High-resolution fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a pituitary microtumor in a dog

A 16-year-old, castrated, male English cocker spaniel dog was presented due to generalized alopecia. Routine clinical pathology, endocrine and abdominal ultrasonography results were consistent with a diagnosis of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. The adenohypophyseal lesion was clearly visualized on both 3 T and 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary gland. Although biochemical and MRI findings were consistent with a functional pituitary microtumor, a pituitary lesion was not detected using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). This report firstly describes the application of high-resolution FDG-PET to a spontaneous pituitary microtumor in a dog.     

In-Laboratory Diffraction-Enhanced X-Ray Imaging of an Equine Hoof

We describe and demonstrate the first application of a laboratory-based diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging instrument for noninvasive equine imaging. A formalin-preserved disarticulated forelimb from a near-term aborted miniature horse fetus was imaged with diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging. The resultant calculated images—absorption, extinction, refraction, and scattering—are presented, and soft-tissues such as the dorsal digital extensor tendon, articular cartilage, as well as various joint, tendon sheath, and bursa recesses are observed in simultaneous registration with the adjacent dense bone tissue. Radiation dose calculations were performed and a calculated surface dose of 0.6 mGy for the soft muscular tissue was determined for the imaging experiment.     

Molecular cloning,chromosomal localization and expression pattern of porcine ADP‐ribosylation factor(Arf) gene family

Adenosine diphosphate‐ribosylation factors (Arfs) are a family of guanosine triphosphate‐binding proteins involved in fundamental biological processes including secretion, endocytosis, phagocytosis, cytokinesis, cell adhesion and tumor cell invasion. We report here the molecular cloning, chromosome localization and expression analysis of porcine Arf1–6, of which Arf1–3 (Class I) have >93% similarity to each other and encode nearly similar proteins with 181 amino acids in length. Arf4 and Arf5 (Class II) are 78–81% homologous to Class I Arfs and both encode a protein of 180 amino acids, Arf6 (Class III) shows 64–68% homology to the other Arfs and encodes 175 amino acids. With radiation hybrid mapping, porcine Arf1–6 are assigned to chromosomes 14q21‐q22, 12p14, 5p12‐q11, 13q21.1, 18q24, 1q21‐q27, respectively. Moreover, real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR assays show that porcine Arf1‐6 are ubiquitous in all tissues examined, with the highest levels in the kidney and stomach and the lowest in muscle and the heart. This is the first report of molecular characterization of the Arf gene family in pigs.     

CONTRAST‐ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS IN 10 DOGS

Computed tomography angiography, sonography, scintigraphy, and portography can be used to evaluate the portal vasculature to evaluate for a portosystemic shunt (PSS). Time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF‐MRA) and contrast‐enhanced MRA (CE‐MRA) are other potentially useful techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate CE‐MRA in 10 dogs suspected of having a PSS. Noncontrast MR images of the abdomen were obtained using a Siemens Symphony MR‐scanner (1.5 T) and a T1‐weighted FLASH‐3D sequence with a very short scan time (about 20 s). After injection of contrast medium, the initial sequence was repeated five times. The sequence with the best contrast medium filling of the portal vasculature was selected subjectively, subtracted from the initial survey image series, and a maximum intensity projection (MIP) of the subtraction data, in multiple views, was created. The cross‐sectional and MIP images were evaluated for abnormal portosystemic vasculature. A single PSS was identified and confirmed at surgery in all dogs. A portocaval shunt was found in five dogs, a portophrenic shunt in three dogs, a portoazygos shunt in one, and a central divisional intrahepatic shunt in one other dog. Based on our results, CE‐MRA is a useful tool for imaging abdominal and portal vasculature and for the diagnosis of a PSS.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF CERVICAL SPINAL CORD MENINGIOMAS

