Effects of metomidate hydrochloride sedation on blood glucose and marketability of transported threespot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus

Our objectives were to determine whether sedation with metomidate hydrochloride (hereafter, "metomidate") during transportation of threespot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus would prevent an increase in blood glucose levels and improve fish marketability (i.e., based on appearance and behavior) in comparison with unsedated controls. Threespot gourami are obligate air-breathers that possess a labyrinth organ, enabling the fish to respire air above the water surface; these fish should be lightly sedated during transport. Fish were transported for approximately 24 h via truck and domestic airline. Blood was sampled at 0, 2, 6, and 12 h posttransport ation, and appearance and behavior were observed at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h and 7 d posttransportation. Metomidate concentrations tested were 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg/L. At the concentrations tested, metomidate neither inhibited elevations in blood glucose nor improved marketability. Fish that were transported with 0.3-mg/L metomidate were less marketable based on behavioral indices, and fish that were transported with 0.4-mg/L metomidate had higher glucose levels than control fish. Use of metomidate as a transport sedative for threespot gourami should be considered with caution and may be problematic at the concentrations tested; however, further research examining additional indices of stress may clarify metomidate use for this species.     

Maize meal fortification is associated with improved vitamin A and iron status in adolescents and reduced childhood anaemia in a food aid-dependent refugee population

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the Fe and vitamin A status of the population of Nangweshi refugee camp associated with the introduction of maize meal fortification. DESIGN: Pre- and post-intervention study using a longitudinal cohort. SETTING: Nangweshi refugee camp, Zambia. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and twelve adolescents (10-19 years), 157 children (6-59 months) and 118 women (20-49 years) were selected at random by household survey in July 2003 and followed up after 12 months. RESULTS: Maize grain was milled and fortified in two custom-designed mills installed at a central location in the camp and a daily ration of 400 g per person was distributed twice monthly to households as part of the routine food aid ration. During the intervention period mean Hb increased in children (0.87 g/dl; P < 0.001) and adolescents (0.24 g/dl; P = 0.043) but did not increase in women. Anaemia decreased in children by 23.4% (P < 0.001) but there was no significant change in adolescents or women. Serum transferrin receptor (log10-transformed) decreased by -0.082 microg/ml (P = 0.036) indicating an improvement in the Fe status of adolescents but there was no significant decrease in the prevalence of deficiency (-8.5%; P = 0.079). In adolescents, serum retinol increased by 0.16 micromol/l (P < 0.001) and vitamin A deficiency decreased by 26.1% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of fortified maize meal led to a decrease in anaemia in children and a decrease in vitamin A deficiency in adolescents. Centralised, camp-level milling and fortification of maize meal is a feasible and pertinent intervention in food aid operations.     

Severe respiratory compromise secondary to cervical disk herniation in two dogs

Two dogs presented with acute tetraparesis, hypoventilation, and bradycardia with a second-degree atrioventricular heart block. Neurological examination localized both lesions to the cervical spine. Diagnostic imaging revealed a ventral extradural compression at the second to third cervical (C(2)-C(3)) region in one dog and at the third to fourth cervical (C(3)-C(4)) region in the other. Following surgical correction of the extruded disk, the hypoventilation and bradycardia resolved. Cervical disk extrusions are a common cause of acute tetraparesis in the dog. This report shows that respiratory and cardiac complications may occur concurrently. The authors recommend screening dogs with cervical myelopathies for respiratory and cardiac dysfunctions and treating appropriately. Prompt surgical intervention and supportive care can improve the prognosis.     

Using a selectivity index to evaluate logarithmic spraying in grass seed crops

BACKGROUND: Grass seed crops are minor crops that cannot support the development of selective herbicides for grass weed control in grass seed crops. An option is to screen for selective herbicides with the use of logarithmic spraying technology. The aim of this paper is to assess selectivity of various herbicides in grass seed crops by using dose–response curves. RESULTS: Six grass species were subjected to logarithmic spraying with 11 herbicides and with Poa pratensis L. as a weed. The ratio between the doses that caused 10% of damage to the crop and 90% of damage to the weed was used as a selectivity index. Compounds with selectivity indices above 2 can be safely used in a crop. The two ACCase herbicides clodinafop‐propargyl and fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl and a mixture of the two ALS herbicides mesosulfuron and iodosulfuron could be used selectively to control P. pratensis in Festuca rubra L., although the selectivity indices in no instances were greater than the desired 2.0. CONCLUSION: The logarithmic sprayer can be a rapid screening tool for identifying compounds with favourable selectivity indices. Good experimental design is needed to alleviate rates being systematically distributed and confounded with growth rate and soil fertility gradients. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Critically examining the knowledge base required to mechanistically project climate impacts: A case study of Europe's fish and shellfish

