Histologic characteristics and local cellular immunity of the gland of the third eyelid after topical ophthalmic administration of 2% cyclosporine for treatment of dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical administration of a 2% solution of cyclosporine (CsA) for treatment of dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and to correlate results with histopathologic characteristics and local cellular immunity of the gland of the third eyelid. ANIMALS: 24 dogs with bilateral KCS. PROCEDURE: Lacrimal secretion was measured, using Schirmer tear test (STT) strips. Leukocyte and T-lymphocyte subsets were determined in blood samples. Histopathologic changes as well as CD4+, CD8+, and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase-positive (ANAE+) lymphocytes were evaluated. RESULTS: Clinical signs resolved at the end of 1 month in conjunction with significantly increased STT values, compared with baseline values. Fifteen and 30 days after discontinuation of CsA treatment, a decrease was observed in STT values in both eyes; however, only values for the right eye were significantly different. There was a significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes and ANAE+ lymphocytes 15 and 30 days after discontinuation of CsA treatment, compared with baseline values. Differences were not observed in number of CD4+ lymphocytes among treatment groups. However, there was a significant decrease in number of CD8+ lymphocytes with reversal of the CD4+:CD8+ in both eyes after CsA treatment for 30 days, compared with the control group. Increased secretory activity and decreased lymphocyte infiltration were characteristic histopathologic findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Topical administration of a 2% solution of CsA was effective for the treatment of dogs with KCS. Strict follow-up monitoring is required after the cessation of treatment because of the possibility of recurrence of KCS.     

Effects of short period frequent milking on milk yield and udder health in Turkish Saanen goats

The major purpose of this study was to investigate whether increasing milking frequency for a short period (21 days) increases milk yield and milk components and improves udder health throughout lactation in Turkish Saanen goats. Two groups were formed (control, n = 14, treatment, n = 14); balanced by parity, bodyweight and birth type to make them homogenous. Feeding and management practices were the same for both groups. The treatment group was milked four times a day (4×) for 21 days after weaning whereas the control group was milked twice a day (2×). All the animals were milked twice daily thereafter. The pyronin methyl green stain method was used to estimate the somatic cell count (SCC), which is an indication of udder health. This method provided a count that excluded RNA and background noise while including cells with DNA. Repeated measures analyses indicated that overall differences between the 2× and 4× groups were significant for the morning, evening and total test day milk yields, in that values for the 4× group were increased 14.7, 8.8 and 12.1%, respectively. Differences between the groups for SCC were not significant. The results of this study indicate that increasing milking frequency to 4×, even for a short time (21 days), increases overall milk yield throughout lactation in dairy goats.     

Effects of Seedbed Density on One-Year-Old <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fraxinus angustifolia</Emphasis> Seedling Characteristics and Outplanting Performance

To assess the effects of seedling spacing on one-year-old seedling morphology in the nursery, seeds of three provenances of Fraxinus angustifolia were sown at five different seedling spacings within rows of two different spacings in the seedbed. Subsequent growth performance of one-year-old seedlings was assessed by planting in the forest. Within row spacings were: 4.3, 5.0, 6.3, 8.3, and 12.5 cm, and there were five rows at 20 cm apart, or three rows at 33 cm apart across the 1.2 m wide seedbeds. Both spacings within and between rows significantly affected shoot height, root collar diameter, root dry weight and shoot dry weight, but not root/shoot ratio. Wider spacings produced larger seedlings, but only the wider spacing within rows significantly increased fine and coarse root mass. Provenances showed significant differences in diameter, root/shoot ratio, and fine and coarse roots, and they also showed interactions with row spacings in height and diameter measurements. One year after outplanting, diameter growth was significantly related to provenance, and diameter growth was 88% greater for trees from 33 cm nursery row spacing than those from 20 cm nursery row spacing.     

Effect of altitude on the composition of suberin monomers in the outer bark of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

The changes in the amount and composition of suberin monomers of Scots pine outer bark, which is grown natively in Turkey, was investigated as a function of growing altitude. Samples were taken from every 100 m to 1300 m which was the highest point of the sampling area. While the total amount of suberin monomers is varied within the range 17.56-47.20 mg/g, there was no correlation between total amount and altitude. Total amount of alkanols of suberin monomers decreased when the altitude increased. Alcohol 24:0 was seen as the dominant constituent and its amount decreased from 100 m to 1300 m. There was not a clear change in the total amount of alkanoic, dioic and hydroxy acids. Acid 1,18-hydroxy-18:1 and acid 1,18-dioic-18:1 were determined as the main compounds in all samples.     

