Diesel oil-induced alopecia in two cats

Two cats were presented for acute onset of rapidly progressive, bilaterally symmetrical hair loss of the ventrum and limbs. Alopecia occurred within 2 weeks after accidental skin exposure to diesel oil. The remaining hair epilated easily in affected areas. Denuded skin was strikingly dry and had adherent scale. Erythema and demarcation between affected and normal skin by a liquid-line were present in one case. Above this line, the hair could not be removed. The head and the footpads were not involved. Systemic signs were not observed. Both cats made a complete recovery without treatment. Histological examination in one cat revealed severe orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, mild to moderate acanthosis, follicular keratosis, a moderate dermal infiltrate of mast cells and an almost complete absence of sebaceous glands. If skin contact with diesel oil occurs in a cat, thorough washing of skin and haircoat after soaking in prue vegetable oil is recommended.     

The influence of the tracer injection–acquisition interval on the distribution of 99mTc-ECD in the brain of laboratory cats

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be used to study the regional distribution of the cerebral blood flow in the feline brain without interference of anesthetics. When the tracer, ^99mtechnetium-ethyl cysteinate dimer (^99mTc-ECD), is injected in the awake animal, the acquisition can be performed afterward under general anesthesia, whereas the tracer distribution still represents the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the awake animal. The aim of this study was to look at the in vivo stability of ^99mTc-ECD in the feline brain. For this purpose, 6 cats (n = 6) were used, and 3 serial acquisitions were performed starting at 40 (T40), 60 (T60), and 85 (T85) minutes after tracer injection. Total counts and perfusion indices (PIs), normalized to the total brain and to the cerebellum, were calculated. When T85 was compared with T40, total counts decreased, depending on the brain region, with 29% (left thalamus) to 51% (bulbus olfactorius). These regional differences in tracer clearance resulted in significantly altered PIs at T85 as compared with T40. This study shows that ^99mTc-ECD SPECT can be used in cats for studying the rCBF and that the clearance of ^99mTc-ECD in the feline brain is region dependent. As a result, the acquisition should be started between 40 and 60 minutes after tracer injection.     

Toward metrological traceability for DNA fragment ratios in GM quantification. 2. Systematic study of parameters influencing the quantitative determination of MON 810 corn by real-time PCR

This paper is part of a set of three papers investigating metrological traceability of the quantification of DNA fragments as, for instance, used for quantification of genetic modifications. This paper evaluates the possible impact of several factors on results of real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) measurements. It was found that the particle size of the powder samples does not have an influence, whereas the nature of the calibrant (plasmidic or genomic DNA) has a significant effect. Moreover, two real-time PCR detection methods (construct-specific and event-specific) for MON 810 corn were compared. The results obtained in a specifically designed interlaboratory study revealed a significant influence of the DNA extraction method on measurement results when the MON 810 construct-specific real-time PCR detection method was applied. Statistical analyses confirmed the importance of validating DNA extraction methods in conjunction with real-time PCR methods.     

Distribution of Ilex and Juniperus roots in three container-media

Ilex crenata Thunb. cultivar ‘Green Luster’ and Juniperus horizontalis Moench. cultivar ‘Plumosa’ were grown in 3 container-media for 13 months. The container-media were dissected by 2 horizontal cuts to yield 3 depth zones, 3 equal concentric areas were outlined on the lower surface of each depth zone and root distribution determined. A greater number of Ilex roots were in the 2 inside concentric areas of the bottom two-thirds of the peat:perlite medium than in the same divisions of soil:peat:sand and pine bark:sand media. Juniperus roots were more evenly distributed through the depth zones of pine bark: sand than soil:peat:sand or peat:perlite media.     

Structure—activity relationships of fungicidal acetylenic sulphones

Regression analysis in the l-alkylsulphonyl-2-arylacetylene series yielded significant correlations of antifungal activity against six microorganisms with certain physicochemical parameters (electronic effects, lipophilicity and steric factors). Fungicidal activity is enhanced by introducing electron-withdrawing substituents in the aryl nucleus, whereas variation of the lipophilic parameter reveals an optimum value. The results obtained indicate a mechanism of action based on a reaction of the compounds with nucleophiles present in the fungal cells, which was confirmed by determining the second-order rate constants of the reaction between 1 -alkylsulphonyl-2-arylacetylenes and the model nucleophile 4-nitro(thiophenol). The lipophilic para-meter was also determined experimentally using thin-layer chromatography. Regression analysis with this completely experimental set of parameters regression gave highly significant results in close agreement with those obtained above.     

Lyngbyastatins 8–10, Elastase Inhibitors with Cyclic Depsipeptide Scaffolds Isolated from the Marine Cyanobacterium Lyngbya semiplena

Investigation of an extract from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya semiplena, collected in Tumon Bay, Guam, led to the identification of three new cyclodepsipeptides, lyngbyastatins 8–10 (1–3). The structures of 1–3 were determined by NMR, MS, ESIMS fragmentation and chemical degradation. Compounds 1–3 are closely related to lyngbyastatins 4–7. Like the latter compounds, we found 1–3 to inhibit porcine pancreatic elastase, with IC₅₀ values of 123 nM, 210 nM and 120 nM, respectively.     

Nitrogen recovery in a decoupled aquaponic system with lamellar settler and trickling biofilter: implications for system management

Careful nitrogen (N) management will be needed to nourish the growing human population while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Aquaponic systems (AS) have a great potential to become a sustainable technology making further use of N-rich aquaculture wastewater. In the present study, we observed the N retention and losses in a running prototype of decoupled AS with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) over 24 days. N losses amounted to 32.5% of feed N input and were observed in the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) of the AS. Fish retained 21.1% of N input while 25.2% of N input accumulated in the RAS water. About 14.1% of the loss of N was caused probably by anaerobic denitrification processes in the lamellar settler (LS). In addition, 18.4% of N input was discharged during the three cleanings of LS. In the hydroponic unit of the AS that has been due to space limitations much smaller than an optimized AS could be (only about 20% of the optimal size relative to fish biomass), the tomato plants, including fruits, leaves, and stems, recovered 3.1% of N input with water uptake of 1700 L. The fish culture management, system design, and environmental management in the greenhouse affect the N recovery in the decoupled AS.