THORACOLUMBAR INTRADURAL DISC HERNIATION IN EIGHT DOGS: CLINICAL,LOW‐FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING,AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC MYELOGRAPHY FINDINGS

Intradural disc herniation is a rarely reported cause of neurologic deficits in dogs and few published studies have described comparative imaging characteristics. The purpose of this retrospective cross sectional study was to describe clinical and imaging findings in a group of dogs with confirmed thoracolumbar intradural disc herniation. Included dogs were referred to one of four clinics, had acute mono/paraparesis or paraplegia, had low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomographic myelography, and were diagnosed with thoracolumbar intradural disc herniation during surgery. Eight dogs met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of thoracolumbar intradural disc herniation amongst the total population of dogs that developed a thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation and that were treated with a surgical procedure was 0.5%. Five dogs were examined using low‐field MRI. Lesions that were suspected to be intervertebral disc herniations were observed; however, there were no specific findings indicating that the nucleus pulposus had penetrated into the subarachnoid space or into the spinal cord parenchyma. Thus, the dogs were misdiagnosed as having a conventional intervertebral disc herniation. An intradural extramedullary disc herniation (three cases) or intramedullary disc herniation (two cases) was confirmed during surgery. By using computed tomographic myelography (CTM) for the remaining three dogs, an intradural extramedullary mass surrounded by an accumulation of contrast medium was observed and confirmed during surgery. Findings from this small sample of eight dogs indicated that CTM may be more sensitive for diagnosing canine thoracolumbar intradural disc herniation than low‐field MRI.     

Transdisciplinary unifying implications of circadian findings in the 1950s

Afew puzzles relating to a small fraction of my endeavors in the 1950s are summarized herein, with answers to a few questions of the Editor-in-Chief, to suggest that the rules of variability in time complement the rules of genetics as a biological variability in space. I advocate to replace truisms such as a relative constancy or homeostasis, that have served bioscience very well for very long. They were never intended, however, to lower a curtain of ignorance over everyday physiology. In raising these curtains, we unveil a range of dynamics, resolvable in the data collection and as-one-goes analysis by computers built into smaller and smaller devices, for a continued self-surveillance of the normal and for an individualized detection of the abnormal. The current medical art based on spotchecks interpreted by reference to a time-unqualified normal range can become a science of time series with tests relating to the individual in inferential statistical terms. This is already doable for the case of blood pressure, but eventually should become possible for many other variables interpreted today only based on the quicksand of clinical trials on groups. These ignore individual differences and hence the individual's needs. Chronomics (mapping time structures) with the major aim of quantifying normalcy by dynamic reference values for detecting earliest risk elevation, also yields the dividend of allowing molecular biology to focus on the normal as well as on the grossly abnormal.     

Assessment of the influence of water management on yield component and morphological behavior of rice at post-heading stage

The use of water saving (WS) techniques in irrigated rice production is a key factor to increase and sustain rice production in water scarce regions. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the influence of water management upon phenology, morphology, yield components, and the relationship with soil chemical properties. Pot experiments were carried out in greenhouse, on two different soil types “Typic Fluvaquent (GS) and Typic Paleudult (RS)”. In both soils, five treatments were conducted under continuous flooding “Control” (T1), flooding-drainage at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after heading (T2, T3, and T4) and field capacity (T5). In terms of morphological components or grain yield, GS showed better performance than RS, the high Mn availability in RS was responsible for the poor performance. However, regardless of soil type the establishment of WS period at post-heading did not affect significantly any of the evaluated parameters compared with Control. Shifting from anaerobic to aerobic condition at GS-T2 increased grain yield (8 %), biomass (12 %), and root biomass (16 %) as well as reduced grain sterility by 15 and 14 % for GS and RS, respectively. On soil properties, the WS period showed that, GS-Fe availability as well as RS-Mn availability were reduced by 54 and 22 %, respectively, to more optimal levels in response to changes in redox potential (Eh) and reduction of pH. The results indicated that establishment of WS period at post-heading stage is a suitable strategy not only for reducing water input but also to improve morphological behavior, to reduce sterility as well as to control Fe and Mn availability without negative effects on grain yield.     

