Measurement of articular cartilage stiffness of the femoropatellar, tarsocrural, and metatarsophalangeal joints in horses and comparison with biochemical data

OBJECTIVE: To determine normal cartilage stiffness values in different weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing areas of 3 different equine joints, and to evaluate the relationship between cartilage stiffness and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen content. STUDY DESIGN: Compressive stiffness of the articular cartilage was measured in 8 horse cadaver femoropatellar (FP), tarsocrural (TC), and metatarsophalangeal (MT) joints. Gross evaluation, collagen content, GAG content, and histologic appearance were assessed for each measurement location. ANIMALS: Eight equine cadavers (4 intact females, 4 castrated males; 7 Quarter Horse or Quarter Horse type, 1 Arabian; aged 4-12 years, weighing 400-550 kg). METHODS: The articular surfaces of 8 equine cadaver FP, TC, and MT joints were grossly evaluated for signs of articular cartilage pathology. Stiffness at preselected sites (FP joint-6 sites; TC joint-3 sites; MT joint-4 sites) was determined using an arthroscopic indentation instrument. Biochemical composition (collagen, GAG content) and histologic evaluation (modified Mankin score) were assessed for each measurement site. RESULTS: All cartilage from all sites evaluated was determined to be normal based on macroscopic and histologic assessments. No significant correlation between Mankin scores and cartilage stiffness values was observed. Site differences in cartilage stiffness were measured in all 3 joints (P<.001). GAG or collagen content had a significant positive correlation with stiffness values in 6 of 13 sites (P<.05, r>0.622, r2>0.387). CONCLUSION: Relative cartilage stiffness values measured in healthy equine joints are site dependent and can be measured using an indentation device intended for arthroscopic application. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An indentation instrument provided an objective means of determining relative compressive stiffness of articular cartilage. Further research needs to be performed to confirm the site and joint differences observed in this study in clinically normal horses and to determine if the tester can be used clinically to predict articular cartilage pathology.     

Comparison of postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy by harmonic scalpel-assisted laparoscopy compared with median celiotomy and ligation in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy by harmonic scalpel-assisted laparoscopy (HALO) and traditional ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, blinded, prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Sixteen, purpose-bred, intact female, Beagle dogs. METHODS: Dogs were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (8 dogs), which had OVH by HALO, and Group 2 (8 dogs), which had traditional OVH. Physiologic data, abdominal nociceptive threshold scores, and University of Melbourne pain scores (UMPS) were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Blood samples for measurement of plasma cortisol, glucose, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) concentrations were collected at the time of the incision, and 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. RESULTS: No significant surgical complications occurred. The HALO mean surgical time was significantly longer (55.7 minutes) than traditional OVH (31.7 minutes). No significant differences were observed between groups for the pain measures of heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, CPK, and glucose concentrations. The OVH group had significantly higher mean plasma cortisol levels at hour 2 after surgery than the HALO group (P=.0001). The mean UMPS were significantly higher in OVH than the HALO group at all postoperative times (P=.0001). The mean nociceptive threshold measurements revealed significantly higher tolerated palpation pressures in HALO than OVH at all postoperative times, except hour 72 (P=.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Dogs appeared to be in less pain with HALO than OVH. The harmonic scalpel coagulated ovarian and uterine vessels completely with minimal collateral damage to surrounding tissues. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HALO is a safe alternative to OVH and offers a minimally invasive and less painful method of surgery.     

