Ultrasonographic identification of vascular invasion by adrenal tumors in dogs

Adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice for adrenal tumors that are producing adverse clinical signs. Surgical planning prior to adrenalectomy is aided by identifying tumors with invasion into adjacent vessels or the presence of a tumor thrombus extending into the caudal vena cava. In this paper, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in determining if vascular invasion or tumor thrombus is present. Thirty-four dogs with 36 adrenal tumors were reviewed retrospectively. Overall, 36% of tumors had vascular invasion. Abdominal ultrasound was 100% sensitive and 96% specific in identifying the presence of a tumor thrombus in the caudal vena cava. The sensitivity and specificity was 76% and 96%, respectively, when all forms of vascular invasion were evaluated and included patients with vascular wall invasion without concurrent thrombus. Abdominal ultrasound is a good screening tool for identifying vascular invasion or tumor thrombus associated with adrenal tumors in dogs.     

高光谱荧光示踪无损检测瓜类作物嫁接苗愈合状态

为了减少瓜类嫁接苗的愈合管理时间,实现快速准确判别嫁接苗早期愈合状态,促进嫁接苗规模化生产及育苗产业发展。该研究制备了氮硫掺杂碳点,以该碳点为荧光示踪材料,以西瓜嫁接苗为研究对象,利用高光谱荧光成像方法,探究了西瓜嫁接苗早期愈合状态无损检测的高光谱荧光示踪成像方法。高光谱荧光示踪图像及光谱分析结果表明,利用氮硫掺杂碳点进行荧光示踪,通过高光谱成像仪对瓜类作物早期愈合状态高通量表型的鉴定,能快速、自动、无损地获取嫁接苗愈合的情况。同时,通过氮硫掺杂碳点处理后第12天,处理组的西瓜嫁接苗相较于对照组,根系增长量提升了78.7%,叶面积增长量提升了61.4%。因此,该研究方法可以提早判别嫁接苗的愈合连通,促使瓜类嫁接苗提早移栽,并且氮硫掺杂碳点处理可以促进嫁接苗叶面积和根系的生长,达到种苗壮苗的作用。     

Autologous point‐of‐care cellular therapies variably induce equine mesenchymal stem cell migration,proliferation and cytokine expression

Reasons for performing study: Autologous cellular therapy products including adipose‐derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNs), cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNs) and platelet rich plasma are options for treatment of acute orthopaedic lesions while mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are culture expanded. These products may contribute to healing by secreting matrix proteins or growth factors, but they may also act on endogenous MSCs to facilitate healing. Objectives: To determine the effects of cell therapy products on MSCs function in vitro. The hypothesis was that cell therapy products promote MSCs functions including proliferation, migration and mediator release. Methods: Fat, bone marrow (BM), cord blood and platelets were obtained from 6 Quarter Horses. The BM‐MSCs and their autologous cell therapy products were co‐incubated in transwells. Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation, migration, gene expression and cytokine concentrations were determined. Results: All cell therapy products increased MSCs proliferation, but SVF induced significantly more proliferation than any other product. Also SVF elicited more MSCs chemotaxis and, along with BMMNs, significantly more MSCs chemoinvasion. Cord blood mononuclear cells stimulated MSCs to produce high concentrations of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Stromal vascular fraction and platelet lysate did not stimulate MSCs but SVF and platelet lysate themselves contained high concentrations of PGE₂ and IL‐6 (SVF) and TGF‐β1 (platelet lysate). Conclusions: Autologous cell products variably stimulate MSCs functions with 2 primary patterns apparent. Products either contained preformed mediators that may have intrinsic healing function, or products stimulated MSCs to secrete mediators. Potential relevance: The specific clinical indications for these products may differ to include administration as a sole treatment modality prior to MSCs injection for intrinsic cell and cytokine activity (i.e. SVF) or administration concurrently with MSCs to activate MSCs for treatment of chronic lesions (i.e. CBMNs).     

高地钩叶藤节间与节部导管及维管束形态特征径向变异规律

为了更好地了解棕榈藤材的性能、提高我国棕榈藤资源培育和高附加值加工利用水平,选用高地钩叶藤为研究对象,采用显微图像分析系统,对该藤2 m处的节间和节部的导管分子及维管束形态特征进行统计与分析。结果显示,节间与节部大导管分子长度、直径、密度的平均值分别为3 981.363和2 666.883 μm、198.235和202.402 μm、3.611和3.784个·mm^-2;维管束径向直径、弦向直径、密度的平均值分别为523.466和534.794 μm、373.624和379.823 μm、3.078和3.202个·mm^-2。经F检验,仅节间与节部的导管分子长度差异极显著(P＜0.05）。     

Host range of Erwinia psidii and genetic resistance of Eucalyptus and Corymbia species to this pathogen

