C-reactive protein concentration in canine idiopathic polyarthritis

To investigate the clinical utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) in idiopathic polyarthritis (IPA), its concentration was measured in dogs with IPA. The CRP concentration was markedly increased in all the IPA dogs at the time of diagnosis and decreased significantly in response to the initial corticosteroid treatment; this indicated that CRP can be used as an index for therapeutic response in IPA cases. Furthermore, at 6 months after the diagnosis, a significant association was observed between the CRP concentration at follow-up (6-13 days after the treatment was started) and the frequency of medication ("no or seldom-medicated (NSM)" groups or "continuing medication (CM)" groups). These results suggest that the initial response of CRP to corticosteroid treatment may be a prognostic factor of canine IPA.     

Role of nitrergic nerves in the regulation of motility of the omasum and abomasum in healthy sheep <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Ovis aries)</Emphasis>

We examined the physiological role of nitrergic nerves in the regulation of omasal and abomasal motility in conscious healthy sheep and omasal muscle specimens. Nitric oxide (NO)-donor, S-nitroso-acethyl-dl-penicillamine (SNAP, 3-30 nmol/kg per min, i.v.) significantly inhibited omasal electromyographic (EMG) activity, whereas it did not alter EMG activity in the abomasal antrum. However, NO synthase inhibitor, Nomega-nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.3-3.0 micromol/kg per min, i.v.) did not alter EMG activity of the omasum and abomasum. In the in vitro experiments, SNAP application (6-200 micromol/l) significantly inhibited bethanechol (10 micromol/l)-induced contraction of longitudinal and circular muscles of the omasum. L-NAME application (0.03-3.0 mmol/l) enhanced electric field stimulation-induced contractions of the circular muscles. The results suggest that the omasal muscles are responsive to exogenous NO and that nitrergic nerves innervate the circular muscle layer of the omasum, however, nitrergic nerves are not or scarcely involved the physiological regulation of omasal and possibly abomasal motility in healthy sheep.     

Evaluation of the prognostic significance of BCL6 gene expression in canine high-grade B-cell lymphoma

The clinical usefulness of BCL6 gene expression was evaluated as a prognostic indicator in dogs with high-grade B-cell lymphoma. Forty-four dogs were diagnosed with centroblastic or B-cell immunoblastic type lymphoma according to the updated Kiel classification. BCL6 mRNA expression was measured by real-time PCR and its relationship with prognosis was analyzed. Progression-free and overall survival was not significantly different between the high BCL6 expression group (higher than the median) and the low BCL6 expression group (lower than the median) (P=0.99 and P=0.61, respectively). No correlation between BCL6 and prognosis was observed in this study, which is inconsistent with findings reported for human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. BCL6 protein expression was not detected in the 11 dogs evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, BCL6 protein expression was assessed in 13 archived paraffin-embedded high-grade canine lymphoma tissues and all were also negative. The results suggest that most canine high-grade B-cell lymphomas correspond to human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with no immunohistochemical expression of BCL6.     

GeneScan analysis to detect clonality of T-cell receptor γ gene rearrangement in feline lymphoid neoplasms

Lymphoid neoplasms are usually diagnosed on the basis of cytological and histopathological findings. However, in some cases, discrimination of lymphoid neoplasms from reactive lymphoid proliferation is difficult. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3 of the T-cell receptor (TCR) γ gene can be used to assess clonality of T-cell populations as a supportive diagnostic tool for T-cell neoplasms. Because the length variation in the TCRγ CDR3 is relatively small, false positive results may occur in non-neoplastic T-cell populations in the absence of high-resolution analytical methods for PCR products. In the present study, a PCR assay system was developed to detect clonal TCRγ gene rearrangement in feline lymphoid cells using GeneScan analysis. Thirty T-cell neoplasms, 27 B-cell neoplasms, and 34 non-neoplastic tissues were subjected to the newly developed TCRγ gene rearrangement analysis. Clonal TCRγ gene rearrangement was detected in 26 of 30 (87%) T-cell neoplasms, 2 of 27 (7%) B-cell neoplasms, and 1 of 34 (3%) non-neoplastic tissues. To compare GeneScan analysis with conventional PAGE and heteroduplex analysis, 20 clonal and 20 polyclonal samples were subjected to both analyses. Most of the results were concordant between the 2 analyses; however, several clonal peaks (bands) appeared as a single band when analyzed via conventional PAGE with heteroduplex analysis in 4 of the 20 (20%) clonal samples as a result of the difference in resolution. The PCR assay system to detect clonal TCRγ gene rearrangement in feline lymphoid cells, using GeneScan analysis, would be a useful molecular diagnostic tool for feline T-cell neoplasms, with high fidelity.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzoheterocyclic analogues of N'-benzoyl-N-(tert-butyl)benzohydrazide: Part 1. Design of benzoheterocyclic analogues

