Association of BoLA-DRB3 alleles identified by a sequence-based typing method with mastitis pathogens in Japanese Holstein cows

The association of the polymorphism of bovine leukocyte antigen ( BoLA-DRB3 ) genes identified by the polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) method with resistance and susceptibility to mastitis caused by pathogenic bacteria was investigated. Blood samples for DNA extraction were collected from 194 Holstein cows (41 healthy cows and 153 mastitis cows including 24 mixed-infection cows infected with 2 or 3 species of pathogens) from 5 districts of Chiba prefecture, Japan. Sixteen BoLA-DRB3 alleles were detected. The 4 main alleles of DRB3*0101 , *1501 , *1201 , and *1101 constituted 56.8% of the total number of alleles detected. Mastitis cows were divided into 2 groups: group 1 with single-infection cows and group 2 with all mastitis cows including 24 mixed-infection cows. The differences in the frequencies of BoLA-DRB3 alleles and the number of cows homozygous or heterozygous for each BoLA-DRB3 allele between healthy cows and the 2 groups of mastitis cows were evaluated. Furthermore, similar comparisons were performed between healthy cows and the 2 groups of mastitis cows for each mastitis pathogen. It was considered that the 4 alleles, namely, DRB3*0101 , *1501 , *1201 , and *1101 had specific resistance and susceptibility to 4 different mastitis pathogens. Thus, DRB3*0101 might be associated with susceptibility to coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Escherichia coli , and DRB3*1501 might be associated with susceptibility to Escherichia coli . However, DRB3*1101 might be associated with resistance to Streptococci and coagulase-negative Staphylococci , and DRB3*1201 , with resistance to Streptococci , Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus aureus .     

Reactive histiocytosis of the orbit and posterior segment in a dog

We present a case of reactive histiocytic disease involving the orbit, optic nerve, retina, and choroid in a Border Collie dog initially presenting for vision loss. Long-term partial return of vision has been achieved with systemic immunosuppression. Anterior segment and ocular surface manifestations of reactive histiocytic disease in dogs are relatively common. Posterior segment and orbital involvement, however, are minimally documented in the existing literature. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of disease confined to the orbit and posterior segment as well as the first report of vision loss as a presenting complaint for reactive histiocytic disease. Clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, cytologic, and histopathologic findings are reviewed.     

Carbon dioxide degassing by advective flow from Usu volcano, Japan

Magmatic carbon dioxide (CO2) degassing has been documented before the 31 March 2000 eruption of Usu volcano, Hokkaido, Japan. Six months before the eruption, an increase in CO2 flux was detected on the summit caldera, from 120 (September 1998) to 340 metric tons per day (September 1999), followed by a sudden decrease to 39 metric tons per day in June 2000, 3 months after the eruption. The change in CO2 flux and seismic observations suggests that before the eruption, advective processes controlled gas migration toward the surface. The decrease in flux after the eruption at the summit caldera could be due to a rapid release of CO2 during the eruption from ascending dacitic dikes spreading away from the magma chamber beneath the caldera.     

Identification of oyster-derived hypotensive peptide acting as angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitor

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a crucial role in the crisis of hypertension. Some peptides that originate from protease hydrolysates are known to suppress ACE activity in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated whether trypsin hydrolysate of oyster Crassostrea gigas showed hypotensive activity and ACE inhibition. The hydrolysate significantly suppressed systolic blood pressure and ACE activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats following a one-shot oral administration and a long-term feeding experiment lasting 9 weeks. Each hydrolysate from oyster tissue showed ACE inhibitory activity, indicating the hypotensive effect was due to synergism. One potent ACE inhibitory peptide, Asp-Leu-Thr-Asp-Tyr, was identified from the hydrolysate of the striate muscle, and the peptide exhibited hypotensive activity in vivo. Protease digestion analysis suggested that Asp-Tyr could be the real effector of this penta-peptide in vivo.     

Chemical changes of kenaf core binderless boards during hot pressing (I): influence of the pressing temperature condition

Self-bonding is the main factor of the performance expression of binderless boards, and therefore its clarification is considered to be an important issue. For this purpose, a series of chemical analyses were conducted on kenaf core binderless boards and their chemical changes during the hot-pressing process are discussed in this article. First of all, binderless boards were prepared from kenaf core powder at different pressing temperatures (without steam-explosion process) and were used for chemical analyses after they were reduced into powders and extracted with methanol. To investigate their chemical changes, lignin, holocellulose, and neutral sugar contents were determined, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were recorded, and the nitrobenzene oxidation procedure was applied. As a result, it was found that parts of lignin and hemicelullose were decomposed during the hot-pressing process; however, the contribution of the resulting fractions to selfbonding was not observed. In addition, progress of condensation reactions in lignin and the formation of chemical bonds by low molecular weight conjugated carbonyl compounds in methanol extractives were observed. Thermal softening of lignin is also suggested to play an important role in the expression of board performance.     

Papaya seed represents a rich source of biologically active isothiocyanate

In the present study, papaya (Carica papaya) seed and edible pulp were carefully separated and then the contents of benzyl isothiocyanate and the corresponding glucosinolate (benzyl glucosinolate, glucotropaeolin) quantified in each part. The papaya seed with myrosinase inactivation contained >1 mmol of benzyl glucosinolate in 100 g of fresh seed. This content is equivalent to that of Karami daikon (the hottest Japanese white radish) or that of cress. The papaya seed extract also showed a very high activity of myrosinase and, without myrosinase inactivation, produced 460 micromol of benzyl isothiocyanate in 100 g of seed. In contrast, papaya pulp contained an undetectable amount of benzyl glucosinolate and showed no significant myrosinase activity. The n-hexane extract of the papaya seed homogenate was highly effective in inhibiting superoxide generation and apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells, the activities of which are comparable to those of authentic benzyl isothiocyanate.     

Effect of improvement cutting on the community structure of aphyllophoraceous fungi on Okinawa Island

Improvement cutting, which decreases tree density by cutting and thinning while leaving logging residues, has been practiced on Okinawa Island since the 1970s and changes not only the vegetation composition but also the amount and composition of woody debris on the forest floor. To quantitatively compare the effect of improvement cutting with the effects of woody debris and vegetation on the community structure of aphyllophoraceous fungi, we conducted a field survey of vegetation composition, the amount and composition of woody debris, and the aphyllophoraceous fungi flora on Okinawa Island in December 2006. We established 3 plots in forest stands without logging and 13 plots in a forest that had undergone improvement cutting from 1 to 22 years before our field survey. The number and volume of woody debris tended to be highest soon after improvement cutting. We recorded 1,172 fungal samples belonging to 81 species in four orders. Fungal species richness was correlated with the composition of the woody debris. Fungal species composition in forest plots 1 year after improvement cutting differed from most of the other logged forests. Variation partitioning revealed that the effects of improvement cutting explained 14.1 % of the total variation in fungal species composition, and that differences in woody debris and vegetation not related to improvement cutting explained 40.4 %. Changes in the composition of woody debris caused by improvement cutting explained at most 2.7 % of the variation. This suggests that improvement cutting does not have a strong effect on fungal community structure, but woody debris does.