Toluene Exposure Leads to a Change in Expression Patterns of β Defensins in the Mouse Tracheal Epithelium

Defensins are generally implicated in the quick resistance of epithelial surfaces to microbials; however, recent reports have indicated that defensins also have unknown purposes in relation to noninfectious diseases. In this study, the localization patterns of anti-microbial peptides, β defensins (BDs), in the tracheal epithelium of male C3H mice under exposure to toluene were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Mice were exposed one to ten times to toluene for 30 min by nose-only inhalation. Expression of BDs was revealed by immunohistochemistry in serial sections of trachea after the final exposure. Expression of BD-1 was usually observed at almost the same levels in all exposure groups, and expression of BD-2 was observed in the control group; however, the signals for BD-2 decreased gradually with frequency of exposure. In the group exposed ten times, expression of BD-2 decreased to far lower than that of the control group. No expression of BD-3 was detected in any groups. Interestingly, expression of BD-4 increased to the maximum in the group exposed four times and decreased to a level lower than that of the control in the group exposed ten times. The results of the present study indicated that toluene gas might change the expression pattern of BDs in the tracheal epithelial cells. The oscillation of expression of BD-4 was quite characteristic and might contribute to morphological damage in on the epithelial cells.     

Equine keratomycosis in Japan

Objective To describe the incidence, clinical progress, visual outcome, and laboratory findings of equine keratomycosis in Japan. Procedure Retrospective study of the medical records of horses clinically and mycologically diagnosed with keratomycosis at the Equine Hospitals of the Japan Racing Association from 2005 to 2011. Results The diagnosis of keratomycosis was confirmed in eight horses (40.0% of the 20 horses with infectious keratitis from which fungi and/or bacteria were isolated). Fungi recovered from corneal swabs were identified as Aspergillus flavus (4), Aspergillus niger (1), Fusarium solani (1), and Mortierella wolfii (2). All horses were treated medically with topical antifungals, and one horse was also treated surgically. The median of treatment period was 40 days. Two horses were rendered blind in the affected eye and the others retained vision. Conclusions Equine keratomycosis comprises a considerable portion of infectious keratitis in Japan, and the causative fungi that we isolated had been isolated previously from horses with keratomycosis in other regions with the exception of M. wolfii. Culture and cytological examination of corneal lesions should be immediately performed on eyes with signs of keratitis, particularly on those not improving with antibacterial medication, as early initiation of aggressive antifungal treatment tended to result in better outcome and shorter treatment period.     

Influence of heart rate on myocardial function using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy dogs

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of heart rate (HR) on myocardial function assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in healthy dogs.AnimalsThirteen healthy beagle dogs.MethodsAnimals were anesthetized and HR was controlled with right atrial pacing. Myocardial function of each dog was assessed using 2D-STE at pacing rates of 120, 140, 160, and 180 bpm.ResultsAll strain and strain rate variables in the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial directions were not significantly different between pacing rates. Peak early diastolic torsion rate at 180 bpm was significantly increased compared with that at 120 bpm (P = 0.003).ConclusionTorsion rate in early diastole was elevated at 180 bpm, which may reflect improved myocardial relaxation with higher HR. Changes in left ventricular torsion during tachycardia may play an important role in preserving stroke volume in the presence of shortened ejection and filling times.     

Response of soybean plants to two inoculation methods with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus of Glomus sp. strain R-10 under field condition

ABSTRACT

Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has a great potential to reduce input of phosphorus fertilizer. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that transplanting of pre-inoculated plants (pre-inoculation) with AM fungal inoculum Glomus sp. strain R-10 (R-10) is more effective for increasing AM fungal colonization and soybean yield than placing R-10 inoculum into field soil (direct inoculation). We cultivated pre-inoculated and direct inoculated plants with and without R-10 in the same field. On the contrary to the hypothesis, hyphal colonization was increased by direct inoculation, but decreased by pre-inoculation in an early growth stage. Shoot phosphorus concentration, shoot dry weight, and yield also showed the same trend as the hyphal colonization. These results indicated that pre-inoculation with R-10 would be less effective for increasing AM fungal colonization and yield than direct inoculation. It may be due to a colonization strategy of R-10 and short duration for establishment of seedling.     

