Osteoinductivity of gelatin/β-tricalcium phosphate sponges loaded with different concentrations of mesenchymal stem cells and bone morphogenetic protein-2 in an equine bone defect model

Fracture is one of the most life-threatening injuries in horses. Fracture repair is often associated with unsatisfactory outcomes and is associated with a high incidence of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic effects of gelatin/β-tricalcium phosphate (GT) sponges loaded with different concentrations/ratios of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in an equine bone defect model. Seven thoroughbred horses were used in this study. Eight bone defects were created in the third metatarsal bones of each horse. Then, eight treatments, namely control, GT, GT/M-5, GT/M-6, GT/M-5/B-1, GT/M-5/B-3, GT/M-6/B-1, and GT/M-6/B-3 were applied to the eight different sites in a randomized manner (M-5: 2?×?10⁵ MSCs; M-6: 2?×?10⁶ MSCs; B-1: 1 μg of BMP-2; B-3: 3 μg of BMP-2). Repair of bone defects was assessed by radiography, quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and histopathological evaluation. Radiographic scores and CT values were significantly lower in the control group than in the other groups, while they were significantly higher in the GT/M-5/B-3 and GT/M-6/B-3 groups than in the other groups. The amount of mature compact bone filling the defects was greater in the GT/M-5/B-3 and GT/M-6/B-3 groups than in the other groups. The present study demonstrated that the GT sponge loaded with MSCs and BMP-2 promoted bone regeneration in an equine bone defect model. The GT/MSC/BMP-2 described here may be useful for treating horses with bone injuries.     

Reduced stress and increased immune responses in Nile tilapia kept under self-feeding conditions

ABSTRACT: Stress and immune responses were studied in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus under both conditions of self-feeding and scheduled feeding. Self-feeding fish had a significantly lower cortisol level in their blood plasma than that of scheduled feeding fish. Furthermore, skin color was found to be paler in the self-feeding fish compared with that of the scheduled feeding fish. Thus, the self-feeding fish had a less stressful physiological status than the other experimental fish. Immunological analyses revealed that the self-feeding fish significantly exceeded the scheduled feeding fish in the phagocytic activity of their macrophages, antibody production, and the number of blood-circulating lymphocytes. The higher immune responses of self-feeding fish seem to be attained through a less stressful environment. This self-feeding behavior could be exploited to create reduced stress for disease control in fish farming.     

Role of small-scale fishing in Kompong Thom Province, Cambodia

ABSTRACT:   Household surveys of small-scale fishing were conducted in Svay Ear and Srey Rangit villages in Kompong Thom Province, Cambodia. Data were collected from 104 of 183 households and 105 of 140 households in Svay Ear and Srey Rangit, respectively. In both villages, almost all households conducted rice cultivation and approximately 75% of them also conducted fishing. Three fishing groups: (i) inside lake; (ii) around lake; and (iii) around village were observed in both villages, according to their main fishing grounds. The inside lake group conduct fishing only in Tonle Sap Lake which is located 30 km away from the villages. The around lake group fish in lakes, marshes and flooded forests adjacent to Tonle Sap Lake, which are more than 5 km from the villages. The around village group collects fish from rice fields and ponds located inside the villages and also in some streams, rivers and lakes adjacent to the villages. The distance to the fishing grounds is less than 5 km from the villages. Most fishing groups were the inside and around lake groups, which occupied 76.0 and 65.7% of Svay Ear and Srey Rangit, respectively. These two groups produced 80.6 and 69.7% of the respective village annual total fish catches. These two groups sold a large portion of their fish catches. Although previous reports indicated that small-scale fishing is for subsistence, present results indicated that small-scale fishing was commercially conducted and fishing was important as an income source.     

Effect of phosphogypsum application on the growth and Ca uptake of Komatsuna Brassica rapa L. cv. Natsurakuten

(pp. 1–7)
Application of phosphogypsum PG and limestone to Andisol were compared in terms of their effects on the growth and uptake of Ca in Komatsuna Brassica rapa L. cv. Natsurakuten. The studies were carried out in soil pot cultures, and both PG and limestone were applied to the Andisol at the rates of 0, 0.30, 0.75, 1.50 g kg⁻¹ in the form of CaO.

• 1) 

  Limestone application resulted in an increase in the soil pH. On the other hand, no change was observed in the case of PG application at pH 6.1 ± 0.1 regardless of the application rate. Both soil EC and water-soluble Ca increased in proportion to the PG application rate, and this increase was approximately 5 times greater than that observed when limestone was applied at 1.50 g kg⁻¹. The w-Ca/ex-Ca ratio (water-soluble Ca: 1 M acetic acid-extractable Ca) was clearly increased from 0.12 up to 0.26 in PG, while the value was slightly decreased from 0.12 to 0.05 in limestone.

       

A clinical case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia in a Holstein cow

A 2-year, 3-month-old Holstein cow presented with anorexia and enlarged superficial lymph nodes. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the superficial lymph nodes revealed large blast cells. Hematological examination revealed anemia, neutropenia, and blast cells in peripheral blood. Blast cells were the predominant cell type in bone marrow aspirates. Of the non-erythroid cells, 26%, 58%, and 18% were positive for myeloperoxidase, α-naphthyl acetate esterase, and naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, respectively. Pathological examination revealed the proliferation of neoplastic cells, which were positive for monocytic markers, in the affected lymph nodes. The cow was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia based on these findings. This report highlights the importance of performing bone marrow aspiration cytology and cytochemical staining when diagnosing bovine myeloid leukemia.