Advances in Prostatic Diagnostics in Dogs: The Role of Canine Prostatic Specific Esterase in the Early Diagnosis of Prostatic Disorders

In last years, following the increased canine life expectancy and the rising attention pet-owners devote to their animals, several authors have carried on investigations concerning new techniques to early identify canine prostatic disorders that might affect the dog's quality of life. Prostatic disorders often have an asymptomatic onset and their early diagnosis is difficult: hence, they are usually identified at an advanced stage, only. Traditionally, the diagnosis of prostatic disorders is based on noninvasive tools, such as transrectal and abdominal palpation, seminal or prostatic fluid evaluation, and urinalysis and imaging. On the other hand, a definite diagnosis of prostatic abnormalities could be achieved through prostatic parenchyma Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) or biopsy. However, these investigations are performed rarely because of their invasiveness. Thus, several authors investigated canine serum biomarkers in order to achieve an earlier diagnostic timing and to apply therapeutic strategies for better outcomes. The Canine Prostatic Specific Esterase (CPSE) has been identified as a suitable biomarker to be included in a prostate health screening program, following the model of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human medicine. A higher CPSE in dogs suffering from several prostatic diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, bacterial prostatitis, or prostatic carcinoma, was reported in literature. Thanks to the potential usefulness in clinical practice, further studies should investigate the potential role of CPSE in monitoring the medical treatment success in the male reproductive system. Moreover, the spreading availability of serum biomarkers, easily carried out on blood samples in clinical practice, could assure a more accurate evaluation of the actual prevalence of prostatic disorders. The CPSE is actually recognized as a promising diagnostic tool for the detection of prostatic disorders in a "prostate health screening program," in order to properly select those patients requiring further more accurate and expensive diagnostic investigations.     

Perspectives on the use of a seaweed extract to moderate the negative effects of alternate bearing in apple trees

Summary

Alternate bearing is a serious problem in many apple varieties. In fact, each year, apple trees have to be thinned in order to ensure a correct and constant balance between the reproductive and vegetative tendencies of the plant. In organic fruit growing, there is no alternative to the expensive and time-consuming process of hand-thinning. Under these conditions, the use of natural bio-stimulants which enhance the efficiency of nutrient uptake, plant fitness to different pedoclimatic conditions, and plant tolerance to stress, offers new opportunities to reduce the negative effects of alternate bearing. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Actiwave^®, a metabolic enhancer derived from the alga, Ascophillum nodosum, on ‘Fuji’ apple trees affected by experimentally-imposed alternate bearing. The experiments were carried in open field conditions over four consecutive years. Although the effect of Actiwave^® was erratic from year-to-year, the compound generally reduced those problems linked to alternate bearing. Actiwave^® had its most significant effect on alternate bearing plants that were also affected by nutrient deprivation due to the absence of fertilisation. In these trees,Actiwave^® decreased the oscillations in yield between “on” and “off” years and increased the average fruit weight on plants affected by too-high a crop load. Treated trees also showed higher leaf chlorophyll contents (increased by 12%), with a consequent increase in the rates of photosynthesis and respiration. On the other hand, under standard conditions, in well-fertilised balanced plants, Actiwave^® did not have any significant effect. This evidence corroborates the hypothesis that Actiwave^® may be a useful tool to reduce alternate bearing in organic and low-input farming.     

Effects of the extensive culture system as finishing production strategy on biometric and chemical parameters in rainbow trout

The effect of finishing extensive farming period, to reduce fat content and manipulate the fatty acid profile of fish muscle, was evaluated in rainbow trout. Fish were stocked in an artificial lake, in which fish were fed only on naturally available nutrients with no supply of artificial feed, for different lengths of time from 0 to 120 days. No weight loss was noted during the whole finishing period while total length increased from 228±7 to 269±3 mm and the condition factor decreased from 1.41±0.04 to 0.89±0.02. The total fat content of the fillets decreased considerably from 4.7±0.6% at the beginning to 2.4±0.4% and 0.7±0.2% after 45 and 120 days respectively. Fillet fatty acid composition was affected by the time of stocking in the extensive farm. In contrast to the reduction in C18:1n‐9, C18:2n‐6, total monounsaturated fatty acid and total n‐6 percent values, an increase in the C20:5n‐3, C22:6n‐3, total polyunsaturated fatty acid and total n‐3 percent values was observed. It was shown that while other finishing strategies for salmonids have some disadvantages, the extensive culture system seems to be a potentially useful tool for increasing the general quality of the end product.     

Environmental influence on urban rodent bait consumption

Anticoagulant poisoning is a common rodent control method in urban areas, but rodents may exhibit versatile feeding behavioural habits in varying environmental conditions. This study has been conducted to determine those environmental factors that could directly influence bait consumption and which therefore may affect an urban rodent control plan carried out with chemical methods. In the city of Bologna (Italy), 2500 bait stations have been monitored in various urban biotopes and the bait consumption studied in relation to several environmental factors, using both bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results reveal that the rodent patch distribution triggers the avoidance of baits placed outside of their home-range, hence the importance on bait placement. The logistic regression model confirms that vegetation, harbourage and water supplies are important variables in determining bait consumption, probably because they may spatially and temporarily facilitate the agoraphobic rodent movement, ensuring undisturbed bait consumption. The role of predators (dogs and cats) and food competitors (synanthropic birds) remains insignificant. However, bait eating invertebrates may consume part of the bait. For a proper rodent control plan the first real need is to minimize the alternative food sources, which may compete with baits. Weather conditions in which rodents could possibly pass unnoticed (fog and rainfall) may encourage bait consumption, vice versa with a cold climate. The considered environmental factors have satisfactorily explained bait consumption, highlighting the importance of human influence. The study of environmental factors may be useful in categorizing several site-specific conditions where rodent control efforts should be targeted, enhancing any intervention by matching the correct and specific strategy.     

