Increased cardiovascular reactivity to agiotensin caused by renin

After a short period of tachyphylaxis, there is a marked and sustained enhancement of pressor re sponses to renin and angiotensin during chronic administration of renin.     

Plectosporium blight of monkshood caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plectosporium tabacinum</Emphasis>

Severe blight of potted seedlings of monkshood caused by Plectosporium tabacinum was found in glasshouses in Kagawa Prefecture in southwest Japan in May 2001. Root rot and browning of stem bases were followed by wilting and yellowing of leaves, then blighting of leaves, flower buds and stems. A fungus was isolated from diseased plants and confirmed to cause the disease. The new disease was named “Plectosporium blight of monkshood”.     

The presence of double-stranded RNAs in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> Japanese pear pathotype is associated with morphological changes

Strains of the Japanese pear pathotype of Alternaria alternata were screened for double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Four strains had several dsRNAs; strain N18 was associated with several dsRNAs and had impaired growth phenotypes such as irregular mycelium and abnormal pigmentation. We isolated dsRNA-cured isolates from strain N18 by single-conidium isolation. The dsRNA-cured isolates had recovered normal growth and pigmentation. Enlarged vesicles were observed in mycelial cells of the original dsRNA-carrying N18 strain. DAPI nuclear staining revealed regression of the nuclei in dsRNA-carrying N18 cells. These results indicate that the dsRNAs might have negative effects, such as apoptosis-like cell death, on the host fungus.     

Method for rapid detection of the PvCesA3 gene allele conferring resistance to mandipropamid, a carboxylic acid amide fungicide, in Plasmopara viticola populations

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of carboxylic acid amide (CAA)‐fungicide‐resistant Plasmopara viticola populations is becoming a serious problem in the control of grapevine downy mildew worldwide. RESULTS: The authors have developed a method, which utilises PCR‐RFLP, for the rapid detection of resistance to the CAA fungicide mandipropamid in P. viticola populations. With this method, a glycine‐to‐serine substitution at codon 1105 of the cellulose synthase gene PvCesA3 of CAA‐fungicide‐resistant P. viticola was easily detected, although no resistant P. viticola was detected from 398 isolates in Japan. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the PCR‐RFLP method is a reliable tool for the rapid detection of CAA‐fungicide‐resistant P. viticola isolates. Only 4 h was required from the sampling of symptoms to the phenotyping of fungicide resistance. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phenolics composition and antioxidant activity of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The antioxidant activity of a methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) was examined using different in vitro assay model systems. The crude extract was fractionated on a Sephadex LH-20 column, and six fractions were identified. The DPPH scavenging assay system and the oxidation of the soy phosphotidylcholin liposome model system were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of each fraction. Fraction IV showed the strongest activity followed by fractions V and VI. Phenolic compounds responsible for the antioxidative activity of the fractions were characterized by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major antioxidant compound in fraction IV was confirmed as rosmarinic acid by (1)H NMR and characteristic fragmentations in the mass spectrum. Moreover, the native of antioxidant activity of rosmarinic acid in the liposome system was examined. The results showed that one rosmarinic acid can capture 1.52 radicals, and furthermore, the existence of a synergistic effect between alpha-tocopherol and rosmarinic acid was revealed.     

Electromyographic activity of cubital joint muscles in horses during locomotion

Electromyographic (EMG) activity of 4 muscles of the cubital joint and the strain of forelimb hooves were recorded telemetrically in 4 Thoroughbreds (with and without a rider) standing, walking, trotting, and cantering. Bipolar fine wire electrodes were inserted into the muscles, and strain gauges were attached to the hoof wall. Motion pictures (16 mm), synchronized with EMG tracings, were taken to obtain kinematic data. When horses were standing, the biceps brachii had tonic activity, but the brachialis and the caput longum and the caput laterale of the triceps brachii had no EMG activity. The biceps brachii had EMG activity during the stance phase. The brachialis had EMG activity from the end of the stance phase to the middle of the swing phase. Unlike the biceps brachii, the brachialis acted as a flexor muscle of the cubital joint during locomotion. The EMG activity of the caput longum of the triceps brachii was detected from midswing phase to early stance phase. The EMG activity of the caput laterale of the triceps brachii began in midswing or late-swing phase and ceased in early stance or midstance phase. During locomotion, caput longum EMG activity always preceded caput laterale activity. When horses were cantering, the brachialis and the caput longum (acting mainly in the swing phase) had an EMG activity phase different from those in leading and trailing forelimbs. These 4 muscles had similar EMG activity patterns during locomotion in horses with and without a rider.     

Prevalence of Giardia intestinalis infection in dogs of breeding kennels in Japan

Giardia intestinalis antigen in fecal samples was examined in 361 dogs of 14 breeding kennels located at various areas in Japan, using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. G. intestinalis antigen was detected in 37.4% of the fecal specimens. All of the 14 breeding kennels were positive for G. intestinalis antigen with the range from 6.7 to 59.3%. The prevalence in puppies (54.5%) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that in adults (30.9%). There was no difference in prevalence between males and females, and between the puppies from the mother dogs positive and negative for Giardia antigen. In conclusion, G. intestinalis widely invaded the breeding kennels in Japan.     

Renal effects of medetomidine in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs with special reference to its diuretic action

Renal effects of the selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, medetomidine, were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Animals were administered medetomidine 20 and 40 microg/kg intravenously (IV) and 80 mug/kg intramuscularly (IM) or 1 ml of saline IV. Urine and blood samples were collected before and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min following medetomidine injection. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine volume (U(v)), urine osmolality (U(osm)), free water clearance (C(H2O)), fractional clearance of sodium (F(Na)), plasma osmolality (P(osm)), plasma glucose levels and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations were measured. The results showed that IV administration of medetomidine initially increased MABP 5-15 min followed by long-lasting decrease. The initial hypertension was not observed after IM administration, which was accompanied by a more profound hypotensive effects. RBF, GFR, U(v), C(H2O) increased after IV injection and decreased after IM. Medetomidine increased FNa and Posm and decreased U(osm). Plasma glucose levels initially increased and subsequently decreased. Plasma ADH concentration was decreased by IV injection but increased by IM administration. Our data imply that: 1) IV administration of medetomidine at dose rates of 20 and 40 microg/kg results in profound diuresis up to 2 hr; 2) Suppression of ADH release from the CNS is one of the mechanisms of medetomidine-induced diuresis although it may not be the principal one.