Vinblastine and prednisolone chemotherapy for surgically excised grade III canine cutaneous mast cell tumours

The effect of treatment with vinblastine and prednisolone chemotherapy in dogs undergoing only surgical excision of Patnaik grade III cutaneous mast cell tumours is reported. Potential explanatory variables were explored using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with log‐rank tests. During a median follow‐up period of 429 days, the overall median survival time (MST) was not reached (lower 95% CI = 322 days). The 1‐year survival probability was 0.71 (standard error 0.1), remaining unchanged at 2 years. Secondary disease at presentation was an independent risk factor for survival (P= 0.045). The MST of dogs presenting with secondary disease was 322 days, with a lower 95% confidence interval of 142 days and a 1‐year survival of probability of 0.47 (standard error 0.19). Adverse effects were recorded in 6 of the 108 (5.6%) vinblastine doses given. This chemotherapy regimen is a well‐tolerated adjunct to surgery for grade III mast cell tumours and appears to prolong survival compared with that expected with surgery alone.     

Feline mammary tumors

The characteristics of feline mammary cancer--that is, the rapid growth of primary mammary tumors, the high rate of tumor recurrence, and the poor survival statistics--demonstrate the need for (1) early diagnosis of the primary tumor; (2) immediate, aggressive surgical therapy; and (3) frequent follow-up examinations to detect early clinical signs of recurrent disease. A number of factors that influence prognosis have been described. As more information becomes available concerning the behavior of feline mammary tumors and the results of various forms of treatment, more effective protocols can be developed. Continued etiologic research may play a vital role in determining the direction of therapy.     

Efficiency of early selection for rotation-aged wood quality traits in radiata pine

A total of 360 bark-to-bark-through-pith wood strips were sampled at breast height from 180 trees in 30 open-pollinated families from two rotation-aged genetic trials to study inheritance, age-age genetic correlation, and early selection efficiency for wood quality traits in radiata pine. Wood strips were evaluated by SilviScan® and annual pattern and genetic parameters for growth, wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), and stiffness (modulus of elasticity: MOE) for early to rotation ages were estimated. Annual ring growth was the largest between ages 2–5 years from pith, and decreased linearly to ages 9–10. Annual growth was similar and consistent at later ages. Wood density was the lowest near the pith, increased steadily to age 11–15 years, then was relatively stable after these ages. MFA was highest (35°) near the pith and reduced to about 10° at age 10–15 years. MFA was almost unchanged at later ages. MOE increased from about 2.5 GPa near the pith to about 20 GPa at ages 11–15 years. MOE was relatively unchanged at later ages. Wood density and MOE were inversely related to MFA. Heritability increased from zero near the pith and stabilised at ages 4 or 5 for all four growth and wood quality traits (DBH, density, MFA and MOE). Across age classes, heritability was the highest for area-weighted density and MFA, lowest for DBH, and intermediate for MOE. Age-age genetic correlations were high for the four traits studied. The genetic correlation reached 0.8 after age 7 for most traits. Early selection for density, MFA and MOE were very effective. Selection at age 7–8 has similar effectiveness as selection conducted at rotation age for MFA and MOE and at least 80% effective for wood density.     

Kinetic modeling of malonylgenistin and malonyldaidzin conversions under alkaline conditions and elevated temperatures

The conversion and degradation of malonylglucosides were kinetically characterized under elevated pH/heat conditions. Malonylgenistin and malonyldaidzin were heated at 60, 80, and 100 degrees C and pH values of 8.5, 9, and 9.5. A simple kinetic model was developed, which adequately predicted the conversion and degradation reactions. The conversion and degradation rates increased as temperature and pH increased. The rates of conversion of both malonylglucosides into their respective beta-glucosides were comparable under all pH/heat treatments. However, at 100 degrees C, the rates of degradation of malonyldaidzin were approximately double those of malonylgenistin, under all pH treatments. When malonlydaidzin was heated at 100 degrees C and pH 9.5, degradation of the produced daidzin occurred. Therefore, an alternative kinetic model was developed to better predict the conversion and degradation of malonyldaidzin occurring at 100 degrees C and pH 9.5. The models developed provide soy food manufacturers with guidelines for better control of the profile and level of isoflavones..     

