Relations between various extracted basic densities and wood chemical components in Eucalyptus globulus

Relations between various extracted basic densities and wood chemical components were investigated by their within-tree variations in Eucalyptus globulus for assistance in the prediction of the properties of wood or wood-derived products. Extraneous compounds affect the relations between various basic densities and wood chemical components such as holocellulose and the lignin syringyl/guaiacyl ratio. We also discuss the relation of various densities, the molar composition of neutral sugars constituting hemicellulose, and fiber morphology.     

Xenotransplantation of porcine pancreatic endocrine cells to total pancreatectomized dogs

Xenotransplantation of porcine pancreatic endocrine (PE) cells in a diffusion chamber, a bioartificial endocrine pancreas (Bio-AEP), was conducted to total pancreatectomized dogs. Six pancreatectomized dogs were divided into two groups of 3 dogs each. In three dogs of the control group, exogenous insulin was administered twice a day for 30 weeks to maintain fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels within the normal range. The remaining three dogs were implanted with Bio-AEPs (implantation group), in addition to daily insulin administration. In the implantation group, Bio-AEPs containing 1.3 to 1.8 x 10(7) cells per kg of body weight of the recipient were implanted without fixation into the abdominal cavity. In the control group, exogenous insulin requirements did not decrease during the experimental period, whereas it significantly decreased for a certain period (3, 11, 17 weeks) after implantation in all implanted dogs. In the implantation group, laparotomy was performed after FBG and the exogenous insulin requirement increased again and Bio-AEPs were removed. Two Bio-AEPs were completely destroyed, and the remaining one was encapsulated by thin fibrous tissue. In this dog, effusion was present within the capsule, but the Bio-AEP was not destroyed. Histopathologically, the necrosis, presumably caused by hypoxia, of the PE-cells was observed on transmission electron microscopy. In conclusion, Bio-AEP could function for a certain period after implantation in this study. However, more preclinical researches should be needed to apply this technique for the treatment of diabetic dogs.     

Application of laser-assisted zona drilling to in vitro fertilization of cryopreserved mouse oocytes with spermatozoa from a subfertile transgenic mouse

Development of assisted reproductive technologies is necessary to obtain fertilized oocytes in a subfertile transgenic mouse strain. Here, we showed the application of laser-assisted drilling of the zona pellucida to in vitro fertilization of cryopreserved mouse oocytes with sperm from subfertile transgenic mice (C57BL/6N-Tg(UCP/FAD2)U8 strain). After cryopreservation by vitrification, the recovery and survival rates of the zona-drilled mouse oocytes were 97% (97/100) and 94% (91/97), respectively. In vitro fertilization of the cryopreserved zona-drilled mouse oocytes with sperm from the subfertile transgenic mice was greatly facilitated (60%, 55/91) compared to that of the cryopreserved zona-intact mouse oocytes (11%, 81/768). In vitro fertilized embryos that developed to the 2-cell stage were again cryopreserved by vitrification, and after warming they were transferred into recipient females. Subsequently, six viable offspring were delivered, and all were confirmed to be transgenic mice. These results indicate that laser-assisted zona drilling of oocytes combined with cryopreservation by vitrification may be a useful approach for large-scale production of in vitro fertilized embryos for managing transgenic mouse strains with reproductive disabilities such as subfertile sperm.     

Papillary renal adenoma of distal nephron differentiation in a horse

A 20-year-old thoroughbred mare had a mass in the right kidney. The mass was encapsulated with fibrous capsule and composed of variably-sized papillary projections lined by a single layer of flattened to cuboidal neoplastic epithelial cells with no cytological and nuclear atypia. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were broadly positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and granular staining for alpha-1-antitrypsin was focally detected; this immunohistochemical property was similar to that of the normal distal nephron. From these results, this case was diagnosed as papillary renal adenoma of distal nephron differentiation.     

Contrast harmonic imaging of canine hepatic tumors

Six adult healthy Beagles were used to investigate the hepatic perfusion dynamics of Levovist, a contrast agent used in contrast harmonic imaging (CHI). In addition, 8 dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 2 dogs with metastatic hepatic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) were used to characterize both the CHI findings with Levovist. In the Beagles, the start of intravenously injected Levovist into the aorta between the cranial mesenteric and renal arteries and the portal vein at the hepatic hilum were 5.47 +/- 1.52 sec and 16.03 +/- 3.39 sec, respectively. As a characteristic CHI finding in the 8 dogs with HCC, the early arterial phase showed a fine network of blood flow enhanced at the surrounding region and within the tumor in all the 8 dogs (100%), and the post vascular phase demonstrated a defect in the whole tumor and an enhancement of the surrounding hepatic tissues in 7 dogs (87.5%). In the 2 dogs with HSA, characteristic finding in which the early arterial and late vascular phases showed a rim contrast enhancement pattern, and the post vascular phase revealed that the whole tumor lacked contrast enhancement and the surrounding hepatic tissues was clearly enhanced. In dogs, the start of the early arterial and late vascular phases, and the characterizations of the CHI findings in HCC and HSA were suggested to be similar to those in humans. Therefore, CHI is thought to be useful for the diagnosis of HCC and metastatic hepatic HSA in dogs as well as in humans.     

Analysis of a pair of END+ and END? viruses derived from the same bovine viral diarrhea virus stock reveals the amino acid determinants in Npro responsible for inhibition of type I interferon production

The Exaltation of Newcastle disease virus (END) phenomenon is induced by the inhibition of type I interferon in pestivirus-infected cells in vitro, via proteasomal degradation of cellular interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 with the property of the viral autoprotease protein N^pro. Reportedly, the amino acid residues in the zinc-binding TRASH motif of N^pro determine the difference in characteristics between END-phenomenon-positive (END⁺) and END-phenomenon-negative (END⁻) classical swine fever viruses (CSFVs). However, the basic mechanism underlying this function in bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has not been elucidated from the genomic differences between END⁺ and END⁻ viruses using reverse genetics till date. In the present study, comparison of complete genome sequences of a pair of END⁺ and END⁻ viruses isolated from the same virus stock revealed that there were only four amino acid substitutions (D136G, I2623V, D3148G and D3502Y) between two viruses. Based on these differences, viruses with and without mutations at these positions were generated using reverse genetics. The END assay, measurements of induced type I interferon and IRF-3 detection in cells infected with these viruses revealed that the aspartic acid at position 136 in the zinc-binding TRASH motif of N^pro was required to inhibit the production of type I interferon via the degradation of cellular IRF-3, consistently with CSFV.     

Two species of philometrid nematodes (philometridae) from marine fishes off Japan, including Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from Branchiostegus japonicus (malacanthidae)

Gravid females of two species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) were collected from marine perciform fishes in Japanese waters, mainly from the southern Sea of Japan. Based on light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examinations, the previously described but poorly known species Philometra cryptocentri Yamaguti, 1961 is redescribed from specimens recovered from the abdominal cavity of Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck et Schlegel), Pterogobius elapoides (Günther) and P. zonoleucus Jordan et Snyder (all Gobiidae) (all new host records); the number (14) and arrangement of cephalic papillae in this species are described for the first time. The new species, Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from head tissues of Branchiostegus japonicus (Houttuyn) (Malacanthidae), based on a single specimen, is mainly characterized by the embossment of the entire body except for the cephalic end, presence of four submedian pairs of large cephalic papillae of external circle and two small lateral single papillae of internal circle, pair of large papilla-like caudal projections, the oesophagus with a distinct anterior inflation, by a markedly small body (length about 18 mm) and the larvae 306-465 microm long.