Epidemiological and morphological studies of double-chambered right ventricle in dogs

The double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital cardiac disease in dogs, and its detailed epidemiological and morphological features are not clearly understood. By investigating the profile, clinical signs, and characteristics of examination findings of eleven dogs with DCRV by means of a retrospective study, we attempted to clarify the epidemiology and morphology of the condition. The study group consisted of nine males and two females. Breeds included Pug (n=3), Miniature Dachshund (n=1), French Bull-dog (n=1), Shiba (n=1), and Retrievers (n=5). The attachment site of the anomalous muscular bundle was continuous with the cardiac apex in nine dogs, and it was attached to the right ventricle free wall in the other two dogs. In dogs with DCRV, at least one of the following conditions was present concurrently: congenital or acquired tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. Also, the pressure difference between the two chambers increased over time, and progressive right-sided heart failure was observed. In summary, DCRV occurs in small breeds of dog as well as in large breeds of dog and it may be more prevalent in males. The existence of two types of DCRV in dogs was established. Dog with DCRVs will have a high incidence of concurrent cardiac abnormalities. Concurrent TR may be either congenital or acquired. DCRV is a congenital disorder, but the clinical condition progresses as the dog develops.     

Abstracts of nippon Dozyohiryogaku Zasshi

The present study was carried out to analyze the factors that affected the growth of sugar beet in four different soil types by using concrete-framed plots as follows: soil acidity (soil pH, exchange acidity y ₁) and nitrification of fertilizer introduced by row application. Comparison of the value of the exchange acidity y ₁ of the four soil types with the pH value adjusted to the same level (pH 5.1) revealed that the Humic Gray Upland soil displayed the highest y ₁ value (y ₁: 18.0), followed by the Humic Volcanogenous Regosol (y ₁: 6.9), Haplic Brown Lowland soil (y ₁: 5.3), and Low-humic Andosol (y ₁: 2.2). Al release to the soil solution was considered to occur at soil pH values of 4.8 and lower except in the Low-humic Andosol. Al concentration in the soil solution of the Low-humic Andosol was substantially lower than that of the other soils. On the other hand, the soil pH value decreased temporarily by nitrification of the fertilizer introduced by row application, especially in the Humic Gray Upland soil. In this case, the soil pH value became lower than 4.8 for a time. At this pH level, Al release to the soil solution was assumed to occur. As described above, the soils displayed different properties in terms of soil acidity. In the four soils, although the growth of sugar beet was significantly related to both soil pH and exchange acidity y ₁ values before sowing, these relations were not strictly valid. On the other hand, the linear correlation coefficients of the relationships between the growth of sugar beet (leaf length) and NO₃-N content in rows were higher than those of the soil pH and exchange acidity y ₁. No appreciable variation associated with the differences in the soil types was observed in this relation. Furthermore, the values of both soil pH and exchange acidity y ₁ were closely related to the NO₃-N content in rows and the relationship between the NO₃-N content and y ₁ value appeared to be somewhat closer than that with the soil pH. These closer relations had two important implications. Firstly, NO₃-N content reflected the nitrogen nutrient conditions. NO₃-N promoted the growth of sugar beet directly. Secondly, the NO₃-N content was affected by the soil acidity, which is expressed by the value of the exchange acidity y ₁. Low NO₃-N content indicated indirectly the toxicity of soil acidity to sugar beet growth. It was thus suggested that in the present study, nitrification of the fertilizer expressed by the NO₃-N content was a beneficial factor for the growth of sugar beet regardless of the soil types. Finally, to promote the nitrification of fertilizer and to minimize the Al toxicity enhanced by the decrease of the soil pH associated with nitrification, it is important to avoid low values for the soil pH.     

A mesoscale iron enrichment in the western subarctic Pacific induces a large centric diatom bloom

We have performed an in situ test of the iron limitation hypothesis in the subarctic North Pacific Ocean. A single enrichment of dissolved iron caused a large increase in phytoplankton standing stock and decreases in macronutrients and dissolved carbon dioxide. The dominant phytoplankton species shifted after the iron addition from pennate diatoms to a centric diatom, Chaetoceros debilis, that showed a very high growth rate, 2.6 doublings per day. We conclude that the bioavailability of iron regulates the magnitude of the phytoplankton biomass and the key phytoplankton species that determine the biogeochemical sensitivity to iron supply of high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll waters.     

