Determination of antioxidant activity and characterization of antioxidant phenolics in the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom (Prunus lannesiana)

Sakura-cha (salted cherry blossom tea) is a Japanese tea that is traditionally served at celebrations such as wedding ceremonies. The production of Sakura-cha includes the immersion of cherry blossom flowers in Japanese plum vinegar, and through this process, the byproduct (plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom) is obtained. In this study, the antioxidant activity of the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom was examined. The plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom had a greater superoxide anion scavenging activity compared with red wine, which is a well-known strong antioxidant. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, and caffeic acid were the major components in the phenolic extract prepared from plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom, and they possessed superoxide anion scavenging activity. Caffeic acid is mainly responsible for the scavenging activity of phenolic extract; the contributions of cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were minor.     

Efficacy of thiabendazole, mebendazole, levamisole and ivermectin against gullet worm, Gongylonema pulchrum: in vitro and in vivo studies

In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of thiabendazole, mebendazole, levamisole and ivermectin against Gongylonema pulchrum. For in vitro assays, third-stage larvae (L3) incubated with the drugs were administered orally to mice and the ability of larvae to invade the gastric mucosa of the animals was examined. After incubation, only those larvae treated with high concentrations of levamisole (1 and 10 microg/ml) were tightly coiled with intestines exhibiting morphological abnormalities. Good dose-response data for the drugs tested was observed at the time of worm recovery from mice, with no worms recovered at the two highest concentrations of levamisole. In vivo efficacy of the drugs against adult worms was evaluated in six groups of three rabbits, each of which was infected with 30 L3 of G. pulchrum and treated with thiabendazole at 100 mg/kg for 3 days, mebendazole at 70 mg/kg for 3 days, levamisole as a single dose of 8 mg/kg, and subcutaneously injected ivermectin as a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg or vehicles of the drugs (control) at 4 months post-infection. Necropsy 14 days after treatment revealed that levamisole, mebendazole and ivermectin reduced worm burdens by 63.2%, 22.8% and 25.8%, respectively, with no reductions in worms observed with thiabendazole. The surviving worms were principally found in the esophagus with the remainder distributed among the buccal mucosa, the tongue, and/or pharyngeal mucosa in all groups. A number of morphologically abnormal eggs were observed within the uterus and ovijector in female worms recovered from the thiabendazole-treated group. These findings suggest that levamisole exhibits in vivo efficacy against G. pulchrum infection and that the larval invasion tests using mice could be used to screen for anthelmintic susceptibility of nematodes.     

Epidemic of equine influenza among vaccinated racehorses in Japan in 2007

On August 2007, we encountered equine influenza epidemic by Florida sub-lineage strain (H3N8) in Japan Racing Association's facilities where 4142 racehorses in total were stabled. The number of new febrile cases sharply increased, but the occurrence was rapidly calmed down within 2 weeks. The morbidity rate in these facilities was 12.8% and the subclinical infection rate of healthy racehorses examined by rapid antigen detection tests was 19.4% at the early stage of epidemic. The serological studies along with the low morbidity rate and the existence of numbers of asymptomatically infected racehorses, suggested that the cross-reactivity of the antibodies provided by vaccination against the epidemic strain contributed to reducing the morbidity rate and duration of epidemic.     

Growth stimulation of juvenile abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis discus hannai</Emphasis> by feeding with salmon growth hormone in sodium alginate gel

We examined the ability of salmon growth hormone (sGH) in sodium alginate (SA) gel to accelerate the somatic growth of juvenile abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, by feeding. After the feeding of sGH at 50 μg or 100 μg in 350 mg SA gel, immunoreactivity to sGH in body fluid was maximal after 12 h, and was still detectable at 24 h. No immunoreactivity was observed in the control group. Following the feeding of sGH at 0.5 mg or 5 mg/8 g of SA gel at 7- and 14-day intervals, there was a greater increase in shell length and body weight than in the control. In abalone, sGH can be transported from food into the circulatory system and subsequently improve somatic growth.     

