Improvement in gluten-free rice bread quality by protease treatment

The wide prevalence of gluten-related disorders has led to increase in the demand for gluten-free foods. Rice is a gluten-free and less allergenic cereal. However, bread made from rice flour, i.e., gluten-free rice bread, is generally of poor quality because rice flour cannot develop a network with gluten-like properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of protease treatment on gluten-free rice to improve the quality of its bread. Bread treated with a commercial protease from Bacillus stearothermophilus (thermoase) was of higher quality, i.e., good crumb appearance, high volume, and soft texture, depending on the amount of enzyme added. Rice proteins in the protease-treated bread were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which showed that glutelins and prolamins were hardly digested by thermoase in comparison with other proteins. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that many cellular structures were formed in the thermoase-treated bread; however, these structures were rare in the untreated control. Bread crumb color was not affected by the treatment. The staling rate was much lower for the thermoase-treated bread than for the control. These results indicate that thermoase treatment can be successfully used to improve the quality of gluten-free rice bread by partial digestion of rice proteins.     

Locally synchronized synaptic inputs

Synaptic inputs on dendrites are nonlinearly converted to action potential outputs, yet the spatiotemporal patterns of dendritic activation remain to be elucidated at single-synapse resolution. In rodents, we optically imaged synaptic activities from hundreds of dendritic spines in hippocampal and neocortical pyramidal neurons ex vivo and in vivo. Adjacent spines were frequently synchronized in spontaneously active networks, thereby forming dendritic foci that received locally convergent inputs from presynaptic cell assemblies. This precise subcellular geometry manifested itself during N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent circuit remodeling. Thus, clustered synaptic plasticity is innately programmed to compartmentalize correlated inputs along dendrites and may reify nonlinear synaptic integration.     

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.     

Splenic Hemangiosarcoma in a Young Sprague-Dawley Rat

The present report describes a rare case of spontaneous hemangiosarcoma in a nine-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rat. At necropsy, multiple white nodules of various sizes were observed on and within the enlarged spleen and liver and were histopathologically determined to be composed of spindle- to oval-shaped cells that showed invasive growth without encapsulation and were arranged solidly but partially in whorls or faint alveolar patterns with vascular-like spaces containing small clefts or erythrocytes in the tumor mass. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that most of the tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD34 but negative for podoplanin. In addition, electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Based on these findings, this case was diagnosed as a hemangiosarcoma. The splenic masses were larger than the hepatic ones, with tumor cells mainly observed at periportal regions with tumor embolism in the liver, suggesting that primary hemangiosarcoma initially developed in the spleen before metastasizing.     

Porencephaly in a cynomolgus monkey ( macaca fascicularis )

Porencephaly was observed in a female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) aged 5 years and 7 months. The cerebral hemisphere exhibited diffuse brownish excavation with partial defects of the full thickness of the hemispheric wall, and it constituted open channels between the lateral ventricular system and arachnoid space. In addition, the bilateral occipital lobe was slightly atrophied. Histopathologically, fibrous gliosis was spread out around the excavation area and its periphery. In the roof tissue over the cavity, small round cells were arranged in the laminae. They seemed to be neural or glial precursor cells because they were positive for Musashi 1 and negative for NeuN and GFAP. In the area of fibrous gliosis, hemosiderin or lipofuscin were deposited in the macrophages, and activated astroglias were observed extensively around the excavation area.     

Risk factors for canine tail chasing behaviour in Japan

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for tail chasing behaviour that occurs when a dog spins in tight circles to chase its tail, sometimes biting it. The behaviour is a sign of canine compulsive disorder (CD). A questionnaire about tail chasing behaviour and general information about the animals was used to collect data on seven breeds of pet dogs. The data were gathered at a dog event and at veterinary practices. To determine which variables were associated with tail chasing behaviour, stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed. Regardless of cohort, 'breed' and 'source of acquisition' were significantly associated with tail chasing behaviour. Using a chi-square test, the association between 'source of acquisition' and the behaviour was examined separately in two breeds (Shiba inu and Dachshund) that had the largest number of individuals chasing their tails accompanied by biting and/or growling at them. This factor showed a significant and consistent association across the two breeds. With respect to the risk factors of 'breed' and 'source of acquisition', high percentages of Shiba inu and dogs originating from pet stores were included in the group chasing their tails with biting and/or growling. The results suggest that distinct risk factors exist for tail chasing behaviour and such factors appear to be regulated by both genetics and the environment.     

