Antitumor effect of adriamycin entrapped in liposomes conjugated with anti-bovine tumor antigen monoclonal antibody in leukemic cows

Monoclonal antibody c143 against tumor-associated antigen (TAA) expressed on bovine leukemia cells was conjugated to liposomes containing adriamycin (ADM), and therapeutic effects of conjugates were examined in leukemic or preleukemic cows to prevent the progression of the disease. Five cows with TAA-positive in their peripheral blood lymphocytes were divided into two groups. Each group of cows received 4 injections of ADM alone (0.4 mg/kg) or c143-conjugated liposomes containing the same dose of ADM (L-AMD-c143) through the jugular vein at about 4 day intervals. In three animals treated with L-ADM-c143, the TAA-positive cells gradually decreased with treatment and finally two animals became TAA-negative during a 6 week period and a 14 week period after treatment, respectively. In the control, two animals treated with ADM alone showed only a slight decrease of TAA-positive cells.     

Decreased transport of orally administered protein into the blood circulation of developing juveniles of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

ABSTRACT: To clarify the quantitative changes in the transport of orally intubated protein into the blood circulation as macromolecules in development, immunoglobulin Y (IgY) extracted from chicken eggs was administered orally to juvenile Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica . For the first experiment, which was performed before the commencement of artificial feeding, the oral delivery of 2.0 μg/0.1 g bodyweight of IgY resulted in a rapid increase in plasma IgY to a maximum of 2.30 μg/mL. However, the transport of IgY into the blood decreased significantly in the experiments that followed, which were performed after 12, 25 and 42 days. During this period, bodyweight increased approximately by a factor of eight, and rapid growth of the stomach was observed histologically. Possible contributions for the development of the alimentary canal to the diminishment of intestinal protein assimilation are discussed.     

Laboratory diagnosis of canine GM2-gangliosidosis using blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

In the present study, laboratory techniques were used to diagnose canine GM2-gangliosidosis using blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that can be collected noninvasively from living individuals. Lysosomal acid beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) was measured spectrofluorometrically using 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide and 4-methylumbelliferyl 7-(6-sulfo-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside) as substrates. Main isoenzymes A and B of Hex in leukocytes were also analyzed using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. GM2-ganglioside in CSF was detected and determined quantitatively by using thin-layer chromatography/enzyme-immunostaining method with anti-GM2-ganglioside antibody. In normal dogs, Hex activities could be determined in leukocytes, serum, and CSF and the total activities were markedly reduced in all the enzyme sources in a dog with Sandhoff disease. Electrophoresis of a leukocyte lysate from a normal dog showed that the Hex A and Hex B were not separated distinctively with formation of a broad band, whereas there were no bands in electrophoresis of a lysate from a dog with Sandhoff disease, showing a deficiency in the total enzyme activity. GM2-ganglioside could be detected and determined quantitatively in as little as 100 microl of canine CSE GM2-ganglioside in CSF in a dog with Sandhoff disease increased to 46 times the normal level. In conclusion, the methods in the present study are useful for diagnosis of canine GM2-gangliosidosis. These techniques enable definitive and early diagnosis of canine GM2-gangliosidosis even if tissues and organs cannot be obtained.     

The chemical nature of the green fraction of P type humic acid

P type humic acid has absorption bands near 615, 570 and 450mµ in the visible region, and is a common component of many soils in north temperate regions (1, 2, 3). Its unusual spectral characteristics are due to a green fraction (Pg), which can be separated from the humic acid dissolved in aqueous alkali by chromatography on Sephadex or cellulose powder, and is precipitated as a reddish-brown substance on acidification (2). In aqueous alkali, it has λmax at 613, 568, 448, 430 (infl.) and 281mµ. The distribution of Pg in different soils is probably related to the presence of fungal sclerotia. The highest content of Pg in p type humic acid is about 10%. We have now obtained evidence that the characteristic colour of Pg is due to the presence of a derivative of 4,9 - dihydroxyperylene - 3,10 - quinone.     

‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry cultivar suitable for forcing culture under low temperature and insolation conditions

‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar that is early flowering and possesses high soluble solid content and good coloration. It was selected from a cross between Kei812 (seed parent) and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (pollen parent). The first harvest date of ‘Niigata S3’ was December 27, 34 days earlier than ‘Echigohime’ and 9 days earlier than ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (means of 2007 and 2008). The marketable yield of ‘Niigata S3’ was 85% of ‘Echigohime’, 107% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’, while the early yield was 145% of ‘Echigohime’, 85% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (based on 2007 and 2008 means). The shape of the fruit is long conical, and its skin color medium-red. The fruit skin hardness of ‘Niigata S3’ was 31.5 g/mm², which was harder than ‘Echigohime’, and its average soluble solid content was 11.4%, which was higher than the values for ‘Echigohime’ and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (2008). Furthermore, ‘Niigata S3’ did not bear apical overripe fruit. This new cultivar is adaptable to the climatic conditions of Niigata, as well as other regions that experience low winter temperatures and insolation.     

