Oral λ-carrageenan intake alleviates skin symptoms in a hapten induced atopic dermatitis-like model

Lambda carrageenan is a widely used food additive. It has been shown that its oral intake induces suppression of T cell proliferation and antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immune response in experimental animals. In this study, we estimated the effect of oral ingestion of 0.001% λ-carrageenan on trinitrochlorobenzen-induced atopic dermatitis model mouse. Oral carrageenan ingestion alleviated ear swelling of hapten challenged mice and significantly suppressed mast cell hyperplasia in the topical skin. Serological analysis revealed that the treatment suppressed total IgE and antigen-specific IgG, and also suppressed both allergy driving cytokine interleukin-4 and counter-acting cytokine interferon-γ levels. It is suggested that the oral ingestion of λ-carrageenan may suppress the immunological response to the allergen and might be useful to treat atopic dermatitis.     

Health status and productive performance of somatic cell cloned cattle and their offspring produced in Japan

Since the first somatic cell cloned calves were born in Japan in 1998, more than 500 cloned cattle have been produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer and many studies concerning cloned cattle and their offspring have been conducted in this country. However, most of the results have been published in Japanese; thus, the data produced in this country is not well utilized by researchers throughout the world. This article reviews the 65 reports produced by Japanese researchers (62 written in Japanese and 3 written in English), which employed 171 clones and 32 offspring, and categorizes them according to the following 7 categories: (1) genetic similarities and muzzle prints, (2) hematology and clinical chemistry findings, (3) pathology, (4) growth performance, (5) reproductive performance, (6) meat production performance and (7) milk production performance. No remarkable differences in health status or reproductive performance were found among conventionally bred cattle, somatic cell cloned cattle surviving to adulthood and offspring of somatic cell cloned cattle. Similarities in growth performance and meat quality were observed between nuclear donor cattle and their clones. The growth curves of the offspring resembled those of their full siblings.     

Effect of Low-Dose Human Interferon-alpha on Shipping Fever of Thoroughbred Racehorses

To assess the effect of human interferon-alpha (IFNα) on shipping fever of Thoroughbred racehorses subjected to long-distance transportation, an IFNα preparation was orally administered to 48 horses three times (once daily, 3 successive days) before transportation (IFNα group). In the control group (25 horses), maltose was administered in the same way. These treatments induced no abnormal findings in Thoroughbred racehorses before transportation. Immediately after transportation, significant increases in rectal temperature were observed in both treatment groups, whereas the rectal temperature of the IFNα group tended to be lower than that of the control group. Although WBC, Fbg, and SAA immediately after transportation were significantly increased due to transportation in both groups, the extent of the increases in the IFNα group was significantly smaller than in the control group. Long-distance transportation had a relatively profound impact on Thoroughbred racehorses, which was mitigated by IFNα treatment.     

Changes in volatile compounds of living Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas during air-exposed storage

Fisheries Science - The changes in volatile compounds of living oysters Crassostrea gigas with shells under air-exposed storage for 7 days at 5 and 20 °C were investigated...     

Preparation of Photocrosslinked Fish Elastin Polypeptide/Microfibrillated Cellulose Composite Gels with Elastic Properties for Biomaterial Applications

Photocrosslinked hydrogels reinforced by microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared from a methacrylate-functionalized fish elastin polypeptide and MFC dispersed in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). First, a water-soluble elastin peptide with a molecular weight of ca. 500 g/mol from the fish bulbus arteriosus was polymerized by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), a condensation reagent, and then modified with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (MOI) to yield a photocrosslinkable fish elastin polypeptide. The product was dissolved in DMSO and irradiated with UV light in the presence of a radical photoinitiator. We obtained hydrogels successfully by substitution of DMSO with water. The composite gel with MFC was prepared by UV irradiation of the photocrosslinkable elastin polypeptide mixed with dispersed MFC in DMSO, followed by substitution of DMSO with water. The tensile test of the composite gels revealed that the addition of MFC improved the tensile properties, and the shape of the stress–strain curve of the composite gel became more similar to the typical shape of an elastic material with an increase of MFC content. The rheology measurement showed that the elastic modulus of the composite gel increased with an increase of MFC content. The cell proliferation test on the composite gel showed no toxicity.     

Nationwide seroprevalence of Neospora caninum among dairy cattle in Japan

Serum samples from 2420 clinically healthy dairy cattle, randomly selected from stored sera in 18 districts of Japan, were tested for the presence of Neospora caninum antibodies using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (titer > or =1:200). Nationwide seroprevalence is estimated at 5.7% (139/2420). Seropositive cattle were detected in all surveyed districts despite the evidence of confirmed case reports of bovine neosporosis, showing that N. caninum is widely distributed throughout Japan. Age-specific seroprevalence did not increase with cattle age, suggesting that Neospora infection is likely to be transmitted vertically rather than horizontally in Japan. Considering that N. caninum seropositive cows are thought to be more likely to abort, substantial fetal losses may be induced by N. caninum infection in Japan. Devising strategies are needed to reduce the economic impact on the Japanese dairy industry. This is the first study to investigate the nationwide seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle in Asia.     

