Tolerance to the Nephrotoxic Component of Narthecium ossifragum in Sheep: The Effects of Repeated Oral Doses of Plant Extracts

Young adult sheep were dosed with extracts of Narthecium ossifragum plants by the oral or parenteral routes and the resulting nephrotoxicity was assessed from the increases in the concentrations of creatinine and urea in the serum. Following single intraruminal or intraperitoneal doses of extracts derived from 30 g N. ossifragum (wet weight) per kg live weight (kg lw), serum creatinine concentrations increased from about 100 mol/L to between 260 and 510 mol/L. The serum urea concentrations increased from about 5–8 mmol/L to between 11 and 66 mmol/L in individual sheep. Daily intraruminal administration of 5–30 g/kg lw to three sheep over a 10- or 15-day period increased creatinine concentrations from 100 mol/L to 300–760 mol/L, and urea concentrations from 5–8 mmol/L to 35 mmol/L. A single intraperitoneal challenge dose of 30 g/kg lw, delivered 7 or 12 days after the final intraruminal dose, did not lead to increased serum creatinine or urea concentrations, indicating that oral treatment had apparently resulted in an increased tolerance to the nephrotoxic principle(s) in N. ossifragum.     

Fungicidal activity of beta-thujaplicin analogues

The fungicidal activity of analogues of beta-thujaplicin, a natural product responsible for the durability of heartwood of several cupressaceous trees, was investigated in vitro on the growth of different white and brown rot fungi involved in wood biodegradation, Coriolus versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Poria placenta and Gloephyllum trabeum. The study shows that 2-hydroxycyclohepta-2,4,6-trienone (tropolone), easily prepared according to a literature procedure, possesses interesting fungicidal activity when compared to beta-thujaplicin, azaconazole, tebuconazole and copper oxine, which suggests this compound should be examined further as a potential biocide for wood preservation.     

Adjustment of soil-surface pH and comparison with conventional fungicide treatments for control of lettuce drop (Sclerotinia minor)

The use of soil-surface applications of finely powdered calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) to inhibit Sclerotinia minor sclerotial germination and infection at the collar region of lettuce plants is described. In the laboratory, a pH > 8·0 reduced sclerotial germination of the three S. minor isolates tested. In the glasshouse, surface applications of 2–10 t Ca(OH)₂ ha⁻¹ raised the pH of the top 1–2 cm of a duplex sandy loam soil above 8·5 for at least 8 weeks without affecting soil pH within the transplant root zone. There was a linear relationship between the rate of Ca(OH)₂ applied and disease control, with complete disease suppression at 10 t Ca(OH)₂ ha⁻¹. In field trials on two soil types (duplex sandy loam, pH 6·0; and red ferrosol, pH 6·9), a rate of 2·5 t Ca(OH)₂ ha⁻¹, maintained soil-surface pH above 8·5 for 1–3 weeks and provided up to 58% reduction in lettuce drop. Application of polyvinyl alcohol (a soil-conditioning polymer) over the Ca(OH)₂ layer appeared to reduce Ca(OH)₂ loss by wind, but did not improve retention of raised soil-surface pH or disease suppression. Ca(OH)₂ treatment gave similar disease control to the industry standard treatment of a procymidone-based fungicide seedling drench. A combined treatment of Ca(OH)₂ and fungicide drench gave greater control than either individual treatment, and equivalent control to fungicide drench and three procymidone foliar sprays, offering integrated management options. The use of soil-surface-applied Ca(OH)₂ with fungicides, rotation and drip irrigation offers an opportunity for enhanced and sustainable control of lettuce drop.     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1嵌合基因的构建及原核表达

首先合成我国O型口蹄疫病毒2个疫苗毒株VP1基因的3个抗原袁位，与另外扩增的流行毒株VP1基因末端273bp片段相连,构建出O型VP1嵌合基因片段（VP1O）。然后，将VPIO基因连接到原核表达载体pET28a上，构建了重组表达质粒pET28a-VP1O，转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）进行诱导表达。SDS-PAGE电泳表明。VP1O基因在大肠杆菌中获得表达。Western blotting检测证实表达的VP1O蛋白具有良好的生物学活性。对表达蛋白通过包涵体洗涤的方法进行初步纯化，获得了较高纯度的VP1O蛋白。     

