Life Sciences Commons^™

Manatee Occurrence In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, West Of Florida, D. Fertl, A.J. Schiro, G.T. Regan, C.A. Beck, N. Adimey, L. Price-May, A. Amos, G.A.J. Worthy, R. Crossland

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Reports of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the US Gulf of Mexico west of Florida have increased during the last decade. We reviewed all available manatee sighting, capture, and carcass records (n = 377) from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas since the early 1900s; only 40 of these were previously published. Manatees were reported most often in estuarine habitats, usually either near a freshwater source or natural or industrial warm-water springs/runoffs during winter months. The recent increase in manatee records may be due to a combination of increased public awareness and dispersal of manatees, most likely seasonal …

Selected Life-History Observations On The Cayman Gambusia, Gambusia Xanthosoma Greenfield, 1983 (Poeciliidae), Michael A. Abney, Richard W. Heard, Chet F. Rakocinski

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The Cayman gambusia (Gambusia xanthosoma Greenfield, 1983) is an uncommon species within the G. punctata species group, endemic to North Sound, Grand Cayman Island, BWI. Since the original description (Greenfield 1983) only phylogenetic information has been published and little is known of its habitat, feeding ecology, or reproductive life history (Wildrick and Greenfield 1985, Rauchenberger 1988). Originally described from a brackish-water (30 psu) mosquito control ditch, the species also occurred throughout marine mangrove habitat and inland saline ponds adjacent to North Sound, Grand Cayman Island. Here we present information on the habitat, diet, reproduction, life history, and parasites of …

Ecology Of The Mayan Cichlid, Cichlasoma Urophthalmus Günther, In The Alvarado Lagoonal System, Veracruz, Mexico, Rafael Chavez-Lopez, Mark S. Peterson, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Ana Adalia Morales-Gomez, Jonathan Franco-Lopez

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, has a wide distribution in southeastern Mexico where it inhabits rivers and coastal lagoons. In the Alvarado lagoonal system, Veracruz, it is distributed towards the north in Camaronera Lagoon. The Mayan cichlid shows an affinity for oligohaline to mesohaline sites with submerged vegetation, well-oxygenated, deep, and transparent water. The major abundance and biomass of this species was obtained during December to February. The diet of Mayan cichlids consists principally of plant detrital material and algae. Length-frequency distribution shows 2 size classes during both the dry and rainy seasons, corresponding to reproductive fish and young …

Seasonal And Spatial Patterns In Salinity, Nutrients, And Chlorophyll Α In The Alvarado Lagoonal System, Veracruz, Mexico, Angel Moran-Silva, Luis Antonio Martinez Franco, Rafael Chavez-Lopez, Jonathan Franco-Lopez, Carlos M. Bedia-Sanchez, Francisco Contreras Espinosa, Francisco Gutierrez Mendieta, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Mark S. Peterson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Ten monthly collections, distributed among three seasons, were taken from July 2000 to June 2001 in the Alvarado lagoonal system, Veracruz, Mexico. Variables measured in situ included dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water temperature. Water samples were collected to determine concentrations of ammonium, nitrates, nitrites, orthophosphates, total phosphorus and chlorophyll α. Collections representing the rainy season were taken in September and October, those for the nortes season were taken in November, December, and January, and dry season collections were taken during February, March, May June, and July. There was seasonal and spatial variation in nutrient concentrations, and they were related to …

Long-Term Fish Assemblage Dynamics Of The Alvarado Lagoon Estuary, Veracruz, Mexico, Rafael Chavez-Lopez, Jonathan Franco-Lopez, Angel Moran-Silva, Martin T. O'Connell

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The fish assemblages of Alvarado Lagoon Estuary (a complex of coastal lagoons in the state of Veracruz, Mexico) have been surveyed intermittently by different researchers over the last 40 years. Assessing longterm trends in fish assemblage composition for this ecosystem is problematic due to differences in sampling efforts among the survey periods (1966–1968, 1987–1988, 1989, 1989–1990, 1990–1991 and 2000–2001) and by the inherent ecological variability of estuaries. To overcome these data limitations and better understand fish assemblage change over time, we used robust, simulation-based analyses to compare collections from the different surveys. The 107 fish species collected from the Alvarado …

Identification Of Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder Patients With Lowered Acyl-Coa Thioesterase Activity In Human Skin Fibroblasts, Mary Hunt, Jos Ruiter, Petra Mooyer, Carlo W T Van Roermond, Rob Ofman, Lodewig Ijlst, Ronald J A Wanders

