bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphometric and histochemical study of involution in the rat uterus after parturition
Authors: ELKHALIL Ayat Omer , MAEJIMA Yuko , AOYAMA Masato , TANAKA Hideyuki , SUGITA Shoei 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTMorphological changes to and collagen loss from the rat uterus during postpartum involution were investigated. The expression patterns of collagen type III and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were also determined. Morphological changes were studied on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 22 and 25 postpartum. As a control, diestrus rats’ uterine were used. Specimens from the uterine horn were embedded in paraffin, cut into 8 µm coronal sections, and stained with hematoxylin‐eosin. The thickness of the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers and of the endometrium were measured. The collagen content was determined using hydroxyproline analysis. Immunostaining was used to examine the expression of collagen type III on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 postpartum; and MPO on days 1, 3, 5, 10 and 22 postpartum. The thickness of the smooth muscle layers was found to decrease rapidly postpartum: the circular smooth muscle layer returned to that of a non‐pregnant, control uterus by day 5 postpartum and the longitudinal smooth muscle layer by day 15 postpartum. Eosinophilic cells were observed in the endometrial stroma adjacent to the myometrium on days 10, 15 and 20 postpartum, and were confirmed as collagenous cells. Immunostaining identified collagen type III positive cells in the vessel‐rich layer adjacent to the placental site on days 1, 3, 5 and 10 postpartum, and these cells were confirmed to be phagocytic. Postpartum reduction in the weight of the uterus was accompanied by decreases in both the collagen content and the thickness of the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers. Furthermore, the phagocytic cells were shown to express MPO during postpartum involution of the uterus.
Expression of mRNA for sodium‐glucose transporter 1 and fatty acid translocase in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract before and after weaning
Authors: HAYASHI Hideaki , YONEZAWA Tomo , KANETANI Takeshi , TERADA Fuminori , KATOH Kazuo , OBARA Yoshiaki 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe mRNA expression of sodium‐glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) and fatty acid translocase (CD36) in the gastrointestinal tract of Holstein cattle and Saanen goats before and after weaning was investigated. Before weaning, the expression of both SGLT1 and CD36 was highest in the jejunum, relative to the other parts of the gastrointestinal tract in both species. The expression of SGLT1 and CD36 in the duodenum was second highest in the goats. After weaning, SGLT1 and CD36 expression in the small intestine significantly decreased in both species. The expression of both types of transporters was also detected in the forestomach. From these results, it was concluded that the jejunum is probably the major absorption site for glucose and long‐chain fatty acids before weaning, and that the expression of both types of transporters decreases after weaning in cattle and goats.
Ability to utilize lactate and related enzymes of a ruminal bacterium, Selenomonas ruminantium
Authors: ASANUMA Narito , HINO Tsuneo 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe ability of a nitrate‐reducing and nitrite‐reducing strain of Selenomonas ruminantium ssp. lactilytica (TH1) to utilize lactate was examined at the cell and enzyme levels. The TH1 strain was found to possess NAD‐independent D‐lactate dehydrogenase (iD‐LDH), with little or no lactate racemase or L‐lactate dehydrogenase, implying that TH1 virtually utilizes only the D‐form of lactate. Therefore, the introduction of lactate racemase to TH1 may enhance its ability to utilize lactate in the rumen where both D‐lactate and L‐lactate are produced. Because lactate utilization by Megasphaera elsdenii in the rumen may increase methanogenesis, it is desirable to increase lactate utilization by S. ruminantium, which may decrease methanogenesis. However, the specific activity of iD‐LDH, which represents the amount of enzyme per cell, in TH1 was approximately threefold lower than M. elsdenii. Properties of iD‐LDH, such as optimal pH and temperature, affinity for D‐lactate, and effect of metal ions, did not differ greatly between TH1 and M. elsdenii. The specific activity of iD‐LDH in TH1 increased as the D‐lactate concentration in the medium increased, suggesting that iD‐LDH synthesis is regulated in response to D‐lactate. On the contrary, no iD‐LDH activity was detected when TH1 was grown in the presence of glucose, even when D‐lactate was present. This result suggests that iD‐LDH synthesis is strongly suppressed by glucose. In order to improve the ability of S. ruminantium to utilize lactate and reduce nitrate and nitrite, it is important to enhance iD‐LDH synthesis in addition to the introduction of lactate racemase.
