Vegetative Endocarditis in Equids (1994–2006)

Background: Endocarditis is a rare heart condition with variable clinical expressions in equids. Risk factors for this disease are incompletely understood. Objective: Describe risk factors for endocarditis in equids. Animals: One hundred and fifty‐three equids admitted to Liège University, 9 diagnosed with endocarditis and 144 free from endocarditis but admitted to the hospital with a differential diagnosis including this disease. Methods: Retrospective case‐control study. Results: Equids with endocarditis were significantly younger (mean age = 4.84 ± 5.74 years) than control equids (mean age = 10.8 ± 7.73 years) (P= .01). No sex or breed predisposition was observed. Animals with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR] = 24.4; confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–428), synovial distension (OR = 13.4; CI = 3.00–59.8), lameness (OR = 6.52; CI = 1.63–26.1), hyperglobulinemia (OR = 26.4; CI = 3.03–229), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 11.4; CI = 1.34–96.8), hyperfibrinogenemia (OR = 9.81; CI = 1.16–82.7), or leukocytosis (OR = 7.12; CI = 1.40–36.4) presented a significantly higher risk of having endocarditis than control horses. The presence of two of the clinical signs mentioned above significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis (P≤ .05). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Age is associated with equine endocarditis. The diagnostic value of certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters in this disease are described.     

Antigen-nonspecific macrophage factors modulating the antibody response in vitro

Antibody response to an antigen involves the co-operation between three types of cells: macrophages, T cells and B cells. The cognate interactions between these cells play a fundamental role in the expression of a specific antibody response, but the last is modulated by antigen-nonspecific soluble factors produced either by macrophages or by T cells. Macrophages elaborate a spectrum of molecules modulating the function of lymphoid cells; among them are IL1 and prostaglandins of the E series, which are respectively enhancer and inhibitor of the antibody response in vitro. These molecules alter T cell and B cell activities through different mechanisms involving activation or inhibition of IL2 production, or alteration of cells surface antigens. However, the cellular events following the fixation of soluble factor on its receptors are not known.     

Multivariate relationships between epidemiologic risk factors and zoonotic infections among military personnel in the country of Georgia: A non‐linear canonical correlation analysis

Zoonotic diseases are endemic in the country of Georgia. Using the non‐linear canonical correlation (NCC) method, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between thirteen epidemiological risk factors and seropositivity to five zoonotic infections (anthrax, Q fever, tularemia, leptospirosis, and Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF]) among Georgian military recruits during 2014–2016. According to this multivariate statistical technique, which is suitable for the analysis of two or more sets of qualitative variables simultaneously, two canonical variables were identified. These variables accounted for 68% of the variation between the two sets of categorical variables (“risk factors” and “zoonotic infections”). For the first canonical variable, there was a relationship among CCHF (canonical loading, which is interpreted in the same way as the Pearson's correlation coefficient, [cl] = 0.715), tick bites (cl = 0.418) and slaughter of animals (cl = 0.351). As for the second canonical variable, Q fever (cl = ?0.604) and leptospirosis (cl = ?0.486) were related to rodents inside and outside home (cl = ?0.346) and sweeping in or around home (cl = ?0.317). The NCC method allows researchers to obtain additional insights into the complex relationship between epidemiological risk factors and multiple zoonotic infections.     

Risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica infection in senegalese broiler-chicken flocks

Our objective was to assess the association of managerial practices, general hygiene and Salmonella infection in Senegalese broiler flocks. Seventy broilers farms were studied from January 2000 to December 2001 around Dakar. A questionnaire was submitted to the farmers and samples of fresh broiler droppings were taken. A 28.6% of the flocks were infected by Salmonella (mainly Hadar and Brancaster serovars). Salmonella infection of the previous flock (OR=6.82) and of day-old chicks (OR=3.73), frequent poultry farmers’ visits (OR=5.38) and keeping sick birds inside the farm (OR=5.32) increased the risk of Salmonella infection. But, using antibiotics on day-old chicks (OR=0.17) and a detergent for cleaning (OR=0.16) decreased the risk.     

南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子分析及风险评价进展

南极磷虾粉是目前南极磷虾船载加工的主要产品之一,富含优质蛋白质、脂质、磷脂、虾青素和矿物质等物质,具有良好的开发利用前景。目前,南极磷虾粉主要用作水产动物饲料及提取油脂等的原料。然而,研究表明南极磷虾粉也存在潜在危害因子不明确等问题,严重限制了其应用领域和范围的拓展。因此,本文分析了南极磷虾粉潜在危害因子的来源、限量标准、检测方法等,介绍了南极磷虾粉风险评估进展,旨在为南极磷虾粉危害因子的减除和深度利用提供参考依据。     

不同条件对苜蓿愈伤组织异黄酮含量的影响(简报)

黄酮类化合物是一种重要的药物,具有抗炎、镇痛、扩张血管和保健作用^[1、2]。由于黄酮的结构非常复杂,人工合成十分困难,因此从植物中提取黄酮类化合物已成为国内外研究的热点。苜蓿分布广泛,人工栽培简单,自然资源丰富。研究不同因子对苜蓿愈伤组织黄酮类代谢产物积累的影响,筛选出高黄酮类的愈伤组织,为今后苜蓿异黄酮提取利用提供依据。     

双峰驼精清诱导排卵活性成分的DEAE—纤维素柱层析分离及其生物活性

选用DEAE－纤维素离子交换柱对双峰驼精清进行分离，各层析组分用于大鼠垂体组织体外培养，并给母驼肌注有活性的组分，以RIA法测定垂体组织培养液和母驼血浆中LH及FSH的浓度。结果表明，驼精清经DEAE－纤维素柱分离后可得到5个蛋白组分（L1－L5），其中L3在大鼠垂体培养时引起LH释放明显增加（P＜0．05），FSH则无明显变化。给卵巢上无大卵泡发育的母驼肌注有活性的组分L3，可引起血浆中LH明显升高，FSH也无变化。由此表明，L3在体内外试验中均具有引起LH释放的生物活性，它可能是诱导排卵的活性因子或其成分之一。     

A novel clinical scoring system for outcome prediction in dogs with acute kidney injury managed by hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: No reliable tool to predict outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) exists. HYPOTHESIS: A statistically derived scoring system can accurately predict outcome in dogs with AKI managed with hemodialysis. ANIMALS: One hundred and eighty-two client-owned dogs with AKI. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses were performed initially on clinical variables available on the 1st day of hospitalization for relevance to outcome. Variables with P< or = .1 were considered for further analyses. Continuous variables outside the reference range were divided into quartiles to yield quartile-specific odds ratios (ORs) for survival. Models were developed by incorporating weighting factors assigned to each quartile based on the OR, using either the integer value of the OR (Model A) or the exact OR (Models B or C, when the etiology was known). A predictive score for each model was calculated for each dog by summing all weighting factors. In Model D, actual values for continuous variables were used in a logistic regression model. Receiver-operating curve analyses were performed to assess sensitivities, specificities, and optimal cutoff points for all models. RESULTS: Higher scores were associated with decreased probability of survival (P < .001). Models A, B, C, and D correctly classified outcomes in 81, 83, 87, and 76% of cases, respectively, and optimal sensitivities/specificities were 77/85, 81/85, 83/90 and 92/61%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The models allowed outcome prediction that corresponded with actual outcome in our cohort. However, each model should be validated further in independent cohorts. The models may also be useful to assess AKI severity.