Focal palatine erosion in captive and free-living cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and other felid species

We examined 1,092 skulls of captive and free-living individuals, representing 33 felid species, to determine the prevalence of focal palatine erosion (FPE). FPE was detected in 3.2% of cats evaluated, including cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and 14 other felid species. The prevalence of FPE between cheetah (9.4%; n = 64) and non-cheetah species (2.8%; n = 1,028) (χ(2) test; P = 0.004) and between captive (5.7%; n = 246) and free-living (2.4%; n = 824) individuals (χ(2) test; P = 0.010) were significantly different, with prevalence between captive (19%; n = 21) and free-living (2.9%; n = 34) cheetahs approaching significance (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.064). FPE was diagnosed with equal prevalence in skulls from individuals in which the lower molars did not meet the palatine bone (60.6%) and individuals in which it did (39.4%; n = 33) (χ(2) test; P = 0.139). In cheetahs with FPE, one was a captive animal in Germany, one a free-living cheetah from Mali, one captive cheetah from Kenya, and three captive cheetahs of unknown origin. Additionally, we evaluated the medical records of 49 captive cheetahs in Namibia. Of these cheetahs, 48 (98.0%) had clinical signs consistent with FPE, although only 16 of these 48 (39.6%) had perforation of the palatine bone. Based on physical examinations, FPE was diagnosed in two caracals (Caracal caracal) and one fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) from a North American Zoo. Results from this study confirm FPE in cheetahs outside of Namibia, in a minimum of 15 felid species, and a higher FPE prevalence in captive individuals than free-living ones. Clinical implications of these findings and recommendations for future studies are provided.     

Effects of heat acclimatisation on work tolerance and thermoregulation in trained tropical natives

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat acclimatisation on thermoregulatory responses and work tolerance in trained individuals residing in the tropics. Eighteen male trained soldiers, who are native to a warm and humid climate, performed a total of four heat stress tests donning the Skeletal Battle Order (SBO, 20.5 kg) and Full Battle Order (FBO, 24.7 kg) before (PRE) and after (POST) a 10-day heat acclimatisation programme. The trials were conducted in an environmental chamber (dry bulb temperature: 32 °C, relative humidity: 70%, solar radiation: 400 W/m²). Excluding the data sets of which participants fully completed the heat stress tests (210 min) before and after heat acclimatisation, work tolerance was improved from 173±30 to 201±18 min (∼21%, p<0.05, n=9) following heat acclimatisation. Following heat acclimatisation, chest skin temperature during exercise was lowered in SBO (PRE=36.7±0.3 vs. POST=36.5±0.3 °C, p<0.01) and FBO (PRE=36.8±0.4 vs. POST=36.6±0.3 °C, p<0.01). Ratings of perceived exertion were decreased with SBO and FBO (PRE=11±2; POST=10±2; p<0.05) after heat acclimatisation. Heat acclimatisation had no effects on baseline body core temperature, heart rate and sweat rate across trials (p>0.05). A heat acclimatisation programme improves work tolerance with minimal effects on thermoregulation in trained tropical natives.     

IgY在胃肠感染性疾病中的应用

卵黄抗体（1mmunoglobulinofyolk,IgY）是通过使用特种抗原免疫产蛋鸡,由其卵黄中提取的抗体,与哺乳动物的IgG相似,IgY性质稳定,在控制胃肠道感染性疾病方面存在许多独特的优点,可用于相应疾病的预防和治疗。研究表明,口服特种的IgY对大肠埃希菌、沙门菌、轮状病毒等引起的胃肠感染性疾病可起到免疫保护作用,有望成为抗生素的替代制剂。目前IgY正成为生物技术领域和医药研究中的新热点。     

白yuan胃肠道内分泌细胞的免疫组织化学定位

为了解白yuan的消化生理过程,利用ABC免疫组织化学方法,对白yuan胃肠道5种内分泌细胞：5-羟色胺(5-HT)、脑啡肽、P物质、胃动素和抑胃素的分布进行了研究。结果表明：5-HT细胞主要分布于十二指肠及其以下部位,尤其是盲肠和直肠;而腺胃、肌胃和幽门中均未发现该类细胞。脑啡肽和P物质细胞数量明显较5-HT少,它们稀疏分布于十二指肠及其以下部位,无显著的分布积聚区。抑胃素和胃动素在整个胃肠道中均无分布。分析表明白yuan胃肠道5种内分泌细胞的分布与其他鸟类相似,但与其他脊椎动物明显不同。     

Pit membrane remnants in perforation plates and other vessel details of Cornales

Perforation plates and other vessel details as studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been reported for four species of Cornaceae (s.l.): similar features are shown by the four, suggesting that a more extensive sampling of the family might reveal similar phenomena. Perforation plates contain pit membrane remnants in the form of threads or, less commonly, laminar portions perforated by pores. When least well-represented, the pit membrane remnants are restricted to lateral ends of perforations and to the perforations transitional to lateral wall pitting. Perforations are all clearly bordered. Helical thickenings that do not form a continuous gyre are reported for the vessel walls ofAucuba. The presence of pit membrane remnants in vessel elements of Cornaceae correlates with the mesic habitats occupied by species in this family. The presence and type of pit membrane remnants reported by us in the three genera is very similar, although pit membrane remnants are doubtless a symplesiomorphy and thus not an indicator of relationships. The presence of pit membrane remnants in the three genera, however, does attest to the primitiveness of wood and other features of Cornaceae s.l.     

