Characterization of an atypical Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 2 isolate with a rough-type lipopolysaccharide

We describe phenotypic and genetic characterization of an atypical Japanese Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolate OT761. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that gene clusters involved in capsular polysaccharide and O-polysaccharide (O-PS) biosynthesis of the isolate were nearly identical to those of serovar 2 reference strain. The main difference found between the O-PS loci is the shortening of 31 amino acids from the C terminus of WcaJ in the atypical isolate due to a 93 bp deletion at the 3' end of wcaJ gene. Immunoblot analysis revealed that this isolate could not produce O-PS. Taken together, our results showed that the C-terminal domain of the A. pleuropneumoniae WcaJ plays a critical role in enzyme function of WcaJ involved in the biosynthesis of O-PS.

Newly-designed primer pairs for the detection of type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus genes

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an infectious disease, caused by PRRS virus (PRRSV), that critically affects the swine industry. While the detection of PRRSV genes plays a key role in PRRS control, the PRRSV genome is known to undergo frequent mutation. Nevertheless, primer pairs widely used for the detection of PRRSV genes were designed between 1995 and 2010. The reliability of these primer pairs for the detection of currently circulating PRRSVs is therefore questionable. Here, we investigated the sensitivity of the previously reported primer pairs to detect PRRSV genes that have been recently isolated or detected in Japan. In addition, based on nucleotide sequences from the recent Japanese PRRSVs, we designed four new primer pairs for the detection of PRRSV genes. The sensitivity and specificity of the new primer pairs were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR using RNA extracted from PRRSV isolates, swine serum, and oral fluid specimens collected from PRRS-affected pigs, and swine sera collected from a PRRSV-free pig farm in Japan. One of novel primer pairs used in our study exhibited greater sensitivity than the previously reported primer pairs, and is thus more reliable for the detection of PRRSV genes.

Fluorescence Time Delay in Multistep Auger Decay as an Internal Clock

Differences in postcollision interaction (PCI) effects on Kr L_{3}M_{4,5}M_{4,5} Auger electron spectra were observed, depending on whether the initial photoionization occurred slightly above the K threshold or slightly above the L_{3} threshold. For the former, KL fluorescence emission most likely happens and then Auger processes due to the L_{3} hole follow. The time delay due to fluorescence causes a reduced shift of the Auger peak and tailing toward lower energy, since the Auger overtaking of the photoelectron happens later in time and at a location farther away from the ionic core, compared to the case for the simple one-step L_{3}M_{4,5}M_{4,5} Auger decay after L-shell photoionization. Time-dependent theory for PCI in multistep processes agrees well with experiment, illustrating the effect as an internal clock for the time-sequence of the dynamical process.

Development of a biosecurity assessment tool and the assessment of biosecurity levels by this tool on Japanese commercial swine farms

It is well known that infectious diseases such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) decrease herd productivity and lead to economic loss. It is believed that biosecurity practices are effective for the prevention and control of such infectious diseases. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not an association between biosecurity level and herd productivity, as well as disease status exists on Japanese commercial swine farms. The present study was conducted on 141 farms. Biosecurity in each farm was assessed by a biosecurity assessment tool named BioAsseT. BioAsseT has a full score of 100 and consists of three sections (external biosecurity, internal biosecurity and diagnostic monitoring). Production data for number of pigs weaned per sow per year (PWSY) and post-weaning mortality per year (PWM) were collected for data analysis. Regarding PRRS status, the farms were categorized into two groups: unknown or unstable and stable or negative. In addition, these farms were categorized based on their PED status, either positive or negative. The total BioAsseT score was associated with herd productivity: as total score increased by 1, PWSY increased by 0.104 pigs and PWM decreased by 0.051 % (P <  0.05). Herd productivity was associated with the score of external and internal biosecurity (P <  0.05), but did not correlate with the score of diagnostic monitoring. Regarding PRRS status, farms with an unknown or unstable status had lower total score than those with stable or negative status (P < 0.05). Similarly, PED positive farms had a lower total score compared to PED negative farms (P <  0.05). In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for the association between high biosecurity levels and increased herd productivity as well as a decreased risk for novel introductions of infectious diseases such as PED.

