Dose-response effects of an aqueous formulation of calcitriol and evaluation of renal function in nonpregnant cows

Dose responses of plasma calcitriol, calcium (Ca), bone metabolic markers and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were evaluated in four nonpregnant Holstein cows treated subcutaneously with an aqueous formulation of calcitriol at four doses in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Calcitriol, Ca, and markers of bone metabolism were analyzed in plasma samples. GFR was measured in predose and day 5 samples. Plasma calcitriol and Ca concentrations increased dose-dependently. The calcitriol dose was positively correlated with the area under the concentration-time curve of plasma calcitriol. Bone formation markers tended to increase from day 3 onward for all doses. No significant changes in GFR were noted. Thus, exogenous calcitriol administered between 0.0625 and 0.5 μg/kg body weight elicited dose-dependent increases in both plasma calcitriol and Ca and elevated bone formation markers without affecting renal function in nonpregnant cows.     

A novel technique of ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block in calves

An interventional ultrasound technique to increase the safety of surgical treatment of the calf forelimb was tested. First, the brachial plexus was evaluated using ultrasonography and then 2% lidocaine was injected under ultrasound guidance. Ultrasonically, the brachial plexus appeared as multiple hypoechoic areas surrounded by a hyperechoic rim or a hyperechoic structure characterised by multiple discontinuous lines. It was located between the omotransverse muscle and axillary artery and vein. The sensitive effect in the forelimb was seen mainly in the area supplied by the musculocutaneous nerve, indicating successful blockage in the nerve plexus. Out of the eight forelimbs, the motor effect was observed in seven forelimbs. These results suggest the clinical feasibility of ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block in bovine medicine, although further studies are needed to examine various approaches, including the sites of needle insertion and the appropriate volume and dosage of anaesthetic.     

Studies on BHC isomers and related compounds V. Some physicochemical properties of BHC isomers (1)

Physicochemical properties of biological interest were measured for hexachlorocyclohexane (benzene hexachloride) isomers, including solubility in water and in aqueous protein solutions, partition coefficients between organic solvents and water, and some “adsorption equilibrium” constants between the macromolecules and water. Some of the properties show a correlation with the free energy-related hydrophobic parameter “π”.     

Studies on BHC isomers and related compounds: VIII. Urinary metabolites produced from γ- and β-BHC in the mouse: Chlorophenol conjugates

Metabolites produced from γ-BHC and β-BHC in the mouse urine were purified and characterized. Most metabolites from the both isomers were not extractable by organic solvents, and were conjugates such as sulfates and glucuronides. After hydrolysis with an appropriate enzyme, the conjugates gave chlorophenols, among which 2,4,6-trichlorophenol existed most abundantly—about 25% in the total urine metabolites. 2,4-Dichlorophenol constituted also a significant portion.     

New multilocus genotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> in Japan

Twelve isolates of Japanese Phytophthora infestans, which differed from the major genotypes US-1, JP-1, JP-2, and JP-3, were analyzed for RG57 fingerprints, mtDNA haplotypes, two allozyme genotypes, and mating types. Genotypes JP-1.1, JP-2.1, JP-2.2, JP-3.1, and JP-4 were newly defined. JP-1.1 and JP-2.1 were isolated discontinuously from potato fields in several years, and JP-1.1 was found in Hokkaido and Kagoshima. These results show that some minor genotypes can overwinter and disperse from their original site.     

Induction of phytoalexins in adzuki bean after inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora vignae</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">adzukicola</Emphasis>

To identify phytoalexins of adzuki bean elicited in response to attempted infection of Phytophthora vignae f. sp. adzukicola, we isolated compounds from adzuki bean and evaluated their antifungal activity. Seven flavonoids (daidzein, genistein, 2′-hydroxygenistein, coumestrol, dalbergioidin, kievitone, and phaseol) were identified from epicotyls wound-inoculated with a mycelial suspension of an avirulent race of P. vignae f. sp. adzukicola. Of those compounds, kievitone and dalbergioidin accumulated to higher levels in incompatible interactions compared to compatible interactions 48 h after inoculation. Kievitone strongly inhibited the germination of encysted zoospores, and dalbergioidin were slightly suppressive. From these results, we concluded that kievitone and dalbergioidin are phytoalexins in adzuki bean.     

Progeny derived from Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani) AG-2-2 IV isolates on sugar beet foliage show more clonal diversity in somatic compatibility grouping than those from roots and petioles

Twenty-nine isolates of Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani) AG-2-2 IV were collected from the roots, petioles, and leaves of diseased sugar beets in Hokkaido, Japan. We examined the genetic variation of the field isolates using somatic compatibility grouping of progeny (cultured isolates derived from induced basidiospores) based on analysis of hyphal anastomosis reactions (i.e., hyphal perfect fusion) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs). The number of somatic compatibility groups (SCGs) of single basidiospore isolates was strongly correlated with the host plant tissue from which the parental isolates were obtained. Parental isolates from roots and petioles tended to be genetically heterogeneous and generated plural SCGs, whereas isolates (except for two non-self-anastomosing isolates) from leaves tended to be homogeneous and generated a single SCG. Heterogeneous sibling basidiospore isolates yielded homogeneous progeny within a few generations. These findings were supported by the results of ISSR analysis, which showed that the homogeneous isolates generated progeny with the same genotype, whereas heterogeneous isolates generated progeny with different genotypes. However, like SCGs, ISSR genotypes of heterogeneous progeny tended to be homogeneous within two or three generations. Additionally, we examined clonal diversity during the basidiospore infection process over a 2-year period. A heterogeneous isolate generated a large number of progeny SCGs, thereby increasing clonal diversity. In contrast, progeny SCGs were almost all the same in a homogeneous isolate plot with a few exceptions. These results indicate that infection of T. cucumeris basidiospores play a role in the clonal diversity of AG-2-2 IV isolates, as indicated by progeny SCGs in the field.