Serum lipase determination in the dog: a comparison of a titrimetric method with an automated kinetic method

An enzymatic, kinetic method for determining serum lipase activity was evaluated and compared to a standard manual method for use in dogs. The kinetic method was a commercial kit adapted for use on a tandem access clinical chemistry analyzer and utilized a series of coupled enzymatic reactions based on the hydrolysis of 1,2-diglyceride by lipase. The manual method was the Cherry-Crandall technique based on the titration of base against the acid formed by hydrolysis of an olive oil substrate by lipase. The correlation between the two methods was very good (r = 0.94). The reference range for 56 clinically healthy dogs assayed by the kinetic method was 90 to 527 U/L. Diseases associated with a greater than twofold elevation in serum lipase activity as determined by the kinetic method included pancreatitis, gastritis with liver disease, and oliguric renal failure with metabolic acidosis. In some cases, pancreatitis was seen with other clinical problems, such as gastroenteritis, diabetic ketoacidosis, duodenal mass, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and septic peritonitis. Diseases associated with serum lipase activity within the reference range or elevated less than twofold included gastritis, gastric ulcer, cholestasis, phenobarbital-induced hepatopathy, colitis, copper hepatopathy, abdominal hematoma, apocrine gland adenocarcinoma, and thrombocytopenia with pneumonia.     

Determination of uric acid in canine serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography

A reproducible high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for analysis of uric acid in canine serum and urine. The method consists of precipitating serum proteins with phosphotungstic acid prior to HPLC analysis. Urine is analyzed after dilution with buffer. Chromatography is performed on a reversed-phase C-18 column with UV detection at 292 nm. Sensitivity of the method will allow reproducible measurement of uric acid at concentrations of 0.05 mg/dl in serum and 0.1 mg/dl in urine. The HPLC method has been used to quantify hundreds of canine serum and urine samples. The method is superior to UV absorption or colorimetric methods because its lower limit of detection allows measurement of uric acid at concentrations found in canine serum and urine.     

A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus in dairy cattle in the central valley of California

A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in California dairy cattle was conducted to estimate the prevalence and distribution by age and season of BTV group-reactive antibodies and to look for possible associations between the presence of antibodies and cattle age or breed and farm. Between December 1985 and March 1987, a sample of cattle was tested at approximately two-month intervals for BTV group-reactive antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data taken during the month of December 1986 were used to evaluate possible associations between a positive antibody test and certain intrinsic (age, breed) and extrinsic (farm) factors.Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using the -square test for associations and multiple logistic regression, respectively, were carried out for possible associations between positive antibody tests to BTV and each factor of interest. The strengths of the associations were determined using estimates of the odds ratio.Of the 3774 serum samples tested, 238 (6.3%) were from calves, 1045 (27.6%) were from heifers and 2492 (66.0%) were from cows. Seroprevalence varied from nil in calves on two occasions to over 90% on several occasions in cows. Cows consistently had higher prevalence rates than heifers or calves across all test dates (p<0.05). The seroprevalence of BTV group-reactive antibodies also showed a seasonal fluctuation, with the highest rates occurring during the warmer months of the year. These highest prevalence rates coincided with heavy activity of the known vector of BTV, Culicoides spp. Breed and farm effects were not statistically significant (p>0.05). With the exception of one farm, all cattle were of the Holstein breed, which reduced confidence in assessing any breed effect in this study. Relative estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of BTV ELISA were 87% and 100% respectively, compared to the standard agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.The observations support previous findings of seasonal distribution of BTV antibodies and suggest an age relationship, whereby older cattle are more likely to be positive to BTV group-reactive antibodies than younger cattle.     

Different biological behaviour of Waldenström macroglobulinemia in two dogs

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia is a low‐grade immunosecretory disorder associated with lymphoid tumours, which is rarely reported in veterinary medicine. In this study, we describe two clinical cases of this rare syndrome in dogs, each characterized by a different onset and clinical course. In one case, a hyperacute onset and aggressive behaviour of the neoplasm was observed. Absolute serum viscosity (SV) was retrospectively evaluated in order to explain clinical findings. Rotational viscosimetry showed good precision in measuring SV. Both dogs had SV values higher than a control groups of healthy dogs although only one subject developed hyperviscosity symptoms and complications. At high paraprotein concentrations, a slight reduction of the M‐component was associated with a marked decrease in SV. Thus, this work suggests that SV assessment is a relevant tool for managing monoclonal gammopathies, whose usefulness should be further confirmed in larger cohorts of dogs.     

