In vitro expression and inhibition of procoagulant activity produced by bovine alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood cells

Local and systemic activation of coagulation is frequently associated with bacterial sepsis. The coagulopathy is due, at least in part, to expression of tissue factor (TF) by monocytes and macrophages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of procoagulant activity by bovine alveolar macrophages, leukocytes and platelets, and to determine the relative potency of three chemical inhibitors of TF expression (pentoxifylline, retinoic acid, and cyclosporin A). Bovine alveolar macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Pasteurella haemolytica or recombinant bovine tumour nervous factor (TNF) and dose- and time-dependent effects on TF expression were studied. LPS and TNF induced TF expression in alveolar macrophages and LPS treatment of whole blood induced TF expression in mononuclear cells. Neutrophils and platelets also expressed procoagulant activity, but this activity was not inhibited by anti-bovine TF monoclonal antibody. Pentoxifylline (40 mol/L), retinoic acid (0.01 mmol/L) and cyclosporin A (0.08 mol/L) inhibited TF expression when added concurrently with LPS or TNF, but not when added 4 h after stimulation. TF mRNA was not detected in unstimulated alveolar macrophages by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, exposure to LPS or TNF for 6 h induced marked expression of TF mRNA, which was inhibited by treatment with pentoxifylline, retinoic acid and cyclosporin A. Expression of TNF by alveolar macrophages stimulated with LPS was also inhibited by these compounds. Our results indicate that procoagulant activity expressed by alveolar macrophages and monocytes is associated with expression of TF, whereas procoagulant activity expressed by neutrophils and platelets is not. The concentrations of pentoxifylline and retinoic acid necessary for inhibition of TF expression in vitro may not be achievable in vivo owing to their toxic effects. However, the in vitro concentration of cyclosporin A that inhibited TF expression did not exceed the plasma concentration observed in humans, and therefore may be useful for inhibition of TF expression in vivo.Abbreviations BAL bronchoalveolar lavage - LPS lipopolysaccharide - cDNA cloned deoxyribonucleic acid - cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - GAPDH glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase - mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid - TF tissue factor - TNF tumour necrosis factor - DPBS Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline     

A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus in dairy cattle in the central valley of California

A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in California dairy cattle was conducted to estimate the prevalence and distribution by age and season of BTV group-reactive antibodies and to look for possible associations between the presence of antibodies and cattle age or breed and farm. Between December 1985 and March 1987, a sample of cattle was tested at approximately two-month intervals for BTV group-reactive antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data taken during the month of December 1986 were used to evaluate possible associations between a positive antibody test and certain intrinsic (age, breed) and extrinsic (farm) factors.Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using the -square test for associations and multiple logistic regression, respectively, were carried out for possible associations between positive antibody tests to BTV and each factor of interest. The strengths of the associations were determined using estimates of the odds ratio.Of the 3774 serum samples tested, 238 (6.3%) were from calves, 1045 (27.6%) were from heifers and 2492 (66.0%) were from cows. Seroprevalence varied from nil in calves on two occasions to over 90% on several occasions in cows. Cows consistently had higher prevalence rates than heifers or calves across all test dates (p<0.05). The seroprevalence of BTV group-reactive antibodies also showed a seasonal fluctuation, with the highest rates occurring during the warmer months of the year. These highest prevalence rates coincided with heavy activity of the known vector of BTV, Culicoides spp. Breed and farm effects were not statistically significant (p>0.05). With the exception of one farm, all cattle were of the Holstein breed, which reduced confidence in assessing any breed effect in this study. Relative estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of BTV ELISA were 87% and 100% respectively, compared to the standard agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.The observations support previous findings of seasonal distribution of BTV antibodies and suggest an age relationship, whereby older cattle are more likely to be positive to BTV group-reactive antibodies than younger cattle.     

Breeding objectives for beef cattle used in different production systems: 2. Model application to production systems with the Charolais breed

A general bio-economic model for beef cattle production was used to define breeding objectives for Charolais cattle to be utilized in a variety of linked production systems. Economic weights were calculated for 16 traits (some with both direct and maternal components) in three production systems (pure-breeding and terminal crossing with beef or dairy cows) and two marketing strategies (sale or fattening of weaned surplus calves). Economic weights for the total breeding objective were calculated as weighted averages, where weights were numbers of cows expected to be mated with Charolais bulls in each production system and marketing strategy. Results suggest that the direct component of calving performance and cow longevity were of primary economic importance in all systems. Conception rate of cows and weaning weight reached about 50% of the standardized economic weight of calving performance in purebred systems with sale of weaned calves, whereas in purebred systems with fattening the economic importance of the direct component of cow conception rate, losses at calving, mature weight of cows, weaning weight, and fattening traits were of equal importance (each approximately about 20% that of calving performance). In terminal crossing systems, weaning weight was important when calves were sold at weaning, and fattening traits were important for systems selling fattened animals. The bio-economic model performed well under the conditions of this demonstration and could easily be customized for other applications.     

