Intraocular pressure development after cataract surgery: a prospective study in 50 dogs (1998-2000)

Objective To study the course of intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract surgery in 50 dogs. Design Prospective study. Animals Fifty dogs without preoperative ocular hypertension were selected for cataract surgery. Methods All dogs underwent cataract surgery: 25 by manual extracapsular extraction and 25 by phacoemulsification. For each dog, intraocular pressure was measured before surgery, and 1, 3, 5, 18 h, 1 week and 1 month post surgery. Results No significant difference of mean intraocular pressure between the two surgical methods was observed for each time measurement. Nine dogs had postoperative hypertension (IOP > 25 mmHg) during the first 5 hours post surgery. Incidence of postoperative hypertension was not significantly different with manual extracapsular extraction (16%) vs. phacoemulsification (20%). A decrease of mean IOP was observed 1 h after surgery (8.49 mmHg vs. 10.91 mmHg), then an increase 3 and 5 h post surgery (12.3 and 13.32 mmHg, respectively). At 18 h, 1 week and 1 month post surgery, mean IOP decreased. Mean IOP was 10.38, 10.38 and 8.84 mmHg, respectively. Conclusion In this study incidence of POH is not high. However, a follow‐up of IOP in the first hours after cataract surgery is required to avoid complications of the retina and optic nerve and to administer hypotensive treatment if necessary.     

Chitosan-filled polypropylene composites: The effect of filler loading and organosolv lignin on mechanical,morphological and thermal properties

In this work, the effect of organosolv lignin on properties of polypropylene (PP)/chitosan composites was investigated. Mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were analyzed by means of ASTM D 638-91, ASTM D 256, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tensile strength and elongation at break of the PP composites decreased upon the presence of chitosan filler, but Young’s modulus improved. Impact strength was found to increase with the maximum value at 30 php of filler loading. At a similar loading, treated PP/chitosan composites were found to have higher tensile strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus as well as impact strength than untreated composites. Furthermore, the presence of organosolv lignin imparted a plasticizing effect. Thermal properties of the treated PP/chitosan composites were better as compared with the untreated PP/chitosan composites; although the chemical treatment did not alter the thermal degradation mechanism. In addition, the obtained results were comparable to results from previous studies. This finding implied that the organosolv lignin could be a potential reagent to replace its synthetic counterpart.     

Morphological development of post hatch larval goldlined seabream Rhabdosargus sarba (Forskål, 1775)

Ultrastructural changes in Rhabdosargus sarba larva in early life history were investigated. At hatching, the digestive system was histologically undifferentiated. The digestive tract was a straight tube attached to the dorsal end of the yolk‐sac and was not connected to either the mouth or the anus. The layer of gut epithelium at some regions of the luminal surface was straight and microvilli were not present. These straight borders were not observed at 1 day post hatching (DPH) onwards as microvilli increased in number on the luminal surface and became more regular. At 2 DPH, the digestive system was well differentiated and the separation of the mid‐ and hindgut by the intestino‐rectal valve became more advanced. At 0 DPH, the eye was spherical and the retina had a zonation with undifferentiated cells. The eye also lacked differentiated photoreceptors (PR). The retinal PRs increased in length and in number as the yolk‐sac was absorbed. By 2 DPH, the eye was fully pigmented, suggesting that the larval vision system was functional. The larvae had a pure cone retina at the onset of exogenous feeding. Morphological and functional differentiation of the digestive tract and the eye of the larvae preceded the completion of yolk and oil globule absorption. The oil globule was exhausted at 4 DPH and at 2 DPH, the yolk‐sac was completely absorbed. Food particles were observed at 3 DPH. Food particle ingestion and absorption of the yolk‐sac were observed as vision became fully functional.     

