Factors that influence Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica).

An improved broccoli transformation system was developed by optimising several factors that affect the rate of effective Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Leaf explants of cultivar Shogun were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4T harbouring the binary vector pART278. The T-DNA of this binary vector contains a neomycin phosphotransferase II (NOS-NPTII-NOS) gene for kanamycin resistance and a ß-glucuronidase (35S-GUS-OCS) gene. Several media and factors were evaluated including combinations of arginine, mannopine, acetosyringone and the use of feeder cell layers. The new protocol includes the use of 200 µM acetosyringone in LB medium for bacterial growth, the use of a Brassica campestris feeder cell layer, 10 mM mannopine and 50 µM acetosyringone in the co-cultivation medium and 1 mM arginine in the selection medium. The use of this optimised protocol produced transformation rates of 33% in preliminary experiments transforming broccoli with the antisense 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase gene from pTOM13.

[Capillaria hepatica in a dog and a hedgehog]. / Capillaria hepatica bei einem Hund und einem Igel.

A liver infection with Capillaria hepatica is described, having been found for the first time in Switzerland in a dog and a hedgehog. After a literature review of cases known among man and animals, we present our own pathological findings. Furthermore, the parasite's life cycle is discussed.

[The effectiveness of the new morantel sustained-release trilaminate bolus against gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle in their first grazing period]. / Wirksamkeit des neuen Morantel-Sustained-Release-Trilaminate-Bolus gegen gastrointestinale Nematoden-Infektionen bei Rindern in der ersten Weideperiode.

The efficacy of a recently developed Morantel-Sustained-Release-Trilaminate-Bolus (Paratect Flex Bolus [PFB]-Pfizer Inc.) against gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle was assessed by monitoring faecal egg counts (EpG), herbage larval counts, serum pepsinogen levels and liveweight gains in first season calves. In two field trials (1987 and 1988), a PFB-Bolus was administered to two different groups of animals (1987: 15 calves; 1988:13 calves) at turnout (29 May 1987; 26 May 1988), control groups were included. In 1988, 13 calves received for comparison an Oxfendazole-Release-Bolus (Systamex Intervall Bolus [OXF]-Coopers Inc.). All groups were grazed on adjacent but separately fenced pastures throughout the season, until housing (27 October 1987; 15 October 1988). When compared with controls, the PFB-groups showed significantly lower EpG values and consequently, lower herbage larval counts throughout the season in both trials. From day 30 after turnout, the PFB-group had significantly lower serum pepsinogen levels, which reflects the low degree of abomasal damage in these animals. When compared to controls, the PFB-treated animals showed significantly higher weight performances. The mean weight-gain benefit of PFB-treated animals was +12.5 kg (p less than 0.05) and +21.1 kg (p less than 0.005) in 1987 and 1988, resp. No difference occurred between PFB-treated and OXF-treated calves, the latter outperformed the control animals by +21.6 kg (p less than 0.005).

[On the origin and diagnostic value of the CSF-beta-globulins (author's transl)]. / Zur Frage der Herkunft und der diagnostischen Bedeutung der Liquor-Beta-Globuline.

208 cerebrospinal fluid samples were taken from patients having various patterns of neurological diseases. The following beta-globulins: transferrin, haemopexin, beta-1 A-globulin, beta-1 E-globulin, beta-2-glycoproteid and beta-lipoproteid were determined immunologically quantitatively in the CSF and partly quantitatively in the serum, and their behaviour was compared with that of the beta and tau fraction in CSF electrophoresis. It was found that changes in the fractions in CSF electrophoresis agreed only slightly with those of the quantitatively determined globulins, although these globulins represent 70--80% of the beta and tau fraction. Increases in the number of beta-1 A and beta-1 E-globulins are more significantly marked in intracranial haemorrhages than with other diseases. In all other respects, increases or decreases in the number of beta-globulins do not appear to be typical of any particular disease pattern determined by electrophoresis or quantitatively. Due to the linearity of the changes in case of disturbances of the CSF barrier, and also on account of the absolutely parallel behaviour of the beta-globulins, it was concluded that transferrin--contrary to the opinion held so far--is produced cerebrally in only small quantities or possibly not at all, and that the entirety of beta-globulins originate from the serum.

[Echocardiography as a method for the determination of the severity of aortic insufficiency]. / Die Echokardiographie als Methode zur Bestimmung des Schweregrades einer Aorteninsuffizienz

4 groups of patients with different degrees of aortic regurgitation (mild n = 7, moderate n = 3, severe n = 21, and aortic regurgitation combined with organic mitral stenosis n = 5) were examined by means of echocardiography and compared with a control group of 10 healthy subjects. The purpose was to determine what information echocardiography may provide in regard to the severity of aortic regurgitation and whether patients with organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from patients with Austin Flint murmur. Patients with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation could not be clearly distinguished by echocardiographic features from subjects with normal cardiac findings. However, patients with severe aortic regurgitation were likely to show the following characteristic changes: (1) early mitral valve closure, (2) diastolic flutter, (3) absence of the a-wave. If a premature mitral valve closure, i.e. a negative QC time or a diastolic flutter or absent a-wave are found, the aortic regurgitation is likely to be of severe degree. This finding will be particularly useful in patients with acute aortic regurgitation, no left ventricular enlargement and no left ventricular hypertrophy in the ECG. Being a noninvasive method, echocardiography may also be used in follow-up examinations. Furthermore, organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from Austin Flint murmur.