Adaptation of protein oxidation to protein intake in the domestic cat

It is well-accepted that cats require more dietary protein than omnivores and herbivores. Work on hepatic enzyme activities showed that cats lack the ability to regulate the urea cycle enzymes in response to the dietary supply of protein. It was thus hypothesized that the high protein requirement of cats is due to an inability to regulate these enzymes, limiting adaptation to a low protein diet. We used indirect respiration calorimetry to assess the in vivo ability of cats to adapt substrate oxidation to different levels of dietary protein, including one below their protein requirement. In random order, eight cats consumed each of four semi-purified diets containing 7.7% (LP), 14.6% (AP), 27.3% (MP) and 51.1% (HP) of ME from protein. Cats consumed each diet for at least 14 days and then completed a 5-day nitrogen balance trial and at least 2, 12-hour indirect calorimetry measurements. The data were analyzed by anova using the Mixed procedure of SAS and are expressed as mean ± SEM. There was a significant effect of diet on protein oxidation (p < 0.0001), measuring 9.8 ± 0.5%, 13.4 ± 0.9%, 23.5 ± 0.8% and 49.0 ± 1.8% of total energy expenditure on the LP, AP, MP and HP diets, respectively. The ratio of protein oxidation/protein intake was significantly higher with the LP diet (1.27 ± 0.07) than the other three diets (AP, 0.92 ± 0.06; MP, 0.86 ± 0.03; HP, 0.96 ± 0.04; p < 0.0001), indicating a net loss of protein on the LP diet. Thus, cats adapted to a wide range of dietary protein concentrations, but were unable to fully adapt to the LP diet.     

Delayed-type hypersensitivity in sheep induced by synthetic peptides of bovine leukemia virus encapsulated in mannan-coated liposome

Four sheep were immunized with synthesized peptides, derived from bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope glycoprotein, encapsulated in mannan coated liposomes as adjuvant. On the seventh day after the immunization, the sheep were intradermally challenged with BLV antigen, or synthesized peptides. The areas challenged with antigen were increased skin thickness and biopsied sequentially for immunohistological examinations. Strong delayed-type hypersensitivity was induced in sheep immunized and challenged with peptides encapsulated in mannan-coated liposomes. The major phenotype of the infiltrating lymphocytes was CD5(+). The ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) cells was about 1:1.     

Seroepidemiologic studies on Babesia equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses in Jilin province of China

The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis caused by Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in northeast China has remained unknown, although the People's Republic of China is recognized as an endemic country for the diseases. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Jilin province, a part of northeast China. A total of 111 serum samples were taken from horses in eastern Jilin, and examined for diagnosis of B. equi and B. caballi infections by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with recombinant antigens, equi merozoite antigen-1 and P48, respectively. Of the 111 samples, 38 (34%) and 36 (32%) samples were sero-positive for B. equi infection and B. caballi infection, respectively. In addition, 14 (12%) samples were sero-positive for both B. equi and B. caballi infections. These results indicate that equine piroplasmosis is widespread and therefore a cause for serious concern in northeast China.     

Distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan

A survey was conducted to examine the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan. During May 1999 and May 2000, fecal samples from cattle (n=332) and swine (n=250), chicken cloacal swabs (n=234), and vaginal swabs of cattle (n=61) and swine (n=15) were submitted for the isolation of Arcobacter species. Arcobacter species were isolated from 3.6 and 10.0% of the cattle and swine fecal samples, respectively, along with 14.5% of chicken cloacal swabs. No significant seasonal differences were observed. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay showed that A. butzleri was the most prevalent species (83.3, 60.0 and 47.1% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively), followed by A. cryaerophilus 1B (16.7, 36.0 and 55.9% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively). Of the samples from vaginal swabs, 8.1 and 13.3% were positive for Arcobacter in cattle and swine, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan.     

Seasonal changes of blood composition in captive bottlenose dolphins

To determine how blood values in bottlenose dolphins changed during the year, 504 blood samples were taken from 9 dolphins from 1991 to 1999 and clinical blood examinations were undertaken monthly including 3 hematological and 19 serum chemistry tests. In creatinine, significant seasonal changes were found among three groups of adult males, adult females and juveniles, and the average values in summer were 15-38% higher than those in winter. In two out of three groups the average total cholesterol value were highest in winter, and the lowest of all groups were in summer. In two other groups the peaks of average FFA value were recorded in summer, and the lows were in winter.     

A new method for determining ferrous iron in paddy soils

Introduction

To make clear the chemical behavior of free iron compounds in paddy soils, it is necessary to find an accurate and rapid method for determining ferrous iron in waterlogged paddy soils. Several methods^1,2,3) have been proposed for this purpose, most of which use dilute acids, such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, as extracting reagents. According to the writers' experience, however, these methods seem to be inadequate. The reason is that the acid solutions extract not only ferrous iron, but also ferric iron and reducing substances from soils, and the latter two react immediately in the extract to produce ferrous iron, thus we obtain larger value for ferrous iron than the one actually existing in soils. The writers have found that acetate buffer of pH 2.8 is a very suitable extractant for ferrous iron, and they have been able to establish a new method for the determination of ferrous iron in soils using this buffer. The experimental details will be given in this paper.     

Studies on the organo-mineral colloidal complexes of paddy soil IV

In Japan some of farmers are able to obtain a strikingly high yield of rice crop, i.e. over 8～9 tons of hulled rice per ha. on their paddy fields. Such fields are called the high yield paddy field.     

Studies on the organo-mineral colloidal complexes of paddy soil V

In the preceding paper (1), humus status in G 1 colloidal complexes of the high yield paddy soils was reported. This report describes the experimental results on the clay minerals contained in G 1 colloidal complexes of the same soils as above.     

The process of manganese depositton in paddy soils

Abstract

The changes in quality and quantity of phenolic substances in the decaying process of rice straw in a soil were compared under moist and flooded conditions for 200 days. The amounts of phenolic substances divided into fractions of humic acid and fulvic acid, ether- and butanol-extractable and organic solvent-unextractable fractions, then the amounts of individual phenolic acids were determined. The following results were obtained.

1) Alkali-extractable total phenolics as well as individual phenolic acids decreased more rapidly under moist, than under flooded, conditions as rice straw decayed in the soil. The phenolics present were mainly attributable to the straw, not to the soil.

2) The decrease in the level of total phenolics in the early stage of the decaying process was mainly due to the decrease in ether-extractable phenolic compounds in the fulvic acid fraction, and in the later stage, was mainly due to the decrease in butanol-extractable phenolics in the humic acid fraction.

3) The amounts of butanol-extractable phenolics and organic solvent-unextractable phenolics were larger in humic acid than in fulvic acid. On the other hand, a larger amount of organic solvent-extractable phenolics, especially ether-extractable phenolics, was present in fulvic acid.

4) The degradation patterns and pathways of individual phenolic acids in the decaying process of rice straw in soil were found to be the lame as those of decaying straw without soil which were reported previously.

5) The level of phenolic substances in the humic acid was not greatly changed during the decaying process, but the phenolic substances in fulvic acid rapidly increased for 30 days and then rapidly decreased to a constant level.     

Effects of Nelumbo nucifera Leaf Extract on Obesity

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The two main components from a Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract (NnEx) were investigated for their ability to prevent triglyceride accumulation and promoting...