IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM SECONDARY TO PRIMARY PULMONARY PATHOLOGY IN A DALMATIAN DOG

A 1.5‐year‐old, 23 kg intact male Dalmatian dog was evaluated for acute respiratory insufficiency without a previous history of trauma or toxic exposition. Imaging revealed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, diffuse unstructured interstitial pulmonary pattern, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and pneumoretroperitoneum. Histopathological evaluation of the lungs revealed perivascular and peribronchial emphysema, mild lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia with atypical proliferation of type II pneumocytes in bronchioles and alveoli. A lung disease resembling fibrosing interstitial pneumonia in man and cats has been previously reported in Dalmatians and should be included as a differential diagnosis for Dalmatians with this combination of clinical and imaging characteristics.     

小麦-土壤系统中~(95)Zr的消长动态

采用模拟污染物的同位素示踪技术研究了95Zr在小麦-土壤系统中的迁移、消长和分配动态,并建立了其行为规律的数学模型。结果表明:(1)95Zr由表土进入系统后即在系统中发生迁移,小麦主要经根吸收95Zr,然后向其它各部位转移和分配。小麦植株中95Zr比活度起初随时间迅速增高,在达到某一最大值后开始下降。根中95Zr比活度显著高于植株其它部位,小麦各部位中95Zr比活度的大小顺序为:麦根>麦秸>麦壳>麦粒。(2)土壤中95Zr主要滞留于表层6cm内,其比活度与距土表深度呈单项指数负相关。(3)95Zr在小麦-土壤系统中比活度的动态变化规律由多项指数描述。(4)小麦对土壤中的95Zr具有一定的富集能力。95     

新疆枸杞种植的气候分区

通过比较得出,新疆精河县的气候条件最适合枸杞生长,当地的枸杞不但产量高而且品质好,因此,以精河县枸杞生产期间的主要气候指标为标准,利用模糊优选比方法将新疆分为3个气候区,提出了各区的发展策略。     

Renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition in kidney fibrosis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which differentiated epithelial cells undergo a phenotypic conversion that gives rise to the matrix-producing fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, is increasingly recognized as an integral part of tissue fibrogenesis after injury. However, the degree to which renal tubular epithelial EMT contributes to kidney fibrosis remains a matter of intense debate and is likely to be context-dependent. Renal tubular EMT is an adaptive response of epithelial cells to a hostile or changing microenvironment and is regulated by many factors. Several intrace-llular signal transduction pathways such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin signaling are essential in controlling the process of renal tubular epithelial EMT which are potential targets of antifibrotic therapy presently. This review highlights the current understanding of renal tubular epithelial EMT and its underlying mechanisms to stimulate further discussion on its role in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis.     

Effect of puerarin injection on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in renal tubular epithelial cells of diabetic KKAy mice

AIM:To observe the effect of puerarin injection on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins in KKAy mice with renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). METHODS:Sixteen KKAy mice were randomly divided into model group (n=8) and puerarin injection treatment group (n=8), and 8 C57BL/6J mice were used as normal controls. The mice in treatment group were intraperitoneally given puerarin injection from the 14th week. The blood glucose levels were observed on a daily basis. The mice were sacrificed at the 24th week.The renal pathological changes were observed under light microscope. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and transforming growth factor β type I receptor (TGF-β-RI) in the renal tissues were examined by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS:Fibrosis was found in the KKAy mice of model group, while the mice in treatment group showed a slight increase in renal interstitium. Treatment with puerarin injection decreased the protein expression levels of α-SMA, TGF-β1 and TGF-β-RI in the kidney tissues as compared with those in model group. CONCLUSION: Puerarin injection reduces the expression of α-SMA, and restrains the protein expression of TGF-β1 and TGF-β-RI in the kidney tissue of KKAy mice. These changes may inhibit and reverse the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thus delaying the occurrence and development of RIF.     

An Introduction to the Use and Preparation of Artificial Diets with Special Emphasis on Diets for Phytophagous Lepidoptera

Abstract

In an experiment conducted in an almost pure stand of Imperata cylindrica to compare manual and chemical methods of control, forking out of rhizomes up to a depth of 45 cm gave long-lasting control. Slashing the grass to ground level at intervals of 4–6 weeks resulted in a low degree of control in terms of visual assessment of top growth and a high degree of control in terms of suppression of rhizome development, which was comparable to the most effective chemical methods; dalapon (22.2 kg a.i./ha) and dalapon–paraquat sequential spray. The results suggest that the effectiveness of control measures can be improved by timing the dalapon spray to coincide with adequate soil moisture reserve and by regulating frequency of slashing with regard to soil moisture status and the number of previous slashings imposed. The chemical treatment and the slashings suppressed development of rhizomes but did not cause increased rhizome mortality. The stage of growth at which dalapon was sprayed in dalapon–paraquat sequential spray treatment, did not influence the degree of control achieved as assessed visually.     

