Lactational performance and plasma and muscle amino acid concentrations in dairy cows fed diets supplying 2 levels of digestible histidine and metabolizable protein.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary levels of digestible histidine (dHis) and MP on lactational performance and plasma and muscle concentrations of free AA in dairy cows. A randomized block design experiment was conducted with 48 Holstein cows, including 20 primiparous, averaging (±SD) 103 ± 22 d in milk and 45 ± 9 kg/d milk yield at the beginning of the experiment. A 2-wk covariate period preceded 12 experimental wk, of which 10 wk were for data and sample collection. Experimental treatments were (1) MP-adequate (MPA) diet with 2.1% dHis of MP (MPA2.1), (2) MPA with 3.0% dHis (MPA3.0), (3) MP-deficient (MPD) diet with 2.1% dHis (MPD2.1), and (4) MPD with 3.0% dHis (MPD3.0). Actual dHis supply was estimated at 64, 97, 57, and 88 g/d, respectively. Diets supplied MP at 110% (MPA) and 96% (MPD) of NRC 2001 dairy model requirements calculated based on DMI and production data during the experiment. Dry matter intake and milk yield data were collected daily, milk samples for composition and blood samples for AA analysis were collected every other week, and muscle biopsies at the end of covariate period, and during wk 12 of the experiment. The overall DMI was not affected by dHis or MP level. Milk yield tended to be increased by 3.0% dHis compared with 2.1% dHis. Milk true protein concentration and yield were not affected by treatments, whereas milk urea nitrogen concentration was lower for MPD versus the MPA diet. Milk fat concentration was lower for MPD versus MPA. There was a MP × dHis interaction for milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk; milk fat was lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1, but similar for cows fed the MPA diet regardless of dHis level whereas energy-corrected milk was greater for MPA3.0 versus MPA2.1 but tended to be lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1. Plasma His concentration was greater for cows fed dHis3.0, and concentration of sum of essential AA was greater, whereas carnosine, 1-Methyl-His and 3-Methyl-His concentrations were lower for cows fed MPA versus MPD diet. Muscle concentration of His was greater for cows fed dHis3.0 treatment. The apparent efficiency of His utilization was increased at lower MP and His levels. Overall, cows fed a corn silage-based diet supplying MP at 110% of NRC (2001) requirements tended to have increased ECM yield and similar milk protein yield to cows fed a diet supplying MP at 96% of requirements. Supplying dHis at 3.0% of MP (or 86 and 96 g/d, for MPD3.0 and MPA3.0, respectively) tended to increase milk yield and increased plasma and muscle concentrations of His but had minor or no effects on other production variables in dairy cows.

Chiral Domain Structure in Superfluid

The existence of a spatially varying texture in superfluid ^{3}He is a direct manifestation of the complex macroscopic wave function. The real space shape of the texture, namely, a macroscopic wave function, has been studied extensively with the help of theoretical modeling but has never been directly observed experimentally with spatial resolution. We have succeeded in visualizing the texture by a specialized magnetic resonance imaging. With this new technology, we have discovered that the macroscopic chiral domains, of which sizes are as large as 1 mm, and corresponding chiral domain walls exist rather stably in ^{3}He-A film at temperatures far below the transition temperature.

Circulating fibrocytes correlate with the asthma control test score.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is characterised by airway inflammation and remodelling with a decline of lung function. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells that play important roles in the pathogenesis of airway remodelling. Several clinical parameters are currently being used in routine clinical practice to assess outcome of therapy in asthma including frequency of rescue with short-acting ß2-agonist and the asthma control test. In this study, we hypothesised that asthma control test is associated with circulating levels of fibrocytes in bronchial asthma. METHODS: There were 20 patients with asthma and seven healthy controls. The number of CD45(+)Collagen I(+) circulating fibrocytes was assessed in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The number of circulating fibrocytes was significantly increased in asthma patients with moderate and severe disease compared to controls, and it was inversely correlated with % forced expiratory volume in one second and % forced vital capacity (%FVC). The frequency of inhalation of short-acting ß2 agonist and the asthma control test score was significantly and inversely correlated with the number of circulating fibrocytes. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the number of circulating fibrocytes is inversely correlated with clinical asthma control parameters, further supporting the relevance of measuring circulating fibrocytes as a marker of clinical control in bronchial asthma.