Immunomodulatory effects of Alliums and Ipomoea batata extracts on lymphocytes and macrophages functions in White Leghorn chickens: In vitro study

We previously described that supplementary garlic, onion and purple sweet potato (PSP) enhance humoral immune response in White Leghorn chickens. In the present in vitro study, we investigated the effects of garlic (GE), onion (OE) and PSP (PSPE) extracts on proliferation, interleukin (IL)‐2 and interferon (INF)‐γ gene expression of stimulated lymphocytes. The effects on microbicidal activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) productions of stimulated peritoneal macrophages were studied as well. The results showed that GE augmented Concanavalin A (ConA)‐induced splenocytes (4, 8 and 16 µg/mL) and thymocytes (2, 4 and 8 µg/mL) proliferations, and gene expression of IL‐2 (8 and 16 µg/mL) and INF‐γ (16 µg/mL). None of the examined extracts had mitogenic effect nor stimulated bursacytes response to phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA). Macrophages exhibited superior microbicidal activity and ROS production with GE at 4 and 8 µg/mL and with OE at 25.6 µg/mL. None of the extracts showed stimulatory effects on NO production. The extracts showed concentration‐dependent inhibitory effects on all measured parameters at higher concentrations. Taken together, it is likely that garlic has direct stimulatory effects on immune cell functions, whereas the in vitro inhibitory effects of onion and PSP were likely attributed to high flavonoid contents.     

Investigation on the hydrogen abstraction from methyl glucoside by active oxygen species under oxygen delignification conditions IV: appearance of kinetic isotope effect in the reaction between methyl glucoside and deuterated methyl glucoside

In our previous studies, a clear kinetic isotope effect was observed when a pair of carbohydrate model compounds, methyl ??-d-glucopyranoside (MGP??) and a deuterated MGP?? labeled at the anomeric (methyl ??-d-(1-²H)glucopyranoside) or C-2 position (methyl ??-d-(2-²H)glucopyranoside), was reacted with active oxygen species (AOS) generated by reactions between O₂ and a phenolic compound, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol (TMPh), under oxygen delignification conditions. These results indicate that the AOS abstract the anomeric and C-2 hydrogens of MGP??. Contrarily, no clear kinetic isotope effects were observed when AOS were generated by reactions between O₂ and another phenolic compound, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol (vanillyl alcohol, Valc), and hence, the abstraction of the anomeric and C-2 hydrogens by the AOS was not confirmed. In this study, a pair of MGP?? and the deuterated MGP?? labeled at all the positions, (²H₃)methyl ??-d-(1,2,3,4,5,6,6-²H₇)glucopyranoside, was reacted with AOS generated from TMPh or Valc under oxygen delignification conditions to further examine the appearance of a kinetic isotope effect. A clear kinetic isotope effect was observed when either of TMPh or Valc was the origin of AOS, indicating that some AOS abstract at least a hydrogen of MGP?? in either case. The results are further discussed focusing on the type of AOS generated from TMPh and Valc.     

Polymorphism identification, RH mapping, and association analysis with the anxiety trait of the equine serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene

Equine anxiety trait is considered an important temperament in various situations, including riding, training, and daily care. This study examined the polymorphism of the equine serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene as a candidate genetic element influencing equine anxiety trait. The sequence of the coding region of this gene was highly homologous with those of other mammals, and four single nucleotide polymorphisms were found by comparing the sequences of ten genetically unrelated thoroughbred horses. Radiation hybrid mapping revealed that this gene was located 26.92 cR from neurofibromin 1 on ECA 11. Using two-year-old thoroughbred horses (n=67), the association of these polymorphisms with the anxiety trait was examined, but no significant association was identified between each haplotype of the serotonin transporter gene and the anxiety score.