Alteration of somatostatin receptor 2 expression in canine mammary gland tumor

Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is a negative regulator of cell proliferation in human breast cancer. Since there is little information about SSTR2 in canine mammary gland tumor (MGT), we clarified its distribution and expression level in normal mammary gland, benign MGT and malignant MGT. SSTR2 expression determined by immunohistochemical staining was observed in the cytoplasm of luminal epithelial cells. The intensity was negatively correlated with malignancy: normal tissues and some of the benign tumors had the highest levels, while the malignant tumors had little or no SSTR2 expression. As for the Western blotting, SSTR2 protein level in benign tumors was significantly lower than the normal mammary gland. On the other hand, SSTR2 protein levels in two of three malignant tumors were higher than the other groups. These results suggest that SSTR2 expression alters according to the malignancy of canine MGT.     

Improvement of the bitter taste of amino acids through the transpeptidation reaction of bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.

The tastes of several bitter amino acids and their gamma-glutamyl derivatives were compared. The bitterness of Phe, Val, Leu, and His was reduced, sourness was produced, and preferences were increased by gamma-glutamylization. Because the effect of gamma-glutamylization of bitter amino acids was most obvious for Phe, which is an atypical bitter amino acid, an enzymatic method for the synthesis of gamma-glutamylphenylalanine (gamma-Glu-Phe) involving bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase was developed. The optimum reaction conditions were 200 mM Gln, 200 mM Phe, and 0.5 unit/mL GGT, pH 10.4. After 1.5-h of incubation at 37 degrees C, 140 mM gamma-Glu-Phe was obtained, the yield being 70%. gamma-Glu-Phe was purified on a Dowex 1x8 column and then identified by NMR.     

Antitumor activity of compounds isolated from leaves of Eriobotrya japonica

In a search for possible antitumor agents from natural sources, megastigmane glycosides and polyphenolic constituents isolated from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica (Rosaceae) were found to inhibit the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced activation of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen in Raji cells. Roseoside and procyanidin B-2 were among the active compounds found in an in vitro assay; these compounds were further assessed for antitumor activity in vivo in a two-stage carcinogenesis assay on mouse skin. Roseoside significantly delayed carcinogenesis induced by peroxynitrite (initiator) and TPA (promoter), and its potency was comparable to that of a green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, in the same assay.     

Growth, Net Photosynthetic Rate, Nutrient Status and Secondary Xylem Anatomical Characteristics of Fagus Crenata Seedlings Grown in Brown Forest Soil Acidified with H2SO4 Solution

Dry matter production, net photosynthetic rate, leaf nutrient status and trunk anatomical characteristics of Fagus crenata seedlings grown in brown forest soil acidified by adding H₂SO₄ solution were investigated. The soil acidification leaded to decreased (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio in the soil solution. Dry mass per plant of the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly reduced compared with the control value at 0 mg·L^?1. When net photosynthetic rate was reduced in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1, the carboxylation efficiency and maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturated CO₂-concentration were lower than the control values. The addition of H⁺ to the soil at 120 mg·L^?1iinduced a reduction in the concentration of Ca in the leaf. By contrast, the concentration of Al in the leaf was increased with increasing the amount of H⁺ added to the soil. The annual ring formed in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly narrower than that at 0 (control), 10, 30, 60 or 90 mg·L^?1. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that Fagus crenata is relatively sensitive to a reduction in the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio of soil solution compared with Picea abies.     

Snowcover Components in Northern Japan

Snowcover surveys were carried out in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Snowpack samples were collected using a steel pipe at 80 sites in 1988, 69 sites in 1992, and 66 sites in 1996 and 2000 during the time when the water equivalents of the snowcover are the greatest. Spatial distribution maps of water equivalents and of the concentrations and the accumulated amounts of hydrogen, non-sea-salt sulfate and non-sea-salt calcium ion of the snowcover drawn by Kriging method are discussed. The distribution maps show that water equivalents and the accumulated amounts of hydrogen and non-sea-salt sulfate in all the sample years were largest in the Japan Sea region, as were the ion concentrations of hydrogen and non-sea-salt sulfate. It was estimated this was caused by air pollutants transported from a great distance. The ratio of areas below pH 5.0 increased temporally from 1988 (20%) to 1992, 1996 and 2000 (66–80%). This trend was estimated to be affected by a decline of non-sea-salt calcium concentrations derived from alkaline road dust. In addition, the effect of snowcover components was assessed by comparison between the acid loads of the snowcover and the acid neutralizing capacity of lake water. We found that lakes in the middle of the Japan Sea coast have the potential to be acidified by snowmelt.     

