Enantiomeric purity and odor characteristics of 2- and 3-acetoxy-1, 8-cineoles in the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga willd

(S)-(+)-O-methylmandelate esters of trans- and cis-1,3, 3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-5- and 6-ols (2- and 3-hydroxy-1,8-cineoles) were prepared, and eight diastereomers were separated. The absolute configuration of the asymmetric carbons of the cineole moiety of each diastereomer was determined by (1)H NMR data according to the Mosher theory. Each mandelate was reduced with LiAlH(4) to obtain optically pure hydroxy-1,8-cineoles, this being followed by acetylation to afford optically pure acetoxy-1, 8-cineoles. These acetates were subjected to chiral GC, using a cyclodextrin column, and the enantiomeric purity of trans- and cis-1, 3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-5- and 6-yl acetates in the aroma concentrate from the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga was determined as 93.9 (5S), 19.4 (5R), 63.5 (6R), and 100 (6R) % ee, respectively. The aroma character of each enantiomer was also evaluated by GC-sniffing.     

Cutaneous Hemangiosarcoma in a Dog

A male golden retriever of unknown age presented with multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous masses from the left elbow to the digits. Histopathologically, multiple tumor foci had formed from the dermis to the subcutaneous tissue. Tumor foci consisted of a vascular structure, alveolar structure and solid proliferative area. The borders among these areas were not clear. Some neoplastic cells resembled a mature endothelium, while others were large pleomorphic cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were usually strongly positive for CD31 and often positive for PROX-1, the lymphatic endothelial cell marker. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a hemangiosarcoma with lymphatic differentiation.     

Antioxidation mechanism studies of caffeic acid: identification of antioxidation products of methyl caffeate from lipid oxidation

As a part of a research project on the elucidation of the chain-breaking antioxidation mechanism of natural phenols in food components, caffeic acid, a polyphenolic acid widely distributed in edible plants, was investigated. The identification and time course analysis of the antioxidation reaction products from methyl caffeate were carried out in the ethyl linoleate oxidation system. The antioxidation reaction produced a quinone derivative of methyl caffeate as an antioxidation product during the initial stage, which was identified by (13)C NMR. The quinone, however, was not the final product, and a further reaction occurred to produce several new peroxides. The isolation and structure determination of the peroxides revealed that they had tricyclic structures, which consisted of ethyl linoleate, methyl caffeate, and molecular oxygen. On the basis of the formation pathway of these products, an antioxidation reaction mechanism of methyl caffeate, including the redox reaction of the caffeate and Diels-Alder reaction of the produced peroxides, was proposed.     

Association between preoperative characteristics and risk of anaesthesia-related death in dogs in small-animal referral hospitals in Japan

Objective

To explore the major risk factors linking preoperative characteristics and anaesthesia-related death in dogs in referral hospitals in Japan.

Cardiorespiratory effects of epidural administration of morphine and fentanyl in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cardiorespiratory effects of epidural administration of morphine alone and in combination with fentanyl in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 6 dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane and allowed to breathe spontaneously. After a stable plane of anesthesia was achieved, morphine (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb]) or a combination of morphine and fentanyl (10 microg/kg [4.5 microg/lb]) was administered through an epidural catheter, the tip of which was positioned at the level of L6 or L7. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured for 90 minutes. RESULTS: Epidural administration of morphine alone did not cause any significant changes in cardiorespiratory measurements. However, epidural administration of morphine and fentanyl induced significant decreases in diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures and total peripheral resistance. Stroke volume was unchanged, PaCO2 was significantly increased, and arterial pH and base excess were significantly decreased. Heart rate was significantly lower after epidural administration of morphine and fentanyl than after administration of morphine alone. None of the dogs had any evidence of urine retention, vomiting, or pruritus after recovery from anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that epidural administration of morphine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg in combination with fentanyl at a dose of 10 microg/kg can cause cardiorespiratory depression in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane.     

