Effect of tyrosine kinase inhibition by imatinib mesylate on mast cell tumors in dogs

BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate is a small molecule targeted at dysregulated protein-tyrosine kinase. Mutation of c-kit exon 11, which induces constitutive phosphorylation of KIT, is one of the mechanisms for the development or progression of mast cell tumor (MCT) in dogs. The purpose of this study was to examine the therapeutic potential of imatinib mesylate in canine MCT. HYPOTHESIS: Imatinib mesylate has activity against MCT in dogs, and response to treatment can be correlated to presence of mutation within exon 11 of c-kit. ANIMALS: Twenty-one dogs with MCT with gross tumor burden and median tumor size of 7.2 cm (range, 1.0-25.3 cm) before treatment. METHODS: Tumors were analyzed for mutation of c-kit exon 11. Imatinib mesylate was administered PO to the dogs at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 1-9 weeks. RESULTS: Ten of 21 dogs (48%) had some beneficial response to imatinib mesylate treatment within 14 days of treatment initiation. All 5 dogs with a demonstrable c-kit mutation in exon 11 responded to the drug (1 complete remission, 4 partial remission). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Imatinib mesylate has clinical activity against MCT in dogs. Response could not be predicted based on presence of absence of a mutation in exon 11 of c-kit.     

Morphological survey of bovine Setaria in the abdominal cavities of cattle in Aomori and Kumamoto Prefectures, Japan

An epidemiological survey of bovine Setaria collected from the abdominal cavities was performed morphologically on the cattle in Aomori and Kumamoto Prefectures, Japan, between August 2005 and July 2006. Fifty Setaria worms were collected from the cattle in Aomori Prefecture and 847 from those in Kumamoto Prefecture. Of these worms, 35 were identified as Setaria digitata, 14 as S. marshalli, and one as S. labiatopapillosa in Aomori Prefecture, while 816 were identified as S. digitata and 31 as S. marshalli in Kumamoto Prefecture.     

Importance of the Shatsky Rise Area in the Kuroshio Extension as an offshore nursery ground for Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and sardine (Sardinops melanostictus)

Recent findings suggest that recruitment of Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) depends on survival during not only the first feeding larval stage in the Japanese coastal waters and the Kuroshio front but also during the post‐larval and juvenile stages in the Kuroshio Extension. Spatial distributions of juvenile anchovy and sardine around the Shatsky Rise area in the Kuroshio Extension region and the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region are described, based on a field survey in the late spring using a newly developed mid‐water trawl for sampling juveniles. All stages of anchovy from post‐larvae to juveniles were obtained in the northern Shatsky Rise area. The Kuroshio Extension bifurcates west of the Shatsky Rise area and eddies are generated, leading to higher chlorophyll concentrations than in the surrounding regions in April and May. When Japanese anchovy and sardine spawn near the Kuroshio front or the coastal waters south‐east of Japan, their larvae are transported by the Kuroshio Extension and are retained in the Shatsky Rise area, which forms an important offshore nursery ground, especially during periods of high stock abundance.     

A comparison of carotenoid content and total antioxidant activity in catsup from several commercial sources in the United States

Samples of catsup from 13 commercial sources, representing at least 10 U.S. manufacturers, were analyzed for carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, and percentage solids. The solids content of these catsup brand samples varied from 26.31 to 38.06% solids. The lycopene content ranged from 59.42 to 183.36 microg, and total carotenoids were as high as 216.6 microg/g fresh weight, respectively. In addition, both hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities were measured using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. These measurements of samples of the various catsup brands ranged from 176.5 to 356.8 total TEAC units.     

Effect of climatic factors on urinary cortisol and peripheral blood leukocytes in lambs grazing on a semi-natural grassland in the Hokuriku District of Japan

The effects of climatic factors on stress and immune functions of grazing lambs in summer and autumn in the Hokuriku District of Japan were evaluated by determining urinary cortisol (U-COR) levels and peripheral blood leukocyte populations and comparing those with lambs kept indoors. Two groups of five lambs, consisting of those grazed on a semi-natural grassland (GRL) and those housed indoors in a domestic animal shelter (INL), were maintained at from July to October. The temperature–humidity index at each location was indicative of heat stress during summer; however, the U-COR elevation was not observed in both groups. The elevation was observed in GRL in autumn and was higher than INL in October. Climatic conditions in autumn were characterized by high humidity and a sudden drop in temperature. U-COR was positively correlated with the relative humidity. The GRL was exposed to low-nutrient conditions for a relatively long time. The CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cell ratio in GRL decreased in October. Subsequently, the total leucocyte, including granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes, sharply increased. The responses indicated an immune deficiency caused by immunosuppression because of a low nutrition caused by grazing and high-stress conditions in autumn.     

Formation of immiscible alloy powders with egg-type microstructure

The egg-type core microstructure where one alloy encases another has previously been obtained during experiments in space. Working with copper-iron base alloys prepared by conventional gas atomization, we were able to obtain this microstructure under gravity conditions. The minor liquid phase always formed the core of the egg, and it sometimes also formed a shell layer. The origin of the formation of this core microstructure can be explained by Marangoni motion on the basis of the temperature dependence of the interfacial energy, which shows that this type of powder can be formed even if the cooling rate is very high.     

不同品种柿树果实发育中期的单宁细胞观察

以君迁子和美国柿为对照,在果实发育中期,对41个柿品种、45个样品的果实内单宁细胞,进行了组织学镜检。结果表明,一般甜柿较涩柿的单宁细胞数目少,个小,横径/纵径指数小。从果实顶部到基部,单宁细胞的横径变化不显著,但纵径从小到大,横径/纵径指数由大到小,甜柿一般较涩柿变化明显。作为砧木的君迁子和美国柿,果实内单宁细胞数量为普通柿的3～7倍,横径/纵径指数在0.7以上,但果实不同部位差异很小。