Hypoglycemic effects of vanadium on alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic dogs

The hypoglycemic effects after oral administration of vanadium have been studied previously in many species such as rats, mice and even humans. However, there has been no prior report on the glucose lowering effect of vanadium on diabetic dogs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of oral vanadium on diabetic dogs. Diabetes mellitus in the dogs studied was induced by alloxan monohydrate intravenous injection. The dogs were divided into two groups, one was the diabetic control (DC) group (n = 4) and the other was the vanadium treated (DV) group (n = 6). Fresh water was supplied to the dogs in the DC group, but sodium metavanadate solution (0.1~0.2 mg/ml) was given to the dogs in DV group from one week after the alloxan injection. The fasting glucose levels, fructosamine and serum chemistry profiles were compared between the two groups weekly for three weeks. The fasting blood glucose levels in DV group were significantly lower than those in the DC group (p < 0.01). Fructosamine levels in the DV group were also lower than those in the DC group (p < 0.05). The serum chemistry profiles were not significantly different in comparisons between the two groups. However, the cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the DV group compared to the DC group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that oral vanadium administration had a hypoglycemic effect on chemically induced diabetic dogs.     

Elevated Ultraviolet‐B Radiation Reduces Concentrations of Isoflavones and Phenolic Compounds in Soybean Seeds

The gradual disruption of the ozone layer in the stratosphere has resulted in increased exposure of plants to ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B, 280–315 nm) radiation. UV‐B radiation is known to affect crop growth and quality negatively. A study was conducted to determine the impact of elevated UV‐B radiation levels on the isoflavones and phenolic compound concentrations of seven soybean varieties. UV‐B radiation significantly reduced the concentration of most isoflavones and phenolic compounds in soybean seeds. Exposure to elevated UV‐B levels overall resulted in 35 % reduction in total isoflavones and 31 % in phenolic compounds concentrations. The effect on individual isoflavones and phenolic compounds depended on the compound and variety, but UV‐B overwhelmingly reduced concentrations. This study suggests that increased UV‐B radiation negatively impacted soybean quality by reducing the concentration of compounds that have health‐beneficial properties.     

Computed tomographic findings may be useful for differentiating small intestinal adenocarcinomas,lymphomas, and spindle cell sarcomas in dogs

An improved understanding of the CT characteristics for histologically confirmed primary intestinal tumors would be helpful for guiding prognosis and treatment plans in affected dogs. This retrospective, multi-center, analytical study aimed to evaluate the CT characteristics for the differentiation of adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, and spindle cell sarcoma (SCS) in dogs. Thirty-seven dogs who underwent contrast CT and histopathological examinations were included (adenocarcinomas, n = 11; lymphomas, n = 12; SCS, n = 14). Quantitative and qualitative CT parameters, including tumor morphology, contrast enhancement pattern, Hounsfield unit (HU) value, and presence or absence of intraabdominal lymphadenopathy, were evaluated for each included small intestine tumor CT case. Adenocarcinomas tended to show endophytic growth, intestinal obstruction, and a heterogeneous enhancement pattern. Lymphomas tended to show exophytic growth, contrast enhancement of the intestinal tumor mucosal layer, a homogeneous enhancement pattern, and the presence of lymphadenopathies in the abdominal cavity. SCSs tended to show lobulated growth, a large cystic portion within the tumor, a heterogeneous enhancement pattern, a large size with fat stranding sign, and lower HU values in postcontrast images. Cut-off values of the minimum diameter/fifth lumbar vertebral mid-body height (≥5.80; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.97, P < 0.001) and minimum HU value/HU value of the aorta (≤0.26; AUC = 0.96, P < 0.001) were derived to discriminate SCS from the two other tumor types. In conclusion, contrast CT characteristics may be useful in differentiating small intestinal adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, and SCSs in dogs.     

Antioxidant activity of extracts from the wood and bark of Port Orford cedar

Heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark of Port Orford cedar were extracted with methanol, and the extracts evaluated for antioxidant activity. The total phenol content (TPC) of the extracts was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Butylated hydroxytoluene was used as a positive control in the free-radical-scavenging activity tests and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrate disodium salt served as a positive control in the metal-chelating activity assay. All wood extracts showed significant freeradical-scavenging activity. In the radical-scavenging assay of 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (the ABTS assay), the inner bark extracts exhibited the strongest free-radical-scavenging activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) in the radical-scavenging assay against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate radical (DPPH) of the heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark extracts were 64.77, 29.03, 10.31, 19.87 μg·ml⁻¹, respectively. In the metal-chelating activity system, the sapwood extract demonstrated significant activity. The greatest TPC, 537.5 mg GAE/g dry extract, was detected in the inner bark. The lowest TPC of 136.9 mg GAE/g dry extract was observed in the heartwood dry extract. The results indicate that the antioxidant activities of the extracts are in accordance with the amounts of phenolics present; the inner and outer barks of Port Orford cedar are rich in phenolics and may provide good sources of antioxidants.     

The (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium) colorimetric assay for the quantitation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin.

