Biomechanical Properties of Skin and Wounds in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

The biomechanical properties of wounded and nonwounded skin were studied in three dogs and three cats affected with type I Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Three nonaffected dogs and one nonaffected cat served as controls. Samples of wounded skin and adjacent normal skin were harvested at days 75, 138, 141, 144, 147, and 150. Samples were subjected to uniaxial tensile strength testing. Tensile strength, energy absorbed, and site of failure were recorded. In the dogs with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, there was an increase in tensile strength in samples containing a scar over adjacent intact skin. In nonaffected dogs, affected cats and the nonaffected cat, the nonwounded skin samples had greater tensile strength. The energy absorbed by the skin samples during testing was highly correlated with tensile strength.     

Haematological and biochemical reference values for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Haematological and biochemical reference values were established from 45 clinically healthy koalas. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences for sex and season of sampling. Immature koalas had significantly higher alkaline phosphatase and inorganic phosphate values, and significantly lower total protein concentrations due to low globulins values. Enzyme reference values tended to be wide and could limit their usefulness in detecting disease. In the reference values for leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes, the inclusion of low values which were not actually seen may interfere with the detection of reduced levels due to disease.     

Influence de la densité et de la période de concurrence de Solanum nigrum L. sur la tomate de semis direct, en relation avec le désherbage

Effects of density and period of competition by Solanum nigrum L. on direct seeded tomatoes in relation to weed control The effects of density and period of competition from Solanum nigrum L. were measured in direct seeded tomatoes given weed control treatments currently used in south-east France. S. nigrum emerging after a diquat treatment at the 2–3 leaf stage of the crop and thinned to low densities (<12.8 plants ha^?1) at the 5–6 leaf stage of the crop caused significant yield loss if left to compete with the crop until harvest. Yield reduction was smaller if the same weed densities were present only until the onset of flowering. The regression curves of yield on weed density differed as annual climatic variations affected sowing date and plant growth; a comparison between years was made using the relation ‘crop yield × weed biomass/crop biomass’. Significant interactions between weed density and period of competition were found with yield of both green and red fruit. For late sown crops with low densities of S. nigrum two weed control treatments at the 5–6 leaf stage and at the onset of flowering were sufficient to prevent yield loss.     

Biochemical and Protein Profile of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Uterine Horn Fluid During Early Pregnancy

South American camelids show high embryo loss rate, during the first 60 days of pregnancy. One of the factors which may be related to this situation is that over 98% of the embryos implant in the left uterine horn (LUH) even though both ovaries contribute similarly to ovulation. There is scarce information about the uterine environment of female camelids at any physiological state that could explain the capability of the LUH to attract the embryo and maintain pregnancy. We describe, for the first time, the biochemical and protein profile of uterine fluid (UF), addressing the right and LUH environment in non‐pregnant and pregnant alpacas. Different substrates, electrolytes and metabolites were assayed in both uterine horn fluids. Small changes were observed in glucose and total protein levels, which were more noticeable during pregnancy. In addition, 10 specific proteins were found in the left horn fluid in 5‐week‐pregnant alpacas, and two protein bands were identified in non‐pregnant alpaca right horn fluid. These results would provide basic information for identification of possible markers for pregnancy diagnosis, reproductive diseases and hormone‐treated animals evaluation and hence contributing to improve the pregnancy rate.     

Efficacy of methyl iodide and synergy with chloropicrin for control of fungi

Efficacy of soil fumigation with methyl bromide and methyl iodide against Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Gliocladium virens, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Verticillium dahliae was determined in laboratory experiments in closed fumigation chambers. Pythium ultimum was the most sensitive fungal species with EC₅₀ values for methyl bromide and methyl iodide of 15.5 and 8.6 µM , respectively. R solani was the least sensitive with EC₅₀ values of 253.4 and 161.4 µM for methyl bromide and methyl iodide, respectively. Relative potency ([methyl bromide]/[methyl iodide]) values ranged from 5.2 for P citricola to 1.5 for F oxysporum. Methyl iodide was 2.7 more efficacious than methyl bromide averaged over all fungal species. Methyl bromide/chloropicrin and methyl iodide/chloropicrin applied jointly were 2.2 and 2.8 times more efficacious, respectively, against F oxysporum than when the compounds were applied singly. Combining methyl bromide and methyl iodide with chloropicrin resulted in a significant synergistic increase in activity against F oxysporum. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of methyl iodide as a soil fumigant in container and small field plot studies

Methyl iodide was evaluated as a soil fumigant as a potential replacement for the widely used soil fumigant methyl bromide. In container trials, methyl iodide was significantly more effective than methyl bromide against the plant parasitic nematodes Meloidogyne incognita, Heterodera schachtii and Tylenchulus semipenetrans and the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. In small field plots, soil populations of root-knot nematodes were no longer detected after methyl iodide fumigation at an application rate of 112 kg ha^-1. However, after growing a susceptible lima bean host for two months, substantial root-knot galling occurred, while Rhizobium nodulation was absent. At 168 kg ha^-1 of methyl iodide, root-knot galling was reduced to less than 1%, and no Pythium propagules were recovered on selective detection media. These efficacy data support the conclusion that methyl iodide is a likely candidate for replacing methyl bromide as a soil fumigant. © 1998 SCI.     