Articles

Background: Acyl-CoA thioesterases are enzymes that hydrolyze acyl-CoAs to the free fatty acid and coenzyme A (CoASH). These enzymes have been identified in several cellular compartments and are thought to regulate intracellular levels of acyl-CoAs, free fatty acids and CoASH. However, to date no patients deficient in acyl-CoA thioesterases have been identified. Design: Acyl-CoA thioesterase activity was measured in human skin fibroblasts. Western blot analysis was used to determine Type-II acyl-CoA thioesterase protein levels in patients. Results: Activity was found in human fibroblasts with all saturated acyl-CoAs from C4:0- to C18:0-CoA, with highest activity detected with lauroyl-CoA and myristoyl-CoA (C12:0 …

Gene Therapy And Targeted Toxins For Glioma, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

The most common primary brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma. These tumors are highly invasive and aggressive with a mean survival time of nine to twelve months from diagnosis to death. Current treatment modalities are unable to significantly prolong survival in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. As such, glioma is an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches utilizing gene therapy. This review will examine the available preclinical models for glioma including xenographs, syngeneic and genetic models. Several promising therapeutic targets are currently being pursued in pre-clinical investigations. These targets will be reviewed by mechanism of action, i.e., conditional cytotoxic, targeted …

Combining Cytotoxic And Immune-Mediated Gene Therapy To Treat Brain Tumors, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Remy Greeno, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of intracranial brain tumor, for which there is no cure. In spite of advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients die within a year of diagnosis. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop novel therapeutic approaches for this disease. Gene therapy, which is the use of genes or other nucleic acids as drugs, is a powerful new treatment strategy which can be developed to treat GBM. Several treatment modalities are amenable for gene therapy implementation, e.g. conditional cytotoxic approaches, targeted delivery of toxins into the tumor mass, immune stimulatory strategies, and these will all …

Real-Time Reverse Transcription Pcr For Detection And Quantitative Analysis Of Equine Influenza Virus, Michelle Quinlivan, Eugene Dempsey, Fergus Ryan, Sean Atkins, Ann Cullinane

Articles

Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR. The assay was also evaluated as a viable replacement for the more traditional methods of quantifying equine influenza virus, 50% egg infectious dose and 50% tissue culture infectious …

Comparison Of Dna Extraction From Cervical Cells Collected In Preservcyt Solution For The Amplification Of Chlamydia Trachomatis, Helen Keegan, Clara Boland, Alison Malkin, Mairead Griffin, Fergus Ryan, Helen Lambkin

Articles

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate three methods of DNA extraction for the amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis in uterine cervical samples collected in PreservCyt solution. ThinPrep is the trade name for the slide preparation. Methods: Thirty-eight samples collected in LCx buffer medium, which were identified as C. trachomatis infected by ligase chain reaction (LCR), were selected for this study. DNA from the PreservCyt samples was extracted by three methods: (i) QIAamp kit, (ii) boiling in Tris-EDTA buffer with Chelex purification, and (iii) Proteinase K digestion with Chelex purification. Sample DNA was tested for the presence …

Validation Of A Multiplex Pcr Assay For The Simultaneous Detection Of Human Papillomavirus And Chlamydia Trachomatis In Cervical Preservcyt Samples., Helen Keegan, Alison Malkin, Mairead Griffin, Fergus Ryan, Helen Lambkin

Articles

No abstract provided.

Biomarkers For Placental Abnormality, Cathal Mccarthy

Doctoral

Obstetrical complications including recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affect 1%-5% of pregnant women (Younis and Samueloff 2003). Dysfunctional trophoblasts, impaired development of spiral arteries, imbalance in systems controlling the dilation and contraction of spiral arteries, placental fibrin clots and intervillous thrombosis are all possible factors that can result in an insufficient placental circulation. The combination of the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy and presence of genetic thrombophilic markets has the potential to induce placental thrombosis and cause placental insufficiency with subsequent obstetrical complications. The initial part of the research work involved examining the relationship between four common genetic …

Wendell Berry's Sociological Imagination: Agrarian Values And Good Leadership In A Postmodern Culture, Paul Alan Kaak

Dissertations

Problem. The question guiding my dissertation research was: In what ways do the writings of Wendell Berry, reflecting his sociological imagination, address and advance leadership theory with specific regard for the issue of agrarian values?

