Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.     

Evaluation of ruminal motility using an indwelling 3-axis accelerometer in the reticulum in cattle

Attempts to increase production and improve farm environments have been made for several years. Rumen motility (RM) is one of the biological parameters that provides essential information of individuals in ruminants, and it is usually evaluated by auscultation. The study was aimed to examine RM using the 3-axis accelerometer (3XA) in cattle. The manufactured 3XA were placed in the reticulum (3XA-R) and implanted in the subcutaneous layer of the brisket (3XA-SC), respectively, and the accelerations were compared following intramuscular injection of xylazine (0.05 mg/kg) or saline in experiment 1 and of xylazine (0.05 mg/kg) or atropine (0.04 mg/kg) in experiment 2. In experiment 3, the dose-dependent decrease of RM was evaluated following xylazine administration (0, 0.05, 0.1 mg/kg) in the 3XA-R equipped cows via a 3 × 3 Latin square method. In experiment 1, saline-treated animals showed a continuous fluctuation while the frequency and amplitude of 3XA-R in xylazine-injected cows were reduced after administration. The acceleration of 3XA-SC was changed after administration, but not abruptly. Among the motion parameters, V2 was calculated only using X- and Z-axis acceleration in consideration of the cylindrical shape, and it showed the apparent difference between pre- and post-xylazine administration. In experiment 2, the V2 of 3XA-R was decreased after atropine administration while that of 3XA-SC was maintained. In experiment 3, a dose-dependent V2 decrement of 3XA-R after xylazine administration was observed and lasted for 40 and 80 min in doses of 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, The 3XA detected the decrease in RM efficiently and processed the data wirelessly without interference from body movement. This technology will help detect problems early and prevent a decline in cattle productivity.     

Comparative Analysis of the Total Factor Productivity of Manufacturing in Northeast Asian Metropolitan Areas

We compare and analyze the total factor productivity of the manufacturing industries in the major metropolitan areas of South Korea, China, and Japan. This study can contribute to the economic cooperation among these countries by analyzing their productivity growth and evaluating their relative competitiveness. Statistical data from manufacturing industries are used to analyze five metropolitan areas. The manufacturing industries are classified into 10 sectors, and two different time periods (before and after 1997, when the foreign currency crisis began in Korea) are examined. The results in terms of the development and competitiveness of the manufacturing industries in Korea, China, and Japan will be useful in establishing promotional strategies.     

Cloning of the short-tailed Gyeongju Donggyeong dog via SCNT: conserving phenotypic inheritance

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a useful tool to maintain genetic information of animals. The Gyeongju Donggyeong dog is a breed registered as natural monument in Korea. The unique feature of the Donggyeong dog is its tail, as the Donggyeong dog can be classified as either short tailed or tailless. The aim of this study was to preserve the Donggyeong dog’s unique feature by cloning. Fibroblasts were obtained from a short-tailed Donggyeong dog. In vivo matured oocytes were enucleated, microinjected with a donor cell and fused electrically. Reconstructed embryos were transferred to six recipient dogs. One surrogate became pregnant, and one short-tailed Donggyeong dog was delivered. This study demonstrated that the phenotype of the Donggyeong dog could be conserved by somatic cell nuclear transfer.     

Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- isolates from pigs presenting with diarrhea in Korea

Between 2011 and 2012, a total of 896 pig fecal samples were collected from nine provinces in Korea, and 50 salmonella enterica susp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) was isolated. The characteristics of the 50 strains were analyzed, and 4 strains were identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:-. Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- could not be distinguished from S. Typhimurium through phage typing, antimicrobial resistance testing or multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). However, among the four Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- strains, one (KVCC-BA1400078) was identified as a Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- clone isolated from humans in the United States, and another (KVCC-BA1400080) was identified as DT193, which has been primarily isolated from humans and animals in European countries. The presence of Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- in Korea poses a significant threat of horizontal transfer between pigs and humans.     

Collagen complexes increase the efficiency of iPS cells generated using fibroblasts from adult mice

