Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in horses: objective measurement of the acute phase response

A sensitive and precise immunoassay for equine serum amyloid A protein (SAA) was established and used to determine, for the first time, the circulating concentration of this protein in health and disease. As in other species, equine SAA was present only at trace levels in healthy animals but behaved as an extremely sensitive and rapidly responding acute phase reactant following most forms of tissue injury, infection and inflammation, objectively reflecting the extent and activity of disease. Measurements of SAA should make a significant contribution to diagnosis and management of viral and bacterial infection in horses, and routine serial assays could provide an objective criterion for monitoring prospectively the general health of horses in training and racing.     

Incidence of microscopically detectable degenerative characteristics in skeletal muscle of turkey

1. The incidence of microscopically detectable degenerative characteristics in 5 skeletal muscles (m. pectoralis thoracicus, m. supracoracoideus, m. biceps femoris, m. semitendinosus, m. femorotibialis medius) of turkeys was investigated. 2. Samples were obtained from 30 Large White turkey males 14, 16 and 18 weeks old. Hyaline degeneration, infiltration of mononuclear cells and necrotic fibres were observed. 3. Individual fibres varied greatly in size and muscle fibre nuclei were often shrunken and pyknotic. 4. Weak and/or uniform reaction for Ca++-ATPase and SDH in all types of muscle fibres and loss of alkaline phosphatase activity in cell membranes were noted. A positive reaction for acid phosphatase occurred in regions of perivascular infiltration and in necrotic muscle fibres. The majority of muscle fibres possessed high activity for phosphorylase a and b. 5. Based on the use of fluorescein alpha-bungarotoxin conjugate, motor end-plates appeared to be morphologically intact. Direct immunofluorescence with anti-chicken IgG showed positive reaction in muscle fibres undergoing necrosis and in the involved connective tissue. 6. Degenerative changes varied with age and were most marked in the oldest birds. 7. Because gross degenerative symptoms were absent from both the birds and the meat from them, the condition appears to be either different from or a precursor to the degenerative myopathy characterised by other authors.     

Filtration of Green Algae and Cyanobacteria by Freshwater Mussels in the Partitioned Aquaculture System

Abstract.— The freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata was provided water containing green algae and cyanobacteria delivered from the Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) at eight flow rates to determine algal filtration rates as mg of particulate organic carbon (POC)/kg wet tissue weight per h. The dominant taxon in cyanobacterial waters was Microcystis while the dominant taxa in green algal waters were Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus . The cell counts of Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus were the only algal taxa that were significantly different between the incoming water and water filtered by mussels. Filtration rates of POC obtained from green algal water were significantly greater than from cyanobacteria-dominated waters at all flow rates. A significant increase in mean filtration rate was observed as flow rates increased. The filtration rate of green algae increased as POC concentration increased, peaking at 28 mg C/L. A maximum filtration rate was not observed with cyanobacterial waters.     

Neurotrophins and the Thymus: Morphological Analysis of Mice Carrying a Non-functional Mutation on the Trka and Trkb Genes

Veterinary Research Communications -     

黄皮的生物学特性研究

通过本试验观察表明:黄皮[Clausena Lansium (Lour.)Skeels]的开花与温度有密切关系,温度高,开花过程短;温度低,开花过程长。花穗中的花轴增长速度也随温度升高而加快,花轴增长快,则花轴长,花穗大;反之,花轴增长速度慢,花轴短,花穗小。黄皮开花的顺序是从花穗基部第1—4个分枝开始,每个分枝则先从基部1—8个二次分枝首先开放。31℃是黄皮花粉萌发最适宜温度。在培养基中加入15—20％蔗糖或2.4—D,三十烷醇等生长调节物质,明显可提高黄皮花粉的萌发力。本试验对黄皮的物候期及植物学特性同时进行了研究。     

论城中村农民的现代化改造

针对当前我国城中村改造中存在的一些问题,以系统论为基础,对城中村改造工作的方向和改造工作应遵循的基本原则予以一定的分析,提出城中村改造工作的重点和关键所在是对城中村农民的现代化改造。进一步阐述了城中村农民的现代化改造对于推进城中村改造的重要意义。     

小麦品种鄂恩一号和7023生期规律的对比观察与分析

通过对豫南小麦当家品种鄂恩一号和种植多年的7023的对比观察,找出二者在生育规律上的差异,进而分析在栽培措施上的异同。与7023相比,鄂恩一号出叶速度快,容易形成壮苗;抽穗后绿叶保持时间较长,有利后期光合作用;年前分蘖数比例大,总分蘖及成穗数没有7023多;幼穗分化开始早,进程快,小穗数及穗粒数比较少;开花早,灌浆时间长,灌浆强度大,子粒大,千粒重高。基于这些特点,提出了十月下旬播种,三叶期、药隔形成期追肥,四分子期根外喷肥,加强后期管理等针对该品种特性的栽培措施。     

群钻钻削精度试验

通过群钻钻头直径Ｄ，进给量ｆ和切削速度ｎ对孔径扩张量，圆度，孔中心线垂直度和直线度影响的试验，得出它们的变化规律。     

Hyperadrenocorticism associated with excessive sex hormone production by an adrenocortical tumor in two dogs.

An 11-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever and a 9-year-old castrated male miniature Poodle were evaluated because of clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Cortisol testing did not support a diagnosis of hypercortisolemia in either dog; however, imaging studies revealed unilateral adrenal tumors in both dogs. Serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and estradiol were high in both dogs, and androstenedione concentrations were also high in 1 dog. It is suspected that sex hormone secretion by the adrenal tumors in these dogs resulted in clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical signs and hormonal abnormalities resolved in the male dog after surgical resection of the tumor. There was no improvement in clinical signs after treatment with mitotane in the female dog, which died 2 months after diagnosis. Histologic evaluation confirmed the presence of adrenocortical carcinoma in both dogs.