Validation of the bovine blood calcium checker as a rapid and simple measuring tool for the ionized calcium concentration in cattle

Point-of-care (POC) devices that veterinary practitioners can use to easily and rapidly measure blood ionized calcium (iCa) levels in cows immediately after withdrawing a blood sample on the dairy farm are needed. Aims of present studies was to compare the commercially available ion-selective electrode handheld iCa meter (bovine blood iCa checker) with the benchtop blood gas analyzer GEM premier 3500 and handheld analyzer i-STAT 1. Sixty-two paired-point whole blood samples were obtained from three cows with hypocalcemia experimentally induced by Na₂-EDTA infusion. Whole blood samples were also obtained from the 36 cows kept on a farm in field conditions. The results using the bovine blood iCa checker correlated with those using the GEM premier 3500 and i-STAT 1. Bovine blood iCa checker was “compatible” with the GEM premier 3500 and i-STAT 1 because the frequency of differences between the measurements within ± 20% of the mean were 100% (65/65, >75%) and 90.8% (59/65, >75%), respectively. In the field trial, the blood iCa concentration measured by the bovine blood Ca checker was significantly positively correlated with that measured by the i-STAT 1 portable analyzer. Bovine blood iCa checker was “compatible” with the i-STAT 1 because the frequency of differences between the measurements within ± 20% of the mean was 100% (36/36, >75%). Results from these findings, the bovine blood iCa checker may be applied as a simplified system to measure the iCa concentration in bovine whole blood.     

A clinical case of single left ventricle in a Holstein calf

A 15-day-old Holstein calf with lethargy and tachypnea presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of suspected congenital heart defect. A Levine grade 6 systolic murmur was noted at right apical site auscultation and phonocardiogram also recorded systolic a murmur. Electrocardiography findings include increased R and S waves, R wave split, and negative T waves without arrhythmia. Echocardiography revealed a single ventricle with a trace of the right ventricular wall, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and turbulent in a single ventricle. Arterial blood analysis showed a marked decrease in oxygen saturation of 78% and oxygen partial pressure of 44 mmHg. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of a single left ventricle.     

Reconstruction of stratum corneum in organotypically cultured canine keratinocyte-derived CPEK cells

The stratum corneum of epidermis is an essential barrier against the external environment and water loss. This study aimed to develop an organotypic culture model that targets the reconstruction of the stratum corneum using canine keratinocyte-derived CPEK cells. The CPEK cells cultured at the air-liquid interface became stratified and formed a stratum corneum-like layer on stratum spinosum- and stratum granulosum-like layers. The CPEK cells in the stratum granulosum-like layer expressed the cornified cell envelope (CCE)-related proteins loricrin and keratinocyte differentiation-associated protein. Organotypically cultured CPEK cells were considered to form a CCE at the stratum granulosum-like layer, allowing the formation of a stratum corneum-like layer. The organotypic culture of CPEK cells could be useful for studying the barrier function of canine stratum corneum.     

Spatial and temporal offsets between proxy records in a sediment drift

Chronologies for Late Quaternary marine sediment records are usually based on radiocarbon ages of planktonic foraminifera. Signals carried by other sedimentary components measured in parallel can provide complementary paleoclimate information. A key premise is that microfossils and other indicators within a given sediment horizon are of equal age. We show here that haptophyte-derived alkenones isolated from Bermuda Rise drift sediments are up to 7000 years older than coexisting planktonic foraminifera. This temporal offset, which is apparently due to lateral transport of alkenones on fine-grained particles from the Nova Scotian margin, markedly influences molecular estimates of sea surface temperatures. More broadly, the observation raises questions about both the temporal and the geographic fidelity of paleoenvironmental records encoded by readily transported components of sediments.     

The effect of a gelatin β-tricalcium phosphate sponge loaded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), bone morphogenic protein-2, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on equine articular cartilage defect

We evaluated the curative efficacy of a gelatin β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) sponge loaded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) by insertion into an experimentally induced osteochondral defect. A hole of 10 mm diameter and depth was drilled in the bilateral medial femoral condyles of 7 thoroughbred horses, and into each either a loaded sponge (treatment) or a saline-infused β-TCP sponge (control) was inserted. After 16 weeks, defects were examined by computed tomography, macroscopic analyses, and histological analyses. The median subchondral bone density and macroscopic subscores for joint healing were significantly higher in the treatment legs (P < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in total histological scores between groups, hyaline cartilaginous tissue was observed across a wider area in the treatment group. Equine joint healing can be enhanced by inserting a BMP-2-, MSC-, and PRP-impregnated β-TCP sponge at the lesion site.     