Distribution of gene segments of the pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 virus lineage in pig populations

Swine influenza viruses (SIVs) are important not only for pig farming, but also for public health. In fact, pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 viruses [A(H1N1)pdm09] were derived from SIVs. Therefore, timely characterization of locally circulating SIVs is necessary for understanding the global status of SIVs. To genetically characterize SIVs circulating in Japanese pig populations, we isolated 24 SIVs of three subtypes (17 H1N1, four H1N2 and three H3N2 strains) from 14 pig farms in Japan from 2013 to 2016. Genetic analyses revealed that the haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the 17 H1N1 and the HA gene of one H1N2, A/swine/Aichi/02/2016 (H1N2), SIVs belonged to the A(H1N1)pdm09 lineage. More importantly, all of the remaining six gene segments (i.e., PB1, PB1, PA, NP, M and NS) of the 24 SIVs, regardless of the HA and NA subtype, were also classified as belonging to the A(H1N1)pdm09 lineage. These results indicate that gene segments of A(H1N1)pdm09 lineage are widely distributed in SIVs circulating in Japanese pig populations In addition, the NA gene of A/swine/Aichi/02/2016 (H1N2) shared less than 88.5% nucleotide identity with that of the closest relative A/swine/Miyagi/5/2003 (H1N2), which was isolated in Japan in 2003. These results indicate the sustained circulation of classical H1N2-derived SIVs with remarkable diversity in the NA genes in Japanese pig populations. These findings highlight the necessity of both intensive biosecurity systems and active SIV surveillance in pig populations worldwide for both animal and public health.

T cell gene expression profiling identifies distinct subgroups of Japanese multiple sclerosis patients

To clarify the molecular background underlying the heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis (MS), we characterized the gene expression profile of peripheral blood CD3+ T cells isolated from MS and healthy control (CN) subjects by using a cDNA microarray. Among 1258 cDNAs on the array, 286 genes were expressed differentially between 72 untreated Japanese MS patients and 22 age- and sex-matched CN subjects. When this set was used as a discriminator for hierarchical clustering analysis, it identified four distinct subgroups of MS patients and five gene clusters differentially expressed among the subgroups. One of these gene clusters was overexpressed in MS versus CN, and particularly enhanced in the clinically most active subgroup of MS. After 46 of the MS patients were treated with interferon-beta (IFNbeta-1b) for two years, IFNbeta responders were clustered in two of the four MS subgroups. Furthermore, the IFNbeta responders differed from nonresponders in the kinetics of IFN-responsive genes at 3 and 6 months after starting IFNbeta treatment. These results suggest that T-cell gene expression profiling is valuable to identify distinct subgroups of MS associated with differential disease activity and therapeutic response to IFNbeta.

Microarray analysis identifies an aberrant expression of apoptosis and DNA damage-regulatory genes in multiple sclerosis

To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis (MS)-promoting autoimmune process, we have investigated a comprehensive gene expression profile of T cell and non-T cell fractions of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from 72 MS patients and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy control (CN) subjects by using a cDNA microarray. Among 1258 genes examined, 173 genes in T cells and 50 genes in non-T cells were expressed differentially between MS and CN groups. Downregulated genes greatly outnumbered upregulated genes in MS. More than 80% of the top 30 most significant genes were categorized into apoptosis signaling-related genes of both proapoptotic and antiapoptotic classes. They included upregulation in MS of orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 (NR4A2), receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIPK2), and silencer of death domains (SODD), and downregulation in MS of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2), and death-associated protein 6 (DAXX). Furthermore, a set of the genes involved in DNA repair, replication, and chromatin remodeling was downregulated in MS. These results suggest that MS lymphocytes show a complex pattern of gene regulation that represents a counterbalance between promoting and preventing apoptosis and DNA damage of lymphocytes.

Microarray analysis identifies interferon beta-regulated genes in multiple sclerosis

The molecular mechanisms for the interferon beta (IFNbeta) treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) remain to be characterized. Using cDNA microarray technology, we have compared the gene expression profile of T and non-T cells derived from relapsing-remitting MS before and after treatment with IFNbeta-1b. IFNbeta treatment significantly altered expression of 21 genes out of 1263 at 3 and 6 months after treatment. These genes included nine with IFN-responsive promoter elements. Whereas there was no change in Th1 or Th2 marker genes, some of the changes were unexpected but coincided with the beneficial effect of IFNbeta in MS.