An amalgam of empirical data from laboratory and field studies is needed to build robust, theoretical models of climate impacts that can provide science‐based advice for sustainable management of fish and shellfish resources. Using a semi‐systematic literature review, Gap Analysis and multilevel meta‐analysis, we assessed the status of empirical knowledge on the direct effects of climate change on 37 high‐value species targeted by European fisheries and aquaculture sectors operating in marine and freshwater regions. Knowledge on potential climate change‐related drivers (single or combined) on several responses (vital rates) across four categories (exploitation sector, region, life stage, species), was considerably unbalanced as well as biased, including a low number of studies (a) examining the interaction of abiotic factors, (b) offering opportunities to assess local adaptation, (c) targeting lower‐value species. The meta‐analysis revealed that projected warming would increase mean growth rates in fish and mollusks and significantly elevate metabolic rates in fish. Decreased levels of dissolved oxygen depressed rates of growth and metabolism across coherent species groups (e.g., small pelagics, etc.) while expected declines in pH reduced growth in most species groups and increased mortality in bivalves. The meta‐analytical results were influenced by the study design and moderators (e.g., life stage, season). Although meta‐analytic tools have become increasingly popular, when performed on the limited available data, these analyses cannot grasp relevant population effects, even in species with a long history of study. We recommend actions to overcome these shortcomings and improve mechanistic (cause‐and‐effect) projections of climate impacts on fish and shellfish.     

Analysis of ITS of the rDNA to infer phylogenetic relationships among Vietnamese Citrus accessions

This study focused on clarifying phylogenetic relationships among Citrus accessions from Vietnam. Our phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences from the ITS of the ribosomal DNA included 69 accessions belonging to Citrus and related (sub)genera. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis confirmed a clear separation of the three ‘true’ Citrus species (C. medica, C. maxima and C. reticulata). Confirming recent taxonomic revisions, Fortunella, Poncirus trifoliata and Citrus hystrix are clustered among the accessions of subgenus Citrus. C. × sinensis accessions revealed a close evolutionary relationship to either C. maxima or C. reticulata, thereby confirming their involvement in its hybrid origin. Also, some other hybrid taxa and their proposed parental species were investigated and their origin could in some cases be confirmed using the ITS sequence data.     

Flavonoids possess neuroprotective effects on cultured pheochromocytoma PC12 cells: a comparison of different flavonoids in activating estrogenic effect and in preventing beta-amyloid-induced cell death

Despite the classical hormonal effect, estrogen possesses a neuroprotective effect in the brain, which has led many to search for novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Flavonoids, a group of compounds mainly derived from vegetables, share a resemblance, chemically, to estrogen, and indeed, some have been used as estrogen substitutes. To search for potential therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases, different subclasses of flavonoids were analyzed and compared with estrogen. First, the estrogenic activities of these flavonoids were determined by activating the estrogen-responsive elements in cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Second, the neuroprotective effects of flavonoids were revealed by measuring its inhibition effects on the formation of reactive oxygen species, the aggregation of beta-amyloid, and the induction of cell death by beta-amyloid in cultured neuronal PC12 cells. Among these flavonoids, baicalein, scutellarin, hibifolin, and quercetin-3'-glucoside possessed the strongest effect in neuroprotection; however, the neuroprotective activity did not directly correlate with the estrogenic activity of the flavonoids. Identification of these flavonoids could be very useful in finding potential drugs, or food supplements, for treating Alzheimer's disease.     

Evaluation of a local anesthetic delivery system for the postoperative analgesic management of canine total ear canal ablation--a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a constant rate local anesthetic delivery system is more effective than continuous intravenous (IV) morphine infusion for postoperative analgesia. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs undergoing total ear canal ablation. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to the lidocaine group (LID) or the morphine group (MOR). The LID group received a constant rate infusion of lidocaine locally and a continuous IV infusion of saline, while the MOR group received a constant rate infusion of saline locally and a continuous IV infusion of morphine. The primary investigator evaluated each patient and determined a hospital behavior score, anesthesia recovery score, preoperative pain score, and serial postoperative pain and sedation scores over 38 hours. Pain and sedation observations were videotaped and scored by three additional evaluators. Evaluators were blinded to treatment assignments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, weight, hospital behavior scores or anesthesia recovery scores. The primary investigator's pain scores were not significantly different, but sedation scores were significantly lower for the LID group. Sedation and pain scores by the video evaluators were not significantly different between groups. Kappa agreement between observers was poor, but better agreement was noted between sedation scores than pain scores. Drug-related complications were significantly lower in the LID group (n = 0) compared with the MOR group (n = 5). Wound complications were not significantly different (LID = 4, MOR = 4). Intravenous delivery complications occurred in 12 (60%) patients. Local delivery complications occurred in five (25%) dogs. Delivery complications were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Continuous incisional lidocaine delivery was an equipotent and viable method of providing postoperative analgesia compared with IV morphine. Lidocaine delivery resulted in a trend toward lower pain scores, significantly lower sedation scores, and no dogs requiring analgesic rescue. Wound complications secondary to local infusion were minor and self-limiting. Drug-related complications occurred only in the MOR group.