A BOOST TECHNIQUE FOR IRRADIATION OF MALIGNANT CANINE NASAL TUMORS

Eighteen dogs with malignant nasal cavity tumors were treated with radiation therapy, including a boost technique. Three 3:0 Gy boost doses were added to a treatment protocol consisting of sixteen 3.0 Gy daily fractions, bringing the total dose to 57 Gy. This boost technique was implemented without an associated increase in overall treatment time by giving the boost doses on a twice-a-day basis. Boost doses were given during the first half of the radiation therapy period. The treatment was completed as planned in 16 of the 18 dogs; two dogs received lower doses (51 and 54 Gy). Median survival was 177 days, poorer than in some other reported studies of nasal tumor irradiation. Acute effects were unacceptable, with 11 of the 18 dogs developing severe mucositis, desquamation, edema, swelling, and pruritus. The extensive nature of the acute reactions compromised assessment of the effect of the increased radiation dose on the tumor. Although there is justification for assessing more aggressive radiation protocols in canine nasal tumor patients, total doses approximating 60 Gy can not be given as described because of the inability of acutely responding normal tissues to compensate.     

Preliminary results of using in vitro axillary and adventitious buds in mutation breeding of Chinese gooseberry

Summary Aseptically cultured shoots of Chinese gooseberry exhibited growth disorder and morphological aberrances, and some died after being exposed to sufficient gamma-ray irradiation. The death rate was dose dependant and the LD₅₀ was 80–90 Gy and 50–60 Gy respectively for cv. Hayward and clone 4. All petiole explants irradiated with gamma-ray could form calli as the control, but the rate of differentiation of adventitious shoots of the petiole explants decreased and was dependant on dose. Sensitivity of the shoot or petiole explants to gamma-ray irradiation varied with species. Gamma-ray irradiation did not deter either the 2-node segments from producing axillary shoots M₁, M₂, and M₃ or the advantitious shoots originating in the petiole explants and the M₃ shoots from forming advantitious roots. Therefore, using aseptically cultured axillary or adventitious buds for mutation breeding of Chinese gooseberry is feasible. A bacterium surviving in the explants lessened the efficiency of these two in vitro techniques in mutation breeding of Chinese gooseberry.Abbreviations IAA 3-indole acetic acid - IBA -indole butyric acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962)     

Vitamin C in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) flower buds as affected by postharvest light,UV-B irradiation and temperature

In this study, the changes in vitamin C, l-ascorbic acid (AA) and l-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) levels in broccoli flower buds were examined during pre-storage and storage periods, simulating refrigerated transport with wholesale distribution and retail, respectively. Broccoli heads were pre-stored for 4 or 7 days at 0 °C or 4 °C in the dark and then stored for 3 days at 10 °C or 18 °C. During storage the broccoli heads were exposed for 12 h per day to three different levels of visible light (13, 19 or 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) or a combination of visible light (19 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and UV-B irradiation (20 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹), or they were stored in the dark. The vitamin C content in broccoli flower buds during storage was significantly affected by pre-storage period and temperature. Higher vitamin C levels in flower buds after storage were observed for broccoli heads pre-stored for 4 days or at 0 °C as compared to those pre-stored for 7 days or at 4 °C. Storage temperature also affected vitamin C in broccoli flower buds, with higher levels observed for broccoli stored at 10 °C than at 18 °C. Hence, vitamin C in broccoli flower buds was demonstrated to decrease together with increasing pre-storage period, pre-storage temperature and storage temperature. AA in broccoli flower buds was influenced mainly by storage temperature and to a minor extent by pre-storage temperature. The DHA level and DHA/AA ratio were stable in flower buds of broccoli pre-stored for 7 days, whereas increasing tendencies for both DHA level and ratio were observed after pre-storage for 4 days. These results indicate a shift in the ascorbate metabolism in broccoli flower buds during storage at low temperatures, with its higher rate observed for broccoli pre-stored for shorter time. There were no effects of the light and UV-B irradiation treatments on vitamin C, AA and DHA levels in broccoli flower buds.     

