Diagnostic utility of measuring serum amyloid A with a latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay in bovine mastitis: Comparison with haptoglobin and alpha 1 acid glycoprotein

This study established the precision and accuracy of a modified latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay (LATIA) reagent, and evaluated the ability of the measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA) compared to haptoglobin and α1-acid glycoprotein, which are acute phase proteins (APPs), for diagnosis of clinical mastitis. Concentrations of APPs in cows with mastitis were significantly higher than those in healthy cow. Only the plasma SAA concentration in cows with clinical mastitis (44.90 mg/l; n=15) was significantly higher than that in those with subclinical mastitis (10.70 mg/l; n=16), enabling their diagnosis in contrast to other APPs. Thus, the SAA assay using a LATIA reagent is useful in assessing mastitis severity due to its higher sensitivity and specificity than other APP assays.     

Accumulation of Denitrifying Bacteria and Enhancement of Denitrification Activity in Deep Subsurface Soil in Relation to the Geological Profile

We investigated the denitrification activity and the distribution of the denitrifying bacteria of a boring survey site located on a volcanic plateau, where the geological profiles from surface to deep subsurface soil at the groundwater level had been examined. There were differences between the water quality in the Ito pyroclastic flow deposit (Shirasu) layer (44.2 to 54.5 m) and that in the Osumi pumice fall deposit (Pumice) layer (below 54.5 m) corresponding to the impermeable layer of unconfirmed groundwater: The nitrate concentration was less than 1 mg kg⁻¹ in the Shirasu layer and more than 10 mg kg⁻¹ in the Pumice layer (Kubota et al. 2005). Denitrification activity decreased from the surface to the loam layer and was enhanced in the Shirasu layer and the Haraigawa clay impermeable layer at a depth of 65 m. It was observed that the highest potential denitrification activity (10³ ng-N₂O d⁻¹ g⁻¹) in the impermeable layer was almost equal to that of a Kuroboku surface soil with slurry application. Viable counts of the sonic-samples, which indicated the presence of bacterial group with soil particles attached, increased in the impermeable layer. The ratios of viable or denitrifying bacterial counts in the sonic-samples to those in the wash-samples were significantly higher in the impermeable layer than those in the surface layer. These results suggest that the hydrogeological conditions enhanced the denitrification activity in the impermeable layer, the niches of which might be relatively anaerobic and have a sufficient supply of substrates to enable the denitrifying bacterial populations to multiply.     

Agaricus blazei (class Basidiomycotina) aqueous extract enhances the expression of c-Jun protein in MCF7 cells

The edible mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill is considered a health food in many countries after it was reported to be a source of antitumor and immunoactive compounds. An aqueous extract (AE) from this basidiomycete significantly enhanced the expression of the c-Jun/activator protein-1 (AP1) in the human breast cancer cell line MCF7. Incubating the cells with 17-beta-estradiol (E2), p-nonylphenol (NP), and the AE combined, or NP plus the AE, resulted in increased cell proliferation compared to the untreated control by 93 and 67%, respectively. However, incubating the cells with the extract alone did not enhance cell division. It is suggested that the enhanced proliferation of MCF7 cells in the presence of NP and the AE may be due to the involvement of an AP1 gene regulatory complex. This is the first report showing enhanced c-Jun/AP1 expression in MCF7 cells incubated with an aqueous fungal extract.     

Formation by mechanical stimulus of the flavor compounds in young leaves of Japanese pepper (Xanthoxylum piperitum DC.)

The volatile compounds formed in slapped and crushed young leaves of Japanese pepper (Xanthoxylum piperitum DC.) were compared with those of intact leaves by using a dynamic headspace gas analysis combined with GC-MS in an on-line system, together with the results of a sensory evaluation. The results indicated that the factors influencing the aroma note were mainly the constituent oxygenated monoterpenes and C(6) compounds and the quantity of terpene hydrocarbons. To clarify the formation mechanism for the aroma, the activities of lipoxygenase and beta-D-glucosidase were investigated. The results revealed that the hydrolysis of glycosides and the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids both played an important role in the formation of the major aroma compounds in young leaves of Japanese pepper.     

