Hypoxia inducible factor 1α expression and effects of its inhibitors in canine lymphoma

Hypoxic conditions in various cancers are believed to relate with their malignancy, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been shown to be a major regulator of the response to low oxygen. In this study, we examined HIF-1α expression in canine lymphoma using cell lines and clinical samples and found that these cells expressed HIF-1α. Moreover, the HIF-1α inhibitors, echinomycin, YC-1 and 2-methoxyestradiol, suppressed the proliferation of canine lymphoma cell lines. In a xenograft model using NOD/scid mice, echinomycin treatment resulted in a dose-dependent regression of the tumor. Our results suggest that HIF-1α contributes to the proliferation and/or survival of canine lymphoma cells. Therefore, HIF-1α inhibitors may be potential agents to treat canine lymphoma.     

Gravinol ameliorates high-fructose-induced metabolic syndrome through regulation of lipid metabolism and proinflammatory state in rats

Using a rat model with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome, the effect of gravinol was investigated. Male Wistar rats were fed a 65% fructose diet and administered 10 or 20 mg of gravinol/kg of body weight/day for 2 weeks. High-level fructose feeding led to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertri-glyceridemia, and hypertension. On the other hand, the administration of gravinol significantly lowered serum glucose and total cholesterol levels. The tail arterial blood pressure was significantly elevated with the high-fructose diet. However, rats given gravinol showed a lower blood pressure as compared with fructose-fed control rats. In addition, the triglyceride (TG) levels in serum and lipoprotein fraction were dose-dependently reduced in rats fed gravinol. The decreases of hepatic TG and total cholesterol by gravinol were responsible for the down-regulation of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1. However, gravinol did not affect the protein levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and SREBP-2. Moreover, gravinol administration in the fructose-fed rats markedly reduced the glycosylated protein and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels in the serum and hepatic mitochondria, and it inhibited the increase of the cyclooxygenase-2 protein level as a result of the down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Furthermore, the decrease of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein levels and the increase of pro-apoptotic bax protein levels by the high-fructose diet were reversed by gravinol. These findings suggest that fructose-induced metabolic syndrome is attenuated by gravinol administration, which is associated with the reduction of serum lipids and protection against the proinflammatory state induced by oxidative stress.     

Erythritol attenuates the diabetic oxidative stress through modulating glucose metabolism and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

We investigated the effects of erythritol on rats with streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes mellitus. Oral administration of erythritol [100, 200, or 400 mg (kg body weight)(-1) day(-1) for 10 days] to rats with STZ-induced diabetes resulted in significant decreases in the glucose levels of serum, liver, and kidney. Erythritol also reduced the elevated serum 5-hydroxymethylfurfural level that is glycosylated with protein as an indicator of oxidative stress. In addition, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels of serum and liver and kidney mitochondria were dose-dependently lower in the erythritol-treated groups than in the control diabetic group. Furthermore, the serum creatinine level was reduced by oral administration of erythritol in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that erythritol affects glucose metabolism and reduces lipid peroxidation, thereby improving the damage caused by oxidative stress involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.     

Protective effect of heat-processed American ginseng against diabetic renal damage in rats

We investigated the effects of American ginseng (AG) and heat-processed American ginseng (H-AG) on diabetic renal damage using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats in this study. The diabetic rats showed a loss of body weight gain, and increases in kidney weight, food intake, water intake, and urine volume, whereas the oral administration of H-AG at a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight per day for 20 days attenuated these diabetes-induced physiological abnormalities. Among the renal function parameters, the elevated urinary protein levels in diabetic control rats were significantly decreased by the AG or H-AG administrations, and the decreased creatinine clearance level was significantly increased in H-AG-administered rats. In addition, the markedly high serum levels of glucose and glycosylated protein in diabetic control rats were significantly decreased by the administration of H-AG, implying that H-AG might prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic complications caused by impaired glucose metabolism and glycosylation of serum proteins. Although no significant ameliorations were shown in overexpressed protein expressions related to diabetic oxidative stress by the AG or H-AG administrations, the accumulation of N (epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine and receptors for advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) expressions were significantly reduced by the administration of H-AG. On the basis of these results, we found that AG and H-AG inhibit AGE accumulation in diabetic rat kidney by their hypoglycemic and renal function ameliorating effects, and this effect was stronger in the H-AG-administered group than in the AG-administered group. These findings indicate that H-AG may have beneficial effect on pathological conditions associated with diabetic nephropathy.     

