Alpha (1,2)-Fucosyltransferase M307A Polymorphism Improves Piglet Survival

To confirm the beneficial effects of alpha (1,2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT1) M307 ^A on piglet survival on commercial farms, we performed PCR-RFLP analysis of FUT1 M307 in successfully marketed (n = 245) and disease affected/deceased pigs during weaning (n = 252) at a commercial farm. We also evaluated the FUT1 genotypes of 190 healthy pigs from three different genetic backgrounds. The distribution of genotypes differed between the successfully marketed and disease affected/deceased pig groups. The frequency of the A allele, associated with resistance to edema and post-weaning diarrhea, was higher in the post-weaning survival group (0.21) than in the non-survival group (0.16, P < 0.05). The odds ratio for piglet survival between AA and GG genotypes was 1.98; thus, piglet survival for individuals with the AA genotype was almost two-fold greater than for GG individuals. The FUT1 gene polymorphism can be used as an effective marker for selection programs to improve post-weaning piglet survival.     

Phytochrome-interacting factors have both shared and distinct biological roles

Phytochromes are plant photoreceptors that perceive red and far-red light. Upon the perception of light in Arabidopsis, light-activated phytochromes enter the nucleus and act on a set of interacting proteins, modulating their activities and thereby altering the expression levels of ～10% of the organism’s entire gene complement. Phytochromeinteracting factors (PIFs) belonging to Arabidopsis basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) subgroup 15 are key interacting proteins that play negative roles in light responses. Their activities are post-translationally countered by light-activated phytochromes, which promote the degradation of PIFs and directly or indirectly inhibit their binding to DNA. The PIFs share a high degree of similarity, but examinations of pif single and multiple mutants have indicated that they have shared and distinct functions in various developmental and physiological processes. These are believed to stem from differences in both intrinsic protein properties and their gene expression patterns. In an effort to clarify the basis of these shared and distinct functions, we compared recently published genome-wide ChIP data, developmental gene expression maps, and responses to various stimuli for the various PIFs. Based on our observations, we propose that the biological roles of PIFs stem from their shared and distinct DNA binding targets and specific gene expression patterns.     

An animal study to compare the degree of the suppressive effects on the afferent pathways of micturition between tamsulosin and sildenafil

Background

Tamsulosin, an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist, and sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, are reported to improve lower urinary tract symptoms including overactive bladder (OAB). This study is aimed at investing the effects of tamsulosin and sildenafil and comparing the degree of the suppressive effects on the afferent pathways of micturition between them using an animal model of OAB, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR).

Results

The cystometric parameters, the basal pressure and duration of bladder contraction, were significantly increased in the SHR group as compared with the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) group. The intercontraction interval also significantly decreased in the SHR group. In the SHR-Tam 0.01 mg/kg group and the SHR-Sil 1 mg/kg group, however, the basal pressure and duration were significantly reduced and the intercontraction interval was significantly prolonged. Moreover, the degree of the expression of c-Fos and NGF was significantly higher in the SHR group as compared with the WKY group. But it was significantly reduced in the SHR-Tam 0.01 mg/kg group and the SHR-Sil 1 mg/kg group. Furthermore, tamsulosin had a higher degree of effect as compared with sildenafil.

Conclusions

In conclusion, α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and PDE-5 inhibitors may have an effect in improving the voiding functions through an inhibition of the neuronal activity in the afferent pathways of micturition.     

Effect of hypo-osmotic environmental changes on the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone,its receptor,and gonadotropin hormone subunit mRNA in adult chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

Migrating fish such as salmonids are affected by external environmental factors and salinity changes are particularly important, influencing spawning migration. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in salinity would affect the expression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis hormones (gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs) [salmon GnRH and chicken GnRH-II], GnRH receptors [GnRHR1 and GnRHR5], and mRNA of the gonadotropin hormone [GTH] subunits [GTHα, follicle stimulating hormone β, and luteinizing hormone β]) in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). Fish were progressively transferred from seawater (SW) through 50% SW to freshwater (FW), and the relationship between the osmoregulatory hormone prolactin (PRL) and sexual maturation was determined. The expression and activity of HPG hormones and their receptors, and levels of estradiol-17β and PRL increased after fish were transferred to FW, demonstrating that changes in salinity stimulate the HPG axis and PRL production in migrating chum salmon. These findings reveal details about the role of the endocrine system in maintaining homeostasis and stimulating sexual maturation and reproduction in response to salinity changes in this species.     

Anterosuperior protraction of maxillae using the extraoral device,RAMPA; finite element method

Abstract

This paper presents a boosting effect against gravity by analyzing the displacement and stress distribution of craniofacial structures due to the protraction of the extraoral device, the Right Angle Maxillary Protraction Appliance(RAMPA) system, including semi-rapid maxillary expansion (sRME) using the finite element method. In addition, a patient case was illustrated and compared with the results calculated from a simulation. The results from the finite element method were obtained for 0.5?mm activation using the screw of the intraoral device, gHu-1. This study reveals that RAMPA rotates the patient’s maxilla and mandible in the forward direction and forces them to move forward and upward.     

Bee venom ameliorates ovalbumin induced allergic asthma via modulating CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in mice

Asthma is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by the presence of large numbers of CD4⁺ T cells. These cells produce the Th2 and Th17 cytokines that are thought to orchestrate the inflammation associated with asthma. Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used to relieve pain and to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent reports have suggested that BV might be an effective treatment for allergic diseases. However, there are still unanswered questions related to the efficacy of BV therapy in treating asthma and its therapeutic mechanism. In this study, we evaluated whether BV could inhibit asthma and whether BV inhibition of asthma could be correlated with regulatory T cells (Treg) activity. We found that BV treatment increased Treg populations and suppressed the production of Th1, Th2 and Th17-related cytokines in an in vitro culture system, including IL2, IL4, and IL17. Interestingly, production of IL10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine secreted by Tregs, was significantly augmented by BV treatment. We next evaluated the effects of BV treatment on allergic asthma in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma. Cellular profiling of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histopathologic analysis demonstrated that peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates were significantly lowered following BV treatment. BV also ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness, a hallmark symptom of asthma. In addition, IL4 and IL13 levels in the BAL fluid were decreased in the BV treated group. Surprisingly, the beneficial effects of BV treatment on asthma were eradicated following Treg depletion by anti-CD25 antibody injection, suggesting that the major therapeutic targets of BV were Tregs. These results indicate that BV efficiently diminishes bronchial inflammation in an OVA-induced allergic asthma murine model, and that this effect might correlate with Tregs, which play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis and suppressing the function of other T cells to limit the immune response. These results also suggest that BV has potential therapeutic value for controlling allergic asthma responses.     

Induction of the Differentiation of HL-60 Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells by l-Ascorbic Acid

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of l-ascorbic acid (LAA) on the growth of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, besides induction of apoptosis. LAA (≥10^-4?M) was found to markedly inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 in liquid culture and clonogenicity in semisolid culture. Moreover, LAA-treated HL-60 showed activity to produce chemiluminescence and expressed CD 66b cell surface antigens, indicating that LAA induces the differentiation of HL-60 mainly into granulocytes. The results are supported by morphological changes of LAA-treated HL-60 into segmented neutrophils. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of LAA on the growth of HL-60 cells seems to arise from the induction of differentiation. To assess the potential role of LAA, cells were exposed to oxygen radical scavengers in the absence or presence of LAA. Catalase abolished and superoxide dismutase promoted LAA-induced differentiation of HL-60. Thus, H²O² produced as a result of LAA treatment seems to play a major role in induction of HL-60 differentiation.