Identifying causes of death of companion dogs in Japan using data from pet cemeteries

This study aimed to identify the causes of death in dogs that were buried at pet cemeteries. Using data obtained from a questionnaire completed by 5,118 dog owners from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, we estimated the life expectancy and the odds ratio for principal causes of death using multiple logistic regression analysis with potential risk factors as independent variables. The life expectancy determined at birth was 13.98 years. The commonest cause of death was senility. The odds ratios of dying of senility being significantly higher in Labrador Retrievers and Shiba breeds and aged dogs, and significantly lower in Chihuahuas, dogs living indoors and neutered dogs.     

Analyses of leaves from open field-grown transgenic poplars overexpressing xyloglucanase

The transgenic expression of Aspergillus xyloglucanase cDNA (AaXEG2) with 35S promoter in the leaves of open field-grown poplars was studied. The level of xyloglucan in the transgenic poplars was decreased to 15–16% in the non-fertile soil (forest-field soil) and to 21–22% in the fertile soil (farming-field soil) compared with that of the wild-type poplars. The leaves exhibited a smaller surface area with more rounded teeth than those of the wild-type plants, similar to the sun leaf variety that was grown in the incubation room and subsequently greenhoused. The majority of total veins with water-conducting vascular bundles were shorter in the leaves of the transgenic poplars than those of the wild type. This decrease in vein length may result from a decrease in xyloglucan during leaf development, from which large numbers of proteins were markedly downregulated in the leaves of the transgenic plants via proteomic analysis. It seems likely that the leaves of the transgenic poplars came to relax the edges of their tooth rather than extend their veins as a result of the loosening of the xyloglucan cellulose networks in the leaves.     

Usefulness of hemilaminectomy for cervical intervertebral disk disease in small dogs

Hemilaminectomy was performed to treat cervical disc disease in 18 small dogs. Cervical spinal cord compression was characterized by ventral and/or lateral compression on myelograms. The duration of follow-up examinations ranged from 2 to 72 months. The optimal response time after surgery ranged from 2 days to 3 months. The outcome was determined to be excellent if clinical signs resolved and the dog had completely improved. The outcome was determined to be good if the dog improved, but was not clinically normal or if the degree of the owner's satisfaction was insufficient. Fourteen dogs achieved complete neurologic recovery without complications. One dog was initially neurologically worse after surgery, but ultimately improved to normal neurologic status. These outcomes were judged to be excellent. In the remaining 3 dogs, 2 dogs had relapse of neck pain and one dog remained mildly ataxic. These outcomes were judged to be good. These results suggest that hemilaminectomy is an effective option for surgical treatment of spinal cord compression secondary to cervical disc disease in small dogs.     

Comparison of the cardiovascular effects of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-modulating agents in isoflurane-anesthetized cats

The inotropic, chronotropic, and vasodilatory effects of five commonly used cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-modulating agents were evaluated. Hemodynamic functions were measured continuously in isoflurane-anesthetized cats during infusion of the following: dobutamine (DOB; 2.5, 5 and 10 microg/kg/min; n=8), dopamine (DOP; 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 microg/kg/min; n=5), milrinone (MIL; 2.5, 5 and 10 microg/kg/min; n=8), 6-(3-dimethyl-aminopropionyl) forskolin hydrochloride (COL; 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 microg/kg/min; n=7), and bucladesine sodium (BUC; 10, 20, and 40 microg/kg/min; n=9). At the highest infusion rate, DOB and DOP produced the greatest positive inotropic (increase in left ventricular (LV) dP/dt = 89 +/- 4% and 75 +/- 6%, respectively) and chronotropic (increase in heart rate (HR) = 42 +/- 4% and 22 +/- 6%, respectively) effects. MIL and COL produced similar albeit less pronounced positive inotropic (increase in LV dP/dt = 18 +/- 3% and 22 +/- 6%, respectively) and chronotropic (increase in HR = 13 +/- 4% and 21 +/- 4%, respectively) effects. Both also had significant vasodilatory effects (decrease in peripheral resistance (PR) = -30 +/- 2% and -35 +/- 7%, respectively). In contrast, BUC produced only vasodilatation (decrease in PR = -33 +/- 6%). Hence, MIL, COL, and BUC had significant vasodilatory effects and less-pronounced inotropic effects than the catecholamines DOB and DOP. The vasodilatory effects of non-catecholamine drugs for treatment of congestive heart failure should translate into beneficial decreases in both pre-load and after-load. In contrast, the strong inotropic effects of DOB and DOP should be beneficial in the treatment of acute heart failure and anesthetic crisis.     

