Surgery of hepatic cysts in a cat.

A 2-year-old female Japanese domestic cat weighing 3.6 kg was presented due to marked abdominal distention and was diagnosed as hepatic cyst. The bile acid concentration of the hepatic cyst was as low as the serum bile acid concentration. The membrane of the cysts was excised from the edge of the compressed hepatic tissue and no other surgical manipulation was performed. This surgical procedure is simple and quick compared to hepatic lobectomy, however, it is necessary to evaluate the fluid of the cyst before performing this procedure.     

Discrimination of “grazing milk” using milk fatty acid profile in the grassland dairy area in Hokkaido

Milk produced by the grazing system, referred to as “grazing milk” contains many components required for human health. The milk fatty acid (FA) profile is strongly associated with the diet on the farms. In the present study, based on the FA profile of farmer's bulk milk, we determined how to discriminate between milk produced on grazing and on a confinement system. A field survey was conducted four times (grazing and confinement season) in the Konsen (29 farms) and Okhotsk (25 farms) area in Hokkaido. Farmer's bulk milk samples and details of feeding management were collected and the FA profile of milk was measured. Milk produced during the grazing season contained less C16:0 and cis‐9 C16:0, and more C18:0, cis‐9 C18:1, trans‐11 C18:1, cis‐9,12 C18:2, cis‐9,trans‐11 C18:2 and cis‐9,12,15 C18:3 than milk produced during the confinement season. Discrimination analysis using 16 FA revealed that almost all milk samples were discriminated correctly (confinement season: 90% correct and 10% borderline, grazing season: 88% correct, 9% borderline and 3% incorrect). For farmers that were categorized incorrectly and were considered borderline in the grazing season, the dependency on pasture was low compared with that for farmers correctly discriminated. Therefore, to claim “grazing milk”, a high dependency on pasture is required for grazing dairy farmers.     

Herbage intake and ruminal digestion of dairy cows grazed on perennial ryegrass pasture either in the morning or evening

This study aimed to clarify diurnal fluctuations of herbage intake, ruminal fermentation of herbage carbohydrates and proteins, and digesta particulate weight in the rumen of grazing dairy cows. Six ruminally cannulated, non‐lactating dairy cows were grazed on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture either in the morning (04.00 to 08.00 hours) or the evening (16.00 to 20.00 hours). Cows grazed in the evening spent more time (P < 0.01) and consumed more herbage (P < 0.01) compared with cows grazed in the morning. Higher (P < 0.05) daily mean concentrations of total volatile fatty acid, propionate and n‐butyrate in rumen fluid were observed for cows grazed in the evening compared with cows grazed in the morning. Although cows grazed in the evening ingested more crude protein compared with cows grazed in the morning, no significant difference in NH₃‐N concentration in rumen fluid was observed between them. The ratio of purine‐derivative concentration to creatinine concentrations was higher (P < 0.01) in the urine of cows grazed in the evening than in cows grazed in the morning. These results clearly indicated that evening grazing was advantageous for dairy cows compared with morning grazing, in terms of ruminal fermentable energy intake and nitrogen utilization efficiency.     

Clinical pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir and its active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate after oral administration in horses

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) in horses (n=6) after oral administration of its prodrug oseltamivir. The binding rate of OC to horse plasma proteins was negligible (<1%). Oral administration of oseltamivir of 2 mg/kg body weight of oseltamivir to horses provided a plasma concentration of OC (mean maximum concentration: 257.9 ng/ml) above the inhibitory concentrations against equine influenza A viruses determined in vitro. However, because OC is rapidly eliminated from horse plasma (mean elimination half-life: 2.5 hr), administration intervals should be less than 10 hr to retain a suitable concentration when using a single dose of 2 mg/kg oseltamivir.     

Effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate on growth performance and digestion in the red sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis>

The improvement in feed efficiency is one of the most important subjects in fish culture. The development of feed, in terms of good intake, high growth performance, and high feed efficiency is needed. Squid viscera are one of the candidates for alternative material in improving feed efficiency in fish culture. In the present study, we described the dietary effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate (SVH) on the growth performance of the red sea bream. The addition of SVH to feed caused significant increases in feed intake, fork length, and body weight and produced a marked improvement in feed conversion after 4 weeks of feeding. Furthermore, the results of this feeding revealed that low dietary levels of SVH promote growth performance in the red sea bream. We physiologically analyzed digestion and appetite in fish fed diet containing SVH. SVH promoted the activity of hepatic trypsin and lipase, gene expression of stomach pepsin, hepatic lipase, and pyloric caeca trypsin, thereby improving the nutrient availability in red sea bream. Moreover, the mRNA expression of appetite regulating factor, such as brain NPY and stomach ghrelin was significantly improved by dietary SVH. Our current results indicate that dietary SVH as alternative material produced excellent effects on growth performance, which is dependent on the promoting effect on digestion and appetite in red sea bream.     

