COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF CANINE NONPARENCHYMAL HEMANGIOSARCOMA

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe pre‐ and postcontrast computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of confirmed nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma in a group of dogs. Medical records were searched during the period of July 2003 and October 2011 and dogs with histologically confirmed nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma and pre‐ and postcontrast CT images were recruited. Two observers recorded a consensus opinion for the following CT characteristics for each dog: largest transverse tumor diameter, number of masses, general tumor shape, character of the tumor margin, precontrast appearance, presence of dystrophic calcification, presence of postcontrast enhancement, pattern of postcontrast enhancement, presence of regional lymphadenopathy, and presence of associated cavitary fluid. A total of 17 dogs met inclusion criteria. Tumors were located in the nasal cavity, muscle, mandible, mesentery, subcutaneous tissue, and retroperitoneal space. Computed tomographic features of nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma were similar to those of other soft tissue sarcomas, with most tumors being heterogeneous in precontrast images, invasive into adjacent tissue, and heterogeneously contrast enhancing. One unexpected finding was the presence of intense foci of contrast enhancement in 13 of the 17 tumors (76%). This appearance, which is not typical of other soft tissue sarcomas, was consistent with contrast medium residing in vascular channels. Findings indicated that there were no unique distinguishing CT characteristics for nonparenchymal hemangiosarcoma in dogs; however, the presence of highly attenuating foci of contrast enhancement may warrant further investigation in prospective diagnostic sensitivity and treatment outcome studies.     

Efficacy of chemotherapy and palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy for cats with nasal lymphoma

Nasal lymphoma (NL) is the most common nasal tumor in cats, and radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments have been described as the treatment for this disease. However, the previous studies included various machines and protocols of radiotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to retrospectively compare the prognosis among cases treated with palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a combination of them with united machine and protocol of radiotherapy. When compared overall survival and progression free survival, there was no significant difference among these three groups. The data of this study suggested that similar efficacy could be achieved by palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of them.     

Determination of 1-deoxynojirimycin in mulberry leaves using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

A simple and rapid method for determining 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a potent glucosidase inihibitor present in mulberry leaves (Morus alba and Morus bombysis), by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) has been developed. DNJ was separated from an extract of mulberry leaves on a TSKgel Amide-80 column, which is a representative column for hydrophilic interaction chromatography. During postcolumn detection, DNJ was detected by ELSD and concurrently identified by mass spectrometry. The detection limit was 100 ng. This method is sufficiently sensitive for determining DNJ in mulberry leaves and other related products.     

Feeding habits of stone flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platichthys bicoloratus</Emphasis> larvae in Mutsu Bay,Japan

To clarify the feeding strategy of pelagic larvae of stone flounder in Mutsu Bay, the dietary composition and pray size was investigated from February to April during 1989–1999. Diets were compared with the numerical and volumetric compositions and frequency of occurrence of each prey species. Mensuration formulae were applied to estimate individual prey volume in the diet, while the length of planktonic species was measured from net and water samples. Prey shapes were assumed as sphere, cylinder, ellipsoid, pyramid, two elliptical cones, or a combination of ellipsoid and cylinder. Prey-size range increased as the larvae grew. Preflexion larvae fed mainly on copepod nauplii. Flexion and postflexion larvae ingested primarily appendicularians, with a suggestion that these larvae might depend on some parts of the microbial food web. Low frequencies of flexion and postflexion larvae with empty guts (1.7 and 1.4%, respectively) might be derived from feeding on slow-swimming appendicularians. From a size comparison between ‘house’-like organ length and trunk length of the appendicularian Oikopleura sp., almost all house-like organs with trunks in the larval diet were nonexpanded ‘house rudiments’, not expanded ‘houses’. Thus, stone flounder larvae may not chew the houses, but swallow the house rudiments with trunks.     

Effect of grain direction on transmittance of 100-GHz millimeter wave for hinoki (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis>)

The attenuation coefficients of 100-GHz millimeter waves polarized linearly were measured for cross-cut, quarter-sawn, and flat-sawn boards of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) that were 0.2–2.0 cm thick. This was done to examine the applicability of free-wave propagation theory for applying electromagnetic waves to wood. It was found that the transmittance of a millimeter wave through the specimen boards was lower when the fiber direction of a board was parallel to the direction of the electric field of the incident wave than when the fiber direction was perpendicular to the electric field, and there was little difference in the transmittance between the tangential and radial directions for the former case. These findings can be quantitatively explained by using propagation theory and the dielectric properties of wood.     

Host immune-related gene responses against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in vitro differ among chicken cell lines established from different organs

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) induces acute disease in chickens causing high mortality and morbidity and is a major threat to poultry industries in Southeast Asian countries. The mechanisms of disease manifestation and host innate immune responses against HAPIV in chickens are not well understood. In this study, we examined virus replication and host gene expressions in four chicken cell lines in vitro to elucidate the impact of host innate immune responses against viral replication. It was demonstrated that viral replication efficiencies were different depending on the cell line. The viral replication appeared to be affected by the basal expression of IFN related genes. The expression of immune-related genes against the viral infection also varied in a cell line dependent manner. In non-immune derived cell lines, but not in immune derived cell lines, the expression of the CCL5 and CCL20 genes were induced by HPAIV infection. Reverse genetics HPAIV, with internal genes from avirulent avian influenza, reduced virus replication and affected immune-related gene expression in a cell line dependent manner. These results suggest the possibility that differential immune responses in different cell types in local tissues could modulate the consequences of HPAIV infection in chickens.     

Multiplex PCR and Genescan analysis to detect immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement in feline B-cell neoplasms

Lymphoid neoplasms are usually diagnosed on the basis of cytological and histopathological findings. However, in some cases, discrimination of lymphoid neoplasms from reactive lymphoid proliferation is difficult. PCR amplification of complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (IGHV) gene can be used to assess clonality of B-cell populations as a supportive diagnostic tool for B-cell neoplasms. Because of the sequence variation and possible somatic hypermutation of the IGHV gene, sensitivity of the PCR-based assay to detect clonal IGHV gene rearrangement largely depends on the sequences and numbers of primer sets. Prior to the development of an efficient assay, we cloned and sequenced 97 IGHV complementary DNAs (48 IGHV-1 and 49 IGHV-3 clones) from normal cat spleens. On the basis of these sequences, we designed 6 forward primers at the variable region and 5 reverse primers at the joining region. Using each of 6 forward primers and a mixture of 5 reverse primers, we amplified CDR3 of IGHV genes and analyzed the PCR products by conventional PAGE and Genescan analyses using fluorescence-labeled primers. Twenty-six feline B-cell neoplasms diagnosed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were subjected to the newly developed analysis of IGHV gene rearrangement. Clonal IGHV gene rearrangement was detected in 22 of 26 (84%) samples by both PAGE and Genescan analyses. To reduce the number of PCR reactions, we constructed a multiplex PCR analysis system using a mixture of IGHV-1- and IGHV-3-specific primers as forward primers and a mixture of 5 joining region reverse primers. Results of the multiplex PCR were 100% concordant with those obtained by each of the singleplex PCRs. The multiplex PCR-based assay and Genescan analysis developed in the present study would be useful and practical tools to detect clonal IGHV gene rearrangement in feline B-cell neoplasms.