小剂量砷化物对实验兔生长和繁殖性能的影响

为研究As2O3对实验兔生长和繁殖性能的影响,选择年龄和体重相近的40只实验兔(32只母兔,8只公兔)随机分成4组.对照组饲喂不含As2O3的基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组分别饲喂含As2O3 0.5mg/kg、1.0mg/kg和1.5mg/kg的日粮.生长发育和繁殖性能的测定结果显示,试验Ⅰ组与对照组相比,差异不显著(P＞0.05),试验Ⅱ组性能表现优于对照组,差异显著(P＜0.05),试验Ⅲ组出现中毒症状.本实验表明,适量的As2O3对实验兔生长和繁殖具有促进作用.     

油乳剂疫苗中硬脂酸铝含量与油相水相比例关系研究

进行了鸡新城疫、传染性支气管炎、产蛋下降综合征三联油乳剂疫苗生产中降低油相比例的试验.当油乳剂疫苗的油相中硬脂酸铝含量分别为2%、1%、0.5%,对应的油相:水相分别为3:1、2:1和1:1时进行的乳化试验结果表明:随着油相中硬脂酸铝含量降低,油相和水相的比例相应降低,呈正比例关系.当油相中硬脂酸铝含量与油/水比分别为2%和3:1、1%和2:1、0.5%和1:1时,制备的油苗质量均达到了国家标准.     

流感病毒M2基因变异与盐酸金刚烷胺耐药性的关系

盐酸金刚烷胺是治疗流感的常用药物,但流感病毒极易产生耐药性并发生变异.本文仅就使用盐酸金刚烷胺后流感病毒M2基因的变异情况作一综述.     

HPLC法测定盐酸氨丙啉的含量及对杂质2-甲基吡啶进行检查

采用高效液相色谱法测定盐酸氨丙啉的含量及对杂质2-甲基吡啶进行检查.用Waters XTerraTM RP C18色谱柱,以乙腈-甲醇-庚烷磺酸钠溶液(将12 g的1-庚烷磺酸钠溶于1000 mL水中,加24mL冰醋酸,6 mL的三乙胺制得)(5:35:60)为流动相,用紫外检测器于254nm处检测,柱温30℃,流速1.0 mL/min.在该条件下盐酸氨丙啉和2-甲基吡啶的分离度很好,盐酸氨丙啉浓度在0.05～0.50 mg/mL范围内,其色谱峰面积与浓度呈良好的线性关系,回归方程为y=3.07×107x-3.90×104,r=0.999 9,RSD=0.76%.该法适用于盐酸氨丙啉原料药的质量控制.     

Pain management in horses and farm animals

Objective: This review discusses the different analgesic drugs and routes of administration used in large animals for acute pain management. General guidelines and doses are given to assist in choosing techniques that provide effective analgesia. Etiology: Noxious stimuli are perceived, recognized, and localized by specialized sensory systems located at spinal and supraspinal levels. Diagnosis: Localizing the source of the noxious stimulus as well as understanding the behavioral aspects and physiological changes that result from such insult is important to adequately diagnose and treat pain. Pain assessment is far from being definite and objective; not only are there species differences, but also individual variation. In addition, the behavioral and physiological manifestations vary with the acute or chronic nature of pain. Therapy: Pain management should include (1) selecting drugs that better control the type of pain elicited by the insult; (2) selecting techniques of analgesic drug administration that act on pathways or anatomical locations where the nociceptive information is being processed or originating from; (3) combining analgesic drugs that act on different pain pathways; and (4) provide the best possible comfort for the animal. Prognosis: Providing pain relief improves the animal's well being and outcome; however, interpreting and diagnosing pain remains difficult. Continuing research in pain management will contribute to the evaluation of the pathophysiology of pain, pain assessment, and newer analgesic drugs and techniques.