Mobility of the forearm skeleton in the Asiatic black (Ursus thibetanus), brown (U. arctos) and polar (U. maritimus) bears

In several primates and carnivores, pronation/supination angles of the forearm skeleton were examined, and it is thought that a larger angle is useful to acquire dexterous behaviors in feeding and/or life style, including climbing. In this study, the pronation/supination angles in Asiatic black, brown and polar bears were nondestructively examined. These specimens were classified as adult or non-adult. Three or four carcasses of each group of Asiatic black and brown bears were used for CT analysis, whereas only one adult polar bear was used. The forearms were positioned within the gantry of a CT scanner in both maximally supinated and pronated states. Extracted cross-sectional CT images of two positions were superimposed by overlapping the outlines of each ulna. The centroids of the radii were detected, and then the centroid of each radius and the midpoint of a line which connects between both ends of the surface of each radius facing the ulna, were connected by lines to measure the angle of rotation as an index of pronation/supination. In adult brown and polar bears, the angles were smaller as compared with the other groups (Asiatic black and non-adult brown bears). Asiatic black and non-adult brown bears can climb trees, whereas adult brown bears and polar bears cannot. This suggests that the pronation/supination angle is related to arboreal activity in Ursidae.     

Effect of compound of gelatin hydrogel microsphere incorporated with platelet-rich-plasma and alginate on sole defect in cattle

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was administered to cattle with hoof defects (10-mm drill hole) to promote sole defect healing. Two types of gels were prepared. One was a mixed gel [compound of gelatin microspheres (GM) incorporated with PRP and alginate] and was used for the test group, while the other was an alginate gel used for the control group. Each hole was filled with one of these gels. The drill hole depth, pressure pain, and hardness of the regenerated tissue were measured for 3 weeks after treatment. These measurements improved significantly in the test group than in the control group. The results suggest that a compound of GM incorporated with PRP and alginate had a hoof-regenerating effect in cattle.     

Stimulation of butyrate production through the metabolic interaction among lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and lactic acid-utilizing bacteria, Megasphaera elsdenii, in porcine cecal digesta

In this study, we examined the potential of Megasphaera elsdenii as a probiotic agent in combination with sodium gluconate. We also examined the combination of M. elsdenii with probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus acidophilus, to enhance butyrate production in the large intestine using a pig cecal in vitro model under the presence of sodium gluconate. Compared to the uninoculated control culture (with only diluted cecal digesta), the addition of M. elsdenii and LAB to the culture stimulated significantly the production of n‐butyrate (60% increase) and n‐valerate (50% increase) after 24 h incubation. n‐Butyrate is regarded as the most important short‐chain fatty acid in the large intestine because it stimulates the proliferation of epithelial cells, mucus release and water and mineral absorption. Therefore, lactate‐utilizing butyrate producers such as M. elsdenii play a significant role in supporting the health‐beneficial effects of lactogenic prebiotics and probiotics LAB. The potential of M. elsdenii as a probiotic was also suggested.     

Right ventricular systolic and diastolic function assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common comorbidity in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and can induce various changes in the right heart, such as right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, dilatation, and dysfunction. We hypothesized that RV function, not only systolic function but also diastolic function, could be worsened with PH progression. We aimed to compare RV systolic and diastolic function in dogs with MMVD. Twenty healthy dogs and sixty-eight dogs with MMVD were enrolled. Dogs with MMVD were classified into the probability of PH. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic indices for right heart and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography indices were measured. The morphological indicators of the right heart were significantly higher only in the high probability of PH group. The RV strain, early-diastolic and systolic strain rates were significantly lower in the high probability of PH group than those in the low and intermediate probability of PH groups. Multivariate analysis showed that increased RV internal dimension normalized by body weight and RV myocardial performance index were significantly associated with the presence of right-sided congestive heart failure. Speckle tracking echocardiography-derived RV systolic and diastolic function were activated in the low and intermediate probability of PH groups. However, dogs with high probability of PH showed RV myocardial dysfunction and dilatation. Increased RV myocardial performance index and end-diastolic RV internal dimension normalized by body weight were significantly associated with the presence of right-sided congestive heart failure in dogs with MMVD.