Determination of Total Iodine in Soils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A method for the determination of the total amount of iodine in soil by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. Iodine in soil was completely extracted by heating a mixture of 5 mL of 5% tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution and 100 mg of soil for 3 h in an oven at 70°C. Indium as an internal standard was added and the extract was diluted at least more than 10-fold. Iodine amount in the solution was determined by measuring the signal intensity of ¹²⁷I against that of ¹¹³In. When the method was tested by analyzing four reference soil samples (GSS-1, 4, 5, and 7), the iodine contents obtained were in good agreement with the certified values for the samples.     

Selective determination and formation of elemental selenium in soils

A selective method for the determination of elemental selenium in soil was developed and was applied to the study of elemental selenium in soil. (1) Elemental selenium extracted with carbon disulfide from soil was selectively transformed into selenocyanate ion by reacting with potassium cyanide in carbon disulfide. The selenocyanate ion formed was recovered into an aqueous solution and the amount of selenium in the aqueous solution was determined. This method was specific to elemental selenium and did not interfere with the other selenium compounds and soil components. The method was also highly sensitive and enable to determine more than 0.1 μg kg^-1 of elemental selenium in soil. (2) The formation of elemental selenium was confirmed, when a soil was submerged and the redox potential of the soil decreased. The amount of elemental selenium formed was proportional to the selenite content of the soil, indicating that elemental selenium is transformed from selenite upon its reduction.     

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of benazepril in the treatment of chronic renal insufficiency in cats

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is a common disease in cats. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) have beneficial effects in humans with CRI by reducing the loss of protein in the urine and increasing life expectancy. HYPOTHESIS: The ACEI benazepril has beneficial effects on survival, clinical variables, or both as compared with placebo in cats with CRI. ANIMALS: 61 cats with naturally occurring CRI. METHODS: The cats were enrolled into a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Cats received placebo or 0.5-1 mg/kg benazepril once daily for up to 6 months. RESULTS: Urine protein/urine creatinine ratios were significantly (P < .05) lower with benazepril as compared with placebo at days 120 and 180. Three cats with placebo and 1 cat with benazepril were removed prematurely from the study because of deterioration of CRI or death. Cats were classified into 4 stages of CRI according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) classification scheme. Incidence rates of cats with IRIS classification stage 2 or stage 3 that remained in stage 2 or 3 without progressing to stage 4 were higher with benazepril (93 +/- 5%) as compared with placebo (73 +/- 13%). CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These results suggest a potential for benazepril to delay the progression of disease, extend survival time, or both in cats with CRI.     

The presence of double-stranded RNAs in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> Japanese pear pathotype is associated with morphological changes

Strains of the Japanese pear pathotype of Alternaria alternata were screened for double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Four strains had several dsRNAs; strain N18 was associated with several dsRNAs and had impaired growth phenotypes such as irregular mycelium and abnormal pigmentation. We isolated dsRNA-cured isolates from strain N18 by single-conidium isolation. The dsRNA-cured isolates had recovered normal growth and pigmentation. Enlarged vesicles were observed in mycelial cells of the original dsRNA-carrying N18 strain. DAPI nuclear staining revealed regression of the nuclei in dsRNA-carrying N18 cells. These results indicate that the dsRNAs might have negative effects, such as apoptosis-like cell death, on the host fungus.     

Cardiovascular effects of continuous propofol infusion in horses

We examined the influence of propofol infusion on cardiovascular system at the rate of 0.14, 0.20 and 0.30 mg/kg/min in six adult Thoroughbred horses. The cardiovascular parameters were heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean right atrial pressure (MRAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), pre-ejection period (PEP) and ejection time (ET). In order to keep the ventilation conditions constantly, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was performed, and the partial arterial CO(2) pressure was maintained at 45 to 55 mmHg during maintenance anesthesia. SV showed a significant dose-dependent decrease however, CO did not show significant change. SVR decreased significantly at higher dose. PEP was prolonged and PEP/ET increased significantly at the highest dose. From these results, it became clear that SV decreases dose-dependently due to decrease of cardiac contractility during anesthesia with continuous propofol infusion in horses. On the other hand, since MAP and CO did not show significant changes, total intravenous anesthesia with propofol was suggested to be suitable for long-term anesthesia in horses.