Validating an empiric sulfadiazine–trimethoprim dosage regimen for treatment of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus delphini infections in mink (Neovison vison)

Antimicrobial agents are used extensively off‐label in mink, as almost no agents are registered for this animal species. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data are required to determine antimicrobial dosages specifically targeting mink bacterial pathogens. The aims of this study were to assess, in a PKPD framework, the empirical dosage regimen for a combination of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) in mink, and secondarily to produce data for future setting of clinical breakpoints. TMP and SDZ PK parameters were obtained experimentally in 22 minks following IV or oral administration of TMP/SDZ (30 mg/kg, i.e. 5 mg/kg TMP and 25 mg/kg SDZ). fAUC/MIC with a target value of 24 hr was selected as the PKPD index predictive of TMP/SDZ efficacy. Using a modeling approach, PKPD cutoffs for TMP and SDZ were determined as 0.062 and 16 mg/L, respectively. By incorporating an anticipated potentiation effect of SDZ on TMP against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus delphini, the PKPD cutoff of TMP was revised to 0.312 mg/L, which is above the tentative epidemiological cutoffs (TECOFF) for these species. The current empirical TMP/SDZ dosage regimen (30 mg/kg, PO, once daily) therefore appears adequate for treatment of wild‐type E. coli and S. delphini infections in mink.     

三个沙棘亚种果实中的生物活性成分分析

本研究比较了来自中国、芬兰、俄罗斯的3个沙棘亚种中一系列亲水性与亲脂性的生物活性成分的含量与组成。在3个亚种中，中国沙棘果实中维生素C的含量最高，其值为9g／L果汁，其他两种为1～2g／L，果汁。新鲜果实中黄酮的含量在700mg／kg～2000mg／kg之间。各亚种中各种黄酮单体的比例也有变化。中国沙棘中木聚素含量(290～600ug／100g)要高于海滨沙棘(130～370ug／100g)。3种沙棘中，蒙古沙棘的油脂含量最高(种子中是12％，新鲜果实中为6％)。蒙古沙棘果实中棕榈油酸的含量最高。中国沙棘新鲜果实中生育酚和生育三烯酚总含量最高，但是在种子中的情况就正好相反。在3个沙棘亚种中，种子与新鲜果实的甾醇含量没有明显差别，含量分别在1200～1800mg／kg和250～300mg／kg之间。即使是在果实成熟以后，采收时间也会对某些活性物质有重要影响。在1998年8月末到9月底之间，海滨沙棘果实中维生素C的含量呈下降趋势，而在中国沙棘果实中类黄酮总量在9月底达到了顶峰。     

Absorption of flavonols derived from sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) and their effect on emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease in humans

Sea buckthorn (Hippopha? rhamnoides L.) is a rich source of flavonols, especially isorhamnetin. Most prospective cohort studies have indicated some degree of inverse association between flavonoid intake and coronary heart disease. Animal and human studies suggest that sea buckthorn flavonoids may scavenge free radicals, lower blood viscosity, and enhance cardiac function. The effects of flavonol aglycones derived from sea buckthorn on the risk factors of cardiovascular disease as well as their absorption were studied in humans. The flavonols, ingested with oatmeal porridge, did not have a significant effect on the levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine, on the plasma antioxidant potential, or on the paraoxonase activity. Flavonols at two dosages in oatmeal porridge were rapidly absorbed, and a relatively small amount of sea buckthorn oil added to the porridge seemed to have increased the bioavailability of sea buckthorn flavonols consumed at the higher dose.     

Information Needs of Non-industrial Private Forest Owners After Logging Operations in Finland: A Case Study

In this study, the information needs of non-industrial private forest owners in Finland, after logging operations, were investigated. The study was carried out as an online survey in 2017. The survey was targeted at non-industrial private forest owners who had sold their timber during the previous 10 years (2008–2017) and whose email addresses were in the customer relationship management system of a large wood procurement company in Finland. A response link for the survey was successfully sent to 31,988 forest owners, of whom 3323 replied (response rate: 10.4%). The final study data included 3284 non-industrial private forest owners. The results of the study, which need to be interpreted cautiously due to the low response rate, showed that the forest owners want better-quality reporting after logging operations. Furthermore, the results suggested that gender, age, education, occupational status, place of living, size of, and access to, forest property, and length of, and objectives for, forest ownership have a significant effect on their information needs. Younger, highly-educated, female, urban-living and multi-objective forest owners with larger forest holdings and short forest ownership tenures desired more information. Particularly, the respondents conveyed that they would like more and better information about thinning harvesting result. The results also indicated that when different groups of forest owners call for certain information, there is a need for producing different types of reports after logging operations for different forest owner segments.