Liver regeneration following experimental major hepatectomy with choledochojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma frequently involves hepatectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection with a choledochojejunostomy (CJ). Cholangitis owing to bilioenteric anastomosis is a common complication. The impact of CJ or regurgitating cholangitis on the liver regeneration process after major hepatectomy is unknown. METHODS: Rats underwent 70 per cent hepatectomy (Hx group) or hepatectomy with CJ (Hx + CJ group). The intrahepatic inflammatory response, hepatic regeneration rate, and expression of regeneration-associated genes in the liver and blood were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: Levels of hepatobiliary markers in the blood were significantly higher 4 and 7 days after operation in the Hx + CJ group than the Hx group. Intrahepatic expression of inflammation-associated genes, such as interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α, was also significantly higher in the Hx + CJ group on days 4 and 7. A progressive periportal inflammatory response was identified in the Hx + CJ group by histological examination. The hepatic regeneration rate was significantly lower in the Hx + CJ group than in the Hx group on day 2 (mean(s.d.) 14·2(6·3) versus 21·4(2·6) per cent; P = 0·013) and day 4 (32·4(5·3) versus 41·3(4·4) per cent; P = 0·004). Gene expression levels of hepatic regeneration-promoting factors such as hepatocyte growth factor were significantly lower in the Hx + CJ group than the Hx group on day 1. CONCLUSION: CJ perturbs early liver regeneration after hepatectomy. An excessive inflammatory response in the liver and suppression of liver regeneration-associated factors may play a role. Surgical relevance Patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma may need major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and choledochojejunostomy. This carries a substantial risk of postoperative complications including liver failure. A rat model of partial hepatectomy with choledochojejunostomy was established. The molecular mechanisms underlying liver regeneration, and perturbation of this process by duodenobiliary reflux via the choledochojejunostomy, are described. The results give insight into the pathophysiological events following major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and choledochojejunostomy. This may help to develop a treatment strategy to reduce postoperative liver failure.

A radiation hybrid map of the rat genome containing 5,255 markers.

A whole-genome radiation hybrid (RH) panel was used to construct a high-resolution map of the rat genome based on microsatellite and gene markers. These include 3,019 new microsatellite markers described here for the first time and 1,714 microsatellite markers with known genetic locations, allowing comparison and integration of maps from different sources. A robust RH framework map containing 1,030 positions ordered with odds of at least 1,000:1 has been defined as a tool for mapping these markers, and for future RH mapping in the rat. More than 500 genes which have been mapped in mouse and/or human were localized with respect to the rat RH framework, allowing the construction of detailed rat-mouse and rat-human comparative maps and illustrating the power of the RH approach for comparative mapping.

Recognition of endoscopic diagnosis in differentiated-type early gastric cancer by flexible spectral imaging color enhancement with indigo carmine.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of flexible spectral imaging color enhancement with indigo carmine (I-FICE) in early gastric cancer (EGC) demarcation. METHODS: The study participants were 29 patients with differentiated-type EGC. The endoscope was fixed and images of the same area of EGC demarcations in each lesion were obtained using four different methods (WLE, flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE), CE, and I-FICE). FICE mode at R 550 nm (Gain: 2), G 500 nm (Gain: 4), and B 470 nm (Gain: 4) was used. Four endoscopists ranked the images obtained by each method on the basis of the ease of recognition of demarcation using a 4-point system. We calculated the standard deviation of pixel values based on L*, a*, and b* color spaces in the demarcation region (Lab-SD score). RESULTS: The median ranking score for I-FICE images was significantly higher than that obtained from the other methods. Further, the average Lab-SD score was significantly higher for I-FICE images than for images obtained by the other methods. There was a good correlation between the ranking score and Lab-SD score. CONCLUSION: EGC demarcations were most easily recognized both subjectively and objectively using I-FICE image, followed by CE, FICE and WLE images.