Efficient haploid and doubled haploid production from unfertilized ovule culture of gentians (Gentiana spp.)

Factors affecting reliable plant regeneration from unfertilized ovule culture of gentians (Gentiana spp.) were examined. Cold pretreatment (4°C) of flower buds enhanced or maintained production of embryo-like structure (ELS). When 43 genotypes were surveyed in two different labs, 40 of them produced ELSs ranging from 0.01 to 26.5 ELSs per flower bud. No ELSs could be obtained in three genotypes. A significant correlation (r = 0.64) was observed between the number of ELS per flower and the frequency of responding flower buds. Eight genotypes of G. triflora, which were used as common materials in two different labs, produced ELSs in both labs. The ploidy levels of a total of 1,515 regenerated plantlets were determined, revealing that the majority of these plants consisted of haploids (57.9%) and diploids (34.3%). However, the frequency of haploids and diploids was different between G. triflora and G. scabra, and G. triflora showed higher frequencies of haploids than G. scabra. When haploids were treated with oryzalin for chromosome doubling, diploids and tetraploids were obtained. These results demonstrate that the unfertilized ovule culture technique of gentians is a powerful tool for obtaining haploids and DHs because of its reproducible and reliable nature and application to a wide range of genotypes.     

Differential roles of breakfast only (one meal per day) and a bigger breakfast with a small dinner (two meals per day) in mice fed a high-fat diet with regard to induced obesity and lipid metabolism

Background

Recent studies on humans and rodents have suggested that the timing of food intake plays an important role in circadian regulation and metabolic health. Consumption of high-fat foods during the inactive period or at the end of the awake period results in weight gain and metabolic syndrome in rodents. However, the distinct effects of breakfast size and the breakfast/dinner size ratio on metabolic health have not yet been fully examined in mice.

Methods

We examined whether the parameters of metabolic syndrome were differentially affected in mice that consumed a large meal at the beginning of the awake period (breakfast; one meal group) and a relatively smaller meal at end of the awake period (dinner; two meals group). The mice of each group were provided equal food volume per day.

Results

Mice on one meal exhibited an increase in body weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and a decrease of gene expression associated with ??-oxidation in adipose tissue and liver compared with those on two meals. The circadian expression pattern of the Clock gene in mice on one meal was disturbed compared with those on two meals.

Conclusions

In conclusion, a bigger breakfast with a smaller dinner (two meals per day) but not breakfast only (one meal per day) helps control body weight and fat accumulation in mice on a high-fat meals schedule. The findings of this study suggest that dietary recommendations for weight reduction and/or maintenance should include information on the timing and quantity of dietary intake.     

Effects of salt and low light intensity during the vegetative stage on susceptibility of rice to male sterility induced by chilling stress during the reproductive stage

We tested whether exposing rice plants to abiotic stress (salt or shade) during vegetative growth affects the chilling tolerance of reproductive organs, which is one of the most important traits for rice growing in a cool climate; we used two rice cultivars with different tolerance in two growing seasons. We divided the vegetative growth into three phases to clarify the most sensitive period: 7–22 days after transplanting (DAT), 23–38 DAT and 39–54 DAT. Chilling tolerance of the pre-stressed plants was based on the male sterility induced by low temperatures. Shade and salt stress during all three vegetative growth phases significantly reduced stomatal conductance. Shade decreased the specific leaf weight and the leaf sugar and starch contents, but salt had no significant effect, despite causing leaf damage. Low temperatures during the reproductive stage induced spikelet sterility in all plants, but the magnitude was greater in the salt- and shade-stressed plants of both cultivars, especially those stressed late during vegetative growth. The increased spikelet sterility caused by chilling was closely related to the reduction of the total spikelet number per panicle. This is the first study to show that salt and low light stress during vegetative growth increased the susceptibility of rice plants to chilling damage during panicle development.