Radiographic and functional evaluation of dogs at least 1 year after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

The progression of osteoarthritis and clinical function in 29 dogs at least 1 year after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy was evaluated. A previously reported radiographic scoring system was used by 3 investigators to evaluate preoperative and postoperative radiographs for evidence of stifle osteoarthritis. The combined scores were then used to evaluate the progression of osteoarthritis. The difference between the preoperative scores, derived from radiographs taken at the time of surgery, and the postoperative scores based on radiographs taken at least 1 year later was modest but statistically significant. Despite this finding, client satisfaction was very good. Clinical function was assessed by using a previously reported client questionnaire. According to owner assessment at least 1 year after surgery, there was a significant improvement in function after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy when compared with the preoperative status. Improvement in function as measured by the client questionnaire did not significantly predict the radiographic osteoarthritis score.     

Genotypic variation in fatty acid content of blackcurrant seeds.

The fatty acid composition and total fatty acid content of seeds from 36 blackcurrant genotypes developed at the Scottish Crop Research Institute were examined. A rapid small-scale procedure, involving homogenization of seeds in toluene followed by sodium methoxide transesterification and gas chromatography, was used. There was considerable variation between genotypes. The gamma-linolenic acid content generally varied from 11 to 19% of the total fatty acids, but three genotypes had higher values of 22-24%, levels previously not reported for blackcurrant seed and similar to those for borage seed. Other nutritionally important fatty acids, stearidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, varied from 2 to 4% and 10-19%, respectively. The mean total fatty acid contents ranged from 14 to 23% of the seed, but repeatability was poor. The results are discussed. Blackcurrant seeds are mainly byproducts from juice production, and the study shows the potential for developing blackcurrant genotypes with optimal added value.     

Plight of the bumble bee: Pathogen spillover from commercial to wild populations

Pathogen spread or ‘spillover’ can occur when heavily infected, domestic hosts interact with closely-related wildlife populations. Commercially-produced bumble bees used in greenhouse pollination often have higher levels of various pathogens than wild bumble bees. These pathogens may spread to wild bees when commercial bees escape from greenhouses and interact with their wild counterparts at nearby flowers. We examined the prevalence of four pathogens in wild bumble bee populations at locations near and distant to commercial greenhouses in southern Ontario, Canada. Bumble bees collected near commercial greenhouses were more frequently infected by those pathogens capable of being transmitted at flowers (Crithidia bombi and Nosema bombi) than bees collected at sites away from greenhouses. We argue that the spillover of pathogens from commercial to wild bees is the most likely cause of this pattern and we discuss the implications of such spillover for bumble bee conservation.     

Age differences in infants' attention to patterns of different complexities

Infants 3 weeks, 8 weeks, and 14 weeks old were presented with checkerboard patterns which differed in the number of squares they contained. The older the infants, the more complex was the checkerboard that they looked at longest. This result does not appear to depend on changes in visual acuity or accommodation related to age.     

The effects of simulated frost on black currant (Ribes nigrum L.)

Pot plants of 12 black currant genotypes were assessed in frost simulation chambers for their tolerance of spring frosts during the flowering period. The most tolerant were some genotypes from the UK and Scandinavia. The inheritance of tolerance may be complex rather than simply additive. The results indicate that physiological frost hardiness at flowering is needed as well as later flowering, particularly when breeding for early ripening cultivars.     

GLUT4 but not GLUT1 expression decreases early in the development of feline obesity

The increase in obesity in people and pets has been phenomenal. As in man, obesity in pets is a risk factor for many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Recently, tissue-specific regulation of glucose metabolism in fat and muscle tissue has been identified as an important factor for insulin sensitivity and it has been hypothesized that glucose uptake into tissues is altered in obesity causing insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of the glucose transporter proteins GLUT4 and GLUT1 in muscle and fat from lean and obese cats. Seventeen domestic felines were tested in the lean state and again after a 6-month period of ad libitum food intake which led to a significant increase in weight (P<0.0001). Obese cats showed a significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) for glucose, AUC for insulin and a significant decrease in glucose percentage disappearance per min (K-value) (P=0.013, 0.018 and 0.017, respectively) during an intravenous glucose tolerance test, but no change in baseline glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations. GLUT4 expression was decreased in biopsies of both muscle (P=0.002) and fat (P=0.001) in the obese animals. GLUT4 in muscle and fat significantly and negatively correlated with the insulin AUC (r²=0.36, P=0.004 and r²=0.18, P=0.040, respectively). GLUT1 expression showed no significant change in the obese cats in either tissue. It is concluded that the changes in GLUT4 are early derangements in obesity and occur before glucose intolerance is clinically evident.