Early maritime economy and El Nino events at quebrada tacahuay, peru

The archaeological site of Quebrada Tacahuay, Peru, dates to 12,700 to 12,500 calibrated years before the present (10,770 to 10,530 carbon-14 years before the present). It contains some of the oldest evidence of maritime-based economic activity in the New World. Recovered materials include a hearth, lithic cutting tools and flakes, and abundant processed marine fauna, primarily seabirds and fish. Sediments below and above the occupation layer were probably generated by El Nino events, indicating that El Nino was active during the Pleistocene as well as during the early and middle Holocene.     

The nutritional management of gastrointestinal tract disorders in companion animals

Dietary protein, carbohydrates, fats and fibre have marked influences on gastrointestinal tract function and dysfunction. This article reviews the nutritional management of common gastrointestinal disorders in companion animals and introduces some of the current areas of research including probiotics, prebiotics, protein-hydrolysate diets, immunonutrition and dietary fibre.

Nutritional management of oesophageal disease revolves around varying the consistency of the diet and feeding the animal from an elevated container. Provision of bowel rest remains the mainstay of the management of acute gastroenteritis but food-based oral rehydration solutions are a useful adjunct. The recommended diet for chronic small bowel diarrhoea is a highly digestible, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, low-lactose and low-fat diet with modest amounts of fermentable fibre. The use of probiotics in the management of diarrhoea in companion animals has not yet been shown to be beneficial. It is likely that prebiotics will prove more effective than probiotics in the prevention of enteropathogenic infections.

Approximately 50% of cats in New Zealand that suffer from chronic idiopathic vomiting or diarrhoea will respond to a novel-protein-elimination diet and approximately 30% meet the diagnostic criteria for food sensitivity. Growing evidence supports the use of protein-hydrolysate diets in the management of inflammatory bowel disease and further advances in immunonutrition are expected. The dietary management of colitis should include a hypoallergenic diet with a fermentable fibre source.

Manipulation of the diet provides clinicians a powerful therapeutic strategy to be used alone or concurrently with drug therapy in the management of gastrointestinal disorders.     

Factor for Estimating Nitrogen Contribution of Cowpea as a Cover Crop

The nitrogen contribution of cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] above-ground biomass was estimated using the per cent nitrogen and per cent dry matter of 24 cowpea entries. Cowpea growth stage was assigned a maturity index, and an 'N factor' was calculated. Results for this species-specific 'N factor' ranged from 12.5 at the vegetative stage to 13.5 at the reproductive stage. Using the 'rule of 16' as developed for sampling the fresh biomass of other legume cover crops, the amount of nitrogen contributed by cowpeas can be estimated by using an average 'N factor' of 13.     

Comparison of femoral and auricular arterial blood pressure monitoring in pigs

Objective To compare arterial blood pressure measurements obtained from the femoral and auricular arteries in anaesthetized pigs. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Fifteen female Large White pigs were used weighing 21.3 ± 2.3 kg. Methods The pigs were anaesthetized with tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine administered intramuscularly, and anaesthesia maintained with isoflurane delivered in oxygen/nitrogen. Arterial oxygen partial pressures were maintained between 11.3 and 13.3 kPa and PaCO₂ between 4.6 and 6.0 kPa. Monitoring included electrocardiogram, capnography and invasive blood pressure. The auricular and femoral arteries were catheterized for continuous systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements. Measurements were recorded every 15 minutes. Statistical analysis involved a Bland–Altman plot analysis. Results The mean difference ± confidence intervals between the femoral and the auricular arterial diastolic, systolic and mean blood pressure measurements during hypotension were 2 ± 7, 2 ± 5 and 2 ± 5 mmHg respectively. In conditions of normotension mean difference ± confidence intervals, of femoral and auricular arterial blood pressure measurements of diastolic, systolic and mean blood pressure were 4 ± 5, 3 ± 7 and 4 ± 4 mmHg respectively. In conditions of increased arterial blood pressure, mean difference ± confidence intervals, of femoral and auricular arterial blood pressure measurements of diastolic, systolic and mean blood pressure were 4 ± 5, 3 ± 8 and 4 ± 4 mmHg respectively. Conclusion Auricular artery catheterization is easier and quicker to perform. Pressure measurements from the auricular artery compared well with the femoral artery. Clinical relevance We found that auricular arterial blood pressures were similar to femoral arterial values under the conditions of this experiment. We did not test extremes of blood pressure or significant alterations in body temperature.