Different interventions are being tested for restoration of the youthfulness of adult mouse-derived fibroblasts. However, fundamental issues, such as the decline of adult mouse-derived fibroblast activity with age, remain unresolved. Therefore, in this study, we examined whether treatment with collagen complexes has beneficial effects on the rejuvenation or reprogramming of adult mouse-derived fibroblasts. Further, we investigated the mechanisms of rejuvenation of adult mouse-derived fibroblasts during treatment with total collagen complexes. We isolated total collagen complexes from the tails of young mice and cultured adult mouse-derived fibroblasts with or without the collagen complexes. When compared with fibroblasts cultured without collagen complexes, adult-derived fibroblasts cultured with collagen complexes over five consecutive passages showed a more youthful state, expanded at a higher rate, and exhibited reduced spontaneous cell death. The fibroblasts cultured in the presence of collagen complexes also showed extensive demethylation in the promoter regions of cell cycle-related genes such as PCNA, increased proliferation, and decreased senescence. In addition, the efficiency of reprogramming of fibroblasts to become induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells was significantly higher in young- and adult-derived fibroblasts cultured with collagen complexes than in adult-derived fibroblasts cultured alone. Furthermore, mechanistic evidence shows that genes involved in anti-proliferative pathways, including Ink4a/Arf locus genes and p53, were downregulated in fibroblasts exposed to collagen complexes. Interestingly, our results suggest that the rejuvenation process was mediated via the α2β1 integrin-dependent Bmi-1 pathway. Thus, collagen complexes both stimulate proliferation and inhibit cell death and growth arrest in fibroblasts, which appears to be a promising approach for improving the efficiency of reprogramming.     

Nonsurgical resolution of caudal mediastinal paraesophageal abscess in a cat

A one-year-old, castrated male domestic short hair cat was admitted with a history of anorexia, regurgitation and pyrexia for two days. Fever and leukocytosis were identified. There were a large soft tissue density oval mass in the caudal mediastinum on thoracic radiographs, a fluid-filled oval mass in the caudal mediastinum on ultrasonography, and left-sided and ventrally displaced and compressed esophagus on esophagram. On esophageal endoscopy, there were no esophageal abnormalities. CT findings with a fluid filled mass with rim enhancement indicated a caudal mediastinal paraesophageal abscess. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics, because the owner declined percutaneous drainage and surgery. The patient was admitted on emergency with severe respiratory distress; and ruptured abscess and deteriorated pleuropneumonia were suspected. With intensive hospitalization care and additional antibiotic therapy, the patient had full recovery.     

Overexpression of OCT4A ortholog elevates endogenous XIST in porcine parthenogenic blastocysts

X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is an epigenetic process that equalizes expression of X-borne genes between male and female eutherians. This process is observed in early eutherian embryo development in a species-specific manner. Until recently, various pluripotent factors have been suggested to regulate the process of XCI by repressing XIST expression, which is the master inducer for XCI. Recent insights into the process and its regulation have been restricted in mouse species despite the evolutionary diversity of the process and molecular mechanism among the species. OCT4A is one of the represented pluripotent factors, the gate-keeper for maintaining pluripotency, and an XIST repressor. Therefore, in here, we examined the relation between OCT4A and X-linked genes in porcine preimplantation embryos. Three X-linked genes, XIST, LOC102165544, and RLIM, were selected in present study because their orthologues have been known to regulate XCI in mice. Expression levels of OCT4A were positively correlated with XIST and LOC102165544 in female blastocysts. Furthermore, overexpression of exogenous human OCT4A in cleaved parthenotes generated blastocysts with increased XIST expression levels. However, increased XIST expression was not observed when exogenous OCT4A was obtained from early blastocysts. These results suggest the possibility that OCT4A would be directly or indirectly involved in XIST expression in earlier stage porcine embryos rather than blastocysts.     

Surveillance of classical swine fever in wild boar in South Korea from 2010–2014

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious systemic hemorrhagic viral disease of pigs. Wild boar plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of CSF. Between 2010 and 2014, samples were collected nationwide from 6,654 wild boars hunted in South Korea. Anti-CSF antibodies were identified in 0.59% (39 of 6,654) of the wild boar samples using a virus neutralization test and were primarily detected in wild boars living close to the demilitarized zone and the area of the Taebaek Mountains surroundings. The CSF virus (subgroup 2.1b) was isolated from two wild boars captured in a nearby border area. The criteria used to define high-risk areas for targeted CSF surveillance in South Korea should be further expanded to include other regions nationwide.     

Cardiorespiratory and anesthetic effects produced by the combination of butorphanol,medetomidine and alfaxalone administered intramuscularly in Beagle dogs

This study evaluated anesthesia quality, degree of analgesia and cardiorespiratory parameters after intramuscular (IM) injection of a combination of butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg), medetomidine (10 µg/kg) and alfaxalone (1.5 mg/kg) in ten healthy adult Beagle dogs. Rectal temperature (T), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f_R), arterial pressure, arterial blood gases and M-mode echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) indices were measured before drug administration and every 10 min thereafter until extubation. Mean duration of anesthesia, recovery and analgesia were 89 ± 17, 6 ± 1 and 80 ± 12 min. HR, f_R, partial pressure of arterial CO₂ and O₂, arterial pressure, and LV contractility were significantly altered during anesthesia. IM administration of the drug combination provided acceptable anesthesia, but produced substantial cardiorespiratory suppression.