Autopsy case of autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with reference to the muscular pathology

An autopsied case of autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with severe neurogenic muscular atrophy is described herein. This patient, a 16-year-old woman, presented with gait disturbance. She developed progressive spastic paralysis of the upper and lower limbs and mental deterioration. She became bedridden at approximately 40years of age. Dysarthria worsened at 45 years of age. She died of pneumonia at 50 years of age. Her younger sister has shown similar clinical symptoms and became bedridden at 37 years of age. Their parents were second cousins. Autopsy revealed a severely atrophic brain, weighing 720 g. The cerebral cortex was thin, and the white matter was extremely reduced in volume. Microscopically, neuronal loss and variable astrogliosis with diffuse spongy changes were evident at the cerebral cortex, thalamic nuclei, basal ganglia and hippocampus. The remaining neurons were atrophied with heavy deposition of lipofuscin. In the spinal cord, the pyramidal tracts as well as the dorsal spinocerebellar tracts were degenerated. In addition, marked loss of the anterior horn cells was seen. Severe neuronal loss of the nucleus gracilis was also detected. In contrast, only mild degeneration of the ventral spinocerebellar tracts and fasciulus cuneatus in the spinal cord were observed. In the frozen sections of skeletal muscle, severe neurogenic atrophy and fatty infiltration were evident. In addition, several rimmed vacuoles were observed in the atrophic fibers, and cytochrome coxidase-deficient fibers were present in part. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-tetrazolium reductase reaction revealed abnormal accumulation of mitochondria around the center of the non-atrophic muscle fibers. It is suggested that an analysis of mitochondrial function of Japanese autosomal recessive hereditary spastic hemiplegia may provide additional information to clarify the pathogenesis.

Linkage of autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with mental impairment and thin corpus callosum to chromosome 15A13-15

To date, three loci for autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (ARHSP) linked to chromosomes 8p12-q13, 16qter, and 15q13-15 have been characterized. We have clinically characterized 13 Japanese ARHSP families and performed genetic linkage analyses. All 13 families were classified as having the "complicated" form, which manifests with mental impairment and thin corpus callosum. Linkage to the 8p12-q13 and 16qter loci was excluded, although 10 of the 13 families showed marker data consistent with linkage to the 15q13-15 locus. The multipoint LOD score of the 10 families linked to chromosome 15 was above 9.00 in the 3-centimorgan segment flanked by D15S994 and D15S659, with a maximum multipoint LOD score of 9.68 at a position 1.2 centimorgans telomeric from D15S994 to D15S659. We have shown that ARHSP with thin corpus callosum, a subtype of recessive spastic paraplegia, maps to chromosome 15q13-15.

Coster-kronig decay of the ar2s hole observed by auger-threshold photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy

The Coster-Kronig lines associated with Ar2s decay have been resolved within the natural linewidth of the 2s hole for the first time. This was possible by a new spectroscopic technique, relying on resonance enhanced double photoionization, Auger-threshold photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy. Contrary to standard Auger spectroscopy, this technique can filter out weak components in Auger spectra corresponding to a well-defined inner-shell state and, furthermore, can achieve a resolution no longer limited by the lifetime of the inner-shell hole.

Blood brain barrier destruction in hyperglycemic chorea in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes

A case of hemichorea in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes is reported. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an unusual homogeneous high-intensity area in the corpus striatum. Of interest in the case was the fact that the globus pallidus, which was enhanced with gadolinium at the onset of hemichorea, showed homogeneous high-intensity on a subsequent T1-weighted image. This indicated that blood brain barrier destruction preceded the signal intensity change in the basal ganglia. As far as the authors could determine, this is the first reported case showing such enhancement during the course of diabetic hemichorea.

The potentially best stereographic presentation of the plastinated anatomical specimen

Volumegraph, which is an improved version of the parallax panoramagram, has been studied as a method of stereophotography of a plastinated human body specimen. The volumegraph provides a steric view of the specimen in a natural color appearance. The potential advantages in using the volumegraph for the presentation of anatomical specimens are discussed taking account of its technical details.

