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Progressive peritoneal fibrosis, membrane hyperpermeability, and ultrafiltration failure have been observed in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). The present study tested the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by conventional PD solution (PDS) mediate functional and structural alterations of peritoneal membrane in vivo. Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized to control, PDS, PDS with an antioxidant, and PDS with an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blocker. Commercial PDS containing 3.86% glucose (20–30 ml) with or without N-acetylcystein (NAC) 10 mM or losartan 5 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally twice a day for 12 weeks. Control rats received sham injection. Rats treated with PDS had significantly lower drain volume and D4/D0 glucose, but higher D4/P4 creatinine and increased membrane thickness and endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression compared to control rats. Omental transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), collagen I, and heat-shock protein (hsp) 47 expression and lipid peroxide levels and dialysate VEGF and Ang II concentrations were significantly increased in rats treated with PDS compared to control. All of these changes were prevented by both NAC and losartan. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that ROS generated by conventional PDS are, in large part, responsible for peritoneal fibrosis and membrane hyperpermeability. We suggest that antioxidants or Ang II receptor blockers may allow better preservation of the structural and functional integrity of the peritoneal membrane during long-term PD.

The corrosion behavior of electrodeposited Ni-P coating in 5 pct (in weight) NaCl solution has been studied. The microstructure of the Ni-P electrodeposit displayed a layered structure composed of nanocrystalline grains revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With the increase in polarization potential and bath temperature, the corrosion rate as well as the weight loss was significantly increased. Under observation by a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), the pitting evolved into larger sizes with a diameter of approximately 30  μ m as the temperature and potential were increased to 50 °C and 600 mV SCE , respectively. Cracks and delamination among the layered structure were found inside the deepened corrosion pit. The increase in surface P content and the trace of the formation of phosphate were also observed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis.

This study was performed to make a surgical model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the dog. Experimental medial patellar luxation (MPL) was surgically produced in the left stifle (index) of 24 skeletally mature mixed small breed dogs (age two to six years and weight 2.8 to 9 kg). The animals were randomly allocated in 2 groups; sham group (n = 12), where the right stifle was sham operated and control group (n = 12) with intact right stifle. Physical and radiographic examinations of both stifles were performed at 1.5 months intervals over a one-year experimental period. One dog was euthanatized every three months, and both stifles were explored, gross examination was performed and tissue samples from the articular cartilage, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and synovium were collected for histomorphology. The clinical signs of OA were obvious in the experimental dogs by 12 weeks of surgical induction of MPL, which was also evidenced in the histopathology of the joint tissues and electron microscopy of the articular cartilage. The radiographic changes of OA were not obvious until remarkable degenerative changes became abvious six months postoperatively. Surgically induced MPL can be a successful tool for experimental induction of OA in dogs.

A two-month-old male 40 kg Korean native calf was referred to the Chonbuk Animal Medical Centre, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University because of prolonged diarrhoea, depression, and anorexia lasting three weeks. On physical examination, abdominal distension presented in the right flank and a percussion sound was audible. A round-shaped lesion was observed in the area of the large intestine on computed tomography and ultrasonography, and a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception was made. A surgical operation was decided upon immediately to correct the intussusception. An infarct lesion was found during surgery, and the lesion was observed on the intussuscepted intestines including the cecum, ileum, and colon. The area of intussusception was excised, and an anastomosis was performed. Despite intensive and supportive care, the patient died one day after the surgery due to poor general condition. An ileocecocolic intussusception is an uncommon case compared within other intestinal intussusceptions. Most affected calves have a history of severe diarrhoea and the prognosis is guarded due to poor general condition. Good survival can be expected if patients are diagnosed quickly.

This article describes two cases of augmentation of ruptured tendon with fresh frozen Achilles tendon allograft (FFATA) in dogs. Case 1 was a two-year-old crossbreed dog (29 kg) that presented with an open wound on the right forelimb and with complete rupture of the flexor carpi ulnaris and superficial digital flexor tendons. Case 2 was a four-year-old crossbreed dog (4 kg) with partial ruptures of the patellar tendon and detachment of the tibial tuberosity in the right hind limb. In both cases, the ends of the ruptured tendon were sutured and apposed after debridement. To minimize suture failure, FFATA (cut to sufficient size) was placed across the primary suture with tension and sutured to the host tendon. In addition, Case 2 received a Krackow suture through a transverse bone tunnel made in the tibia to fix the patellar tendon along with the tibial tuberosity in situ. The surgical areas healed without any evidence of exaggerated inflammatory response or clinical signs consistent with rejection of the allograft. Both the dogs had normal ambulation and weight bearing on the affected limb 12 weeks postoperatively. No postoperative complications were observed during a one-year follow up period except for slight contracture of the carpus and digits of the affected limb in Case 1. Thus, ruptured tendons can be successfully repaired using suture and augmentation with FFCTA. Augmentation with FFATA may provide additional stability, which counters tension on the primary repair and reduces the chance of gap formation or suture failure in case of reconstruction of the damaged tendon in dogs.

Phalaenopsis is a monopodial orchid, characterized by maintaining apical dominance throughout their life cycle. Branching or shoot induction can lead to the formation of more inflorescences and flowers that are associated with productivity in floricultural crops. This study was conducted to determine whether BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) treatment consistently induces lateral shoots and to compare the responses according to plant maturity, hybrid, and BAP concentrations. In Experiment 1, immature (3–4 leaves) and mature (6–7 leaves) plants were treated with 0 or 100 mg·L − 1 BAP. In Experiment 2, three hybrids (‘Mantefon’, ‘Flamingo’, and ‘Surf Song’) of mature (5–7 leaves) plants were treated with 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg·L − 1 BAP. Additionally, lateral shoots, apical shoots, and inflorescences were microscopically examined to compare their histological features. The results showed that exogenous BAP application could induce lateral shoots, and the lateral shoot induction rate and number tended to be higher in mature plants and at higher concentrations of BAP. The sensitivity of each hybrid to BAP varied slightly, with ‘Surf Song’ being the most sensitive among the hybrids tested. BAP treatment also increased the number of leaves. Microscopic observations confirmed that lateral shoots have vegetative meristems similar to apical shoots, rather than inflorescences, when they are first induced. In summary, BAP treatment of monopodial Phalaenopsis orchids can induce additional vegetative organs.

Veronica nakaiana Ohwi is a Korean endemic species and has potential value as an ornamental and breeding resource of Veronica species. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the environmental factors for floral induction to manipulate flowering for the industrial application of this plant. This study was conducted to investigate the flowering response of V. nakaiana to cold temperatures and photoperiod treatments. In Expt. 1, six-week-old seedlings were treated with a cold temperature of 5 °C for from 0 to 12 weeks. After the artificial cold treatments, the plants were subjected to the following photoperiod treatments: 9/15, 12/12, 14/10, 16/8, or 24/0 (day/night) h. In Expt. 2, seven-month-old plants were transferred to an open field for natural cold treatments and the chilling hours were calculated to quantify the flowering response to cold temperatures. In Expt. 1, the photoperiod does not affect the percent flowering or flowering time. The plants flowered only after artificial cold treatments lasting for more than eight weeks. However, the average percent flowering was less than half. In Expt. 2, although flowering was also observed only after more than eight weeks of natural cold treatment, the percent flowering in Expt. 2 was higher than that in Expt. 1. In both experiments, the number of days to flowering significantly decreased with increasing the cold treatment period. These results indicated that V. nakaiana is a day-neutral plant and requires a prolonged period of cold temperatures. In addition, the cold requirement showed an age-dependent response on flowering.