Growth and yield response of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) to waterlogging at different vegetative stages

ABSTRACT

This study identified timing (1st, 3rd, or 5th leaf stage) and duration (1, 3, 6, or 10 days) of waterlogging treatment during the vegetative stage that had the most severe effect on yield and elucidated yield determining process. Yield was reduced the most by the waterlogging treatments at the 3rd leaf stage. Among stages, yield was significantly depressed, when the treatment duration was longer than 6 days. Seed weight of the 1st branches declined more under waterlogging treatments than did that of main stem and 2nd branches, accounting for approximately 55% of total seed weight in all treatments. On the other hand, the decline in node and branch numbers was more pronounced for 2nd branches than 1st branches at the ripening stage. The development of the 2nd branches during ripening did not contribute much to increase sink capacity. Development of the main stem and the 1st branches was almost complete until the full flowering stage and shoot dry weight did not increase from the full flowering stage to the ripening stage. Shoot dry weight at the full flowering stage was determined by both leaf number and net assimilation rate (NAR). Flower cluster number at that stage was significantly correlated with total seed weight. These results showed that the critical timing was at the 3rd leaf stage and the critical duration was longer than 6 days and indicated that maintenance of leaf number and NAR and development of flowers on the 1st branches until the full flowering stage would ensure the yield.

Abbreviations: NAR - net assimilation rate, SLA - specific leaf area, g_s - stomatal conductance.     

Changes in Serum Antibody Levels after Vaccination for Strangles and after Intranasal Challenge with Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in Horses

In this study, to evaluate the influence of strangles vaccination on serological test results, we investigated the changes in strangles serum antibody levels in horses after vaccination and subsequent intranasal challenge with S. equi. The horses were vaccinated for strangles with either a component vaccine (Group C) or a live vaccine (Group L). We measured changes in strangles serum antibody levels weekly for 20 weeks after vaccinating horses twice for strangles over a 3-week interval, and for 7 weeks after intranasal challenge with S. equi in the same horses. Serum antibody responses to the proline-glutamic acid-proline-lysine (PEPK) antigen with five repetitions (PEPK-5R) were higher at all times (up to 2.4-fold) following vaccination in Group C than in Group L, and the value peaked at 2.9-fold above the initial value after the second vaccination in Group C horses. However, the value was lower than that in horses infected with S. equi, and it gradually decreased, reaching the initial (week 0) value by the 15th week. Serum antibody responses to PEPK-5R after challenge with S. equi increased in both groups of horses, but the value tended to be lower than that reported for unvaccinated horses. In addition, the average value in Group C was 2.6-fold higher than that of Group L. These results suggest the serum antibody responses of horses infected with S. equi varies according to the type of vaccine with which they have been vaccinated. Although the serological diagnostic test for strangles in which PEPK-5R is used as an antigen is effective for the investigation of serum antibodies to strangles in vaccinated horses, the present data suggest it is necessary to consider the vaccination history when interpreting the results.     

Fabrication of PVA-BaSO4 hybrid nanofibers and dispersion of BaSO4 particles via ultrasonic electrospinning

We reported the preparation and characterization of the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/BaSO₄ hybrid nanofibers prepared by normal and ultrasonic electrospinning, respectively. Compared to normal electrospinning, BaSO₄ particles in the resultant PVA/BaSO₄ hybrid nanofibers prepared by ultrasonic electrospinning were well-dispersed without severe agglomerations, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that typical crystalline peaks of PVA and BaSO₄ particles were dramatically decreased by ultrasonication during electrospinning. Moreover, the size of BaSO₄ aggregates became smaller.     

The effects of early and intense pruning on light penetration,tree growth,and epicormic shoot dynamics in a young hybrid larch stand

We examined the effect of early and intense pruning on light intensity under the canopy, individual growth, diameter–height relationships, and epicormic shoot dynamics in young hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) to establish a new effective management method for hybrid larch plantations. The objective is to produce high-quality wood while reducing silviculture costs using a combination of low-density planting and early and intense pruning. In a young hybrid larch plantation, we pruned branches to two different heights (2 and 4 m above ground level) using a no-pruning treatment as a control. Although the growth rates were lower in the heavy pruning treatment (4 m above the ground level) than in other treatments in the year following pruning, when measured 4 years later, growth did not differ between treatments. The number of epicormic shoots increased in the year following pruning, as did the relative photosynthetic photon flux density (rPPFD). The number of epicormic shoots was also dependent on the size of individual trees. However, survival of epicormic shoots was not sufficiently high to be problematic for high-quality timber production. If branches are pruned carefully such that the rPPFD does not rise above 20%, the emergence of epicormic shoots can also be controlled. Our results indicate that early and intense pruning is an effective component of a new management system for hybrid larch plantations.