Three genes of miraculin-like proteins from Nicotiana benthamiana with dissimilar putative structures show highly similar patterns of induction following bacterial and fungal infections

Expression of three Nicotiana benthamiana miraculin-like protein genes, NbMLP1, NbMLP2 and NbMLP3, showed almost identical responses to wounding, an incompatible interaction with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and compatible interactions with P. syringae pv. tabaci, Colletotrichum destructivum or Colletotrichum orbiculare. However, only NbMLP1 expression responded to exogenous methyl jasmonate or ethylene. None exhibited expression in healthy leaves and stems, and all showed highest expression in seeds, except for NbMLP1, which had highest expression in roots. NbMLP1, NbMLP2 and NbMLP3 were in different subfamilies of miraculin-like protein sequences of N. benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum. Subfamilies correlated well with predicted features of the reactive-site loop potentially affecting the bond that could react with serine proteinases. Despite considerable predicted structural diversity that might affect biological activity, the apparently coordinated expression of these genes to pathogen attack may reflect the need to produce diverse proteinase inhibitors to act against a potentially broad range of secreted microbial proteinases during basal resistance to pathogens.     

Lobarin from the Sumatran lichen, Stereocaulon halei

The diphenyl ether, lobarin (1) (syn. lobariol carboxylic acid) related to lobaric acid was isolated for the first time as a natural product along with five known compounds from Stereocaulon halei, a fruticose lichen collected in Indonesia. The structure of lobarin was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and its most stable conformers were determined by molecular mechanic dynamic calculations. A marked superoxide anion scavenging was found for compound 1 while no cytotoxicity on the B16 murine melanoma and HaCaT human keratinocyte cell lines was observed.     

Effect of grape seed and skin supplement on milk yield and composition of dairy ewes

In the present study, we investigated the effect of grape seed and skin supplement (GSSS), on lactating dairy ewes’ production. Ten dairy pregnant ewes from northern Tunisia were allocated to two groups: control diet (C) and supplemented with 20 % (w/w) GSSS. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks and took place after 2 months of lambing. During the experiment, daily milk yield and milk composition were determined. Supplementation of the diet with GSSS increased milk production (P?<?0.001), calcium (P?<?0.01), free iron (P?<?0.01) and urea content (P?<?0.001) but had no effect on milk fat nor protein. From these data, it is concluded that the inclusion of GSSS in sheep diets increased significantly ewes’ milk yield.     

Factors influencing the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating dromedary camels in Riyadh Region,Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in camels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the factors influencing its incidence. A total of 740 quarter milk samples were collected from 47 camel herds belonging to Majahim, Maghatir, Shu’l, and Sufer breeds. California mastitis test (CMT) was used as a screening test for subclinical mastitis. Samples giving negative or trace CMT scores (0) were assigned to healthy quarters, while those giving positive scores of 1+ to 3+ were assigned to subclinically affected quarters. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of breed, parity, and stage of lactation with the prevalence of subclinical mastitis. Milk fat, protein, lactose, solid nonfat percentages and Na, Ca, and K concentrations were compared in CMT-positive versus healthy quarters. One third (33%) of tested quarters had subclinical mastitis based on CMT. The estimated probability of subclinical mastitis with the combined effects of breed, parity, and stage of lactation ranged from 15.8% to 54.6%. The risk of subclinical mastitis increased significantly with parity and with the early stage of lactation. The Shu’l breed had significantly higher prevalence of subclinical mastitis than other breeds. Significant decreases in protein, lactose, and solid nonfat, Ca and K concentrations and increase in Na concentrations were associated with subclinical mastitis. In conclusion, subclinical mastitis is prevalent in Saudi camels, and its incidence is influenced by breed, parity, and stage of lactation.     

Chemical composition of Eucalyptus erythrocorys essential oils and evaluation of their herbicidal and antifungal activities

The chemical composition of essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Tunisian Eucalyptus erythrocorys Linn. was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Fifteen compounds were identified, representing 97 % of total oil, which was found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (66.7 %), particularly in 1,8-cineole (54.8 %). The yield and the physico-chemical properties of oil were determined. The study of antifungal activity revealed that E. erythrocorys essential oil significantly inhibited the growth of five plant pathogenic fungi especially Bipolaris sorikiniana and Botritys cinerea. Moreover, herbicidal properties of the oil, tested on Sinapis arvensis L. and Phalaris canariensis L. indicated that the E. erythrocorys oil completely inhibited the seed germination at high concentration (1.5 μl/ml), while at low doses (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 μl/ml) the oil acted by decreasing and delaying the germination and inhibiting the seedling growth of all tested weeds.