Neutralizing test of hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) in FS-L3 cells cultured without serum

FS-L3 cells, originating from porcine kidney, were used for propagation of Hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) and development of a virus neutralizing (VN) test. Sera of pigs, rats, cows and dogs had VN activities to HEV. On the other hand, sera of mice, rabbits, goats, sheep, horses, cats, chickens, hamsters and human did not have measurable VN activities, although these sera had high HI activities. Our results support the idea that the VN is a more reliable measure of HEV infection than the conventionally used HI test.     

Infectivity of a Japanese isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oidium neolycopersici</Emphasis> KTP-01 to a European tomato cultivar resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. lycopersici</Emphasis>

The infectivity of a Japanese isolate of tomato powdery mildew, Oidium neolycopersici KTP-01, to tomato cultivars was examined using a resistant cultivar Grace bred in The Netherlands to O. lycopersici, which was recently proposed to be renamed O. neolycopersici. Grace was severely infected with KTP-01, and its susceptibility was similar to that on susceptible tomato cultivars Moneymaker and Ponderosa, suggesting that KTP-01 differs in pathogenicity on tomatoes from those of European and American isolates.     

Kinetics of endotoxin concentration and tumor necrosis factor-alpha,interleukin-1beta,and interleukin-6 activities in the systemic and portal circulation during small intestinal ischemia and reperfusion in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether small intestinal ischemia and reperfusion induces bacterial translocation and proinflammatory cytokine response in either the systemic or portal circulation in dogs. ANIMALS: 17 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURE: The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was occluded for 0 (group-3 dogs), 30 (group-1 dogs), or 60 (group-2 dogs) minutes, followed by reperfusion for 180 minutes; serum lactate and endotoxin concentrations and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 activities in the systemic and portal circulation and intramucosal pH were measured at various time points. RESULTS: In group-2 dogs, TNFalpha activity was found to be significantly increased in the portal circulation, peaking at 60 minutes of reperfusion; TNF-alpha activity, in the systemic circulation, gradually increased from 60 minutes of reperfusion to the end of the experiment; however, the increase was not significant. In group-1 and -2 dogs, IL-6 activities significantly and gradually increased in the systemic and portal circulation during the reperfusion phase, and the magnitude of these increases was dependent on the duration of the ischemic phase. There were no significant changes in IL-1beta activity or endotoxin concentration in any dog group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the our study indicate that intestinal ischemia and reperfusion leads to significant increases of the circulating TNF-alpha and IL-6 activities, depending on the duration of the ischemia phase, in the absence of detectable endotoxin in the circulation. This finding suggests that intestinal ischemia and reperfusion induces a systemic proinflammatory cytokine response in dogs.     

A gross and histopathological study of an ectopic white line development in equine laminitis

In horses with chronic laminitis, an abnormal horny structure called lamellar wedge, is generated between the hoof wall and the laminar epidermis. To be able to manage horses with chronic laminitis correctly, more information about the pathological state of this abnormal horn is required. The aim of this study was to collect and analyze objective morphological data about the abnormal horn in order to understand its morphology and development. In the study, the abnormal horn was grossly visible on the sagittal hoof section from approximately 20 days after the onset of disease. In the histological observations, the structural characteristics of this abnormal horn were similar to the white line tissue, suggesting it is an ectopic white line. Mean value of the cross-sectional area of the abnormal horn against the distal phalanx section area (A/D) was 0.29 cm(2) SD +/- 0.14 and it finally showed an eight-fold increase over the mean value of normal white line section area against the distal phalanx section area. In conclusion, a large amount of the ectopic white line is thought to be finally able to inhibit normal hoof wall growth, so that it should be resected at the optimum time when would be after one month from the onset of the disease.     

Artificial insemination with canine spermatozoa frozen in a skim milk/glucose-based extender

Due to the recent outbreak of avian influenza, transportation of frozen canine semen with egg yolk has been sharply restricted. Thus, there is urgent need to develop a novel egg yolk-free extender for freezing canine spermatozoa. In the present study, the effect of using skim milk/glucose (SG)-based extender without egg yolk on the motility and fertilizing capacity of canine spermatozoa frozen-thawed in the presence of glycerol was examined. There was a tendency for the proportion of motile spermatozoa exposed to SG-based extender for 3 h to be higher than that exposed for 1 h, but the difference was not significant. The motility and other viability parameters of canine spermatozoa after thawing were similar to those obtained with an egg yolk-based extender. When spermatozoa frozen with SG-based extender containing glycerol after 3 h exposure were transcervically inseminated into 2 recipient bitches, a total of 6 pups were obtained. These results suggest that a simple extender composed of skim milk, glucose and glycerol is useful for cryopreservation of canine spermatozoa, which may contribute to improved exchange of genetic material and efficient production of companion and working dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind.     

Quantitative structure–fungicidal activity relationships of N-(4-difluoromethoxybenzyl)­pyrimidin-4-amines against wheat and barley fungi

A set of N-(4-difluoromethoxybenzyl)pyrimidinamines with various substituents at the 4- and 5-positions of the pyrimidine ring and at the benzyl position were prepared, and their fungicidal activities against wheat brown rust, Puccinia recondita, and barley powdery mildew, Erisiphe graminis, were measured. Variations in each of these activities were quantitatively analysed by the use of physicochemical substituent parameters and a regression analysis. Each of these activities was parabolically correlated with the steric bulkiness of the pyrimidine substituents and with the bulkiness or the hydrophobicity of the benzylic substituents. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Drying and anatomical characteristics of sugi wood attacked by bacteria during pond storage

Seven species of bacteria were isolated and identified from ponded sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) logs, and six species showed potent wood-degrading activities. To evaluate the effects of these isolated bacteria on the drying and anatomical characteristics of wood, small fresh blocks of sugi were immersed in water suspensions containing bacteria for 1–7 months. The permeability and drying properties were evidently improved. Most of the encrusting substances adhering to the cell lumens and the pit chambers were removed, and the pit membranes were destroyed. These anatomical changes due to bacterial activity were assumed to improve the permeability of sugi wood.Part of this report was presented at the 40^th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tsukuba, April 1990; the 41^st annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Matsue, April 1991; and the IUFRO XX World Congress, Tampere, August 1995     

Inhibition of acetate ester biosynthesis in banana (Musa sapientum L.) fruit pulp under anaerobic conditions

The effect of anaerobic conditions on acetate ester biosynthesis in ripened banana pulp was investigated. Incubation of the pulp in less than 1% O(2) resulted in a significant reduction in the formation of ethyl acetate. Regardless of the presence of a large amount of endogenous ethanol and the remaining exogenous isobutyl alcohol after complete anaerobic incubation with the pulp, the production of acetate ester decreased. The effect of addition of pyruvate, isobutyl alcohol, acetate, and methyl hexanoate on acetate ester formation in 100% N(2) was also investigated. The addition of pyruvate and isobutyl alcohol to the pulp gave lower acetate esters in N(2) than in air, whereas the pulp incubated with acetate and isobutyl alcohol produced more acetate ester in both conditions. Therefore, the lack of acetyl CoA, or more precisely acetate, in the tissue is the main reason for the inhibition of acetate ester formation under anaerobic conditions. The activity of beta-oxidation measured by incubation with methyl hexanoate was detected only in the samples incubated in air. The formation of acetyl CoA, derived from pyruvate through mitochondria and through beta-oxidation, was inhibited by anaerobic conditions, which suggests that mitochondrial activity and/or beta-oxidation are essential for ester biosynthesis.