Killing of feline T-lymphocytes by gamma-rays and energetic carbon ions

High linear energy transfer (LET) heavy charged particles have previously been applied clinically to human cancer radiotherapy because of their excellent physical properties of selective dose distribution and higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for human; however, such an approach has yet to be applied to cat patients. The present study investigates the biological effectiveness of low-LET gamma-rays (0.2 keV/micro m) compared to high-LET carbon ions (114 keV/micro m) in feline T- lymphocyte FeT-J cells. Clonogenic survival analysis revealed that the RBE value of carbon ions was 2.98 relative to a 10% survival dose (D(10)) by gamma-rays, and that the inactivation cross-section in cells exposed to gamma-rays and carbon ions was 0.023 and 38.9 micro m(2), respectively. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis revealed that TUNEL-positive frequency in carbon-irradiation cells is higher than for gamma-irradiated cells against exposure to the same physical doses, but that very little difference in TUNEL-positive frequency is observed between cells exposed to the respective D(10) dose of gamma-rays. Our data thus indicate that carbon ions are more effective for cell killing than gamma-rays at the same physical doses, but kill cells to an extent that is comparable to gamma-rays at the same biological doses. Carbon ion radiotherapy is therefore a promising modality for cat patients.     

《中国学术期刊影响因子年报》系列数据库首发式的北京召开沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性分析

[目的]了解新疆沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性.[方法]沙雅县胡杨林采集土壤样品,采用两种不同的培养基(LB,TSA)分离纯化细菌,并对它们进行16S rDNA测定和系统进化分析.[结果]分离纯化不同表型的57株细菌.对它们16S rDNA序列分析表明,57株菌分别属于3个大类群厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria),13个属,33个种;芽孢杆菌属是优势细菌种群,它占已测种群的67.2;.其中6株菌M28,M13,CT3,YS30-1,CM5,CL19初步被认为是潜在的新种(16S rDNA相似率为96.780;～97.961;).[结论]沙雅县胡杨林可培养细菌不仅具有比较高的多样性,并存在一些潜在的新的细菌菌种资源,极具进一步发掘的潜力.     

新疆库米什金矿土壤可培养细菌的多样性分析

[目的]了解新疆库米什一处金矿土壤可培养细菌的多样性及建立菌种资源库.[方法]采集库米什金矿土壤样品,采用两种不同培养基(LB,TSB)分离纯化细菌,对其进行形态观察(菌落及细胞)、生理测定、16SrDNA测序和系统进化分析.[结果]从两种培养基上总共得到50株细菌,根据基于16S rDNA的系统进化分析表明,50株菌分别属于3个大类群:厚壁菌门(Firmicutes ),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobaeteria),12个属,30个分类单元.其中芽抱杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势细菌种群,占已测种群的63.3;.菌株L10-5与Bacillus foraminis (AJ717382)有96.463;的相似率,可能为潜在新种.[结论]库米什金矿土壤可培养细菌具有较高的多样性,存在潜在新菌种资源,值得进一步研究.     

Acute myeloid leukemia with mastocytic and megakaryocytic differentiation in a calf

A diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia was made in a 10-month-old Holstein female calf. The leukemia was macroscopically characterized by great enlargement of the spleen and moderate enlargement of some lymph nodes. Histochemical and immunohistochemical examination disclosed the presence of neoplastic cells either containing metachromatic and tryptase-positive granules or expressing factor VIII-related antigen. The granules, which were positive for naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase and did not have particulate contents, were distinct from those of basophilic leukemia cells. This leukemia was thought to be derived from a common myeloid progenitor capable of giving rise to megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors with the ability to differentiate into mast cells.     

Comparison of Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusequi isolates of equine origin by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and fluorescent amplified-fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting

Equine paratyphoid is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusequi, and manifests mainly as abortion in the mare. We compared S. Abortusequi strains isolated in Japan and other countries using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and fluorescent amplified-fragment length polymorphism (FAFLP) analysis. PFGE analysis of S. Abortusequi strains gave 21-27 fragments ranging in size from 33 to 602kb. Although two PFGE profiles were observed among the 20 S. Abortusequi isolates in Japan, the restriction fragments originating from the chromosome were common between the two profiles. The similarity index of the two profiles was 90.9%, while those between Japanese and five other S. Abortusequi strains were 29.8-37.5%. On the other hand, FAFLP analysis of S. Abortusequi strains generated 64-67 amplified fragments ranging in size from 100 to 400bp. One polymorphic fragment was observed among the 20 S. Abortusequi isolates in Japan. These data indicate the close relation of this agent in Japan. S. Abortusequi strains sharing a common ancestry might have been conserved in Japan.     