Strategies to promote healthier food purchases: a pilot supermarket intervention study

OBJECTIVE: To pilot the design and methodology for a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) of two interventions to promote healthier food purchasing: culturally appropriate nutrition education and price discounts. DESIGN: A 12-week, single-blind, pilot RCT. Effects on food purchases were measured using individualised electronic shopping data ('Shop 'N Go' system). Partial data were also collected on food expenditure at other (non-supermarket) retail outlets. SETTING: A supermarket in Wellington, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible customers were those who were the main household shoppers, shopped mainly at the participating store, and were registered to use the Shop 'N Go system. Ninety-seven supermarket customers (72% women; age 40 +/- 9.6 years, mean +/- standard deviation) were randomised to one of four intervention groups: price discounts, nutrition education, a combination of price discounts and nutrition education, or control (no intervention). RESULTS: There was a 98% follow-up rate of participants, with 85% of all reported supermarket purchases being captured via the electronic data collection system. The pilot did, however, demonstrate difficulty recruiting Maori, Pacific and low-income shoppers using the electronic register and mail-out. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study showed that electronic sales data capture is a viable way to measure effects of study interventions on food purchases in supermarkets, and points to the feasibility of conducting a large-scale RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of price discounts and nutrition education. Recruitment strategies will, however, need to be modified for the main trial in order to ensure inclusion of all ethnic and socio-economic groups.     

When fish shoals meet: outcomes for evolution and fisheries

The mechanisms underlying the social structure of free‐ranging fish shoals have received little attention in comparison to functional studies on shoaling. Recently, however, a number of investigations, both in the marine and in the freshwater environment, have begun to address the underlying mechanisms by concentrating on interactions between free‐ranging shoals. The rates of shoal encounters can influence the opportunities for individual assortment by phenotype and selection of shoal size; act as a constraint on the observed patterns of shoal structure by restricting individual choice behaviour and were found to be high in several small freshwater species (where intershoal distances were small), but lower in marine species where shoals were more dispersed. The duration of encounters may play a role in that it affects both the time available for assessment (of the encountered shoal) as well as that for exchange of individuals. Scarce published information on the outcome of shoal encounters suggests that the outcome of shoal encounters is influenced by shoal composition but not by shoal size. Individual behaviour may have evolved to maintain shoal size when shoals encounter, but when fish populations are depleted by fishing, this trait can exacerbate range and stock collapse. Furthermore, an understanding of the dynamics of shoal encounters has important consequences for the evolution of reciprocal altruism and the transmission of information through social learning within populations. Finally, information on encounter rates between shoals and the number of individuals that are exchanged on such occasions could be important for making predictions about the spread of disease through fish populations.     

High-throughput assay for detection of soybean lipoxygenase-1

A high-throughput assay was developed to detect soybean lipoxygenase 1 (LOX-1) using a multilabel plate reader. The assay was also adapted to a single cell fluorometer. Fluorescein is degraded by linoleic hydroperoxide produced from soybean lipoxygenase and linoleic acid. The decrease in fluorescence is measured over time, and the area-under-the-curve (AUC) is used to quantify the LOX-1 content of soybean extract. A dose-dependent response is seen with varied dilutions of pure LOX enzyme or soybean extracts. Percent recovery was between 97% and 108%, and relative standard deviation was 4.3%. Advantages of the assay include the reduced preparation time of samples and reduced use of reagents in the high-throughput assay. Multiple samples can be measured in a single run with a multilabel plate reader.     

Identification of trichomonadid protozoa from the bovine preputial cavity by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism typing.

Accurate identification of the bovine pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus is sometimes complicated by the presence of other trichomonadid protozoa in clinical samples. A highly specific and reproducible approach for differentiating 3 common types of bovine trichomonadid protozoa found in the bovine preputial cavity, T. foetus, Pentatrichomonas hominis, and a Tetratrichomonas species, was developed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Universal trichomonadid protozoa primers, TFR1 and TFR2, were used to amplify the 5.85 rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer regions (ITSRs), and the products were digested with the restriction enzyme HpyCH4IV. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed on 55 trichomonad isolates from bovine preputial washing and scraping samples. The RFLP results correlated 100% with 5.85 rRNA gene and ITSR sequence resultsand PCR results with primers specific for T. foetus. The results of this study demonstrate that PCR and RFLP analysis can be used in lieu of DNA sequencing to identify the specific trichomonadid protozoa isolated from the bovine preputial cavity.