Preparation, characterization, and antioxidative effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes

Controlled acid-catalyzed degradation of proanthocyanidin polymers in grape seeds together with L-cysteine led to oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes along with monomeric flavan-3-ol derivatives being isolated, and their structures were confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic data and by chemical means. In addition, comparative studies on the antioxidative and survival effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes and proanthocyanidin polymers were performed. The oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes showed higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity and enhanced survival time in the animal test groups. In addition, it is suggested that the oligomeric complexes may help to prevent oxidative stress and may reduce free radical production.     

Characterization and partial purification of a bacteriocin‐like substance produced by thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis H1 isolated from cow manure compost

The production and partial characterization of bacteriocin‐like substances (BLSs) produced by bacteria isolated from cow manure compost were investigated. Eight BLS producers, which exhibited inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria, were isolated from cow manure compost at different stages of the composting process. The pile temperature ranged from 9.1°C to 73.2°C. The BLSs showed thermostability, but the BLS producers were not thermostable except for the H1 producer. Thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis H1 was further characterized. The culture supernatant of B. licheniformis H1 exhibited antagonistic activity against various species of Gram‐positive bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes ATCC19111 but not against Gram‐negative bacteria except Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC11251. Inactivation of bacteriocin‐like activity by α‐chymotrypsin, trypsin, and papain was highly significant (P < 0.001). The BLS was found to be stable under a pH range from 3 to 9 and at temperatures up to 75°C for 60 min, but it lost activity after being autoclaved at 121°C for 15 min. The optimum production of BLS by B. licheniformis H1 was obtained at a temperature of 55°C. Sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide electrophoresis analysis of concentrated partially purified supernatants collected after resting the bacterial cells at 55°C revealed a bacteriocin‐like protein with a molecular mass of approximately 3.5 kDa. This study is the first report of a BLS from thermophilic B. licheniformis with an animal compost origin.     

The Physcomitrella genome reveals evolutionary insights into the conquest of land by plants

We report the draft genome sequence of the model moss Physcomitrella patens and compare its features with those of flowering plants, from which it is separated by more than 400 million years, and unicellular aquatic algae. This comparison reveals genomic changes concomitant with the evolutionary movement to land, including a general increase in gene family complexity; loss of genes associated with aquatic environments (e.g., flagellar arms); acquisition of genes for tolerating terrestrial stresses (e.g., variation in temperature and water availability); and the development of the auxin and abscisic acid signaling pathways for coordinating multicellular growth and dehydration response. The Physcomitrella genome provides a resource for phylogenetic inferences about gene function and for experimental analysis of plant processes through this plant's unique facility for reverse genetics.     

Is experience on a farm an effective approach to understanding animal products and the management of dairy farming?

The understanding of animal products and dairy farming is important for the promotion of dairy farming. Thus, to examine the effects of farm experience on the understanding of animal products and the management of dairy farming, the interaction between students and dairy cows was investigated in groups of first‐year veterinary nursing students in 2011 and 2012 (n = 201). These students included 181 women and 20 men. Nine items about dairy cows were presented in a questionnaire. The survey was performed before and after praxis on the educational farm attached to the authors' university. After praxis on the farm, increases occurred in the number of positive responses to the items involving the price of milk, dairy farming and the taste of milk. For these items, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between the scores obtained before and after training. The results of the study suggested that farm experience is useful for improving the understanding of animal products and dairy farming.