Effects of anthropogenic activities on the Lower Sakarya River

We investigate the effects of anthropogenic activities on the Lower Sakarya River. The impacts of dam, levee, and bridge constructions, sand-gravel mining activities and water withdrawals during the industrialization period of the Sakarya River Basin have been explored by analyzing flow, sediment and channel cross section data from different periods in time by comparing pre- and post-1975 periods. The year 1975 is roughly determined to be commencement of heavy human activities. Assessment of data shows that average annual flow is reduced by almost 20% after 1975. Due to increased regulations after 1975 flow became less variable, i.e. low-flows are increased and high-flows are reduced. Flow showed less variation with seasons during the post-1975 period compared to the pre-1975 period. Close inspection of precipitation and temperature patterns over the course of this period indicates that these changes in the flow regime cannot be attributed to natural causes and must be instigated by anthropogenic activities. Analyses of sediment data point toward a consistent reduction in sediment concentration and loadings with years in the Lower Sakarya River. Sediment rating curves developed for pre- and post-1975 exhibit a similar pattern. The impact of the anthropogenic activities on the river cross section is also examined by employing data from 1965, 2003 and 2006 at various points along the river profile. We found as much as 1 m aggradation at the thalweg elevation along the river profile starting from the river mouth up to the 12th km. Degradation in thalweg elevation is observed upstream of the 12th km, as much as 7 m at some locations. This research clearly undermines how human activities can alter the river hydrology and morphology. The adverse impacts of these modifications on the stream ecology in the Lower Sakarya River unfortunately remain unresolved.     

The morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia in Holstein cattle

This study was carried out to describe morphologically and morphometrically the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia, using heads of 20 adult Holstein cattle of both sexes. The dorsal root of the hypoglossal nerve (XII) has always an evident dorsal root ganglion (DRG) including the accessory in 30% (6 of heads) or satellite ganglia in 10% (2 of heads). There were statistically significant differences between the lengths (right: 8.64+/-0.22 mm, left: 7.91+/-0.31 mm, p<0.01) of peripheral roots of the DRG in male. Statistical significance existed in the lengths (right: 7.01+/-0.43, left: 8.27+/-0.47, p<0.05) of the central roots of the DRG in male. Since the histological findings showed that each ganglion placed on the dorsal root of the XII had the general feature of a spinal ganglion, it can be said that the XII has the intracranial peripheral (sensory) fibers and carry directly sensory input to the brain stem. In conclusion, the present study is the first to reveal the morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root with ganglia in Holstein cattle.     

A study of peripheral blood in hedgehogs in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine diameters of blood cells, differential counts of peripheral blood leukocytes, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), acid phosphatase (ACP-ase) activity of some leukocyte types, and enzymatic positivity percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes in two hedgehogs species, Hemiechinus auritus, the long-eared hedgehog, and Erinaceus concolor, the southern white-breasted hedgehog. Air-dried peripheral blood smears were stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain. ANAE and ACP-ase were stained in glutaraldehyde-acetone-fixed smears. ANAE-positive lymphocytes displayed a dot-like positivity pattern characterized with 1-5 reddish brown cytoplasmic granules, whereas ACP-ase positive lymphocytes displayed a dot-like positivity pattern characterized with 1-3 pinkish cytoplasmic granules. Monocytes gave a diffuse and strong reaction while neutrophils displayed a weak positive reaction for ANAE and ACP-ase. No difference was observed in mean diameters of peripheral blood cells of these species. It was found that lymphocytes made up the majority (64.3% and 65.5%) of leukocytes, followed by neutrophils (23.9% and 23.3%), eosinophils (9.0% and 7.6%), monocytes (1.8% and 2.3%), and basophils (1.0% and 1.3%) in H. auritus and E. concolor, respectively. Mean ANAE positivity oflymphocytes was 36.6% and 51.3% and ACP-ase positivity was 32.1% and 37.5% for H. auritus and E. concolor, respectively. The ANAE positivity of lymphocytes in E. concolor was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of H. auritus.