Pathogenic potential of equine alphaherpesviruses: The importance of the mononuclear cell compartment in disease outcome

Equid herpesviruses types 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) are closely related pathogens of horses. While both viruses can infect the upper respiratory tract, EHV-1 regularly causes systemic infection, which is only rarely observed in the case of EHV-4. Little is known about the molecular basis for this striking difference in pathogenic potential. Recently, we have started a systematic analysis of differences in the amino acid sequences of proteins involved in virus replication, more specifically entry and egress, as well as proteins involved in immune evasion. Here, we summarize our findings relevant to glycoproteins D and G (gD and gG), which share a high degree of similarity between the viruses, yet exhibit important differences. We found that both these glycoproteins appear to be involved in the conquest of the mononuclear cell compartment. While gD is involved in infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells through an RSD motif present in EHV-1 but not EHV-4, gG is implicated in thwarting innate responses by sequestration of chemokines. Again, the activity is only present in EHV-1, more specifically in a short stretch of variable amino acids in the extracellular domain of gG. The differences in the two glycoproteins of EHV-1 and EHV-4 are discussed, as is their role in pathogenesis. In addition, hypotheses are proposed related to the other equid respiratory alphaherpesviruses, EHV-8 and EHV-9, based on the amino acid sequences of gD and gG.     

吉富罗非鱼温棚池塘上覆水−沉积物间隙水营养盐垂直分布特征及其界面交换通量

利用Peeper(pore water equilibriums)技术采集上覆水-沉积物间隙水整个垂直剖面的原位水样,然后使用微量分光光度法测定样品中主要营养盐NH4+-N、NO3--N、NO2--N、PO43--P和SO42--S的浓度,从而分析吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)温棚养殖池塘各营养盐的垂直分布特征,并估算其在上覆水-沉积物界面处的交换通量。结果表明:(1)两罗非鱼温棚养殖池塘,4个Peeper实验组在上覆水-沉积物间隙水中各营养盐组间重复性都较好,且各营养盐都有较强的垂直分布规律。NH4+-N主要存在于沉积物间隙水中,从其表面深度0至6 cm间隙水中NH4+-N浓度迅速增高,8 cm后趋于相对稳定;NO3--N主要存在于上覆水中,沉积物0至4 cm间隙水中3NO--N浓度迅速降低;NO2--N浓度在沉积物表层2 cm处出现峰值;PO43--P浓度在沉积物0至4 cm间隙水中浓度迅速增加至最大值,深度超过4 cm浓度有降低趋势;SO42--S主要存在于上覆水中,沉积物0至8 cm间隙水中SO42--S浓度迅速降低。(2)不同深度的水样根据营养盐浓度,各实验组都可聚类为3组差异显著的类群:上覆水组、表层沉积物组(上覆水-沉积物交界面组)和深层沉积物组。(3)通过Fick第一定律估算营养盐在上覆水-沉积物界面的扩散通量得出:NH4+-N和PO43--P为从沉积物间隙水扩散至上覆水中;NO3--N和SO42--S为从上覆水扩散至沉积物中。4个Peeper实验组NH4+-N的扩散通量分别为22.44 mg/(m2·d)、22.93 mg/(m2·d)、50.84 mg/(m2·d)和16.74 mg/(m2·d),为两罗非鱼温棚养殖池塘主要的沉积物内源释放营养盐。与类似研究比较,本研究通量相对较高,表明养殖池塘沉积物有机质含量相对较高。SO42--S的扩散通量分别为–87.05 mg/(m2·d)、–164.87 mg/(m2·d)、–77.37 mg/(m2·d)和–91.30 mg/(m2·d),为两养殖池塘沉积物最大的吸收营养盐,表明SO42--S还原可能为罗非鱼养殖池塘沉积物中有机质降解的主要途径之一。     

Original Study: Determination of normal intra‐abdominal pressure using urinary bladder catheterization in clinically healthy cats

Objective – To establish a reference interval for intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) measured by urinary bladder catheterization in normal cats and determine if IAP is affected by observer variation, volume of saline instillation before measurement, or subject variables of gender, positioning, body condition score, and sedation. Design – Prospective experimental study. Setting – Private referral center. Animals – Twenty healthy adult cats. Interventions – Sedation with butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol for catheterization of the urinary bladder and measurement of IAP. Measurements and Main Results – A 5‐Fr red rubber urinary catheter was placed under sedation, and IAP was determined using a water manometer with the cats in right lateral and sternal recumbency. Three readings were taken in each position by 2 observers. The cats were allowed to recover with the urinary catheter in place, and IAP was measured in each cat while they were awake in right lateral and sternal recumbency. Conclusions – In this population of clinically healthy cats, median (interquartile range) IAP taken over all measurements was 7.00 cm H₂O (5.23–8.83 cm H₂O). There was no statistical difference between observers or subject gender. Factors associated with a statistically significant increase in IAP were right lateral compared with sternal recumbency (P=0.002), being awake compared with sedated (P<0.001), having a higher body condition score (P=0.01 and 0.001), instillation of a higher volume of saline into the bladder for measurement (P<0.001), and struggling during awake measurements (P<0.001).     

Acremonium strictum pulmonary infection in a horse

A 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California-Davis with a 2-week history of intermittent fever and acute onset of lethargy, anorexia, and ataxia. Although the clinical signs were nonspecific, the results of initial hematologic and biochemical analysis were consistent with a chronic inflammatory process. Thoracic radiographs revealed an increased fine reticulonodular interstitial opacity throughout the dorsal caudal lung fields. Cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid showed mixed inflammation with many mononuclear phagocytes containing single, spherical, intracytoplasmic fungal organisms. Four mold species were cultured in low numbers from the BAL fluid. One of the fungal elements observed on the culture plates was identified as Acremonium strictum by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A diagnosis of fungal pneumonia due to A strictum was made based on the results of thoracic imaging, cytologic evaluation, culture, and PCR testing. The horse made an uneventful recovery with supportive treatment and was disease-free based on normal physical, radiographic, and cytologic findings at 21 days after presentation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolation of A strictum from the BAL fluid of a horse with interstitial pneumonia.