Method. I used the writings of Wendell Berry as a modified case study for my inductive, theoretical, exploratory research in a qualitative vein. As I reviewed his writings, I identified his moral ideology and extracted his value-set. Along the way, I observed Berry's use of a method promoted by C. Wright Mills in his book The Sociological Imagination (1959). Since sociological imagination finds …

Performance Testing Studies And The Selection Of Hasmer, Hasak, Hasiv And Linmer Crossbreed Sheep Types: Ii. Pre-Weaning Growth, Mehmet Emi̇n Teki̇n, Mehmet Gürkan, Osman Karabulut, Hüseyi̇n Düzgün

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to investigate the pre-weaning growth of crossbreed types. Fifteen genotypes (F_1 and B_1) were obtained by crossbreeding in the Animal Research Institute in Konya from 1989 to 1996. These 15 genotypes were classified in 4 appropriate genotype names: Hasmer, Hasak, Hasiv and Linmer. GLM and Tukey's HSD tests were used for statistical analyses. Year, genotype, sex, birth type, and dam's age were introduced into the model as fixed factors and birth weight was introduced as a covariate along with year x genotype interaction. While the effects of year, dam's age, birth type, and sex on birth …

The Possibilities Of Twice-Yearly Lambing Of Awassi Sheep Ewes Without Using Hormones In An Organic Animal Production System, Ümi̇t Yavuzer

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This goal of the present research was to determine the possibility of twice-yearly lambing in Awassi sheep. The research was appropriate in terms of ecological agriculture, animal breeding applications, and organic agricultural production with no impact on their health or behavior, or exposure to environmental conditions such as exogenous hormone applications. The research was carried out after the February 2001 lambing season. Rams were introduced to the ewe flock while the lambs were weaning. The sheep's giving birth in August 2001 indicated that they had become pregnant while the lambs were weaning. The fertility rate in the August 2001 birth …

Early Morphological Changes After Total Gastrectomy In The Rat Pancreas, Serpi̇l Ünver Saraydin, Emel Koptagel

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Total gastrectomy is widely used as a major surgical treatment for gastric cancer. The aims of this study were to investigate the possible effects of total gastrectomy on pancreas morphology, and to determine the immunolocalisation of chromogranin A (Cg A) and synaptophysin (SYP) antigens, described as specific tumour markers for neuroendocrine tumours. Ten rats underwent total gastrectomy via oesophago-duodenostomy. After a month the rats were killed, and tissue samples were taken from the pancreas, processed for light microscopy and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. In addition, 5-7 µm thick paraffin embedded tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained with Cg A and SYP. The …

The Histochemical And Ultrastructural Structures Of Avian Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Fiber Types And Changes In Them Caused By Water Copper Level, Fati̇me Geyi̇koğlu, Özgen Vuraler, Aysel Temelli̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The histochemical and ultrastructural effects of water Cu on the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle of 120 newly hatched broilers were investigated in a 45-day experiment. Two doses of water Cu (250 mg Cu/kg water and 500 mg Cu/kg water) were given to the poults. Two distinct categories (IIIA and IIIB) of slow tonic fibers in the control groups were detected by enzyme reactions. The ultrastructure of the Z-line, mitochondrial content and sarcotubular content differed between the 2 fiber types. In the application of 250 mg Cu/kg water, the histochemical characteristics of the IIIB fibers were clearly different from those …

The Red Blood Cell Membrane Proteins In Rabbits With Experimental Ketosis, Sefa Çeli̇k, Hi̇lal Karagül

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study investigated the effects of experimentally induced ketosis on erythrocyte membrane proteins in rabbits by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The animals were allocated to 2 groups; ketosis and control. The experiment was lasted 13 days. Food was withheld for 5 days in the ketosis group, and then the animals were fed for 8 days. The control group was fed standard rabbit rations. Erythrocyte membrane proteins were isolated from the blood, and analyzed by SDS-PAGE using 10% (w/v) acrylamide monomer. Erythrocyte membrane proteins separated on the polyacrylamide gel were quantified by densitometry. Band 3 and actin on day …

The Results Of Phacofragmentation And Aspiration Surgery For Cataract Extraction In Dogs, Fatma Eser Özgenci̇l

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Cataract surgery was planned on 41 ERG positive eyes of 25 dogs of which 9 had unilateral and 16 had bilateral cataracts. Phacofragmentation and aspiration surgery was performed on 32 eyes of 20 dogs (and ECCE was performed on 4 eyes and ICCE was performed on 5 eyes of 5 dogs) of different breeds, sexes and ages. Vision restoration and complications were evaluated postoperatively in the short term (4 weeks). Mean age of the 20 dogs was 7.3 years. Stages of cataracts were classified as mature (n: 17), immature (n: 8) and intumescent (n: 7). While the mean phacoemulsification time …

The Prevalence Of Strongyle Infections And Persistent Efficacy Of Pyrantel Embonate, Ivermectin And Moxidectin In Turkish Horses, Veli̇ Yilgör Çirak, Ender Güleğen, Christian Bauer

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Strongyle infection was detected in 68% of 320 horses from 9 farms in western Turkey. Egg counts per gram of faeces (EPG) were more than 950 in half of the animals. The persistent efficacy of 3 different anthelmintics to suppress cyathostome EPG was compared on a horse farm. One group of horses was treated with moxidectin on day 0, and the 2 other groups received pyrantel embonate or ivermectin on days 0 and 70. Pyrantel embonate reduced the EPG by >90% for 2 weeks; thereafter egg counts steadily increased. Ivermectin reduced the EPG by >98% for up to 6 weeks. …

Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Chemical Structure, Sources And Biological Properties, Rahi̇m Aydin

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of geometrical and positional isomers of linoleic acid (C18:2, cis-9, cis-12). In contrast to linoleic acid, double bonds in CLA are usually located at positions 9 and 11 or 10 and 12 and each double bond can be either in the cis or trans configuration. Meat and dairy products from ruminant animals (such as milk, butter, yogurt and cheese) are the principal natural sources of CLA in the human diet. Egg and meat products from poultry contain less CLA than meat from ruminant animals (0.6 and 0.9 mg/g fat vs. 2.9 to 5.6 …

Gonadotrophin Concentrations In Sheep Plasma After Injections Of Gnrh With Or Without A Mixture Of Serine And Threonine, Hüseyi̇n Baki̇ Çi̇ftçi̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was designed to test the effect of Serine and Threonine mixture with or without a GnRH dose on plasma LH and FSH concentrations in naturally cycling ewes. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, the ewes were intravenously injected by jugular vein twice at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm as Saline/Saline (S/S, control), Saline/GnRH (S/GnRH), Saline/Amino acids and GnRH (S/AA+GnRH); Amino acids/GnRH (AA/GnRH), Amino acids/Amino acids with GnRH (AA/AA+GnRH). Blood samples were collected at 15, 30 and 60 min intervals from 60 min before, until 360 min following the first injection. In the second experiment, control and …

Transrectal Ultrasonographic Examination Of The Urinary System In Holstein Cows, Savaş Öztürk, İbrahi̇m Demi̇rkan, Murat Ki̇bar, Ali̇ Bumi̇n, Selçuk Pekkaya

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, it was aimed to examine the urinary system and to determine normal ultrasonographic appearance by rectal ultrasonography in Holstein cows. The study material consisted of 20 bladders, 20 urethras, and 20 right and 20 left kidneys, in 20 Holstein cows. A portable ultrasonograph combined with a 6 MHz linear rectal probe (transducer) was used for the examination. Bladder lumen was determined as an anechoic structure in the ventral aspect of the rectum and its wall was hyperechoic. By moving the probe caudally, the anechoic structure of the urethra was monitored. Right and left kidneys were examined after …

Effects Of Teat Shape On Milk Yield And Milking Traits In Brown Swiss Cows, Muammer Ti̇lki̇, Mehmet Çolak, Şeref İnal, Tamer Çağlayan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Effects of teat measurement and teat shape on milking time, milk flow rate and milk yield in Brown Swiss cows were evaluated. The means of 305-day milk yield for cylindrical, funnel and bottle teat shape groups were 3156, 3169 and 2377 kg, respectively. The mean values for the milking time in 1^{st}2^{nd} and 3^{rd} milk yield groups were 6.54, 6.56 and 6.20 min and the differences were not statistically significant. Length and diameter of front and rear teats were negatively correlated with milk flow rate. Milk flow rate showed significant correlations with 305-day milk yield and milk yield per milking …

A Retrospective Study: Evaluation Of Patellar Luxation Cases In Cats, Oktay Düzgün

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Patellar luxation is an orthopedic disorder seen rarely in cats. In this study, patellar luxation was encountered in 8 of 7744 cats brought to the Department of Surgery of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of İstanbul University between the years of 1995-2001. The rate of patellar luxation was 0.10% of feline cases. The patellar luxation incidence in 5145 orthopedic lesions in cats was 0.15%. Clinical symptoms such as difficulty in walking, running with a hop and abnormal stance in the hindlimb were seen in patients diagnosed using skyline radiography technique. The aim of the present study was the clinical diagnosis and …

