Comparison of virulence of various hantaviruses related to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in newborn mouse model

The virulence of hantaviruses that are antigenically related but have different genetic characteristics from the prototype of hantavirus, Hantaan (HTN) virus, was examined in newborn mice. The H5 and B78 strains of the Amur (AMR) genotype, the Bao14 strain of the Far East (FE) genotype, and the 76-118 strain of HTN virus were inoculated subcutaneously (1focus-forming unit; FFU) into newborn mice. All of the AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice were died by 16 days post-infection (dpi) and 21 dpi, respectively, while 50% of the HTN virus inoculated mice survived until 30 dpi. The AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice had high viral titers in the lung (1.3x10(6) to 1.3x10(8) FFU/gram [g] tissue) , brain (2.1x10(7) to 1.2x10(9) FFU/g tissue), and kidney(2.5x10(5) to 1.6x10(7) FFU/g tissue), and showed a detectable level of antibodies (titers 1:16-1:32) at 14 dpi. In contrast, the HTN virus infected mice had viruses only in the lungs at low titers (1.1-5.3x10(5) FFU/g tissue). Observations of body-weight changes revealed that the AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice had lower growth rates than the HTN virus inoculated mice. These data suggest that the AMR and FE genotype viruses are more virulent than the HTN virus in newborn mice.     

A cat with acute myeloblastic leukemia without maturation (M1) treated with combination chemotherapy

A 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented to us with decreased activity and anorexia. Hematologic findings revealed a mild non-regenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis with an increase in blast cells. Bone marrow aspirates also revealed a marked increase of blasts. The blastic cells were shown to be positive for peroxidase. Acute myeloblastic leukemia without maturation (M1) was diagnosed according to the FAB classification. Chemotherapy was initiated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone, and cytosine arabinoside. The cat responded partially. In total, the cats were given 7 blood transfusions. The cat died 14 weeks after first being presented to us.     

Effect of relaxin on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa

Relaxin is a peptide hormone found in seminal plasma that has a physiological influence on sperm motility in some species. There are no reports on the effect of relaxin on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa. In this study, to investigate the effects of relaxin on sperm motility, acrosome reaction, and incorporation and oxidation of labeled glucose, boar spermatozoa were washed and preincubated for swim-up and then incubated (0-6 h) with 0, 20, or 40 ng/ml relaxin in mTALP medium. The results indicated that the addition of relaxin stimulated sperm motility significantly (P<0.05) during 1-4 h of incubation. The percentage of acrosome-reacted live spermatozoa was higher (P<0.05) when the spermatozoa were treated with 20 or 40 ng/ml relaxin. The rate of incorporation, and oxidation of glucose were also greater (P<0.05) in the spermatozoa incubated with relaxin compared to the control spermatozoa. The rate of incorporation and oxidation of (14)C-glucose were increased in correlation with acrosome reaction up to 4 h of incubation and then decreased in line with the increasing incubation period. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that relaxin accelerates not only motility but also the acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa.     

Serotonin derivatives, major safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed antioxidants, inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

The effects of defatted safflower seed extract and its phenolic constituents, serotonin derivatives, on atherosclerosis were studied. Ethanol-ethyl acetate extract of safflower seeds (SSE) inhibited low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation induced in vitro by an azo-containing free-radical initiator V70 or copper ions. Two serotonin derivatives [N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, CS; N-feruloylserotonin, FS] and their glucosides were identified as the major phenolic constituents of the extract. The study with chemically synthesized materials revealed that a majority of the antioxidative activity of SSE was attributable to the aglycones of these two serotonin derivatives. Orally administered CS and FS suppressed CuSO(4)-induced plasma oxidation ex vivo. Long-term (15 week) dietary supplementation of SSE (1.0 wt %/wt) and synthetic serotonin derivatives (0.2-0.4%) significantly reduced the atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic sinus of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (29.2-79.7% reduction). The plasma level of both lipid peroxides and anti-oxidized LDL autoantibody titers decreased concomitantly with the reduction of lesion formation. Serotonin derivatives were detected as both intact and conjugated metabolites in the plasma of C57BL/6J mice fed on 1.0% SSE diet. These findings demonstrate that serotonin derivatives of SSE are absorbed into circulation and attenuate atherosclerotic lesion development possibly because of the inhibition of oxidized LDL formation through their strong antioxidative activity.     

Effects on flowering and seed yield of dominant alleles at maturity loci E2 and E3 in a Japanese cultivar,Enrei

‘Enrei’ is the second leading variety of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in Japan. Its cultivation area is mainly restricted to the Hokuriku region. In order to expand the adaptability of ‘Enrei’, we developed two near-isogenic lines (NILs) of ‘Enrei’ for the dominant alleles controlling late flowering at the maturity loci, E2 and E3, by backcrossing with marker-assisted selection. The resultant NILs and the original variety were evaluated for flowering, maturity, seed productivity and other agronomic traits in five different locations. Expectedly, NILs with E2 or E3 alleles flowered later than the original variety in most locations. These NILs produced comparatively larger plants in all locations. Seed yields were improved by E2 and E3 in the southern location or in late-sowing conditions, whereas the NIL for E2 exhibited almost the same or lower productivity in the northern locations due to higher degrees of lodging. Seed quality-related traits, such as 100-seed weight and protein content, were not significantly different between the original variety and its NILs. These results suggest that the modification of genotypes at maturity loci provides new varieties that are adaptive to environments of different latitudes while retaining almost the same seed quality as that of the original.     