Cytokine profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with cystic echinococcosis

IntroductionCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), which affects domestic and wild carnivores as the definitive host and ungulates as intermediate hosts. In intermediate hosts, both Th1 and Th2 cells are involved in the immune responses to an echinoccocal infection. This study aimed to investigate production of IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CE patients before and after surgical treatment.MethodsTo evaluate cytokine production in response to E. granulosus antigens, we investigated IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ production in PBMCs of 20 CE patients in response to hydatid cyst fluid antigen (HCF-Ag) before and after surgical treatment using ELISA.ResultsThe mean IL-4 production from HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while IFN-γ was significantly increased in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs in patients after surgery (p = 0.005).Furthermore, our results showed that there is no significant difference between IL-10 production in patients before and after treatment (p = 0.562).ConclusionsOur data Indicated production of IL-4 in cultured PBMCs of CE patients stimulated with HCF-Ag was decreased significantly. While, production of IFN-γ was increased significantly in responses to HCF Ag after surgery. We concluded that the evaluation of IL-4 and IFN-γ in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs of CE patients should be considered as a useful marker in the follow up of patients with cystic echinococcosis.     

小菜蛾响应60Co-γ辐照的实验室种群生命表

为明确⁶⁰Co-γ亚不育剂量辐照对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella种群数量动态变化的影响,构建小菜蛾种群动态变化模型,在实验室条件下通过建立小菜蛾生命表获得种群特征参数、个体生理指标,预测亚不育剂量辐照对小菜蛾种群的影响。结果显示,亚不育剂量辐照组的羽化率显著高于完全不育剂量组,与空白对照组无显著差异,各处理羽化率无性别差异,亚不育剂量辐照组F1代孵化率显著低于空白对照组。亚不育剂量辐照组种群各阶段发育历期、存活率及繁殖力生命指标低于空白对照组。小菜蛾亚不育剂量辐照组世代平均历期(19.90 d)、世代净生殖率(2.35)、周限增长率(1.04 d-1)、内禀增长率(0.04 d-1)均低于空白对照组,而种群加倍时间(16.16 d)高于空白对照组。空白对照组世代平均历期、每日单雌产卵量与产卵时间均长于亚不育剂量辐照组。辐照组与对照组种群生命表参数对比,表明亚不育剂量降低了小菜蛾种群世代数和幼虫期的个体存活率,使F1代雌虫个体数减少。     

牛磺酸、γ-氨基丁酸对鲫抗缺氧能力的影响

研究牛磺酸、γ-氨基丁酸对鲫抗缺氧能力的影响,结果表明质量分数5‰、7‰牛磺酸水溶液对鲫抗缺氧能力有显著(P<0.05)和极显著作用(P<0.01),质量分数3‰γ-氨基丁酸水溶液对鲫抗缺氧有显著作用(P<0.05)。实验证明,γ-氨基丁酸、牛磺酸均可提高鲫的抗缺氧能力。     

抗氧化剂及壳聚糖对减轻辐照猪肉异味的影响

将茶多酚、芝麻酚、壳聚糖单独以干粉或溶液的形式与猪肉混合均匀,经辐照后低温4℃±1℃冷藏,研究抗氧化剂对辐照异味的影响。结果表明,添加茶多酚和芝麻酚干粉对减轻猪肉辐照异味有一定的作用,但添加不匀易造成局部变色或其他附带味道;添加中高浓度茶多酚和芝麻酚溶液在贮藏前期辐照味较轻,贮藏后期出现难闻的气味,茶多酚和芝麻酚减轻异味最佳浓度为0.01%。     

N+离子注入对不同小麦品种同工酶的影响

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,研究了培养4 d的小麦种子(周16、豫麦49号)离子注入前后,根和幼叶中POD同工酶的变化。结果表明:离子注入可引起不同的小麦品种、同一品种的不同器官POD同工酶的酶带与酶活性的不同变化。对周16来讲,离子注入对根的影响比较显著;对于豫麦49号而言,离子注入对根和幼叶都有影响,但对幼叶的影响稍大一些。