Seasonal changes in nutritional status and reproductive performance of Zebu cows kept under a traditional agro-pastoral system in Tanzania

The objectives of this study were to assess changes in nutritional status/body condition score, percentage pregnancy and calving rate in Zebu cows and to establish the relationship between body condition score loss and postpartum interval to resumption of ovarian activity. A total of 198 cows and postpubertal heifers of the Tanzanian Shorthorn Zebu kept under a traditional management system were randomly selected from 200 smallholder herds. Factors investigated during bi-weekly visits include body condition score (BCS), heart-girth circumference, milk yield and reproductive status of the animals, pregnancy/non-pregnancy and cyclicity/non-cyclicity. Local weather conditions and dates of occurrence of other reproductive events such as calving were also recorded. Calvings occurred all year round but with a strong seasonal distribution characterized by annual peaks observed between April and July. The annual calving pattern was closely related to rainfall, with peak precipitation occurring a few months before peak calving. The overall percentage pregnancy varied from 30% to 50% throughout the year. Postpartum cows exhibited minimum mean BCS and heart-girth circumference 12–14 weeks after calving, and cows with BCS loss >1 point exhibited the longest time interval from calving to onset of ovarian activity.     

改性淀粉/聚乙烯醇复合膜的制备与性能研究

[目的]探索改性淀粉/聚乙烯醇(PVA)复合膜的制备与性能。[方法]以玉米淀粉为原料,通过机械力与柠檬酸、甘油的双改性制备成双改性热塑性玉米淀粉,利用双改性热塑性玉米淀粉与PVA复合成膜,制备成可生物降解的塑料薄膜,并通过X射线衍射(XRD)和差示扫描量热(DSC)对复合膜的结晶性和热稳定性进行研究。[结果]与原淀粉/PVA复合膜以及单改性淀粉/PVA复合膜相比,双改性淀粉/PVA复合膜的结晶度有所降低,其相容性、力学性能、耐水性和热稳定性均有明显提高。室外土壤掩埋30 d后取代度为0.26的双改性热塑性淀粉/PVA复合膜的降解率约为43%,属于环境友好型材料,可用作可生物降解塑料膜。[结论]该材料的制备具有制造工艺简单、能耗低等优点。     

Milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a tool to investigate ovarian cyclicity of water buffaloes in relation to body condition score and milk production

Background

Application of assisted reproductive technologies in buffaloes is limited to some extent by farmers’ inability to detect oestrus because of its poor expression. The present study aimed at investigating reliability of a milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the ovarian cyclicity during post partum, oestrus and post-breeding periods in water buffaloes.

Methods

Progesterone concentrations were measured by an ELISA in milk of 23 postpartum buffaloes in relation to oestrus, pregnancy, body condition score (BCS) and milk production. Two milk samples were taken at 10 days intervals, every month starting from day 30 and continued to day 150 post partum. BCS and milk production were recorded during sample collection. Milk samples from bred buffaloes were collected at Day 0 (day of breeding), Days 10–12 and Days 22–24. Defatted milk was preserved at −80°C until analysis. Pregnancy was confirmed by palpation per rectum on Days 70–90.

Results

Seventeen buffaloes had 47 ovulatory cycles, one to four in each, 13 were detected in oestrus once (28 % oestrus detection rate). Progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/ml in one of the two 10-day-interval milk samples reflected ovulation and corpus luteum formation. The intervals between calving to first luteal activity and to first detected oestrus varied from 41 to 123 days (n = 17) and 83 to 135 (n = 13) days, respectively. Eight buffaloes were bred in the course of the study and seven were found pregnant. These buffaloes had a progesterone profile of low (<1 ng/ml), high (≥ 1 ng/ml) and high (≥ 1 ng/ml) on Day 0, Days 10–12 and Days 22–24, respectively. Buffaloes cycling later in the postpartum period had fewer missed oestruses (P < 0.05). Buffaloes with a superior BCS had a shorter calving to oestrus interval and produced more milk (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Milk progesterone ELISA is a reliable tool for monitoring ovarian cyclicity and good BCS may be an indicator of resuming cyclicity in water buffalo.     

蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶的抗菌性能及对创伤的愈合作用

以蚕蛹壳聚糖、蜂蜜和明胶等为基质制备医用复合水凝胶。对以不同配比制备的蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶、单纯蚕蛹壳聚糖水凝胶、蜂蜜水凝胶的抗菌性能进行比较试验,并以大耳白兔为受试动物,采用切片法检测蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶对烫伤伤口的愈合作用。结果表明:用质量分数为0.25%的蚕蛹壳聚糖和质量分数为20%的蜂蜜制成的复合水凝胶的杀菌作用明显高于市售烧伤膏和单纯蚕蛹壳聚糖或蜂蜜水凝胶,对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌24 h内的抑菌率均达到100%,且持久性好;大耳白兔烫伤伤口经0.25%蚕蛹壳聚糖+20%蜂蜜复合水凝胶处理后12 d可基本愈合,切片观察愈合的伤口表皮无溃疡,局部毛囊增生,且有新生表皮细胞生成。研究结果显示,蚕蛹壳聚糖复合水凝胶具有广谱抗菌性能,可用作创伤敷料。     

复合相变蓄热墙体材料对日光温室热环境及番茄生长发育的影响

为改善日光温室作物的生长环境,将北京工业大学建筑工程学院相变畜热技术研究团队研制的复合相变蓄热墙体材料应用于种植番茄的日光温室北墙内表面。对比试验结果表明,在种植条件完全相同的情况下,采用了复合相变蓄热墙体材料温室内的番茄,在整个生长过程中的形态指标始终好于未采用复合相变蓄热墙体材料的温室,而且前者的果实大,产量大幅提升。从温室北墙内表面温度、耕作层土壤温度、有效积温以及复合相变墙体蓄放热能力等方面,定量地评价了复合相变蓄热墙体对改善日光温室作物生长热环境的影响。     

不同肥料配方对番茄复合基质育苗的影响

本文以复合基质育苗的无土栽培方式为研究内容,在大棚温室条件下,通过在含有不同肥料配方的育苗基质（草炭：蛭石=2：1）中,进行番茄穴盘育苗。试验中分成4个处理,其中包括3个不同肥料配方和空白对照,每个处理分3次重复,最后测定番茄幼苗的各项生长指标。试验结果表明：在含有肥料配方2的基质中幼苗的株高、茎粗、干物重3项指标明显优于其它3个处理,肥料配方1的叶展指标最好,还有3项指标：株高、茎粗、干物重和肥料配方2无显著差异。处理3中含有的肥料配方3对番茄幼苗的各项生长指标都有明显的抑制作用。从而得出,本试验条件下,肥料配方2是培育番茄穴盘苗的最佳肥料配方。     

稻草基生态护坡板及其拦截污染物效率的实验研究

以稻草为主要原材料,采用"复合压板"工艺,研制一种可以复绿的护坡基材。经过高羊茅草种子的发芽试验表明:该基材可以作为植物生长的载体,并为植物提供营养供给。基材绿化后形成的护坡材料在径流速度为0.5L/s和坡度55o的条件下,可以有效延迟径流停留时间,对悬浮固体的平均拦截效率为85%,对水溶性磷和泥沙结合态磷的平均拦截率为93%和84%。经过生物安全性测试,表明稻草基护坡材料具有环境安全性。生态护坡材料的开发,可以有效遏制我国大量稻草资源的浪费以及缓解污染环境。     

VERTEBRAL HEART SCORES IN EIGHT DOG BREEDS

The vertebral heart score (VHS) measurement is commonly used to provide a more objective measurement of cardiomegaly in canines. However, several studies have shown significant breed variations from the value previously established by Buchanan and Bücheler (9.7 ± 0.5). This study describes VHS measurements in Pug, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Boston Terrier dog breeds. Dogs with two or three view thoracic radiographs, no subjective radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly, and no physical examination findings of heart murmurs or gallop rhythms were included in the study. The Pug, Pomeranian, Bulldog, and Boston Terrier groups were found to have a VHS significantly greater than 9.7 ± 0.5 (P < 0.00001, P = 0.0014, P < 0.0001, P < 0.00001, respectively). Body condition score (BCS) was found to have a significant effect on the VHS of Lhasa Apso group. Anomalous vertebrae in the thoracic column were associated with a significant increase in VHS of the Bulldog (P = 0.028) and Boston Terrier (P = 0.0004) groups. Thoracic depth to width ratio did not have a significant effect on VHS.