Structure-physicochemical function relationships of soybean beta-conglycinin heterotrimers

We purified four single molecular species of beta-conglycinin heterotrimers consisting of the alpha and beta subunits or the alpha' and beta subunits from mutant soybean cultivars lacking the alpha or alpha' subunit, respectively, and examined their structural features and physicochemical functions. The extent of the hydrophobicities of the heterotrimers was related to the number of the alpha or alpha' subunit. The thermal stabilities of the heterotrimers were mainly conferred by the subunit which had lower thermal stability. Solubilities at low ionic strength (mu = 0.08) of the heterotrimers containing the alpha or alpha' subunit were very similar to those of the alpha and alpha' homotrimers, respectively. Emulsifying abilities and heat-induced associations of the heterotrimers containing one beta subunit were similar to those of the alpha or alpha' homotrimer, whereas those of the heterotrimers containing two beta subunits were similar to those of the beta homotrimer.     

Impressions and purchasing intentions of Japanese consumers regarding pork produced by ‘Ecofeed,’ a trademark of food‐waste or food co‐product animal feed certified by the Japanese government

Impressions and purchasing intentions of Japanese consumers regarding pork produced by ‘Ecofeed’, a trademark of food‐waste or co‐product animal feeds certified by the Japanese government, were investigated by a questionnaire on the Internet. ‘Ecofeed’ did not elicit specific impressions as compared to domestic, imported, Kurobuta (in Japan), and specific pathogen‐free (SPF) pork. Purchasing intent for ‘Ecofeed’ pork was the second lowest of the five pork products. Knowledge and purchasing experience regarding ‘Ecofeed’ pork was the lowest of the five pork products. Respondents were classified into four categories according to their impressions of ‘Ecofeed’ pork. The largest category of respondents did not have any specific impression of ‘Ecofeed’ pork and had little knowledge of pork farming. A category that had a positive impression for ‘Ecofeed’ pork had high knowledge of the pork farming system. In order to establish ‘Ecofeed’ pork in Japan, our results suggest that information disclosure and education about ‘Ecofeed’, its certification system, environmental benefits and the current self‐efficiency ratio of animal feed, are needed.     

The association between gall bladder mucoceles and hyperlipidaemia in dogs: A retrospective case control study

The diagnosis of gall bladder mucoceles (GM) in dogs has become increasingly frequent in veterinary medicine. Primary breed-specific hyperlipidaemia is reported in Shetland Sheepdogs and Miniature Schnauzers, breeds in which GM are known to occur more frequently than in other breeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between GM and hyperlipidaemia in dogs. The study design was a retrospective case control study. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with GM at the Veterinary Medical Centre of The University of Tokyo between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2012, were reviewed.Fifty-eight dogs with GM and a record of either serum cholesterol, triglyceride, or glucose concentrations were included in the study. Hypercholesterolaemia (15/37 cases; odds ratio [OR]: 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–8.36) and hypertriglyceridaemia (13/24 cases; OR: 3.55; 95% CI:1.12–15.91) showed significant association with GM. Pomeranians (OR: 10.69), American Cocker Spaniels (OR: 8.94), Shetland Sheepdogs (OR: 6.21), Miniature Schnauzers (OR: 5.23), and Chihuahuas (OR: 3.06) were significantly predisposed to GM. Thirty-nine out of 58 cases had at least one concurrent disease, including pancreatitis (five cases), hyperadrenocorticism (two cases), and hypothyroidism (two cases). A significant association between GM and hyperlipidaemia was confirmed, suggesting that hyperlipidaemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of GM.     

Lipid distribution in branching coral Montipora digitata

>ABSTRACT: The lipid profile was studied along the branch length, from the top, middle to base portion, of coral Montipora digitata to gain more insight into the physiological significance of lipids in the coral energy budget. The lipids of M. digitata consisted of seven major lipid classes: polar lipid, sterol, free fatty acid, unknown lipids 1 and 2, triacylglycerol (TG), and wax ester. The concentration of storage lipids, TG, and wax ester showed a top–base gradient along the length, whereas the levels of free fatty acid and unknown lipids showed a base–top gradient. The proportions of polar lipid and sterol in the top portion of the branch were slightly higher than those in the base portion. This observation appeared to be compatible with the view that the increased energy expenditure for proliferation enhanced the mobilization of the storage fuel lipids of wax ester and TG rather than the structure lipids of polar lipids and sterols at the top portion of the branch. Compositions of fatty acid also showed a length-wise diversity. The top portion had a lower proportion of palmitic acid (16   :   0) in all lipid classes of fatty acid ester, suggesting that this fatty acid was preferentially mobilized at the top portion, probably for the growth of coral cells.