用外翻肠囊法研究高钙条件下有机锰在肉仔鸡小肠中的吸收特点

本试验用外翻肠囊法研究高钙对肉仔鸡不同肠段(十二指肠、空肠和回肠)吸收不同形态锰的影响,以比较有机锰和无机锰在高钙条件下吸收特点的差异。采用单因子完全随机设计,培养液中添加的4种锰源分别为:硫酸锰、弱络合强度的蛋氨酸锰(Mn-MetE)、中等络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn-AAA)和强络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn-AAB)。为了扣除内源的影响,设置1个零添加锰水平处理。将40只31日龄AA肉公鸡随机分到以上5个组,每组8个重复,每个重复1只鸡,每只鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠分别作为相应肠段外翻肠囊的一个重复。结果表明:1)体外培养回肠肠囊对锰的吸收率显著高于十二指肠(P<0.01);2)回肠肠囊对强络合强度的Mn-AAB中锰的吸收率显著高于硫酸锰或中等络合强度的Mn-AAA(P<0.05)。本试验结果表明:在高钙条件下,络合形态的有机锰在体外培养的肉仔鸡肠囊中的吸收率显著高于无机形态的锰;强络合强度有机锰源中的锰能更强地抵抗小肠内的解离,比弱或中等络合强度的有机锰源更有利于锰的吸收。     

架子牛肥育综合技术研究

该文从架子牛的选购、驱虫、肥育期的饲养管理、日粮营养等方面做了系统的研究。结果表明,选择2～3岁的夏洛来牛或西门塔尔牛的改良后代,采用高能量高蛋白质日粮可以获得较高的经济效益。     

Influence of the physical and chemical properties of soil on the retention process of isoxaflutole and its two main derivatives

Isoxaflutole is a new pre‐emergence herbicide for use in maize and sugarcane. Its two main derivatives are a diketonitrile derivative, the 2‐cyano‐3‐cyclopropyl‐1‐(2‐methanesulfonyl‐4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)propan‐1,3‐dione, named DKN, and a benzoic acid derivative, the 2‐methanesulfonyl‐4‐trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, named BA. The adsorption/desorption processes have never been studied for isoxaflutole (IFT) at high concentrations nor for BA, and the present work aimed at completing the knowledge of the behaviour of these three molecules in conditions close to those encountered in the context of agricultural use. The adsorption/desorption study was conducted on seven soils of different physical and chemical properties, using the batch equilibrium technique. During the experiments, IFT was chemically converted into DKN in a continuous manner. This reaction appeared to be dependent on the pH of the soil and was taken into account in the calculations of the adsorbed and desorbed amounts. The adsorption isotherms obtained were predominantly C‐shaped for IFT and DKN and S‐shaped for BA, but some differences appeared on a few soils. They fitted well the Freundlich equation, and the values of the Freundlich coefficient K_fa showed that, whatever the soil, IFT was more adsorbed than its two derivatives. The main parameter influencing the adsorption of IFT appeared to be the organic matter content, whereas this effect was not evident for DKN and BA. No correlation was found between the extent of adsorption and either clay content or pH of the soil, for the three molecules.     

不同栽培方式对生菜产量及品质的影响

采用土壤栽培、有机生态型无土栽培、无机耗能型无土栽培三种栽培方式，进行生菜三次采收四层立体栽培试验。结果表明：采用有机生态型无土栽培进行生菜分次采收立体栽培，可有效降低产品中硝酸盐含量，提高根冠比和相对生长速率，变一次性收获为三次采收，可使每盘产量提高30％以上，变平面栽培为4层立体栽培，使温室复种指数提高4倍。     

新疆农田土壤有机质含量及组成特征

目前新疆农田土壤有机质含量在5．30～24．21g／kg之间，平均14．65g／kg，与第二次土壤普查相比，新疆农田土壤有机质含量呈上升趋势；胡敏素碳含量占到有机质碳量的53％～70％，平均61％，腐殖酸碳量只占39％。     

Weed:spring barley competition for applied nitrogen in pig slurry

Summary The experiments were carried out in the two spring barley fields of the organic six-course cattle:crop rotation at Foulumgaard, Denmark. The weed density was 300 and 1800 plants m⁻² respectively. Pig slurry was applied by hand in microplots by four methods: broadcasting followed by incorporation, or injected in bands to depths of 5, 10 or 15 cm. Spring barley and weeds were sampled separately six times during the tillering and elongation phase of the spring barley. The effect of application method on dry-matter (d.m.) production, nitrogen uptake and recovery of applied nitrogen in the spring barley and the weeds is reported. Slurry banding halved the weed d.m. and weed N uptake compared with broadcasting, irrespective of weed density. Weeds recovered up to 12% of the applied nitrogen, which made them a significant competitor when the slurry was broadcast and incorporated. Banding by direct injection reduced the slurry:soil contact and the weed:crop competition balance for applied nitrogen moved in favour of the crop. Thus, the crop recovery of applied nitrogen at the end of the sampling period was increased from approximately 45% for broadcast and incorporated to approximately 50% for injected slurry, and coincidental weed recovery was reduced to a maximum of 5%. As the nitrogen supply normally affects plant d.m. production, banding of slurry might well improve crop competitiveness and its tolerance to mechanical weed control.     

Comparison of an in vitro and a damping-off assay to test soils for suppressiveness to Pythium aphanidermatum

Testing of soil samples in greenhouse assays for suppressiveness to soilborne plant pathogens requires a considerable investment in time and effort as well as large numbers of soil samples. To make it possible to process large numbers of samples efficiently, we compared an in vitro growth assay with a damping-off assay using Pythium aphanidermatum as the test organism on tomato seedlings. The in vitro test compares the radial growth or relative growth of the fungus in soil to that in autoclaved soil and reflects suppressiveness of soils to the pathogen. We used soils from a field experiment that had been farmed either organically or conventionally and into which a cover crop (oats and vetch in mixture) had been incorporated 0, 10, 21, and 35 days previously. We obtained a significant, positive correlation between damping-off severities of tomato seedlings in damping-off assays and both relative and radial growth in vitro. In addition, radial and relative growth of P. aphanidermatum in the in vitro assay were positively correlated with several carbon and nitrogen variables measured for soil and incorporated debris. We did not find differences between the two farming systems for either growth measures of P. aphanidermatum or disease severities on tomato at different stages of cover crop decomposition. The in vitro assay shows potential for use with any fungus that exhibits rapid saprophytic growth, and is most suitable for routine application in suppressiveness testing.