Cervical vertebral osteomyelitis in a 4‐month‐old foal

Vertebral body osteomyelitis in the cervical spine secondary to Rhodococcus equi has been treated both medically and surgically. This Case Report describes a 4‐month‐old foal exhibiting severe neurological signs from R. equi vertebral body osteomyelitis. Rapid, significant resolvement of neurological signs was noted in this case with surgical debridement and use of synthetic bone filler. The outcome suggests that aggressive surgical therapy in conjunction with synthetic allograft may be indicated in treatment of cervical vertebral body osteomyelitis.     

保护性耕作对黄土高原玉米-小麦-大豆轮作系统产量及表层土壤碳管理指数的影响

在陇东黄土高原雨养农业区,以传统耕作(t)为对照,研究了3种保护性耕作:耕作+秸秆覆盖(ts)、免耕(nt)、免耕+秸秆覆盖(nts)对玉米-大豆-小麦轮作系统产量和土壤全氮、全碳、有机碳,易氧化有机碳及碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明,从2001至2007年,10茬作物的总产量在ts、nts处理下分别比t提高3.63和1.62 t/hm²,而nt处理则比t处理显著降低2.48 t/hm²。7年后,t、ts、nt和nts处理表层土壤全氮含量分别提高15.4%,30.2%, 16.2%和49.5%。总有机碳含量相应提高2.5%,18.7%,11.7%和74.0%,易氧化有机碳含量在ts,nt和nts处理下分别比t处理提高16.0%,16.2%和38.1%;土壤碳氮比在t、ts、nt和nts处理下较之7年前分别降低了11.41%,8.54%,3.91%和2.72%,ts、nt和nts处理下碳库管理指数分别比t处理提高12.6%,20.1%和46.6%,说明秸秆覆盖+免耕均有利于提高该轮作系统中土壤有机碳含量并改善碳库质量。     

Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

New technique of sex preselection for increasing female ratio in boar sperm model

In this study, we tried to optimize the porcine semen extender conditions to maximize the differences between live X chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and to Y chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without a decline in the fertility rate at different pH conditions during storage. We observed the viability of X and Y boar spermatozoa in acidic (pH 6.2), original (pH 7.2), and alkaline condition (pH 8.2) for 5 days to investigate the effect of storage conditions on the X to Y spermatozoa ratio. The functional parameters of spermatozoa were also examined to evaluate sperm quality. Sperm motility was preserved at pH 7.2 and pH 6.2 for 3 days, while sperm motility at pH 8.2 decreased significantly after 2 days. Non-capacitated spermatozoa increased while capacitated spermatozoa decreased during storage. Sperm viability decreased significantly duration-dependent under all pH conditions, but there was no significant difference during storage at pH 6.2 and 7.2. The X: Y ratio of live spermatozoa in acidic condition was maximized (1.2:1) without affecting the sperm function and fertility-related protein expression after 2 days compared to original conditions. Moreover, insemination of sows using acidic extender increased the number of female pups on days 1 and 2 of preservation. These results indicate that the production of female offspring may increase when acidic BTS is used for 2 days without affecting the success rate of AI. Above all, this method is simple and economical compared to other methods.     

混播比例对三江源人工草地植被和土壤养分特征的影响

建植混播人工草地是修复三江源黑土滩退化草地的有效措施,但不同混播比例下植被和土壤养分特征的变化尚不明确。以垂穗披碱草、中华羊茅和青海草地早熟禾分别按1∶1∶1（M₄）,2∶1∶1（M₅）,1∶2∶1（M₆）,1∶1∶2（M₇）,2∶2∶1（M₈）,2∶1∶2（M₉）和1∶2∶2（M₁₀）建植混播人工草地,并以各组分单播为对照,研究生产力、物种多样性、超产效应、多样性净效应（包括互补效应和选择效应）和土壤养分特征的变化,并采用多准则决策模型-TOPSIS进行综合评价,以筛选最佳混播比例,以期为三江源退化草地生态修复提供科学依据。结果表明：混播处理地上生物量显著高于中华羊茅和青海草地早熟禾单播的生物量,但显著低于垂穗披碱草单播处理,混播处理地上生物量在M₅、M₈、M₉和M₁₀处理较高。而地下生物量在混播处理间无显著差异。混播处理中,仅M₅、M₈、M₉和M₁₀处理存在超产,达40.4~71.1 g·m^-2。M₄和M₆处理的多样性净效应均小于0,说明由于物种竞争导致群落减产。而M₇~M₁₀混播处理的多样性净效应均大于0,说明物种生态位的互补使得群落高产。M₈和M₉处理中互补效应和选择效应共同主导了超产效应,而M₅和M₁₀处理中主要由互补作用主导超产效应。表层土壤的有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷和速效钾含量在M₆、M₇和M₁₀混播处理中较高。TOPSIS模型综合评价表明,M₁₀混播处理不但可保持较高的生产力,还可显著提高土壤的养分含量,是三江源区人工草地建植的理想混播比例。     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Prognostic significance of clinical presentation,induction and rescue treatment in 42 cases of canine centroblastic diffuse large B‐cell multicentric lymphoma in the United Kingdom