Using swine neutrophils as target cells, two MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium) colorimetric assay systems, one with and one without phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation were established for the quantitation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin. The MTT assays were optimized for the number of neutrophils, incubation time, and PMA concentration by a series of experiments. The optimal conditions were 25 x 10(4) cells/well incubated for four hours for the assay system without PMA stimulation, and 12.5 x 10(4) cells/well incubated for two hours for the assay system with PMA stimulation. One culture supernatant of a toxigenic Pasteurella multocida strain and five A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin preparations produced from three A. pleuropneumoniae strains were used to test assay reproducibility. Results showed both assays were reproducible with a coefficient of variation ranging from 7.8 to 18% for the assay system without PMA stimulation and from 10.7 to 18.2% for the assay system with PMA stimulation. The PMA-stimulated assay had 40 to 60-fold higher sensitivity than the nonstimulated MTT assay. The MTT assay also was applied to the measurement of neutralizing antibody titers against A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin.     

Colonization and degradation of senescent flowers of zucchini squash by Trichoderma harzianum YC459, a biocontrol agent of gray mold, Botrytis cinerea

In commercial greenhouses, senescent flower petals or flowers of vegetables such as tomato, strawberry, hot pepper and zucchini squash were blighted to be removed from fruits within five days after spraying of Trichoderma harzianum YC459 (TORY, JGreen Inc.), a biocontrol agent with good and consistent efficacy as chemical fungicides for the control of gray mold rot caused by B. cinerea. The mechanism for selective colonization of senescent floral tissues by T. harzianum YC459 was …     

Extending the carbon chain: hydrocarbon formation catalyzed by vanadium/molybdenum nitrogenases

In a small-scale reaction, vanadium-dependent nitrogenase has previously been shown to catalyze reductive catenation of carbon monoxide (CO) to ethylene, ethane, propylene, and propane. Here, we report the identification of additional hydrocarbon products [α-butylene, n-butane, and methane (CH(4))] in a scaled-up reaction featuring 20 milligrams of vanadium-iron protein, the catalytic component of vanadium nitrogenase. Additionally, we show that the more common molybdenum-dependent nitrogenase can generate the same hydrocarbons from CO, although CH(4) was not detected. The identification of CO as a substrate for both molybdenum- and vanadium-nitrogenases strengthens the hypothesis that CO reduction is an evolutionary relic of the function of the nitrogenase family. Moreover, the comparison between the CO-reducing capacities of the two nitrogenases suggests that the identity of heterometal at the active cofactor site affects the efficiency and product distribution of this reaction.     

Fetal bladder outlet obstruction in a stillborn bovine fetus

A stillborn bovine male fetus with abdominal distention, arthrogryposis and atresia ani was presented for diagnostic evaluation. At necropsy, this fetus had a large amount of ascites, urachal obstruction and marked bladder distention. The ventral surface of the bladder had ruptured and attached to the abdominal wall by fibrinous adhesions. There was bilateral hydronephrosis with moderate pelvic dilatation and cortical attenuation. The rectum was filled with meconium but the anus was imperforate. The right forelimb was contracted. The cause(s) of these abnormalities could not be determined; however, we believe that developmental abnormalities during embryogenesis may be the result of chromosomal abnormalities.     

Reductive Dechlorination of Tetrachloroethylene by Green Rusts Modified with Copper

Reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) by green rust modified with copper (GR(Cu)) was investigated using a batch reactor system. Four different forms of GRs (GR-Cl, GR-SO₄, GR-CO₃, and GR-F) were synthesized by partial air oxidation of Fe(OH)₂ and used in reductive dechlorination. The addition of Cu(II) into GRs produced 100-nm particles on the surface of GRs, which were considered to be metallic Cu and transformed a portion of GR to magnetite. Concentration of Fe(II) in the liquid phase increased and concentration of Fe(II) in the solid phase decreased during the modification process and the extent of these changes was dependent on the amount of Cu(II) added. The most reactive of the modified GRs was GR-F(Cu), which reacted with PCE at a rate that was 80 times faster than that of GR-Cl(Cu). The rate of PCE degradation by GR-F(Cu) was strongly dependent on pH with higher rates at higher pH over the range of pH 7.5–11. Increasing concentrations of Cu(II) over the range of 0 to 5 mM increased rate constants. The rate of dechlorination of PCE by GR-F(Cu) showed surface saturation behavior with respect to PCE concentration.     

Seed transmission of Sweet potato leaf curl virus in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) infects sweet potato and is a member of the family Geminiviridae (genus Begomovirus). SPLCV transmission occurs from plant to plant mostly via vegetative propagation as well as by the insect vector Bemisia tabaci. When sweet potato seeds were planted and cultivated in a whitefly‐free greenhouse, some sweet potato plants started to show SPLCV‐specific symptoms. SPLCV was detected by PCR from all leaves and floral tissues that showed leaf curl disease symptoms. More than 70% of the seeds harvested from SPLCV‐infected sweet potato plants tested positive for SPLCV. SPLCV was also identified from dissected endosperm and embryos. The transmission level of SPLCV from seeds to seedlings was up to 15%. Southern blot hybridization showed SPLCV‐specific single‐ and double‐stranded DNAs in seedlings germinated from SPLCV‐infected seeds. Taken altogether, the results show that SPLCV in plants of the tested sweet potato cultivars can be transmitted via seeds and SPLCV DNA can replicate in developing seedlings. This is the first seed transmission report of SPLCV in sweet potato plants and also, to the authors' knowledge, the first report of seed transmission for any geminivirus.