Potential predictive biomarkers of obesity in Burmese cats

Australian Burmese cats are predisposed to diabetes mellitus and, compared to other breeds, have delayed triglyceride clearance that may result in subtle changes within cells and tissues that trigger specific alterations in gene expression within peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs). Expression of genes involved in energy metabolism (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase), lipogenesis (ATP citrate lyase [ACL], fatty acid synthase [FAS] and sterol regulatory binding protein-1c [SREBP-1c]), and insulin signalling (insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2, and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase), as well as cholesterol lipoprotein subfraction profiling were carried out on PBLs from lean Burmese cats and compared with similar profiles of age and gender matched lean and obese Australian domestic shorthaired cats (DSHs) in an attempt to identify possible biomarkers for assessing obesity.For the majority of the genes examined, the lean Burmese cats demonstrated similar PBL gene expression patterns as age and gender matched obese Australian DSH cats. Lean Burmese had increased expression of ACL and FAS, but not SREBP-1c, a main upstream regulator of lipid synthesis, suggesting possible aberrations in lipogenesis. Moreover, lean Burmese displayed a 3- to 4-fold increase in the very low density cholesterol fraction percentage, which was double that for obese DSH cats, indicating an increased degree of lipid dysregulation especially in relation to triglycerides. The findings suggest that Burmese cats may have a particular propensity for dysregulation in lipid metabolism.     

Glucosinolate metabolism,functionality and breeding for the improvement of Brassicaceae vegetables

Unique secondary metabolites, glucosinolates (S-glucopyranosyl thiohydroximates), are naturally occurring S-linked glucosides found mainly in Brassicaceae plants. They are enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce sulfate ions, D-glucose, and characteristic degradation products such as isothiocyanates. The functions of glucosinolates in the plants remain unclear, but isothiocyanates possessing a pungent or irritating taste and odor might be associated with plant defense from microbes. Isothiocyanates have been studied extensively in experimental in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis models for their cancer chemopreventive properties. The beneficial isothiocyanates, glucosinolates that are functional for supporting human health, have received attention from many scientists studying plant breeding, plant physiology, plant genetics, and food functionality. This review presents a summary of recent topics related with glucosinolates in the Brassica family, along with a summary of the chemicals, metabolism, and genes of glucosinolates in Brassicaceae. The bioavailabilities of isothiocyanates from certain functional glucosinolates and the importance of breeding will be described with emphasis on glucosinolates.     

Long term intensive exercise training leads to a higher plasma malate/lactate dehydrogenase (M/L) ratio and increased level of lipid mobilization in horses

Continuous high intensity training may induce alterations to enzyme activities related to glucose and lipid metabolism in horses. In our study, five Thoroughbred race horses (3 male and 2 female, avg age=5 yrs old) were compared against five riding horses (1 male, 1 female, 3 gelding, avg age=13 yrs old) in terms of energy metabolism, by examining plasma malate (MDH) and lactate (LDH) dehydrogenase activities and M/L ratio. MDH is involved in NADH and ATP generation, whereas LDH can convert NADH back into NAD(+) for ATP generation. An increase in plasma M/L ratio can reflect heightened energy metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle of horses adapted to continuous intensive exercise. Moreover, plasma lipid metabolism analytes (adiponectin, NEFA, total cholesterol (T-Cho), and triglycerides (TG)) can reflect changes to lipolysis rate, which can also indicate a change in energy metabolism. Overall, race horses demonstrated increased MDH and LDH activity in plasma (4x and 2x greater, respectively), in addition to a plasma M/L ratio twice as high as that of riding horses (2.0 vs 1.0). In addition, race horses also demonstrated significantly higher levels of plasma NEFA (50% greater), TG (2x greater), and T-Cho (20% greater) as compared to riding horses. Therefore, race horse muscles may have adapted to prolonged high intensity endurance exercise by gaining a higher oxidative capacity and an increased capacity for fat utilization as an energy source, resulting in heightened energy metabolism and increased rate of lipid mobilization.     

