Endometrial stromal sarcoma with smooth muscle and glandular differentiation of the feline uterus

The intra-abdominal tumor developing in the uterus and lung of a domestic Shorthair cat was examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. The tumor showed a proliferation of both endometrial stromal and smooth muscle cells accompanied by prominent vasculature. There were well-differentiated endometrial glands, and tubuli made up a monolayer of eosinophilic cuboidal epithelium. Immunohistochemically, the spindle-shaped cells and half of the stromal-like cells reacted to caldesmon and desmin antibodies. The neoplastic epithelium expressed AE1/AE3 cytokeratin. Feline endometrial stromal tumor has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported previously and has smooth muscle and glandular components that are a unique variant to the human counterpart.     

Irradiation history of Itokawa regolith material deduced from noble gases in the Hayabusa samples

Noble gas isotopes were measured in three rocky grains from asteroid Itokawa to elucidate a history of irradiation from cosmic rays and solar wind on its surface. Large amounts of solar helium (He), neon (Ne), and argon (Ar) trapped in various depths in the grains were observed, which can be explained by multiple implantations of solar wind particles into the grains, combined with preferential He loss caused by frictional wear of space-weathered rims on the grains. Short residence time of less than 8 million years was implied for the grains by an estimate on cosmic-ray-produced (21)Ne. Our results suggest that Itokawa is continuously losing its surface materials into space at a rate of tens of centimeters per million years. The lifetime of Itokawa should be much shorter than the age of our solar system.     

Improvement of the material property of shark type I collagen by composing with pig type I collagen

Fibril reconstruction process, that is, the nucleation and growth of mixed type I collagen fibril of shark and pig, progressed faster than that of the individual collagen species of shark or pig. The reconstructed mixed collagen fibril had a greater resistance to return to the solution or to melt into gelatin in comparison with the counterpart consisting solely of shark collagen. The denaturation temperature of the mixed collagen gel was about 10 degrees C higher than that of shark, and about 5 degrees C lower than that of pig. By scanning electron microscopy, the diameter of mixed collagen fibril showed an intermediate range between shark and pig collagen fibril. The breaking strength of the mixed collagen gel was tougher than that of pig, but weaker than that of shark. Other physicochemical properties of the mixed type I collagen gel were observed to be at intermediate positions between those of shark and pig type I collagen gels.     

Prediction of dry veneer stiffness using near infrared spectra from transverse section of green log

This study examined the feasibility of near infrared spectroscopy as a novel technique for log assessment on the basis of wood property. Near infrared (NIR) spectra were obtained from the transverse section of green log and multivariate regression analysis was carried out to predict the stiffness of veneer processed from the log. The stiffness of the veneer was dynamic modulus of elasticity measured using ultrasonic method. The calibrations of veneer stiffness had moderate relationships between measured and NIR-predicted values, with regression coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.88. The calibration equations were applied to the test set and it was found that predictions were also well fitted, with regression coefficients ranging from 0.67 to 0.89. The results indicate that the variation of wood stiffness within the logs could be assessed using the NIR spectra from the cross-section of logs. The spectra were obtained from green condition of the log and the stiffness of veneer was measured after kiln drying. Thus, the results imply that the wood stiffness in dry condition could be predicted using the spectra collected from green logs. If the models obtained in this study put into the imaging system, the two-dimensional map of the stiffness would be visualized on the cross-section of logs. The NIR spectroscopy coupled with imaging system could compensate the weak point of the traditional methods for log assessment.     

Thioacetamide-induced Hepatocellular Necrosis Is Attenuated in Diet-induced Obese Mice

To assess modification of thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in mice fed a high-fat diet, male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal rodent diet or a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and then treated once intraperitoneally with thioacetamide at 50 mg/kg body weight. At 24 and 48 hours after administration, massive centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis was observed in mice fed the normal rodent diet, while the necrosis was less severe in mice fed the high-fat diet. In contrast, severe swelling of hepatocytes was observed in mice fed the high-fat diet. In addition, mice fed the high-fat diet displayed more than a 4-fold higher number of BrdU-positive hepatocytes compared with mice fed the normal rodent diet at 48 hours after thioacetamide treatment. To clarify the mechanisms by which the hepatic necrosis was attenuated, we investigated exposure to thioacetamide and one of its metabolites, the expression of CYP2E1, which converts thioacetamide to reactive metabolites, and the content of glutathione S-transferases in the liver. However, the reduced hepatocellular necrosis noted in mice fed the high-fat diet could not be explained by the differences in exposure to thioacetamide or thioacetamide sulfoxide or by differences in the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes. On the other hand, at 8 hours after thioacetamide administration, hepatic total glutathione in mice fed the high-fat diet was significantly lower than that in mice fed the normal diet. Hence, decreased hepatic glutathione amount is a candidate for the mechanism of the attenuated necrosis. In conclusion, this study revealed that thioacetamide-induced hepatic necrosis was attenuated in mice fed the high-fat diet.     

