Anatomical characterization of decayed wood in standing light red meranti and identification of the fungi isolated from the decayed area

To further our understanding of wood decay in living light red meranti (Shorea smithiana) trees, microscopic characteristics of the cell and cell wall degradations of S. smithiana wood in the presence of the decay fungi, the identity of the causal fungi, and the decay potential and pattern by an isolated fungus were investigated. Cell wall degradations, including cell wall thinning, bore holes formation, rounded pit erosion, and eroded channel opening were clearly observed under light and scanning electron microscopy. In transverse view, many large voids resulting from a coalition of degraded wood tissue appeared in the decayed canker zone. All these observations suggest the well-known simultaneous decay pattern caused by white-rot fungi. By phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA, a basidiomycete fungus isolated from the decayed wood was identified as Schizophyllum commune. The degradation caused by this fungus on sound S. smithiana wood in an in situ laboratory decay test was classified as the early stage of simultaneous decay, and showed a similar pattern to that observed in the wood samples naturally decayed.     

Computationally Assisted Structural Elucidation of Cembranoids from the Soft Coral Sarcophyton tortuosum

A persistent study on soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum resulted in the characterization of two new cembranolides, tortuolides A and B (1 and 2), and a new related diterpene, epi-sarcophytonolide Q. Their structures were determined not only by extensive spectroscopic analysis but also by DFT calculations of ECD and NMR data, the latter of which was combined with statistical analysis methods, e.g., DP4+ and J-DP4 approaches. Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities were evaluated in this study.     

Comparison and partial characterization of the protein profiles and outer membrane antigens of Actinobacillus species isolated from ram lambs with epididymitis

Three monoclonal antibodies (LG17, LG30, LG33) were used in the indirect fluorescent antibody test, the ELISA, and the immunoelectrotransfer blot technique to identify group-specific and strain-specific epitopes on the outer membranes of Actinobacillus seminis, A actinomycetemcomitans, and 17 field isolates of Actinobacillus spp. The field isolates had been obtained by bacteriologic culture of specimens from ram lambs with epididymitis. Only antibody LG33 consistently had specificity for an outer membrane epitope shared by most of the bacterial isolates tested. Staining of polyacrylamide gels with periodic acid-Schiff reagent, Sudan black B, and Coomassie brilliant blue R250 indicated that target antigens for antibodies LG17 and LG33 contained carbohydrate and lipoprotein components, respectively. The chemical composition of the LG30 target antigen was not determined because of its instability after exposure to sodium dodecyl sulfate. Discontinuous-gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and spectrophotometric scans of the gels were used to analyze n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside protein extracts from A seminis, A actinomycetemcomitans, and 13 representative field isolates of Actinobacillus spp. Bacterial isolates could be grouped according to their protein profiles. The first group consisted of A seminis, A actinomycetemcomitans, and 7 field isolates of Actinobacillus spp, all of which shared common protein bands with molecular masses of approximately 94 kilodaltons (kD), 64 kD, 60 kD, 52 kD, 44 kD, and 26 kD. The second group was composed of 6 field isolates, each with unique protein profiles; isolates had relatively few protein bands in common. These data suggested that members of the genus Actinobacillus cultured from ram lambs with epididymitis probably include a number of various strains.     

Effect of acupuncture on young pigs with induced enteropathogenic Escherichia coli diarrhea

Thirty-four preweaning pigs with induced enteropathogenic Escherichia coli diarrhea were treated with electroacupuncture, traditional acupuncture, or neomycin. In the group treated with electroacupuncture, points GV-1, bilateral ST-36, and Bai-hui were stimulated electrically. In the group treated with traditional acupuncture, points GV-1, bilateral ST-36, BL-20, bulb points, bilateral ear tip, and Shan-gen were used. Acupuncture points CV-12 and bilateral ST-25 also were treated with moxibustion (applying heat generated by a burning herb, Artemisia argyi). Hemoacupuncture also was applied to Shan-gen, bilateral ear tip, and bulb points. Pigs in the third group were given neomycin orally. Five pigs were inoculated with E coli, but were not treated and served as nontreated controls. At postinoculation day 5, 60% of control pigs and greater than 80% of pigs in treated groups recovered from diarrhea. However, at postinoculation day 3, recovery rates for pigs in the control and group treated with electroacupuncture were only 20 and 27.3%, respectively; whereas pigs treated with acupuncture or neomycin attained 81.8 and 71.4% of recovery rates, respectively. Seemingly, traditional acupuncture, but not electroacupuncture, was effective in controlling induced E coli diarrhea in pigs at its early stage.     