Adrenoleukodystrophy: a correlation between saturated very long-chain fatty acids in mononuclear cells and phenotype

Saturated very long-chain fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes, blood plasma, and mononuclear cells were studied in 4 patients with childhood-adolescent adrenoleukodystrophy and 4 patients with adult adrenoleukodystrophy and 19 normal control subjects by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Ratios of C26:0 to C22:0 in mononuclear cells, erythrocyte membranes, and blood plasma in patients with childhood-adolescent and adult adrenoleukodystrophy were significantly higher than in normal control subjects. Furthermore, ratios of C26:0 to C22:0 in mononuclear cells were significantly higher in patients with childhood-adolescent adrenoleukodystrophy than in patients with adult adrenoleukodystrophy, whereas there was no significant difference in the ratios in erythrocyte membranes and blood plasma between the two groups of patients with adrenoleukodystrophy. These results suggest that there is a correlation between phenotype and ratio of C26:0 to C22:0 within mononuclear cells in patients with adrenoleukodystrophy.

Semple rabies vaccine: presence of myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein and its activity in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Myelin basic protein (MBP) as a cause of postvaccinal encephalomyelitis (PVE) due to Semple rabies vaccine (SRV) has been suggested in previous reports. No actual measurement of MBP in SRV was done. In this study we detected MBP and PLP in the vaccine using immunological methods. The vaccine was found to contain 28 micrograms MBP per ml vaccine. Inoculation with SRV plus adjuvant resulted in the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in 2 of 3 guinea pigs. For control, chick embryo vaccine (CEV) was used and MBP was not detected. EAE was not induced in animals inoculated with it. These results suggest that MBP in vaccines may play a decisive role in the production of PVE.

[Application of an air-powder abrasive system in periodontal therapy and its effect on root surfaces]

An air-powder abrasive device used to remove stain and debris adherent to tooth surface is now available for use by dentist. Air Flow was evaluated for its effectiveness in removing stains and debris from teeth. Split design in anterior was used, and half was treated with the device and the contralateral side with a brush cone and tooth polishing paste. Time required by each method to remove stain and debris completely was recorded and compared. A gingival trauma index was assessed according to the method of Weaks L.M. et al. (1984). Air-powder abrasive system removed stain and debris in less time than brush cone technique (P less than 0.001). The system was also most effective in removing stains in pit, fissure and contact areas. The device caused a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in gingival irritation immediately posttreatment, but there was no statistically and clinically significance in the effect on the gingiva at 7 days posttreatment between two techniques. In vitro study, the effect of the device on root surfaces was also assessed. 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 seconds exposure of a fixed point on root surfaces to the device produced defects 137, 245, 308, 945 and 1,394 microns in depth, respectively. The resulting surface was smooth and all cementum was removed. And the average loss of root structure as a function of the exposure time was also assessed. The average losses were 0.2, 0.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.0, 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 mg by 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 seconds exposures, respectively. Root surface roughness, resulting from hand curette, ultrasonic curette and air-powder abrasive system was examined histologically. The hand curette produced smooth root surface. The ultrasonic instrument produced a surface characterized by irregular ridges. The air powder abrasive system was found to produce a root surface favorably comparable to manual root planing and remove cementum from areas of difficult treatment, such as furcations.

Absence of antibodies to HTLV-1 in sera from Hungarian MS patients

The aim of this study is to examine the association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antibody. Serum samples from 16 Hungarian caucasians with MS, 2 gipsy patients with MS, 13 Hungarian caucasians with other neurological diseases (OND) and 2 gipsy patients with OND were tested by Western blot combined with autoradiography using disrupted virus from MT-2 cell line and recombinant p24 as antigens. Negative results were obtained in all samples except for 3 Hungarian OND which were reactive to disrupted virus, but not to recombinant p24.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis mediated by murine encephalitogenic T cell lines specific for myelin proteolipid apoprotein

