Computed Tomography of the Lungs of the Dog by a Six-generation CT Scanner, Intravenous Contrast Medium and Different Windows

Computed tomography (CT) is a modern technique of image diagnosis particularly recommended in human medicine to evaluate the existence of pulmonary pathological changes such as neoplasms, metastasis, interstitial infiltrates, etc. In veterinary medicine, however, few anatomical and clinical CT studies in the dog have used apparatus of the latest generation, including injection of intravenous contrast and application of regional specific CT windows with different window width (WW) and window level (WL) to evaluate the lungs, the pulmonary vessels and the bronchial structures. This methodology allows the obtaining of clear CT images with high capacity of tissue discrimination and different shades of attenuation. In this work we have planned a tomographic study of the lungs of the dog by using a six-generation spiral CT scanner (Toshiba Ex Vision), belonging to the private Medical Institute of Radiology 'Irion' of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Four mixed-breed mature dogs (4–6 years, 15–20 kg) were used, two males and two females. The dogs were anaesthetized and kept in a maximum inspiration when obtaining the images. Dogs were placed in a stretcher in a ventral or sternal recumbency. Previously, the contrast urografin® was injected in the cephalic vein. Different CT windows were applied in order to increase the quality of the images: pulmonary window (WW 928; WL -680), high-resolution pulmonary window (WW 1085; WL -750), and soft tissue window (WW 652; WL -34). The use of intravenous contrast, different CT windows and a modern CT apparatus produced excellent images of the pulmonary parenchyma, the pleural cavity, the pulmonary veins, the lobular rami of the pulmonary artery and the lobular bronchi.     

Production of syringomycins and syringopeptins by Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens

All virulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens produce in vitro substances with syringomycin-like features. All strains inhibited the growth of Geotrichum candidum in the plate assay although the extent of their growth inhibition was variable.
Purification of bioactive culture extracts of a highly virulent strain by ion exchange chromatography (Whatman CM52) yielded a main fraction which inhibited the growth of Rhodotorula pilimanae and Bacillus megaterium , and was phytotoxic to tobacco and wheat plants. In particular, the injection of this fraction in the culm of wheat plants caused phytotoxic symptoms on leaves similar to those caused in nature by the pathogen. The further purification by HPLC of the above fraction gave rise to four main bioactive substances which have been identified by spectroscopic methods (FAB-MS) and amino acid analysis as syringomycin E, syringomycin G, syringopeptin 25A and syringopeptin 25B, toxic lipodepsipeptides thus far recognized to be produced by most strains of P. syringae pv. syringae . The injection of both syringomycin E and syringopeptin 25A in wheat leaves caused necrotic symptoms; however, syringopeptin 25A was at least six times more active than syringomycin E. The possible role of the toxins in the disease development on cereals and the need for a careful examination of pathogenetic and biochemical features of P. syringae pv. atrofaciens to establish the relationships of the two pathovars in the 'syringae group' are discussed.     

不同光增方式和周期对蛋鸡蛋品质和血液生化指标的影响

研究光增方式和光照周期对蛋鸡蛋品质和血液生化指标的影响。将20周龄海兰褐商品蛋鸡320只,随机分为8组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验光照周期采用渐增和骤增2种,光周期设11L∶13D、13L∶11D、15L∶9D、17L∶7D4个水平。结果表明:①不同光增方式对蛋形指数和哈氏单位有显著影响(P<0.05),以渐增条件下较好。不同光增方式对血液生化指标没有显著影响(P>0.05)。②不同光照周期对蛋黄颜色有显著影响(P<0.05),以15L∶9D处理组蛋黄颜色最好。不同光照周期对血液生化指标有一定影响,以13L∶11D处理组较好。     

Molecular systematics in Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura

An attempt was made to understand the molecular systematics and genetic differences between 10 original chrysanthemum cultivars and 11 mutants. The similarity among the cultivars and mutants varied from 0.17 to 0.90 using RAPD analyses, a simple but efficient method to distinguish cultivars and to assess parentage. Two distinct groups were found. Two cultivars were present as a separate group showing differences from all other cultivars. Mutants with different flower colour could be identified at the molecular level using RAPD technique holding promise to identify unique genes as SCAR markers. A high genetic distance among the different chrysanthemums showed that there exists a possibility of introgressing new and novel genes from the chrysanthemum gene pool.     

Implantation study on the potential of murine epidermal stem cell differentiation

AIM: To investigate the potential of murine epidermal stem cell (ESC) differentiation after seeded in a biodegradable carrier and implanted subcutaneously into syngeneic recipient mice. METHODS: ES cells were induced in vitro to differentiate into ESCs. After stained with a fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342, these ESCs were seeded into a polyglycolic acid (PGA) net containing collagen gel, functioning as a cell carrier, and implanted subcutaneously into 129/J mice, which were syngeneic to these stem cells. RESULTS: The ESCs kept alive in the implant when observed under a fluorescent microscopy 3 weeks or longer after implantation, and could differentiate into hair follicle-like structure, glandular structure, and gave rise to additional structures displaying features resembling native dermis. No apparent rejection or severe side effects were observed at least 10 weeks post-implantation. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to use these ESCs as seed cells in the study to fabricate dermal equivalent having the potential to develop dermal appendages.     

不同光增方式和周期对蛋鸡生产性能和血液生化指标的影响

研究光增方式和光照周期对蛋鸡蛋品质和血液生化指标的影响.将20周龄海兰褐商品蛋鸡320只,随机分为8组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鸡.试验光照周期采用渐增和骤增2种,光周期设11L13D、13L11D、15L9D、17L7D 4个水平.结果表明①不同光增方式对蛋形指数和哈氏单位有显著影响(P＜0.05),以渐增条件下较好.不同光增方式对血液生化指标没有显著影响(P＞0.05).②不同光照周期对蛋黄颜色有显著影响(P＜0.05),以15L9D处理组蛋黄颜色最好.不同光照周期对血液生化指标有一定影响,以13L11D处理组较好.     

稻草菌糠对AA肉鸡生产性能及部分代谢激素水平的影响

本文通过选取1日龄192只健康AA肉鸡(公母各半),随机分为4组:对照组(饲喂基础日粮)、试验1组、试验2组和试验3组,各试验组分别在基础日粮中添加0.5%、1.0%和2.0%的稻草菌糠,研究其不同添加剂量对AA肉鸡生产性能和部分代谢激素水平的影响,并确定其最适添加比例。结果表明:①与对照组相比,49日龄时,试验1组体增重提高6.24%(P0.05),采食量提高6.74%(P0.01);②血清中T3、T4、胰岛素水平试验组不同程度地显著性高于对照组。上述结果说明,在基础日粮中添加0.5%的稻草菌糠对AA肉鸡的生产性能和部分代谢激素水平有较显著的改善作用。