Sentinel lymph node mapping with computed tomography lymphography for mast cell tumours and a comparison between regional and sentinel lymph node histological status: Sixty-two cases

It is known that the regional lymph node (RLN) may not correspond to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) (the first lymph node draining the tumour), and many diagnostic techniques have recently been aimed at its detection. Although lymphoscintigraphy is the gold standard in both human and veterinary medicine for SLN mapping, it is relatively unavailable in veterinary medicine due to costs and difficult management of the radiotracer. This prospective study evaluated, as a first aim, the feasibility and sensitivity of the computed tomography lymphography (CTL) in detecting the SLN in 62 mast cell tumours (MCTs). The second aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the CTL in identifying the most representative lymph node of the patient's lymphatic status; the histological status of the SNL was compared with that of the RLN, to see in how many cases the patient's stage would have changed according to the RLN. When the RLN turned out to be also the SLN it was decided to excise, as a control LN, the one localised in the neighbourhood of the MCT (neighbouring lymph node; NLN). The detection rate was 90%, with failure of SLN identification in six cases. In 18 (32%) of 56 MCTs with a diagnostic CTL, the SLN did not correspond to the RLN. Forty-five MCTs were surgically removed, together with their corresponding SLN and RLN/NLN. Since the clinical stage of the patient would have changed in only 7% of cases, CTL is a reliable method of detecting the SLN and, for staging purposes, there is no need to remove other LNs.     

Fish aggregating devices in the eastern tropical Pacific marine corridor,according to the Colombian Fisheries Observer Program

1. Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are floating objects that facilitate the aggregation of fish; those that aggregate pelagic species such as tunas are of particular interest for artisanal and industrial fisheries.
2. Due to the increasing use of these devices worldwide, bodies responsible for the administration and management of fishery resources have proposed control and surveillance activities focused on the use of such devices. To achieve this, it is essential to have access to quality information, which is usually obtained through on-board observer programmes such as the Colombian Fisheries Observer Program.
3. Based on the historical records of this programme, and for the first time, the spatial–temporal distribution of the FADs in the eastern tropical sector of the Eastern Pacific Ocean is presented, analysing 166 records of tuna fishing operations carried out between 2009 and 2015. Of the 2,328 sets identified in the records, 957 corresponded to sets on FADs, of which 80.56% were effective and caught 12,246 tons of tuna.
4. The number of sets of FADs increased over time, representing approximately 86.9% of the sets recorded in 2015, compared to 4.8% of this type of set recorded in 2009, with the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor being the area of greatest concentration of sets.
5. Considering that the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor was designed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, this study highlights the need to include as a research priority, the potential effect that aggregation devices may have on the biological connectivity processes present in the corridor, as well as on the dynamics of large pelagic fish populations of commercial interest.
6. In terms of management of FADs, it is recommended that a precautionary approach be adopted and that regulations related to the maximum number of FADs per vessel be adjusted according to their Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission class, in addition to assigning a maximum number of sets per vessel.

     

Seco-Taondiol,an Unusual Meroterpenoid from the Chilean Seaweed Stypopodium flabelliforme and Its Gastroprotective Effect in Mouse Model

Ten known meroterpenoids and the new meroterpenoid 7 were isolated from the Chilean seaweed Stypopodium flabelliforme as their acetylated derivatives. Furthermore, the known metabolite taondiol has been isolated for the first time from this species. The molecular structure of the new metabolite was determined by spectroscopic methods based on 1D- and 2D-NMR. Isolation of 7 represents a key step toward a better understanding of the biogenesis of this class of meroterpenoids. Among the meroditerpenoids isolated, stypodiol, isoepitaondiol, epitaondiol and sargaol exhibited gastroprotective activity on the HCl/Ethanol-induced gastric lesions model in mice. Regarding the mode of gastroprotective action, the activity of epitaondiol was reversed significantly when animals were pretreated with indomethacin, N-ethylmaleimide and N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) suggesting that prostaglandins, sulfhydryl groups and nitric oxide are involved in their mode of gastroprotective action. In the case of sargaol the gastroprotective activity was attenuated with indomethacin and N-ethylmaleimide, which suggests that prostaglandins and sulfhydryl groups are also involved in the mode of action using this model.     

Incidence and risk factors for ketosis in grazing dairy cattle in the Cundi-Boyacencian Andean plateau,Colombia

Ketosis is a metabolic disorder that has an important impact on health and productivity in dairy cattle during early lactation. In Colombia, the incidence and risk factors for ketosis development have not been studied. The objectives of the present study were to determine the incidence of subclinical (SCK) and clinical ketosis (CK) and to determine the risk factors associated with ketosis within the first 6 weeks of lactation in dairy cattle in Colombia. A prospective cohort study was carried out. A convenience sample of 150 lactating dairy cows from ten commercial dairy farms in the Cundi-Boyacencian Andean plateau were tested weekly using a point of care device to measure β-hydroxybutyrate during the first 6 weeks of lactation. Incidence of SCK and CK was calculated. Risk factors were evaluated using a survey for each animal and for each farm. Potential risk factors were evaluated using a X² test, Relative Risk was calculated for significant variables by the X² test (P?≤?0.05) and these variables were included in the logistic regression model. Cumulative incidence of SCK was 25.33%, 3.33% for CK, and overall incidence of ketosis was 26%. In the logistic regression model, parity 3 or more, herd size >?150 animals, body condition score ≥?3, retained placenta, and metritis were determined as risk factors for ketosis. The results of this study confirm previous reports in which a high body condition score, increased parity, herd size, retained placenta, and metritis are associated with an increased risk of ketosis in stabled and grazing cattle.