A Case of Feline Papilliferous Mammary Adenocarcinoma with Widespread Metastases

A papilliferous mammary adenocarcinoma with generalized metastasis, including multiple involvement of the brain, was found in a 14-year old female native born cat. No nervous signs except some behaviorial changes were noted.     

一株惊纹地老虎幼虫颗粒体病毒的研究

1978年春,在新疆博湖从惊纹地老虎Agrotis exclamationis(Linné)(鳞翅目:夜蛾科)幼虫中发现一株病毒“Ae—02”,病毒颗粒体为卵形或卵圆形,大小为374～780×312～450nm,平均为578×412nm;病毒粒子杆状,两端钝圆,不弯曲或稍弯曲,大小为350～450×40～65nm,平均为395×50nm。该病毒对惊纹地老虎和黄地老虎A.segetum(Schiff.)幼虫致病力强。在日平均温度为24.2℃时,对1日龄惊纹地老虎幼虫感病19天后死亡率达96～100%;25天后10日龄幼虫死亡率达84～92%;对15日龄幼虫死亡率为73.96～80.96%。惊纹地老虎病毒“Ae—02”毒株,属杆状病毒科Baculoviridae,杆状病毒属Baculovirus,“B”亚组,定名为惊纹地老虎颗粒体病毒Agrotis excula-mationis granulosis virus,俗名鸣夜蛾颗粒体病毒,拉丁学名为Baculovirusexclamationis“B”,简称AeGV。     

Antitumor principle constituents of Myrica rubra Var. acuminata

Myrica rubra var. acuminata is a native shrub widely distributed and used as folk medicine in Taiwan for stomach disorders and diarrhea. Column chromatography combined with cytotoxic bioassay-guided fractionation was performed to isolate the antitumor principles from fresh leaves of M. rubravar. acuminata. The 20% MeOH eluate fraction of M. rubra var. acuminata inhibited the viability of HeLa and P-388 cells in an in vitro assay and an in vivo P-388 tumor-bearing CDF(1) mouse model. The percent increase in life span (%ILS) of 20% MeOH eluate fraction was greater than 125%. (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (1) and prodelphinidin A-2,3'-O-gallate (2) were isolated from D-20 as the antitumor principle components. Both compounds can inhibit the growth of HeLa cells, but 1 had lower cytotoxic effects in normal cervical fibroblasts than did 2. Moreover, pretreatment with a caspase-3 specific inhibitor prevented 1- and 2-induced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. In view of these results, we suggest that 1 and 2 can induce apoptosis in HeLa cells and that activation of caspase-3 may provide a mechanistic explanation for their cytotoxic effects. Therefore, we suggest that the 20% MeOH eluate fraction extract is good for health and that M. rubra var. acuminata is an economically valuable plant.     

Oral immunization using formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae antigens entrapped in microspheres with aqueous dispersion polymers prepared using a co-spray drying process

Oral-vaccine microspheres based on formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (AP-1) antigens and enteric-coated polymers were prepared using a co-spray drying process. We evaluated using this for a peroral vaccine. We measured specific-antibody titers and protection from challenge in mouse and pig models. In mice (24 per group), a subcutaneous aluminum-adjuvant vaccine or oral vaccination with three doses of AQ6-AP microspheres provided similar protection against intranasal challenge with 5 x 10(8) colony-formation units (cfu) of AP-1 bacterial culture broth. Two weeks after four oral vaccinations with 600 mg of AQ6-AP microsphere acetate solution (containing formalin-inactivated AP-1 antigens of 1.0 x 10(10) cfu bacterial broth), pigs (9 per group) were challenged intranasally with 1 ml of AP-1 bacterial culture broth (5 x 10(9) cfu). The clinical signs, percentage of pig survival ratio, lung lesion areas, and microscopic examinations indicated that the oral AQ6-AP vaccine provided more protection than vaccinating pigs intramuscularly with AP-1 aluminum vaccine.     

Afferent and efferent connections of the nucleus rotundus demonstrated by WGA-HRP in the chick

Organization of the fibre connections in the chick nucleus rotundus (Rt) was investigated by an axonal tracing method using wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). After an injection of WGA-HRP into the Rt, labelled neurones were observed in the striatum griseum centrale (SGC) in both sides of the tectum (TO) and in the ipsilateral nucleus subpretectalis/nucleus interstito-pretecto-subpretectalis (SP/IPS). Labelled fibres and terminals were also found in the ipsilateral ectostriatum (Ect). These fibre connections were topographically organized rostrocaudally. In the TO-Rt projection, the rostral and the dorsocaudal parts of the Rt received afferents from the superficial part of the SGC, the middle part of the Rt received afferents from the intermediate part of the SGC, and the ventrocaudal part of the Rt received mainly fibres from the deep part of the SGC. These topographic projections were accompanied by a considerable number of diffuse projections to the thalamic regions surrounding the Rt. In addition, the rostral and middle caudal parts of the Rt received afferents from the lateral and medial parts of the SP/IPS, respectively, and respective parts of the Rt sent efferents to the lateral and medial parts of the Ect.     

