Clinical evaluation of left ventricular moderator band in 12 dogs

We retrospectively examined clinical data for 12 dogs in which echocardiography revealed the presence of left ventricular moderator bands (LMB). Physical examinations, electrocardiography and echocardiography revealed slight cardiac murmurs, increasing QRS complex and left ventricular turbulent flow (6 of the dogs), respectively. No differences were observed with respect to gender, and no specific clinical symptoms or types of dog that frequently develop this disorder were found.     

Characterization of triple-phase computed tomography in dogs with pancreatic insulinoma

Little information is available regarding triple-phase computed tomography (CT) of canine pancreatic insulinoma. A few case reports with small numbers of cases have indicated that hyper-attenuation in the arterial phase was a common finding on multi-phasic CT in dogs with insulinoma. Our purpose was to clarify the characteristic findings of dogs with insulinoma on triple-phase CT. Nine dogs with insulinoma that underwent triple-phase CT were included in the present study. Attenuation patterns in the arterial phase indicated hypo-attenuation in 4 cases and hyper-attenuation in 2 cases. In the remaining 3 cases, 1 case showed hypo-attenuation and 1 case showed hyper-attenuation in the pancreatic phase, and 1 case presented hyper-attenuation in the later phase. Altogether, 5 cases showed hypo and 4 cases showed hyper-attenuation in at least one phase. The enhancement pattern was homogenous in 7 cases and heterogeneous in 2 cases. Tumor margins were well-defined in 5 cases and ill-defined in 4 cases. Capsule formation was present in 5 cases and absent in 4 cases. In conclusion, it is important to note that hypo-attenuation was as common as hyper-attenuation in dogs with insulinoma in triple-phase CT in at least one phase. Additionally, mass lesions were most conspicuous not only in the arterial phase but in the pancreatic and later phases in some cases. Therefore, it is important to perform triple-phase CT and notice about variable findings for the detection of canine pancreatic insulinoma.     

Evaluation of the in vitro growth-inhibitory effect of epoxomicin on Babesia parasites

Epoxomicin potently and irreversibly inhibits the catalytic activity of proteasomal subunits. Treatment of proliferating cells with epoxomicin results in cell death through accumulation of ubiquinated proteins. Thus, epoxomicin has been proposed as a potential anti-cancer drug. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of epoxomicin on the in vitro growth of bovine and equine Babesia parasites were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of epoxomicin on the in vivo growth of Babesia microti was also assessed. The in vitro growth of five Babesia species that were tested was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by nanomolar concentrations of epoxomicin (IC₅₀ values = 21.4 ± 0.2, 4 ± 0.1, 39.5 ± 0.1, 9.7 ± 0.3, and 21.1 ± 0.1 nM for Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia ovata, Babesia caballi, and Babesia equi, respectively). Epoxomicin IC₅₀ values for Babesia parasites were low when compared with diminazene aceturate and tetracycline hydrochloride. Combinations of epoxomicin with diminazene aceturate synergistically potentiated its inhibitory effects in vitro on B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. caballi. In B. microti-infected mice, epoxomicin caused significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of the growth of B. microti at the non-toxic doses of 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg BW relative to control groups. Therefore, epoxomicin might be used for treatment of babesiosis.     

Comparison of Physical Properties of Wheat Starch Gels with Different Amylose Content

The effects of amylose content and other starch properties on concentrated starch gel properties were evaluated using 10 wheat cultivars with different amylose content. Starches were isolated from grains of two waxy and eight nonwaxy wheat lines. The amylose content of waxy wheat lines was 1.4–1.7% and that of nonwaxy lines was 18.5–28.6%. Starch gels were prepared from a concentrated starch suspension (30 and 40%). Gelatinized starch was cooled and stored at 5°C for 1, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hr. The rheological properties of starch gels were studied by measuring dynamic viscoelasticity with parallel plate geometry. The low‐amylose starch showed a significantly lower storage shear modulus (G′) than starches with higher amylose content during storage. Waxy starch gel had a higher frequency dependence of G′ and properties clearly different from nonwaxy starches. In 40% starch gels, the starch with lower amylose showed a faster increase in G′ during 48 hr of storage, and waxy starch showed an extremely steep increase in G′. The amylose content and concentration of starch suspension markedly affected starch gel properties.     