Comparative study on extractive components of fresh and boiled gonads of three species of sea urchins from the Gulf of Thailand

Proximate compositions and extractive components of the gonads (roes) of three species of sea urchins, namely, Diadema setosum, Salmacis sphaeroides and Toxopneustes pileolus, from the Gulf of Thailand were identified and the boiling effect on these extractive components of these sea urchin roes studied. Of the three species tested, the gonads of D. setosum had the lowest moisture (62 %) and ash (2 %) contents and the highest protein (15 %) and lipid (11 %) contents. Major extractive constituents of the roes of D. setosum were taurine, arginine, lysine, glycine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, alanine, glutamic acid and inosine 5′-monophosphate; those for the roes of S. sphaeroides were glycine, lysine, alanine, arginine, ATP and adenosine 5′-diphosphate; those for the roes of T. pileolus were glycine, alanine, serine, ATP and adenosine 5′-monophosphate, respectively. Boiling in 3 % brine (98–100 °C, 2 min) drastically reduced the amounts of both free amino acids and ATP-related compounds of sea urchins belonging to all these species.     

Heavy Metals in a Tropical Eel Anguilla marmorata from The Central Part of Vietnam

In order to understand the present status of heavy metal contamination and the risk associated with human consumption, commercial freshwater eels in Vietnam were examined. The concentration of eight elements (Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Pb) was determined in muscle tissue of tropical eel Anguilla marmorata collected in four provinces, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen, from the central part of Vietnam. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Sr were found to be highest, whereas Co concentration showed the lowest at Quang Tri. Cr was recorded to be lowest in Quang Ngai, while the amounts of Mn and Pb did not vary among locations. Although the metal concentrations in the muscle of A. marmorata did not represent a risk for human consumption, elevated Cd concentrations in Quang Tri related to agriculture activities suggest that further investigations should be undertaken to clarify the potential risk to the eel population.     

鲱鱼卵对鼠血浆脂质、葡萄糖、胰岛素和脂联素水平及肝脏脂质含量的影响

先前报道从盐渍的鲱鱼卵产品（干鲱鱼卵）中提取的脂质含大量胆固醇,磷脂酰胆碱和n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFAs）,如二十碳五烯酸（EPA,20：5n-3）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA,22：6n-3）;该脂质可降低鼠血浆脂质和葡萄糖浓度。本试验旨在评价含大量蛋白的干鲱鱼卵对鼠脂质和葡萄糖代谢的影响。雄性Crij-CD-1（ICR）鼠分别采食3种含冻千鲱鱼卵的试验饲粮。12周。试验饲粮如下：无干鲱鱼卵（对照饲粮）、1％干鲱鱼卵（含1％干鲱鱼卵饲粮）和4％干鲱鱼卵（含4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮）。与对照饲粮组相比,1％和4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮组,血浆总胆固醇、磷脂和葡萄糖浓度趋向于降低。对照饲粮组和4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮组,血浆葡萄糖浓度有显著差异（P〈0．05）。4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮组血浆脂联素浓度显著高于对照饲粮组（P〈0．05）,但是血浆胰岛素浓度在三组间没有显著差异。与对照饲粮组相比,4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮组肝脏总胆固醇和磷脂浓度趋于降低。与对照饲粮组相比,1％和4％干鲱鱼卵饲粮组血浆和肝脏n-3,n-6值极显著升高（分别为P〈O．005,P〈0．0005）。结果显示摄食干鲱鱼卵影响鼠脂质和葡萄糖代谢。     

Cryopreservation of male and female gonial cells by vitrification in the critically endangered cyprinid honmoroko <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gnathopogon caerulescens</Emphasis>

We investigated the feasibility of cryopreservation of spermatogonia and oogonia in the critically endangered cyprinid honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens using slow-cooling (freezing) and rapid-cooling (vitrification) methods. Initially, we examined the testicular cell toxicities and glass-forming properties of the five cryoprotectants: ethylene glycol (EG), glycerol (GC), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), and 1,3-butylene glycol (BG), and we determined cryoprotectant concentrations that are suitable for freezing and vitrification solutions, respectively. Subsequently, we prepared the freezing solutions of EG, GC, DMSO, PG, and BG at 3, 2, 3, 2, and 2 M and vitrification solutions at 7, 6, 5, 5, and 4 M, respectively. Following the cryopreservation of the testicular cells mainly containing early-stage spermatogenic cells (e.g., spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes), cells were cultured for 7 days and immunochemically stained against germ cell marker protein Vasa. Areas occupied by Vasa-positive cells indicated that vitrification led to better survival of germ cells than the freezing method, and the best result was obtained with 5 M PG, about 50% recovery of germ cells following vitrification. In the case of ovarian cells containing oogonia and stage I, II, and IIIa oocytes, vitrification with 5 M DMSO resulted the best survival of oogonia, with equivalent cell numbers to those cultured without vitrification. The present data suggest that male and female gonial cells of the endangered species G. caerulescens can be efficiently cryopreserved using suitable cryoprotectants for spermatogonia and oogonia, respectively.