Effect of crushing unhulled rice and the addition of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality of whole crop rice silage, and its digestibility and rumen fermentation status in sheep
Authors: TAKAHASHI Toshiyoshi , HORIGUCHI Ken‐ichi , GOTO Masakazu 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThis experiment was carried out to examine the effect of crushing unhulled rice and the addition of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB) on the fermentation quality of whole crop rice silage, and its digestibility and rumen fermentation in sheep. After whole rice plants (Oryza sativa L. cv. Haenuki) were harvested between the yellow and full‐ripened period of maturity, and cut at a length of 2 cm, four silage treatments were set: (i) non‐treatment; (ii) crushing treatment of unhulled rice division (crushing); (iii) addition of 1% FJLB; and (iv) crushing + addition of 1% FJLB. Lactic acid content increased with the addition of FJLB, and was highest in the crushing + FJLB treatment. Digestibilities of crude fiber, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were significantly higher during the crushing + FJLB treatment. There were no differences among treatments in the volatile fatty acid concentrations before and after feeding. At 4 h after feeding, however, the ratio of acetic acid : propionic acid was significantly lower with the addition of FJLB. It was proven that the fermented quality of silage was improved when FJLB was added to rice plants and then ensilaged, and the digestibility of the fibrous component was raised when unhulled rice division was crushed and FJLB was supplemented.
Apparent digestibilities of diets based on timothy and Italian ryegrass hay harvested in different regions in Japan fed to exercising Thoroughbreds
Authors: MATSUI Akira , INOUE Yoshinobu , ASAI Yo 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe apparent digestibility of diets based on timothy hay harvested in Hidaka in Hokkaido (HT) and Italian ryegrass hay harvested in Miyazaki in Kyushu (MI) were compared in Thoroughbreds undergoing exercise. The nitrogen retention and plasma‐free amino acid (AA) concentrations were also examined to evaluate the quality of the protein contained in the two types of hay. Four male Thoroughbreds (aged 34.4 ± 0.9 months (mean ± standard deviation) and weighing 506.3 ± 30.4 kg) undergoing exercise training at 80% of maximal heart rate were used for the study, and the apparent digestibility of the diets based on HT and MI was assessed. The net nitrogen balance was also measured by subtracting the amount of nitrogen excreted in the feces and urine from the total nitrogen intake. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter, energy, neutral detergent fiber and ether extract were all higher in the MI group than in the HT group (P < 0.05). The larger energy digestibility in the MI group (56.8 ± 3.3%) compared with that in the HT group (51.6 ± 2.4%) was attributed to the relatively easy digestibility of hemicellulose. The net nitrogen balance and plasma AA concentrations did not differ significantly between the two forage groups. We concluded that the nutritive value of MI is adequate for exercising horses, even though the timothy and Italian ryegrass used in this study were second cuttings, and their nutrient values were not easily comparable.
Effects of fasting and refeeding on plasma concentrations of leptin, ghrelin, insulin, growth hormone and metabolites in swine
Authors: INOUE Hiroaki , WATANUKI Masashi , MYINT Hnin Thidar , ITO Tetsuya , KUWAYAMA Hideto , HIDARI Hisashi 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe effects of nutritional status, such as fasting and refeeding, on leptin and ghrelin secretion in swine were examined. The swine (n = 4) were fasted for 54 h and plasma hormone levels were measured before, during and after fasting. Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations began to decrease 12 and 6 h into the fasting period, respectively (P < 0.05), and maintained a low level for the remaining period of fasting. Plasma leptin and insulin returned to the pre‐fasting value 6 and 12 h after refeeding, respectively. Plasma ghrelin concentrations showed a nocturnal periodicity during the fasting period; it increased nocturnally at 36 and 42 h into the fasting period (P < 0.05). Plasma growth hormone levels did not show any remarkable changes during the fasting. Plasma glucose levels showed a modest fall during fasting and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 24 h into the fasting period, returning to pre‐fasting levels after refeeding. Plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels increased (P < 0.05) at 12 h into the fasting period and returned to the pre‐fasting level 6 h after refeeding. These results indicate that plasma leptin, insulin and ghrelin play an important role in maintaining energy homeostasis in swine. The plasma ghrelin did not continuously increase, but showed nocturnal periodicity during fasting. This may suggest that ghrelin is also involved in physiological processes other than energy homeostasis.