In vitro and in vivo gene therapy with CMV vector-mediated presumed dog ��-nerve growth factor in pyridoxine-induced neuropathy dogs

Due to the therapeutic potential of gene therapy for neuronal injury, many studies of neurotrophic factors, vectors, and animal models have been performed. The presumed dog β-nerve growth factor (pdβ-NGF) was generated and cloned and its expression was confirmed in CHO cells. The recombinant pdβ-NGF protein reacted with a human β-NGF antibody and showed bioactivity in PC12 cells. The pdβ-NGF was shown to have similar bioactivity to the dog β-NGF. The recombinant pdβ-NGF plasmid was administrated into the intrathecal space in the gene therapy group. Twenty-four hours after the vector inoculation, the gene therapy group and the positive control group were intoxicated with excess pyridoxine for seven days. Each morning throughout the test period, the dogs'' body weight was taken and postural reaction assessments were made. Electrophysiological recordings were performed twice, once before the experiment and once after the test period. After the experimental period, histological analysis was performed. Dogs in the gene therapy group had no weight change and were normal in postural reaction assessments. Electrophysiological recordings were also normal for the gene therapy group. Histological analysis showed that neither the axons nor the myelin of the dorsal funiculus of L₄ were severely damaged in the gene therapy group. In addition, the dorsal root ganglia of L₄ and the peripheral nerves (sciatic nerve) did not experience severe degenerative changes in the gene therapy group. This study is the first to show the protective effect of NGF gene therapy in a dog model.     

Oncolytic reovirus synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents to promote cell death in canine mammary gland tumor

The oncolytic effects of reovirus in various cancers have been proven in many clinical trials in human medicine. Oncolytic virotherapy using reovirus for canine cancers is being developed in our laboratory. The objective of this study was to examine the synergistic anti-cancer effects of a combination of reovirus and low doses of various chemotherapeutic agents on mammary gland tumors (MGTs) in dogs. The first part of this study demonstrated the efficacy of reovirus in canine MGTs in vitro and in vivo. Reovirus alone exerted significant cell death by means of caspase-dependent apoptosis in canine MGT cell lines. A single injection of reovirus impeded growth of canine MGT tumors in xenografted mice, but was insufficient to induce complete tumor regression. The second part of this study highlighted the anti-tumor effects of reovirus in combination with low doses of paclitaxel, carboplatin, gemcitabine, or toceranib. Enhanced synergistic activity was observed in the MGT cell line treated concomitantly with reovirus and in all the chemotherapeutic agents except toceranib. In addition, combining reovirus with paclitaxel or gemcitabine at half dosage of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) enhanced cytotoxicity by activating caspase 3. Our data suggest that the combination of reovirus and low dose chemotherapeutic agents provides an attractive option in canine cancer therapy.     

核桃瘤蛾(Nola distributa Walker)生物学观察及防治方法探讨

核桃瘤蛾是北京市郊区核桃树的主要害虫之一。在北京地区一年发生两代。以蛹在梯田石填墙縫及地面石块下结茧越冬。翌年5月下旬开始羽化至7月中旬結束。第一代幼虫发生于6月上旬至7月下旬,第二代幼虫发生于8月上旬至9月下旬。室内药效测定結果表明,6％可湿性666(200倍液),50％可湿性DDT粉剂(300倍液),25％DDT乳剂(300倍液),砷酸鉛(200倍液),50％乐果乳剂(2000倍液),50％敌百虫乳剂(500倍液)对各龄幼虫的杀虫效果都很好。試驗表明,树干束革及树干周围开溝誘集丁树化蛹的幼虫效果更好,特别是在喷药有困难的山区,可以采用。     

Hematogenous metastasis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma originating from skeletal muscle in a young dog.

An 8-month-old, intact male Golden Retriever with a history of left forelimb lameness for 2 months was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University (Seoul, Korea). Results of a physical examination revealed a mass in the left axillary region. A thoracic radiography showed an osteolytic lesion in the scapula and the presence of a soft tissue density from the thoracic wall to the scapula. A computerized tomography revealed a mass invading into the scapula, and small nodules in the lung that suggested metastasis. At necropsy, a pale-yellow, irregular, firm, 8 x 10 x 5 cm mass extended from axillary region and destroyed the scapular. In addition, small nodules were noted in the lung. On microscopic examination, the mass consisted of round-to-oval cells, with eccentrically located hyperchromatic nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm in fibromyxoid stroma. Tumor cells were observed in blood vessels in the primary mass. Tumor cells strongly expressed vimentin, desmin, and myoglobin. In phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin staining, cross-striations were detected in rhabdomyoblasts. In periodic acid-Schiff reaction, only a few cells were detected. The diagnosis was primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the appendicular muscle of a young dog. The tumor presumably originated in the skeletal muscle of the limb, invaded into the adjacent scapular bone, and metastasized to the lung.