Peridinin from the Marine Symbiotic Dinoflagellate,Symbiodinium sp., Regulates Eosinophilia in Mice

Peridinin and fucoxanthin, which are natural carotenoids isolated from a symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., and a brown alga, Petalonia fascia, respectively, were compared for inhibitory effects on delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice. The number of eosinophils at the site of inflammation and in peripheral blood was compared for the administration of peridinin and fucoxanthin applied by painting and intraperitoneally. Peridinin, but not the structurally-related fucoxanthin, significantly suppressed the number of eosinophils in both the ear lobe and peripheral blood. Furthermore, peridinin applied topically, but not administered intraperitoneally, suppressed the level of eotaxin in the ears of sensitized mice. Fucoxanthin weakly suppressed the concentration of eotaxin in ears only by intraperitoneal administration. Although both carotenoids inhibited the migration of eosinophils toward eotaxin, the inhibitory effect of peridinin was higher than that of fucoxanthin. Peridinin may be a potential agent for suppressing allergic inflammatory responses, such as atopic dermatitis, in which eosinophils play a major role in the increase of inflammation.     

Simple and sensitive BIO-PCR detection of potato blackleg pathogens from stem,tuber, and soil samples

Journal of General Plant Pathology - A BIO-PCR was developed for the detection of potato blackleg pathogens, including Pectobacterium wasabiae (Pw), P. atrosepticum (Pa), P. carotovorum subsp....     

Mechanism underlying potato spindle tuber viroid affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): loss of control over reactive oxygen species production

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Severe infection of the tomato cultivar ‘Rutgers’ with potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) variants resulted in systemic stunting, leaf...     

A sesquiterpene quinone, 5-Epi-smenospongine, promotes TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells

Eight sesquiterpene quinones: ilimaquinone (1), smenospongidine (3), smenospongiarine (5), smenospongine (7), and their corresponding 5-epimers 2, 4, 6, and 8, isolated from the Palauan marine sponge Hippospongia sp., were examined regarding their effects on TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. 5-Epi-smenospongine (8) promoted the production of TNF-α to a level three times greater than the control at 10 μM, but compounds 1–7 did not show apparent activity. The results suggest that the cis-decaline ring and a primary amine in the benzoquinone ring are necessary for activity. This is the first study to report the modulation of TNF-α production by a sesquiterpene quinone.     

Hepatoprotective effect of myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced liver injury

To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of spices, 21 different spices were fed to rats with liver damage caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus d-galactosamine (D-GalN). As assessed by plasma aminotranferase activities, nutmeg showed the most potent hepatoprotective activity. Bioassay-guided isolation of the active compound from nutmeg was carried out in mice by a single oral administration of the respective fractions. Myristicin, one of the major essential oils of nutmeg, was found to possess extraordinarily potent hepatoprotective activity. Myristicin markedly suppressed LPS/D-GalN-induced enhancement of serum TNF-alpha concentrations and hepatic DNA fragmentation in mice. These findings suggest that the hepatoprotective activity of myristicin might be, at least in part, due to the inhibition of TNF-alpha release from macrophages. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism(s) of myristicin.     

Seasonal variations in the concentration of antimicrobial components in milk of dairy cows

The incidence of bovine mastitis and the bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) are influenced by season, which may be associated with innate immune functions, including antimicrobial components in mammary glands. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of season on antimicrobial components in milk. Rectal temperature and plasma cortisol, thyroxine, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d‐ROMs) were measured as stress parameters. Concentrations of lactoferrin (LF), lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), psoriasin (S100A7), and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in milk were measured as indicators of innate immune function. LF and LAP concentrations were significantly lower in summer than in winter and spring, respectively, whereas the concentration of S100A7 was significantly lower in winter than in spring and autumn. The rectal temperature was significantly higher in summer than in other seasons, whereas plasma cortisol, thyroxine, and d‐ROMs did not exhibit any seasonal variation. In conclusion, even though stress parameters were not changed, the concentration of antimicrobial components, such as LF and LAP, decreased in summer, which may explain the frequent occurrence of mastitis during this season.     

Surgical repair of a complete endocardial cushion defect in a dog

Objective: To describe surgical repair of a complete endocardial cushion defect (ECD) in a dog. Study Design: Clinical report. Animal: A 5‐month‐old, 9.2 kg male Shetland sheepdog. Methods: Echocardiographic examination revealed an ostium primum atrial septal defect (ASD), an inlet ventricular septal defect (VSD), mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and a complete ECD was diagnosed. Surgical correction was performed using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) via right atriotomy. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch was secured along the margin of the inlet VSD using simple continuous suture, then the cleft in the septal mitral leaflet was sutured. Similarly, the cleft in the septal tricuspid leaflets was sutured. To complete inlet VSD closure, the VSD patch was secured to these sutured leaflets by simple continuous suture. Another PTFE patch was used to close the ostium primum ASD. Result: After surgery, MR, TR, and interventricular shunting were decreased. The dog was alive 6 years and 5 months after the surgery with no evidence of an interventricular shunt, TR, or other clinical signs. Conclusions: Complete ECD in a dog was corrected using a 2‐patch technique under CPB.     

Sex distinction of asparagus by loop-mediated isothermal amplification and observation of seedling phenotypes

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a dioecious plant. In general, male and female plants are used for open-field culture and intensive cultivation, respectively. Farmers distinguish between the sexes by observing the form of the flower organs. However, because flowering begins 2?C3 years after planting, the sexes cannot be differentiated at transplantation by using this method, and planting of an all-male population is not possible. In this study, the usefulness of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a simple method of gene amplification, for sex distinction at the DNA level was determined. In addition, the phenotypic differences in seeds and seedlings of male and female plants were investigated for application as a method of early sex distinction. By using the LAMP method, the sex could be correctly identified in 100% of the seedlings, suggesting that this method is effective for sex distinction at the gene level. Principal component analysis was conducted with 11 selected parameters after investigating the seeds and seedlings of both male and female plants. The results revealed that male plants tend to have many stalks or cladophylls and female plants tend to have large plant forms, suggesting that the sexes can be distinguished by the external appearance of the seedlings before planting. LAMP and observation of the seedling phenotypes could be useful methods of sex distinction for increasing the efficiency of asparagus breeding.