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and Ca levels in the milk of lactating cows

To investigate the roles of mammary PTHrP in calcium uptake and/or release in the mammary gland of cows, plasma PTHrP and Ca levels, and their arterial-venous differences were examined in a Jersey cow during the periparturient period. Levels of Ca in both abdominal aorta and abdominal subcutaneous vein blood slightly decreased around the parturition and at 24 days after the parturition, however, no remarkable arterial-venous differences were observed. Plasma PTHrP levels in both arterial and venous samples were below the detection limit (0.57 pmol/l) during the experimental period. Milk PTHrP and Ca levels were measured in 9 Holstein dairy cows. Although plasma PTHrP levels in all arterial and venous samples were also below the detection limit, milk PTHrP and Ca levels were remarkably high, ranging from 14,900 pmol/l to 41,200 pmol/l and from 772 mg/l to 1,200 mg/l, respectively. In addition, a significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was observed between milk PTHrP and Ca levels. These results suggested that mammary PTHrP is closely related to Ca concentration in the milk.     

Conservation of Zingiber germplasm through in vitro rhizome formation

The effects of various concentrations of maleic hydrazide (MH; 2, 4, 6, 8 mg/l) and three light treatments (16-h, 24-h, 0-h) on in vitro rhizome formation and conservation of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc. cv. Rio de Janeiro) were studied. In vitro rhizome formation occurred in all the above treatments. Addition of MH (2–8 mg/l) to the control medium (CM) comprising Murashige and Skoog's (1962) salts, 9% sucrose, 0.8% agar-agar, 0.1 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1 mg/l N⁶-benzyladenine (BA), did not show any significant positive effects on rhizome formation as well as survival of cultures. A significant effect of light treatments was observed on survival of cultures but not on rhizome formation. More than 50% cultures survived up to 14 months on CM under 16-h and 24-h light conditions as compared to 20% cultures on same medium incubated under dark. A total of 33 genotypes of cultivated and wild species of Zingiber were subsequently tested for conservation through in vitro rhizome formation on CM under 16-h light condition. All genotypes produced rhizomes of varying size with numbers ranging from 3 to 15 per culture and were conserved for at least 12 months; some genotypes could be conserved even up to 16–20 months. Viability of rhizomes was determined by in vitro regeneration of shoots upon subculture and their subsequent establishment in soil. Following the protocol described in the present paper, some 160 genotypes of cultivated and wild species of Zingiber, collected from different geographical regions of India, are being conserved at In Vitro Genebank of National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.     

Seed-coat anatomy and proanthocyanidins contribute to the dormancy of Rubus seed

Rubus seed has a deep double dormancy that restricts germination due to seed coat structure and chemical composition. Improved germination of diverse Rubus species required for breeding improved blackberry and raspberry cultivars is partly dependent on the seed coat structure. This study evaluated the seed coat structure of three species with thin (R. hoffmeisterianus Kunth & C. D. Bouché), medium (R. occidentalis L.) and thick (R. caesius L.) seed coats. The three species exhibited distinctive seed-coat cell composition. The very thin testa (0.086 mm) of R. hoffmeisterianus had little exotesta (surface) reticulation; with the meso- and endotesta composed of sclereids of homogenous shape and size. R. occidentalis had a thick testa (0.175 mm) and a highly reticulate exotesta; the meso- and endotesta were composed of several diverse types of sclereids. R. caesius had the thickest seed coat (0.185 mm) but only moderate exotesta reticulation; the meso- and endotesta were composed of large, irregular, loosely arranged sclereids. R. occidentalis, a medium size seed, was the most heavily lignified with seed-coat thickness similar to R. caesius, the largest seed. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) from dry seed of six Rubus species were extracted and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. R. hoffmeisterianus, a thin only slightly hard seed, had half the PA (0.45 μg/seed) of R. occidentalis with a thick, extremely-hard seed coat and diverse sclereids (1.07 μg/seed). PA content and sclereid composition both appear contribute to seed coat hardness and resulting seed dormancy. The effectiveness of sulfuric acid for Rubus seed scarification is likely due to degradation of PAs in the testa.     

A Promising Potential of Brown Algae Sargassum polycystum as Irreversible Hydrocolloid Impression Material

This study aimed to investigate the potential use of brown algae Sargassum polycystum as irreversible hydrocolloid (alginate) impression material. Potassium alginate extracted from Sargassum polycystum was prepared in three different compositions (14%, 15%, and 16%) and mixed with other standard components to form an alginate impression material. Prior to that, the purity of potassium alginate was quantified with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. As a control material, the alginate impression material from a commercially available product was used. All alginate impression materials were then applied to a die stone model. Dimensional accuracy was measured by calculating the mesiodistal width of incisors in the generated dental cast using a digital caliper 0.01 accuracy (five replications). In addition, to evaluate the dimensional stability, the impression results were poured at four different periods (immediately, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min). An independent t-test was performed to compare the measurement results with p < 0.05 considered significant. Analytical results confirm that the impression material containing 15% potassium alginate gives the best dimensional accuracy similar to control (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, the optimal dimensional stability was produced in the impression material containing 16% potassium alginate. Our study suggested that brown algae Sargassum polycystum has a promising potential to be used as an alginate impression material in clinical application.