Long-term postsurgical outcomes of mast cell tumors resected with a margin proportional to the tumor diameter in 23 dogs

We evaluated the postsurgical outcomes of cutaneous or subcutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs, n=25) in 23 dogs, resected with lateral surgical margins proportional to the widest tumor diameter, including at least one facial plane. The tumor diameter range was 0.3–2.6 cm (median: 0.9 cm), and all were histologically diagnosed as Kiupel’s low-grade MCT. Resection was histologically complete in 20, close (deep margin) in three, and incomplete (deep margin) in two. No dogs developed local recurrence at the site of initial surgery during follow-up of 161–2,219 days (median: 976 days). These results suggest that resection of low-grade, relatively small MCTs with surgical margins proportional to the tumor diameter is a practical procedure with high success rates.     

New impedance measurement system estimating cross-sectional moisture distribution in cylindrical bodies and electric network modeling

This work aimed to measure the cross-sectional moisture distribution in a cylindrical body using a double-glass-tube model filled with water and to construct an electric network model that explains the effects of moisture distribution. A new impedance measurement system introducing an intermediate electrode was exploited. The electrode was used to segregate the target local current from the whole current in a cross section of a specimen. Three model cylinders with different moisture distributions were used, and absolute values of impedance and phase were measured over the frequency range 1 kHz to 1 MHz. By introducing an intermediate electrode, frequency responses of the impedance and the phase showed characteristic changes in the high-frequency range associated with the moisture distributions. The trends were simulated numerically by using electric network analysis. The proposed method enabled measurement of a selective current path in the cross section of a cylindrical body.     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) II: Changes in mechanical properties due to heating

Japanese cedar wood specimens were steamed at 80°, 100°, and 120°C over 14 days, and their equilibrium moisture content (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity, longitudinal dynamic Young’s modulus (E), bending strength (σ _max), and breaking strain (ε _max) were compared with those of unheated specimens. Steaming for a longer duration at a higher temperature resulted in a greater reduction in M, σ _max, and ε _max. The E of wood was slightly enhanced by steaming at 100°C for 1–4 days and 120°C for 1–2 days, and thereafter it decreased. The slight increase in the E of sapwood was attributable to the reduction in hygroscopicity, while sufficient explanation was not given for a greater increase in the heartwood stiffness. Irrespective of the steaming temperature, the correlations between M and the mechanical properties of steamed wood were expressed in terms of simple curves. M values above 8% indicated a slight reduction in E and s max, whereas M values below 8% indicated a marked decrease in the mechanical performances. In addition, the e max decreased almost linearly with a decrease in the value of M. These results suggest that hygroscopicity measurement enables the evaluation of degradation in the mechanical performances of wood caused by steaming at high temperatures.     

Reliable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of walnut proteins in processed foods

Among food allergens of tree nuts, walnuts are a frequent cause of adverse food reactions in allergic patients. A novel sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection and quantification of walnut soluble proteins in processed foods was developed. The sandwich ELISA is highly specific for walnut soluble proteins. The recovery ranged from 83.4 to 123%, whereas the intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were less than 8.8 and 7.2%, respectively. This study showed that the proposed method is a reliable tool for detection in the presence of hidden walnut proteins in processed foods.     

Evaporative light-scattering analysis of sulforaphane in broccoli samples: Quality of broccoli products regarding sulforaphane contents

Broccoli sulforaphane has received attention as a possible anticarcinogen. Sulforaphane analysis is difficult due to the lack of a chromophore for spectrometric detection. Hence, we developed a method for determining sulforaphane by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with an evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD). Sulforaphane was extracted from acid-hydrolyzed broccoli samples, followed by solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase HPLC. Sulforaphane was detected by ELSD and concurrently identified by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The recovery of sulforaphane from broccoli samples was above 95%. The detection limit was 0.5 mug. The present method was sensitive enough to determine sulforaphane in mature broccoli, broccoli sprouts, and commercial broccoli products. Sulforaphane concentration in broccoli sprout (1153 mg/100 g dry weight) was about 10 times higher than that of mature broccoli (44-171 mg/100 g dry weight). Therefore, the broccoli sprout is recommended as a source of sulforaphane-rich products. In contrast, we found that sulforaphane could not be detected in most of broccoli products, suggesting present commercial broccoli products having low quality.     

Symptoms and molecular characterization of apple dimple fruit viroid isolates from apples in Japan

Apple dimple fruit viroid was detected from an apple tree (‘Jonagold’) bearing apples with mild dapple apple symptom. The isolates in Japan were distinct from those in apples in Italy and China and in fig in Italy. Graft-inoculation experiments showed that the symptoms were variable depending on the cultivar, and the symptom on ‘Starking Delicious’ was virtually similar to those reported in Italy. Symptoms induced by apple dimple fruit viroid were similar in part to those by apple fruit crinkle viroid or apple scar skin viroid, indicating that they cannot be discriminated by symptoms on any specific variety.     

