Leaf and Flower Blight Caused by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi on Lowbush Blueberry: Effects on Yield and Relationship to Bud Phenology.

ABSTRACT Naturally established lowbush blueberry clones in four fields were evaluated for the incidence of leaf and flower blight, proportion of mummy berries, and yield reductions caused by Monilinia vacciniicorymbosi. The relationship between the phenology of flower and leaf bud development and susceptibility also was examined. Three fields were examined over one crop year and one field was studied in two subsequent crop years. The incidence of stems with blight was correlated to incidence of leaf blight in all fields and to incidence of flower blight in one field. Incidence of leaf and flower blight and the proportion of mummy berries produced were not correlated. Lowbush blueberry clones with higher incidence levels of leaf blight had reduced fruit set and lower berry weights. For healthy stems, leaf-to-fruit ratios had no effect on berry weight in most fields. In contrast, blighted stems with higher leaf-to-fruit ratios had higher berry weights in three fields. Stems with slowerdeveloping leaf and flower buds had less leaf and flower blight, respectively, than stems with faster bud development. Some blueberry clones may avoid infection by delaying production of susceptible tissue until after ascospore release by M. vaccinii-corymbosi.

A new model for improved gastrectomy drainage.

Slow waves in isolated jejunal segments have been shown, in at least two studies, to have an increased percentage of neither prograde nor retrograde progression. Instead the pattern has been characterized as "nonpropagating" by Johnson and Sarna et al., and "chaotic" by others. We compared gastric drainage produced by a Roux-Y created with a single transection, with gastric drainage produced by a Roux-Y created in a jejunal segment isolated between two transections. Theoretically, this avoids the retrograde slow waves produced by a single transection. Ten dogs of either gender were divided into two groups of five. One group was given a truncal vagotomy, hemigastrectomy, and a standard Roux-Y drainage with a single jejunal transection; the other five were given the same operation with a distal jejunal transection and anastomosis 25 cm beyond the jejunojejunostomy (thus creating the Roux-Y in an isolated segment). In the approximate 50-day follow-up, 3 of 5 animals with standard preparations developed considerable difficulty in maintaining nutrition and developed hugely dilated stomachs. Animals with stomachs drained by the isolated jejunal segment Roux-Y had less difficulty maintaining nutrition and experienced minimal gastric dilatation. These findings were confirmed by upper gastrointestinal series at 2 weeks and at autopsy. In conclusion, this study shows that gastric drainage following truncal vagotomy and hemigastrectomy is enhanced by a Roux-Y created in an isolated jejunal segment.

The use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) to promote spinal fusion in a nonhuman primate anterior interbody fusion model.

STUDY DESIGN: A study on the efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in a nonhuman primate anterior interbody fusion model. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of rhBMP-2 with an absorbable collagen sponge carrier to promote spinal fusion in a nonhuman primate anterior interbody fusion model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: RhBMP-2 is an osteoinductive growth factor capable of inducing new bone formation in vivo. Although dosage studies using rhBMP-2 have been performed on species of lower phylogenetic level, they cannot be extrapolated to the primate. Dosage studies on nonhuman primates are essential before proceeding with human primate application. METHODS: Six female adult Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque) monkeys underwent an anterior L7-S1 interbody lumbar fusion. All six sites were assigned randomly to one of two fusion methods: 1) autogenous bone graft within a single freeze-dried smooth cortical dowel allograft cylinder (control) or 2) rhBMP-2-soaked absorbable collagen sponges within a single freeze-dried smooth cortical dowel allograft cylinder also soaked in rhBMP-2. The animals underwent a baseline computed tomography scan followed by 3- and 6-month postoperation scans. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the lumbosacral spine were performed monthly. After the monkeys were killed, the lumbar spine fusion sites were evaluated. Histologic evaluation of all fusion sites was performed. RESULTS: The three monkeys receiving rhBMP-2-soaked collagen sponges with a freeze-dried allograft demonstrated radiographic signs of fusion as early as 8 weeks. The control animals were slower to reveal new bone formation. The computed tomography scans revealed extensive fusion of the L7-S1 lumbar vertebrae in the group with rhBMP-2. A pseudarthrosis was present in two of the control animals. CONCLUSIONS: This study was able to document the efficacy of rhBMP-2 with an absorbable collagen sponge carrier and a cortical dowel allograft to promote anterior interbody fusion in a nonhuman primate model at a dose of 0.4 mg per implant site (1.5 mg/mL concentration). The late of new bone formation and fusion with the use of rhBMP-2 and cortical dowel allograft appears to be far superior to that of autogenous cancellous iliac crest graft with cortical dowel allograft.

Effect of resuscitation solutions on the immune status of dogs in hemorrhagic shock.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of three different types of fluid resuscitation on the immune system of dogs in hemorrhagic shock. Using a modified Wigger shock model, 18 conditioned male dogs were bled to mean arterial blood pressure of 60 mm Hg for 90 minutes and placed into three groups based on the resuscitative method. Group I: Crystalloid Resuscitation; Group II: Autotransfusion; Group III: Banked Blood. Laboratory methods for immune status evaluation included total lymphocyte count, T4/T8 ratio, total serum immunoglobulins, and immunoglobulin electrophoresis. These values were obtained pre-hemorrhagic shock, just before resuscitation, and subsequently on days 1, 4, and 7. Humoral immunity, represented by total serum immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, IgM), was higher in Groups II and III when compared with group I on all post-resuscitation days. IgA and IgM levels were higher in Group III compared with Groups I and II. IgG level was higher in Group II compared with Groups I and III. Cellular immunity was also affected by transfusion. Total lymphocyte count was increased in Group II on Day 1; however, the three groups were similar with respect to this variable on subsequent days. The absolute T4 helper cell level in Group II was similar to Groups I and III until Day 7, at which time the level became higher in Group II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)