The N'-benzoyl group of N-tert-butyl-N'-benzoyl-3,5-dimethylbenzohydrazide (1) was converted to a series of benzoheterocyclecarbonyl groups in order to investigate the potential usefulness of superimposing a hydrazine insecticide on 20-hydroxyecdysone. A series of analogues with benzodioxole, benzodioxane, benzodioxapine, indole, benzoxazole, benzoxazine or benzothiazole instead of the phenyl group of (1) were synthesized and tested for their insecticidal activity against the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura F). N-tert-Butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-carbohydrazide and N-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-6-carbohydrazide showed high insecticidal activities, superior to that of (1) and equal to that of the commercial insecticide tebufenozide (RH-5992).     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzoheterocyclic analogues of N'-benzoyl-N-(tert-butyl)benzohydrazide: Part 2. Introduction of substituents on the benzene rings of the benzoheterocycle moiety

A series of N'-benzoheterocyclecarbonyl-N-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethylbenzohydrazide analogues possessing a variety of substituents on the benzene rings of the benzoheterocyle moieties were synthesized and tested for their insecticidal activity. The introduction of a methyl group at the R1 position of the benzoheterocycle moiety strongly increased the insecticidal activity. Among the analogues synthesized, N'-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-5-methyl-6-chromanecarbohydrazide showed the highest insecticidal activity (LC50 = 0.89 mg litre(-1)).     

Use of the RothC model to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils

We estimated the carbon (C) sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils at a country scale by applying the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model at a 1-km resolution. After establishing the baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) content for 1990, a 25-year simulation was run for four management scenarios: A (minimum organic matter application), B (farmyard manure application), C (double cropping for paddy fields) and D (both B and C). The total SOC decreased during the simulation in all four scenarios because the C input in all four scenarios was lower than that required to maintain the baseline 1990 SOC level. Scenario A resulted in the greatest depletion, reflecting the effects of increased organic matter application in the other scenarios. The 25-year difference in SOC accumulation between scenario A and scenarios B, C and D was 32.3, 11.1 and 43.4 Mt C, respectively. The annual SOC accumulation per unit area was similar to a previous estimate, and the 25-year averages were 0.30, 0.10 and 0.41 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for scenarios B, C and D, respectively. The system we developed in the present study, that is, linking the RothC model and soil spatial data, can be useful for estimating the potential C sequestration resulting from an increase in organic matter input to Japanese arable soils, although more feasible scenarios need to be developed to enable more realistic estimation.     

Intranuclear inclusions in a dog with B‐cell leukemia

A 7‐year‐old Shetland Sheepdog was presented with anorexia. A CBC indicated thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Bone marrow cytology revealed that 67.7% of all nucleated cells (ANC) were anaplastic large mononuclear cells. These cells were confirmed to be of B‐cell origin based on IgH rearrangement, immunohistochemical, and flow cytometric analysis. Microscopic examination revealed that the neoplastic cells had intranuclear inclusions resembling Dutcher bodies. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the intranuclear inclusions were immunopositive for IgG antibodies. The periodic acid–Schiff reaction was negative for the presence of polysaccharides and related substances. Although the dog achieved complete remission with a multi‐drug chemotherapy protocol, it ultimately died because of tumor progression and acute renal insufficiency on day 201. This is the first known case of canine acute B‐cell leukemia with intranuclear inclusions resembling Dutcher bodies.     

Use of urine albumin/creatinine ratio for estimation of proteinuria in cats and dogs

The clinical utility of the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UAC) using a simplified analyzer for estimation of proteinuria was studied in cats and dogs. Measurement results for diluted feline and canine albumin standard solutions showed linearity. Although conversion formulas (y=1.28x+1.04 and y=1.67x+10.47 for cats and dogs, respectively) were necessary, urine albumin concentrations could be determined in both animals. In cats and dogs with proteinuria, the UAC changed parallel with the urine protein/ creatinine ratio (UPC), and the Log UAC and Log UPC were significantly correlated (r=0.803 (p<0.01) in cats, r=0.801 (p<0.01) in dogs). The UAC using an UAC analyzer could be used clinically as one of the basic in-hospital laboratory tests for estimation of proteinuria in cats and dogs.