Culture method and growth characteristics of marine benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis spp. isolated from Japanese coastal waters

Blooms of toxic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis, which is known as a producer of palytoxin (PTX) analogs, may pose a threat to human health in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions around the world. In the present study, we established a suitable culture method for Ostreopsis spp. isolated from Japanese coastal waters and characterized their growth potential using the method to discuss their bloom dynamics. Each clonal strain of Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Ostreopsis sp.?1, Ostreopsis sp.?5, and Ostreopsis sp.?6 was incubated in 25?×?150?mm test tubes with a flat bottom containing various kinds of medium. Since Ostreopsis spp. strains grew well in IMK and/or f/2 media, we selected these media for cultivation of all the Ostreopsis spp. isolates. Growth rates of O. cf. ovata (0.834?divisions/day), Ostreopsis sp.?1 (0.619?divisions/day), and Ostreopsis sp.?6 (1.04?divisions/day) that produce PTX analogs significantly differed (p?<?0.05) respectively and are clearly higher than those of other reported epiphytic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus, Prorocentrum lima, and Coolia monotis cultures, which suggest that these species have ecological advantages to predominate through the algal succession in Japanese coastal waters, resulting in a potential risk to human health in this region.     

Proper reprogramming of imprinted and non‐imprinted genes in cloned cattle gametogenesis

Epigenetic abnormalities in cloned animals are caused by incomplete reprogramming of the donor nucleus during the nuclear transfer step (first reprogramming). However, during the second reprogramming step that occurs only in the germline cells, epigenetic errors not corrected during the first step are repaired. Consequently, epigenetic abnormalities in the somatic cells of cloned animals should be erased in their spermatozoa or oocytes. This is supported by the fact that offspring from cloned animals do not exhibit defects at birth or during postnatal development. To test this hypothesis in cloned cattle, we compared the DNA methylation level of two imprinted genes (H19 and PEG3) and three non‐imprinted genes (XIST, OCT4 and NANOG) and two repetitive elements (Satellite I and Satellite II) in blood and sperm DNAs from cloned and non‐cloned bulls. We found no differences between cloned and non‐cloned bulls. We also analyzed the DNA methylation levels of four repetitive elements (Satellite I, Satellite II, Alpha‐satellite and Art2) in oocytes recovered from cloned and non‐cloned cows. Again, no significant differences were observed between clones and non‐clones. These results suggested that imprinted and non‐imprinted genes and repetitive elements were properly reprogramed during gametogenesis in cloned cattle; therefore, they contributed to the soundness of cloned cattle offspring.     

Anticancer activities of thelephantin O and vialinin A isolated from Thelephora aurantiotincta

Thelephora aurantiotincta is an edible mushroom belonging to the genus Thelephora; it grows in symbiosis with pine trees. Recently, phytochemical investigations have revealed that the genus Thelephora is an abundant source of p-terphenyl derivatives. However, their bioactivity has not yet been well characterized. In screening for natural materials with anticancer activity, a T. aurantiotincta ethanol extract (TAE) was found to decrease cell viability in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). In this study, a new p-terphenyl derivative, thelephantin O, and a known compound, vialinin A, were isolated as the principal bioactive components of TAE. These compounds decreased cell viability in HepG2 and human colonic carcinoma cells (Caco2), but not in noncancerous human hepatocytes. This is the first report of the isolation from T. aurantiotincta of selective cytotoxic agents against cancer cells.     

Physicochemical properties of the soils associated with shifting cultivation in Northern Thailand with special reference to factors determining soil fertility

Abstract

Recently agricultural activity in the mountainous area of northern Thailand has increased and problems relating to soil fertility have arisen. In order to gain basic information about the soil properties associated with shifting cultivation, physicochemical properties of the surface soils (0–10 cm) and subsoils (30–40 cm) were investigated in selected villages in the area. The physicochemical properties of the soils studied are summarized as follows: 1) The soils were rich in organic matter, content of which ranged from 11.4 to 63.3 g C kg^?1 in the surface soil. 2) The pH(H₂O) of the soils mostly ranged from 5 to 7 and soil acidity was more pronounced in the deeper horizons. In the surface soils, exchangeable Ca and Mg were generally dominant, whereas exchangeable Al was often predominant in the subsoils. 3) Most of the soils showed a medium to fine texture with more than 30% clay. The clay mineral composition was characterized by various degrees of mixture of kaolin minerals and clay mica with, in some cases, a certain amount of 2:1-2:1:1 intergrades. 4) According to the ion adsorption curves, most of the B horizon soils were characterized by the predominance of permanent negative charges. On the other hand, organic matter contributed to the increase of variable negative charges in the surface soils. The content of organic matter and the percentage of the clay fraction were essential for determining the CEC of the soils of the surface 10 and 30–40 cm depths, respectively. Under the field conditions, the composition of exchangeable cations largely reflected the soil acidity. In addition, the content of organic matter also showed a significant correlation with that of available N in the surface soils. Thus, soil acidity both in the surface soils and subsoils, organic matter content in the surface soils, and clay content in the subsoils were considered to be the main factors that affected soil chemical fertility in the area.