Dieback caused by Erwinia psidii is currently one of the most important emerging diseases in eucalypt plantations in Brazil. However, little is known in terms of the host range of this pathogen or the potential sources of resistance against the disease it causes. In this study, we inoculated plants of species from nine families to gain insight into the host range of E. psidii. Plants of all inoculated species of Myrtaceae except Acca sellowiana exhibited disease symptoms and therefore represent potential hosts for the pathogen under natural conditions. In addition, the response of four Corymbia species, 29 Eucalyptus species and three interspecific Eucalyptus hybrids to inoculation with E. psidii was evaluated. All Corymbia henryi, Corymbia maculata, Eucalyptus thozetiana, Eucalyptus cloeziana, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus dalrympleana and Eucalyptus pilularis plants were highly resistant to the pathogen, whereas differential disease resistance was observed in the other species. This study provides important information on sources of resistance to Erwinia psidii with potential use in the development of clones with enhanced resistance in eucalypt species of economic importance.     

In vivo and in vitro efficacy of zoledronate for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats

BACKGROUND: Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may cause painful bone destruction. Given the local invasiveness and rapid clinical progression of OSCC, conventional therapies are often palliative. In human cancer patients, zoledronate exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting tumor-induced angiogenesis and malignant osteolysis. HYPOTHESIS: Zoledronate will exert in vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic and antiresorptive effects in feline OSCC. ANIMALS: Eight cats with OSCC were prospectively treated with zoledronate and conventional treatment modalities. METHODS: In vitro, zoledronate's effects in modulating soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) ligand (RANKL) expression were investigated in a feline OSCC cell line (SCCF1). In vivo, basal serum C-telopeptide (CTx) concentrations were compared among normal and OSCC-bearing cats, and the biologic effects of zoledronate administration in cats with naturally occurring OSCC were quantified by serially assessing circulating serum VEGF and CTx concentrations. RESULTS: In vitro, zoledronate concentrations greater than 3 microM reduce soluble VEGF secretion in the SCCF1 cell line. The expression of RANKL in the SCCF1 cell line was also modulated by zoledronate, with low concentrations (3 microM) decreasing but higher concentrations (30 microM) increasing RANKL expression in comparison with untreated cells. In vivo, cats with bone-invasive OSCC had greater serum CTx concentrations in comparison with geriatric, healthy controls. Treatment with zoledronate rapidly decreased circulating serum VEGF and CTx concentrations in cats with spontaneously occurring OSCC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Zoledronate exerts in vitro and in vivo effects that may favor the slowing of tumor growth and pathologic bone turnover associated with OSCC.     

Comparison of arterial and central venous cannulations using ultrasound guidance in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound guided vascular access in pigs by comparing central venous and arterial cannulation techniques. ANIMALS: Twenty-two healthy female Pietrain pigs, 14-18 weeks old and weighing 51.1 +/- 4.3 kg (mean +/- SD). STUDY DESIGN: Comparative animal trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After induction of general anaesthesia, cannulation of the external jugular vein and internal carotid artery was attempted using real-time ultrasound guidance. The quality of the ultrasound picture was assessed on an analogue scale from 1 (excellent) to 5 (insufficient). Vessel size, cannulation success rate, number of puncture attempts and time from first puncture attempt until insertion of the Seldinger wire were recorded. RESULTS: Cannulation was successful in all but one animal in which a cut-down technique was performed. The arteries were significantly smaller than the veins (p < 0.001) resulting in a significantly prolonged cannulation time (p = 0.032) for insertion of arterial catheters without differences in success rate. In 89% of attempted cannulations, the Seldinger wire was inserted within 5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In anaesthetized pigs undergoing instrumentation for biomedical research, ultrasound-guided vascular access is a simple and rapid alternative to surgical cut-down. In veterinary anaesthesia, the technique might be useful in sedated or anesthetized pigs in which arterial or central venous access is required.     

A dose‐escalation study of combretastatin A4‐phosphate in healthy dogs

Combretastatin A4 ‐Phosphate (CA4P ) is a vascular disrupting agent revealing promising results in cancer treatments for humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and adverse events of CA4P in healthy dogs as a prerequisite to application of CA4P in dogs with cancer. Ten healthy dogs were included. The effects of escalating doses of CA4P on physical, haematological and biochemical parameters, systolic arterial blood pressure, electrocardiogram, echocardiographic variables and general wellbeing were characterised. Three different doses were tested: 50, 75 and 100 mg m^?2. At all 3 CA4P doses, nausea, abdominal discomfort as well as diarrhoea were observed for several hours following administration. Likewise, a low‐grade neutropenia was observed in all dogs. Doses of 75 and 100 mg m^?2 additionally induced vomiting and elevation of serum cardiac troponine I levels. At 100 mg m^?2, low‐grade hypertension and high‐grade neurotoxicity were also observed. In healthy dogs, doses up to 75 mg m^?2 seem to be well tolerated. The severity of the neurotoxicity observed at 100 mg m^?2, although transient, does not invite to use this dose in canine oncology patients.