The records of four dogs with cervical spinal cord meningiomas were retrospectively reviewed. Signalment, history, laboratory findings, neurological examination, and histopathological findings were evaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed using a 1.0-T superconducting magnet and T2-weighted (W) and noncontrast and postcontrast T1-W spin echo pulse sequences. Meningiomas were located at the level of the second, third, and fifth cervical vertebrae and the C2-3 intervertebral space. All meningiomas appeared as focal masses that were hyperintense to the spinal cord on T2-W images and iso- to hypointense on the T1-W images. They could be identified as intradural and extramedullary in origin based on a broad-based dural margin seen on at least one of the imaging planes and a gradual expansion of the subarachnoid space cranial and caudal to the mass, best noted on the transverse and dorsal plane images. On dorsal plane T2-W images in three dogs, expansion of the subarachnoid space adjacent to the mass appeared similar to the myelographic "golf tee" sign. All meningiomas exhibited moderate, well-defined contrast enhancement with dural tails seen in three of the four dogs. One dog had extension into the intervertebral foramen along the nerve and ipsilateral atrophy of the muscles of the neck. By differentiating the meningiomas from intramedullary tumors and by clearly depicting the extent of the masses, MRI provided valuable information about treatment options and prognosis.     

应用套式PCR分段扩增犬瘟热病毒融合蛋白的全基因

为研究犬瘟热病毒（ＣＤＶ）融合蛋白各段功能,根据ＣＤＶＯｎｄｅｒｓｔｅｐｏｏｒｔ弱毒株的融合蛋白基因序列,设计合成了１０条寡聚核苷酸引物。对此１０条引物进行不同的配对,将１株犬瘟热疫苗弱毒株细胞培养物的总ＲＮＡ进行ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ扩增,利用１次ＰＣＲ扩增得到了７个基因片段,最长的达１６６９ｂｐ,最短的为３１４ｂｐ;应用套式或半套式ＰＣＲ,扩增得到了能覆盖整个融合蛋白基因的８个片段     

Thermographic Eye Temperature as an Index to Body Temperature in Ponies

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a passive, remote, and noninvasive method of measuring surface temperatures. Select surface locations, such as the eye, could indicate body temperature. To investigate whether thermographic eye temperatures were associated with body temperatures and could be used to detect febrile ponies, we measured IRT eye temperatures, rectal temperatures, and implanted thermal microchip temperatures from 24 male ponies daily for 3 consecutive days. Information regarding distance of the pony from the IRT device, presence of direct sunlight during the measurement period, and ambient temperature were also collected. A multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that 60.41% of the variance in IRT was accounted for by rectal temperature, sunlight, and distance between the camera and the pony, with rectal temperature being the major contributor to variance (46.23%). Using a rectal temperature of >38.6°C (101.5°F) as the indicator of febrile status, sensitivity and specificity of the IRT device used to detect the febrile ponies were found to be 74.6% and 92.3%, respectively, when using the maximum IRT eye temperature per pony per day. In conclusion, IRT eye temperature could be a preliminary screening tool to determine whether a more time-consuming, labor-intensive, and invasive method (e.g., rectal temperature) is warranted for fever validation.     

日本结缕草ZjNAC1的克隆、转录激活活性、亚细胞定位及表达分析

采用RACE技术从日本结缕草中克隆得到ZjNAC1转录因子(GenBank No. MH428376),其开放阅读框为945bp,编码314个氨基酸。ZjNAC1编码的蛋白在N端有1个典型的NAM保守结构域,属于NAC转录因子家族。通过染色体步移的方法,获得ZjNAC1基因ATG上游1635bp序列,分析发现其包含响应脱落酸(ABA)、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)及逆境胁迫的作用元件。构建pGBKT7-ZjNAC1载体,转化Y2HGold酵母感受态细胞,发现ZjNAC1具有转录激活活性。农杆菌介导的35S-ZjNAC1-YFP载体注射本生烟草叶片瞬时表达结果显示,ZjNAC1定位于细胞核。实时荧光定量结果表明,ZjNAC1在日本结缕草根中表达量最高;此外,ZjNAC1的表达受10μmol/L MeJA和20%PEG4000处理的诱导,但受200μmol/L乙烯(ET)、10μmol/L ABA和300mmol/L NaCl处理的抑制。