Locally synchronized synaptic inputs

Synaptic inputs on dendrites are nonlinearly converted to action potential outputs, yet the spatiotemporal patterns of dendritic activation remain to be elucidated at single-synapse resolution. In rodents, we optically imaged synaptic activities from hundreds of dendritic spines in hippocampal and neocortical pyramidal neurons ex vivo and in vivo. Adjacent spines were frequently synchronized in spontaneously active networks, thereby forming dendritic foci that received locally convergent inputs from presynaptic cell assemblies. This precise subcellular geometry manifested itself during N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent circuit remodeling. Thus, clustered synaptic plasticity is innately programmed to compartmentalize correlated inputs along dendrites and may reify nonlinear synaptic integration.     

Genetic detection of Babesia bigemina from Mongolian cattle using apical membrane antigen-1 gene-based PCR assay

We developed a new nested PCR (nPCR) assay based on the Babesia bigemina apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) gene sequence for parasite-specific detection. The primers were designed to amplify 738-bp and 211-bp fragments of the AMA-1 gene by primary and nested PCRs, respectively. The assay was proven to be specific for the B. bigemina, whereas the previously established SpeI-AvaI nPCR assay amplified not only the target fragment of B. bigemina but also a homologous one from Babesia ovata. The AMA-1 nPCR assay was also evaluated using field DNA samples extracted from 266 bovine blood samples collected from Mongolia in 2010. In a comparative evaluation, 90 (33.8%) and 25 (9.4%) of the blood samples showed positive reactions for B. bigemina by the SpeI-AvaI nPCR and AMA-1 nPCR assays, respectively. The sequencing analysis of the nPCR products confirmed that the AMA-1 nPCR method had specifically detected the target B. bigemina DNA. However, 4 different kinds of sequences were determined among the SpeI-AvaI nPCR amplicons. Two of them were derived from B. bigemina and B. ovata, while the origins of the others were unknown. In the current study, the presence of B. bigemina was clearly demonstrated among Mongolian cattle populations by the current nPCR assay for the first time. Furthermore, our findings also indicate that the AMA-1 nPCR assay may be a useful diagnostic tool for the specific detection of B. bigemina.     

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of equine Babesia infections

Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with recombinant protein as antigens were evaluated by comparison with the indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT) for the detection of specific antibodies to Babesia caballi and Babesia equi, respectively in 380 sera from experimentally infected, uninfected, and field horses. The high concordances of 92.4% (351/380) and 98.2% (373/380) between ELISA and IFAT for B. caballi and B. equi, respectively suggest that ELISA, especially for B. equi infection, could be alternative to the corresponding IFAT for serodiagnoses of equine piroplasmosis, although some improvements are required in ELISA for B. caballi.     

Expression of bovine parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone- related protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor mRNA in the mammary gland of cows

To examine the PTH/PTHrP receptor in the mammary gland, molecular cloning of bovine PTH/PTHrP receptor and measurement of its mRNA expression were carried out in cows during the periparturient period. The PTH/PTHrP receptor gene was partially cloned, and expression of bovine PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA was detected in various tissues of the cow. In the mammary gland, PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA expression was constantly low during the periparturient period, whereas PTHrP mRNA expression dramatically increased after parturition. This suggested that expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA in the mammary gland is not affected by lactation in cows.     

The first survey of Theileria orientalis infection in Mongolian cattle

In the present study, we have surveyed the presence of a bovine Theileria protozoan, Theileria orientalis, in Mongolian cattle and engorging tick populations from selected provinces and districts in Mongolia. The percentages of infection in the cattle and ticks ranged from 8.8 to 66.6 and from 3.7 to 73.3, respectively, on a per district basis. The genetic diversity of T. orientalis isolates was also studied, based on the protozoan gene encoding a major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP). At least five genotypes (types 1, 3, 5, 7, and N-3) of T. orientalis were found to be circulating among the Mongolian cattle and tick populations. In particular, types 3 and N-3 were common in most of the districts examined, while a strong geographical relationship among the genotypes was not detected in the present study. This is the first epidemiological report describing the presence of T. orientalis infection in Mongolian cattle.