High‐mobility group box 1 as a surrogate prognostic marker in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Objective – To evaluate various surrogate markers associated with the inflammatory and counter‐inflammatory responses with respect to mortality in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Design – Prospective observational study. Setting – Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Animals – Twenty‐eight dogs with naturally occurring diseases and SIRS from January 2007 to May 2009. Interventions – Upon admission to the veterinary hospital, history and baseline data from the physical examination, including parameters previously defined for meeting SIRS criteria, were documented. Heparinized blood samples were collected and plasma cytokines interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10, and high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were measured by sandwich ELISA. Measurements and Main Results – In nonsurvivors, median plasma HMGB1 concentrations (0.718 μg/L, interquartile range [IQR]; 0.300–1.626 μg/L) and the ratio of HMGB1 to IL‐10 (2.236, IQR; 0.972–5.367) were significantly increased as compared with those found in survivors (0.300 μg/L, IQR; 0.300–0.312 μg/L for HMGB1; 1.017, IQR; 0.862–1.126 for the ratio of HMGB1 to IL‐10, P=0.007 and 0.024, respectively). Plasma IL‐6, IL‐10, and the ratio of IL‐6 to IL‐10 were not significantly different between groups. Among the parameters studied, HMGB1 and the ratio of HMGB1 to IL‐10 performed the best in discriminating outcome in dogs with SIRS according to receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. Conclusions – Increases in plasma HMGB1 concentration and the ratio of HMGB1 to IL‐10 may predict poorer outcomes in dogs with SIRS. The approach described may lead to reliable prognostic biomarkers and new therapeutic concepts in the study of SIRS in dogs.     

Neighbor defoliation regulates Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) in pasture by mediating interspecific competition

Little is known of the effect of selective plant defoliation at different intensities and frequencies in altering weed-forage dynamics in pasture. We conducted a field experiment to quantify Cirsium arvense responses to varying defoliation regimes of neighboring forage implemented for 2 years under high or low fertility conditions. Defoliation regimes were based on common grazing systems, and included: (1) high intensity–high frequency (HIHF) defoliation simulating continuous grazing, (2) high intensity–low frequency (HILF), (3) low intensity–high frequency (LIHF), and (4) deferred (DEF) defoliation to peak growth in late summer. All vegetation except C. arvense was defoliated during the growing season to examine weed responses to changes in neighboring forage abundance. Year-end C. arvense biomass at the end of the study was greatest in the HIHF treatment and lowest in the DEF, with the LIHF and HILF treatments intermediate in response. The HILF treatment also provided improved suppression of C. arvense biomass relative to the LIHF, although this response was inconsistent among sites. Trends in C. arvense shoot densities among defoliation treatments were similar to those for biomass. While weed abundance was lower in the absence of fertilization, rankings among defoliation treatments remained the same. Notably, trends in forage biomass among defoliation regimes followed a pattern opposite that of C. arvense, and are implicated in observed weed decreases. Our results indicate that defoliation regimes enhancing forage growth and biomass, particularly a DEF or HILF regime, reduce C. arvense the most. Grazing systems that employ these defoliation regimes are therefore likely to optimize the interspecific competitive suppression of C. arvense.     

Integrity in the fresh produce supply chain: solutions and approaches to an emerging issue

Long supply and complex fresh produce supply chains provide opportunity for fraudulent activity to occur especially further processing or re-packing of products to mask opaque practice and non-compliant behaviour. Price premiums for products designated as ‘high-value’, for example, organic produce, produce of particular provenance, or geographical production area provides motivation for less scrupulous actors to present for sale, produce that is mislabelled or misrepresented. People integrity as well as data, product and process integrity are gaining wider attention in the horticultural sector. Types of fraud critiqued in this review paper include mislabelling, substitution or misrepresentation of origin (country or regional location), method of production (organic or conventional) or incorrect varietal declaration. These challenges and the existing and emerging technologies that are both used within a quality assurance programme and alternatively used by regulators when investigating potential instances of fraudulent behaviour are considered. New methodological solutions and approaches are emerging and such techniques will develop rapidly to meet the growing challenge of fraud and to ensure consumer trust in the industry is maintained especially as types of food fraud evolve and become more sophisticated.     

The timing of puberty in cultured female yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea (Storer): Oogenesis and sex steroid production in vivo and in vitro

This study examines puberty in female yellowtail flounder, correlating macroscopic, histological and endocrine parameters at the gonadal level. Short-term ovarian tissue incubations were used to study estradiol-17β production in relation to oogenic stage. Examining 2 year classes of young flounder demonstrated that cultured females retain phenotypic plasticity in reproductive age with pubertal onset occurring in one-year, two-year and three-year-olds. Immature ovaries were steroidogenic and capable of responding to gonadotropic stimulation. Endocrine puberty in females was detected by a peak in estradiol-17β production during the cortical alveolar oocyte stage prior to any ovarian evidence of vitellogenesis. Puberty, once initiated, proceeded to ovulation within 8 to 12 months; vitellogenic oocyte development followed the group synchronous pattern. Estradiol-17β was clearly the dominant of the two measured plasma hormones during pubertal onset and throughout vitellogenesis. Plasma testosterone was consistently detectable at low levels by mid-to late-vitellogenesis. Ovaries showed the highest sensitivity to gonadotropic stimulation in vitro during late-vitellogenesis. Variable plasma levels in both estradiol-17β and testosterone occurred in preovulatory and ovulating females during the captive spawning period. Together the results show that yellowtail flounder can mature at a young age and small size when culture conditions permit. In addition, the early sensitivity to gonadotropin by the immature ovaries may be an important physiological determinant for the timing of puberty in this species.     

