Detection of Thiophanate-methyl-resistant Strains in Diplocarpon mail, Causal Fungus of Apple Blotch

Isolates of Diplocarpon mali, causal fungus of apple blotch, collected from four prefectures in Japan in 1997–1998 were tested for sensitivity to thiophanate-methyl. Results from mycelial growth tests showed that MIC values of the fungicide were 0.19 μg/ml against all isolates from Akita, Nagano and Saga prefectures but 100 or 200 μg/ml against all isolates from the Tokusa area in Yamaguchi prefecture. Detached apple leaves sprayed with the fungicide developed severe symptoms when inoculated with the isolate from Tokusa, but developed no symptoms with the isolate from Nagano. These results are the first confirmation of thiophanate-methyl-resistant strains in D. mali. Received 1 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 15 October 1999     

Effects of preventing hyperphagia on glycolipid metabolic abnormalities in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii fatty rats

Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, made by introducing the fa allele of the Zucker fatty rat into the SDT rat genome, represent a new model of obese type 2 diabetes. SDT fatty ^fa/fa (SDT fatty) rats exhibit overt obesity, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia from about six weeks of age, and this is associated with hyperphagia by an induced disorder of leptin action. The present study was conducted to elucidate whether suppression of hyperphagia can improve reduce abnormalities in SDT fatty rats. SDT fatty rats were subjected to pair-feeding with SDT fatty ^{+/ +} (SDT) rats from 6 to 26 weeks of age, and the effects on metabolic parameters and diabetic complications were assessed. Body weights of the pair-fed rats were similar with those of SDT rats during the experimental period. Improvement of hyperglycemia or hypertriglyceridemia was observed from 8 to 16 or 12 weeks of age in the pair-fed rats, but hypercholesterolemia was not entirely improved during the experimental period. We also examined mRNAs expression in liver, and found that the expression associated with glyconeogenesis, such as glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), tended to decrease in the pair-fed rats, and the mRNA expression of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) was elevated. Renal parameters, such as blood urea nitrogen and urinary albumin excretion, were improved in the pair-fed rats. The incidence or progression of diabetic complications, such as renal lesions and cataract, was reduced. In conclusion, suppression of hyperphagia in SDT fatty rats was effective in temporally improving hyperglycemia or hypertriglyceridemia, and reducing the incidence or progression of diabetic complications, but was ineffective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.     

Correlation between villous height and the disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of piglets from nursing to growing

Early weaning induces villous atrophy in the small intestine. Reduction in villous height in the small intestine after weaning is associated with reductions in brush‐border enzyme activity. Body weight gain after weaning is, therefore, correlated with villous height. This evidence suggested that the maintenance of small intestinal structure and function after weaning is important for the growth of young pigs. On the other hand, the relationship between villous height and the activity of the digestive enzymes in the small intestine has not been studied with piglets from the suckling to the growing period. Five suckling piglets, four piglets in the proximal stage of weaning, four pigs in the distal stage of weaning and four growing pigs were used. The activities of lactase (LA), sucrase (SA) and maltase (MA) were determined. LA showed a positive correlation with villous height in weaning. SA and MA were positively correlated with villous height from suckling to growing. In a previous study, non‐infectious dyspeptic diarrhea was frequently observed in growing piglets on Japanese swine farms. The maintenance of villous height to retain disaccharidase activity may prevent dyspepsic diarrhea in this stage.     

ST segment depression and ventricular fibrillation in a dog after contrast agent administration

An 11-year-old Toy Poodle underwent a computed tomography examination with contrast (iohexol) enhancement under anesthesia. Heart rate and R-wave amplitude on electrocardiogram (ECG) increased 2.5 min after iohexol administration, and end-tidal carbon dioxide decreased to 12 mmHg. A progressive ST segment depression was observed on ECG. Subsequently, the ECG waveform changed to ventricular fibrillation. However, spontaneous circulation returned following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Myocardial ischemia or anaphylactic shock was suspected in the dog, which explains the ST segment depression observed on ECG. When performing radiological examinations with a contrast agent, the ECG waveform changes, such as an increase in heart rate, R-wave amplitude, or ST segment depression, should be carefully monitored. This might enable early detection of cardiac dysfunction and the ensuing cardiac arrest in dogs.     

Species relationships in the subgenus Ceratotropis (genus Vigna) as revealed by RAPD analysis

Summary The genetic variation among 23 accessions of 5 species in the subgenus Ceratotropis, genus Vigna, were investigated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 404 fragments amplified with 24 primers were scored and analyzed by cluster analysis. The accessions used were separated into two main groups with an average of 70% differences. Within the main groups, five subgroups were recognized, which are in complete agreement with taxonomic species. Wild forms were always grouped with their most closely related cultivated forms and they showed variation in each species. The largest intraspecific variation was found in V. radiata (mungbean), in which wild forms (V. radiata var. sublobata) were highly different from each other and from cultivated forms. V. angularis (adzuki bean) showed the least variation and thus, was probably differentiated in relatively recent times.     

A new thiamine derivative,S-benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate

S-Benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate has been synthesized, and its physicochemical and biological properties have been investigated. It is a stable crystalline substance, it exerts thiamine activity approximately equivalent to that of thiamine hydrochloride in thiamine-requiring microorganisms, and it is easily absorbed in organisms, particularly by oral administration.