Analysis of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in cerebrospinal fluid of miniature dachshund with intervertebral disc herniation

We evaluated whether the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is related to disease severity, prognosis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity of the CSF in miniature dachshund with intervertebral disc herniation. Samples were obtained from 23 patients and 6 normal dogs, and all patients received hemilaminectomy. Twenty dogs recovered successfully and 3 of 11 dogs without deep nociception had MMP-9 activity in the CSF and an unsuccessful outcome. The COMP levels from patients were significantly higher than those from normal dogs. MMP-9 activity and neurological severity were not related to the COMP levels. However, the COMP levels from 3 unsuccessful cases that had MMP-9 activity were significantly lower than those from all recovered cases and/or successful cases without deep nociception. Concerning severe cases, increased proteolytic activity might affect the COMP concentration and prognosis due to MMP-9 associated deleterious effects.     

Changes in blood glucose and insulin responses to intravenous glucose tolerance tests and blood biochemical values in adult female Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus)

The metabolic mechanisms to circannual changes in body mass of bears have yet to be elucidated. We hypothesized that the Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) has a metabolic mechanism that efficiently converts carbohydrates into body fat by altering insulin sensitivity during the hyperphagic stage before hibernation. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the changes in blood biochemical values and glucose and insulin responses to intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) during the active season (August, early and late November). Four, adult, female bears (5-17 years old) were anesthetized with 6 mg/kg TZ (tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl) in combination with 0.1 mg/kg acepromazine maleate. The bears were injected intravenously with glucose (0.5 g/kg of body mass), and blood samples were obtained before, at, and intermittently after glucose injection. The basal triglycerides concentration decreased significantly with increase in body mass from August to November. Basal levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations were not significantly different among groups. The results of IVGTT demonstrated the increased peripheral insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in early November. In contrast, peripheral insulin resistance was indicated by the exaggerated insulin response in late November. Our findings suggest that bears shift their glucose and lipid metabolism from the stage of normal activity to the hyperphagic stage in which they show lipogenic-predominant metabolism and accelerate glucose uptake by increasing the peripheral insulin sensitivity.     

Soil selenium fractionation,depth profiles and time trends in a vegetated site at Kesterson Reservoir

Kesterson Reservoir, in the San Joaquin Valley of California, was used for disposal of saline, seleniferous agricultural drain waters during the years 1981 - 1986. The combined effects of infrequent drain water application, reduction and oxidation of Se, and evapotranspirative removal of soil water within the upper 1 m of the soil profiles appear to provide explanations for distribution patterns of Se in soils of upland sites. From 1987 to 1990, an approximate doubling in average soil solution Se concentrations was observed. It is shown that currently only relatively insignificant quantities of Se have been transported into the Pond 11 soils from the shallow water table. Sequential extraction of these upland soils indicated that substantial inventories of Se were associated with soluble, adsorbed, carbonate, and soil organic matter fractions, while Se retained within refractory inorganic fractions were minor. The mobilization of Se from these potentially labile pools may account for the observed increases in soil solution concentrations of Se following the draining of Kesterson Reservoir.     

A comparative study of Cd,Cr(III), Cr(VI), Hg,and Pb uptake by minerals and soil materials

The pH dependency of Cd, Cr(III), Cr(VI), Hg, and Pb uptake by 14 different types of minerals and soil materials has been studied. The solids were interacted with metal solutions separately in a batch procedure, and the percentage of metal uptake of different metal-solid combinations was compared and evaluated. The results were quantified by the pH values at which 10, 50 and 90% of the metal uptake took place. Physical and chemical characteristics of the solids were correlated with metal uptake. The results verify the importance of geochemical parameters of soils such as organic content, type of clay mineral, presence of complexing ions, and redox-potential for controlling metal uptake. Retention of Cd, Cr(VI), Hg, and Pb was found to be strongly dependent on organic content of the materials studied. Montmorillonite (in bentonite and smectite) showed the highest uptake of Cd, Cr(III) and Pb among all minerals and soil materials, while illite and kaolinite showed lower uptake than the soils. At low pH, the uptake percentage of Cr(VI) by organic soils was higher than that of any of the other metal ions. The uptake of Hg was low in comparison to other cations, which may be explained by formation of soluble Hg(CI)₂° or Hg(CI)⁴ _2? complexes.     

Matrix metalloprotease-9 activity in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal injury severity in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation

We investigated whether matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is associated with the severity of neurological signs and prognosis. CSF from the cisterna magna (C-CSF) and the lumbar spine (L-CSF) of 34 dogs with IVDH was analyzed using zymography. Activity of MMP-9 in L-CSF was detected in 6 of 34 dogs with IVDH, often for more than 7 days after injury. MMP-9 activity was not detected from any of the C-CSF samples. Of the six cases that were MMP-9 positive, all four cases with grade V that had loss of deep pain were non-ambulatory 6 months after treatment. The remaining two cases with grade III and IV could recover mobility. In dogs with grade V thoracolumbar IVDH, MMP-9 expression in the CSF may indicate severe spinal cord injury with poor prognosis.     