Inhibition of growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonist, [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6, in adipogenesis of ovine and rat adipocytes
Authors: ROH Sang‐gun , HONG Yeon‐hee , HISHIKAWA Daisuke , TSUZUKI Hiroaki , MIYAHARA Hisae , NISHIMURA Yukihiko , GOTO Chizu , SUZUKI Yasuki , CHOI Ki‐choon , LEE Hong‐gu , SASAKI Shinichi 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTGhrelin and growth hormone secretagogues receptor (GHS‐R or ghrelin receptor) have been reported as being one of the factors of adipogenesis in adipocytes. To investigate the involvement of ghrelin and GHS‐R in adipocytes, the effect of the GHS‐R antagonist, [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (His‐D‐Trp‐D‐Lys‐Trp‐D‐Phe‐Lys‐NH2), on the process of adipogenesis in ovine and rat adipocytes was evaluated. [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (10−7 mol/L) significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of ovine and rat preadipocytes prepared from adipose tissues. The level of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ2 mRNA, an adipogenic marker, was decreased during the differentiation of adipocytes treated with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 for 10 days. Ghrelin stimulated adipogenesis, also causing an increment of glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and upregulation of PPAR‐γ2. Furthermore, the antilipolytic effect of ghrelin was attenuated by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 in both types of isolated adipocytes. Overall, the results of the present study highlight that GHS‐R in adipogenesis can be blocked by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6.
Effect of the last diet on the selective feeding behavior of heifers
Authors: FUKASAWA Michiru , TSUKADA Hideharu , KOSAKO Takami , KOHARI Daisuke 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe present study examined and discussed the way the basal diet (BD) during the preliminary phase and the last diet (LD) before the food selection test affected the selective feeding behavior of heifers. For the BD and LD, oat hay and concentrate were used. Three different levels of roughage content (low, medium and high) were prepared by changing the mix ratios of oat hay and concentrate. Low and high roughage diets were used for the BD, and all three of the roughage levels were used for the LD. A mixture of orchard grass and white clover (MIX), and Japanese pampas grass leaf (JP) were used as testing foods. In the preliminary phase, all heifers were fed the BD three times per day. In the test phase, heifers were fed the LD for the first meal (06.00–12.00 hours), and food selection under different BD and LD was examined during the second meal (13.00–16.00 hours) of the day. The effects of the BD were significant for MIX dry matter intake (DMI), JP DMI and the rate of MIX DMI for total DMI. Under the high roughage BD condition, heifers ingested more MIX than under the low roughage BD condition. The effect of the LD was significant on JP DMI, whereas the rate of MIX DMI for total DMI was not significant. Selective feeding behavior was strongly affected by the BD and slightly by the LD.
Dairy farming financial structures in Hokkaido, Japan and New Zealand
Authors: OZAWA Takeyuki , LOPEZ‐VILLALOBOS Nicolas , BLAIR Hugh T. 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe productivity and financial performance of dairy farms in New Zealand and Japan (Hokkaido) were analyzed. By recomposing the official statistics on the dairy industry relative to Japan, New Zealand has low milk yield productivity per cow, but higher per hectare performance because of their seasonal breeding and pasture grazing systems. In the revenue and expenses analysis, New Zealand had a high cash surplus ratio compared with Hokkaido. In the cost analysis, for expenses on a “per kg of raw milk” basis, New Zealand milk production costs are 29% of those in Hokkaido. More than 60% of the production costs were attributable to feed, interest charges and wages in New Zealand. In Hokkaido, the feed cost alone accounted for 73% of the total cost. There is also a remarkably high interest expenditure in New Zealand caused by non‐subsidized fund procurement from finance organizations. In the financial analysis, New Zealand dairy farms have only approximately 50% of the total assets per cow compared with farms in Hokkaido. But total liabilities per cow in Hokkaido are twofold to threefold greater than in New Zealand. The difference between total assets and total liabilities shows that Hokkaido dairy farmers have an equity that is 50–200% greater than New Zealand dairy farmers. In the management analysis, New Zealand has a low turnover ratio of gross assets caused by the seasonal breeding system. In conclusion, New Zealand has higher per hectare production performance than Hokkaido, but has a low utilization of gross assets caused by a seasonal breeding system based on pasture grazing.
