Salmonella typhimurium DT104 from livestock in Japan.

We examined the distribution of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium definitive phage type 104 (DT104) among Japanese livestock from 1973 to 1998. The 144 S. Typhimurium field isolates were tested for susceptibility to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, kanamycin, trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and norfloxacin.

Clonal turnover of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in experimentally infected cattle.

A total of 401 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 isolates from two experimentally infected calves were analyzed using molecular biological methods. Genetic differences detected by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were observed between the inoculated and recovered strains as early as 1 day post inoculation. The loss of the inoculated clone was observed in one calf.

Salmonella Abortusequi strains of equine origin harbor a 95kb plasmid responsible for virulence in mice.

Most Salmonella choleraesuis subsp. choleraesuis serovar Abortusequi strains of equine origin harbor a 95kb plasmid, pSA95. Results of PCR and Southern blot analysis suggest that pSA95 contains spv genes.

The shift of genetic subtypes of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates from cattle.

A total of 46 Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates were obtained from sequential faecal samples from seven cattle collected over periods of 2 months. Nine closely related genetic subtypes, determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types using three kinds of restriction endonuclease were observed among the isolates. Distinguishable, but closely related genetic subtypes can be isolated from one farm, or from one cow, should be considered when undertaking an epidemiological survey.

Molecular typing of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (H-) isolates from cattle in Japan.

A total of 77 Escherichia coli O157:H7 (H-) isolates from cattle in Japan were investigated by molecular biological methods. Most of these isolates (43 isolates) possessed the stx-2 gene, but not stx1. Fifteen bacteriophage types and 50 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles were observed.

Characterisation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (H-) derived from cattle using random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis.

One hundred and two isolates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 derived from cattle were characterised by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Four different RAPD profiles were observed. Based on the combined results of RAPD typing and toxin genotyping, the isolates could be divided into six distinct groups.

A novel biomarker for hyperglycemia, MRX isolated from hydrolysate of glycated proteins.

Long-lived proteins can undergo non-enzymatic glycation to form highly crosslinked structures with characteristic fluorescence during aging and diabetes processes. In this paper, a typical fluorophore, named Maillard reaction product X (MRX), was isolated from the hydrolysate of glycated proteins. MRX could be formed by incubation of bovine serum albumin with glucose, followed by acid hydrolysis.

Antinociceptive components of Ganoderma lucidum.

The antinociceptive effects 134 extracts prepared from 45 species of mushrooms were examined by the acetic acid-induced writhing method. From the CH2Cl2 extract of Ganoderma lucidum among the active extracts, ganoderic acids A, B, G and H and compound C6 were isolated as the antinociceptive components.

Relationship of the strain and the intraocular amount of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in the induction of anterior-chamber-associated immune deviation.

We investigated the induction of anterior-chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Two strains of HSV-1 (VR-3 and F) and four strains of HSV-2 (UW-268, 186, SL, and MS) were inactivated with ultraviolet light, and the anterior chamber of BALB/c mice was inoculated with a viral strain. Immunization against delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was done subcutaneously on day 7 after anterior chamber inoculation.

In situ intestinal absorption of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid in guinea pigs.

The intestinal absorption efficacy of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G), which has been recently synthesized and characterized as a stable ascorbate (AsA), was determined in guinea pigs by the perfusion technique. Perfusion of AA-2G in isotonic phosphate buffer to the small intestine resulted in a decrease of AA-2G accompanied by an increase of AsA in the perfusate. The results showed that intact AA-2G was not detected in the plasma of the portal vein of guinea pigs at 2 h after perfusion.

Telomere and LINE-like elements at the termini of the Chlorella chromosome I.

The telomeres of Chlorella chromosomes consisted of 5'-TTTAGGG repeats, which are exactly the same as those of higher plants. This sequence was reiterated approximately 70 times at both termini of chromosome I. Subtelomeric sequences next to the telomeres were totally different between the right and left arms.

Formation of anti-sense RNA to IFN mRNA in poly (rI):(rC) induced HEL cells.

To elucidate the mechanism of super induction of IFN, mRNA and anti-sense RNA were analyzed by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, and following results were obtained. (1) When human embryonic lung fibroblast cells (HEL cells) were exposed to poly (rI):(rC) for 1 hr, treated with cycloheximide for 3 hr, treated with actinomycin-D for 30 min at the final period of cycloheximide treatment, then washed and replenished with maintenance medium, (HEL-I:C/CH/Act. D), they produced much higher amount of IFN and IFN production continued for longer period when compared to the HEL cells which were not treated with actinomycin-D (HEL-I:C/CH).