Lignin deposition and associated changes in anatomy,enzyme activity,gene expression,and ruminal degradability in stems of tall fescue at different developmental stages

Stem tissues of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were sampled at three elongation stages and three reproductive stages. Anatomical analysis showed the deposition of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) lignin during plant development and the formation of a lignified sclerenchyma ring. A dramatic increase in Klason lignin content was found from elongation stage to reproductive stage. Lignin composition analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that S lignin content and S/G ratio increased with stem development, but contents of p-hydroxyphenyl (H) and G lignins decreased during the same period. S lignin content and S/G ratio also increased from the younger upper internode down to the older basal internode of the stem, but G and H lignin decreased in parallel. Relative O-methyltransferase activities increased during stem development and in parallel with the lignification process of stem. The pattern of enzyme activity during development varied with the choice of substrate, with highest activities seen when substrates were caffeoylaldehyde and 5-hydroxyferulic acid, and lowest activities were seen when caffeic acid and 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol were used as substrates. The expression of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase genes increased during the stem elongation stage and remained at high levels during the reproductive stages. The changes at anatomical, metabolic, and molecular levels during plant development were closely associated with lignification and degradability. This study provides an integrated picture of the molecular and chemical events that accompany changes in lignin deposition and ruminal degradability.     

Body composition and tissue accretion rates of barrows fed corn-soybean meal diets or low-protein, amino acid-supplemented diets at different feeding levels

Two experiments, each with 39 high-lean-gain potential barrows, were conducted to evaluate the organ weights, body chemical composition, and tissue accretion rates of pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets (CONTROL) and low-protein diets supplemented with crystalline lysine, threonine, tryptophan, and methionine either on an ideal protein basis (IDEAL) or in a pattern similar to that of the control diet (AACON). Amino acids were added on a true ileally digestible basis. The initial and final BW were, respectively, 31.5 and 82.3 kg in Exp. 1 and 32.7 and 57.1 kg in Exp. 2, and pigs were fed for 55 and 27 d in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. In Exp. 1, the CONTROL and IDEAL diets were offered on an ad libitum basis, or by feeding 90 or 80% of ad libitum intake. In Exp. 2, the CONTROL, IDEAL, and AACON diets were offered on an ad libitum basis, or by feeding 80% of the ad libitum intake. Three pigs were killed at the start of the experiments and three from each treatment were killed at the end of each experiment to determine body chemical composition. In both trials, the whole-body protein concentration (g/kg) and the accretion rates of protein (g/d) were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the CONTROL than for pigs fed the IDEAL and AACON diets. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the CONTROL diet had a trend (P < 0.10) for greater water and lower lipid concentration and had greater (P < 0.05) water and ash accretion rates. Whole-body protein concentration was greatest (P < 0.05) in pigs fed at 80% of ad libitum, but protein, water, and ash accretion rates were greatest (P < 0.05) in pigs allowed ad libitum access to feed. In summary, pigs fed the IDEAL and the AACON diets had less protein in the body and lower protein accretion rates than pigs fed the CONTROL diet. It seems that reductions in protein deposition in pigs fed the IDEAL and AACON diets may have been due to a deficiency of one or more essential amino acids or possibly to increases in the NE for metabolic processes leading to increases in adipose tissue deposition.     

Identification of unique or elevated levels of kernel proteins in aflatoxin-resistant maize genotypes through proteome analysis

ABSTRACT Aflatoxins are carcinogens produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus during infection of susceptible crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). Resistant maize genotypes have been identified, but the incorporation of resistance into commercial lines has been slow due to the lack of selectable markers. Here we report the identification of potential markers in resistant maize lines using a proteomics approach. Kernel embryo proteins from each of two resistant genotypes have been compared with those from a composite of five susceptible genotypes using large format two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Through these comparisons, both quantitative and qualitative differences have been identified. Protein spots have been sequenced, and based on peptide sequence homology analysis, are categorized as follows: storage proteins (globulin 1 and globulin 2), late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins related to drought or desiccation (LEA3 and LEA14), water- or osmo-stress related proteins (WSI18 and aldose reductase), and heat-stress related proteins (HSP16.9). Aldose reductase activity measured in resistant and susceptible genotypes before and after infection suggests the importance of constitutive levels of this enzyme to resistance. Results of this study point to a correlation between host resistance and stress tolerance. The putative function of each identified protein is discussed.     

Identification of major allergens of Malassezia pachydermatis in dogs with atopic dermatitis and Malassezia overgrowth

Abstract We have previously shown that both atopic and normal dogs generate an IgG response to antigens of Malassezia pachydermatis . The aim of this study was to compare IgE responses to separated proteins of M. pachydermatis in 28 atopic dogs with Malassezia dermatitis and 22 clinically normal dogs using Western immunoblotting. Six different detection systems were evaluated in order to assess sensitivity and eliminate nonspecific binding and cross-reactivity. The protocol yielding the best results utilized a monoclonal mouse antidog IgE, an alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat antimouse IgG which had been passed through a canine IgG column 3 times, a chemiluminescent substrate and a digital imaging system. Proteins of 45, 52, 56 and 63 kDa were recognized by more than 50% of the atopic dog sera and thus represented major allergens. Only a minority of normal dogs showed faint IgE binding to these proteins. The results indicate that the majority of atopic dogs with Malassezia dermatitis have a greater IgE response than normal dogs, suggesting an IgE-mediated immune response may be clinically important in the pathogenesis of the disease.