The contribution of lignin to the composition of humic acids from a wheat-straw amended soil during 3 years of incubation in pots

An Andisol from the Vesuvian volcanic area, low in organic matter, was treated with wheat straw (20/1 w/w) and urea (500/1 w/w) in pots, and maintained at 60–90% of field capacity in an open greenhouse in order to study the yields and properties of humic acids after 30, 122 and 224 d, and 1, 2 and 3 years of incubation. During the first year the yields increased, but subsequently they showed a decrease. However, the chemical and spectroscopic properties of humic acids remained substantially constant. The chemical characteristics of modified lignin from added wheat straw were recognized in the properties of humic acids by UV-visible, FT-IR and ¹³C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopic analysis. Evidence was obtained that these modifications included the microbial removal of carbohydrates, the oxidative destruction or transformation of the side chains of lignin units, the demethylation of mainly guaiacyl, and subsequent oxidation of catechol-like structures to o-quinone. The latter can be postulated to promote the nucleophilic addition of amino compounds with formation of aromatic amines in humic acids.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE OPTIC NERVE

We describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging aspects of normal canine optic nerve, the diameter of the optic nerve as measured on MR images, and optimal MR sequences for the evaluation of the optic nerve using a 0.2 T MR unit. Three millimeter contiguous slides of the normal canine orbital region were acquired in transverse and dorsal oblique planes using a variety of tissue weighting sequences. It was apparent that detailed anatomic assessment of the optic nerve can be performed with low‐field MR imaging, but none of the sequences provided unequivocal superior image quality of the optic nerve. The mean diameter of the optic nerve sheath complex was 3.7 mm and of the optic nerve 1.7 mm. The intraorbital and intracanalicular parts of the optic nerve are consistently visible and differentiation between the optic nerve and optic nerve sheath complex is possible using low‐field MR systems.     

Relationship Among Antimutagenic, Antioxidant and Enzymatic Activities of Methanolic Extract from Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L)

Common beans are rich in phenolic compounds, which can provide health benefits to the consumer. The objective of this work was to study the relationship among antimutagenicity, antioxidant and enzymatic activities of methanolic extract and trolox by principal components multivariate analysis. Antimutagenicity of phenolic compounds present in methanolic extract from the seed coat of common beans (P. vulgaris, Flor de Mayo Bajío cultivar) and trolox against AFB₁ mutagenicity were evaluated in the Salmonella typhimurium microsuspension assay. Antioxidant capacity of methanolic extract and trolox were evaluated using β-carotene and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro model assays. Cythrome P450 activity was measured by fluorometric assay. For phenolic extract, trolox and phenolic extract + trolox, the inhibition on AFB₁ mutagenicity in tester strain TA100 was 47, 59 and 69%, respectively. While in TA98 was 39, 48 and 68%. The inhibition of phenolic compounds, trolox and phenolic compounds + trolox on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) activity was 48, 59 and 88%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that phenolic extract and trolox have high antimutagenic and antioxidant activity and also inhibited enzymatic activity. The results suggest that the primary mechanism of action of phenolic compounds in beans against AFB₁ mutagenicity may be extra-cellular in the microsuspension assay.     

Multiple Squamous Cell Carcinomas Arising from Multiple Cutaneous Follicular Cysts in a Dog

Résumé— Des épithéliomas spinocellulaires se sont développés à partir de kystes folliculaires multiples chez un chien croisé berger Catalan de 6 ans. Le chien est mort après un suivi de 29 mois. Des métastases ont été trouvées dans les poumons et au niveau des métacarpiens 1 et 2 de la patte antérieure gauche. [Multiple squamous cell carcinomas arising from multiple cutaneous follicular cysts in a dog (Épithéliomas spinocel-lalaires multiples se développant à partir de kystes folliculaires multiples chez un chien).
Resumen— Un perro Pastor Catalan desarrolló carcinomas de células planas a partir de multiples quistes foliculares. El perro murió a los 29 meses del seguimiento. Se detectaron carcinomas de células escamosas metástaticos en los pulmones y en los metacarpos I y II de la extremidad izquierda. [Multiple squamous cell carcinomas arising from multiple cutaneous follicular cysts in a dog. (Múltiples carcinomas de células planas surgidos a partir de multiples quised foliculares cutáneo en un perro).
Abstract— Squamous cell carcinomas developed in multiple follicular cysts in a 6-year-old Catalan shepherd cross dog. The dog died after a 29-month follow-up period. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was detected in the lungs and metacarpal bones 1 and 2 of the left front paw.     

ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIOSIS

Canine babesiosis is a tick‐borne disease with a worldwide distribution that can involve multiple organs and result in a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Our goal was to describe the sonographic changes occurring in 72 dogs naturally infected with babesiosis. Seven healthy Beagle dogs were used as a control group. The most common finding in all dogs was splenomegaly with a diffuse heterogenic parenchyma and generally reduced echogenicity. Diffuse hypoechoic hepatomegaly and bilaterally increased cortical echogenicity of the renal parenchyma were found more frequently in severe uncomplicated and complicated babesiosis groups. Mean renal resistive index and pulsatility index (PI) values were 0.66/1.35, 0.73/1.91, and 0.71/1.73 for mild uncomplicated, severe uncomplicated, and complicated babesiosis groups, respectively. A markedly increased PI for complicated and severe uncomplicated groups correlated with anemia and severity of renal damage. Ultrasonography can be an adjunct for diagnosis and monitoring canine babesiosis and its systemic complications. The detection of diffuse heterogeneous splenomegaly can support the diagnosis of Babesia infection, because of the high prevalence of this lesion in these patients.     

DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL WINDOW WIDTH AND LEVEL FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE CANINE PITUITARY GLAND HEIGHT ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES USING A PHANTOM

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal window level and width for accurate measurement of pituitary gland height in a phantom. A phantom, mimicking the appearance of the pituitary gland, was made by using the base of a canine skull immersed in buttermilk. Seven different-sized cylindrical pieces of cheese were made and the real diameter of each sample was measured by using a caliper. The cheese was then placed in the pituitary fossa, and 2-mm thick contiguous computed tomography (CT) slices were acquired. The height of the cheese was measured using electronic calipers with different window width and level (WW-WL) settings. The mean difference between CT and manual caliper measurements and concordance correlation coefficients were calculated for all settings. CT measurements underestimated manual caliper measurements with all settings, but the smallest difference (0.5 mm) was obtained with a 250-80 window. Concordance coefficients ranged from 0.699 to 0.820, with the maximum concordance coefficient obtained with a 250-80 window. A second series of measurements using a different window setting for the brain-pituitary gland edge (WW-WL: 250-80) and for the bone-pituitary gland edge (WW-WL: 250-240) resulted in a reduction in the mean difference (0.1 mm) and an increase in the concordance coefficient (0.836). It was concluded that underestimation of the height of the pituitary gland on CT images is most likely due to erroneous placement of the edge of the basisphenoid bone using a low level and a narrow window.