PULMONARY MINERALIZATION IN FOUR DOGS WITH CUSHING'S SYNDROME

The clinical and imaging features of four dogs with Cushing's syndrome and pulmonary mineralization are reviewed. Three dogs presented with a primary complaint of respiratory distress/dyspnea. Three dogs had pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome, while the remaining one dog had iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. Each dog had clinical features typical for Cushing's syndrome. Two of the dogs were euthanized due to progressive hypoxemia. In each dog, the serum calcium, phosphorous, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were normal.
A generalized increase in unstructured interstitial pulmonary opacity with diffuse mineralization was noted on thoracic radiographs of all dogs. In one dog, an ill-defined nodular interstitial pattern of mineralization was present. Delayed bone phase scintigraphy using ^99mTechnetium methylene diphosphonate documented generalized pulmonary uptake in two dogs. ^99mTechnetium labeled microaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans were normal in these two dogs. ^99mTc-MDP scintigraphy can provide useful information in diagnosing pulmonary mineralization in Cushingoid dogs.     

流行性出血热病毒气溶胶感染乳鼠的免疫病理学研究

采用免疫组化ＢＡ法，对流行性出血热病毒（ＥＨＦＶ）气溶胶感染乳鼠脏器组织中的病毒动态分布进行了观察，并对其抗体消长进行了测定。结果表明：①ＢＡ法为病理诊断ＥＨＦＶ感染提供了一种准确的手段；②ＥＨＦＶ可通过气溶胶途径感染乳小鼠，乳小鼠感染ＥＨＦＶ的ＬＤ５０值可作为环境浓度的参考值；③ＥＨＦＶ气溶胶途径感染乳鼠后，４ｈ即可在心、肺，１ｄ在嗅球部检出，并可在其组织细胞中增殖，经血循、嗅神经、单核巨噬细胞系统等多途径扩散，造成多组织脏器的泛发性感染。感染后１２～１４ｄ，病毒检出率和病毒量均达峰值。动物自身免疫系统对ＥＨＦＶ有一定的清除能力；④感染乳鼠脑、肺、肾等脏器组织的病变与人类感染ＥＨＦＶ的病变有一定的相似性，提示可作为人ＥＨＦＶ的模型动物；⑤抗原检出率高于抗体检出率，ＥＬＩＳＡ法检出率高于ＩＦＡ法检出率。     

Recent studies on the enterotropic strain of avian infectious bronchitis virus

Avian infectious bronchitis (AIB) is an economically important disease of chickens. Recent studies have revealed enterotropism by at least one strain of AIB virus with pathological lesions in parts of the gut. This review highlights the findings of the studies so far made on this enterotropic strain of AIB virus.     

禽白血病病毒J亚群(ALV-J)的攻毒试验

将禽白血病病毒 J亚群 (AL V- J)内蒙株 NM876 1和 NM9996人工接种于 1日龄爱维茵肉种鸡 ,通过眼观、病理组织学检查观察了攻毒鸡的病理学特征 ;通过 PCR和 EL ISA技术检测了病毒感染率、抗体变化规律以及病毒和抗体的相关性。结果显示 ,攻毒鸡从第 3周开始即可检出病毒 ,NM876 1株和 NM9996株病毒感染率分别为 71.4 %和6 4 .3% ;从第 5周开始 ,出现较明显的病理学变化 ,病变特征以骨髓、肝脏、心脏、脾、卵巢等组织内髓细胞增生为主 ,而法氏囊、脑、坐骨神经无变化 ;攻毒鸡抗体消长变化有一定的规律 ,一般在 7～ 8周龄和 18～ 2 0周龄时分别出现 1次高峰 ,而在 4～ 6周龄、10周龄和 2 3周龄分别出现 1次低谷 ,提示鸡场进行 EL ISA检测时要避开这一时期 ;攻毒鸡产生耐受性病毒血症 ,即病毒阳性而抗体阴性 (V A- )的比例较高 (7/14 ,9/14 )。通过以上的研究证明 ,AL V- J内蒙株疾病模型复制成功 ,NM876 1、NM9996可作为原型株进行相关研究     

The influence of fasting on blood glucose,triglycerides, cholesterol,and alkaline phosphatase in rats

Serum concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were measured over different periods of time of food deprivation in male rats. Thirty percent of non-fasted rat's sera was found to be lipemic. At 16 hours of fasting, glucose levels dropped by 30% compared to the level of the non-fasting control group, and remained at a relatively constant level for up to 48 hours of fasting. Triglyceride concentrations decreased at 16 hours after fasting. Serum cholesterol levels were not changed at any of the fasting periods compared to the non-fasted control group. Alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased at 8 hours of fasting, with further declines in activity of the serum enzyme seen at 16, 24, and 48 hours of fasting. It was concluded that at 16 to 18 hours fasting, a non-absorptive state had been reached in male rats.     