饲粮中添加抗菌肽对肉鸭增重及血清尿素氮、总蛋白水平的影响

240只1日龄肉鸭随机成分4组,每组设3个重复,对照组用基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮上每千克分别添加1、2、3mL抗菌肽制剂。结果显示:1)2、3mL/kg添加量组增重效果显著(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最佳;净肉率升高,达到显著水平(P<0.05),其中主要是胸肌率上升;腹脂率降低但差异不显著(P>0.05);料重比无显著变化(P>0.05)。2)血清总蛋白浓度差异不显著(P>0.05),但尿素氮浓度下降,2、3mL/kg添加量组达显著水平(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最低。     

and laminin on adhesion and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell

AIM:To explore the effects of PMA(phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, a tumor promoter, mimicking the action of diacylglycerol on PKC)and laminin on the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and provide a new clue to liver cancer treatment.METHODS:Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line(BEL-7402)was used to identify the endogenous laminin and protein kinase C-α(PKC-α) expression, and the effects of laminin and PMA on the adhesion and the proliferation were also investigatedin vitro.RESULTS:By the effect of exogenous laminin, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) possessed endogenous laminin expression and increased the adhesion and the proliferation, which was showed the synergistic action by the effect of PMA in combination. By the action of PMA alone, the proliferation and the PKC-α expression increased by exogenous laminin were decreased, and the adhesion and the endogenous laminin expression were increased.CONCLUSIONS:The finding suggested that the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell were closely related to the effects of endogenous or exogenous laminin, which were associated with cPKC-α activity. Therefore, the application of anti-laminin antibody in combination with PKC antagonist might be a new clue to find out the therapy for liver cancer.     

Biological characteristics of long passaging rat mesenchymal stem cells

AIM:To investigate multi-potential of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMMSC) and mutation inclination, the rBMMSC were long passaged in vitro. METHODS:Cellular cycles of different passages were assayed by FACSan flow cytometry and karyotypes of passage 6, passage 25 and passage 45 were compared by G-binding analysis. RESULTS:The early passages and long-term passages all showed strong proliferation; passage 6, passage 25 and passage 45 all showed normal karyotype. CONCLUSION:Long-term culture and passage of rBMMSC still remains strong proliferation. With this capability, the mutation inclination is not enhanced.     

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in rat fatty liver

AIM:To investigate the role of expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPAR α) in pathogenesis of rat fatty liver.METHODS:The rats were treated with a low dose of carbon terachloride (CCl₄) and fed a high fat diet to produce fatty liver. We determined the concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA) in liver and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), FFA in serum and the degree of hepatocytic steatosis. Total RNA of liver was extracted, and the expression of PPAR α were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR method.RESULTS:In model group, the hepatocytic PPAR α mRNA expression decreased to 0.41±0.28, compared to 1.41±0.29 in the control group (P＜0.01). The contents of TG, TC, FFA in model rat liver were (1.88±0.20) mmol·L^-1, (11.03±1.12) mmol·L^-1 and (1 260.38±151.27) μmol·L^-1, respectively, compared to (0.53±0.10) mmol·L^-1, (1.25±0.25) mmol·L^-1 and (334.30±27.09) μmol·L^-1 in the control group (P＜0.01). The activity of ALT, concentrations of TNF-α and FFA in serum were also increased remarkably in model group.CONCLUSION:Oxidation of fatty acid and utilization of lipids in liver are affected by reducing the expression of PPAR α, which result lipid accumulation in liver.     

Serum contents of E-selectin,sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with acute coronary syndrome

AIM:To explore the serum levels of certain adhesion molecules and its significance in acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS:The subjects included 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Among the 80 patients, 60 patients accepted a follow-up 4 months. At the same time we selected 40 controls from people who attended a routine health check in the university. Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the ACS group(AMI or UAP) than in the control group. Four months later, the levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 became significantly lower in the follow-up group than in the ACS group, while sVCAM-1 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 may have certain diagnostic value for ACS, and can be a useful marker reflecting the stability of the disease.     

Effect of heat shock precondition on reperfusion arrhythmia in rats

AIM:To investigate the effect of the heat shock response on the reperfusion arrhythmias(RAs) and the possible mechanism involved. METHODS:Fifty-five Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the heat shock group (group H,n=29) and the control group (group C,n=26). The rats in group H were preconditioned with heat shock 24 hours before, and that in group C were not. The hearts of 16 rats in group H and 16 in group C were exercised and mounted on a non-circulating Langendorff perfusion apparatus and perfused retrogradely with modified K-H buffer and mimic ischemia/reperfusion was applied. Additionally, conventional intracellular microelectrode techniques were used for recording such electrophysiological parameters as resting potential(RP), action potential amplitude(APA), over shot(OS), maximum depolarization velocity(Vmax) of the hearts of other 13 rats in group H and 10 in group C. RESULTS:①Prior heat stress significantly decreased reperfusion arrhythmia. ②The amount of CK release in the effluent in group H was much less than that in group C. ③Myocardial HSP70 content was elevated significantly in group H. ④Heat stress significantly increased myocardial anti-oxydases activity and decreased lipid peroxydative products. Additionally, heat stress significantly reduced the Vmax of action potential. It indicated that rapid Na⁺ channel of papillary muscles may be inhibited by heat shock. The degree of change of Vmax after ischemia in H group was significantly less than that in group C. And the time of reperfusoin with Tyrode's solution till the action potential appeared as large as that before perfusion with mimic ischemic solution is shorter in group H than in group C. CONCLUSION:Heat shock pretreatment markedly reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury of heart and ventricular arrhythmias in rats and this effect may be associated with the inhibition of rapid Na⁺ channel of papillary muscles by heat shock and the increase in myocardial HSP70 and anti-oxydase activity.