Prevalence and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in retail raw chicken meat throughout Japan

A total of 444 samples of raw chicken meat (thighs, breasts, wings, livers, gizzards, hearts and ovaries) that retailed at 145 different supermarkets in 47 prefectures in Japan were examined for contamination with Staphylococcus aureus in association with its enterotoxigenicity. S. aureus was isolated from 292 (65.8%) of the samples, and from 131 of the 145 supermarkets. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of S. aureus according to the type of meat examined. About 80% of 714 isolates belonged to the poultry (57.1%) and human biotypes (22.1%). Seventy-eight (21.7%) of 360 isolates were enterotoxigenic and isolated from 78 samples in 53 supermarkets in 31 prefectures. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced were SEB (50 isolates), SEA (14), SEC (8), SED (2), SEA+SEB (2), and SEA+SEC (2). Most of the enterotoxigenic isolates belonged to the human and poultry biotypes, coagulase type VII, VIII or IV, and were lysed by phages of group III. Identical SE types, biotypes, coagulase types and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were shown in isolates from different types of meat at the same supermarket and from samples taken from different supermarkets in the same prefectures or in isolates from samples obtained from several different prefectures. Among the 50 SEB-producing isolates, 27 yielded three similar PFGE patterns that differed by only a few fragments, suggesting that they were closely related genetically. The three patterns were found in isolates of samples that retailed at 17 supermarkets in 11 prefectures, indicating that they may be disseminated among raw chicken meat in Japan.     

Pseudovitamin B(12) is the predominant cobamide of an algal health food, spirulina tablets.

The vitamin B(12) concentration of an algal health food, spirulina (Spirulina sp.) tablets, was determined by both Lactobacillus leichmannii ATCC 7830 microbiological and intrinsic factor chemiluminescence methods. The values determined with the microbiological method were approximately 6-9-fold greater in the spirulina tablets than the values determined with the chemiluminescence method. Although most of the vitamin B(12) determined with the microbiological method was derived from various vitamin B(12) substitutive compounds and/or inactive vitamin B(12) analogues, the spirulina contained a small amount of vitamin B(12) active in the binding of the intrinsic factor. Two intrinsic factor active vitamin B(12) analogues (major and minor) were purified from the spirulina tablets and partially characterized. The major (83%) and minor (17%) analogues were identified as pseudovitamin B(12) and vitamin B(12), respectively, as judged from data of TLC, reversed-phase HPLC, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and biological activity using L. leichmannii as a test organism and the binding of vitamin B(12) to the intrinsic factor.     

Algal-Derived Halogenated Sesquiterpenes from Laurencia dendroidea as Lead Compounds in Schistosomiasis Environmental Control

Schistosomiasis has been controlled for more than 40 years with a single drug, praziquantel, and only one molluscicide, niclosamide, raising concern of the possibility of the emergence of resistant strains. However, the molecular targets for both agents are thus far unknown. Consequently, the search for lead compounds from natural sources has been encouraged due to their diverse structure and function. Our search for natural compounds with potential use in schistosomiasis control led to the identification of an algal species, Laurencia dendroidea, whose extracts demonstrated significant activity toward both Schistosoma mansoni parasites and their intermediate host snails Biomphalaria glabrata. In the present study, three seaweed-derived halogenated sesquiterpenes, (−)-elatol, rogiolol, and obtusol are proposed as potential lead compounds for the development of anthelminthic drugs for the treatment of and pesticides for the environmental control of schistosomiasis. The three compounds were screened for their antischistosomal and molluscicidal activities. The screening revealed that rogiolol exhibits significant activity toward the survival of adult worms, and that all three compounds showed activity against S. mansoni cercariae and B. glabrata embryos. Biomonitored fractioning of L. dendroidea extracts indicated elatol as the most active compound toward cercariae larvae and snail embryos.     

热处理过程中杉木压缩木材的材色及红外光谱

为了探讨热处理过程中杉木压缩木材的材色变化规律 ,以及材色和木材化学主成分变化之间的关系 ,该研究测定了空气介质和真空中热处理杉木压缩木材 (热处理温度范围 140～ 2 2 0℃ ,时间范围 0～ 36h)的明度 (L )、色差 (ΔE )以及红外光谱 .同时测定了杉木压缩木材的回复率 ,无压缩对照试材的重量损失率和抗收缩率 .该研究的结论为 :①在相同条件下 ,随着热处理时间延长 ,木材明度减小 ,色差增大 ;空气介质中热处理和真空中热处理相比 ,在处理温度和时间相同的情况下 ,前一种方法处理后的木材明度更小 ,色差更大 .②就热处理过程中木材明度、色差与回复率之间的关系而言 ,两种热处理方式之间的差异不大 ;热处理中木材变定的固定程度与木材颜色的变化程度有关 .③就热处理过程中杉木压缩木材的明度、色差与对照试材的重量损失率、抗收缩率之间的关系而言 ,重量损失率或抗收缩率越大 ,对应的杉木压缩木材的明度越小 ,色差越大 .④红外吸收光谱表明 ,在热处理过程中波数在 1743,16 6 0和 16 0 5cm-1附近的羰基 (C =O)峰的变化趋势最为明显 ,说明在热处理固定杉木压缩木材的过程中 ,至少半纤维素 ,甚至木素发生了化学变化 .     

