A severe, progressive myopathy developed in an 11-year-old, phosphofructokinase (PFK)-deficient, male, English Springer Spaniel dog. Results from a routine neurological examination were normal. Examination of histologic sections of skeletal muscle revealed large accumulations of material in some myofibers. These deposits were pale, basophilic, somewhat flocculent, and slightly granular with hematoxylin and eosin stain. Most fascicles examined in sections of limb and trunk muscles were affected to some degree, with up to 10% of muscle fibers being involved. Deposits stained strongly with periodic acid-Schiff and were resistant to digestion by alpha amylase but were removed by incubation with gamma amylase. Deposits were faintly positive with Gomori's methenamine silver technique and alcian blue (pH 2.5) and were brown-gray with Lugol's iodine solution but were negative with other stains. Based on staining characteristics, the deposits seemed to consist primarily of an amylopectin-like polysaccharide(s). Alcian blue staining (pH 2.5) was removed by treatment with neuraminidase but not with hyaluronidase, indicating that some sialic acid residues were also present. Electron microscopically, the deposits were composed of short granular filaments, small granules and amorphous material. They were not membrane bound. The morphologic appearance and staining characteristics of the deposits were remarkably similar to deposits previously described in human PFK-deficient myopathy. As expected, total PFK activities were markedly reduced when assayed in skeletal muscles of this dog. In contrast with other PFK-deficient dogs, muscle glycogen in this animal was not increased above that of normal dogs.

Type III glycogen-storage disease (GSD-III), due to decreased activity of the glycogen debranching enzyme amylo-1,6 glucosidase, may cause hepatic dysfunction, growth failure, and myopathy. The prevention of hypoglycemia by nocturnal intragastric formula infusion has been shown to enhance growth and improve the metabolic abnormalities associated with GSD-III. Cornstarch therapy was effective in preventing hypoglycemia in a few patients with GSD-III who were previously treated with nocturnal enteral formula infusion, but oral cornstarch had not been evaluated as an initial treatment. We studied three patients with GSD-III who exhibited growth failure, elevated serum aminotransferase concentrations, and asymptomatic hypoglycemia. Cornstarch therapy was associated with maintenance of normoglycemia, increased growth velocity, and decreased serum aminotransferase concentrations in all patients. Our experience suggests that cornstarch therapy can be effective as an initial treatment for patients with GSD-III.

We describe a new animal model of a genetic lipid storage disease analogous to human Wolman's disease. Affected Donryu rats, who inherited the disease in an autosomal recessive mode, manifested marked hepatosplenomegaly, lymph node enlargement, and thickened, dilated intestine. Morphologically, many characteristic foam cells were observed in livers and spleens. No adrenal calcification could be found in affected rats. Biochemical studies on spleen and liver tissues showed massive accumulation of esterified cholesterol and triglycerides, and deficiency of acid lipase for [14Cl-cholesteryl oleate. This animal model could contribute greatly to the clarification of the physiological and pathological roles of lysosomal acid lipase in the metabolism of lipoproteins and cholesterol, and of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Recent plantings throughout coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales vary from 250 000 lychee trees (20 percent of which are producing commercially) to several thousand trees of rambutan, casimiroa, carambola, abiu, sapodilla, nashi, durian. The projected increase in production will very soon place large quantities of a wide range of exotic fruits on the domestic market. Postharvest handling, packaging, storage and marketing technology for three specific crops, lychee, rambutan and casimiroa was investigated in response to a current lack of postharvest technology. The project was successful with the development of a maturity standard, an optimal storage regime, a revised disease treatment, and potentially effective browning inhibition technology for lychee. Cool storage regimes were further developed for rambutan and casimiroa. Emphasis for these 2 latter crops centred on the research to minimize fruit moisture loss. Preliminary results highlighted the potential of fruit coatings.

The productive capacity of a potato seed tuber within a cultivar can be manipulated and controlled. Since pathologists and Potato Seed Certification Services have made tremendous progress in controlling seed borne disease, greater effort can now be devoted to improving the physiological productive capacity of seed tubers. One of the most important factors influencing potential capacity is physiological age of seed as influenced by chronological age. In most temperate production areas the chronology of seed production, harvesting, storage, and replanting cannot be altered economically or logistically as practiced in Japan. Therefore, other methods of manipulating physiological age are being explored. Temperature of the growing and storage environment and temperature conditions after replanting can influence seed behaviour. Rate of physiological aging under various environments varies with cultivars.

Developed to prepare commercial pesticide applicators of fruit pest control for recertification in Michigan, this study manual covers pest management principles, specifically management of insect, weed, disease and vertebrate fruit pests; IPM; pesticide laws/regulations, labels, toxicity, storage, disposal, and environmental effects; protective clothing and laundering of pesticide-contaminated clothing; safety; and application equipment. Includes short answer, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice an d true or false chapter review questions, and Michigan's pesticide emergency information telephone numbers.