Inhibition of hirame rhabdovirus growth by RNA aptamers

RNA aptamers are artificial nucleic acids that specifically bind to a wide variety of targets. They are an effective tool for pharmaceutical research and development of antiviral agents. Here, we describe four Hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV)‐RNA aptamers (H1, H2, H3 and H4) that we obtained from an in vitro process called the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The HIRRV‐RNA aptamers specifically bind to HIRRV. Hirame natural embryo (HINAE) cells treated with virus and the RNA aptamer showed a decrease in appearance of cytopathic effect when compared with control (treated only with virus). Rhodovulum sulfidophilum was transformed with genes for the RNA aptamers, and the aptamers were detected in the culture medium, indicating that they were secreted from the cells. Thus, the recombinant R. sulfidophilum might be a powerful tool for the prevention of HIRRV in aquaculture.     

Effect of a cytochrome P450 inhibitor on abscisic acid biosynthesis and stomatal regulation in citrus trees in water-stressed conditions

The effect of diniconazole, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450, on drought tolerance was examined in ‘Shiranui’ [(Citrus unshiu Marc. × Citrus unshiu Osbeck) × Citrus reticulate Blanco] trees. Diniconazole treatment increased abscisic acid (ABA) concentration in leaves compared with untreated controls in water-stressed conditions after 20 days of water-stress treatment. Diniconazole significantly decreased the stomatal aperture at 9 h after application compared with untreated controls in water-stressed conditions. The photosynthetic rate decreased in water-stressed conditions; however, regardless of the earlier stomatal closure induced by diniconazole application, the decrease of photosynthetic rate was delayed by the application.     

旱稻水分利用率与碳同位素识别值之间的关系

通过温室盆栽试验 ,分析和探讨了三个水平的土壤水分条件对分蘖期和成熟期收获的旱稻(OryzasativaL .)生物量累积、水分利用率 (WUE)、植株不同部位的碳同位素识别值 (CID)的影响 ,并了解了它们之间的相互关系。水分条件包括 :饱和含水量 (W1 )、饱和含水量的 70 %(W2 )、饱和含水量的 4 0 %(W3)。结果表明当土壤水分条件从W1降低到W2时 ,分蘖期收获的生物量降低 4 5 %左右 ,成熟期收获的生物量降低 1 6 %～ 1 9%;而当从W1降低到W3时 ,分蘖期收获的生物量降低 73%左右 ,成熟期收获的生物量降低 5 5 %～ 5 7%。然而 ,根据地上部干重计算而来的WUE(WUE 地上部 )和根据全株干重计算而来的WUE(WUE 全株 )则随土壤含水量的降低而增加 ,其增幅在分蘖期为 0 .0 7～ 0 .2 8gkg-1 ,在成熟期为 0 .0 7～ 0 .4 5gkg-1 。植株的CID值变幅为 1 7.0～ 2 0 .6 ,但植株不同部位间差别显著 ,分蘖期收获的样品CID值从小到大的顺序为 :根 <最近完全伸展叶 <叶芽 <茎秆 ;而成熟期收获的样品CID值从小到大的顺序为 :籽粒 <根 <茎秆 <旗叶。随着土壤含水量的降低 ,植株所有部位的CID值亦显著减小。叶部的CID值与WUE 地上部(和WUE 全株 )之间呈一致的负相关关系。     

Isolation and measurement of carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes in erythrocytes of dogs

OBJECTIVE: To purify canine carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes CA-I and CA-II and to determine concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in erythrocytes of Beagles and dogs native to Japan. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples from 116 Beagles, including 24 pregnant Beagles, and blood samples from 29 dogs native to Japan. PROCEDURE: Canine CA-I and CA-II were purified by use of column chromatography. Concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in erythrocytes of dogs were determined, using an ELISA. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in erythrocytes of Beagles were 3.21+/-0.86 and 1.63+/-0.39 mg/g of Hb, respectively. Mean concentration of CA-I was greater in male Beagles than female Beagles. In contrast, mean concentration of CA-II was greater in female Beagles than male Beagles. Furthermore, concentration of CA-II was greater in pregnant female Beagles than male or nonpregnant female Beagles. Mean concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in erythrocytes of dogs native to Japan were 11.03+/-4.39 and 3.29+/-0.91 mg/g of Hb, respectively. Mean concentration of CA-I was greater in male dogs from Japan than female dogs from Japan. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ELISA used in this study proved to be precise and sensitive for determining CA-I and CA-II concentrations in dogs. The ELISA may enable study of changes in isoenzymes associated with hereditary or metabolic disorders of blood or other body fluids, using only a small sample. Measurement of the concentrations of CA isoenzymes in dogs may be of diagnostic value.