First report of whisker mold,a postharvest disease on citrus caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium ulaiense</Emphasis> (in Japan)

In March 2006, stored fruits of the medium-to-late-ripening citrus variety Shiranuhi ([Citrus unshiu × C. sinensis] × C. reticulata) were found to have a disease similar to blue mold. The fungus causing this disease differed distinctly from the well-known, blue mold agent, Penicillium italicum, because it formed whisker-like coremia measuring 1–8 mm. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequence of the β-tubulin gene, the fungus was identified as P. ulaiense. This is the first report of citrus whisker mold caused by P. ulaiense in Japan.     

Is metoclopramide an alternative to tramadol in management of post-operative pain? An experimental study

In this study, metoclopramide was compared with other pharmacological agents for preventing post-operative pain. Sixty Sprague-Dawley male rats, weighing 310-345 g were included in the study; 1 cm surgical incision, including skin, facia, and muscle was made to the plantar surface of rear foot of all anaesthetized rats. Rats were randomized into four groups. In group 1 (group S) 2 cm3 saline, in group 2 (group M) 2 cm3 metoclopramide (5 mg/kg) in group 3 (group T) 2 cm3 tramadol (45 mg/kg), in group 4 (group M+T) half doses of group M and group T was given intraperitoneally. Post-operative pain was assessed after 2 h, first and second days of incision. Post-operative pain scores were found to be significantly lower in group M, group T and group M+T when compared with the control group. But there was no significant difference between these groups. We concluded that metoclopramide, with low cost, fewer side-effects and being significantly effective for preventing post-operative pain, can be an alternative to tramadol.     

Participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in chronically developed renal interstitial fibrosis after cisplatin-induced renal injury in rats

To shed some light on the mechanisms behind renal fibrogenesis, the present study immunohistochemically investigated the participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in rat renal interstitial fibrosis developed chronically after repeated injection of cisplatin (2 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 7 weeks). During the 19-week recovery period after the final injection, fibrotic lesions progressively developed in the corticomedullary junction, with the greatest level at post-final injection (FPI) week 5, and then the lesions were gradually repaired by PFI week 19, indicative of a healing process. In conformity with the development of fibrotic lesions, the number of myofibroblastic cells reacting with an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibody was increased, with a peak at PFI week 3, and collagens (types I, III, and IV), fibronection, and laminin were excessively accumulated in these areas. Interstitial cells forming the fibrotic lesions showed mitotic activity at the early stages, whereas they disappeared by apoptosis in the healing process. A large number of cells reacting with an antibody of ED1 (for exudate macrophages), ED2 (for resident macrophages), or OX6 (for major histocompatibility complex class II-presenting macrophages and interstitial dendritic cells) had already appeared at PF1 week 1, and then their numbers increased, with a peak at PFI weeks 7, 3, and 9 in ED1-, ED2-, and OX6-positive cells, respectively. Thereafter, the number of ED1- and ED2-positive cells decreased, whereas the number of OX6-positive cells persisted at a high level until PFI week 19. In the healing process, clusters of lymphocytes were present, the development of which might have been related to OX6-positive cells. The present study demonstrated that chronically developing rat renal interstitial fibrosis might be produced by the complicated mechanisms evoked by interactions between different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells, because macrophages show heterogeneous functions depending on microenvironmental factors.     

Effect of the lateral growth rate on wood properties in fast-growing hardwood species

We investigated the feasibility of using several fast-growing tropical or subtropical hardwood species for timber production by measuring key wood qualities in relationship to the high rates of lateral growth. The trees tested were sampled from even-aged plantations of Acacia mangium, A. auriculiformis, hybrid Acacia (A. mangium × A. auriculiformis), Eucalyptus grandis, E. globulus, and Paraserianthes falcataria (Solomon and Java origin) that had already reached commercial harvesting age. The released strain of the surface growth stress (RS), xylem density (XD), microfibril angle (MFA), and fiber length (FL) were measured at the outermost part of the xylem at breast height in each tree. Results were then compared to the lateral growth rate (radius/age) at breast height, which provides a relative indicator of the amount of tree growth per year. Our findings indicated that RS was constant, regardless of lateral growth rate in each species. Similar results were observed for XD, MFA, and FL, with a few exceptions, suggesting that high growth rates do not intrinsically affect the wood properties of fast-growing tropical or subtropical species that have reached harvesting age. However, special attention must be paid to patterns of xylem maturation when developing plantations of such species.     

Estimation of annual suspended sediment yield from a Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) plantation considering antecedent rainfalls

Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is one of the most common plantation species in Japan. In most Japanese cypress plantations, closure of the forest canopy hinders understory growth because of insufficient management practices. Thus leaf litter barely covers the soil surface. Such plantations are vulnerable to surface erosion triggered by rainfalls, and could yield large amounts of suspended sediment (SS). However, few studies have investigated the annual SS yield. This study aimed to develop a modified model of SS yields, and to accurately estimate and characterize the annual SS yield from a Japanese cypress plantation. For this, hydrological surveys were conducted for 5 years, and stream water was sampled weekly as well as sequentially at 15–60 min intervals in each of 14 rain events in a small forested watershed of Japanese cypress. The root mean square error (RMSE) and the annual SS yield estimates were obtained using three different equations: the rating curve derived from instantaneous SS concentration versus stream discharge relationship (SSC − Q equation); the rating curve derived from cumulative SS yield versus cumulative specific discharge relationship (∑SS − ∑Q equation); and the multiple regression of cumulative SS yield expressed as functions of cumulative specific discharge and antecedent rainfalls (∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation). The ∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation is a modified model considering the effects of antecedent rain history on the SS yield. The parameters in each equation were determined by a nonlinear least square method. Of the three equations, the RMSE was the highest using the SSC − Q equation. Although the ∑SS − ∑Q equation and the ∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation gave similar RMSE values, the SS yields extrapolated by the ∑SS − ∑Q equation would be overestimated. Thus, the 5-year average of annual SS yield estimated by the ∑SS − ∑Q equation was three times larger than that estimated by the ∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation. These results indicate that the ∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation more accurately estimates the annual SS yield, compared with the other two equations. The results also suggest that antecedent rain history, as well as stream discharge, should be considered for appropriately estimating the annual SS yield. The annual SS yield estimated by the ∑SS − ∑Q × AR equation was the largest among 25 undisturbed forested watersheds, except for two watersheds dominated by sandstone. Our results suggest that the annual SS yield is greater from a Japanese cypress plantation under current management practices than from other undisturbed forests.     

Sensitivity and specificity of the fluorescent antibody technique for detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus.

The specificity of a fluorescent conjugate to infectious laryngotracheitis virus was examined using chick trachea organ culture or tissue sections infected with other avian viruses (adenovirus, infectious bronchitis, poxvirus, reovirus, Newcastle disease virus, Marek's disease virus, avian encephalomyelitis and infectious bursal agent) or Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Confirmation of virus replication in these preparations was obtained by either 1) demonstration of virus titre increase or 2) demonstration of fluorescence when using the homologous conjugate. Once either of these criteria had been satisfied, negative results with the infectious laryngotracheitis conjugate were taken to indicate that the conjugate would not present false positive results in differentiated cells infected with these heterologous viruses. The spectrum of reactivity of the infectious laryngotracheitis conjugate was then examined on organ cultures infected with several infectious laryngotracheitis isolates from across Canada. Finally, the conjugate was applied to experimental and natural cases of infectious laryngotracheitis and its efficiency was compared to routine virus isolation methods.