Trichomes: interaction sites of tomato leaves with biotrophic powdery mildew pathogens

The present study aimed to explore the possibility of using the type I trichomes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to monitor the infection processes of powdery mildews by microscopy. Individual trichome cells of two tomato genotypes were inoculated with pathogenic and non-pathogenic powdery mildew species, Pseudoidium neolycopersici, Erysiphe trifoliorum and Podosphaera xanthii. On the trichome cells of the tomato cultivar Moneymaker, hyphae of the pathogenic Pseudoidium neolycopersici (isolates KTP-03 and KTP-04) grew vigorously; whereas hyphal growth of the non-pathogenic Erysiphe trifoliorum and Podosphaera xanthii ceased after appressorium formation, which was associated with papilla formation and hypersensitive cell death, respectively. Similar infection processes of the tested powdery mildews were seen in Moneymaker epidermal cells. Therefore, tomato trichomes are suitable for analysing, at individual cell level, the infection processes of different pathotypes of powdery mildews and for observing the cytological responses of plants by non-pathogenic powdery mildews. On the other hand, it was observed that both isolates KTP-03 and KTP-04 failed to produce conidiophores on the hyphae elongating on Moneymaker trichomes. Similarly, no conidiophores were produced on the hyphae elongating on trichomes of Solanum peruvianum LA2172, which is resistant to KTP-03 and susceptible to KTP-04. Interestingly, delayed cell death occurred in LA2172 epidermal cells, which were attacked by KTP-03 hyphae elongating from trichomes and conidiophores were formed on new hyphae growing from the leaf epidermal cells. Thus, leaf trichomes and epidermal cells of the wild tomato species LA2172 reacted differently to the avirulent isolate KTP-03.     

Diversity and community structure of wood-inhabiting fungi found in Japanese wooden houses analyzed by the next-generation sequencing

The diversity and community structures of wood-inhabiting fungi in 16 decayed wood samples from ten wooden houses in Japan were analyzed using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) to determine the fungi responsible for wood decay. DNA of fungi in decayed wood was extracted directly, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then, sequences of tagged ITS fragments were analyzed by NGS. Results of sequencing indicated that 68 species of ascomycetes, 37 species of basidiomycetes, and one fungus each from Mortierellales and Mucoromycetes were detected. The fungal community structures showed diversity and included various species of ascomycetes. A microscopic examination of cell wall structure in decayed wood samples suggested that some ascomycetes were soft-rot fungi. Heat map analysis indicated that the similarity in the structures of fungal communities was influenced to a greater extent by the wood species of samples than where they were used as a component.     

Progression of the dose-related effects of estrogenic endocrine disruptors, an important factor in declining fertility, differs between the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and reproductive organs of male mice

For the purpose of investigation of working mechanisms in endocrine disruptors, we evaluated the dose-related effects of fetal and/or neonatal exposure to an estrogenic compound on the male reproductive organs in adult mice, particularly with respect to gene expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The pregnant ICR mice were given subcutaneous injections of 10 micro g/day/animal of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to subject the fetal mice to in utero exposure (IUE). Subsequently, the newborn male mice were subjected to neonatal exposure (NE) by treatment with vehicle or 0.1-10 micro g/day/animal of DES. Fertility rates of each group were as follows: control, 100%; IUE only, 60%; IUE+NE 0.1 micro g, 25%; IUE+NE 1 micro g, 0%; IUE+NE 10 micro g, 0%. In general histology, germ cell layers in the seminiferous tubules were thinned in the group of IUE+NE 10 micro g. Hypoplasia of the Leydig cells, in which the staining intensity of eosin was diminished, was also observed in the groups of IUE+NE 0.1-10 micro g. The androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) immunoexpression in the Leydig cells of IUE+NE 1-10 micro g was slightly lower than that in the controls. Long-term dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis, including sustained hypoproduction of gonadotropin and testosterone, and altered expressions of steroid hormone receptors and StAR genes were observed. The hypothalamo-pituitary control of gonadotropin secretion may be affected by the smaller doses of estrogenic agents than the reproductive organs. Furthermore, the fertility rate in the male mice exposed to this estrogenic agent was closely correlated with the testosterone levels, and even more so with the rate-limiting factor of steroidogenesis, StAR. This finding suggests that endocrine disruptors have an important pronounced effect on StAR gene expression.