D-Dimer Improves the Prognostic Value of Combined Clinical and Laboratory Data in Equine Gastrointestinal Colic

The discriminating ability of 15 parameters alone or in combinations, including results from analysis of plasma endotoxin, the Nycomed plasma D-Dimer test and phospholipase A₂, were analyzed to predict morbidity and mortality in equine gastrointestinal colic. Endotoxaemia was a characteristic feature of the colic horses. The problem of adequately predicting non-survivors among colic horses required several parameters to be included in the logistic model: if the “classical parameters”, (heart rate, respiratory rate, PCV, anion gap) were included in the model, addition of plasma D-dimer, phospholipase A₂, and Cl^- significantly improved the predictive value of the logistic model. Increasing heart rate and D-dimer together with decreasing chloride was a risk factor for nonsurvival. The sensitivity of this three-parameter logistic model to predict nonsurvival was 78% and specificity 77%. The Nycomed D-Dimer test is recommended as a horse-site test to predict disseminated intravascular coagulation and nonsurvival in equine colic.     

Adhesion of bone marrow stromal cell in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

AIM and METHOD: The adhesion behavior of bone marrow stromal cells(BMSC) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) to bone marrow mononuclear cells(BMMC) and Raji cells were investigated by MTT method. The expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The adhesion ability of BMSC in acute period of ALL to BMMC was lower than that of control group. The adhesion ability of BMSC in long term remission period of ALL to Raji cells higher than that of control group. The expression of ICAM-1 on the surface of BMSC in acute period of ALL is much lower than that of control group. CONCLUSIONS: The adhesion of BMSC to BMMC or tumor cells in children with ALL was abnormal. The abnormal adhesion behavior might be partially due to the changed expression of adhesion molecules on BMSC.     

四种新烟碱类杀虫剂对蜜蜂的急性毒性及初级风险评估

采用饲喂管法和点滴法,分别测定了吡虫啉、噻虫嗪、噻虫胺、啶虫脒4种原药及其制剂对意大利蜜蜂成年工蜂的急性毒性,并采用危害商值(HQ)法进行了初级风险评价。结果表明:饲喂管法测得97.3%吡虫啉原药、25%吡虫啉可湿性粉剂、96%噻虫嗪原药、30%噻虫嗪悬浮剂、97%噻虫胺原药、5%噻虫胺可湿性粉剂、96%啶虫脒原药及40%啶虫脒可溶性粉剂的经口毒性48 hLD50值分别为有效成分8.04×10-3、9.46×10-3、7.04×10-3、4.64×10-3、11.8×10-3、5.25×10-3、5.22和6.31μg/蜂;点滴法测得各药剂的接触毒性48 h-LD50值分别为有效成分2.46×10-2、1.33×10-2、3.63×10-2、9.27×10-3、1.52×10-2、2.21×10-2、5.82和5.07μg/蜂。按《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》的毒性等级划分标准,啶虫脒原药及其可溶性粉剂对蜜蜂的急性毒性均为中等毒,其他6种药剂对蜜蜂的急性毒性均为高毒;根据危害商值(HQ),啶虫脒对蜜蜂为低风险,吡虫啉、噻虫嗪和噻虫胺对蜜蜂均存在高风险。     

儿茶素的药理作用研究综述

目的研究表儿茶素(EC)对小鼠急性肺损伤(ALI)炎症反应的调节作用。方法采用吸入式气管滴注法在BALB/c小鼠中建立ALI模型,H8LE染色观察肺组织病理学变化,并结合基于超高效液相色谱与四极杆—飞行时间质谱联用技术(HILIC UHPLC-Q-TOF MS)的非靶向代谢组学方法对小鼠肺组织进行研究。结果对比空白对照组,LPS处理后的小鼠肺组织发生严重的炎症变化,而EC预处理组炎症现象比LPS组轻。经肺组织代谢轮廓分析发现：二十羟基花生四烯酸、色氨酸、苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸、ATP、磷酸胆碱、二十碳四烯酸、磷酸、烯醇和二磷酸葡萄糖等差异物与小鼠急性肺损伤内源性代谢密切相关,且涉及甘油酯代谢、糖酵解、甘油磷脂代谢、苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸和色氨酸生物合成、抗坏血酸代谢和胆碱代谢等6条代谢路径。结论运用代谢组学方法探讨了EC干预小鼠ALI的差异代谢物变化情况,为表儿茶素抗炎特性的研究提供了理论依据。     

Setaria digitata was the main cause of equine neurological ataxia in Korea: 50 cases (2015–2016)

