Evaluation of a point-of-care test for canine C-reactive protein

Background: In veterinary medicine, there is increasing interest in measuring C‐reactive protein (CRP) as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory diseases. Reported CRP concentrations for healthy dogs have ranged from 0 to 8.9 mg/L. Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate a canine‐specific point‐of‐care (POC) lateral flow immunoassay for qualitative CRP measurement in healthy and diseased dogs and to compare results with those obtained by a quantitative ELISA. Methods: Blood samples from 73 client‐owned dogs were available for testing: 16 healthy dogs and 57 dogs with a variety of infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic diseases. CRP was measured in heparinized whole blood samples and serum with the TECOmedical Dog CRP‐visual POC test. A red line develops in the POC device if CRP is ≥5 mg/L, and results are scored as negative or positive. An ELISA validated previously for canine serum was used as the reference method. Results: For all dogs, serum CRP concentrations measured by the ELISA ranged from 0.1 to ≥350 mg/L (median=38 mg/L). Percentages of the CRP POC test results that agreed with the ELISA results were 98.6% for whole blood and 97.3% for serum samples. For serum samples, sensitivity of the POC test was 96.4% and specificity was 81.3%. For whole blood, sensitivity was 94.7% and specificity was 93.8%. Conclusions: The POC test had very good agreement with the ELISA test and had high sensitivity and specificity; therefore, it can be used as a qualitative test to screen for increases in CRP concentrations.     

The stress of weaning influences serum levels of acute-phase proteins, iron-binding proteins, inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, and leukocyte subsets in Holstein calves

The purpose of our study was to investigate changes in immunological parameters induced by weaning stress (including milk restriction) in calves. Fifteen Holstein calves were subjected to weaning at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected at -14, -7, -2, 1, 3, and 5 days post-weaning (DPW; 0 DPW = 42 days). Weaning caused significant (p < 0.01) increases in the neutrophil (NE):lymphocyte (LY) ratio at 5 DPW with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LYs. The concentration of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) also increased significantly (p < 0.05) at 3 and 5 DPW compared to -2 DPW. Levels of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after weaning. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α and cortisol levels were elevated (p < 0.05) at 3 DPW, while those of serum interferon-γ decreased (p < 0.05) at 1 and 3 DPW compared to levels observed before weaning. Weaning significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the percentage of CD25⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood. In conclusion, weaning stress affected the NE:LY ratio along with the levels of acute phase proteins, lactoferrin, cortisol, and inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood of calves. Weaning stress may induce an acute phase response possibly through the elevation of cortisol production and modulation of inflammatory cytokines.     

我国会计电算化应用的发展变化

随着现代信息技术的发展，计算机技术在我国会计工作中也被普遍应用。并经历了从初级电算化过渡到高级电算化这样一个长期而艰巨的演变过程，我国会计电算化事业已向规范化、制度化方向发展。     

The progamic phase and seed formation in Armoracia rusticana

The progamic phase is a period of specific interaction between the male gametophyte and the pistil tissues and is very important for proper seed development in plants. The aims of this study were to investigate the events during the progamic phase in Armoracia rusticana, to examine a plant’s capability of sexual reproduction and to obtain vital seeds under natural conditions. There were very few pollen grains on the stigmas at anthesis stage. The incompatibility reaction between the stigma cells and pollen grains was observed by using fluorescence microscopy. A series of ovary cross‐sections revealed a high accumulation of Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)‐positive globules in all the embryo sacs. About 33% of ovules in the ovary were fertilized, but only 3% of them were able to germinate into seedlings.     

对当前监理工作的几点思考

监理是建设工程不可缺少的一个环节，如何重视监理工作是亟待解决的一个问题。     

Use of serum amyloid A in equine medicine and surgery

Serum amyloid A (SAA) has become an indispensable part of the management of equine patients in general practice and specialized hospital settings. Although several proteins possess acute phase properties in horses, the usefulness of SAA exceeds that of other acute phase proteins. This is due to the highly desirable kinetics of the equine SAA response. SAA concentrations exhibit a rapid and pronounced increase in response to inflammation and a rapid decline after the resolution of inflammation. This facilitates the detection of inflammatory disease and real-time monitoring of inflammatory activity. SAA may be used in all stages of patient management: (1) before diagnosis (to rule in/rule out inflammatory disease), (2) at the time of diagnosis (to assess the severity of inflammation and assist in prognostication), and (3) after diagnosis (to monitor changes in inflammatory activity in response to therapy, with relapse of disease, or with infectious/inflammatory complications). By assessing other acute phase reactants in addition to SAA, clinicians can succinctly stage inflammation. White blood cell counts and serum iron concentration change within hours of an inflammatory insult, SAA within a day, and fibrinogen within 2–3 days; the interrelationship of these markers thus indicates the duration and activity of the inflammatory condition. Much research on the equine SAA response and clinical use has been conducted in the last decade. This is the prerequisite for the evidence-based use of this analyte. However, still today, most published studies involve a fairly low number of horses. To obtain solid evidence for use of SAA, future studies should be designed with larger sample sizes.     

香荚兰籽中挥发性成分分析

采用固相微萃取-气质色谱-质谱联用技术,以萃取挥发性成分种类数和萃取量Y值大小作为衡量萃取效果指标优化萃取条件,测定分析香荚兰籽中挥发性成分的组成,通过峰面积归一化法计算各挥发性成分的相对含量,并结合测定相关物质的保留指数(Retention index,RI)值进行定性分析。结果表明,利用75μm碳分子筛/聚二甲基硅氧烷萃取纤维头,样品量1.0 g,萃取温度80℃,萃取时间20 min,解析时间8 min时,萃取效果最佳,香荚兰籽中含有48种挥发性成分,相对含量为90.44%。其主要挥发性成分为香草醛、邻甲氧基苯酚、苯酚和呋喃甲醛,相对含量分别为80.22%、1.61%、1.23%和1.00%。     

小兴安岭红松苗木物候期变化特征及气象影响因子分析

为了探究红松苗木物候期的变化规律,为适时播种、采种、造林、培育等林业生产提供科学依据。利用1991—2014 年小兴安岭红松苗木物候期资料及同期气候资料,采用相关分析及最优子集回归方法,分析探讨了红松苗木物候期对气象条件的响应。结果表明：（1）红松苗木芽开放始期、新梢木质化盛期有所推迟,展叶始期和新枝形成盛期都有提前趋势,整个生长季延长。（2）除芽开放始期和顶芽形成盛期外,其他物候期与期间的日照时数呈显著正相关;顶芽形成盛期与气温呈显著负相关;≥10℃积温和日最低气温是影响整个生长期长短的2 个主要影响因子,其次是日照时数和平均气温。利用最优子集回归方法建立了红松苗木物候期与气象要素的回归方程。