High-pressure balloon valvuloplasty for severe pulmonary valve stenosis: a prospective observational pilot study in 25 dogs

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of high-pressure balloon valvuloplasty (HPBVP) for treatment of canine severe pulmonary valve stenosis (PS). A secondary aim was to provide pre-procedure predictors of success.

Selective media for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis>

Selective media without pentachloronitrobenzene were developed for quantitative assays of Fusarium oxysporum in soils. Media Fo-G1 and Fo-G2 were effective for naturally infested soils, Fo-W1 and Fo-W2 for wild-type isolates in soils containing a nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutant, and Fo-N1 and Fo-N2 for nit mutants. Selective media were made using ammonium citrate dibasic, l-sorbose, econazole nitrate, 25% iminoctadine triacetate solution and 50% tolclofos-methyl wettable powder for soil dilutions of 100-fold or more (Fo-G1, FoW1 and Fo-N1) and 10-fold (Fo-G2, Fo-W2 and Fo-N2). Potassium chlorate was added to Fo-N1 and Fo-N2. The efficacy for selectively isolating F. oxysporum was confirmed using six soils naturally infested with one of six formae speciales of F. oxysporum and with soil dilutions containing conidia of wild-type strains or nit mutants from the six formae speciales. On Fo-G1 and Fo-G2, most colonies of F. oxysporum were compact and round with purplish or reddish pigment in the reverse. Cylindrocarpon sp. formed colonies as large as those of F. oxysporum but were distinguishable by their colony morphology. Other contaminants such as F. solani, F. moniliforme, and Trichoderma were suppressed by medium ingredients and colonies of F. oxysporum. On Fo-W1 and Fo-W2, colony morphology of F. oxysporum and contaminants corresponded to that on Fo-G1 and Fo-G2, although F. oxysporum failed to produce the pigment. On Fo-N1 and Fo-N2, nit mutants formed clear colonies from 100- and 10-fold soil dilutions, respectively, and contaminants seldom formed large colonies.     

Control of tomato bacterial wilt and root-knot diseases by Bacillus thuringiensis CR-371 and Streptomyces avermectinius NBRC14893

Ralstonia solanacearum and Meloidogyne incognita are two soilborne pathogens that cause serious damage and great losses in the production of tomato. For this purpose, a bacterial isolate, Bacillus thuringiensis CR-371, and an actinomyces isolate, Streptomyces avermectinius NBRC14893, were examined for their ability to protect tomato from root-knot nematode and bacterial wilt diseases under glasshouse conditions. Treatment of tomato roots with B. thuringiensis CR-371 and S. avermectinius NBRC14893 followed by challenge inoculation with R. solanacearum and M. incognita significantly decreased disease severity of bacterial wilt alone, root-knot nematode alone, or mixed infection by both pathogens compared to the control. Furthermore, pretreatment of tomato roots with B. thuringiensis CR-371 and S. avermectinius NBRC14893 significantly reduced bacterial proliferation of R. solanacearum both in pathogen alone inoculated plants and in plants co-inoculated with R. solanacearum and M. incognita. In conclusion, our results suggest that the treatment of tomato roots with B. thuringiensis CR-371 and S. avermectinius NBRC14893 simultaneously suppresses bacterial wilt and root-knot nematode diseases. Therefore, B. thuringiensis CR-371 and S. avermectinius NBRC14893 could provide new options for integrated pest management strategies against plant diseases, especially against bacterial-nematode disease complexes that cause synergistic yield losses.     

Evaluation of the arrangement of wood strands at the surface of OSB by image analysis

 The objective of this paper is to evaluate the arrangement of wood strands at the surface of oriented strand board (OSB) by image analysis. Two-dimensional image analysis enables the number of strands and the area of each strand to be computed. In addition, the fiber direction of each strand may be measured manually by recording the acute angle between the fiber direction and the longitudinal axis of the specimen. The image analysis results suggest the following: the average strand area is proportional to the reciprocal of the number of strands. Samples containing many smaller strands exhibit a larger variation in strand size. The average strand area does not correlate with the distribution of the strand area represented by the coefficient of variation. However, there is a reasonable correlation between the number of smaller strands in the range 0 to 1 cm² and the coefficient of variation of strand area. At low average fiber orientations, i.e. better orientation with the principal panel axis, there is smaller variability in orientation. The upper side and lower side of OSB exhibit a different relationship between average fiber orientation and strand area. The upper side of the specimens contains larger strands and exhibits better fiber orientation than the lower side. This is thought to be a function of the production process. The lower side strands fall on a smooth moving substrate, whereas the upper side strands fall on a stable substrate of strands. The number of strands is lower on the upper side of the OSB panel because small size strands tend to migrate to the lower side of the OSB during production. The small particles tend to be vibrated through the strand mat to the lower face before pressing. Received 29 March 1999     

Effects of root zone trenching on soil nitrogen dynamics in Japanese cedar and cypress plantations

The effects of root exclusion and planted tree species on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics were examined at two plantations, one planted with Japanese cedar and the other with Japanese cypress. We set up ten 1 × 1 × 0.2-m-deep trenched sites and ten untrenched control sites at each plantation. We measured the pool size and leaching of inorganic N at each site for 2 years and the net N mineralization 1 and 2 years after trenching. Despite similar soil conditions, the cedar plantation showed higher net N mineralization than the cypress plantation. Stopped tree uptake of N was expected to cause an increased pool size and leaching of inorganic N at the trenched sites. Nevertheless, we found no significant increase in those variables at both plantations. The trenched cypress sites showed no decrease in the net N mineralization during the 2 years after trenching. However, the net nitrification at the trenched cypress sites increased remarkably at the deeper horizons in comparison with that at the control sites. Enhanced nitrification might result from improved ammonium availability through root exclusion. Net N mineralization at the trenched cedar sites decreased more than 60% compared with that at the control sites 2 years after trenching. Higher nitrification potential at the cedar plantation and enhanced nitrification potential at the trenched cypress sites never resulted in increased leaching of N, due to added fine root litter which acted as an immobilization agent for excess N, thus preventing N loss.     

