Fluconazole decreases cyclosporine dosage in renal transplanted dogs

The effect of fluconazole (Fcz) on the cyclosporine (CsA) dosage was investigated in renal transplanted dogs receiving CsA-based immunosuppressive therapy. Initially, CsA was administered orally twice daily to raise the blood trough level between 400 and 600 ng/ml. After the addition of Fcz, the CsA dosage was adjusted to maintain its therapeutic blood concentration. Fcz significantly decreased CsA dosage in both normal and renal transplanted dogs, but a higher dosage of CsA was needed in renal transplanted dogs. In conclusion, Fcz decreases required CsA dosage and thereby reduces the cost of immunosuppressive therapy in canine renal transplantation.     

Suppression of color degradation of yellowtail dark muscle during storage by simultaneous dietary supplementation of vitamins?C and E

The commercial value of yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata meat is often reduced by color deterioration of the dark muscle during storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous dietary supplementation of vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) to cultured yellowtail on color degradation of the dark muscle during storage. Yellowtail were fed for 6 or 11 days on a diet containing 1% VC and 1% VE (vitamin group) or without these vitamins (control group). The amounts of VC and VE in the dark muscle of the vitamin group tended to be higher than those of the control group. During the storage of sliced meat at 23 and 4°C, the decreases in a* value (redness) of the dark muscle of the vitamin group was slower than those of the control group. The formation of metmyoglobin, which can occur along with myoglobin oxidation, in the dark muscle of the vitamin group was slower than that of the control group. These results suggest that simultaneous feeding of high amounts of VC and VE for a short period to yellowtail before harvesting could suppress the color deterioration of the dark muscle during storage.     

Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication and viral helicase by ethyl acetate extract of the marine feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis, leading to the development of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We prepared extracts from 61 marine organisms and screened them by an in vitro fluorescence assay targeting the viral helicase (NS3), which plays an important role in HCV replication, to identify effective candidates for anti-HCV agents. An ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia exhibited the strongest inhibition of NS3 helicase activity, with an IC(50) of 11.7 μg/mL. The extract of A. polycladia inhibited interaction between NS3 and RNA but not ATPase of NS3. Furthermore, the replication of the replicons derived from three HCV strains of genotype 1b in cultured cells was suppressed by the extract with an EC(50) value of 23 to 44 μg/mL, which is similar to the IC(50) value of the NS3 helicase assay. The extract did not induce interferon or inhibit cell growth. These results suggest that the unknown compound(s) included in A. polycladia can inhibit HCV replication by suppressing the helicase activity of HCV NS3. This study may present a new approach toward the development of a novel therapy for chronic hepatitis C.     

A selective medium to isolate airborne spores of Microdochium nivale,causing winter wheat scab

Winter wheat scab in Hokkaido, Japan is caused predominantly by Gibberella zeae and Microdochium nivale and can result in significant yield losses. A selective medium for isolation of G. zeae was previously developed, but not for M. nivale. The purpose of this study therefore was to develop a selective medium for isolation of airborne spores of M. nivale. Based on the basic composition of Komada’s Fusarium-selective medium, carbon and nitrogen sources and the most suitable vitamin B component for the basal composition were examined. Hyphal growth of M. nivale was promoted when galactose was replaced with lactose and combined with L-asparagine, while aerial hyphal formation increased with thiamine hydrochloride as the vitamin B source. In antimicrobial composition, colony formation of other filamentous fungi was greatly inhibited by spiroxamine. Thiophanate methyl, to which M. nivale shows resistance, selectively inhibited the growth of Fusarium spp. only. Spore trapping using the selective medium was subsequently performed in a wheat field. M. nivale formed characteristic pinkish colonies on the selective medium in the case of contamination with other filamentous fungi, making differentiation easy. Overall, the findings show that LATTS medium developed in this study is effective for isolation of airborne spores of M. nivale.     

Verification of Drainage Sterilization System Uses Low-Voltage Pulsed Electric Field in a Prawn Farm

It is necessary to take measures against infectious diseases in the Southeast Asian prawn farming industry. In giant tiger prawn （Penaeus monodon） aquaculture, diseases caused by viruses such as white spot syndrome virus （WSSV） and bacteria such as Vibrio have become a menace. Appropriate treatments of prawn culture pond＇s waters are advocated for preventing and controlling pathogens. The purpose of this study was to conduct an antimicrobial water treatment using a low-voltage pulsed electric field sterilization. Here we prepared a mechanical low-voltage pulsed electric field system with copper wire coiling around a titanium ring. The viability of WSSV in seawater was examined by prawn infectivity experiments. We inoculated healthy prawns （approximately 10-15 g） with the WSSV master sample that passed 0-3 times through the system. WSSV infection in prawns decreased according to the number of passes through the system. Healthy prawns survived for〉 10 days without feeding, where as prawns inoculated with the WSSV master sample showed symptoms of white spot and died in about 4 days. Two-thirds of the prawns inoculated with the WSSV master sample that was passed once through the system developed WSSV symptoms and were polymerase chain reaction （PCR） positive. However, no symptoms were observed and prawns were PCR negative when the WSSV master sample was passed three times through the system. Based on these results, we purpose that a low-voltage pulsed electric field system will serve as an efficient pond drainage sterilization system and will replace conventional treatments using chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite.     

Utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors in dogs

This prospective case study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the differential diagnosis of canine adrenal tumors. Forty-three client-owned dogs with adrenal tumors were included. All dogs underwent CEUS, which was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The peak signal intensity (PI), time to peak signal intensity (TPI), mean transit time (MTT), upslope, and downslope were calculated for each time-intensity curve. The histopathological diagnosis of each resected mass was compared with the CEUS findings and parameters. Enhancement distribution, vascularity, tortuous nourishing vessels, enhancement pattern, and late-phase enhancement did not differ significantly between adrenal cortical adenoma (CA), adenocarcinoma (CAC), and pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in qualitative assessment. In PHEO, the TPI was significantly more rapid compared with that in CA (P=0.0287) and CAC (P=0.0404). The MTT in PHEO was significantly shorter than that in CA (P=0.0016) and CAC (P=0.0003). Upslope in PHEO was larger than that in CAC (P=0.0406). Downslope in PHEO was significantly larger than that in CA (P=0.0048) and CAC (P=0.0018). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the MTT curve yielded 0.91 for distinguishing PHEO from adrenocortical tumors in dogs; an MTT cut-off value less than 6,225 msec yielded a sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 94%, and likelihood ratio of 12.46. CEUS appears to be clinically applicable for the differential diagnosis between cortical and medullary origins of primary adrenal tumors in dogs.     

Hydrocephalus and syringomyelia in a cat.

A 3-month-old male Japanese cat with feline parvovirus infection, showing central and cervical nerve abnormalities, was diagnosed as hydrocephalus and syringomyelia by use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cat was maintained clinically by medical treatment even though he could not stand. The MRI scans obtained about 5 months later showed that the ventricles had increased in size and the cervical syrinx had extended into the thoracic spinal cord. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was performed. One week after surgery, neurological conditions had improved. At the postoperative MR images, the ventricles had decreased in size and the syrinx in the cervical and thoracic spinal cord could no longer be seen. The cat was still alive and was able to walk well.