Molecular characterization of avipoxviruses circulating in Windhoek district,Namibia 2021

Samples from eleven birds (chicken, dove and peacock) with symptoms of fowlpox, caused by the avipoxvirus (APV), were collected in seven different areas of the Windhoek district, Namibia between April and October 2021. A fragment of the 4b core protein and the DNA polymerase gene of APV were amplified by PCR from the DNA of the samples and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the viruses present in the chickens all belonged to clade A1 while the viruses in the doves and peacock were from subclade A3.1. This is the first report of subclade A3.1 avipoxvirus in peacock. In addition, all of the samples obtained from chickens were shown by PCR to be positive for the integration of reticuloendotheliosis virus while those from the doves and peacocks were negative. This study is the first characterization of avipoxvirus in Namibia and provides additional information on the presence of avipoxvirus in southern Africa.     

Développements récents de l'Application de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse des aliments,et proposition d'Une nouvelle méthode complémentaire ou subsidiaire pour la micro-détermination spécifique De quelques composants, à l'aide de la diagnose enzymatique

Resumé La chromatographie en phase gazeuse étant à la fois une méthode qualitative et quantitative, constitue une méthode idéale destinée à résoudre la complexité des analyses des additifs alimentaires. Après une énumération des perfectionnements récents apportés à ces appareils, l'auteur fait un exposé de l'application et des résultats, notamment dans les domaines: Huile d'olive, Beurre, Saindoux, Vin, Cacao, Chocolat. Identification des acides gras, table des constituants, recherches de falsifications, analyse des substances étrangères, altération des vins, discussion des résultats d'analyse.Pour le dosage des résidus de pesticides et pour la recherche des agents antifermentaires, la chromatographie en phase gazeuse s'avère d'une grande utilité en raison de sa précision et sa rapidité.Comme un complément de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse l'auteur insiste sur l'importance, dans le secteur alimentaire, d'une nouvelle méthode d'analyse, basée sur des réactions enzymatiques et sur les études exécutées par son Institut pour la mise ou point de telles méthodes enzymatiques: détermination du glucose, du fructose, du saccharose dans les moûts et les vins, etc...

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Summary Gas-chromatography being a qualitative and quantitative method at the same time, makes an ideal method enabling us to solve the complexity of the analyses of food additives. After enumerating the recent improvements in the gas-chromatography equipment the author explains its applications and shows the results obtained, more specially in the following fields: olive oil, butter, lard, wine, cocoa, chocolate, identification of fatty acids, table of components, search for adulterants, analysis of foreign substances, deterioration of wines, discussion of the results of analyses.In the determination of pesticide residues, and the search for antiferments, gas-chromatography appears to be extremely useful, thanks to its precision and rapidity.As a supplement to gas-chromatography the author insists on the importance, in this field of foods, of a new analytical method based on enzymatic reactions, and on the investigations, carried on in this Institute, aimed to set up such enzymatic methods, to be used in the study of glucose, fructose, and saccharose deteriorations in musts and wines, etc...

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Zusammenfassung Die Gaschromatographie ist gleichzeitig eine quantitative und qualitative Analysenmethode. Sie ist daher hervorragend für die Lösung der komplexen Probleme auf dem Gebiete der Lebensmittel-Zusatzstoffe geeignet. Nach Aufzählung der letzten Verbesserungen in der Apparatetechnik, werden Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Ergebnisse besprochen, insbesondere für Analysen von Olivenöl, Butter, Schmalz, Wein, Kakao und Schokolade. Bestimmung der Fettsäuren, Liste der Bestandteile, Nachweis von Fälschungen, Fremdstoffanalysen, Weinalterung, kritische Betrachtung der Ergebnisse.Für den Nachweis der Pestizid-Rückstände und die Bestimmung von Antifermenten, leistet die Gaschromatographie infolge der Genauigkeit und Schnelligkeit der Methode bereits große Dienste.Zur Ergänzung der gaschromatographischen Verfahren schlägt der Autor, insbesondere für Lebensmittelanalysen ein auf enzymatischen Reaktionen fußendes neues Verfahren vor. Hierzu sind die Untersuchungen in seinem Institut weit fortgeschritten, insbesondere für die Bestimmung von Glukose, Fruktose, Saccharose in Most und Wein.

     

Glycohistochemical characterization of histologically normal nasal mucosa and enzootic nasal tumor of sheep

Objective-To determine glycohistochemical characteristics of enzootic nasal tumors (ENTs) of sheep, compare results for ENT with those of histologically normal nasal mucosa of sheep, and identify the histologic origin of ENT. Sample-ENT and nasal mucosa samples obtained from cadavers of 5 adult Lacaune sheep with ENT and 5 Lacaune sheep unaffected by ENT, respectively. Procedures-Samples of ENT and nasal mucosa were collected from cadavers of sheep and sectioned. Conventional and lectin histochemical analyses were used to identify glycoconjugates in tissue sections on the basis of their principal chemical groups and principal terminal or internal oligosaccharidic glucidic residues, respectively. Results-ENTs had papillary and tubular portions. Cells in the papillary portion of ENTs had secretion and surface glycoconjugates, which included sulfated glycosaminoglycans and neutral and sialilated glycoproteins. Cells in the tubular portion of ENTs had surface glycoconjugates, which included neutral and sialilated glycoproteins. Both portions of ENTs had C(4)-acetylated sialoderivatives that were not detected in sections of histologically normal nasal mucosa. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The papillary portion of ENTs in sheep may originate from respiratory glands and goblet cells. The tubular portion of ENTs in sheep may originate from olfactory glands. Presence of C(4)-acetylated sialoderivatives in cells of ENTs could confer resistance against pathogens to those cells.