Trigger Points in 48 Dogs with Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Seven foci of pain (trigger points) were identified in the triceps brachii, infraspinatus, adductor-pectineus, peroneus longus, gluteus medius, ileocostorum lumborum, and quadriceps femoris muscles in 48 lame dogs. The dogs had been lame for 1 day to 150 weeks (mean, 24 weeks). Thirty-one dogs had been treated unsuccessfully with corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, or acupuncture. Palpating the trigger points induced severe pain. Treatment consisted of weekly stimulation of the trigger points by needling or injection of a local anesthetic. The mean treatment period was 2.8 weeks. Excellent results and complete recovery were observed in 34 dogs (60%).     

Predictive equations of selenium accessibility of dry pet foods

The trace element selenium is essential to both dogs and cats. Dry diets are formulated with a large range of ingredients, which may vary in selenium concentration and accessibility. This paper reports equations to predict the average in vitro selenium accessibility from dry pet foods based on essential dietary nutrient concentrations, including crude protein, amino acids and crude fat. Predictive equations were made using stepwise linear regression for extruded and pelleted diets. The equations can be used to aid diet formulation to optimize selenium accessibility within the diet and to prevent selenium deficiency or toxicity.     

Chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses

The objective of this review was to summarise and evaluate the current state of knowledge about chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses. Clinical signs of this multifactorial disorder are mainly restricted to the lower limbs, comprising progressively deteriorating skin, swelling and deformation. Although typical lesions were first reported at the beginning of the 20th century, chronic progressive lymphoedema was recognised as a specific syndrome only in 2003, and since then research has driven forward. Despite the high prevalence in some breeds and the serious economic impact, the pathogenesis is not fully understood, and the available treatment options remain symptomatic and noncurative. There is a need to improve diagnostic techniques and to develop selection tools.     

Assessment of the effects of age and joint disease on hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan concentrations in synovial fluid from the metacarpophalangeal joint of horses

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of age and joint disease on hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations in synovial fluid from the metacarpophalangeal joint of horses and evaluate the association of those concentrations with severity of osteoarthritis and general matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. SAMPLE POPULATION: Synovial fluid was collected from the metacarpophalangeal joints of foals at birth (n = 10), 5-month-old foals (10), 11-month-old foals (5), and adult horses (73). PROCEDURE: Hydroxyproline and GAG concentrations were determined in synovial fluid samples. The severity of osteoarthritis in adult joints was quantified by use of a cartilage degeneration index (CDI) and assessment of general MMP-activity via a fluorogenic assay. RESULTS: Hydroxyproline and GAG concentrations in synovial fluid were highest in neonates and decreased with age. Concentrations reached a plateau in adults by 4 years and remained constant in healthy joints. In synovial fluid from osteoarthritic joints, hydroxyproline and GAG concentrations were not increased, compared with unaffected joints, but hydroxyproline were significantly correlated with the CDI and general MMP activity. There was no significant correlation between GAG concentration and CDI value or MMP activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in hydroxyproline concentration in synovial fluid appeared to indicate damage to collagen of the articular cartilage. In joints with osteoarthritis, the lack of high GAG concentration in synovial fluid and the absence of a significant correlation between GAG concentration and CDI values or MMP activity may severely limit the usefulness of this marker for monitoring equine joint disease.     

陆地棉胚珠及纤维发育过程中miRNA分离与鉴定

microRNA(miRNA)是生物中一类起负调控作用的非编码的小分子RNA,主要在转录后水平上调节生物体的生长与发育。直接克隆法是鉴定植物中miRNA最常用也是最有效的方法之一。利用直接克隆法分离了陆地棉开花后0~10 d(days post anthesis, DPA)胚珠中总RNA,从中筛选17~24 nt小分子RNA构建cDNA文库,对初筛得到的阳性克隆进行测序。通过与miRNA数据库比对,最终获得4个保守的miRNA。进一步对他们的转录表达进行分析,发现所有miRNA在棉花胚珠纤维不同发育时期均能表达。其中miR167a、miR172c和miR394b在棉花幼苗的根茎叶中有不同程度的表达。预测得到55个miRNA的靶基因,多数靶基因编码转录因子、代谢酶类以及发育相关蛋白,进一步证明miRNA参与调控棉花纤维的形态建成、发育等各项生理活动。     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. II. Diurnal changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Short-term changes in tuber volume and in specific leaf weight were measured non-destructively. Tubers from control plants increased rapidly in volume during the night and did not grow, or even shrivelled during the day. Tubers of stressed plants did not show a uniform response; some tubers markedly declined in volume during the day. The patterns of volume increase of stressed plants became erratic after the stress, mainly because some plants never fully recovered. Patterns of diurnal fluctuation in tuber volume were similar to diurnal changes in specific leaf weight; tubers within the same stressed plant sometimes reacted differently. In these cases the effects on the diurnal fluctuation partly reflected the long-term effects, reported in an earlier paper.     

Co-heritability: Its relation to correlated response,linkage, and pleiotropy in cases of polygenic inheritance

Summary The concept of co-heritability is proposed in order to describe the genetic associations within pairs of quantitative traits. The mathematical relations between co-heritability, correlated response, and the coefficient of genetic prediction are shown. From observations in a diallel experiment with 10 year-old slash pine it appeared that the genetic association of a character pair is a phenomenon of low genetic variability and high inheritance. Exploratory indicators are proposed to estimate the nature of the genetic association.     

Formation and stability of foam made with various potato protein preparations

In the present study, foam-forming and -stabilizing properties of potato proteins were studied using whipping and sparging tests. The soluble potato proteins are mainly composed of patatin and protease inhibitors. The whipping tests showed that less foam was formed from untreated patatin than from the protease inhibitors, but patatin foam was much more stable. The foam-forming properties of patatin could be strongly improved by partial unfolding of the protein. Whipping tests, at both low (0.5 mg/mL) and high (10 mg/mL) protein concentration, also indicated that foams made with an ethanol-precipitated protein isolate were more stable than those made with beta-casein and beta-lactoglobulin. More generally, it can be concluded that when proteins are used as a foaming agent, a high concentration is required, because the protein available is inefficiently used. Also, there are several variables that may all, in different ways, affect both foam formation (amount of foam, bubbles size distribution) and foam stability. These variables include the type and concentration of protein, solvent conditions (pH, I), and the method used to make the foam.     

Risk factors and clinical presentation of cats with feline idiopathic cystitis

Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is the most common cause of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This retrospective, case-controlled study evaluated possible risk factors associated with FIC and compared different clinical presentations in 64 cats with FIC. Several risk factors known to be involved in FLUTD were identified as playing a role in FIC. Of the stressful situations considered, most did not occur with increased frequency in cats with FIC compared to controls, except for a house move. The presence of pyuria, haematuria and an increased urine protein:creatinine ratio were significantly higher in obstructed males compared with non-obstructed males. An obstruction was significantly more likely in cats with struvite crystalluria compared with cats without struvite crystalluria. These findings suggest that urethral plugs might be an important cause or contributing factor of obstruction in FIC. Episodes of FIC seem to occur mainly in susceptible cats in combination with a deficient environment.