Waxy wheat as a functional food for human consumption

Waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a type of wheat that was first developed in Japan, produces grain amylopectin. I carried out three researches. Firstly, using Japanese adults, we carried out sensory evaluation of three types of mochi (a dumpling-like cake made of steamed and pounded grains) prepared from waxy wheat, normal wheat and waxy rice, and demonstrated that waxy wheat mochi had low adhesiveness and had the greatest ease of swallowing among the samples tested. Secondly, using the members of the JSDR (the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation) who attended the annual meeting, we performed another texture evaluations between waxy wheat and waxy rice mochi. The respondents reported waxy wheat mochi was less sticky and thus easier to chew and swallow than waxy rice mochi.     

Rhamnose-binding lectins induce respiratory burst activity in macrophage cells from rainbow trout

Rhamnose-binding lectins (RBLs) have been isolated and characterized from various kinds of fish. RBLs recognize the structures of lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acid on microbes, and have an opsonic effect, suggesting that RBLs play an important role as pattern recognition proteins in innate immunity. However, the function of RBLs in the removal of pathogens from the body has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of three RBLs—named CSL1, 2, and 3—that were isolated from chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta eggs on the respiratory burst activity in a macrophage cell line. The CSLs induced reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal macrophage cell line from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (RTM5). However, this activity was not affected by l-rhamnose or dl-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, an inhibitor for glucosylceramide synthesis, indicating that the interaction between CSLs and Gb3 on cell surfaces was not involved in the induction of respiratory burst activity.     

The first occurrence of leaf mold of tomato caused by races 4.9 and 4.9.11 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Passalora fulva</Emphasis> (syn. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fulvia fulva</Emphasis>) in Japan

Tomato leaf mold caused by Passalora fulva was found on two tomato varieties carrying the Cf-9 gene in Japan, in 2007. The isolates obtained from Chiba and Fukushima were identified as race 4.9.11, and those from Gunma were races 4.9 or 4.9.11. This is the first report in Japan of tomato leaf mold caused by P. fulva strains that can overcome the Cf-9 gene.     

Identification of genes required for the fitness of Rhodococcus equi during the infection of mice via signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis

Rhodococcus equi is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium that causes pyogranulomatous pneumonia in foals and immunocompromised people. In the present study, signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis was applied for the negative selection of R. equi mutants that cannot survive in vivo. Twenty-five distinguishable plasmid-transposon (plasposon) vectors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), each containing a unique oligonucleotide tag, were constructed and used to select the transposon mutants that have in vivo fitness defects using a mouse systemic infection model. Of the 4,560 transposon mutants, 102 mutants were isolated via a real-time PCR-based screening as the mutants were unable to survive in the mouse model. Finally, 50 single transposon insertion sites were determined via the self-cloning strategy. The insertion of the transposon was seen on the virulence plasmid in 15 of the 50 mutants, whereas the remaining 35 mutants had the insertion of transposon on the chromosome. The chromosomal mutants contained transposon insertions in genes involved in cellular metabolism, DNA repair and recombination, gene regulation, non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, and unknown functions. Additionally, seven of the chromosomal mutants showed a reduced ability to multiply in the macrophages in vitro. In this study, we have identified several biosynthetic pathways as fitness factors associated with the growth within macrophages and survival in mice.     

CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF CANINE FOCAL LIVER LESIONS

In six normal beagles and 27 dogs with spontaneous focal or multifocal liver lesions, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid^® was performed. Sonazoid^® is a newly developed second-generation contrast agent with the ability to be used for real-time contrast imaging along with parenchymal imaging. An appropriate protocol for the evaluation of all three phases (arterial, portal, and parenchymal) was established based on the results for normal beagles. By evaluation of the echogenicity of hepatic nodules during the arterial and parenchymal phases it was possible to differentiate malignant tumors from benign nodules with very high accuracy. In 15 of 16 dogs diagnosed as malignant tumors, nodules were clearly hypoechoic to the surrounding normal liver during the parenchymal phase. Additionally, malignant tumors had different echogenicity compared with the surrounding normal liver during the arterial phase in 14 of 15 dogs. In the portal phase, there were no characteristic findings. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Sonazoid^® appears to improve the characterization of canine focal and multifocal hepatic lesions.     

