Confirmation of hybrid origin in Arisaema (Araceae) using molecular markers

A population of hybrids between Arisaema triphyllum subsp. stewardsonii and A. dracontium was investigated using molecular markers to document the hybrid origin. Total genomic DNA was extracted from A. triphyllum, A. dracontium, and the hybrids, and subjected to sequence analysis of various regions of intergenic spacer and genes of chloroplast or intergenic spacer and genes of nuclear ribosome for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Clustering was performed using the unweighted pair group method with averages (UPGMA) tested by bootstrap (BS). Hybrid origin could not be easily confirmed in some regions. However, dendrograms constructed with a combined sequence analysis of A. triphyllum 26S ribosomal RNA gene [sequence identification (SI) 467] plus A. tortuosum phytochrome C-like (phyC) gene (SI 468) were very similar to dendrograms constructed from sequences of all regions. This suggests that selecting SI 467 and SI 468 would be practical to identify hybrid origins involving two parental species. Clustering of hybrids together with the female parent in most target regions suggests that, in Arisaema, cpDNA is considered maternally inherited.     

Effect of night humidity on the vegetative growth and the mineral composition of tomato and strawberry plants

Conditions of low night humidity (50–55%) and high night humidity (90–95%) were imposed on tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Young-Kwang) for 30 days, and on strawberry plants (Fragaria grandiflora Ehrh. cv. Bogyo) for 40 days. Shoot dry weight and leaf area in tomato plants increased with high night humidity whereas the strawberry plants did not show any such increases. The concentrations of five major nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) were reduced in tomato plants under high night humidity, with the calcium content in younger leaves being the most severely affected. For the strawberry plants, however, high night humidity tended to increase the concentrations of major nutrients, including calcium in the younger leaves. Possible reasons for the differences in response of these two species to night humidity are discussed.     

Correlating two-dimensional shear wave elastography of acute pancreatitis with Spec cPL in dogs

BackgroundPancreatitis is a common disease in which 37% of dogs had evidence of acute or chronic pancreatitis at necropsy. Although biopsy is still the gold standard to diagnose acute pancreatitis, clinical data including ultrasonographic findings and measurement of canine serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) are used in routine. However, it may be insufficient in the diagnostic approach to acute pancreatitis.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical diagnostic feasibility of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) on canine acute pancreatitis for enhanced diagnostic confidence.Methods2D SWE was used to assess pancreatic stiffness and determine the correlation between pancreatic shear wave velocity (SWV) and Spec cPL concentration in 31 dogs with healthy pancreas and 10 dogs with acute pancreatitis.ResultsThe pancreatic SWV was significantly higher in the acute pancreatitis group (2.67 ± 0.20 m/s) than in the healthy pancreas group (2.30 ± 0.26 m/s; p < 0.05). The moderate positive correlation was found between the pancreatic SWV and Spec cPL concentration (95% confidence interval, 0.214–0.693; r = 0.489; p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese results indicated that 2D SWE was feasible for assessing pancreatic stiffness in acute pancreatitis, and that pancreatic SWV using 2D SWE correlated with Spec cPL concentration. SWE could provide a quantitative measure of pancreatic stiffness, which can increase the accuracy of diagnosing acute pancreatitis in dogs. The 2D SWE can be used as a complementary imaging modality for diagnosing acute pancreatitis in dogs.     

Characterizing yarn thickness variation by correlograms

The surface evenness and texture are closely related with the irregularity of yarn thickness. Besides, yarn thickness variation has an important role to influence the yarn performance and the textile process efficiency. Thus, the information not only on the yarn thickness, but also on the short- term irregular characteristics that have not been known before is required for enhancing the qualities of textile products. This paper reports the results of a study about the yarn thickness and its variation for various types of yarn on the basis of a new measurement system applying a laser slit beam as a light source. The new method delivers effective information on the irregularity. The analysis of the measured signal confirms that the visual shade created by the yarn doubling and twisting can be measured and the yarn thickness characteristics can be represented by correlograms. Depending on yarn types, correlograms have different shapes and can be approximated to an exponentially decaying function with or without fluctuating magnitude. In addition, the effective information on the yarn irregularity can be influenced by the sampling length interval of the measuring device used for tests.     