Cloning of cDNAs encoding multiple subtypes of feline interferon-alpha from the feline epitherial cell line

Mammalian interferon (IFN)-alpha consists of a 23-amino acid signal peptide and a 166-amino acid mature protein. Feline (Fe) IFN-alpha has an extra unique molecule consisting of a 171-amino acid mature protein with a 5-amino acid insertion. We cloned eight new subtypes of cDNA encoding FeIFN- alpha from a feline epithelial cell line. Among all the FeIFN-alpha subtypes, including six that have previously been reported, the variations were found to be far less than those of IFN-alphas of other animals.     

Variation of tensile strength with annual rings for lumber from the Japanese larch

To examine the effectiveness of long rotation forestry and the potential of complete utilization of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carriere), we designed a tensile test using the lumber from six 87-year-old sample trees. Results showed that strength properties of lumber varied greatly in the radial direction within trees, but all sample trees showed a similar trend. There was little difference in dynamic Young's modulus but a large difference in tensile strength (TS) between the lumber and small clear specimens from undestroyed parts of the lumber. These differences decreased with an increase in ring number and became constant after 30 years. The presence and distribution of knots markedly affected the TS; and among the knot indices, the knot number (Kn) and knot area ratio of a maximum single knot (Km) proved to be effective for explaining the effect of knots. The distribution of Kn and Km in the radial direction agreed with the variation of TS in the radial direction. By investigating the variation patterns of lumber and small clear specimens in the radial direction, it was found that the strength properties of both required a long time, about 30 years, to reach a relatively constant state.Part of this report was presented at the 49th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999     

Effects of radial growth rate on selected indices for juvenile and mature wood of the Japanese larch

To examine the differences between juvenile and mature wood, 12 aged sample trees from two areas of Nagano Prefecture were harvested; and the radial development of tracheid length, the ring density, and the relation of the radial growth rate (observed by ring width) with some selected indices of ring structure were investigated. The results proved that the radial variation of tracheid length with ring number can be described by a logarithmic formula, and both plantations reached the demarcation of juvenile and mature wood at age 18. With the segmented regression method, we also analyzed radial variation of mean density and found that the demarcation of juvenile and mature wood was at age 15 for sample trees from Saku and at age 21 for those from Yabuhara. By using the results of estimates from juvenile and mature wood based on ring density, we found that high growth rates resulted when producing lower-density wood during the juvenile period, but these rates did not occur during the mature period. The basic reason for this phenomenon is the variation in patterns of earlywood and latewood in juvenile and mature wood, respectively. This result advised us that when managing plantations of Japanese larch it is necessary to take different measurements at different growth periods.     

Change in circularity index of cell lumen in a cross-section of wood induced by aqueous NaOH

We quantitatively examined changes in the morphological features of wood cells treated with aqueous NaOH and their relationship to changes in the micro-structure of wood components. Wood samples were treated with aqueous 0.00–0.20 (w/w) NaOH ([NaOH] = 0.00–0.20). Cross-sectional planes of samples were observed using confocal laser-scanning microscopy and the circularity index of cell lumens in cross-section was evaluated using digital image analysis. At [NaOH] < 0.11, the circularity index was unrelated to crystallinity, while at [NaOH] > 0.12 it was closely related to a decrease in crystallinity, as indicated by X-ray diffraction. Force balance analysis based on a cell model supported experimental results at higher concentrations. We concluded that cells appear circular in cross-section after treatment with NaOH because a decrease in crystallinity results in contraction along microfibrils, resulting in distribution of the central force of the three layers, S1, S2, and S3, in the secondary wall at the corners of cells in cross-section.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF CANINE NONPARENCHYMAL HEMANGIOSARCOMA

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe pre‐ and postcontrast computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of confirmed nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma in a group of dogs. Medical records were searched during the period of July 2003 and October 2011 and dogs with histologically confirmed nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma and pre‐ and postcontrast CT images were recruited. Two observers recorded a consensus opinion for the following CT characteristics for each dog: largest transverse tumor diameter, number of masses, general tumor shape, character of the tumor margin, precontrast appearance, presence of dystrophic calcification, presence of postcontrast enhancement, pattern of postcontrast enhancement, presence of regional lymphadenopathy, and presence of associated cavitary fluid. A total of 17 dogs met inclusion criteria. Tumors were located in the nasal cavity, muscle, mandible, mesentery, subcutaneous tissue, and retroperitoneal space. Computed tomographic features of nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma were similar to those of other soft tissue sarcomas, with most tumors being heterogeneous in precontrast images, invasive into adjacent tissue, and heterogeneously contrast enhancing. One unexpected finding was the presence of intense foci of contrast enhancement in 13 of the 17 tumors (76%). This appearance, which is not typical of other soft tissue sarcomas, was consistent with contrast medium residing in vascular channels. Findings indicated that there were no unique distinguishing CT characteristics for nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma in dogs; however, the presence of highly attenuating foci of contrast enhancement may warrant further investigation in prospective diagnostic sensitivity and treatment outcome studies.