An optimal saponification and extraction method to determine carotenoids in avocado.

Quantification of carotenoids in avocado fruit is a great challenge due to their co-extraction with high-oil concentration and the inherent nature of carotenoids to degrade and undergo cis/trans photoisomerization with prolonged extraction times and high temperatures. The study provides an optimised and validated methodology for quantification of carotenoids in the high-oil avocado matrix, with > 93% recovery of all carotenoids tested being significantly greater than previously published. Saponification with 15% KOH for 60 min was optimal for the avocado matrix. For the first time, this study identified that soap, produced during the saponification reaction, resulted in a significant reduction of carotenoid content from the avocado matrix, due to the production of micelles. A significantly higher carotenoid content (3.58 versus 2.0 mg/100 g DW) was able to be extracted after saponification with acidified phosphate buffer, instead of water as reported previously. Carotenoid profiles of five avocado cultivars were identified and quantified.

Schooling behaviour of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis depends on their vision development.

The effects of vision development and light intensity on schooling behaviour during growth in juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis were investigated using both behavioural and histological approaches. The schooling behaviour of three age groups [25, 40 and 55 days post hatching (dph)] of juvenile T. orinetalis were examined under various light intensities. Subsequently, schooling variables, such as the nearest neighbour distance (D(NN) ) and the separation swimming index (I(SS) ), were also measured under different light intensities. Furthermore, retinal indices of light adaptation in juvenile fish at each experimental light intensity and visual acuities in six stages (25-55 dph) of juveniles were examined histologically. During growth, the light intensity thresholds of I(SS) decreased from 5 to 0·05 lx, and D(NN) under light conditions (>300 lx) also decreased from 9·2 times the standard length (L(S) ) to 1·2 times L(S) . The thresholds of light intensities for the light adaptation of retinas in juveniles (25-55 dph) similarly decreased from 5 to 0·05 lx with growth. In addition, the visual acuities of juveniles developed from 0·04 to 0·17 with decreasing D(NN) . These data clearly indicate that the characteristics of schooling behaviour strongly correspond to the degree of vision development. Juvenile T. orinetalis also appear to be more dependent on cone rather than rod cells under low light intensity conditions, resulting in a relatively high light intensity threshold for schooling. These results suggest that juveniles can adapt to darker conditions during growth by developing improved visual capabilities.

Impairment of T cell development in deltaEF1 mutant mice.

Using the method of gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells, regulatory function of deltaEF1, a zinc finger and homeodomain-containing transcription factor, was investigated in vivo by generating the deltaEF1 mutant mice. The mutated allele of deltaEF1 produced a truncated form of the deltaEF1 protein lacking a zinc finger cluster proximal to COOH terminus. The homozygous deltaEF1 mutant mice had poorly developed thymi with no distinction of cortex and medulla. Analysis of the mutant thymocyte showed reduction of the total cell number by two orders of magnitude accompanying the impaired thymocyte development. The early stage intrathymic c-kit+ T precursor cells were largely depleted. The following thymocyte development also seemed to be affected as assessed by the distorted composition of CD4- or CD8-expressing cells. The mutant thymocyte showed elevated alpha4 integrin expression, which might be related to the T cell defect in the mutant mice. In the peripheral lymph node tissue of the mutant mice, the CD4-CD8+ single positive cells were significantly reduced relative to CD4+CD8-single positive cells. In contrast to T cells, other hematopoietic lineages appeared to be normal. The data indicated that deltaEF1 is involved in regulation of T cell development at multiple stages.

Minimally required heat doses for various tumour sizes in induction heating cancer therapy determined by computer simulation using experimental data.

PURPOSE: Although induction heating cancer therapy (IHCT) using magnetic nanoparticles can be a promising approach to treatment-less multi-nodular cancers, the objective requirement for successful clinical application has not clearly been elucidated. We intended to define objective heat doses suitable for IHCT, especially focusing on the sizes of liver cancer nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alternating magnetic fields were applied to three human pancreatic cancer cell lines, the intercellular space of those cell pellets were filled with magnetic nanoparticles, and confirmed the cytotoxic effect of IHCT. Subsequently, the temperatures of liver cancer nodules in IHCT were simulated using a computer software program and the required heat dose for various sized tumours were determined. RESULTS: Heating the cancer cells up to 50 degrees C for 10 min was sufficient for complete cell killing and the heat dose of 1.7 W/g(tumour) is required for 10 mm tumour. Larger tumours require a smaller heat dose, e.g. 20 mm and 40 mm tumours require 0.7 W/g(tumour) and 0.6 W/g(tumour), respectively, whereas smaller tumours require large amounts of heat, e.g. 5 mm and 1 mm tumours require 5.1 W/g(tumour) and 105 W/g(tumour), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating the presently available technologies, including high-quality magnetic nanoparticles (1000 W/g(material)) and effective drug delivery systems (1-2 mg(material)/g(tumour)), treatment of a 10 mm tumour seems possible. Since treatment of smaller tumours less than 5 mm require substantial heat dose, researchers involved in IHCT should target cancer nodules of 10 mm or more, and develop a heat delivery system providing a minimum of 1.7 W/g(tumour).

Ontogenetic changes in schooling behaviour during larval and early juvenile stages of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis.

Schooling was first observed at 25-27 days after hatching (26. 2-33. 8 mm, total length) in the Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis. At this time, the mode of swimming changed from intermittent sprinting to continuous cruising, and this allowed the fish to adjust to an inertial hydrodynamic environment.

Platelet and plasma fibrinogens are identical gene products.

Human platelet fibrinogen has been shown to be indistinguishable from plasma fibrinogen by a variety of criteria, including subunit composition and cross-linking characteristics as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electro phoresis, quantitative amino terminal analysis of fibrin, and the amino acid compositions of fibrinopeptides released from platelet and plasma fibrinogens is products of the same gene or genes.

Flip and flop: a cell-specific functional switch in glutamate-operated channels of the CNS.

In the central nervous system (CNS), the principal mediators of fast synaptic excitatory neurotransmission are L-glutamate-gated ion channels that are responsive to the glutamate agonist alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA). In each member of a family of four abundant AMPA receptors, a small segment preceding the predicted fourth transmembrane region has been shown to exist in two versions with different amino acid sequences. These modules, designated "flip" and "flop," are encoded by adjacent exons of the receptor genes and impart different pharmacological and kinetic properties on currents evoked by L-glutamate or AMPA, but not those evoked by kainate. For each receptor, the alternatively spliced messenger RNAs show distinct expression patterns in rat brain, particularly in the CA1 and CA3 fields of the hippocampus. These results identify a switch in the molecular and functional properties of glutamate receptors operated by alternative splicing.

The structure of arthropod hemocyanins.

Hemocyanins are large multi-subunit copper proteins that transport oxygen in many arthropods and molluscs. Comparison of the amino acid sequence data for seven different subunits of arthropod hemocyanins from crustaceans and chelicerates shows many highly conserved residues and extensive regions of near identity. This correspondence can be matched closely with the three domain structure established by x-ray crystallography for spiny lobster hemocyanin. The degree of identity is particularly striking in the second domain of the subunit that contains the six histidines which ligate the two oxygen-binding copper atoms. The polypeptide architecture of spiny lobster hemocyanin appears to be the same in all arthropods. This structure must therefore be at least as old as the estimated time of divergence of crustaceans and chelicerates, about 540 to 600 million years ago.

The measurement of small magnetic signals from magnetic nanoparticles attached to the cell surface and surrounding living cells using a general-purpose SQUID magnetometer.