Variations in structural,biochemical, and physiological traits of photosynthesis and resource use efficiency in Amaranthus species (NAD-ME-type C4)

C₄ plants show higher photosynthetic capacity and productivity than C₃ plants owing to a CO₂-concentrating mechanism in leaves, which reduces photorespiration. However, which traits regulate the photosynthetic capacity of C₄ plants remains unclear. We investigated structural, biochemical, and physiological traits associated with photosynthesis and resource use efficiency in 20 accessions of 12 species of Amaranthus, NAD-malic enzyme-type C₄ dicots. Net photosynthetic rate (P_N) ranged from 19.7 to 40.5 μmol m^?2 s^?1. P_N was positively correlated with stomatal conductance and nitrogen and chlorophyll contents of leaves and was weakly positively correlated with specific leaf weight. P_N was also positively correlated with the activity of the C₃ enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphoshate carboxylase/oxygenase, but not with the activities of the C₄ enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NAD-malic enzyme. Structural traits of leaves (stomatal density, guard cell length, leaf thickness, interveinal distance, sizes of mesophyll and bundle sheath cells and the area ratio between these cells) were not significantly correlated with P_N. These data suggest that some of the biochemical and physiological traits are involved in interspecific P_N variation, whereas structural traits are not directly involved. Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency ranged between 260 and 458 μmol mol^?1 N s^?1. Photosynthetic water use efficiency ranged between 5.6 and 10.4 mmol mol^?1. When these data were compared with previously published data of C₄ grasses, it is suggested that common mechanisms may determine the variations in resource use efficiency in grasses and this dicot group.     

Reforming Wakame Aquaculture in Japan with Relaxed Processing Standards: From Consumer and Producer Viewpoints

This study investigated potential production reforms of wakame aquaculture in Japan through modification of processing standards. The research focused on the destemming process and examined both the consumers’ and producers’ perspectives. An auction experiment was conducted to measure consumer preferences for wakame with different destemming standards (1, 4, 7, and 10 mm). It was found that, although consumer preferences were diverse, there was no preference between the present (1-mm) and 4-mm standards. In addition, a production experiment was used to measure the amount of labor that could be saved (and thereby the improvement in profit) by relaxing the standard from 1 mm to 4 mm. It was concluded that this new standard would increase productivity by 13.3% without affecting consumer demand, which will improve the structure of this industry for competition against cheaper foreign products.     

Identificaiton of a clubroot resistance locus conferring resistance to a Plasmodiophora brassicae classified into pathotype group 3 in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.)

In Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), the clubroot resistance (CR) genes Crr1 and Crr2 are effective against the mild Plasmodiophora brassicae isolate Ano-01 and the more virulent isolate Wakayama-01, but not against isolate No. 14, classified into pathotype group 3. ‘Akiriso’, a clubroot-resistant F₁ cultivar, showed resistance to isolate No. 14. To increase the durability of resistance, we attempted to identify the CR locus in ‘Akiriso’. CR in ‘Akiriso’ segregated as a single dominant gene and was linked to several molecular markers that were also linked to CRb, a CR locus from cultivar ‘CR Shinki’. We developed additional markers around CRb and constructed partial genetic maps of this region in ‘Akiriso’ and ‘CR Shinki’. The positions and order of markers in the genetic maps of the two cultivars were very similar. The segregation ratios for resistance to isolate No. 14 in F₂ populations derived from each of the two cultivars were also very similar. These results suggest that the CR locus in ‘Akiriso’ is CRb or a tightly linked locus. The newly developed markers in this study were more closely linked to CRb than previously reported markers and will be useful for marker-assisted selection of CRb in Chinese cabbage breeding.     

Bicavitary effusion in a horse with multicentric lymphoma

A 14-year-old Quarter Horse gelding presented for a 2-week history of increased respiratory rate, fever and weight loss. The referring veterinarian performed an ultrasonographic examination on the farm and considered a differential diagnosis of pleuritis and pleuropneumonia. On presentation, transtracheal wash showed suppurative septic inflammation with bacteria within macrophages. Thoracic ultrasonography showed increased hypoechoic fluid in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Cytologic analysis of pleural and peritoneal fluids revealed lymphorrhagic effusion with atypical lymphocytes, suggestive of a lymphatic flow obstruction or lymphoma. Treatment consisted of drainage of the pleural fluid, anti-inflammatory agents, fluid therapy and antimicrobial therapy. Continued fluid accumulation in the thoracic cavity, tachypnoea, lack of response to pain medication and progressive lethargy resulted in the horse being subjected to euthanasia. At necropsy, bicavitary effusion was confirmed and histopathological diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma was made. Horses presenting with pleural effusion should also be evaluated for peritoneal effusion, as bicavitary effusion may indicate noninflammatory conditions such as neoplasia.     

Therapy resistant septic enteritis due to a jejunal malformation in a 5-day-old Thoroughbred colt

A 5-day-old Thoroughbred colt was presented with profuse watery diarrhea, hypovolemic shock, and a patent urachus. Despite intensive medical therapy, the colt was euthanized 15 d later due to poor clinical response. Necropsy revealed a small intestinal structural abnormality that formed a closed jejunal ring. Although rare, intestinal malformations should be considered in neonatal foals with clinical signs resembling enteritis.