Effect of pH-shifting on the gel forming characteristics of salt-ground meat from walleye pollack

ABSTRACT:   In order to elucidate the mechanism of the changes in gel forming characteristics of fish meat by pH-lowering, the gelation-temperature curve and the gelation-moisture content curve were examined using the acidified walleye pollack surimi or neutralized one after acidification. In the gelation-temperature curve, the gel strength was highest at 30°C and lowest at approximately 50–60°C, irrespective of pH shifting. The gel strength at 30°C and 80°C decreased with the decrease in pH value. The neutralization of acidified surimi improved the gel strength, but it was considerably lower than the original gel strength. The gel strength at 50–60°C was not affected by pH lowering. The gel strength at 80°C could not be revived to the original by pH readjustment, either in the presence or in the absence of EDTA. These results suggest that irreversible changes of meat protein take place under the low pH, and the oxidation ability of sulfhydryl (SH) groups of protein molecule is not affected by pH-shifting.     

Toxicity of wild juvenile “komonfugu” Takifugu flavipterus in the Bay of Sanriku Coast,Tohoku Area,Northern Japan

To clarify the mechanism of tetrodotoxin (TTX) accumulation in pufferfish, we compared the toxicity of two sets of wild juvenile “komonfugu” Takifugu flavipterus. The first set was sampled from Onisawa Fishing Port (FP) located in Okirai Bay, the Pacific Coast of Sanriku, Tohoku Area, Northern Japan. The second set was collected from the Onisawa FP and reared in an outdoor laboratory tank supplied with different seawater (Yoshihama Bay). The fish were sampled regularly and on the same days. The amount of TTX (mouse unit (MU)/fish) in the fish at Onisawa FP increased until 20 days and thereafter it did not change, while the amount of TTX in the fish in the laboratory tank remained low, and the TTX concentration (MU/g fish) decreased. Next, we compared the toxicity of wild juvenile T. flavipterus collected from Okirai Bay (Onisawa FP and Okirai FP) and Yoshihama Bay (Yoshihama FP). Large differences in TTX levels were observed among the fish from the three FPs. The amounts and concentrations of TTX in the fish at Onisawa FP were higher than those in the fish from the other two FPs. These results indicate that a large variation in toxic activity exists in the juvenile T. flavipterus in the bay of the Sanriku Coast.

     

Preventive effect of Kaempferia parviflora ethyl acetate extract and its major components polymethoxyflavonoid on metabolic diseases

Previously, we reported that rhizome powder of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex. Baker prevented obesity and a range of metabolic diseases. In this study, to clarify which molecular mechanisms and active ingredients of K. parviflora have an anti-obesity effect, we investigated the effect of ethyl acetate extract of K. parviflora (KPE) on TSOD mice, a spontaneously obese Type II diabetes model, and on pancreatic lipase. In the TSOD groups, KPE showed a suppressive effect on body weight increase and visceral fat accumulation and also showed preventive effects on symptoms related to insulin resistance, hypertension and fatty liver. In addition, KPE also suppressed body weight increase and food intake in TSNO mice groups, which served as reference animals, at an early stage of administration. Searching for the ingredients in KPE revealed that KPE contains at least 12 kinds of polymethoxyflavonoid (PMF). Furthermore, KPE and its component PMFs showed an inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase. The above results suggest that KPE has a preventive effect on obesity and various metabolic diseases. The mechanisms of action probably involve inhibition of pancreatic lipase by the PMFs in KPE.     

Efficiency of the indirect selection and the evaluation of the genotype by environment interaction using Pilodyn for the genetic improvement of wood density in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>

The efficiency of the indirect selection for wood density using the Pilodyn in Cryptomeria japonica was studied by comparing the Pilodyn penetration (PP) depth and the direct measurement of wood density in three test sites. The influence of the genotype by environment (G × E) interaction of wood density was estimated using the Pilodyn with common 12 C. japonica clones in 10 test sites in Kanto breeding region in Japan. The PP depth was highly correlated with wood density, and the genetic correlation between them was −0.88. The indirect selection using the Pilodyn realized 87% of the genetic gain obtained by the direct selection of wood density. The G × E interaction in PP depth was small. The ratio of the variance component of the G × E interaction to that of genotype was only 0.096 in the PP depth, whereas it was 0.700 in tree height and 1.410 in diameter at breast height. These findings indicate that the Pilodyn is useful for the genetic improvement of wood density in Cryptomeria japonica. The small G × E interaction in wood density estimated using the Pilodyn indicates that the relative clonal performance in wood density is stable among diverse environments in Kanto breeding region in Japan.