The application of atomic force microscope in clinic diagnosis of erythrocytes

AIM: To investigate the application of atomic force microscope (AFM) in clinic diagnosis. METHODS: Topographic images and some parameters of large range field and microstructures of erythrocytes in the blood of normal subjects, lung cancer and myelodisplastic syndrome (MDS) patients were examined by atomic force microscope. RESULTS: Many clear topographic images of many erythrocytes, single erythrocyte, and microstructure of erythrocyte membrane surface were obtained. Many erythrocytes in lung cancer patients were found to change into echinocytes. One erythrocyte had 10-20 protuberances, most of which, with a mean width of 589. 0 nm and a length of 646. 7 nm, were on the edge of cells. The protuberances on the center of echinocytes are lodged and embedded. The erythrocytes of MDS patients were biconcave in shape. Many apertures with different diameters of tens to hundreds nanometer appeared on the surface of cell membrane. CONCLUSIONS: AFM can be widely applied in clinic pathological inspection, including quantification of cells, obtainment and comparison of many parameters (such as diameter, thickness, volume, surface, surface area/volume ratio), observation of topograph of single cell, and observation and comparison of membrane surface microstructure of cells, and so on.     

Effect of cilazapril on pulmonary vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypoxic rats

AIM:To study the effect of cilazapril on pulmonary vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypoxic rats. METHODS:The structure and function of endothelium in hypoxic rats were studied by biochemical analysis, radioimmunoassay, transmission electron microscope and correlated with hemodynamic. RESULTS:1) The change and damage of ultrastructure in endothelial cell (EC) were obsevered in hypoxic rats. 2) The contents of plasma nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in blood as well as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in the lung tissue were significantly lower in the hypoxic rat than those in contral animals. The concentrations of plasma endothelin-1(ET-1) and angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) as well as malondialdehyde(MDA) were significantly higher in the hypoxic rat than these in contral animals. The relaxing and contracting factors had a significant positive/negative correlation with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP). 3) Cilazapril significantly decreased the level of ET-1 and ACE and significantly increased the level of NO and activity of eNOS and SOD. At the same time, cilazapril extenuated hypoxia-induced injuries of EC. CONCLUSION:The results indicate that damaging structure and dysfunction of EC existes in hypoxic rats. The cilazapril effectively preventes and treates the chronic hypoxic PH by relieving the injury and improving secretion in EC.     

Pathogenicity and Virulence of the Two Dutch VCGs of Verticillium dahliae to Woody Ornamentals

Two experiments were performed in two consecutive years to test whether isolates of different vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) differ in their ability to cause disease in woody ornamentals, to study the host specificity of the isolates and to get an insight into disease development in woody hosts. A range of woody ornamental plant species, including Acer campestre, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Catalpa bignonioides, Cotinus coggygria, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa canina, Syringa vulgaris and Tilia cordata, were root-dip inoculated with six isolates of Verticillium dahliae, belonging to the two VCGs that occur in the Netherlands (VCG NL-1 and VCG NL-2). Isolates belonging to each VCG caused severe symptoms of verticillium wilt in most plant species tested. Disease progress differed between plant species, but was generally the same for the two VCGs. No overall differences in virulence were observed between the two VCGs for external wilt symptoms, number of dead plants, or shoot length. No significant VCG × plant species interactions were present for these characteristics. However, isolates of VCG NL-1 caused more vascular discolouration than did isolates of VCG NL-2. Isolates within VCGs often differed considerably in their virulence to certain hosts, as shown by highly significant isolate × plant species interactions. Isolates were more virulent on their original host. These findings imply that VCG identification does not contribute to disease prediction for a range of woody hosts.     

Mechanism of exogenous nitric oxide in attenuating endotoxin-induced increase of rat pulmonary microvascular permeability

AIM and METHODS:The animal model of acute lung injury (ALI) caused by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharides(LPS) in vivo and human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) in vitro were used to study the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), nitric oxide (NO) donor, on LPS-induced PMN accumulation, microvascular permeability and PMN apoptosis. RESULTS:①In vivo, PMN accumulation in lung, the protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the Evans blue dye and monastral blue dye extravasation in lung tissue of LPS group were markedly higher than those of both sham operation group and LPS+SNP group. ②In vitro, the apoptotic percentage of SNP group was much higher than that of control group, while compared with LPS group, SNP+LPS group has significantly higher apoptotic percentage. CONCLUSIONS:SNP intratracheal instillation attenuated LPS-induced microvascular permeability and alleviated ALI. PMN apoptosis induced by SNP may be one of the potential mechanisms underlying the decrease of PMN accumulation in lung tissue.     

Changes of L-selectin expression on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their significance in rats with acute lung injury

AIM:To explore the changes of L-selectin expression on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and their significance in rats with acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS:ALI model in rat was established by intravonous injection of E. coli endotoxin (ET). The expression of L-selectin on peripheral blood PMNs was measured by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.RESULTS:The contribution of L-selectin fluorescence signal was on the surface of PMNs membrane. The expression of L-selectin on poeripheral blood PMN was significantly lower at 5 min after injection of ET and the lowest during 15 min to 30 min, then gradually increased, but the expression of L-selectin on PMN was lower at 60 min after injection of ET than that of control animal.CONCLUSION:In physiological state, L-selectin were expressed on the surface of PMN membrane. The protein expression of L-selectin on PMNs reduced rapidly after injection of ET and the lowest at 15 min, then gradually increased. L-selectin may play a role in the development of ALI.