This study was performed to investigate the effect of Nei Guan (PC-6) moxibustion stimulation on artificial bradycardia of dogs. Xylazine was injected for inducing bradycardia. Rectal temperature, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate were recorded every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased on 40 min (p 0.05) after xylazine injection, compared with those of control group. Heart rate significantly increased on 40 min (p 0.01), 50 min (p 0.01), 60 min (p 0.01), 70 min (p 0.01), 80 min (p 0.01), 100 min (p 0.01), 120min (p 0.01) after xylazine injection, compared with those of control group. In conclusion, moxibustion of Nei Guan (PC-6) showed recovery effect in xylazine induced bradycardia in dogs.

To report retinal image of in a 6-year-old male castrated poodle dog with a 2-month history of nyctalopia using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Ocular reflexes were present in both eyes and slit lamp examination showed anterior subscapular cataract in the right eye. There were fundus abnormalities in both eyes similar to retinal degeneration. Scotopic electroretinograms (ERGs) revealed significantly subabnormal amplitudes and prolonged implicit time, whereas photopic ERGs were better maintained, although far from normal. OCT of affected dogs revealed generalized retinal thinning much more than a normal age-matched dog. Therefore, OCT scanning is considered to be a useful method for retinal evaluation in dogs with retinal degeneration.

Ginsenoside Rp1 is one of ginseng saponins with chemotherapeutic activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rp1 on spleen cells. Spleen is a major immune organ consisted of crucial immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and some antigen-presenting cells. Although the anti-tumor potential of Rp1 was studied, the effects of Rp1 on immune cells have not investigated yet. A viability assay using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometric analysis, Western blot analysis were used to detect cellular changes on Rp1-treated spleen cells. MTT assay showed that Rp1 decreased the viability of spleen cells. To further investigate the effects of Rp1 on activated spleen cells, we treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a representative inflammatory agent and Rp1 on spleen cells in a combination. The surface expression levels of activation markers for lymphocytes, CD25 and CD69 were measured. Apoptotic analysis revealed the cytotoxic effects of Rp1 on both na?e and activated cells, and the expression pattern of some apoptosis-related proteins was correlated to apoptotic events of cells. Taken together, ginsenoside Rp1 increases the cellular death of spleen cells and also inhibits the LPS-induced activation of spleen cells.

Animal poisoning has been occurred in Korea. However, the lack of the data about animal poisoning in Korea makes clinicians and diagnostician difficult to obtain information on poisoning cases. In this paper, we tried to gather information about animal poisoning from 1974 to June 2013 in Korea. Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) record database were used to examine recent trends in animal poisoning. The analysis showed that the cattle was reported to be the most common species involved in animal poisoning and botulinum toxin constituted the primary group of toxicants. Animal poisoning occurred frequently on January and in Gyenggi-do. Although the data present in this manuscript is a little, it will be helpful to understand the general trend of animal poisoning in Korea.

Two dogs were presented with melena, vomiting and depression after accidental swallowing of candy form of Strepsils (flurbiprofen), which is one of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in human medicine for controlling a sore throat. These dogs had common signs of anemia induced by gastrointestinal ulceration and hemorrhage with azotemia and leukocytosis. The dogs were treated with blood transfusion, fluid therapy, proton-pump inhibitor, antiemetics, mucus protectant and antibiotic. Although most of clinical signs of two dogs were resolved, azotemic problem with evidence of renal injury have remained.

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been isolated from a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Wild birds, predominantly ducks, geese and gulls form the reservoir of AIV in nature. The viruses in wild bird populations are a potential source of widespread infections in poultry. Active surveillance for AIV infection provides information regarding AIV distribution, and global AIV surveillance can play a key role in the early recognition of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since 2003 in Korea, there have been four H5N1 HPAI outbreaks caused by clade 2.5, 2.2 and 2.3.2. Therefore, improvement of AIV surveillance strategy is required to detect HPAI viruses effectively. This article deals with the major events establishing the role of wild birds in the natural history of influenza in Korea. We highlighted the need for continuous surveillance in wild birds and characterization of these viruses to understand AIV epidemiology and host ecology in Korea.

Transgenic plants have been tested as an alternative host for the production and delivery of experimental oral vaccines. Here, we developed transgenic potatoes that express the major antigenic sites A and D of the glycoprotein S from transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV-S0.7) under three expression vector systems. The DNA integration and mRNA expression level of the TGEV-S0.7 gene were confirmed in transgenic plants by PCR and northern blot analysis. Antigen protein expression in transgenic potato was determined by western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results revealed that based on a dilution series of Escherichia coli-derived antigen, the transgenic line P-2 had TGEV-S0.7 protein at levels that were 0.015% of total soluble proteins. We then examined the immunogenicity of potato-derived TGEV-S0.7 antigen in mice. Compared with the wild-type potato treated group and synthetic antigen treated group, mice treated with the potato-derived antigen showed significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA responses.

To better understand the role of macrophages in early stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), we compared the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1, markers for classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages, respectively, in the hearts of EAM-affected and control rats. Immunohistochemical evidence revealed that both iNOS-positive and arginase 1-positive macrophages were found in EAM lesions, while some cells were co-localized with both markers. This finding suggests that the increased level of arginase-1, which is partly from M2 macrophages, contributes to the modulation of EAM, possibly through the reduction of nitric oxide in the lesion.

Tigers are one of the most endangered species over the world and protected internationally or locally. However, they are still traded illegally for the Traditional East Asia Medicine or souvenirs / mementos as well as fake products. In the present study, to identify the species of the specimen known as the tiger’s genitalia that was sold for mementos in China, two approaches of genetic tools and morphological comparisons were applied. On the basis of the entire sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp), the result of nucleotide comparisons showed that the specimen examined here is matched with banteng, Bos javanicus (Identities = 1,138/1,140; 99%). In addition, the examination of external morphological characters revealed that the genitalia of the specimen is much more similar to the one of cows, not to tigers. The outcomes highlighted that there are still some fake products of tigers traded in market and molecular genetic tools could help identifying species of wildlife products.

An 8-year-old, castrated male, Schnauzer dog was presented for evaluation of gradually worsening erythematous papules. Physical examination revealed multiple erythematous papules having a firm, gritty texture located in bilateral ears, dorsal midline, perianal and inguinal area. Skin biopsy revealed aberrant structure, characterized by atrophic epidermal-dermal layer structure with granular materials which was presumed as calcinosis cutis secondary to iatrognic hyperadrenocotricism. By initiating minocycline for 14 days, there was reduction in size, number of calcium deposit with remarkably decreased erythema. This case report presents the clinical trial of minocycline as a potential agent in treating dogs with calcinosis cutis.