Histopathological and enzyme histochemical observations on mast cells in pulmonary arterial lesion of dogs with Dirofilaria immitis infestation

Histopathological and enzyme histochemical observations were performed on mast cells in pulmonary arterial lesion of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs. The results showed that chymase- and tryptase-positive mast cells were diffusely present in the lesions, especially in the adventitia and proliferated intima. At 2 weeks after surgical worm transplantation, mast cells already appeared in the intima and media, and chymase-positive cells were dominant in the adventitia. Results of this study suggested a possibility that mast cells would be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial lesion of dogs with Dirofilaria immitis infestation.     

Biological control of rice blast by the epiphytic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erwinia ananas</Emphasis> transformed with a chitinolytic enzyme gene from an antagonistic bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serratia marcescens</Emphasis> strain B2

The gene chiA, encoding for the endochitinase ChiA, was cloned from Serratia marcescens strain B2, a tomato epiphytic bacterium, and introduced into the epiphytic bacterium Erwinia ananas NR-1, isolated from rice phylloplane. The gene chiA was introduced under the control of two types of promoter into a broad-host-range plasmid vector. The vector contained various fragments with promoter activity isolated from E. ananas chromosomal DNA. The constructed vectors were designated pchiA-V1pcf9 and pchiA-V1pcf53 for their respective promoters. E. ananas NR-1 transformed with either of these vectors produced and secreted ChiA. The antifungal activity of ChiA produced by transformed E. ananas NR-1 was demonstrated in vitro by the inhibition of Pyricularia oryzae germ tube elongation such as bursting of the hyphal tip. Transformed E. ananas NR-1 suppressed the incidence of rice blast caused by P. oryzae under greenhouse conditions; however, the magnitude of the suppressive effect depended on which promoter was used. Both transformants and the nontransformant E. ananas NR-1 survived on rice phylloplane. It is expected that the rice epiphytic bacterium E. ananas NR-1 carrying a chitinolytic enzyme gene is an efficient biological control agent against rice blast.     

Arterial blood gas anomaly in canine hepatobiliary disease

Arterial blood gas analysis is an important diagnostic and monitoring tool for respiratory abnormalities. In human medicine, lung complications often occur as a result of liver disease. Although pulmonary complications of liver disease have not been reported in dogs, we have frequently encountered hypoxemia in dogs with liver disorders, especially extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In addition, respiratory disorders account for 20% of perioperative fatalities in dogs. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the respiratory status in dogs with hepatobiliary disease by arterial blood gas analysis. PaO₂ and PaCO₂ were measured. Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO₂), the indicator of gas exchange efficiency, was calculated. Compared to healthy dogs (control group), hepatobiliary disease dogs had significantly lower PaO₂ and higher AaDO₂. Hypoxemia (PaO₂ of ≤80 mmHg) was observed in 28/71 dogs with hepatobiliary disease. AaDO₂ was higher (≥30 mmHg) than the control group range (11.6 to 26.4 mmHg) in 32/71 hepatobiliary disease dogs. By classifying type of hepatobiliary disease, dogs with extrahepatic biliary obstruction and chronic hepatitis showed significantly lower PaO₂ and higher AaDO₂ than in a control group. Dogs with chronic hepatitis also had significantly lower PaCO₂. The present study shows that dogs with hepatobiliary disease have respiratory abnormalities more than healthy dogs. Preanesthetic or routine arterial blood gas analysis is likely beneficial to detect the respiratory abnormalities in dogs with hepatobiliary disease, especially extrahepatic biliary obstruction and chronic hepatitis.     

Recent studies on biological control of plant diseases in Japan

Microorganisms play an enormously important role in plant disease control. Research on biological control of plant pathogens has received major impetus and attracted many researchers during the past few decades due to the increased public concern on hazards associated with the use of synthetic pesticides. From research on utilizing specific antagonistic microorganisms, many effective biological control agents (BCAs) have been found and are increasingly implemented in integrated pest management strategies to control plant diseases. Here current research results on biological control against plant diseases carried out in Japan are reviewed by focusing on major categories of BCAs: fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes and attenuated viruses.