A Case of Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma Diagnosed with Steroidogenic Factor-1 in a Sprague-Dawley Rat

This report describes the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of an adrenocortical carcinoma with distant metastasis in a Sprague-Dawley rat. Macroscopically, a single large mass was observed in the adrenal gland, and multiple nodules were noted in the lung, liver and thyroid. Histologically, the adrenal tumor consisted of a solid growth of eosinophilic round cells with nuclear atypia. Vascular invasion was present, and multiple metastatic lesions were also observed in the lungs, liver, and mediastinal lymph nodes. Immunohistochemically, the nuclei of these tumor cells were positive for Steroidogenic Factor-1 (SF-1). In the thyroid, tumor cells histologically resembling adrenal cells were immunohistochemically negative for SF-1 but positive for calcitonin; thus the lesion was diagnosed as thyroid C-cell carcinoma. From these results, the present case was diagnosed as adrenocortical carcinoma with distant metastases. SF-1 could be a valuable marker for the differential diagnosis of adrenocortical tumors versus other endocrine tumors such as C-cell carcinoma.     

N -Methyl- N -nitrosourea-induced Renal Tumors in Rats: Immunohistochemical Comparison to Human Wilms Tumors

N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced renal tumors in rats and Wilms tumors in humans were compared. Renal mesenchymal tumors (RMTs) and nephroblastomas (blastemal and epithelial components) in female Lewis rats treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg MNU at birth and Wilms tumors (blastemal, epithelial and mesenchymal components) in humans were analyzed for the expression of pancytokeratin (CK), vimentin, p63, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin, S-100, CD57, CD117/c-kit, Wilms tumor 1 protein (WT1) and β-catenin. The mesenchymal components of rat RMTs and human Wilms tumors expressed vimentin, SMA and β-catenin. The blastemal components of rat nephroblastomas and human Wilms tumors expressed vimentin, CD117/c-kit and β-catenin. The epithelial components of rat nephroblastomas and human Wilms tumors expressed vimentin and β-catenin. WT1 was expressed in different cellular components of rat tumors as compared with human Wilms tumors; the expression was seen in mesenchymal tumors and blastemal components of nephroblastomas in rats and epithelial components in human Wilms tumors. CK, p63 and CD57 were not expressed in rat RMTs or nephroblastomas, while CK and WT1 were expressed in epithelial components and CD57 was expressed in blastemal and epithelial components of human Wilms tumors. Rat and human tumors were universally negative for the expression of desmin and S-100. The immunohistochemical characteristics of rat renal tumors and human Wilms tumors may provide valuable information on the differences in renal oncogenesis and biology between the two species.     

Changes in the concentrations of acrylamide, selected odorants, and catechins caused by roasting of green tea

This research aims to optimize roasted green tea (Houjicha) processing by using roasting treatments to achieve acrylamide mitigation without compromising the quality. 2-Ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine and 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine were identified as potent odorants by aroma extract dilution analysis. In preliminary sensory experiments, the desirable Houjicha flavor was produced in products roasted at 160 degrees C for 30 min and at 180 degrees C for 15 min. Under these conditions, potent odorants were formed at levels adequate for contributing to the Houjicha flavor. Acrylamide amounts in tea infusions were 2.0 and 4.0 microg/L by roasting at 160 degrees C for 30 min and at 180 degrees C for 15 min, respectively. Compared to roasting at 180 degrees C, the degradation of tea catechins was suppressed by roasting at 160 degrees C. Hence, roasting at 160 degrees C for is recommended for Houjicha processing for acrylamide mitigation, formation of potent odorants, and suppression of degradation of tea catechins.     

