Effect of relative humidity at either acute or chronic moderate temperature on growth performance and droppings' corticosterone metabolites of broilers

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of relative humidity(RH) at either acute or chronic moderate ambient temperature(Ta) on growth performance and droppings' corticosterone metabolites of broilers.Two experiments were conducted: effect of RH(35,60 or 85%) on average daily feed intake(ADFI) and droppings' corticosterone metabolites at acute(1 d: 20–26 or 31–20°C,26 or 31°C for 6 h d–1 at 10:00–16:00) moderate Ta(experiment 1) and effect of RH(35,60 or 85%) on growth performance and droppings' corticosterone metabolites at chronic(step-wisely increasing temperature by 3°C every 3 d from 20 to 32°C within 15 d: 20–23–26–29–32°C) moderate Ta(experiment 2).Droppings were collected at the 2,4,6,8,and 22 h after Ta-RH controlled in experiment 1 and at the 2,4,6,and 22 h after Ta controlled to 32°C in experiment 2.The results showed that: 1) In experiment 1,85% RH increased(P0.05) the droppings' corticosterone metabolites at the 2,6,8,and 22 h and 35% RH increased(P0.05) it at the 2 and 22 h compared to the 60% RH.Moreover,85% RH further increased(P0.05) it compared to the 35% RH,however,no difference(P0.05) was found in ADFI among the three RH groups at acute moderate 26°C; 35 and 85% RH increased(P0.05) droppings' corticosterone metabolites at the 2,6,8 and 22 h and decreased(P0.05) ADFI compared to the 60% RH,moreover,85% RH further increased(P0.05) droppings' corticosterone metabolites and further decreased(P0.05) ADFI compared to the 35% RH at acute moderate 31°C; and the average of droppings' corticosterone metabolites in the whole period had a negative correlation(P0.02) with the ADFI.2) In experiment 2,85% RH increased(P0.01) droppings' corticosterone metabolites only at the 2 h and decreased(P0.02) ADFI and average daily gain(ADG) compared to the 60% RH,no difference(P0.05) in droppings' corticosterone metabolites was found between the 35 and 60% RH,however,35% RH decreased(P0.01) ADG compared to the 60% RH,and the average of droppings' corticosterone metabolites in the whole period also had a negative correlation(P0.02) with ADFI and ADG.In conclusion,droppings' corticosterone metabolites could be used as a RH stress index and low and high RH,especially high RH,reduced growth performance possibly through inducing RH stress at moderate temperature.     

黄政德教授应用四妙丸的临床经验举隅

四妙丸是中医经典方剂,组方立意独特,常用于治疗湿热下注、两足麻木、痿软、肿痛诸证。黄政德教授结合自己的临床经验,审证求因,灵活应用四妙丸随证加减治疗痛风性关节炎、慢性宫颈炎、弱精症及脑梗死后遗症等各种疾病,临床疗效显著,体现了中医"辨证论治"异病同治"的思维。     

崔文成教授运用引火归元法治疗小儿长期发热经验举隅

介绍崔文成教授运用引火归元法治疗小儿长期发热经验。崔文成教授认为小儿在生长发育之际,真水未旺,肾精易亏损,治疗小儿长期发热应基于小儿生理、病理特点,治宜填精益髓、引火归元,常用引火地黄汤、滋水清肝酸枣方。临床中采用引火归元法治疗小儿长期发热疾病获满意疗效。     

Acute myelomonocytic leukaemia with short-term spontaneous remission in a cat

A 2-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat was referred with a history of anorexia and depression of 1 week duration. On physical examination, the cat was lethargic and febrile, with splenomegaly, anisocoria and ulcerative stomatitis. A complete blood count (CBC) and a biochemistry profile showed leukocytosis, numerous blast cells in the peripheral blood, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinaemia and a positive test for feline leukaemia virus antigen. A diagnosis of acute myelomonocytic leukaemia was made on the basis of the results of bone marrow cytology, histopathology, and immunochemistry (CD3, CD79a, lysozyme, and myeloperoxidase) tests. Following an unexpected 1-month period of clinical and clinicopathological remission without chemotherapy, the cat relapsed and died 1 week later.     

Acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia in an alpaca

An 18-year-old female alpaca was presented to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for chronic ill thrift over a 1-year period. Six weeks previously, an infected left mandibular cheek tooth was removed by oral extraction. On physical examination the patient was cachectic, lethargic, and weak. Abnormalities on the CBC included neutropenia, thrombocytosis, and severe nonregenerative, macrocytic, hypochromic anemia. Dysplastic nucleated erythrocytes and micromegakaryocytes were observed on the peripheral blood smear. Neutrophils, bands, and metamyelocytes appeared markedly toxic. Numerous blasts containing variable numbers of fine azurophilic granules were also observed. Based on their morphology, the cells were interpreted to be progranulocytes and myeloblasts, and a presumptive diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was made. The blast cells accounted for 60% of the nucleated cell population on bone marrow aspirates, further supporting a diagnosis of AML with multilineage dysplasia. Post mortem examination showed infiltration of the neoplastic cells into spleen, liver, kidney, and lymph nodes. Based on histologic findings, the morphologic diagnoses were disseminated myeloid neoplasia, chronic regionally extensive tooth root abscess, and membranous glomerulonephritis. The neoplastic cells were CD172a-positive on flow cytometry, chloroacetate esterase-positive by cytochemistry, and myeloperoxidase-positive by immunohistochemistry, confirming myeloid origin. To our knowledge, this is the first case of AML with multilineage dysplasia in an alpaca, with only one other case of myelodysplasia described previously in this species.     

糖尿病大鼠皮肤溃疡阴证模型

糖尿病足溃疡在糖尿病并发症中较为常见且具有高的致死率,引起国内外专家关注。随着研究的深入,中西医在临床中发现一类症状相似糖尿病足溃疡久治难愈,符合中医学的阴证疮面,故称糖尿病足溃疡阴证。要想对糖尿病足溃疡阴证的发病机制,病理特点和干预治疗等多方面有深入的了解,动物模型的建立为其提供可靠有效的途径。论文概括了前人对于糖尿病大鼠皮肤溃疡模型的进展,同时总结其阴证模型的优缺点和自己的经验与认识,以期对临床具有指导意义的糖尿病大鼠皮肤溃疡阴证模型。     

Bats adjust temporal parameters of echolocation pulses but not those of communication calls in response to traffic noise

Many studies based on acute short‐term noise exposure have demonstrated that animals can adjust their vocalizations in response to ambient noise. However, the effects of chronic noise over a relatively long time scale of multiple days remain largely unclear. Bats rely mainly on acoustic signals for perception of environmental and social communication. Nearly all previous studies on noise‐induced vocal adjustments have focused on echolocation pulse sounds. Relatively little is known regarding the effects of noise on social communication calls. Here, we examined the dynamic changes in the temporal parameters of echolocation and communication vocalizations of Vespertilio sinensis when exposed to traffic noise over multiple days. We found that the bats started to modify their echolocation vocalizations on the fourth day of noise exposure, with an increase of 42–91% in the total number of pulse sequences per day. Under noisy conditions, the number of pulses within a pulse sequence decreased by an average of 17.2%, resulting in a significantly slower number of pulses/sequence (P < 0.001). However, there was little change in the duration of a pulse sequence. These parameters were not significantly adjusted in most communication vocalizations under the noise condition (all P > 0.05), except that the duration decreased and the number of syllables/sequences increased in 1 type of communicative vocalization (P < 0.05). This study suggests that bats routinely adjust temporal parameters of echolocation but rarely of communication vocalizations in response to noise condition.     

Treatment response and long term follow up in nineteen dogs diagnosed with chronic enteropathy in Australia

Chronic enteropathy (CE) in dogs is common worldwide, but little data is available from Australia. The aim of this study was to describe treatment response and long‐term outcome in a cohort of dogs with CE. Dogs were prospectively enrolled at Murdoch University and the University of Melbourne. After diagnostic investigation to rule out diseases other than CE, dogs underwent sequential therapeutic trials until achieving a clinical response (diet then antibiotics, and finally immunosuppressants). Success was defined as 75% reduction of clinical severity for a minimum of five weeks. A total of 21 dogs were enrolled, and 19 completed the study. One dog was euthanised for lack of response to treatment and one excluded for lack of owner compliance. Most dogs responded to diet (n = 10), followed by antibiotics (n = 7) and immunosuppressants (n = 2). Long‐term remission (median 21.1 months, [3.0‐44.7]) was achieved in eight out of ten dietary responders without additional treatment. In contrast, only two dogs with antibiotic response remained in long‐term remission, of which one needed on‐going antibiotic treatment. Longer term remission was achieved in the two dogs treated with immunosuppressants with on‐going low dose therapy. This study concludes that most dogs referred for CE in Australia respond to dietary treatment (even after previous dietary interventions), and remission is long‐term compared to dogs treated with an antibiotic. Furthermore, the need for long‐term antibiotics in some dogs to maintain response may lead to antibiotic resistance. This study supports adequate dietary trials for CE in dogs, and a need for alternative second‐line treatments.