灯台树(Cornus controversa)导管分子穿孔板的类型

对灯台树茎次生木质部离折材料进行观察研究,发现其导管分子穿孔板有梯状穿孔和单穿孔板2种类型,并且其单穿孔板的穿孔外展。具不同类型穿孔板的导管分子有4种类型,即两端均为梯状穿孔板的导管; 端是梯关穿孔板,另一端是单穿孔板的导管分子;一端有2个单穿孔板,另一端是梯状穿孔板的导管分子;两端均为单穿孔板的导管分子。     

猪胃肠道黏膜二糖酶的性质

研究了猪小肠中麦芽糖酶,蔗糖酶和乳糖酶3种二糖酶的生化性质及活性分布。试验以3头“杜加”生长猪为对象,屠宰并刮取胃底部,十二指肠,空肠上段和回肠黏膜。其中空肠黏膜用于3种二糖酶生化性质的研究,包括酶的最适温度,热稳定性,最适pH ,pH稳定范围和金属离子对酶活性的影响;胃底部,十二指肠,空肠上段和回肠黏膜用于测定3种二糖酶活性以揭示其在胃扬中的分布规律。试验结果表明：麦芽糖酶,蔗糖酶和乳糖酶的最适反应温度分别为50,45和55℃,最适pH分别为6.8,6.5和6．0;乳糖酶的耐热温度（70℃）高于麦芽糖酶和蔗糖酶（50℃）;不同pH对3种二糖酶活性影响不大;金属离子Cu^2 和Fe^2 对3种二糖酶均有激活作用;而Mn^2 有抑制作用。此外,Zn^2 能抑制麦芽糖酶活性,提高蔗糖酶活性,而不影响乳糖酶活性。3种二糖酶活性在肠道中由高到低的分布为：空肠,回肠,十二指肠和胃;其中麦芽糖酶在空肠和回肠中活性相近。回肠和空肠黏膜中的麦芽糖酶活性均显著高于十二指肠和胃中的酶活性,十二指肠酶活性显著高于胃;空肠中蔗糖酶和乳糖酶活性显著高于回肠,十二指肠和胃底部。从3种二糖酶活性大小看,胃底部和十二指肠中的麦芽糖酶活性显著高于蔗糖酶和乳糖酶;空肠上段和回肠中的麦芽糖酶活性显著高于蔗糖酶活性,蔗糖酶活性又显著高于乳糖酶。上述结果表明,3种二糖酶的生化性质具有一定的差异,在胃肠道中的活性分布规律相似。     

Comparative study between the free radicals and tumor markers in patients with gastrointestinal tumors

The tumorous processes, increased level of tumor markers and the change of free radical status are associated in patents with gastrointestinal tumors. The aim of this study was to examine free radical status and tumor markers in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Two hundered and thirteen patients with gastrointestinal tumor were examined. In the control group 44 non-tumorous patients were examined. The tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9, CA 72-4, AFP, TPA, AGP) and free radical status (total scavenger capacity) were diagnosed using venal blood (obtained by LIA-kits and chemiluminescent methods, LIA-mAT and the Lumat Berthold instrument). It has been found that: (1) The results showed that the tumor markers, TPA and AGP are the best indicators for the tumorous process; (2) The AGP serum level was in the operable case 91.56+/-38.29 mg/dl meanwhile its value was, 128.46+/-47.62 mg/dl (P<0.001) in the inoperable case; and (3) The TPA value was 118.37+/-155.47 mg/dl in the operable case, (P<0.001) while its value was 227.32+/-244.39 mg/dl in inoperable cases. The significantly high levels of the plasma Chemiluminescent Light Intensity (CLI)=28.12+/-25.96; was obtained in patients with rectal tumors vs. in the control cases CLI= 4.27+/-5.12 RLU% (Relative Light Unit; mean+S.D.; P<0.005). In six of these cases, the free radical status examination indicated the presence of the tumor, even though the level of tumor markers was normal. It has been concluded that the testing of both regular tumor markers and free radical status has an important role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the patients with gastrointestinal tumors.     

Immunohistochemical localization of type D retrovirus serotype 1 in the digestive tract of rhesus monkeys with simian AIDS

Type D retrovirus infection of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) shares many features with AIDS in man including gastrointestinal signs such as chronic diarrhea and wasting. In some humans and macaques afflicted with these signs and symptoms no etiology can be established. In this study immunohistochemistry was employed to localize D/1/California in the digestive tract of ten animals with simian AIDS. This revealed that both epithelial and lymphoid cells of the digestive tract are commonly infected by this immunosuppressive type D retrovirus.