Turbid water induces refuge behaviour of a commercially important ayu: A field experiment for interstream movement using multiple artificial streams

Riverine systems are inherently dendritic in nature, and turbid water may not necessarily flow equally throughout an entire catchment. Tributaries have the potential to serve as refugia from temporarily turbid water in the main stem. As ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) are one of the important species for the inland fisheries industry and recreational fishing, their behaviour in a branched river network is a primary concern. We released ayu with radio‐transmitting tags into two experimental streams that joined at a downstream pool. Turbid water was released into one of the streams, and we identified whether avoidance movement of ayu between the two experimental streams was triggered by flowing turbid water. The suspended solid concentration elevated rapidly after adding the turbid water and was maintained at more than 400 mg/L for 3 hr. Avoidance movement of ayu was triggered when the suspended solid concentration exceeded approximately 200 mg/L. Then, most ayu moved from the turbid stream to the nonturbid one, leading to a difference in ayu density between the two streams. Therefore, we demonstrated that turbid water induced interstream movement of a commercially important ayu as refuge behaviour, suggesting that river connectivity is important for the persistence of the ayu.     

Comparison of morphological and DNA-based techniques for stomach content analyses in juvenile chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis>: a case study on diet richness of juvenile fishes

To identify the stomach contents of marine organisms, morphological observations are commonly conducted. However, the results obtained by this traditional method are frequently biased, as it is difficult to detect partially digested, soft-bodied organisms. To resolve this, recent studies have used DNA-based (DNA barcoding) analyses to examine the diet breadth of marine organisms. Here, we compared the prey richness of juvenile fishes using morphological observations and DNA-based analyses, with a focus on juvenile chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta. A higher number of prey taxa were successfully identified using DNA-based analyses than morphological observations. However, we also noticed several shortcomings of the DNA-based analyses, as reported in other diet-analysis studies that used molecular techniques. For example, the degree of digestion among prey taxa might have resulted in differential sensitivity to DNA detection. Additionally, several prey taxa could not be precisely identified, as the sequence data for some of the targeted organismal groups are unavailable in public gene databases. Remarkably, it is also possible that DNA-based analyses detected secondary prey, and therefore, the richness of prey taxa was likely overestimated. Thus, dietary analyses of juvenile fishes need to be carefully conducted, considering the respective advantages and disadvantages of DNA-based and morphological techniques.     

Quantifying growth in maricultured corals using photogrammetry

In coral mariculture, growth is one of the most common ways to track success. However, numerous methods of monitoring coral growth make comparative studies challenging. A literature review of 39 studies from 1982 to 2017 indicated that the most predominant non‐invasive methods used were linear and areal measurement and these were evaluated for their accuracy using nursery‐reared corals. The monthly change in linear and areal growth rates of six coral species (n = 215), Pocillopora acuta, Hydnophora rigida, Merulina ampliata, Podabacia crustacea, Echinopora lamellosa and Platygyra sinensis were measured via photogrammetry. We tested whether the planar area of coral colonies can be estimated using three geometric formulas of linear measurements. Based on the literature review, the six types of measurement methods were namely linear, volume, weight, area, count of polyps/branches and calcification, in decreasing order of application. Our results showed that the change in area calculated by geometric mean diameter (GMD) formulas provided the most accurate estimation among the three formulas and was strongly correlated with planar area (R² ≥ .60; p < .05) for all coral species, except E. lamellosa and Pl. sinensis. However, our findings suggest that it is not ideal to use geometric formulas to estimate the change in area. Instead, we posit that areal photogrammetry represents the simplest yet accurate non‐invasive method for rapid monitoring of extensive areas of corals in situ. Lastly, we discuss the recommendations and limitations for areal photogrammetry.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">alliifistulosi</Emphasis> pv. nov., the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of onions

In 1972, bacterial leaf spot of onion (BLSO) was first recorded in Japan by Goto. The pathogen was considered as a pathovar of Pseudomonas syringae specifically causing disease on onion and Welsh onion, but it has not been taxonomically investigated in detail. In 2012 and 2014, a disease suspected as BLSO re-emerged on onion in Shizuoka and Hyogo Prefectures, Japan, respectively. A pathogenic bacterium isolated from the infected onions was thought to be the BLSO agent after preliminary examinations. Strains isolated from BLSO in 1969, 1986, 1987, 2012 and 2014 were characterized and compared with the causal agent of bacterial blight of leek (P. syringae pv. porri), which causes similar symptoms on Allium plants. The result of rep-PCR distinguished the BLSO agent from P. syringae pv. porri. Multilocus sequence analysis on housekeeping genes and hrp genes encoding the type-III secretion system revealed that the strains of the BLSO agent clustered independently of P. syringae pv. porri. The BLSO agent and P. syringae pv. porri also differed in utilization of erythritol, dl-homoserine, glutaric acid and other bacteriological characteristics and caused different reactions on onion, Welsh onions, chives, shallot, rakkyo, leek, garlic and Chinese chive. Thus, the BLSO agent clearly differs from P. syringae pv. porri and is considered to be a new pathovar of P. syringae. The name P. syringae pv. alliifistulosi is proposed with pathotype strain ICMP3414.     

