Prosthetic mesh repair of abdominal wall hernias in horses

Repair of hernias of the abdominal wall of horses is often augmented by inserting a prosthetic mesh. In this review, we describe the various characteristics of prosthetic meshes used for hernia repair and present 2 systems that are used by surgeons in the human medical field to classify techniques of prosthetic mesh herniorrhaphy. Both of these classification systems distinguish between onlay, inlay, sublay, and underlay placements of mesh, based on the location within the abdominal wall in which the prosthetic mesh is inserted. We separate the published techniques of prosthetic mesh herniorrhaphy of horses using this classification system, ascribing names to the techniques of herniorrhaphy where none existed, and report the success rates and complications associated with each technique. By introducing a classification system widely used in the human medical field and illustrating each technique in a figure, we hope to clarify inconsistent nomenclature associated with prosthetic mesh herniorrhaphy performed by veterinary surgeons.     

Synthesis of haptens and protein conjugates for the development of immunoassays for the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb.

Sensitive and selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in the immobilized antigen format were developed for fenoxycarb (1), an insect growth regulator (IGR). The parent molecule [ethyl 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethylcarbamate] was derivatized at several positions to obtain haptens (2-5) that were used to produce protein conjugates and rabbit polyclonal antisera. Amino derivatives of fenoxycarb at the terminal and internal rings (2 and 3, respectively) were linked to carrier proteins by azo coupling. Carboxyalkyl-spacer groups were attached to the ethyl group and the nitrogen atom of the target compound (1) to obtain haptens 4 and 5, respectively. Hapten-homologous ELISAs based on protein conjugates of compounds 2 and 4 determined fenoxycarb in the mid-ppb range (IC(50), 102 and 95 ppb, respectively). A more sensitive hapten-heterologous ELISA (IC(50), 17 ppb; detection limit 0.5 ppb) involved the antiserum raised against a conjugate of hapten 2 and the plate-coating antigen obtained from compound 3. These assays displayed no significant interferences with photodegradation products of fenoxycarb, the IGRs methoprene and pyriproxyfen, and a variety of pesticides including the pyrethroids fenvalerate and cypermethryn, the phenoxyacetic acid herbicide 2,4-D, DDT, and the nitrodiphenyl ether herbicides acifluorfen and fluorodifen.     

Linear woody landscape elements may help to mitigate leaf surface loss caused by the cereal leaf beetle

Landscape Ecology - Woody semi-natural habitats serve as permanent habitats and hibernation sites for natural enemies and, through spillover processes, they play an important role in the biological...     

In-vitro study on the effect of pesticides on neuronal activity

Experiments have been conducted to examine the effect of chronic administration of bromoxynil, fluroxipir and bensultap on the in-vitro seizure susceptibility (induced by 4-aminopyridine) and excitability of neocortical slices of rat brain. The treatment regimes were (A) administration of spray solution in place of drinking water for seven days, and (B) feeding wheat which had been sprayed at growth stage Feekes 9–10 and consumed four to six weeks after spraying. The latency of appearance of the first seizure was significantly increased by fluroxipir (B) bensultap (B) and bromoxynil (A&B). Fluroxipir (A&B) decreased the frequency of seizure, and fluroxipir (A) and bensultap (B) doubled the duration of seizures. Excitability following electrical stimulation of the corpus callosum was not significantly changed by any treatments. The changes in brain activity were not related to the residue levels of the pesticides in the rat brains. Our results suggest that these chemicals may alter the functional properties of neuronal network activity and neurotransmission in rat neocortex after environmental exposure.     

Long‐term plant community changes in managed fens in Ohio,USA

• 1. Long‐term studies are necessary to describe effects of restoration efforts on plant communities and invasive species in North American fen communities. In 1986, 1999 and 2000, wetland plant communities and abiotic factors were sampled in two fens in Ohio that were actively managed as a state nature preserve since 1986. The correlation between plant species and environmental conditions was examined in 1986 to 2000, and changes in woody plant cover were measured on aerial photographs from 1938 to 1997 to analyse long‐term effects of management practices.
• 2. 142 vascular plant species and 32 bryophyte taxa were found in these rich fens, including 13 rare (i.e. state‐listed as endangered, threatened or potentially threatened) and 14 alien species. TWINSPAN analyses identified nine plant community types, and species distributions were correlated with several abiotic factors (groundwater depth, pH, soil organic content, distance from wetland edge and depth of peat). Communities along the wetland edge in deep peat had higher richness, more woody species, more alien species and fewer rare species than communities in areas near sources of flowing groundwater with more marl and less peat.
• 3. There was little change in species richness, evenness, and Shannon's diversity from 1986 to 2000. However, plant species assemblages changed during the study, and changes were different in unmanipulated transects compared with those where habitat managers removed invasive woody plants. An aerial photograph analysis indicated that woody plant cover increased by about 1% each year during 1938 to 1997 despite current management efforts to remove invasive trees and shrubs. Additional strategies should be directed toward reducing shrub encroachment and invasive species while promoting rare species.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular Diversity of Agriculturally Important Aspergillus Species

