Estimation of the carcass composition from a cross-section of the rib-loin from crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle by computer image analysis

The carcass composition of crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle was examined in order to find an accurate carcass composition equation. The test animals included 17 steers and 17 heifers. The 28 image measurements from the area encircling the vertical line to the thoracic vertebra and the line from the thoracic vertebra between the sixth and seventh rib‐bones were measured by computer image analysis. The relationships between the 29 parameters that added the carcass left side weight of the animal and the carcass composition were suggested. The carcass composition included muscle weight, muscle ratio, fat weight and fat ratio. The carcass composition from steers was estimated by an equation composed of these three or four parameters (R² = 90.80%, 79.30%, 90.75% and 73.70%, respectively). The selected parameters were measured without cutting the thoracic vertebra. The carcass composition from heifers was estimated by an equation composed of two to four parameters (R² = 96.15%, 90.98%, 93.60% and 88.22%, respectively). The parameters for the estimation of the muscle and fat weight, and muscle and fat ratio are very similar. Furthermore, the equations using the parameters could estimate the carcass composition from the Japanese Black × Limousin cattle resource population.     

The therapeutic effects of SET/I2PP2A inhibitors on canine melanoma

Canine melanoma is one of the most important diseases in small animal medicine. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a well conserved serine/threonine phosphatase, plays a critical role as a tumor suppressor. SET/I2PP2A is an endogenous inhibitor for PP2A, which directly binds to PP2A and suppresses its phosphatase activity. Elevated SET protein levels have been reported to exacerbate human tumor progression. The role of SET in canine melanoma, however, has not been understood. Here, we investigated the potential therapeutic role for SET inhibitors in canine melanoma. The expression of SET protein was observed in 6 canine melanoma cell lines. We used CMeC-1 cells (primary origin) and CMeC-2 cells (metastatic origin) to generate cell lines stably expressing SET-targeting shRNAs. Knockdown of SET expression in CMeC-2, but not in CMeC-1, leads to decreased cell proliferation, invasion and colony formation. Phosphorylation level of p70 S6 kinase was decreased by SET knockdown in CMeC-2, suggesting the involvement of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)/p70 S6 kinase signaling. The SET inhibitors, OP449 and FTY720, more effectively killed CMeC-2 than CMeC-1. We observed PP2A activation in CMeC-2 treated with OP449 and FTY720. These results demonstrated the potential therapeutic application of SET inhibitors for canine melanoma.     

Pathogenicity of emerging Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in experimentally infected pigs

To clarify the pathogenicity of Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate in experimentally infected pigs, we evaluated clinical signs and monitored viremia for 21 days post-inoculation (dpi). Lungs were mottled, tanned and reddish in appearance; had lesions predominantly in the cranial, middle and accessory lobes; and failed to collapse at 10 dpi. Although microscopic lesions of lungs were reproduced using the Japanese emerging type 1 PRRSV isolate under experimental conditions, no significant differences were noted between the challenge and control groups regarding mean rectal temperature and daily weight gain. These results provide useful insights into the limited pathogenicity of single infection with the Japanese type 1 PRRSV isolate in piglets, which differ from findings in reported field cases.     

Monetary costs of dietary energy reported by young Japanese women: association with food and nutrient intake and body mass index

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the relationship of monetary diet costs to dietary intake and obesity, particularly in non-Western populations. This study examined monetary cost of dietary energy in relation to diet quality and body mass index (BMI) among young Japanese women. DESIGN: Dietary intake was assessed by a validated, self-administered, diet history questionnaire. Diet costs were estimated using retail food prices. Monetary cost of dietary energy (Japanese yen 1000 kcal-1) was then calculated. BMI was computed from self-reported body weight and height. SUBJECTS: A total of 3931 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18-20 years. RESULTS: Monetary cost of dietary energy was positively associated with intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish, and pulses; however, higher monetary cost of dietary energy was also associated with higher consumption of fat and oil, meat and energy-containing beverages, and lower consumption of cereals (rice, bread and noodles) (all P for trend <0.01). At the nutrient level, monetary cost of dietary energy was positively associated with intakes of dietary fibre and key vitamins and minerals, but also associated positively with intakes of fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol and sodium, and negatively with carbohydrate intake (all P for trend <0.0001). After adjustment for possible confounders, monetary cost of dietary energy was quite weakly but significantly negatively associated with BMI (P for trend = 0.0197). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing monetary cost of dietary energy was associated with both favourable and unfavourable dietary intake patterns and a quite small decrease in BMI in young Japanese women.     

Characterization of the digestive tract of wild ayu

ABSTRACT: The gut and gut contents of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis caught in the Ohta River in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan were examined. Relative intestine length (intestine length/body length) was almost constant. Except for relative intestine length, characteristics of the gut of wild ayu were not significantly different from those of cultured ayu. The height of intestinal folds increased and their width declined from stomach to anus. Cyanobacteria ( Homoeathrix sp. and Calothrix sp.) and diatoms ( Cymbella sp., Gomphonema sp., Melosira sp., Navicula sp., and Synedra sp.) were well digested during passage through the gut despite a lack of apparent destruction. In contrast, green algae ( Dictyosphearium sp., Coelastrum sp., and Pediastrum sp.) exhibited little degradation. The pH of stomach contents ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 (mean ± SD = 4.1 ± 1.0), whereas that of the posterior intestine was 7.0–8.5 (7.9 ± 0.4). Gut contents of wild ayu increased with bodyweight, and were more than threefold greater than those of cultured ayu, suggesting that wild ayu compensate for low nutrient content of algae through the continuous ingestion of large quantities of feed organisms.     

Functional properties, lipoxygenase activity, and health aspects of Lupinus albus protein isolates

To utilize lupin seeds for food and pharmaceutical applications, lupin seeds were pretreated to remove oil using hexane or carbon dioxide. Two types of lupin protein isolate were prepared. Both types of protein isolate showed good foaming activity, comparable to egg white. Protein isolate extracted under acid conditions showed higher foaming activity than protein isolate extracted at neutral pH. The lipoxygenase activity was much reduced in both of the protein isolates. The protein isolate extracted at neutral pH showed a stronger angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition than the protein isolate extracted under acidic pH. In contrast, the protein isolate extracted under acid conditions had a greater sodium cholate binding capacity, comparable to that of cholestyramine. Lupin samples showed less DPPH radical scavenging activity than deoiled soybean. The deoiling method did not affect the functional properties, lipoxygenase activity, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, sodium cholate binding, and radical scavenging activity.