     

Screening of field performance of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes against cabbage root flies (Delia radicum l. and d. floralis (fall.); Diptera,Anthomyiidae)

Finnish isolates of Beauveria bassiana (8 isolates), Metarhizium anisopliae (7), Tolypocladium sp. (2), Paecilomyces farinosus (2), P. fumosoroseus (1), Steinernema feltiae (3) and Bacillus thuringiensis ('Muscabac') were tested for efficacy against mixed populations of Delia radicum and D. floralis under field conditions in 1986–90. All pathogens were applied preventatively, the fungi as aqueous conidial or mycelial suspensions, dry conidia or dry mycelial powder. In only two of the nine experiments did B. bassiana or M. anisopliae give some control. In 1986, B. bassiana SF85–2 and Tolypocladium sp. SF85–4 (both at rate 1.2 x 10⁹ conidia plant‐ 1), and ‘Muscabac’ (25 g 1^?1, 1 dl plant^?1) reduced the number of pupae by 80%, 60% and 50%, respectively, as compared with untreated and chemical (isophenphos) controls. In 1990, M. anisopliae SF86–39 at rate 1.6 x 10⁹conidia plant^?1 and 1.5 x 10⁸ CFU plant^?1 and S. feltiae SFS‐22 (35000 plant^?1), increased the yield of cauliflower 2.2, 1.8, and 2.3‐fold, respectively, as compared with the untreated control, but these yields were only 19%, 15% and 19% of those of the chemical (diazinon) control. Paecilomyces isolates were ineffective in the 1986 experiment in which they were included. Our results suggest that it is difficult to find efficient control agents among the fungal and nematode species tested for use as biopesticides against cabbage root flies, but that the potential of M. anisopliae against these pests deserves further study.     

Epidemiological investigations of trichostrongylid infections in young cattle in different parts of Norway

The occurrence of trichostrongylid nematodes in young cattle was studied in relation to climate and geographical location, by examination of herbage and faecal samples from 8 farms in 7 different regions in Norway, during 3 consecutive summers. Species of Ostertagia and Cooperia were dominant. Infective larvae, especially those of Ostertagia, were able to survive the winter in the pasture to a great extent in all the areas studied. The spring larval counts varied considerably from place to place, and from year to year, but were often at fairly high levels. This confirms previous findings that the larvae which overwinter on the pasture may be a major cause of losses. Overt clinical disease, however, was only seen at 1 farm during this investigation.The large number of larvae often seen in the autumn seems to be of less significance as a cause of disease, due to the late appearance, but is of major importance as a source of the larvae which survive the winter in the pasture and infect young cattle the following spring.There was no obvious correlation between pasture larval counts and the climate, except that there seemed to be higher counts in the warmer parts of the country, where the grazing season is also longer. The only place were both faecal egg counts and larval counts in the herbage were consistently low, was in the very far north.     

Decreased platelet function in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with mitral valve regurgitation

With aggregometry, increased platelet activity has been reported in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) without mitral regurgitation (MR). In contrast, dogs with MR have been found to have decreased platelet activity. The purpose of this study was to test an easy bedside test of platelet function (the Platelet Function Analyzer [PFA-100]) to see if it could detect an increase in platelet activity in CKCS without MR and a decrease in platelet activity in CKCS with MR. This study included 101 clinically healthy dogs > 1 year of age: 15 control dogs of different breeds and 86 CKCS. None of the dogs received medication or had a history of bleeding. The PFA-100 evaluates platelet function in anticoagulated whole blood under high shear stress. Results are given as closure times (CT): the time it takes before a platelet plug occludes a hole in a membrane coated by agonists. The CT with collagen and adenosine-diphosphate as agonists was similar in control dogs (median 62 seconds; interquartile interval 55-66 seconds) and CKCS with no or minimal MR (55; 52-64 seconds). The CT was higher in CKCS with mild MR (regurgitant jet occupying 15-50% of the left atrial area) (75; 60-84 seconds; P = .0007) and in CKCS with moderate to severe MR (jet > 50%) (87: 66-102 seconds; P < .0001). CKCS with mild, moderate, and severe, clinically inapparent MR have decreased platelet function. The previous finding of increased platelet reactivity in nonthrombocytopenic CKCS without MR could not be reproduced with the PFA-100 device.     

Local vs official criteria and indicators for evaluating community forest management

Processes to develop criteria and indicators (C and I) for sustainableforest management are often expert driven. Although the long-termobjective of the Nepalese forest policy is sustainable forestmanagement, no national level C and I specifically for thishave been developed. However, the Ministry of Forests and SoilConservation awards an annual prize to successful communityforest user groups (CFUGs) based on evaluation according to10 criteria. This study explored local C and I for successfulforest management in Nepal through six meetings with CFUG members.A total of 14 local criteria and 52 indicators for awardinga prize to successful CFUGs were identified, and comparisonwith official C and I was undertaken. Most conspicuously, localC and I focus more on environmental and governance-related aspectsthan the official list, and the official list leaves much tothe discretion of the evaluator. The study concludes that developmentof a national level C and I for sustainable forest managementcould benefit from involvement of local forest users.     

沙棘果油和籽油抗炎作用的实验研究

为了解研究沙棘果油及沙棘籽油的抗炎作用.用小白鼠耳二甲苯致炎法进行实验,结果表明,与阴性对照组比较,沙棘果油及沙棘籽油高、低剂量组小白鼠耳廓肿胀度明显的减小(P＜0.01或P＜0.05);沙棘果油及沙棘籽油高、低剂量组间比较,其耳廓肿胀度无明显差异(P＞0.05).结果提示,沙棘果油及沙棘籽油有明显的抗炎作用,并且沙棘果油及沙棘籽油的抗炎作用没有明显差异.用大鼠足跖蛋清致肿法进行实验,结果表明与阴性对照组比较,沙棘果油及沙棘籽油高、低剂量组大鼠致炎后右后足跖肿胀率无明显变化(均为P＞0.05).鸡蛋清所致大鼠足跖水肿主要以组织胺,5-HT为介质,可能沙棘果油及沙棘籽油对这种炎症模型无明显影响.