Increased serum leptin and insulin concentrations in canine hypothyroidism

Serum concentrations of leptin and insulin were compared between gender-matched hypothyroid (n=25) and healthy (n=25) client-owned dogs within comparable age and body condition score (BCS) ranges. Fasted blood samples were collected from each dog and analysed for glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin and insulin concentrations. Leptin and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in the hypothyroid compared to normal dogs (P=0.006 and P=0.001, respectively) following adjustment for potential confounders. A nearly significant (P=0.051) interaction with BCS was found in the association between hypothyroidism and leptin. Leptin concentrations were significantly higher in hypothyroid dogs compared to normal dogs, in separate analyses for BCS 6 (P=0.036) and 7 (P=0.049). There was no significant difference in glucose concentration between the hypothyroid and normal groups (P=0.84) following adjustment for BCS. This study showed that canine hypothyroidism is associated with increased serum leptin and insulin concentrations, neither of which may be attributed to obesity alone.     

Identification of QTLs associated with spring vegetative budbreak time after dormancy release in pear (Pyrus communis L.)

Dormancy release is greatly affected by chilling unit (CU) accumulation. Lack of CU has a major impact on spring vegetative budbreak (VB). To understand the genetic mechanism governing the chilling requirement (CR), we conducted a QTL analysis of VB date in F₁ population, derived from a cross between ‘Spadona’ (low CR) and ‘Harrow Sweet’ (high CR). Using a unique methodology of tree mobility, replicates of the same genotypes were exposed during the winter, over two consecutive years, to climates that differ greatly in their CU and to the same heat conditions to induce VB, in order to evaluate CR genetic impact and to distinguish it from the heat factor. Broad‐sense heritability within locations ranged from 0.62 to 0.66. Due to a strong impact of GxE interaction, it was reduced to 0.46 for the overall mean. We examined the previously discovered apple QTLs detected in linkage groups (LG) 9 and 8, based on the synteny between the species. Our analysis confirms significant QTLs in LG8 (R² = 12%–24%) and LG9 (R² = 20%–38%) for all locations and years     

Use of ordinary cokriging with magnetic susceptibility for mapping lead concentrations in soils of an urban contaminated site

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Lead contamination is a prevalent issue affecting cities worldwide. Traditional fieldwork and laboratory analysis techniques can be time-consuming and costly. The...     

Bilateral ureteral obstruction in a cat due to a ureteral transitional cell carcinoma

A 15-year-old cat was presented with a history of lethargy and vomiting. Serum biochemistry revealed severe azotemia. Ultrasonography revealed a small left kidney and hydronephrosis of the right kidney. There was an abdominal mass between the kidneys. Necropsy revealed a mass circumflexing both ureters and histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma.