Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in a cow

In a 5-year-old Holstein cow, a neoplasm composed of a large intramuscular mass and multiple metastases in the lungs and lymph nodes was diagnosed as a pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. This neoplasm was characterized by marked variation in tumor cell size and giant cells with single bizarre nuclei. Although the presence of cross striations and myoglobin could be confirmed, expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) was also recognized in a few cells. Neoplastic cells showing intense staining for desmin, vimentin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen irrespective of their size differed from those in an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma that exhibited a wide spectrum of differentiation, reminiscent of normal skeletal myogenesis. The cellular pleomorphism and SMA expression seemed to be characteristic of deviation from normal muscle cells or satellite cells in adult muscle.     

Changes in ascorbic acid content in primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, a radical initiator

Changes in ascorbate content in primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to oxidative stress derived from water soluble radical initiator 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) were examined. Cells were exposed to 0.05 and 5 mg/ml of AAPH as 'mild' and severe' oxidative stresses, respectively. Lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes was induced by 'severe' oxidative stress, but not by 'mild' oxidative stress. Ascorbate decreased at 6 hr after administration of both mild' and severe' oxidative stresses, and recovered to the control level after a further 6 hr. In cells treated with 'severe oxidative stress, however, total ascorbate (reduced form plus oxidized form) had increased 24 hr after administration. These results indicated that consumption alone did not account for the increase of ascorbate in hepatocytes under oxidative stress.     

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings in the atelectatic regions of anesthetized horses

To evaluate the effects of compression atelectasis on the composition of pulmonary secretions in anesthetized horses, cytological and biochemical examinations were performed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids obtained from both dependent and independent lung regions. Six horses were anesthetized with isoflurane and oxygen for 120 min, and were positioned in right lateral recumbency. Percentage of neutrophils and total protein concentration in BAL fluids significantly increased at the end of anesthesia, and total phosphorous concentration significantly decreased at 72 hr after anesthesia in dependent lung. Such changes were not observed within 168 hr after anesthesia. These findings suggest that the effects of compression atelectasis on the composition of pulmonary secretions may be eliminated within 168 hr after anesthesia.     

Specific detection of potentially allergenic kiwifruit in foods using polymerase chain reaction

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis) is allergenic to sensitive patients, and, under Japanese regulations, it is one of the food items that are recommended to be declared on food labeling as much as possible. To develop PCR-based methods for the detection of trace amounts of kiwifruit in foods, two primer pairs targeting the ITS-1 region of the Actinidia spp. were designed using PCR simulation software. On the basis of the known distribution of a major kiwifruit allergen (actinidin) within the Actinidia spp., as well as of reports on clinical and immunological cross-reactivities, one of the primer pairs was designed to detect all Actinidia spp. and the other to detect commercially grown Actinidia spp. (i.e., kiwifruit, Actinidia arguta, and their interspecific hybrids) except for Actinidia polygama. The specificity of the developed methods using the designed primer pairs was verified by performing PCR experiments on 8 Actinidia spp. and 26 other plants including fruits. The methods were considered to be specific enough to yield target-size products only from the target Actinidia spp. and to detect no target-size products from nontarget species. The methods were sensitive enough to detect 5-50 fg of Actinidia spp. DNA spiked in 50 ng of salmon testis DNA used as a carrier (1-10 ppm of kiwifruit DNA) and 1700 ppm (w/w) of fresh kiwifruit puree spiked in a commercial plain yogurt (corresponding to ca. 10 ppm of kiwifruit protein). These methods would be expected to be useful in the detection of hidden kiwifruit and its related species in processed foods.     

Effect of dietary astaxanthin rich yeast,Phaffia rhodozyma,on meat quality of broiler chickens

We evaluated effects of dietary supplementation with astaxanthin (Ax)‐rich yeast, Phaffia rhodozyma (Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous), on broiler chicken meat quality. Fourteen‐day‐old female Ross broilers were divided into three groups: control group, Ax‐free diet; Ax 10 group, 10 mg/kg Ax diet; and Ax 20 group, 20 mg/kg Ax diet for 28 days. At 42 days old, chickens were slaughtered, and then growth performance, meat quality and sensory attributes were analyzed. Compared with the control, a* values increased significantly after slaughter and 48 h postmortem for Ax 20 samples (P < 0.05) and for b* values in Ax 20 and Ax 10 groups (P < 0.05). Cooking loss decreased in the Ax 20 group (P < 0.05). After 120 h aging, contents of several free amino acids and total free amino acid content of Ax 20 group were significantly higher than the control (P < 0.05). In sensory evaluation, meat texture attributes improved significantly in the Ax 20 group (P < 0.01). No significant changes occurred in flavor attribute scores of meat soup from the Ax 20 group compared with the control even though most assessors preferred meat soup from the Ax 20 group. Overall, Ax‐rich yeast in the diet improves broiler chicken meat quality.     

