Disseminated protothecosis diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog

A 5-year-old female spayed Shetland Sheepdog Mix dog was evaluated for a history of recent seizure activity, progressive hind limb ataxia, polyuria, and polydipsia and no history of gastrointestinal signs. Physical examination findings included conscious proprioceptive deficits, ataxia, and anterior uveitis along with a hypermature cataract in the right eye. Results of a CBC, serum biochemical profile, urinalysis, and computed tomography scan of the brain were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed marked eosinophilic pleocytosis and rare organisms consistent with Prototheca spp within neutrophils and macrophages. On postmortem histologic examination, mononuclear inflammation and numerous intralesional algal organisms, similar to those seen on the cytologic preparation of CSF, were found in the brain, eyes, kidneys, and heart. Abnormalities were not detected on gross and histologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract. Cultures of CSF and subdural/olfactory bulb, but not intestinal tract, yielded growth of Prototheca spp, and PCR analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed the organism as Prototheca zopfii genotype 2. We have reported a rare case of disseminated protothecosis that was diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog presented with neurologic signs and no overt enteric disease. Protothecosis should be considered as a rare cause of seizures, even in the absence of obvious enteric signs, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleocytosis.     

烤烟总氮含量和氮碱比与物理性状的关系分析

试验以我国主产烟区的主栽烤烟品种K326为材料,测定X2F(下橘二)等级共计124份样品的总氮、烟碱含量和物理性状,系统地分析总氮含量、氮碱比与物理性状的相互关系。结果表明,总氮含量、氮碱比和物理性状在样品间存在着广泛的变异。总氮含量随单叶重、叶长、叶面密度的增加而逐步下降;氮碱比随叶长、叶宽的增加而上升,随叶面密度的增加而逐渐下降。总氮与叶长、叶面密度的关系可分别用逆函数■=0.827 38.047/x、复合函数■=1.880×0.996x描述;氮碱比与叶宽、叶面密度的关系可分别用复合函数■=0.413×1.023x描述、幂函数描述■=2.791x-0.354。     

Forest biomass and root–shoot allocation in northeast China

Temperate and boreal forests act as major sinks for atmospheric CO₂. To assess the magnitude and distribution of the sinks more precisely, an accurate estimation of forest biomass is required. However, the determinants of large-scale biomass pattern (especially root biomass) are still poorly understood for these forests in China. In this study, we used 515 field measurements of biomass across the northeast part of China, to examine factors affecting large-scale biomass pattern and root–shoot biomass allocation. Our results showed that, Picea & Abies forest and coniferous & broadleaf mixed forest had the highest mean biomass (178–202 Mg/ha), while Pinus sylvestris forest the lowest (78 Mg/ha). The root:shoot (R/S) biomass ratio ranged between 0.09 and 0.67 in northeast China, with an average of 0.27. Forest origin (primary/secondary/planted forest) explained 31–37% of variation in biomass (total, shoot and root), while climate explained only 8–15%, reflecting the strong effect of disturbance on forest biomass. Compared with shoot biomass, root biomass was less limited by precipitation as a result of biomass allocation change. R/S ratio was negatively related to water availability, shoot biomass, stand age, height and volume, suggesting significant effects of climate and ontogeny on biomass allocation. Root–shoot biomass relationships also differed significantly between natural and planted forests, and between broadleaf and coniferous forests. Shoot biomass, climate and forest origin were the most important predictors for root biomass, and together explained 83% of the variation. This model provided a better way for estimating root biomass than the R/S ratio method, which predicted root biomass with a R² of 0.71.     

Effects of CENP-W down-regulation on human glioma U87 cells

AIM: To study the effect of centromere protein W (CENP-W) down-regulation on human glioma U87 cells.METHODS: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit the expression of CENP-W in the U87 cells. The interference effect of siRNA was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The proliferation of the cells was analyzed by MTT assay, BrdU staining and colony formation experiment. Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the invasion ability of the cells. The cell migration ability was measured by a scratch test. The changes of the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS: The results of MTT assay, colony formation experiment and BrdU staining showed that the cell proliferation and colony formation abilities in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group and negative control group. The results of Transwell and scratch experiments showed that the migration and invasion abilities in experimental group were weaker than those in blank control group and negative control group. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the cell cycle distribution in experimental group was arrested in G₀/G₁ phase. The percentage of apoptotic cells in experimental group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of CENP-W expression inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of human glioma cells and promotes the apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that CENP-W may be a potential target of gene therapy for human glioma.     