Eucalyptus camaldulensis density and fiber length estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Density and fiber length belong to the parameters that are used by the pulping industry as indicators of wood quality for different industrial processes and final paper products. The feasibility of Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive evaluation of fiber length and air-dry density of fast-growing E. camaldulensis from Thailand was investigated using 50 samples. NIR spectra taken from solid wood and air-dry density as well as fiber length were used for partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. It is the first time that the fiber length of E. camaldulensis solid wood could be predicted with high accuracy and precision and that the ratios of performance to deviation (RPD) obtained are the first that fully fulfill the requirements of AACC Method 39-00 (AACC 1999) for screening in breeding programs (RPD?≥?2.5). The RPDs for cross-validation (test set validation) of the NIR-PLS-R models of 3.3 (3.8) for air-dry density and 3.5 (3.9) for fiber length allow drawing the conclusion that the models are at least applicable for screening in breeding programs as they lie in-between screening (RPD?≥?2.5) and quality control (RPD?≥?5). Even when 40% of the samples were removed in cross-validation of the air-dry density model, the RPD is 3.2, which confirms that the model is robust, stable, and well qualified for prediction. The good model statistics obtained in this study might be due to the fact that measurement sites for the measurement of NIR spectra, air-dry density, and fiber lengths were strictly coincided.     

Proteome analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in healthy beagles and canine encephalitis

We performed proteomics analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of healthy dogs and dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). By comparing two-dimensional electrophoreses (2DE), an upregulated spot was found in MUE dogs. This protein was identified as a neuron-specific enolase (NSE) by analysis with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In comparing dot blots using an antibody against NSE, the NSE levels in the CSF of MUE dogs was significantly higher than that of the controls. NSE is a diagnostic marker of neuroendocrine tumors, brain injury and spinal cord trauma in humans. It seems that the NSE concentration in the CSF is increased by cellular destruction in canine encephalitis. Though elevation of NSE may not be specific in canine encephalitis because the NSE level was increased in other CNS diseases, further study including measurement with serum is necessary.     

Sugar expressions on the vaginal epithelium in pregnant mice

Sugar expressions were examined on the epithelium of both the middle portion of the vagina and the vaginal portion of the cervical canal (CC) in pregnant mice to understand the pathogenesis of bacterial infection in the female reproductive organ by using a panel of lectins. As a result, N-acetylglucosamine was positive before pregnant day (P) 7 but negative after P10 and at diestrus on both the vagina and the CC. In addition, some differences in sugar expressions were seen between them. These results suggest that sugar expressions on the mucosal surface would change not only site-specifically but also time-dependently, and these sugar differences indicate the possibility of the alteration of the settled bacterial species on the vaginal mucosa in pregnancy.     

Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in horses infected with equine infectious anaemia virus

This study assesses the impact of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) infection on the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium of horses. Blood samples from 96 Romanian horses aged 1-25 years, were divided into different groups according to their EIAV-infection status, age, and time post-seroconversion. The effect of infection on oxidative stress was estimated by measuring enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and catalase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (uric acid and carotenoids), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]). Infection modified the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in the horses, influencing GPx and uric acid levels (P<0.05). Time post-seroconversion also contributed to oxidative stress imbalance, exhibiting a significant influence on both SOD and MDA concentrations in the blood (P<0.05). Animal age did not have a significant influence on oxidative stress. Recently infected horses (<1 year following seroconversion), and horses >5 years old, represented the most vulnerable category in terms of oxidative stress, followed by recently infected animals <5 years old. The results of this study are novel in implicating EIAV infection in the development of oxidative stress in horses.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of imidazole-1-carboxylates

A series of imidazole-1-carboxylates was prepared by reacting various alcohols with trichloromethyl chloroformate and imidazole or N,N'-carbonyl-diimidazole. They were tested for fungitoxic activity in vitro against two phytopathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) and Gibberella fujikuroi, and for preventive efficacy against grey mould on cucumber leaves. 1-(4-Substituted phenoxymethyl)-2,2-dimethylpropylimidazole-1-carboxylates showed excellent in-vitro activity against B. cinerea, and moderate activity against G. fujikuroi, and some of them also effectively controlled grey mould in vivo. A 1H-1,2,4-triazole derivative corresponding to an imidazole derivative did not have any activity, while a thiocarboxylate corresponding to an imidazole carboxylate showed excellent activity against both B. cinerea and G. fujikuroi.