Human β-Defensin 2 Is Expressed and Associated withMycobacterium tuberculosisduring Infection of Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Authors: Rivas-Santiago Bruno , Schwander Stephan K. , Sarabia Carmen , Diamond Gill , Klein-Patel Marcia E. , Hernandez-Pando Rogelio , Ellner Jerrold J. , Sada Eduardo 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTTo determine the role of human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in human tuberculosis, we studied the in vitro induction of HBD-2 gene expression byMycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv infection in the human lung epithelial cell line A549, in alveolar macrophages (AM), and in blood monocytes (MN) by reverse transcription-PCR. We also studied the induction of HBD-2 gene expression by mannose lipoarabinomannan (manLAM) fromM. tuberculosis. Intracellular production of HBD-2 peptide was detected by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that there was induction of HBD-2 mRNA in A549 cells after infection withM. tuberculosisat various multiplicities of infection (MOI) and that there was stimulation with manLAM. AM expressed the HBD-2 gene only at a high MOI withM. tuberculosis. MN did not express HBD-2 at any of the experimentalM. tuberculosisMOI. Immunostaining revealed the presence of intracellular HBD-2 peptide in A549 cells following infection withM. tuberculosis, and the staining was more intense in areas where there wereM. tuberculosisclusters. By using electron microscopy we also demonstrated production of HBD-2 afterM. tuberculosisinfection and adherence of HBD-2 to the membranes ofM. tuberculosis. Alveolar epithelial cells are among the first cells to encounterM. tuberculosisfollowing aerogenic infection. As HBD-2 has been shown to control growth ofM. tuberculosisand has chemotactic activity, our results suggest that HBD-2 induction byM. tuberculosismay have a role in the pathogenesis of human tuberculosis.
Capsule and Fimbria Interaction inKlebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Schembri Mark A. , Blom Jens , Krogfelt Karen A. , Klemm Per 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTThe capsular polysaccharide and type 1 fimbriae are two of the major surface-located virulence properties associated with the pathogenesis ofKlebsiella pneumoniae. The capsule is an elaborate polysaccharide matrix that encases the entire cell surface and provides resistance against many host defense mechanisms. In contrast, type 1 fimbriae are thin adhesive thread-like surface organelles that can extend beyond the capsular matrix and mediated-mannose-sensitive adhesion to host epithelial cells. These fimbriae are archetypical and consist of a major building block protein (FimA) that comprises the bulk of the organelle and a tip-located adhesin (FimH). It is assumed that the extended major-subunit protein structure permits the FimH adhesin to function independently of the presence of a capsule. In this study, we have employed a defined set ofK. pneumoniaecapsulated and noncapsulated strains to show that the function of type 1 fimbriae is actually impeded by the concomitant expression of a polysaccharide capsule. Capsule expression had significant effects on two parameters commonly used to define FimH function, namely, yeast cell agglutination and biofilm formation. Our data suggest that this effect is not due to transcriptional/translational changes in fimbrial gene/protein expression but rather the result of direct physical interference. This was further demonstrated by the fact that we could restore fimbrial function by inhibiting capsule synthesis. It remains to be determined whether the expression of these very different surface components occurs simply via random events of phase variation or in a coordinated manner in response to specific environmental cues.
