Olfactory neuroepithelioma in a dog: an immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study

A case of olfactory neuroepithelioma was investigated electron microscopically and immunohistochemically. The tumor mass was found in the nasal cavities of a 10-year-old female dog, which showed epistaxis, nasal discharge and facial swelling. The tumor tissue consisted of tubular structure of cuboidal to columnar cells and compactly arranged nests of small cells surrounded by a fibrovascular stroma. Mitotic figures were frequently observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells frequently showed positive for neurofilament protein, synaptophysin and/or carnosine in addition to keratin. Ultrastructurally, tight junction was observed between the tumor cells. No dense-cored secretory granules were shown in the tumor cells. These findings indicated that the present tumor had neuronal and epithelial features probably originating from the olfactory epithelium.     

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency in Holstein cattle.

Two Holstein heifers with persistent and recurrent infections including ulcerative gingivitis, periodontitis, pneumonia, loss of teeth and stunted growth associated with marked neutrophilia were evaluated clinically and for neutrophil function, CD18 expression on neutrophils and CD18 genotype analysis by DNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Adherence to nylon fibers and phagocytic activity of neutrophils from affected animals were significantly (p < 0.05) impaired as compared with those of controls. Neutrophils from affected heifers had decreased chemiluminescent (CL) responses when stimulated with opsonized zymosan, compared with those of controls. In contrast, neutrophils from affected heifers produced increased CL responses when stimulated with latex beads and phorbol myristate acetate compared with those of controls. The clinical findings, functional leukocyte abnormalities, deficiency in expression of CD18 on neutrophils, and the D128G mutation detected by DNA-PCR testing of affected heifers demonstrated that these heifers have bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD). Although both animals were confirmed to be homozygotes for BLAD by DNA-PCR test, they had differences in clinical, hematological and neutrophil functional characteristics.     

Induced systemic resistance of Chinese cabbage to bacterial leaf spot and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria </Emphasis>leaf spot by the root endophytic fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteroconium chaetospira</Emphasis>

 The root endophytic fungus Heteroconium chaetospira isolate OGR-3 was tested for its ability to induce systemic resistance in Chinese cabbage against bacterial leaf spot caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola and Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicae of the foliar diseases. Chinese cabbage seedlings planted in soil infested with an isolate of H. chaetospira were incubated in a growth chamber for 32 days. The first to fourth true leaves of the seedlings were challenge-inoculated with P. syringae pv. maculicola or A. brassicae. Chinese cabbage planted in soil infested with H. chaetospira showed significant decreases in the number of lesions of bacterial leaf spot or Alternaria leaf spot when compared to the control plants not treated with H. chaetospira. The results indicated that colonization of roots by H. chaetospira could induce systemic resistance in Chinese cabbage and reduce the incidence of bacterial leaf spot and Alternaria leaf spot. Received: April 24, 2002 / Accepted: August 9, 2002     

Mediastinal lymphoma with complete atrioventricular block in a horse

A 15-year-old, neutered-male pony presented with a history of weight loss during 4 months. Clinical evaluation revealed severe bradycardia and complete atrioventricular block. At necropsy, a lobulated mass in the anterior mediastinum and moderate enlargement of the superficial cervical lymph nodes were observed. The vagus nerve and the brachiocephalic trunk were embedded in this anterior mediastinal tumor. Histologically, the mass was composed of sheets of neoplastic lymphoid cells expressing CD3, with a low mitotic rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of mediastinal lymphoma associated with complete atrioventricular block in horses.     

Multiple osseous metastases of a carotid body tumor in a dog

Metastasis of malignant carotid body tumor to multiple bones was detected in a 13-year-old female Siberian husky dog. Radiographs exhibited an abnormal mass in the retropharyngeal site and osteolytic lesions in the vertebral bodies, spinous process, tibia, and ribs. At necropsy, multiple masses were observed in the bones as well as at the dorsal area of the retropharynx. Histologically, the tumor cells, arranged in sheets and clusters, had eosinophilic finely granular cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin. Electron microscopy demonstrated a number of dense membrane-bound granules in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Based on these findings, this case was diagnosed as multiple bone metastases of a malignant carotid body tumor. Spinal cord damage induced by the tumor mass was the cause of the hind limb paralysis of the present dog.     

Kinetics of the hydroxymethylation of phenol II: values of rate parameters and results of simulation experiments

The reaction course of the sodium hydroxidecatalyzed hydroxymethylation of phenol was analyzed by use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the rate constants for the seven reactions taking place consecutively and competitively were evaluated by means of a computer simulation technique. Calibration was done at the quantification of the six phenolic monomers from the peak areas in the HPLC chromatogram, taking the differences in molar ultraviolet absorption intensities of the six compounds into account. The values of the energies of activation for the seven reactions obtained differed greatly from those reported by Eapen and Yeddanapalli. Simulation experiments carried out by use of the newly obtained rate parameters showed that the amounts of phenol left unreacted and 2,4,6-trihydroxymethylphenol in the final reaction product increased as the reaction temperature was increased and the alkali/phenol molar ratio decreased. These phenomena can be attributed to the differences in the energies of activation for the seven reactions and differences in the acid strengths of the six phenolic monomers.Part of this paper was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998 and at the 1998 annual meeting of the Forest Products Society, Merida, Mexico, June 1998     

Analysis of phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde resins

A method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectroscopy for analyzing phenol-resorcinolformaldehyde (PRF) resins is reported. The equations that describe the number-averaged structures of PRF resins in terms of the PMR absorption intensities of acetylated resins have been derived on the basis of the work of Woodbrey et al. and Anderson et al. The P/R molar ratio of the resin calculated from the PMR intensities was in good agreement with the synthetic P/R molar ratio when correction was made for the loss of phenol evaporated during the drying process that preceded the acetylation. The number-averaged molecular weight (M_n) of the acetylated resin calculated from the PMR intensities agreed with the M_n determined by cryoscopy. Unreacted phenol and resorcinol could be determined by analyzing the water-soluble fraction of the resin by use of high-performance liquid chromatography.Part of this paper was presented at the 4th annual meeting of the Kyushu branch of the Japan Wood Research Society, Miyazaki, November 1997, and at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998     

Amino acid sequences of α-skeletal muscle actin isoforms in two species of rattail fish, Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Coryphaenoides cinereus

SUMMARY: The cDNA clones of α-skeletal actins were isolated from the skeletal muscle of two species of rattail fish, Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Coryphaenoides cinereus . The complete nucleotide sequences of the cDNA and their deduced amino acid sequences were determined. Each of the two species had two α-skeletal actin cDNA. The nucleotide sequences of the coding region of the two α-skeletal actin isoform genes within each species had 92.0 and 91.8% homology. From the cDNA sequences of the four α-skeletal actin isoforms in the two species, amino acid sequences of 377 amino acid residues were deduced. It was predicted that the two N-terminal amino acid residues of each protein are processed after translation. The amino acid sequences of α-skeletal actin 1 in the two Coryphaenoides species were identical, as were the amino acid sequences of α-skeletal actin 2 in the two species. The amino acid sequences of the two α-actin isoforms, α-skeletal actin 1 and α-skeletal actin 2, differed by only a single amino acid, Ala/Ser at the 155th position. Northern blot analysis showed that a similar amount of each of the two α-actin isoform mRNA was expressed in the skeletal muscle of the two Coryphaenoides species.