Magnetic nanoparticles have recently been widely applied in the bio-medical field. Responding to the demand for a simple and sensitive magnetic assay system for bio-liquid samples, we employed a general-purpose superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Strips of filter paper were used as a liquid-specimen sample holder possessing a very small magnetic background signal. An aqueous solution of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (Resovist) was dropped in a tiny blot-like spot in the middle of the filter paper and the magnetization was measured. Magnetic moments of a dilution series of Resovist solutions versus the number of particles provided a linear graph, revealing that the magnetic moment per Resovist particle was 8.25 x 10(-17) emu. 1 x 10(5) cancer cells were incubated with Resovist, and the number of Resovist particles attached to the cell surface and surrounding a living cell was calculated to be 1.02 +/- 0.14 x 10(7) particles/cell. Our system using a commercial SQUID magnetometer should be more than enough to determine the number of magnetic nanoparticles biologically reacting with living cells, contributing to the application of magneto nanomaterials to the life-science field.

Imaging of Patients with Suspected Large-Vessel Occlusion at Primary Stroke Centers: Available Modalities and a Suggested Approach.

The overwhelming benefit of endovascular therapy in patients with large-vessel occlusions suggests that more patients will be screened than treated. Some of those patients will be evaluated first at primary stroke centers; this type of evaluation calls for standardizing the imaging approach to minimize delays in assessing, transferring, and treating these patients. Here, we propose that CT angiography (performed at the same time as head CT) should be the minimum imaging approach for all patients with stroke with suspected large-vessel occlusion presenting to primary stroke centers. We discuss some of the implications of this approach and how to facilitate them.

Role of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-dependent expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in thermal hyperalgesia induced by chronic inflammation in mice.

The present study investigated whether the endogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)]-dependent expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA within the spinal cord could be involved in the development of chronic inflammatory pain-like behaviors in mice. We demonstrated that the expression of COX-2 mRNA on the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord was significantly increased 6 h and 3 days after intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), compared with the expression in saline-treated mice. In addition, the chronic pain-like behaviors following CFA injection were markedly suppressed by repeated intrathecal (i.t.) pre-treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor etodolac, but not with the COX-1 inhibitor mofezolac. The cytosolic level of the activated form of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), which is a major contributor to the induction of COX-2, on the ipsilateral side of the mouse spinal cord was also increased compared with that in the saline-treated mice. The key finding in the present study was that a single i.t. injection with either IL-1beta or TNF-alpha induced a marked increase in spinal COX-2 mRNA and persistent thermal hyperalgesia in mice. Furthermore, CFA-induced hypersensitivity to inflammatory pain was significantly reduced by repeated i.t. pre-injection of the recombinant Fc chimera of IL-1 receptor I or soluble TNF receptor I, which sequesters endogenous IL-1beta or TNF-alpha, respectively. In contrast, the expression of spinal COX-2 mRNA in CFA-treated mice was similar to that in saline-treated mice at 7 days after CFA injection. The present findings strongly indicate the early intrathecal use of the COX-2 inhibitor for the relief of chronic inflammatory pain. Furthermore, together with the result in a previous study that pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to stimulation of a NF-kappaB-dependent transcriptional pathway, these findings suggest that a spinal cytokine/NF-kappaB/COX-2 pathway may play an important role in the development, but not maintenance, of chronic pain following peripheral tissue inflammation.

A prospective comparison of nursing home-acquired pneumonia with hospital-acquired pneumonia in non-intubated elderly.

There are no prospective comparison of the etiology and clinical outcome between hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) in non-intubated elderly. This study prospectively evaluated the etiology of HAP and NHAP in non-intubated elderly. A prospective cohort study was carried out in a rural region of Japan where the population over 65 years of age represents 30% of the population. A total of 108 patients were enrolled. There were 33 patients with HAP and 75 with NHAP. Etiologic diagnosis was established in 78.8% of HAP and in 72% of NHAP patients. The most frequent pathogens were Chlamydophila pneumoniae followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza virus. The frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza virus was significantly higher, whereas the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae was significantly lower in NHAP compared to HAP. Performance and nutritional status were significantly worse in patients with HAP than in those with NHAP. Hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients with NHAP compared to those with HAP. This study demonstrated that C. pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza virus are frequent causative agents of pneumonia in non-intubated elderly and that the responsible pathogens and clinical outcome differ between NHAP and HAP.