Settling and raising postlarval abalone Haliotis diversicolor supertexta (Lischke) on microparticulate diets embedded in a layer of alginate

Two 21 day experiments were conducted to determine whether microparticulate diets could be used to substitute for diatoms for raising (Experiment 1) as well as settling and on‐growing (Experiment 2) Haliotis diversicolor supertexta postlarvae. The experiments were conducted in 10 L flow‐through tanks and each diet had three replicate tanks. In experiment 1, three experimental microparticulate diets supplied by a commercial feed company, labelled SF‐15, SF‐15 (T) and JFY‐13–1, were used, and in experiment 2, SF‐15 and SF‐15 (T). Artificial diets were compared to diatoms in terms of supporting growth and survival. The survival rate for experiment 1 was lowest for JFY‐13–1 (0%) and highest for diatoms (12.9±0.8%). The final size of postlarvae fed SF‐15 and SF‐15 (T) was significantly greater than that of postlarvae fed diatoms, 973±193 μm and 996±220 μm compared to 786±141 μm. In experiment 2, a total number of 501 larvae settled onto plates covered with SF‐15, 254 on SF‐15 (T) and 1085 on diatoms. The highest survival rate was 33.1±6.9% for SF‐15 and the lowest was 17.3±5.0% for diatoms. However, the final length of postlarvae fed diatoms was significantly greater than SF‐15 and SF‐15 (T); 1018±379 μm compared to 728±89 μm and 717±90 μm. The artificial micro diets used in this study were comparable to diatoms in terms of grow and survival of postlarval H. diversicolor supertexta.     

Seasonal and interannual variation in net ecosystem production of an evergreen needleleaf forest in Japan

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux was measured above the forest at the Fujiyoshida site on the northern slope of Mount Fuji in Japan in 2000?C2008 using an eddy covariance technique. The forest mainly consists of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) and Japanese holly (Ilex pedunculosa). The 9-year average of monthly mean net ecosystem production (NEP) ranged from ?0.1?g?C?m^?2?day^?1 in January to 2.5?g?C?m^?2?day^?1 in May. The maximum net uptake was observed in May, although gross primary production (GPP) was highest in July. Variation in the leaf amount did not notably affect seasonal variation in GPP. This site was characterized by carbon uptake even in winter, if the meteorological conditions were conducive for photosynthesis and a resulting long period of carbon uptake. The 9-year averages of annual NEP, GPP, and ecosystem respiration (RE) were 388, 1,802, and 1,413?g?C?m^?2?year^?1, respectively. The annual NEP was lowest in 2003 and highest in 2004 over the 9?years. Year-to-year variability of NEP mainly depended on air temperature and photosynthetically active radiation in summer, and the dependence of the deviation of annual NEP on that of GPP was greater than that of RE. Long-term observational data indicated that the carbon uptake ability at the study site was at a moderate level in comparison with other temperate humid evergreen forests around the world. These data also indicated that the site had a high carbon uptake ability compared with other deciduous forests in Japan because of the duration of carbon uptake.     

Chemical modification of wood by non-formaldehyde cross-linking reagents

Summary Using sulfur dioxide (SO₂) as catalyst, wood specimens were treated with nonformaldehyde cross-linking reagents such as glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and dimethylol dihydroxy ethyleneurea (DMDHEU). The results of dimensional stability, acoustic properties, and mechanical strength tests were compared with those obtained from formaldehyde treatment. With glyoxal and glutaraldehyde treatments, antiswelling efficiency (ASE) reached around 70%, which is comparable to the values attained by formaldehyde treatment, although the accompanying weight gain was much larger than for the latter, whereas DMDHEU did not give sufficiently high ASE. None of the treatments, significantly increased specific dynamic Young's modulus (E/) with the exception of the DMDHEU treatment, loss tangent (tan ) decreased substantially, about 50 and 60% in longitudinal and radial directions respectively, which were somewhat exceeding the formaldehyde treatment. The results suggested that the improvement of the dimensional stability and acoustic properties is partly attributed to the formation of cross-links.     

Effects of leptin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on degranulation and superoxide production of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from Holstein cows

Leptin, a pleiotropic hormone regulating food intake and energy expenditure, has been shown to directly modulate human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) functions or indirectly through the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Bovine PMN have considerable different characteristics from human PMN. For example, it does not respond to N-formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-phenylalanine, a well known human PMN activator. In the present study, we tested the effects of leptin and TNF-alpha on superoxide production and degranulation of bovine peripheral PMN, in which both long isoform of leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) and TNF receptor 1 were expressed. Human leptin, human TNF-alpha, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan particles (OZP) did not stimulate degranulation responses, while zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) did. Neither leptin nor TNF-alpha enhanced the ZAS-induced degranulation responses. TNF-alpha, PMA, OZP and ZAS increased superoxide production in different magnitudes, whereas leptin did not. TNF-alpha, but not leptin, enhanced OZP- and ZAS-induced superoxide production, possibly, in part due to facilitating translocation of p47(phox), a component of NADPH oxidase. These results indicate that, unlike in human PMN, leptin does not have any direct effect on degranulation and superoxide production in bovine PMN, although TNF-alpha influences superoxide production.