This study was performed to examine and clarify the cause of hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy seen in the South Korean horse population. Fifty horses diagnosed with hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy were referred for this study. Neurological examination was performed on 47 horses while necropsy was performed in all 50 animals. The occurrence of neurological diseases increased rapidly in the summer and 47 out of 50 horses were referred after the end of July. The incidence of neurological diseases started from the southern part of Korea in July and proceeded northward in August and September. Although there was no correlation with age, Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses showed a higher incidence rate than Halla and Jeju horses. The incidence rate was 5 times higher in geldings than in mares and stallions. Of the 20 cases, 16 were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis in 2015. The most common lesions observed in 2016 were parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis (10 cases, 33%) and eosinophilic meningomyelitis (7 cases, 23%). Histopathological analysis of the brain and spinal cord revealed nematodes of approximately 100–200 µm in diameter, microcavitation and infiltrates of eosinophils, and brown pigmented macrophage infiltrates. The nematodes were identified as Setaria digitata via DNA sequencing, performed subsequent to polymerase chain reaction using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the spinal cord. These results show that aberrant migration of Setaria digitata larva in the brain and spinal cord was a major cause for neurological signs in horses.     

Assessment of interactions between glutamine and glucose on meat quality,AMPK, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of broilers under acute heat stress

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine and glucose on pectoralis major meat quality in broilers under acute heat stress. Three hundred 35-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Broilers in the positive control group were kept in a thermoneutral environment (23 ± 1°C, RH 45%–55%) and fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental (2 × 2) group was exposed to acute heat stress (34 ± 1°C, RH 65%–75%) for 12 h and fed the basic diet that contained glutamine (0 and 10 g/kg) and glucose (0 and 10 g/kg). Compared with the positive control group, acute heat stress without glutamine and glucose supplementation increased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations, but it decreased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of chickens. However, dietary glutamine (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations, while it decreased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations in heat-stressed chicken pectoralis major meat. Dietary glucose (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, and a* and b* values, while it decreased (P < 0.05) L* values and AMPK concentrations of pectoralis major meat in chickens exposed to acute high temperature. There were significant interactions between glutamine and glucose in the water-holding capacity, pH values, AMPK, and glutamine levels of pectoralis major meat in the heat-stressed chickens. The above results suggest that the addition of glutamine and glucose in the diet is necessary for broilers during acute heat stress condition.     

Acute oral toxicity of zinc phosphide: an assessment for wild house mice (Mus musculus)

Irregular plagues of house mice, Mus musculus, incur major economic impacts on agricultural production in Australia. The efficacy of zinc phosphide (ZnP), the only registered broadacre control agent for mice, is reported as increasingly variable. Have mice become less sensitive over time or are they taking a sub-lethal dose and developing aversion? In this laboratory study, the sensitivity of mice (wild caught; outbred laboratory strain) was assessed using oral gavage of a range of ZnP concentrations. The estimated LD₅₀ values (72–79 mg ZnP/kg body weight) were similar for each mouse group but are significantly higher than previously reported. The willingness of mice to consume ZnP-coated grains was determined. ZnP-coated grains (50 g ZnP/kg grain) presented in the absence of alternative food were consumed and 94% of wild mice died. Mice provided with alternative food and ZnP-coated wheat grains (either 25 or 50 g ZnP/kg grain) consumed toxic and non-toxic grains, and mortality was lower (33–55%). If a sublethal amount of ZnP-coated grain was consumed, aversion occurred, mostly when alternative food was present. The sensitivity of wild house mice to ZnP in Australia is significantly lower than previously assumed. Under laboratory conditions, ZnP-coated grains coated with a new higher dose (50 g ZnP/kg grain) were readily consumed. Consumption of toxic grain occurred when alternative food was available but was decreased. Our unambiguous findings for house mice indicate a re-assessment of the ZnP loading for baits used for control of many rodents around the world may be warranted.     

Impact of Honey Bee Migratory Management on Pathogen Loads and Immune Gene Expression is Affected by Complex Interactions With Environment,Worker Life History,and Season

The effects of honey bee management, such as intensive migratory beekeeping, are part of the ongoing debate concerning causes of colony health problems. Even though comparisons of disease and pathogen loads among differently managed colonies indicate some effects, the direct impact of migratory practices on honey bee pathogens is poorly understood. To test long- and short-term impacts of managed migration on pathogen loads and immunity, experimental honey bee colonies were maintained with or without migratory movement. Individuals that experienced migration as juveniles (e.g., larval and pupal development), as adults, or both were compared to control colonies that remained stationary and therefore did not experience migratory relocation. Samples at different ages and life-history stages (hive bees or foragers), taken at the beginning and end of the active season, were analyzed for pathogen loads and physiological markers of health. Bees exposed to migratory management during adulthood had increased levels of the AKI virus complex (Acute bee paralysis, Kashmir bee, and Israeli acute bee paralysis viruses) and decreased levels of antiviral gene expression (dicer-like). However, those in stationary management as adults had elevated gut parasites (i.e. trypanosomes). Effects of environment during juvenile development were more complex and interacted with life-history stage and season. Age at collection, life-history stage, and season all influenced numerous factors from viral load to immune gene expression. Although the factors that we examined are not independent, the results illuminate potential factors in both migratory and nonmigratory beekeeping that are likely to contribute to colony stress, and also indicate potential mitigation measures.