The Effects Of Two Chemo-Attractants And Different First Feeds On The Growth Performances Of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) At Different Larval Stages, Erdal Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, 4 days old African catfish larvae were fed with trout starter diet, minced beef liver and fresh water mussel, dried tubifex, DL-alanine and betaine supplemented trout starter, artemia nauplii and a combined diet consisting of boiled chicken egg yolk, minced mussel and dried tubifex as the first feed after yolk absorption for a week. At the end of the first period, it was observed that DL-alanine and betaine supplementation did not improve the larval growth and survival compared to other feeds. In the second stage of this study, ten days old larvae of Clarias gariepinus were fed …

Some Quality Characteristics Of Pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus) Eggs With Different Shell Colors, Kemal Kirikçi, Ayteki̇n Günlü, Mustafa Gari̇p

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, some external and internal quality characteristics of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) eggs with white, blue, brown, or olive green shells were investigated. A total of 120 pheasant eggs including 9 white, 4 blue, 24 brown and 83 olive green eggs (collected in the same laying period and randomly) were used in this study. The values of egg weight, shape index, eggshell weight and shell membrane weight of the brown and the olive green eggs were found different from those of the blue and white color eggs (P < 0.05). Yolk and albumen weights of the white, blue, brown, and olive green eggs were found 9.03 and 16.28 g, 9.57 and 14.37 g, 10.72 and 17.96 g, 10.13 and 17.79 g, respectively (P < 0.05). The effect of eggshell colors on the yolk index, albumen index, shell thickness, membrane thickness, and Haugh Unit was found to be insignificant (P < 0.05). As a result of this study, the quality of brown and olive green eggs were better than blue and white eggs.

Immunohistochemical Distribution Of Desmin And Vimentin In The Skin Of Zavot Cattle, Şahi̇n Aslan, Hakan Kocamiş, Mümtaz Nazli, Nurhayat Gülmez

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The distribution patterns of desmin and vimentin were determined in Zavot cattle skin using standard immunohistochemical techniques. Skin samples were collected from the different regions of the bodies. Vimentin-immunoreactivity was observed in the cells of subepidermal region, in the myoepithelial cells surrounding sebaceous and sweat glands, in the fibroblast, smooth muscle, endothelial cells of vessels and some hair follicles. Desmin-immunoreactivity was dense in the smooth muscle of arrectores pilorum muscles and bulbus pilorum of the some hair follicles. Desmin and vimentin immunoreactivities were not different among the various regions of Zavot cattle skin.

Scanning Electron Microscopic (Sem) Examination Of The Incudomalleal (Im) Joint In Dogs, Gürsel Ortuğ, Cahi̇de Ortuğ, İsmai̇l Türkmenoğlu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, the normal incudomalleal (IM) joint surface of dogs was studied by SEM. The animals under the Ketamine + Xylazine (5/2 mg/kg. iv.) anesthesia, were perfused with 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution in 0.1 M sodium potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.2 via left ventricle. Middle ear ossicles were processed with routine histological procedures for SEM and examined under a Philips 505 type SEM. The articular surfaces of malleus and incus showed similar configuration and micromorphology. Characteristic appearance of the collagen fibers on the articular surfaces were not resolved at lower magnifications. On the other hand, at higher magnification, chondrocytes and …

Egg Weight, Shape Index And Hatching Weight And Interrelationships Among These Traits In Native Turkish Geese With Different Coloured Feathers, Mustafa Saatci, Turgut Kirmizibayrak, Ali̇ Riza Aksoy, Muammer Ti̇lki̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Egg weight, shape index and hatching weight and interrelationship among these three traits have been studied in native Turkish geese with different coloured feathers (black, white, piebald and yellow). Means of the four feather colours for egg weights were 147, 150.49, 142.95, 150.88 g, for shape index 67.01, 66.19, 66.68, 67.12% and for hatching weight 94.99, 98.41, 92.95, 97.40 g, respectively. Egg weight and hatching weight showed significant differences according to feather colour (P < 0.05) but this difference has not been observed in shape index (P > 0.05). Egg weight was significantly correlated with hatching weight (72%) and also significant regression was found between egg weight and hatching weight (r^{2} = 0.51).