Microbial Community Analysis of Water, Foregut, and Hindgut during Growth of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, in Closed-System Aquaculture

In closed recirculating systems, a particulate matter consisting of bacteria, algae, fungi, and detritus develops spontaneously. This microbial floc can serve as a high‐protein food source for finfish and shellfish and has the potential to supplement the protein required in shrimp feed. To advance the use of microbial floc as a feed supplement, it is necessary to manipulate its microbial components, which requires thorough characterization of the bacterial components. Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, were raised in a closed recirculating system, and water was compared to the contents of shrimp foreguts and hindguts. Water consistently contained less microbial biomass than did shrimp guts, but 16S rDNA sequences indicated that water was more diverse than shrimp guts. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences retrieved from water and shrimp foregut grouped these sequences into various unrelated generic clusters. Fatty acid analysis demonstrated that shrimp feed was not a major contributor of microbial fatty acids to shrimp tanks, as the feed mostly contained polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are typically found only in eukaryotes. It is hoped that elucidating more details about the various components of microbial floc will help in understanding its development and will lead to its use as a high‐protein feed supplement.     

Organophosphate levels in apple composites and individual apples from a treated Canadian orchard

Azinphos-methyl, phosalone, and phosmet were applied individually to separate rows of trees within a commercial apple orchard in Quebec, Canada, during the 2003 agricultural season. Apples were collected for residue analysis immediately prior to the harvesting of the remaining apples for market distribution and were prepared for analysis as both individual apples and as composites of eight individuals. Analysis of the three applied compounds, as well as five organophosphate insecticides that were not applied, was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Azinphos-methyl, phosalone, and phosmet, which were applied, were detected in all samples analyzed at concentrations ranging from 0.004 ng/g to 2260 ng/g. Methidathion was not observed in any sample. Chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dimethoate, and malathion concentrations ranged from below method detection limits to 0.71 ng/g, and the detection frequency for these compounds ranged from 20% to 100%. Residues measured in this study were all below the Canadian maximum residue limit for apples. Variability factors ranged from 2 to 19 for all compounds observed in this study. Composite samples may not accurately reflect the extremes of exposure from consumption of single servings of apples.     

干扰核心蛋白聚糖对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化的影响

为探究肌肉生长抑制素(MSTN)对牛骨骼肌生长发育的作用机制,本研究以前期MSTN^+/-蒙古牛与野生蒙古牛腿臀肌肌肉组织定量蛋白质组学与磷酸化蛋白质组学筛选获得的表达差异倍数较大的核心蛋白聚糖(DCN)为靶标,以实验室前期分离培养的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞及建立的体外诱导成肌分化模型为对象,通过对设计合成的3个DCN siRNA干扰效果的筛选,将干扰效果最显著的si-DCN-2(si-DCN)转染牛骨骼肌卫星细胞。采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blotting方法检测增殖期(GM)牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中增殖标志因子Pax7和MyoD的mRNA水平及蛋白水平的表达变化,以及使用EdU染色的方法检测干扰DCN对细胞增殖的影响。对转染DCN siRNA的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞进行体外成肌诱导分化,通过显微镜观察牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化第3天(DM3)的肌管形成状态,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blotting检测分化标志因子MyoG和MyHC的mRNA水平及蛋白水平的表达变化,并对DM3期肌管MyHC进行免疫荧光染色,以研究干扰DCN对细胞分化的影响。结果显示,干扰DCN表达后,增殖期牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中Pax7和MyoD的mRNA水平及蛋白水平都显著或极显著上调(P<0.05;P<0.01),且EdU阳性细胞率显著增加(P<0.05),表明干扰DCN表达显著促进了牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖。干扰DCN表达后,牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化第3天诱导形成的肌管直径呈现增大趋势,检测成肌分化标志因子MyoG在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达分别极显著和显著高于对照组(P<0.01;P<0.05),MyHC在mRNA水平显著降低(P<0.05),但在蛋白水平上极显著升高(P<0.01),免疫荧光结果显示,下调DCN后肌管融合指数显著高于对照组(P<0.05),说明干扰DCN表达能够促进牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的成肌分化过程。本研究结果表明,干扰DCN可以显著促进牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖和成肌分化过程。研究结果为进一步开展MSTN对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞成肌分化的调控机制研究奠定了基础。     

Controlling preharvest maturity in farmed Arctic char: A review from the Canadian perspective

Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus L. is a promising candidate for aquaculture expansion in Northern Europe, Canada, and the United States because of its excellent growth at low temperature, tolerance to high rearing density, high fillet yield, and superior flesh texture and flavor. To support this industry, several breeding programs in these regions currently focus on selection for growth and delayed maturation. While the growth potential of existing strains has been improved, preharvest sexual maturation remains a problem in this industry. This article describes current knowledge on the control of preharvest maturation in Arctic char at the hatchery level through the production of single‐sex and triploid populations and during the grow‐out phase through the manipulation of photoperiod and feed intake. Research perspectives on the subject are also suggested in order to complement the efforts of ongoing breeding programs.