Although Aspergillus species are not usually considered as serious plant pathogens, Aspergilli are frequently encountered in plant products. The most important consequence of their presence is mycotoxin contamination. The main mycotoxins produced by Aspergilli are the aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and patulin, which are produced by a variety of Aspergillus species in different plant commodities. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster is useful for clarifying taxonomic relationships among toxigenic Aspergilli causing pre- and postharvest contamination of agricultural products. Molecular data has enabled us to clarify the taxonomy of black Aspergilli, A. flavus and its relatives, and sections Circumdati and Clavati, which include ochratoxin and patulin-producing species. Phylogenetically unrelated species were found to produce the same mycotoxins, indicating that mycotoxin-producing abilities of the isolates have been lost (or gained) several times during the evolution of the genus. The data also indicate that biosynthetic gene-based probes are necessary for molecular detection of these mycotoxin-producing organisms. The organisation of the biosynthetic genes of patulin and ochratoxins is unknown, although experiments are in progress in several laboratories to clarify the genetic background of biosynthesis of these mycotoxins. Identification of biosynthetic genes responsible for mycotoxin production is essential for clarifying the evolution of mycotoxin biosynthesis in Aspergilli, and to develop specific gene probes for the detection of mycotoxin-producing Aspergilli in agricultural products.     

Potential of nutrient reutilisation in combined intensive–extensive pond systems

The experiments on the intensive–extensive system were carried out between 2008 and 2010 in three ponds (area 310 m², depth 1 m) serving as extensive units, where cages were placed as an intensive units (volume 10 m³) one in each pond. In the intensive units, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was cultured and fed with pellet whilst common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was stocked in each extensive unit and raised without any artificial feeding. Three different setups of extensive ponds were tested: the additional artificial plastic substrate for periphyton development equalled to 0, 100 and 200 % of the pond surface area (PP0 %, PP100 % and PP200 %) at feed loading level of 1.2, 1.9 and 2.8 gN m^?2 day^?1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The additional net fish yields in the extensive unit were 2.8–6.5 t ha^?1 in PP0 %, 5.1–8.1 t ha^?1 in PP100 % and 2.1–4.3 t ha^?1 in PP200 %. The nitrogen recovery in the additional fish yields of extensive ponds, expressed as the percentage of feed load, was 5.6–6.1, 6.8–10 and 2.1–6.1 % in the treatments PP0 %, PP100 % and PP200 %, respectively. The combined fish production resulted in higher protein utilisation by 22–26 %; even this ratio can be increased by 33–45 % with periphyton application.     

Comparison of luteinizing hormone and steroid hormone secretion during the peri- and post-ovulatory periods in Mangalica and Landrace gilts

The objective of this study was to determine plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17beta (E2) in Mangalica gilts (M), a Hungarian native breed, and compare them with Landrace gilts (L) during the peri- and post-ovulatory periods. The estrous cycle of gilts was synchronised by Regumate feeding, and ovulation was induced with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. Blood sampling was carried out via indwelling jugular catheters three times a day and in 2-h intervals during a 16-h period after the GnRH application. The concentrations of LH, E2 and P4 were determined by immunoassays. Gilts of both breeds showed a typical gonadotropin and gonadal hormone secretion pattern. Preovulatory E2 peaks were observed on day 2 (M) and day 4 (L) after the last Regumate feeding. Highest E2 concentration was different between M and L breeds (46.5 +/- 5.7 vs. 26.0 +/- 6.8 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Maximum LH levels measured up to 6 h after GnRH were not different between M and L breeds (11.5 +/- 4.1 vs. 6.6 +/- 2.3 ng/ml). Both LH amounts during surge (41.1 +/- 15.9 vs. 27.5 +/- 6.1 ng/ml) and total over LH release (73.4 +/- 22.2 vs. 50.0 +/- 8.7 ng/ml) did not differ significantly between M and L breeds. P4 concentrations started to rise on day 6 after Regumate feeding and increased significantly from 0.6 +/- 0.3 and 0.7 +/- 0.4 ng/ml to maximal 14.0 +/- 2.4 and 11.3 +/- 2.1 ng/ml in M and L breeds, respectively. Mean P4 secretion was higher in M on days 10-15 (12.9 +/- 2.6 vs. 9.3 +/- 2.2 ng/ml; P<0.05). At the same time the number of corpora lutea was lower in M compared to L (10.3 +/-1.5 vs. 17.8 +/- 5.0, P<0.05). In our experiment, there was no evidence that differences in the secretion of analysed hormones during the peri- and post-ovulatory periods are a possible cause of usually lower fecundity in Mangalica gilts.     

Structure-activity relationships in a series of new antifungal nitroalcohol derivatives

The structure-antifungal activity correlations of 23 new nitroalcohol derivatives (1-substituted-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diols, their ethers and esters) were investigated using a generalised quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) method, combining Golender and Rozenblit's logico-structural approach and the Free-Wilson and Hansch analyses. Based on results obtained from principal component analysis, the in-vitro activities against Helminthosporium sativum, the inhibition of germination and of growth could be assumed to be governed by a common mechanism. It is suggested that the antifungal activity of the compounds studied is determined mainly by the presence or absence of an aromatic ring (unsubstituted, or bearing a hydrophobic group that is small in bulk and electron-attracting) at position 1, of a (potential) double bond between carbon atoms 1 and 2, and of an acyloxy group at position 3. Among these factors, the double bond seems to be the most important, and the mechanism of the antifungal action is probably dependent on the reactivity of this bond towards thiol groups of endogenous substances.