Comparison of two coniferous plantations in central Japan with respect to forest productivity, growth phenology and soil nitrogen dynamics

Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) are common species for plantation forestry in Japan. Cypress is conventionally planted on sites of low fertility whereas for cedar high fertility sites are used. Objectives of this study were to compare the productivities of cypress and cedar plantations grown on adjacent sites where common properties of soils, such as pH values and C and N contents, were similar, and to relate the N cycling at their site with productivities. The stem diameter of trees, aboveground litter production and fine root biomass were measured as indices of forest productivity. Parameters of N cycling included pools of total N and mineral N (ammonium + nitrate), annual N leaching, and potentially mineralizable N. The radial stem increment of the two tree species was similar. However, cedar site had higher total basal area and annual basal increment than cypress site reflecting higher tree density on the cedar site. Aboveground litter, fine root biomass, soil organic matter, and N turnover were higher on the cedar site than on the cypress site. However, litter production and fine root biomass per unit basal area was greater at the cypress site. Phenological pattern of stem growth and periodical litter production were similar for both species during the study period (1992–2000), but showed distinct annual variations caused by the fluctuation in the ambient temperature and precipitation. Mineral N content and the N mineralization potential were greater on the cedar site, indicating greater N availability and higher total tree productivity at the cedar site than those at the cypress site. When provided with more space in the canopy to expand more needles and in the soil to develop more fine roots to exploit sufficient resources, the individual cypress trees have the potential to grow faster. On fertile site and at lower tree density, thicker logs of cypress might be yielded.     

Incidence of canine glaucoma with goniodysplasia in Japan : a retrospective study

The incidence of primary and secondary glaucoma in dogs was investigated. A total of 1244 dogs received ophthalmologic examinations, including tonometry and gonioscopy. Goniophotographs were taken using a goniolens to evaluate the iridocorneal angle (ICA) as well as pectinate ligament (PL). The anterior width of the ciliary cleft and the total distance from the origin of the PL to the anterior corneal surface were measured from the goniophotographs. Glaucoma was diagnosed based on the cupping of the optic nerve head, clinical signs, ocular changes, and high IOP, and it was synchronized with gonioscopic grades to differentiate between primary and secondary glaucoma. We investigated 1244 dogs of 29 breeds, including the mixed breed; among these, glaucoma was diagnosed in 127 dogs (162 eyes). Of 162 eyes, primary glaucoma was diagnosed in 129 eyes and secondary glaucoma in 33 eyes. Shiba Inu dogs (42 dogs, 33%) showed the highest incidence of glaucoma, followed by Shih-Tzu (21 dogs, 16.5%). Furthermore, all the glaucomatous Shiba Inu dogs had primary glaucoma with abnormal ICA grades and dysplastic PLs. The findings of our study reveal that the Shiba Inu breed in Japan may have a hereditary predisposition to glaucoma.     

Seroepidemiologic survey of Coxiella burnetii and attempt to detect Coxiella DNA in aged non-laying chickens in a prefecture of Japan where poultry farming prospers

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) revealed seropositivity to Coxiella burnetii in aged non-laying chickens in poultry farms in a prefecture in the central part of Japan. Seropositivity was 7%, and antibody titers ranged from 16 to 64. No DNA fragment specific for C. burnetii was detected in the chickens by nested-PCR. The prevalence of C. burnetii infection in a prefecture of Japan in which poultry farming prospers was 7%.     

Assessment of decay risk of airborne wood-decay fungi II: relation between isolated fungi and decay risk

The relationship between the taxa of airborne fungi and the decay risk was investigated. Airborne fungi in 1,000 l of air were trapped on Japanese cedar disks, and incubated in a damp container kept at 26oC. After 16-week incubation, filamentous fungi grown on the disks were isolated and DNA extracted from each isolate was amplified with the primers ITS4/ITS5. The DNA sequences of the amplified products were determined and compared to the sequence data of GenBank to determine the species or genus according to a BLAST search. This search revealed that the isolate consisted of 5 major taxa, namely Bjerkandera sp., Phanerochaete sp. (A), Phanerochaete sp. (B), Polyporales sp. Polyporus arcularius, and 6 minor ones. Statistical analysis revealed that the major taxa were trapped on the disks in similar weather conditions except for Bjerkandera sp., which was trapped at a cooler temperature. The analysis also proved the disks to which Phanerochaete spp. or Polyporales sp. were attached showed higher mass loss. It is concluded that, under these experimental conditions, related species of Phanerochaete sordida play an important role in increasing the decay risk caused by airborne wood-decay fungi.