Risk of introduction of BSE into Japan by the historical importation of cattle from the United Kingdom and Germany

All cattle of UK and German origin imported to Japan since 1980 and slaughtered before 2002 were traced (n = 33 and 15 respectively) and the probability that none, one, two or three of these imported cattle had developed BSE (reached the end or last stage of incubation period) at the year of slaughter/death was calculated. The predicted risk that BSE was introduced into Japan by imported cattle was 0.18. Among cattle imported from these countries in various years, cattle imported from the UK in 1987 and 1988 presented the highest risk, while the risk that BSE entered Japan by live cattle imported from the UK in 1982 and from Germany in 1993 was negligible. Because there was no effective system to avoid the recycling of the BSE agent, those infected cattle imported from the UK in 1987 and 1988 most probably entered the feed chain in Japan in 1992 and 1993.     

Plasma concentration and cardiovascular effects of lidocaine during continuous epidural administration in dogs anesthetized with isoflurane

The cardiovascular effects of continuous epidural administration (CEA) of lidocaine were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Loading epidural injections of 2, 4, or 6 mg/kg of lidocaine were followed by CEA with 1, 2, or 3 mg/kg/hr lidocaine, respectively, for 2 hr under 2.0% isoflurane anesthesia. Heart rate, direct blood pressure, cardiac index, and stroke volume decreased dose-dependently during CEA, whereas systemic vascular resistance did not significantly differ with dose, and no characteristic changes were observed in any groups. Plasma lidocaine concentration reached a steady state during CEA and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Circulatory suppression caused by lidocaine CEA was not attributable to peripheral vasodilation, but rather to the direct cardiac action of systemic lidocaine absorption from the peridural space.     

Effect of drying treatment on the respiratory quinone profile in soil

Recently, the analysis of the microbial community structure in soil has received a great deal of attention. Various analytical methods based on biomarkers have been developed: 16S-rDNA, total DNA, phospholipid fatty acids, ergosterols, muramic acids, etc. (Tunlid and White 1992; Carter and Lynch 1993). In a previous paper, we reported that respiratory quinones are useful biomarkers to characterize the microbial community structure in soil (Fujie et al. 1998). In these analyses, only fresh moist soils or frozen soils had been used as samples. However, the soil samples are generally stored in the dark after air drying in many research institutes and experimental stations. It was considered that the analysis of microbial communities in dried soil samples was not possible.

In this paper, we observed that the drying of soils did not affect the proportions of quinone species in soil although the treatment decreased the amount of extracted quinones. These findings suggest that the analysis of the respiratory quinone profile of dried soils reflects the micro biota present in fresh moist soils before drying.     

Trends in Evaluations of Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council (SGEC) Certified Forests in Japan

The number of Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council (SGEC) certified forests in Japan has increased in recent years. As such it is important to understand forest management certification within the context of corrective action requests (CARs) to assess sustainable forest management. This study analyzes trends in CARs issued through evaluations of SGEC certified forests in Japan as a function of certification body, forest zone, size of forest holdings, and forest ownership type. This study examined 86 certified forests in Japan using data from summary evaluations published by SGEC certification bodies in 2014. Forests in the northern zone tend to have more CARs assigned, as did larger forests and communally owned forests. For managers interested in maintaining sustainable forests, the findings suggest that they should focus on improving the following indicators: “training and instruction, such as the safety for forestry workers” (indicator 5.3), “to evaluate forest practices against the original plan and to assess their impacts, with proper monitoring” (indicator 7.1), “explicit and management policy of the important elements in the conservation of biological diversity”(indicator 2.2) and “protection of threatened species” (indicator 2.3). The results from this study suggest that certification bodies have different priorities in their certification assessments, as indicated by the varying number and types of CARs assigned. However, the findings also indicate that the factors affecting the assessment results may not be only the certification body issuing the assessments but also the forest zone, forest ownership type, and size of forest holdings.