Effects of proanthocyanidin preparations on hyperlipidemia and other biomarkers in mouse model of type 2 diabetes

The protective effect of proanthocyanidins from persimmon peel, using both oligomers and polymers, was investigated in a db/db type 2 diabetes model. Male db/db mice were divided into three groups: control (vehicle), polymer-, or oligomer- (10 mg/(kg body weight x day x p.o.)) administered mice. Age-matched nondiabetic m/m mice were used as a normal group. The administration of proanthocyanidins reduced hyperglycemia in db/db mice through a decline in the serum level of glucose and glycosylated protein. In addition, it had a strong effect on hyperlipidemia through lowering levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acids. The protective effect against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia was greater in the groups administered the oligomeric rather than polymeric form. The increased oxidative stress in db/db mice was attenuated by the administration of oligomers through inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and elevating the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. On the other hand, polymers did not show such an effect. Moreover, expressions in the liver of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1 and SREBP-2 were downregulated by the administration of proanthocyanidins, especially the oligomeric form. Oligomers caused a slight elevation in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha. Furthermore, oligomeric proanthocyanidin regulated the expression of nuclear factor kappaB in db/db type 2 diabetes via the activation of inhibitor protein kappaB-alpha. It also attenuated the protein expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. This suggests that oligomers would act as a regulator in inflammatory reactions associated with oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes. The present study results suggest that proanthocyanidin administration, especially the oligomeric form, may improve oxidative stress via the regulation of hyperlipidemia than hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes.     

Zoogeographical barriers causing discontinuous osteometrical variations in the northern treeshrew skulls

Morphological variation of the skull was examined in the northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri) from various localities across Southeast Asia. Through a multivariate analysis, the treeshrews from South Vietnam exhibited distinct morphological characteristics compared to other populations from Thailand and Laos, and Malaysia. The plots of the specimens of North Vietnam are not randomly mixed with Thailand plots segregation in the scatteregrams of canonical discriminant analysis. Since the skulls of the population from North Vietnam were morphologically similar to those form central Laos and northern and northeastern Thailand, the zoogeographical barrier effect of Mekong River was not clearly confirmed. The population of the Kanchanaburi in western Thailand is clearly smaller in size compared to the other populations. The southern border of the distribution of this species is determined by the Isthmus of Kra or Kangar-Pattani Line. In the northern treeshrew, which is distributed from southern China to Bangladesh and southern Thailand, we have detected osteometrical geographical variation driven by geography. These results indicate that the skull morphology in the Tupaia glis-belangeri complex distinctively differs in South Vietnam, western Thailand, and southern Thailand. The zoogeographical barrier and factor separating these districts are expected to clarify in the future.     

Retrospective study on the outcomes and risk factors of right paramedian abomasopexy for right abomasal disorders in 47 dairy cows

Very few epidemiologic studies have verified the utility of the right paramedian abomasopexy (RPA) technique in cows with right abomasal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and risk factors for non-survival in the herd within 30 days of surgery in cows with right abomasal disorders who underwent the RPA technique. Forty-seven Holstein cows with right abomasal disorders (25 with right abomasal displacement [RDA] and 22 with right abomasal volvulus [RAV]) were included. Twenty-two cows with RDA (22/25, 88.0%) and 10 cows with RAV (10/22, 45.5%) survived at 30 days post-surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and the presence of abomasal volvulus were the major risk factors associated with non-survival.     

Changes in the plasma levels of several bone markers in newborn calves during the first two days of life

The fluctuations in the plasma levels of several bone markers were investigated in newborn calves. Experiment 1 monitored the postnatal changes in the plasma levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b), total alkaline phosphatase (t-ALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in four calves. These markers increased significantly from 9−20 hr after the first colostrum-suckling compared with the values immediately after birth. Experiment 2 evaluated changes in the plasma TRAP5b, t-ALP, BAP and type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) levels within 2 days post-birth in five calves with successful passive immunization via colostrum (non-deficient group) and five others with poor colostrum intake (deficient group). The non-deficient group had significantly higher plasma levels of the four parameters around 12 hr of life compared with the deficient group. The results suggest that the increase in plasma bone markers in calves in the first day of life is related to the colostrum intake.