T cell lines specific for bovine myelin proteolipid apoprotein (PLP) were established from SJL/J mice. The line cells bore surface phenotypes of T helper/inducer cells (Lyt-1+, Lyt-2-, L3T4+) and responded well to bovine, rat, and guinea pig PLP but not to myelin basic protein. One line responded to major PLP, and another responded to both major PLP and DM-20, which are the two major intrinsic membrane proteins of the central nervous system (CNS) myelin. Intraperitoneal inoculation of 4 to 30 X 10(6) PLP-activated line cells followed by injection of pertussis vaccine induced acute inflammatory disease of the CNS, with typical clinical signs of EAE mostly in a week in recipient mice that had been treated with low-dose irradiation. Almost all animals recovered completely, and two of the 12 animals relapsed 42 or 75 days after inoculation. The lesions were restricted to the CNS and were characterized by perivascular and parenchymal infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrin deposit, and demyelination. In the severe lesions, axons were also damaged. These observations suggest that PLP is a definite encephalitogen, and PLP-sensitized effector T cells induce inflammatory demyelination in the CNS.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis mediated by murine encephalitogenic T cell lines specific for myelin proteolipid apoprotein

T cell lines specific for bovine myelin proteolipid apoprotein (PLP) were established from SJL/J mice. The line cells bore surface phenotypes of T helper/inducer cells (Lyt-1+, Lyt-2-, L3T4+) and responded well to bovine, rat, and guinea pig PLP but not to myelin basic protein. One line responded to major PLP, and another responded to both major PLP and DM-20, which are the two major intrinsic membrane proteins of the central nervous system (CNS) myelin. Intraperitoneal inoculation of 4 to 30 X 10(6) PLP-activated line cells followed by injection of pertussis vaccine induced acute inflammatory disease of the CNS, with typical clinical signs of EAE mostly in a week in recipient mice that had been treated with low-dose irradiation. Almost all animals recovered completely, and two of the 12 animals relapsed 42 or 75 days after inoculation. The lesions were restricted to the CNS and were characterized by perivascular and parenchymal infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrin deposit, and demyelination. In the severe lesions, axons were also damaged. These observations suggest that PLP is a definite encephalitogen, and PLP-sensitized effector T cells induce inflammatory demyelination in the CNS.

Canopy dynamics estimated from shoot morphology in an evergreen broad-leaved forest

A forest canopy structure may be defined as the spatial distribution pattern of foliage density, and dynamics of canopy can be considered as changes of spatial distribution of foliage density. To study this process, the annual intrinsic growth factor (r) of foliage and the speed with which foliage shifts its position were estimated from shoot branching and shoot length. The spatial distributions of these parameters were obtained from a profile of evergreen broad-leaved forest. r was large in the upper canopy layer and canopy gap; this indicated the active development of foliage. This phenomenon may be a major reason for the existence of dense foliage in the upper canopy. The speed with which foliage shifts its position was high in the canopy gap. For dominant species, light conditions affected positively on the distribution of r.

[Effect of thiol compounds on experimental liver damage (IV). Detoxicating effect of tiopronin, glutathione and cysteine on ethionine induced lived damage (author's transl)]

S-GPT elevated due to ethionine (Eth) administration was suppressed by thiol compounds such as tiopronin (2-mercaptopropionylglycine), glutathione, cysteine, in which tiopronin proved to be more effective than glutathione or cysteine. In thin-layer chromatography of urinary metabolites, Eth and ethionine sulfoxide were detected with administration of Eth, and S-ethyltiopronin plus Eth and ethionine sulfoxide by the administrations of Eth and tiopronin. These S-ethyl derivatives were not detected in the urine with administration of Eth and glutathione or cysteine. In the analysis of Eth and its metabolites by gas chromatography, cumulative urinary excretion of Eth within 72 hr after Eth administration was 40.7% in the Eth administered group, 23.6% in the Eth-tiopronin administered group and 38.2% in the Eth-glutathione administered group, respectively. In the urine of the Eth-tiopronin administered group, S-ethyltiopronin was excreted by 13.6%. Detoxicating effect of tiopronin on Eth induced liver damage was considered to involve the following mechanism. Tiopronin is considered to excrete part of Eth as S-ethyltiopronin by being an acceptor of transfer reaction of the ethyl group of Eth. Neither glutathione nor cysteine was an acceptor of the ethyl group and a detoxicating effect on Eth was not observed.