.0 +/- 0.65 kg) barrows (n = 16) and gilts (n = 48) were used in a split-plot design with a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) handling intensity (gentle vs. aggressive), 2) transport floor space (0.39 vs. 0.49 m(2)/pig), and 3) distance moved during handling (25 vs. 125 m) to determine the effects of multiple concurrent stressors on metabolic responses. For the handling intensity treatment, pigs were moved individually approximately 50 m through a handling course with either 0 (gentle) or 8 (aggressive) shocks from an electric goad. Pigs were loaded onto a trailer and transported for approximately 1 h at floor spaces of either 0.39 or 0.49 m(2)/pig. After transport, pigs were unloaded, and the distance moved treatment was applied; pigs were moved 25 or 125 m through a handling course using livestock paddles. Rectal temperature was measured, and blood samples (to measure blood acid-base status) were collected 2 h before the handling intensity treatment was applied and immediately after the distance moved treatment was applied. A LM sample to measure glycolytic potential was collected after the distance moved treatments on a subset of 32 pigs. There were handling intensity x distance moved interactions (P < 0.05) for several blood acid-base measurements. In general, there was no effect of distance moved on these traits when pigs were previously handled gently. However, when pigs were previously handled aggressively, pigs moved 125 compared with 25 m had greater (P < 0.05) blood lactate and less (P < 0.05) blood pH, bicarbonate, and base-excess. Pigs transported at 0.39 compared with 0.49 m(2)/pig had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in creatine kinase values; however, transport floor space did not affect any other measurements. Data were analyzed by the number of stressors (the aggressive handling, restricted transport floor space, and 125-m distance moved treatments) experienced by each pig (0, 1, 2, or 3). As the number of stressors experienced by the pig increased, rectal temperature, blood lactate, and LM lactate increased linearly (P 相似文献   

Neutralization kinetics of bovine viral diarrhea virus by hyperimmune serum: one or multi-hit mechanism

The kinetics of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus neutralization (VN) by hyperimmune serum followed first order kinetics at low dilutions (1:8 and 1:16) of hyperimmune bovine serum. A lag phase in the VN curve occurred when the serum was further diluted. Addition of rabbit anti-bovine IgG, but not anti-IgM, significantly increased the degree of VN after BVD virus was reacted with further diluted (1:256 dilution) anti-BVD bovine hyperimmune serum. Incubation of virus-hyperimmune serum (1:64 dilution) at 4 degrees C for 0 to 60 min, followed by incubation at 37 degrees C indicated VN occurred as a two-stage process: a binding (temperature-independent) phase that was followed by a triggering (temperature-dependent) phase. The data favor the thesis that neutralization of BVD virus occurs by a multi-hit mechanism and requires combination of at least two molecules of antibody with each virus.     

New marine calicivirus serotype infective for swine

A new serotype of calicivirus was isolated from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with severe vesicular disease. Neutralizing antibodies were found in 27 of 82 (32.9%) serum samples from California sea lions and in 15 of 146 (10.3%) serum samples from Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) tested. The seropositive animals were widely dispersed along the margins of the eastern Pacific basin, from the Bering Sea to the Santa Barbara Channel. Seropositive samples were found from as early as 1976 through the present time. This new calicivirus serotype, San Miguel sea lion virus type 13, was inoculated into weaned pigs, resulting in induction of severe vesicular disease, which spread to all pigs, including uninoculated pen contacts. Virus was continually shed by most of the pigs throughout the 2-week duration of the experiment.     

Use of ultrasonic Doppler waveforms to estimate changes in uterine artery blood flow and vessel compliance

Previous data from our laboratory have demonstrated that uterine blood flow (UBF) and uterine arterial smooth muscle tone vary regularly during the estrous cycle of the cow. Uterine blood flow is highest and uterine arterial tone is lowest at estrus, whereas UBF is lowest and uterine arterial tone is highest during the luteal phase of the cycle. Blood flow through arteries is highly pulsatile; changes in arterial wall properties affect shape of the velocity waveform. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in uterine arterial velocity waveforms throughout the estrous cycle of the cow and to relate these changes to fluctuations in UBF and concentrations of estrogen and(or) progesterone in systemic blood. Pulsatile velocity waveforms were obtained daily from pulsed-wave ultrasonic probes placed surgically on the middle uterine artery of five beef cows exhibiting estrous cycles of normal duration (d 0 = day of estrus). Velocity waveforms varied regularly during the estrous cycle of each cow in association with changes in UBF and steroid concentrations. Further, two distinct velocity waveform shapes were observed during the estrous cycle. The first waveform shape, which was observed during periods of high UBF (d -4 to +4 of the estrous cycle), was characteristic of a highly compliant vessel and was associated with a high estrogen:progesterone ratio. The second waveform shape, which was observed from d 7 to 14 of the estrous cycle, was characteristic of a less compliant vessel and was associated with a depressed estrogen:progesterone ratio. These data suggest that compliance of the uterine artery changes during the estrous cycle in association with the changing estrogen:progesterone ratio in blood.     

Species differentiation of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo strain Hardjobovis from strain Hardjoprajitno by DNA slot blot hybridisation

Slot blot hybridisation studies with total genomic DNA probes were used to compare Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo strain Hardjoprajitno, strain Hardjobovis and a number of other Leptospira interrogans serovars. Strains Hardjoprajitno and Hardjobovis were found to have little genetic relationship with each other when compared to some of the other serovars tested. Hardjoprajitno is closely related to serovar icterohaemorrhagiae and not to Hardjobovis whereas Hardjobovis is closely related to serovars vietnam, balcanica and javanica but not to serovar icterohaemorrhagiae; this places strain Hardjoprajitno in the species L interrogans and strain Hardjobovis in the species L borgpetersoni. Because of this lack of genetic relatedness between strains Hardjoprajitno and Hardjobovis, it is proposed to remove the prefix Hardjo from the strain name Hardjobovis and call it L borgpetersoni serovar hardjo strain Bovis.