提高旱农地区甘草田间出苗率的试验分析

通过随机区组田间试验的方法，对如何提高甘草田间出苗率进行了研究。试验证明：甘草的田间出苗率与播种深度呈负相关，若底墒好，播后不浇水，播深2．5－3．0cm，可提高其田间出苗率；若底墒差，播后浇水，播深1．5－2．0cm，亦能提高其田间出苗率。在新垦重盐碱地播种甘草，用生长素4号和1号拌种，可分别提高田间出苗率2．9倍和2．6倍。播后3d浇水比播后16d浇水的田间出苗率提高29．5％。     

鸡繁殖性能近交衰退相关CpG岛差异甲基化基因的筛选

鸡繁殖性能近交衰退是地方鸡遗传资源活体保种过程中面临的重要问题之一,本研究旨在探讨全基因组CpG岛(CpG island,CGI)区DNA甲基化在鸡繁殖性能近交衰退中的作用.分别从狼山鸡高近交组和低近交组中各选取健康母鸡3只,即试验分2个组,每组3个重复,然后采用全基因组重亚硫酸盐测序(WGBS)技术,检测分析两组个体...     

Comparison of Multistix PRO dipsticks with other biochemical assays for determining urine protein (UP), urine creatinine (UC) and UP:UC ratio in dogs and cats

BACKGROUND: Urine protein: urine creatinine (UP:UC) ratio determined from the quantitative measurement of protein and creatinine in a single urine sample is the best feasible assessment of clinically significant proteinuria in dogs and cats. A dipstick that measures urine protein, urine creatinine, and UP:UC ratio has been used in human medicine and could have application for veterinary practice. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the Multistix PRO dipstick (Bayer Corporation, Elkhart, IN, USA) to other biochemical methods for determination of urine protein and creatinine, and UP:UC ratio in canine and feline urine. METHODS: A complete urinalysis, including sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) precipitation, was performed on urine samples submitted to our laboratory between February and April 2003 from 100 dogs and 49 cats. Urine protein and creatinine concentrations were determined by the Multistix PRO dipstick using a Clinitek 50 analyzer (Bayer) and compared with the results of SSA precipitation and quantitative biochemical analysis. The UP:UC ratios from the dipstick results (calculated by the Clinitek 50 and also manually) were compared with those calculated from quantitative values. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity (using quantitative results as the gold standard) were determined. RESULTS: For both canine and feline urine, protein and creatinine concentrations determined by the Multistix PRO correlated closely with quantitative concentrations for protein (dogs r = .78, P = .0001; cats r = .87, P = .0001) and creatinine (dogs r = .78, P = .0001; cats r = .76, P = .0001). The Multistix PRO was more sensitive and less specific than SSA precipitation for diagnosing clinically significant proteinuria. UP:UC ratios obtained by manual calculation of dipstick results correlated best with quantitative UP:UC ratios in dogs, and had higher specificity but lower sensitivity for the diagnosis of proteinuria. In cats, UP:UC ratios determined by the dipstick method did not correlate (r = -.24, P = .0974) with quantitative values. CONCLUSIONS: The Multistix PRO, with manual calculation of UP:UC, may be a good alternative for the diagnosis of clinically significant proteinuria in dogs, but not cats. Dipstick creatinine concentration should be considered as an estimate.     

Genetic diversity in Tunisian olive accessions and their relatedness with other Mediterranean olive genotypes

Eighty-four olive accessions obtained from the National Conservatory of Boughrara-Sfax (Tunisia), previously evaluated for morphological traits, were analysed with 47 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. They were compared with other olive genotypes originated from Eastern or Western Mediterranean. The highest and lowest similarities between genotypes, estimated by simple matching algorithm, were 0.98 and 0.40, respectively. A dendrogram based on Ward's method and a factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) showed that most of Tunisian accessions are closely related to olive genotypes originating from the Eastern Mediterranean and some are clustering with genotypes originated from the Western Mediterranean. These findings suggested multiple and complex origin of Tunisian olive. A comparative study between a previous morphological analysis and current RAPD assay was carried out and discussed.     

乳酸菌与中药合生元对肉鸡生长性能及饲料利用率的影响

本试验分别向肉仔鸡日粮中添加等量的抗生素和乳酸菌与中药合生元制剂,通过测定肉仔鸡的各项生长指标和饲料利用率指标,探讨乳酸菌与中药合生元在肉鸡生长和饲料利用率方面替代抗生素的优势.结果表明,试验组与对照组在生长性能和饲料利用率上各指标均差异不显著（P〉0.05）,说明乳酸菌与中药合生元可以替代抗生素饲喂给肉仔鸡.