The locus for resistance to Asian soybean rust in PI 587855

Asian soybean rust (ASR) caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi is one of the most serious soybean (Glycine max) diseases in tropical and subtropical areas. A soybean line, PI 587855, showed a resistance phenotype against ASR pathogens in Japan and South America at high frequency; however, little is known of the genetic control of this resistance and chromosomal location of the corresponding locus. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the inheritance of PI 587855 resistance and map the corresponding locus with SSR markers aiming to use the linked markers in marker‐assisted selection. In the segregating population, resistance to ASR appeared to be controlled by a single dominant gene. The ASR resistance locus was mapped near to the chromosomal region where the resistant loci, Rpp1 and Rpp1‐b, were previously mapped. Comparative genetic mapping and disease reaction profiles of other seven lines carrying Rpp1 or Rpp1‐b to four Brazilian ASR isolates revealed that the resistance reaction exhibited by PI 587855 was similar to that of Rpp1‐b‐carrying varieties which have useful resistance to South American ASR strains.     

Recent outbreaks of rust diseases and the importance of basic biological research for controlling rusts

Rust fungi are obligate plant parasites belonging to the order Pucciniales; they comprise about 7,800 species throughout the world. Some species seriously damage crops, vegetables, fruits and trees. Of these species, wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) and myrtle rust (Puccinia psidii) have recently become major concerns worldwide, and this review, discusses recent rust disease outbreaks of Asian soybean rust and myrtle rust. Both rusts have very wide host ranges. Asian soybean rust has spread from its original region of distribution (eastern Asia) to many areas of soybean cultivation around the world. Myrtle rust is a new disease in areas where host plants were first introduced and has spread to other parts of the world including the areas where the host plants are indigenous. New diseases of economically important plants can occur by host shifts from wild host plants or host jumps from phylogenetically unrelated plant species. Recent advances in molecular phylogenetic studies have contributed to a revision of rust taxonomy. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, together with precise morphological observations and inoculation experiments, have identified taxonomic groups among populations that are morphologically very similar. Systematic, ecological and other basic biological studies of rust fungi in both cultivated and wild host plants are very important for developing methods to control rust diseases. Recent changes in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature will surely affect the systematics of rust fungi.     

Phylogenetic study of Japanese Dickeya spp. and development of new rapid identification methods using PCR–RFLP

Forty-one representative Japanese Dickeya spp. (Erwinia chrysanthemi) strains isolated from 24 plants in Japan were investigated using multilocus sequence analysis of recA, dnaX, rpoD, gyrB and 16S rDNA; PCR–RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of recA, rpoD and gyrB genes; PCR genomic fingerprinting; and biochemical tests. Based on the recA, dnaX, rpoD, gyrB and 16S rDNA sequences and PCR genomic fingerprinting, the strains were essentially divided into six groups (I–VI). Group I corresponded to D. chrysanthemi, group II corresponded to D. dadantii, group III to D. dianthicola and group IV to D. zeae. Meanwhile, group V and group VI could not be assigned to any existing Dickeya species, and they were deduced to be two putative new species. The PCR–RFLP analysis of gyrB, rpoD and recA clearly differentiated the six groups of Dickeya strains. From the results of the biochemical tests, the strains were assigned to biovars 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9; only one strain (SUPP 2525) was not assignable to the existing biovars. We also showed that the PCR–RFLP analysis of rpoD, gyrB and recA can be used as a rapid technique to identify Japanese Dickeya strains.