Enrofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic has been used widely in humans and domestic animals, including dogs, because of its broad-spectrum activity and relative safety. The side effects of fluoroquinolone, induced tendinopathy, tendonitis, spontaneous tendon rupture and cartilage damage, remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of enrofloxacin on cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in canine Achilles tendon cells and chondrocytes. Cell growth and proliferation after treating with enrofloxacin for 2-6 days was quantified by a colorimetric 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide inner salt (XTT) assay. The results showed that enrofloxacin could inhibit the proliferation of canine tendon cells and chondrocytes at increasing concentrations (10-200 microg/ml). The inhibition of proliferation of canine tendon cells and chondrocytes after exposure to enrofloxacin were associated with induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by the typical nuclear apoptotic condensed nuclei found using Hoechst 33258 staining. It was demonstrated that canine tendon cells and chondrocytes treated with 200 microg/ml enrofloxacin for 4 days exhibited apoptotic features and fragmentation of DNA. Enrofloxacin also increased the apoptosis of canine tendon cells and chondrocytes in a dose and time-dependent manner. The results indicate that enrofloxacin inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and DNA fragmentation, which might explain enrofloxacin-induced tendinopathy and cartilage damage.

This paper describes a study on the role of limestone on the dissolution of phosphates when phosphate-containing sediments are put under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic decomposition of organic substances produces both organic acids and carbonic acids which in turn could accelerate the dissolution of the phosphates. If limestone coexisted, both phosphate and limestone would compete as receptors of hydrogen ions so as to affect the dissolution of phosphate. A small quantity of calcium hydroxyapatite, alone or mixed with limestone powder, was put in contact with an aqueous solution of acetic acid or carbonic acid and the variations in phosphate concentration were determined over time. The results showed that the phosphate concentration was remarkably low in the case of limestone presence, in comparison with the case of limestone absence. This signifies that the coexistence of limestone suppresses the dissolution of phosphate by organic acid and/or carbonic acid. Separate experiments conducted by developing an anaerobic condition, after mixing lake sediments with dried leaves and limestone, allowed us to observe that the existence of limestone suppressed the dissolution of phosphate. It seems that the limestone acts as a material sacrificing to the leaching of hydrogen ions from the acids produced under anaerobic conditions. These results show that the application of limestone might be a useful measure to prevent deterioration of water quality through eutrophication, by breaking the internal loading of phosphates in eutrophic water bodies.

This is a video submission for an interesting caseA 66 year-old lady was previously repeated admitted for vomiting and aspiration pneumonia. EGD showed a suspected hiatal hernia with gastric volvus. Endoscopic reduction was performed and the patient was scheduled for operation. Intra-operatively, it was noted that there were no hiatal hernia but a left diaphragmatic hernia was present. The hernial contents were reduced and the sac excised. The diaphragmatic defect was then closed primarily and reinforced with a 10 x 10cm biological mesh. An anterior partial fundoplication was also performed and the hiatus was closed.