Clinical application of 2.16% hypertonic saline solution to correct the blood sodium concentration in diarrheic calves with hyponatremia

The aim of this study was to examine whether 2.16% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) is useful for the treatment of diarrheic calves with hyponatremia. Eleven of 13 female Holstein calves exhibiting moderate diarrhea and hyponatremia received 1,250 ml of 2.16% HSS over 15 min regardless of body weight. The remaining two calves that were unable to stand and had severe hyponatremia received 2,500 ml of 2.16% HSS intravenously over 30 min. As a result, hyponatremia in all diarrheic calves was significantly improved by the administration of 2.16% HSS from 122.2 ± 7.0 mEq/l at pre to 134.8 ± 3.7 mEq/l at post, which was above the threshold of 132 mEq/l for hyponatremia. Therefore, 2.16% HSS may be useful for hyponatremia in calves with diarrhea.     

Quantification of phosphatidic acid in foodstuffs using a thin-layer-chromatography-imaging technique

Apical application of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a growth-factor-like phospholipid, was shown to prevent or restore gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, such as diarrhea and stomach ulcer, in experimental animals. Because LPA is formed from phosphatidic acid (PA) by the activity of digestive phospholipase A(2), PA is a potential component for dietary treatment of such GI disorders. Here, we quantified PA contained in 38 foodstuffs and 3 herbs by a thin-layer-chromatography-imaging technique. Vegetables belonging to Brassicaceae, such as cabbage leaves (700 nmol/g of wet weight) and Japanese radish leaves (570 nmol/g), contained higher amounts of PA than other foodstuffs. Amounts of PA in fruits, cereals, and starchy root vegetables were below 300 nmol/g. Animal foodstuffs contained low amounts of PA (<60 nmol/g). Interestingly, leaves of Mallotus japonicas, a Japanese edible herb used for treatment of stomach ulcer, had the highest PA (1410 nmol/g) among those examined. The data shown here will be useful for the development of dietary treatment for a damaged GI tract.     

Linkage analysis of rice bacterial blight resistance gene xa20 in XM6, a mutant line from IR24

Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is an important disease constraining rice (Oryza sativa L.) production worldwide. The XM6 line was induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea from IR24, an Indica cultivar that is susceptible to Philippine and Japanese Xoo races. XM6 was confirmed to carry a recessive gene named xa20, resistant to six Philippine and five Japanese Xoo races. The chromosomal gene location was found using 10 plants with the shortest lesion length in an F₂ population consisting of 298 plants from a susceptible Japonica variety Koshihikari × XM6. Analysis using PCR-based DNA markers covering the whole rice genome indicated the gene as located on the distal region of the long arm of chromosome 3. The IKC3 line carries IR24 genetic background with Koshihikari fragment on chromosome 3 where a resistance gene was thought to be located. The F₂ population from IKC3 × XM6 clearly showed a bimodal distribution separating resistant and susceptible plants. Further linkage analysis conducted using this F₂ population revealed that xa20 is located within the 0.8 cM region flanked by DNA markers KIC3-33.88 (33.0 Mb) and KIC3-34.06 (33.2 Mb). This study yields important findings for resistance breeding and for the genetic mechanism of Xoo resistance.     

Improved physical control of glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan

Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a non‐native annual winter grass that has seriously infested rice paddy levees and wheat fields in Japan. Recently, glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass was found on paddy levees in central Japan, thereby making control of the grass by using glyphosate less effective. In this study, physical control methods were tested that combined the timing and frequency of mowing in order to more effectively control glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass on rice paddy levees. A 3 year field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in a western region of Shizuoka Prefecture, where glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass has become dominant. Five treatments were tested: (i) mowing once before the flowering of the grass (i.e. conventional mowing measure); (ii) mowing once during flowering; (iii) mowing twice during flowering; (iv) glyphosate application before flowering (i.e. one of the conventional mowing measures); and (v) no treatment. The above‐ground biomass, seed production, soil seed bank and seedling occurrence of Italian ryegrass were measured to determine the effectiveness of these treatments. Mowing during the flowering period resulted in reduced above‐ground biomass, seed production and soil seed bank when compared with the other treatments. Additionally, mowing twice during the flowering period resulted in a lower seedling density than mowing once. The results suggest that, in this region, physical control by mowing during the flowering period would be more effective than conventional measures for controlling glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass.     

Effect of a stepwise lighting method termed “stage reduced lighting” using LED and metal halide fishing lamps in the Japanese common squid jigging fishery

Lighting systems combining light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and metal halide lamps (MHs) are expected to be energy-saving tools in Japan??s squid jigging fishery. Previous research has shown the need for light stronger than LEDs (9?kW) and 36 MHs (108?kW) to catch the Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus. We tested a stepwise lighting method termed ??stage reduced lighting?? in the Tsushima Strait in January and February 2010 using nine fishing boats. LEDs (9?kW) and 50 MHs (150?kW) were lit for 3.9?h on average, and then the number of MHs was reduced to either 30 or 36 until the end of fishing (7.3?h on average). This method reduced fuel consumption by 22?C25?% compared to the continuous use of all fishing lamps (159?kW). We carried out a catch analysis of nine experimental boats and 21 commercial boats during the experimental period. Generalized linear modeling analysis suggested that the squid catch can be explained by the illuminated fraction of the moon and monthly changes in squid abundance, and the lighting method. The stage reduced lighting using LEDs and MHs has the potential to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining the squid catch.     

Changes in the plasma levels of several bone markers in newborn calves during the first two days of life

The fluctuations in the plasma levels of several bone markers were investigated in newborn calves. Experiment 1 monitored the postnatal changes in the plasma levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b), total alkaline phosphatase (t-ALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in four calves. These markers increased significantly from 9−20 hr after the first colostrum-suckling compared with the values immediately after birth. Experiment 2 evaluated changes in the plasma TRAP5b, t-ALP, BAP and type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) levels within 2 days post-birth in five calves with successful passive immunization via colostrum (non-deficient group) and five others with poor colostrum intake (deficient group). The non-deficient group had significantly higher plasma levels of the four parameters around 12 hr of life compared with the deficient group. The results suggest that the increase in plasma bone markers in calves in the first day of life is related to the colostrum intake.     

Molecular cloning of canine mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 cDNA and its expression in normal tissues

A cDNA encoding canine mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) was cloned. The entire open reading frame of canine MAdCAM-1 cDNA comprises 1137 bp, corresponding to 378 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of canine MAdCAM-1 was 55.2%, 53.7%, and 52.4% identical to rat, mouse, and human MAdCAM-1, respectively. Canine MAdCAM-1 appeared to contain two immunoglobulin-like domains at the N-terminus, followed by a mucin-like domain and a third immunoglobulin-like domain. The structures of the dog, rat, and mouse proteins are likely similar because all of the cysteine residues in the immunoglobulin-like domains were conserved. Canine MAdCAM-1 mRNA was confirmed to express extremely in the mesenteric lymph node by RT-PCR.