Sodium iodoacetate-induced experimental osteoarthritis and associated pain model in rats

Degenerative lesions were induced in the knee joint of Wistar rats by intraarticular injection of chondrocyte metabolism inhibitor mono-iodoacetate (MIA) at doses of 0, 0.3 or 3 mg/joint. Histopathological examination and the measurement of hind paw weight ratio as an index of joint pain by incapacitance tester were performed. Histological findings that are similar to those observed in human osteoarthritis (OA), such as disorganization of chondrocytes, erosion and fibrillation of cartilage surface, and subchondral bone exposure etc., were observed in a MIA-dose-dependent manner. Saflanin-O fast green staining revealed that marked diffuse reduction of proteoglycan in cartilage tissue of rats treated with MIA. The clinical scores of the joint pain were closely correlated to the grade of histological findings. We conclude that the present experimental model in combination with a novel dual channel weight averager would be very useful for the study of human OA, and could be applied for estimation of therapeutic effect of new anti-OA drugs.     

Seroconversion of anti-Getah virus antibody among Japanese native Noma horses around 2012

Getah virus (GETV), an arthropod-borne virus transmitted by mosquitoes, has been isolated from several animals. GETV infection in horses shows clinical signs such as fever, rash, and edema in the leg. Noma horses are one of the eight Japanese native horses. The present study aimed to clarify the occurrence of GETV infection in Noma horses. Serum samples collected from Noma horses were analyzed using a virus neutralization test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and showed that the anti-GETV antibody titers in the samples collected in 2017 were significantly higher than those collected in 2012. We concluded that a seroconversion of anti-GETV antibodies was occurred in the Noma horse population around 2012, providing evidence of the GETV epidemic in Japan circa 2012.     

Influence of an autologous serum-supplemented medium on the proliferation and differentiation into neurons of canine bone marrow stromal cells

We investigated the influence of autologous serum (AS)-supplemented medium on the proliferation and differentiation into neurons of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Canine BMSCs were cultured using α-MEM only, α-MEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 5, 10 and 20% AS-supplemented α-MEM. Growth of canine BMSCs was observed in all AS groups. The proliferation capacity of canine BMSCs in the AS groups was similar to that in the FBS group. No significant differences between the FBS and AS groups were observed in the percentage of the cells that changed to the neuron-like morphology and neuron-specific enolase-positive ratio after neuronal differentiation. Canine BMSCs cultured using AS-supplemented medium were able to proliferate and showed neuronal differentiation potency.     

Beobachtungen und Erfahrungen bei der Spannerbekampfung mittels Flugzeugs im Jahre 1926

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

我国高职教育发展的主要问题及对策思考

分析了我国高等职业教育发展的主要制约因素,阐述了当代较有影响的几种职业教育模式及其借鉴价值,认为可持续发展、特色发展、集团化发展和内涵式发展是未来高职教育发展的必由之路。     

Insulin accelerates recovery from QRS complex widening in a frog heart model of hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders. By injecting various concentrations of potassium chloride (KCl) solutions intravenously into bullfrogs, we demonstrated characteristic electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities of hyperkalemia in frog hearts. The widened QRS complexes induced by 100 mM KCl injection were accompanied by an increase in the resting membrane potential in cardiomyocytes and a decreased slope of phase 0 in the action potential. Recording both ECG waveforms and the cardiac action potential enabled us to reveal the mechanisms of hyperkalemia-induced ECG abnormalities. Additionally, pre-treatment with insulin, a powerful stimulator of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, significantly accelerated the recovery from the widened QRS complexes in the ECG, demonstrating a pronounced shift of extracellular potassium ions into the intracellular space.     

Roles of raccoons in the transmission cycle of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

The present study investigated severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection in raccoons in Wakayama Prefecture from 2007 to 2019. To perform surveillance, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established, and the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were 100% in comparison with a 50% focus-reduction neutralization assay. Using the established ELISA, we performed serosurveillance of SFTSV infection in 2,299 raccoons in Tanabe region, Wakayama Prefecture from 2007 to 2019. The first anti-SFTSV-positive raccoon was captured in October 2009. The seroprevalence of SFTSV infection was <10% between April 2009 and March 2013, 23.9% between April 2013 and March 2014, 37.5% between April, 2014 and March 2015, and over 50% from April 2015. Next, we performed detection of SFTSV genes in sera of raccoons captured in Wakayama Prefecture after April 2013. The results indicated that 2.4% of raccoons were positive for SFTSV genes and that the frequency of SFTSV infection among raccoons between January and March (0.7%) was lower than that between April and June (3.4%). In addition, virus genes were detected from many specimens, including sera and feces of two raccoons, and viral antigens were detected in lymphoid cells in lymphoid follicles in the colon by immunohistochemical staining. In conclusion, SFTSV had recently invaded the area and had rapidly spread among wild animals. The first patient in this area was reported in June 2014, indicating that raccoons are good sentinels for assessing the risk of SFTSV in humans.     

论编辑和作者的交流与合作

编辑与作者交流中存在的问题 ,是由作者提供的稿件质量不高 ,人情稿、关系稿充斥和一些编辑不负责任的态度和做法引起的。二者交流应持无私的态度 ,相互尊重 ,彼此体谅 ,加强沟通。双方交流的方式与方法概括起来有当面交流、书信交流等     

Plasmodium (Bennettinia) juxtanucleare infection in a captive white eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) at a Japanese zoo

An adult male white eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) at a Japanese zoo exhibited lethargy and emaciation. Microscopic examination of a blood smear revealed a haemosporidian parasitic infection. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the parasite, it was identified as Plasmodium (Bennettinia) juxtanucleare. This is the first report of P. juxtanucleare infection in bird species belonging to the genus Crossoptilon. Caution against avian malaria infection is required for the conservation of endangered bird species in zoos.     

Evaluation of biological activities of extracts from 22 African tropical wood species

Heartwoods of 22 African tropical wood species were extracted with methanol and the contents of total phenolic compounds in these extracts were measured. Three bioassays were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and antifungal activity of the methanol extracts. The results indicated that the extracts from 13 species exhibited high antioxidant potential, and their inhibitory concentrations that caused 50% scavenging of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (IC₅₀) were less than 10 μg/ml. The crude extract from Cylicodiscus gabunensis showed the highest antioxidant activity, and was even higher than that of (+)-catechin, which is known as a potent antioxidant. There was a good correlation between the antioxidant activity and the content of total phenolic compounds, indicating that phenolic compounds played a predominant role in the antioxidant property of the wood extracts. Among all 22 species, only 1 species, Milicia excelsa, contained extractives that showed very high tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The extracts from 9 species showed high antifungal activity. No consistent relationship was observed between the tyrosinase inhibitory activity or antifungal activity and the content of total phenolics in the extracts. Part of this article was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, August 2006