Tertiary structure of plant RuBisCO: domains and their contacts

The three-dimensional structure of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RuBisCO), has been determined at 2.6 A resolution. This enzyme initiates photosynthesis by combining carbon dioxide with ribulose bisphosphate to form two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate. In plants, RuBisCO is built from eight large (L) and eight small (S) polypeptide chains, or subunits. Both S chains and the NH2-terminal domain (N) of L are antiparallel beta, "open-face-sandwich" domains with four-stranded beta sheets and flanking alpha helices. The main domain (B) of L is an alpha/beta barrel containing most of the catalytic residues. The active site is in a pocket at the opening of the barrel that is partly covered by the N domain of a neighboring L chain. The domain contacts of the molecule and its conserved residues are discussed in terms of this structure.     

Morphological characteristics of C1 and C2 adrenergic neurone groups in marmoset monkey brainstem by using antibody against phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

This work describes a mapping study of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) immunoreactive neurones and fibres in the medulla oblongata of the marmoset monkey, Callithrix jacchus. Two groups of PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were found in the marmoset monkey medulla oblongata: a ventrolateral (C1 group) and a dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive cells group (C2 group). The PNMT-immunoreactive cells in the ventrolateral group C1 were found to be located around the lateral reticular nucleus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata within the ventrolateral medulla are round to oval, and mostly multipolar with branched processes. In the dorsomedial group C2, PNMT-immunoreactive cell bodies appeared near the obex. The majority of the dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were observed in the nucleus tractus solitarius; although some were present in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata in the dorsomedial medulla were small and round or ovoid. These results provide information upon the adrenergic system in the medulla oblongata of a species that presents a useful model of a small primate brain, the marmoset monkey.     

Galanin-immunoreactive cells and their relation to calcitonin gene-related peptide-, substance P- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia

We report upon the distribution of galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) cells in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the rat, and upon the distribution of GAL-IR cells, which also contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, substance P (SP)- and somatostatin (SOM)-immunoreactivity. Neuropeptide-immunoreactive lumbar DRG cells were 55.8% for CGRP, 12.7% for SP, and 6.5% for GAL in lumbar DRG cells. There was no significant difference between the right and left DRGs (L1-L6) for any neuropeptide-immunoreactive cell (P < 0.01). In terms of size distribution, CGRP-immunoreactive cells were identified below 1500 microm2, and SP-, and GAL-IR cells below 600 microm2. Neuropeptide immunoreactive cells showed various immunoreactivities in the cytoplasm according to each neuropeptide. CGRP and SP immunoreactive cells were colocalized with GAL immunoreactive cells in the serial sections about 83.3 and 60% respectively, but SOM colocalizing with GAL-IR cells were not in evidence. The current results confirm and extend previous results, and show that neuropeptides can coexist in single sensory neurones of the rat DRG. In addition, our results demonstrate that the normal distribution of some neurotransmitters modulating sensory action in Wistar Kyoto rat, make this model more prone to develop neuropathic pain than Sprague-Dawley rat.     

Silk fibroin hydrolysate exerts an anti-diabetic effect by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

Components of silk including silk fibroin have long been used as anti-diabetic remedies in oriental medicine. However, detailed mechanisms underlying these anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-diabetic activity of silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a well-known animal model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. When the db/db mice were administered SFH in drinking water for 6 weeks, hyperglycemia in the animals gradually disappeared and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased, indicating that SFH plays important role in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. In addition, SFH-treated db/db mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance with increased plasma insulin levels. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses showed that SFH up-regulated insulin production by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in the mice. In summary, our results suggest that SFH exerts anti-diabetic effects by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus mouse model.     

Protective Effects of Platycodon grandiflorum Aqueous Extract on Thioacetamide-induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum (BC703) on thioacetamide (TA)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. We found that BC703 significantly decreased mortality and the change in serum transaminase following TA administration. The group treated with BC703 at doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg produced significant hepatoprotective effects against TA-induced liver damage by decreasing the activities of serum enzymes, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manners. Histopathological studies further substantiated the protective effect of BC703. These results show the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum on thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure.