Morphological analysis of viral communities in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field

Capsid size distributions of viral communities in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field under a long-term fertilizer trial were surveyed during the rice cultivation period by using transmission electron microscopy. The capsid size distributions were monophasic, and the median values fell within the range of 50-70 nm. The quartile intervals were narrow from either 40-50 nm or 50-60 nm to either 60-70 nm or 70-80 nm for most samples. There was no clear seasonal variation in the capsid size distribution of viral communities. The difference in size distributions among different fertilizer plots was also not found. Viral communities in the floodwater were predominated by isometric icosahedral forms. Viruses with octahedral capsids and elongated ones were rare and sporadic in the floodwater.     

Quercetin-4'-glucoside is more potent than quercetin-3-glucoside in protection of rat intestinal mucosa homogenates against iron ion-induced lipid peroxidation

Quercetin is a typical antioxidative flavonoid found in vegetables, which is more commonly present as its glucosides, quercetin-3-glucoside (Q3G) and quercetin-4'-glucoside (Q4'G). The main aim of this study was to estimate the antioxidant activity of Q3G and Q4'G on iron ion-driven lipid peroxidation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Q4'G markedly suppressed the lipid peroxidation when rat gastrointestinal mucosa homogenates were incubated with Fe(NO3)3 and ascorbic acid. Its effectiveness was greater as compared to that of Q3G and comparable to that of quercetin aglycone. Furthermore, Q4'G yielded higher amounts of quercetin aglycone than Q3G on incubation with the homogenates. However, Q4'G showed a lower chelating activity in comparison to Q3G. These results indicate that Q4'G, even though it has a low chelating activity, because of its efficient conversion to antioxidative aglycone on exposure to the mucosa, can act as a powerful antioxidant on iron ion driven lipid peroxidation in the intestinal mucosa. Thus, vegetables rich in Q4'G, such as onion, are likely to serve as favorable antioxidant sources for suppressing iron-induced oxidative stress in the intestinal tract.     

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.     

The effect of approach direction and pace on flight distance of beef breeding cows

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of approach direction and pace on flight distance of beef breeding cows. Five Japanese Black breeding cows were used as experimental cattle. Three approach directions were tested; that were the approach toward the head of the test cow from the front direction (FRONT), the approach toward to the foreleg of the test cow from the right or left (SIDE) and the approach toward to hind‐leg of the test cow diagonally from the right or left rear (BACK). Three levels of approach pace were also tested; that were the approach at a pace of 7 km/h, the approach at a pace of 4 km/h, and the approach at a pace of 1 km/h. The shortest distance between observer and cow's at the moment of the cow's withdrawal was defined as the flight distance. The flight distance in FRONT was significantly shorter than that in SIDE. The effect of the approach pace was significant. The faster an observer approached to cow, the greater the flight distance shown by the cow. The manner of approach to cattle markedly affects the flight distance. Therefore, the manner of approach to cattle must be standardized to measure flight distance for sharing results obtained by several researchers under various conditions.     

Glomerular lipidosis accompanied by renal tubular oxalosis in wild and laboratory-reared Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus)

Glomerular lipidosis is a disease characterized by lipid accumulation in mesangial cells but that has not been fully investigated in avian species. We examined four wild and two laboratory-reared Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus)--an endangered avian species--presenting vacuolar deposits in the glomeruli. All cases had vacuolar deposits in the glomeruli. In the wild cases, fewer than 30% of all glomeruli were affected, compared with more than 90% in the laboratory-reared cases. In the wild cases, most deposits were mild and restricted to the mesangial areas of glomeruli. In the laboratory-reared cases, nearly all of the deposits covered entire glomeruli. Electron microscopy of mild deposits revealed vacuoles in the cytoplasm of mesangial cells. These vacuoles were positive for Sudan III, Sudan black B, oil red O, Nile blue, periodic acid-Schiff, Schultz test, and digitonin stain and were negative for performaric acid-Schiff stains. Based on these results, we diagnosed the glomerular lesion as glomerular lipidosis caused by uptake of low-density lipoprotein in mesangial cells. Except for one wild case, all cases exhibited renal tubular oxalosis. The severity of tubular oxalosis tended to be related to the severity of glomerular lipidosis: In cases of mild glomerular lipidosis, tubular oxalosis was also mild or absent. We therefore diagnosed the primary lesion as glomerular lipidosis accompanied by tubular oxalosis. The four wild cases came from different zones and therefore had no opportunities to interbreed and no common relatives. We believe these data support the hypothesis that glomerular lipidosis is a disease of the general population ofJapanese rock ptarmigans. This is the first report of glomerular lipidosis accompanied by renal tubular oxalosis in an avian species.