Comparison of the peripheral blood leukocyte population between Japanese Black and Holstein calves

Japanese black (JB) calves have greater susceptibility to infectious diseases compared to Holstein (Hol) calves. In order to clarify the differences in cellular immune status between JB and Hol calves, the leukocyte population and lymphocyte proliferative ability were analyzed. In total 200 healthy calves, 1 day to 14 weeks of age, were examined: 105 JB and 95 Hol calves. Lower numbers in peripheral blood and percentage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CD3⁺TcR1‐N12⁺ T cells and major histocompatibility complex class‐II⁺CD14^‐ B cells were observed in the JB compared to the Hol. The percentage of TcR1‐N12⁺CD25⁺ T cell in the JB was significantly lower than that of the Hol at 4–6, and 8–10 weeks. Interleukin (IL)‐2 sensitivity in the JB was lower than that in the Hol, and significant differences were observed in age groups of 6–8 weeks and 10–14 weeks. These findings indicated that the lower numbers of γδ T cells and B cells in the JB compared to the Hol might be associated with the specificity of the immune systems in JB calves.     

A microfluidic device for conducting gas-liquid-solid hydrogenation reactions

We have developed an efficient system for triphase reactions using a microchannel reactor. Using this system, we conducted hydrogenation reactions that proceeded smoothly to afford the desired products quantitatively within 2 minutes for a variety of substrates. The system could also be applied to deprotection reactions. We could achieve an effective interaction between hydrogen, substrates, and a palladium catalyst using extremely large interfacial areas and the short path required for molecular diffusion in the very narrow channel space. This concept could be extended to other multiphase reactions that use gas-phase reagents such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.     

Target strength estimation of black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegeli using acoustic measurements and a scattering model

ABSTRACT:   Black porgy are hatched and released in marine ranching areas in Japan, Korea and Taiwan to maintain fisheries resources in coastal areas. If acoustic methods are used for field surveys, target strength ( TS ) information on the species is needed to convert acoustic data to biomass density. Target strength of black porgy ( Acanthopagrus schlegeli ) 15.5–32.9 cm fork length (nine individuals) was measured at 38 and 120 kHz (split beam) by ex situ measurements (cage and fishhook methods) of living fish, a tethered method with shock-frozen fish, and an acoustic scattering model, the Kirchhoff ray mode (KRM) model based on fish morphology. The ex situ TS -to-fork length ( FL , cm) relationships were TS _38kHz = 20log₁₀ FL  − 64.6 ( r  = 0.77) and TS _120kHz = 20log₁₀ FL  − 65.2 ( r  = 0.70). The values for the KRM model were TS _38kHz = 20log₁₀ FL  − 64.8 ( r  = 0.88) and TS _120kHz = 20log₁₀ FL  − 65.4 ( r  = 0.80). The agreement between the ex situ measurements and the KRM model for the mean TS was very good. In contrast, the results for the tethered method ( TS _38kHz = 20log₁₀ FL  − 69.3 [ r  = 0.42]) differed markedly from the other two methods, perhaps because of the effects of the shock-freezing procedure in air. The results of the ex situ measurements and scattering model provide basic information for studying TS and conducting acoustic surveys of black porgy, even though the tethered method must be modified.     

Immunochromatographic assay for simple and rapid detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Satsuma dwarf virus</Emphasis> and related viruses using monoclonal antibodies

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic assay (ICA) to detect Satsuma dwarf virus (SDV) was developed using colloidal gold conjugates of anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies. Of six homogenization buffers tested, 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 7.0) gave the best results for the ICA. In the ICA, addition of 0.1% thioglycolic acid in the homogenization buffers that have been widely used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was deleterious to the reaction because of undesirable coagulation of the colloidal gold. ICA using the anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies was 8 times and 16 times more sensitive than double antibody sandwich-ELISA and ICA using the anti-SDV polyclonal antibody, respectively. The analysis is complete in only 15 min. Furthermore, ICA using the anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies could also detect SDV-related viruses.     

Trial for detecting carriers with major genes in a selected layer line

Production traits of a Rhode Island Red layer line were analyzed to detect carrier animals with major genes that influenced a particular trait by applying the major gene index (MGI) approach. This method was used to examine the deviation of predicted breeding values between parents and offspring. Advantages of this method include its simplicity and time‐reducing, cost‐saving benefits compared with any other statistical approach for screening major genes. The layer line had been selected based on the desired gain index for 6 years at the National Livestock Breeding Center, Okazaki station. The line consisted of 125 sires and 2986 dams. Two economic traits as breeding objectives were studied – age at sexual maturity (ASM, days) and egg production efficiency (EP, %). The MGI detected nine sires and 23 dams as carriers with major genes for ASM, and five sires and 26 dams for EP. They were identified as important breeding stock, and pedigree information provided candidates possessing major genes with favorable effect at the founding of the selected layer line. It seems likely that the simple approach of the MGI could be a useful preliminary method for detecting carrier animals with major genes before applying molecular techniques on a sampled population to identify in more detail the existence of major genes and their carriers.