Spatial Organization and Time Dependence of Jupiter's Tropospheric Temperatures, 1980-1993

The spatial organization and time dependence of Jupiter's temperatures near 250-millibar pressure were measured through a jovian year by imaging thermal emission at 18 micrometers. The temperature field is influenced by seasonal radiative forcing, and its banded organization is closely correlated with the visible cloud field. Evidence was found for a quasi-periodic oscillation of temperatures in the Equatorial Zone, a correlation between tropospheric and stratospheric waves in the North Equatorial Belt, and slowly moving thermal features in the North and South Equatorial Belts. There appears to be no common relation between temporal changes of temperature and changes in the visual albedo of the various axisymmetric bands.     

Accumulation of radioactive cesium in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) accessions cultivated in Fukushima in 2011 and 2012

ABSTRACT

The accident at Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 caused contamination by radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) in surrounding areas. After this accident, concerns about Cs contamination, including food safety, have limited industrial activities and reconstruction in Fukushima. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an annual C₄ crop that can be used as biofuel feedstock due to its high biomass. Use of Cs-contaminated fields to produce biofuel feedstock would be more acceptable than use for food or feed crops due to the lower risk of human internal exposure to radioactive Cs. In addition, high-biomass sorghum might be suitable for removal of Cs from fields (phytoremediation). For both applications, it is important to use accessions showing the appropriate level of accumulation of radioactive Cs (low for biofuel feedstock, high for phytoremediation). Here, we examined the accumulation of radioactive Cs in the aerial parts of 56 sorghum accessions grown in Fukushima. Accessions were cultivated in a low-level-contaminated field in 2011 and in a highly contaminated field in a planned evacuation zone in 2012. After cultivation, activity concentrations from ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were measured in the aerial plant parts. In 2011, the activity concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were 58.2–350 and 58.6–450 Bq kg^?1 dry weight, respectively. In 2012, the concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were 54.2–1320 and 57.1–1960 Bq kg^?1 dry weight, respectively. Relative to the median values of the accessions grown each year, 3 showed lower activity concentrations and 2 showed higher activity concentrations of radioactive Cs under both cultivation conditions. In contrast to a previous report, there was no significant correlation between biomass and Cs activity concentration. Because both biomass and Cs concentration are important in classifying accessions for use in phytoremediation, we also calculated the Cs accumulation index (single-plant biomass × Cs activity concentration) for each accession. The accession AKLMOI WHITE showed the highest values in both years, suggesting that this accession has the high per-plant accumulation capacity for radioactive Cs. Our data collected from actual contaminated fields is irreplaceable for choosing sorghum accessions for cultivation in Cs-polluted sites such as Fukushima.     

Analysis of deflection and dynamic plant characteristics of Cyperus malaccensis Lam

ABSTRACT

In this study, flexural rigidity, natural frequency, and damping coefficient of Cyperus malaccensis Lam. with long stems were measured for application for fluid–structure interaction simulation in a field. Numerical solutions of deflection and natural frequency were calculated by ANSYS with finite element method (FEM). The triangular cross-section shape of C. malaccensis stem has a big neighbourhood of the root and the cross-section has taper structure to become small towards tip direction. Two numerical simulation models for FEM have Model A with a triangular prism shape and Model B with a truncated trigonal pyramidal shape to evaluate the effects of stem tapering. Because of large C. malaccensis stem deflection, an equation for nonlinear deflection was introduced to solve a problem regarding flexural rigidity. Natural frequencies of the stem were estimated using amplitude ratio during stem swinging by forced vibration, captured using a high-speed camera. The Model B corresponded with the measurement, and the results suggested that the stem characteristics were affected by cross-section shape. Damping coefficient was calculated using free vibration response, which was consistent with the analytical solution and numerical data calculated using measured characteristics.     

CT and MRI imaging diagnosis of epidural idiopathic sterile pyogranulomatous inflammation in a dog spinal canal

A 12-year-old neutered male shih tzu developed progressive pelvic limb paraparesis. Computed tomography showed a radiolucent mass lesion in the spinal canal at the left side of the 11th thoracic vertebra. The mass was not enhanced by intravenous contrast medium injection. It was hyperintense on both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. The signal intensity of the mass was decreased with a fat suppression technique, indicating a fatty origin. After removal of the mass via T11-T12 hemilaminectomy, chronic panniculitis was confirmed by histopathological examination. This case demonstrates the utility of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of spinal canal pyogranulomatous inflammation.