Anti-inflammatory potency of oral disulfiram compared with dexamethasone on endotoxin-induced uveitis in rats

To investigate potency of oral disulfiram (DSF) compared with that of dexamethasone (Dexa), on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. The oral administration with 750 mg/kg DSF suppressed the number of inflammatory cells, protein concentration, and levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E2 in the aqueous humor and improved the histiologic status of the ocular tissue at 24 hr after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The anti-inflammatory potency of DSF oral administration was as strong as that observed with 0.5 mg/kg Dexa in the present study. The results suggest that DSF might pave the way for a novel therapeutic agent for the management of uveitis.     

Determination and molecular analysis of the complete genome sequence of two wild-type rabies viruses isolated from a haematophagous bat and a frugivorous bat in Brazil

The complete genome sequences of two Brazilian wild-type rabies viruses (RABV), a BR-DR1 isolate from a haematophagous bat (Desmodus rotundus) and a BR-AL1 isolate from a frugivorous bat (Artibeus lituratus), were determined. The genomes of the BR-DR1 and BR-AL1 had 11,923 and 11,922 nt, respectively, and both encoded the five standard genes of rhabdoviruses. The complete nucleotide sequence identity between the BR-DR1 and BR-AL1 isolates was 97%. The BR-DR1 and BR-AL1 isolates had some conserved functional sites revealed by the fixed isolates, whereas both isolates had unique amino acid substitutions in the antigenic region IV of the nucleocapsid gene. Therefore, it is speculated that both isolates were nearly identical in virologic character. According to our phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genomes, both isolates belonged to genotype 1, and to the previously defined "vampire bat-related RABV lineage" which consisted of mainly D. rotundus- and A. lituratus-isolates; however, a branch pattern with high bootstrap values suggested that BR-DR1 was more closely related to the 9001FRA isolate, which was collected from a dog bitten by a bat in French Guiana, than to BR-AL1. This result suggests that the vampire bat-related RABV lineage includes Brazilian vampire bat and Brazilian frugivorous bat RABV and is further divided into Brazilian vampire bat and Brazilian frugivorous bat RABV sub-lineages. The phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genomes was valuable in discriminating among very closely related isolates.     

Post-Natal Dynamic Changes in Circulating Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone,Immunoreactive Inhibin,Progesterone, Testosterone and Estradiol-17β in Thoroughbred Colts until 6 Months of Age

The aim of present study was to clarify the post-natal profile of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), immunoreactive (ir)-inhibin, progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol-17β, and their relationships in Thoroughbred colts. Six hundred and thirty-six colts were used for the study. Single plasma samples from each animal were harvested from the blood drawn through jugular venipuncture. The subjects were born with high amounts of progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol-17β, all of which dropped significantly and remained at lower levels till the end of 6 months. FSH decreased transiently after birth until day 12 and then gradually increased to peak at day 100 which then maintained in lesser levels towards the end of the studied period. LH was highest during birth which decreased until day 26 and then increased slowly to sub-birth levels up to day 90. Animals were born with high amounts of ir-inhibin. It dropped slowly and halved by day 20 and then decreased towards rest of the studied period. The increase in FSH is negatively correlated with the declining ir-inhibin levels. The early increase in FSH can be the indication of early post-natal maturation of the hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis that ultimately might be responsible for priming the testes for future development.     

Comparison of feeding systems: feed cost,palatability and environmental impact among hay‐fattened beef,consistent grass‐only‐fed beef and conventional marbled beef in Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle)

The objective of this article is to compare feed cost, palatability and environmental impacts among feeding systems of high concentrate (HC), high hay (HH) and grass‐only‐fed (Gof) groups. Feed cost was the sum of costs paid for feed intake times the price of feed per kilogram. Palatability was measured by a panel taste test using HH and Gof beef and analyzed for differences. Environmental impacts were calculated based on 1 kg of Japanese beef yield of CO₂ equivalents (eq) and animal end weights at each feeding stage. Results showed that the HH and Gof feeding systems could significantly reduce feed costs by approximately 60% and 78%, respectively, from the HC. In the panel taste test, 50% and 47.50% of panelists indicated that HH beef was ‘extremely delicious’ and ‘acceptable,’ respectively, while 15% indicated that Gof beef was ‘extremely delicious’; 62.50% indicated that Gof beef was ‘acceptable.’ Environmental impacts of each feeding system in terms of CO₂ equivalents (eq) were 9.32, 6.10 and 2.04 tonnes of eq for the HC, HH and Gof, respectively. The HH was an economical system that produced moderate impacts on the environment and had impressive taste.     

Determination of free phosphoric acid in superphosphate

Water soluble phosphoric acid in ordinary superphosphate and double (or triple) superphosphate consists of mainly monocalcium phosphate, but it also contains one to several per cent free phosphoric acid. Both free acid and water are the essential components in order to know the change in curing or to estimate the reduction of posphoric acid in manufacture of mixed fertilizer.     

Embryo and fetal position during pregnancy by ultrasonographic examinations in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

From 2012 to 2017, serial ultrasonographic evaluation of 5 healthy bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, were performed over the course of 6 pregnancies in Enoshima Aquarium. A total of 98 ultrasonographic examinations were included in the study. In three out of six cases, two embryos were observed between umbilicus and genital slit, and side of umbilicus in the dam’s body. All embryos were located in right below the peritoneum and observed from 308 to 325 days pre-partum. These days were corresponding to from 58 to 61 days after copulation respectively. The diameter of the embryo sac was approximately 4 cm. In three cases, the fetal head was located in the dam’s left lateral between umbilicus and genital slit from approximately 90 days pre-partum to the parturition. A snout of fetus is at the top of the uterine horn, and the tail lies close to the cervix. All six calves were fluke-first births (breech presentation). It was conjectured that the contraction of the dam’s uterus during parturition forced the fetus to invert, and the fetal tail fluke was expelled from the dam’s body. In three cases, judging from orientation of fetal tail fluke faced towards left side of the dam, a fetal position might be RSL (Right Sacrum-Lateral) within the birth canal. In the other three cases, the left and right positions of the fetus and the dam’s body are reversed during pregnancy and parturition.     

DDT inhibition of Ca-ATPase of the peripheral nerves of the American lobster

A Ca-ATPase highly sensitive to DDT has been found in peripheral nerves of lobster, Homarus americanus. The observed I₅₀ for this Ca-ATPase toward DDT is on the order of 10^?9M and has a low temperature quotien. The ATPase seems to work over a wide range of ATP concentrations. It is stimulated by Ca²⁺ (optimum 0.1 mM) and shows sensitivity to Na⁺ (optimum 20 mM) and K⁺ (optimum 20 mM) ions. The fact that it is highly sensitive to ruthenium red (I₅₀ = 10 μM) suggests that the enzyme is a Ca-ATPase and not a Mg-ATPase. Furthermore the enzyme is not a CaMg-ATPase, since the presence of Mg²⁺ along with Ca²⁺ ion is not required for its activity. DDT is found to inhibit the process of Ca²⁺ binding in the axonic membrane only in the presence of ATP. The evidence suggests the important role of the Ca-ATPase in regulating Ca²⁺ concentrations in the membrane. The possible significance of DDT inhibition of the ATPase is discussed.