Cardiac L-type calcium channel and its alterations in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure

There are two type of cardiac calcium channel current, both are inward current: (1) L-type Ca²⁺channel current (I_ca-L), plays a major role in determining myocyte action potential plateau characteristics as well as initiating the myocyte excitation-contraction coupling; (2) T-type Ca²⁺ channel current (I_ca-T), probably plays an important role in pacemaker activity. The alterations of L-type calcium channel abundance and function in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure are determined by the the species difference, especially by the stage of the disease process and the degree of the disease. Both abundance and function of L-type calcium channel decrease in severe hypertrophy and heart failure.     

Hypertrophic gastropathy associated with gastric sarcoma in a dog

A 14-y-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was presented with an 8-mo history of chronic vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a mass protruding into the gastric lumen, with cytologic features suggestive of sarcoma. A partial gastrectomy was performed; the gastric body and antrum were thickened, with a cerebriform appearance of the mucosal surface. Histologic examination revealed a submucosal neoplastic proliferation of fusiform cells variably arranged in irregular bundles and scattered whorls. Fusiform cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, S100, and neuron-specific enolase; glial fibrillary acidic protein was moderately and multifocally expressed. Pancytokeratin, KIT, α–smooth muscle actin, and desmin were nonreactive. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of gastric sarcoma with features referable to a non-GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), non–smooth muscle NIMT (non-angiogenic, non-lymphogenic intestinal mesenchymal tumor). The overlying gastric mucosa was thickened by elongated and dilated gastric glands, predominantly lined by intensely periodic acid-Schiff–stained mucous cells. This altered mucosal architecture was suggestive of Ménétrier-like disease. Although this disease has been hypothesized to predispose to gastric adenocarcinoma in dogs, an association with gastric sarcoma has not been documented previously in the veterinary literature, to our knowledge.     

TWO-DIMENSIONAL COLOR TISSUE DOPPLER IMAGING DETECTS MYOCARDIAL DYSFUNCTION BEFORE OCCURRENCE OF HYPERTROPHY IN A YOUNG MAINE COON CAT

A 20-month-old healthy male Maine Coon cat was referred for a cardiovascular evaluation. Physical examination and electrocardiogram were normal. The end-diastolic subaortic interventricular septal thickness (6 mm; reference range: < or = 6mm) and the mitral flow late diastolic velocity (0.89 m/s; reference range: 0.2-0.8m/s) were within the upper ranges. However, M-mode echocardiography did not reveal any sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) identified a marked left ventricular free wall dysfunction characterized by decreased myocardial velocities in early diastole, increased myocardial velocities in late diastole and the presence of postsystolic contractions both at the base and the apex for the longitudinal motion. One year later, the diagnosis of HCM was confirmed by conventional echocardiography and the cat died suddenly 2 months later. This report demonstrates for the first time in spontaneous HCM the sensitivity of TDI for early diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction and suggests that TDI should form part of the screening techniques for early diagnosis of feline HCM.     

HYPERTROPHIC OSTEOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY BLASTOMYCOSIS IN A DOG

Hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) associated with pulmonary blastomycosis was diagnosed in a 5–year-old male mixed-breed dog. One year prior to referral, increased pulmonary opacity had been identified on radiographs made during an examination for a chronic cough. Although serologic tests for blastomycosis were negative, the dog was treated with oral ketoconozole on the basis of suspicious lesions seen on radiographs and clinical signs. Ten months after completing the ketoconozole therapy, the dog was presented for a persistent cough and lameness. Intrapulmonary masses and periosteat proliferation were observed radiographically. A biopsy of the pulmonary masses was done, and Blastomyces dermatitidis was identified. Amphotericin B and ketoconozole administration resulted in clinical improvement and partial resolution of the HO lesions five months after initiation of therapy.     

苹果锈果类病毒山东栖霞分离物的分子鉴定及序列分析

本研究以采自山东省栖霞市的两个苹果样品为试验材料,利用二维电泳、斑点杂交、RT PCR等分子生物学技术对样品中的苹果锈果类病毒(ASSVd)带毒情况进行了检测。结果表明：两个样品均携带ASSVd。对两个样品中的ASSVd进行克隆测序,并利用生物学软件DNAMAN对所得序列进行分析,结果表明：与世界上首次报道的ASSVd序列(X17696)相比,本研究所得到的ASSVd序列变异较小,相对比较保守。     

烟台市富士苹果上苹果锈果类病毒分子变异分析

为明确苹果锈果类病毒(Apple scar skin viroid,ASSVd)在烟台市富士苹果上的变异情况,通过特异性引物对携带苹果锈果类病毒的富士嫩叶进行ASSVd全长扩增,利用生物学软件DNAMAN对所得变异序列进行分析并构建系统进化树。结果表明,从130个样品中筛选到36个阳性样品,36个阳性样品中共克隆获得52条329~333 nt的ASSVd变异序列,其中30个阳性样品含2条或2条以上的ASSVd序列。对所得变异序列进行序列比对发现,同一样品不同克隆间核苷酸序列相似性为94.0%~100.0%,所有变异序列核苷酸序列相似性为94.0%~99.7%,与Gen Bank中来自不同国家或地区的10条ASSVd分离物核苷酸序列相似性为88.3%~99.7%。将序列相似性低于97.0%的12条变异序列进行系统进化分析,结果显示除了333 nt变异序列ZS2-6与伊朗苹果分离物在同一分支外,其余11条变异序列位于同一分支。52条变异序列多序列比对发现,变异位点主要集中在TL区、P区和C区。研究表明烟台市富士苹果上ASSVd存在一定的分子变异。     

苹果花脸病田间病情发展及ASSVd在组培条件下的传播

为了明确苹果锈果类病毒(apple scar skin viroid,ASSVd)引起的苹果花脸病在田间的病情发展情况以及ASSVd在组培条件下的传播方式,2012—2015年对河北省顺平南神南村3个果园进行持续调查和检测。结果显示,果园A、B、C的显症率分别从3.00%、19.35%和10.00%上升至10.00%、34.41%和22.00%,带毒率分别从11.00%、20.43%和14.00%上升至23.00%、37.63%和30.00%,带毒率和显症率都逐年增加,而且带毒率大于显症率,即有些带毒果树不显症。发病果树田间分布有明显的发病中心。通过高通量测序发现显症果树ASSVd vsiRNA reads数是带毒未显症reads数的4.08倍,同时实时荧光定量PCR检测发现显症树ASSVd病毒积累量显著高于带毒未显症树。以携带ASSVd的组培苗和无毒组培苗为试材,利用RT-PCR检测明确了ASSVd可通过伤口沾染带毒汁液、组培剪污染、含毒培养基、根系接触进行传播,其中根系接触传染率较高。     

基于与景观营建结合的岩仓残痕整容设计研究

指出目前的岩仓残痕治理过程通常以安全性为原则,运用工程技术,以工程材料和植被进行简单覆盖,缺乏景观艺术效果和游赏功能性。突出了岩仓残痕区整容设计的原则在于尊重自然、稳定坡地,适地适树、经济美观,特色美与协调统一美相结合,艺术性与功能性相结合,创新性与艺术性相结合,在此基础上提出整容设计的基本思路与设计方法,并以柳州市银山岩仓残痕工程治理为例,分析了当地地质及岩仓残痕现状,气候特点以及石山植物资源及植被状况,进而探讨了具体的岩仓整容设计对策。结果表明：将工程技术与景观营建结合起来,设计层次丰富、生动自然、功能完善、安全有效的园林景观,不仅易于为市民所接受,也能为其他岩仓残痕的整容设计起到示范作用。