Nondestructive detection of cracks near the surface of wooden boards by dynamic heat dissipation

A method to detect cracks near the surface of wooden boards has been developed where the change in surface temperature of the wood sample is monitored using an infrared camera following momentary heating by a flash. Cylindrical holes simulating cracks were drilled into the wood samples, and blackbody paint was painted onto the surface of the samples to assist flash absorption. This method uses the dynamic heat transport process from the blackbody paint to the surface of the wood sample to the cracks over a short timescale. The theoretical foundations of the observation method were outlined, and the technique was verified in experiments with samples of Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Western red cedar, Japanese cedar, Balsa, and medium-density fiberboard. The developed technique is able to detect the presence of holes located near the surface of some samples. However, this method could not detect the presence of holes in Balsa nor holes located deeper than 1 mm from the surface of the sample. A theoretical analysis of these phenomena was provided to help interpreting them.     

Improvement of Wheat Water Use Efficiency in Semiarid Area of China

The greatest fear of global climate change is drought since in most areas where wheat is grownwater is the most important factor influencing wheat yield. Average wheat yield throughout the world is only30 -60% of the attainable yield potential because water shortage is the major factor preventing the realizationof maximum yield. Periods of drought alternating with short periods of available water are common conditionsto influence wheat productivity. Such conditions include variable frequency of dry and wet periods, intensityof drought, rate of drought onset and patterns of soil water deficit and/or atmospheric water deficit. It is thisdeficit and variable water conditions in semiarid environments that influence wheat productivity variously.This paper reviewed the physiological adaptation and benefits associated with deficit and variable water condi-tions. In addition, it also highlights the compensative effect of limited irrigation and breeding of new varietiesfor high water use efficiency (WUE) that could improve wheat productivity under water-limited environmentsin the semiarid regions. Considerable potential for further improvement in wheat WUE and productivity insemiarid environments seems to depend on effective conservation of moisture and effici ent use of this limitedwater such as soil fertility improvement, conservation tillage, residues and film mulch, rain water harvestingfor limited irrigation, and breeding for water saving varieties. Different crop, soil and water managementstrategies should be adjusted according to the conditions that prevail in various semiarid areas. By combiningsoil and water conservation approaches and adjusting the cropping system by growing drought-tolerant and wa-ter-saving cultivars, increase in wheat WUE and productivity could be achieved.     

Initiating and cancer-propagating cells in TEL-AML1-associated childhood leukemia

Understanding cancer pathogenesis requires knowledge of not only the specific contributory genetic mutations but also the cellular framework in which they arise and function. Here we explore the clonal evolution of a form of childhood precursor-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that is characterized by a chromosomal translocation generating a TEL-AML1 fusion gene. We identify a cell compartment in leukemic children that can propagate leukemia when transplanted in mice. By studying a monochorionic twin pair, one preleukemic and one with frank leukemia, we establish the lineal relationship between these "cancer-propagating" cells and the preleukemic cell in which the TEL-AML1 fusion first arises or has functional impact. Analysis of TEL-AML1-transduced cord blood cells suggests that TEL-AML1 functions as a first-hit mutation by endowing this preleukemic cell with altered self-renewal and survival properties.     

Differential detection of shrimp and crab for food labeling using polymerase chain reaction

Shrimp and crab are well-known as allergenic ingredients. According to Japanese food allergy labeling regulations, shrimp species (including prawns, crayfishes, and lobsters) and crab species must be differentially declared when ≥10 ppm (total protein) of an allergenic ingredient is present. However, the commercial ELISA tests for the detection of crustacean proteins cannot differentiate between shrimp and crab. Therefore, two methods were developed to discriminate shrimp and crab: a shrimp-PCR method with postamplification digestion and a crab-PCR method that specifically amplifies a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. The sensitivity and specificity of both PCR methods were verified by experiments using DNA extracted from 15 shrimp species, 13 crab species, krill, mysid, mantis shrimp, other food samples (cephalopod, shellfish, and fish), incurred foods, and commercial food products. Both PCR methods could detect 5 pg of DNA extracted from target species and 50 ng of genomic DNA extracted from incurred foods containing 10 ppm (μg/g) total protein of shrimp or crab. The two PCR methods were considered to be specific enough to separately detect species belonging to shrimp and crab. Although false-positive and false-negative results were obtained from some nontarget crustacean species, the proposed PCR methods, when used in conjunction with ELISA tests, would be a useful tool for confirmation of the validity of food allergy labeling and management of processed food safety for allergic patients.     

河北省黑龙江地区旱地小麦生产限制因子分析

本文研究了1989-1993年不同降水年型(干旱、正常、湿润)条件下灌水和施肥对黑龙港地区旱作小麦产量的影响，结果表明，在正常和湿润年份，土壤贫瘠是限制产量的主要因子，施肥可以大幅度提高产量。但在干旱年份，土壤水分缺乏制约产量的增加，一次灌水可使产量翻一番，在灌一次水的基础上，每公顷施入100公斤氮和70公斤磷，产量则可以再翻一番。可见，增加肥料投入是旱作小麦产量提高的重要手段之一。