Dinoseb toxicosis in two dogs

Two male English Setters were noticed to be breathing rapidly, hyperexcitable, and atactic after roaming a rural area for 2 hours. Both dogs' cost were stained with yellow liquid. One dog died while en route to the veterinarian. Treatment was begun for the surviving dog for what was initially diagnosed to be organophosphorus or carbamate insecticide toxicosis. Before the diagnosis could be confirmed, the second dog died. The yellow liquid on the dogs' skin was identified as dinoseb in high concentrations. Dinoseb is an acutely toxic, substituted dinitrophenolic herbicide believed to act as an uncoupler of electron transport from oxidative phosphorylation.     

A perspective on the measurement of time in plant disease epidemiology

The growth and development of plant pathogens and their hosts generally respond strongly to the temperature of their environment. However, most studies of plant pathology record pathogen/host measurements against physical time (e.g. hours or days) rather than thermal time (e.g. degree-days or degree-hours). This confounds the comparison of epidemiological measurements across experiments and limits the value of the scientific literature.     

In vitro studies of Norwegian Red bovine semen immobilized and cryopreserved in alginate solid gel network

Development of new semen cryopreservation techniques improving sperm survival and ensuring availability of viable spermatozoa for a prolonged time‐period after AI is promising tools to reduce sensitivity of timing of AI and enhance overall fertility. The SpermVital^® technology utilizes immobilization of bull spermatozoa in a solid network of alginate gel prior to freezing, which will provide a gradual release of spermatozoa after AI. The objective of this study was to compare post‐thaw sperm quality and in vitro sperm survival over time of Norwegian Red bull semen processed by the SpermVital^® (SV) technology, the first commercialized production line of SpermVital^® (C) and by conventional procedure applying Biladyl^® extender (B). Post‐thaw sperm motility was not significantly different between SV, C and B semen (p > .05). However, sperm viability and acrosome intactness were higher for SV than C and B semen (p < .05). Small differences in DNA quality were observed (p < .05). Sperm viability after storage in uterus ex vivo was higher for SV than for C semen (p < .05). Furthermore, sperm survival in vitro over time at physiological temperature was significantly higher for SV semen than C semen as well as B semen during the incubation period of 48 hr (p < .05). In conclusion, the SpermVital^® technology is improved and is more efficient in conserving post‐thaw sperm quality and results in higher sperm viability over time in vitro for SV than for C and B semen.     

亚硒酸钠浸种对春小麦种子萌发特性的研究

为研究硒浸种对春小麦种子活力和幼苗生长特性的影响,分别设置0,0.5,1.0,2.5,3.5,5.0,10.0,50.0 mg/L共8个亚硒酸钠溶液浓度,通过发芽试验,比较研究了不同浓度的亚硒酸钠浸种对春小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:随着亚硒酸钠溶液浓度升高,春小麦种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、幼苗和根长以及干鲜重等指标均呈先升高后下降的趋势;1.0 mg/L的亚硒酸钠溶液对小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长有促进作用;随着亚硒酸钠浓度的升高(≥2.5 mg/L),其各项指标显著下降,并对根和苗的生长表现出抑制作用;因此在实际生产中,掌握合适的硒浸种浓度非常关键.     

Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation In The Treatment Of Canine Atopy: A Preliminary Study

Abstract— In an open, uncontrolled study, 10 dogs with atopy were given evening primrose oil (EPO) (5ml/10kg/day) over a period of 9 weeks. During the first three weeks pruritus, scaling and oedema worsened but erythema and coat condition tended to improve. Subsequently all these parameters tended to improve. The effect on oedema was significant (p < 0.05). Eight of these dogs and two others were then given a 4:1 mixture of EPO and marine fish oil for 9 weeks. Although further reductions in scale and improvements in coat condition were marked in some animals, no significant changes occurred. Alterations in the plasma phospholipid essential fatty acid levels reflected the compositions of the two supplements. These findings suggest that EPO can ameliorate of atopy in dogs. This mirrors observations obtained in studies of human atopic eczema. Résumé— Dans une étude ouverte, sans lot témoin, 10 chiens souffrant d'atopie ont reçu de l'huile d'onagre (5 ml/10 kg/jour) pendant une période de 9 semaines. Pendant les 3 premières semaines, le prurit, le squamosis et l'oedème se sont aggravés mais, l'érythème et l'aspect du poil tendaient à s'améliorer. Enfin tous ces parametres tendaient à s'améliorer. L'effet sur l'érythème a été significatif (p < 0.05). Huit de ces chiens et deux autres ont alors reçu un mélange (4:1) d'huile d'onagre et d'huile de poisson de mer pendant 9 semaines. Bien qu'ultérieurement la diminution du squamosis et l'amélioration de l'état de la fourrure aient été manifestes chez certains animaux, il n'y eut pas de changement significatif. Les modifications des taux d'acides gras essentiels des phospholipides plasmatiques ont reflété la composition des deux supplémentations. Ces observations suggèrent que l'huile d'onagre peut apporter une amélioration de l'atopie canine. Cela reflète certains résultats observés lors d'études sur l'eczéma atopique de l'homme. Zusammenfassung— In einer offenen, nicht kontrollierten Untersuchung wurde 10 Hunden mit Atopie Nachtkerzenöl (EPO) in einer Dosierung von 5 ml/10 kg/Tag über einen Zeitraum von 9 Wochen verabreicht. Während der ersten 3 Wochen verschlimmerten sich Pruritus, Schuppenbildung und Ödeme, während Erytheme und Fellzustand eher eine Tendenz zur Besserung zeigten. Danach besserten sich alle diese Parameter. Die Wirkung auf Erytheme war signifikant (p < 0.05). Acht dieser Hunde und zwei andere erhielten 9 Wochen lang Nachtkerzenöl und Seefischöl in einer Mischung von 4:1 im Anschlufl an diese Untersuchung. Obwohl eine weitere Verminderung der Schuppenbildung und eine Vorbesserung der Fellqualität bei einigen Tieren festgestellt wurden, waren diese Veränderungen nicht signifikant. Die Veränderungen der essentiellen phospholipiden Fettsäuren im Plasma spiegeln die Zusammensetzung der beiden verabreichten Öle wieder. Diese Befunde weisen darauf hin, daß die Atopie des Hundes durch EPO gebessert werden kann. Dies entspricht auch Beobachtungen bei Untersuchungen des atopischen Exzems des Menschen.     

Exercise physiology. An overview

Through the study of equine exercise physiology, one can learn more about what happens to the body of the performance horse during all forms of exercise. Better understanding of skeletal, joint, tendon, and ligament adaptations to loading and stress may allow adjustments to be made in training techniques to reduce the incidence of injury. The information obtained from exercise research may also facilitate the investigation of questions such as the following: What makes one horse perform better than another? How can one bring out the optimal performance in each horse? How can one tell when a horse has arrived at its peak performance capability? What are the factors that actually limit performance?     

木制家具出口呼唤“中国品牌”

近两年，我国木制家具出口可以说是超常规发展。2004年我国出口木制家具为129亿件，到了2005年，达到了1．49亿件，增幅高达16％；至2006年，尽管国际上欧美一些发达国家对我国家具出口“反倾销”和知识产权侵权诉讼接连不断，国内下半年又有国家出口退税率下调等显然不利于家具出口的政策出台，但所有这些内外在因素的合力，似乎都未能构成对我国家具出口大潮本质上的阻扼。