Enhancing the Protective Efficacy of
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG Vaccination against Tuberculosis by Boosting with the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Major Secretory Protein
Authors: Horwitz Marcus A. , Harth Günter , Dillon Barbara Jane , Masleša-Galić Saša 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis continues to ravage humanity, killing 2 million people yearly. Most cases occur in areas of the world to which the disease is endemic, where almost everyone is vaccinated early in life with
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG, the currently available vaccine against tuberculosis. Thus, while more-potent vaccines are needed to replace BCG, new vaccines are also needed to boost the immune protection of the 4 billion people already vaccinated with BCG. Until now, no booster vaccine has been shown capable of significantly enhancing the level of protective immunity induced by BCG in the stringent guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis, the “gold standard” for testing tuberculosis vaccines. In this paper, we describe a booster vaccine for BCG comprising the purified recombinant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
30-kDa protein, the major secreted protein of this pathogen. In the guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis, boosting BCG-immunized animals once with the 30-kDa protein greatly increased cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to the protein in three consecutive experiments. Most importantly, boosting BCG-immunized animals once with the 30-kDa protein significantly enhanced protective immunity against aerosol challenge with highly virulent
M. tuberculosis
, as evidenced by a significantly reduced lung and spleen burden of
M. tuberculosis
compared with those for nonboosted BCG-immunized animals (mean additional reduction in CFU of 0.4 ± 0.1 log in the lung [
P
= 0.03] and 0.6 ± 0.1 log in the spleen [
P
= 0.002]). This study suggests that administering BCG-immunized people a booster vaccine comprising the 30-kDa protein may enhance their level of immunoprotection against tuberculosis.
Fsr-Independent Production of Protease(s) May Explain the Lack of Attenuation of an
Enterococcus faecalis fsr
Mutant Versus a
gelE
-
sprE
Mutant in Induction of Endocarditis
Authors: Singh Kavindra V. , Nallapareddy Sreedhar R. , Nannini Esteban C. , Murray Barbara E. 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

An
Enterococcus faecalis gelE
insertion disruption mutant (TX5128), which produces neither gelatinase (GelE) nor the cotranscribed (in the wild type) serine protease (SprE), was found to be attenuated in a rat endocarditis model with a significant decrease in the endocarditis induction rate versus wild-type
E. faecalis
OG1RF (GelE
+
, SprE
+
). TX5266, which has a nonpolar deletion in
fsrB
and, like TX5128, is phenotypically GelE
−
under usual conditions, was also studied;
fsrB
is a homologue of
agrB
of staphylococci and participates in regulation of
gelE-sprE
expression. Unexpectedly, TX5266 approximated wild-type OG1RF in the endocarditis model and was significantly less attenuated than TX5128. This is in contrast to other models which have found
fsr
mutants to be as or more attenuated than TX5128. Further study found that the
fsrB
mutant produced very low levels of gelatinase activity after prolonged incubation in vitro versus no gelatinase activity with TX5128 and did not show the extensive chaining characteristic of TX5128. Reverse transcription-PCR confirmed that
gelE
was expressed in TX5266 at a very low level versus wild-type OG1RF and was not expressed at all in TX5128. Possible explanations for the increased induction of endocarditis by TX5266 versus TX5128 include the production of low levels of protease(s) or some other effect(s) of the inactivation of the
E. faecalis fsr
regulator. The equivalent ability of OG1RF and its
fsr
mutant to initiate endocarditis may explain why we did not find naturally occurring
fsr
mutants, which account for ca. 35% of
E. faecalis
isolates, unrepresented in endocarditis versus fecal isolates (J. C. Roberts, K. V. Singh, P. C. Okhuysen, and B. E. Murray, J. Clin. Microbiol.
42:
2317-2320, 2004).
In Vitro Cellular Immune Responses to Recombinant Antigens ofMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis
Authors: Shin Sung Jae , Chang Chao-Fu , Chang Ching-Dong , McDonough Sean P. , Thompson Belinda , Yoo Han Sang , Chang Yung-Fu 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTFive recombinant antigens (Ags; 85A, 85B, 85C, superoxide dismutase [SOD], and 35-kDa protein) were purified fromMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisand evaluated for their ability to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) from fecal-culture-positive cows (low and medium shedders) and culture-negative healthy cows. Recombinant Ags 85A, 85B, and 85C induced significant lymphocyte proliferation as well as the production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not IL-4, from low and medium shedders. The 85 antigen complex did not stimulate PMBC proliferation from culture-negative healthy cows. The 35-kDa protein also induced significant lymphocyte proliferation as well as the production of IFN-γ and IL-4 from low and medium shedders. CD4+T cells and CD25+(IL-2R) T cells were stimulated the most by 85A and 85B, while the 35-kDa protein primarily stimulated CD21+B cells involved in humoral immune responses. Interestingly, SOD was less immunostimulatory than other antigens but strongly induced γδ+T cells, which are thought to be important in the early stages of infection, such as pathogen entry. These data provide important insight into how improved vaccines against mycobacterial infections might be constructed.