Canine lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases and many previous studies have evaluated the response of a mixed population of lymphoma cases to one specific treatment protocol. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the outcome and prognostic factors in 42 cases of multicentric centroblastic diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma treated with either a COP‐type (35%) or CHOP‐type (64%) induction chemotherapy. The objective response rate to induction therapy was 94%; entire dogs had a greater rate of complete vs partial remissions than neutered dogs (P = .017). Median progression‐free survival for the first remission (PFS1) was 182 days; absence of anaemia at diagnosis (P = .002) and pretreatment neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) below 9.44 (P = .015) were independently predictive of longer PFS1. Fifty‐eight percent of dogs received rescue protocols with an objective response rate of 81%; 31% of dogs received further rescue protocols (up to a total of 5) and the median number of protocols administered were 2. Median overall survival (OS) was 322 days, the 1‐year survival rate was 38% and the 2‐year survival rate was 9%. Lymphocyte:monocyte ratio above 1.43 (P = .031), NLR below 11.44 (P = .009), the combination of induction and rescue therapy (P = .030) and the total number of doxorubicin doses used (P = .002) were independently predictive of longer OS. Use of a COP‐type protocol induction compared with CHOP did not undermine OS providing doxorubicin was used as rescue therapy.     

低溶胀壳聚糖/丝素蛋白复合膜的制备及性能测试

为改善单纯壳聚糖膜用作医用创面敷料在湿环境下的力学性能,将壳聚糖(CS)和家蚕丝素蛋白(SF)混合,采用延流法制备壳聚糖/丝素蛋白(CS/SF)复合膜。物理与机械性能测试表明:CS/SF复合膜的溶胀率较单纯CS膜显著降低,且其溶胀能力具有pH依赖性;CS/SF复合膜的水蒸气透过率较单纯CS膜略有下降,但仍保持在2 043～3 363 g/(m2.d);CS/SF复合膜在湿环境下的力学强度较单纯CS膜显著提高,当加入SF的质量分数为15%时,复合膜的力学性能最好,其拉伸强度为34.5 MPa±1.8 MPa,比单纯CS膜提高近18%,而其断裂伸长率也由初始的83.1%±6.7%提高到119.3%±8.2%。CS/SF复合膜具有较好的药物释放性能,对抗感染药物盐酸万古霉素表现出在初始1 h内的突释行为和随后较长时期的缓释行为,十分有利于降低感染和加速伤口愈合。此外,CS/SF复合膜对STO小鼠胚成纤维细胞具有良好的生物相容性。各项性能测试显示CS/SF复合膜作为医用敷料具有潜在的应用前景。     

奶牛饲喂不同精粗料比TMR对排泄粪尿和氮磷的影响

将18头荷斯坦产奶牛随机分为试验6组,每组3头,试验Ⅰ～Ⅵ组奶牛依次饲喂不同精粗料比（精料：粗料）的TMR1（20∶80）、TMR2（30∶70）、TMR3（40∶60）、TMR4（50∶50）、TMR5（60∶40）、TMR6（70∶30）的日粮,探讨不同精粗料比TMR对奶牛粪尿、N、P的排泄量和CH4释放量的影响。结果,饲喂TMR4与饲喂TMR1和TMR6的奶牛相比,每头奶牛每年CH4释放量减少15.20Kg和89.84Kg;粪便排泄量减少1.37t和1.41t;N降低3.71kg和17.50kg;P减少2.59kg和4.07kg,比TMR1FCM提高10.54%（P〈0.05）;乳脂率增加9.67%（P〈0.05）;乳糖增加7.26%（P〈0.05）,能减少奶牛对土壤水源及空气的污染,提高奶牛的生态效益和经济效益。     

应用~(15)N研究小麦花生两熟制氮肥分配方式对小麦、花生产量及N肥利用率的影响

在小麦花生两熟制条件下 ,全年氮肥两作 3次施用 (小麦基肥、追肥和花生基肥 )氮素利用率为 3 2 52 % ,一作两次施用 (小麦基肥和追肥 )氮素利用率为 3 7 0 1 % ,但前者土壤残留多 ,损失少 ,氮肥回收率为 69 2 4% ,较后者高 1 2 0 3个百分点。且前者有利于小麦、花生产量的形成 ,是小麦花生两熟制适宜的施肥方式。小麦当茬氮肥利用率为 1 6 80 %～ 3 5 63 %。夏直播花生当茬及前茬小麦基肥和追肥 (拔节期 )的氮肥利用率分别为 2 3 70 %、6 57%～ 7 70 %和 1 0 0 3 %～ 1 2 73 % ;施肥时间和施肥量对氮肥利用率影响较大