Growth hormone stimulates follicular development by stimulating ovarian production of insulin-like growth factor-I.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of GH on follicular growth, oocyte maturation, ovulation, and production of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries. Ovulation did not occur in any ovaries perfused with GH at a concentration of 1, 10, 100, or 200 ng/ml, but the addition of GH to the perfusate increased the follicle diameter in a dose-dependent manner. The production of IGF-I by ovaries perfused with medium alone was very low throughout the perfusion period.

Prolactin inhibits ovulation by reducing ovarian plasmin generation.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of prolactin (PRL) on gonadotropin-induced ovulation and the biosynthesis of prostaglandin (PG), leukotriene (LT), and plasmin in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries. The addition of PRL to the perfusate inhibited hCG-induced ovulation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Although exposure to hCG significantly increased PGF2 alpha, PGE2, and LTB4 production by perfused rabbit ovaries, PRL did not affect the secretion rates of PGs and LTB4 stimulated by hCG administration.

Gonadotropin stimulates ovarian renin-angiotensin system in the rabbit.

The present study was undertaken to assess the role of ovarian renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the preovulatory cascade induced by gonadotropin exposure. In the in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries, exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) enhanced the secretion rate of angiotensin II (Ang II) within 1 h. The secretion rate reached maximal levels at 6 h and then declined thereafter.

Locally produced angiotensin II induces ovulation by stimulating prostaglandin production in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of exogenous and endogenous angiotensin II (Ang II) in ovarian steroidogenesis and production of prostaglandin (PG) in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries. The addition of 100 or 10 micrograms Ang II at 2-h intervals to the perfusate did not stimulate progesterone production, but significantly stimulated estradiol (E2) production by perfused rabbit ovaries. When the specific antagonist of Ang II, saralasin at 2 x 10(-6) M, was added to the perfusate 30 min before the onset of Ang II administration, Ang II-stimulated production of E2 was significantly blocked.

Stimulation of plasmin activity in cultured human fibroblast cells by Porphyromonas endodontalis.

1. Plasmin activity in the conditioned medium of Gin-1 cells, a human gingival fibroblast cell line, was stimulated by Porphyromonas endodontalis, a putative pathogen of oral submucous abscesses, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. 2.

Comparative study of hormonal dynamics in pregnant and nonpregnant cycles during pulsatile subcutaneous administration of human menopausal gonadotropin in anovulatory infertile women.

Objective: To assess the clinical relevance of daily hormonal changes for achieving a successful pregnancy in anovulatory infertile women.

Design: A comparative study of hormonal dynamics in pregnant and nonpregnant cycles during the pulsatile subcutaneous administration of hMG. Subjects received subcutaneous injection of either 9.

Effect of ascorbic acid 2-0-alpha-glucoside on hydrocortisone-induced cataract formation in developing chick embryos: I. Comparison of the preventive effect of ascorbic acid derivatives.

The effect of ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside (AA-2G) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced lens opacity in developing chick embryo was examined and compared with those of ascorbic acid (AsA) and ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA-2P). The opacity was dose-dependently inhibited by a single administration of 10 or 20 mumol/egg of AA-2G and by three repeated administrations of 1, 3 or 10 mumol/egg of AA-2G. AA-2G was the most effective among the three compounds.

Vitamin C activity of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid in guinea pigs.

The vitamin C activity of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G), which is one of chemically stable derivatives of L-ascorbic acid (AsA), in guinea pigs was investigated. Male guinea pigs were divided into 9 groups and fed AsA-deficient diet for 24 days with the following supplement: AA-2G- or AsA-supplemented groups were orally supplemented with 0.96, 1.

Metabolic Fate of β-Aspartyl-(14)C-glycine in Normal Young Rats.

The metabolic fate of α- and β-L-aspartyl-[U-(14)C]glycine was investigated in normal young rats in vivo and in vitro. The radioactive dipeptides were synthesized from L-aspartic acid and [U-(14)C]glycine in our laboratory. When labeled β-aspartylglycine was given intraperitoneally, about 66% of the dose was excreted in the urine and 8% was recovered in the expired carbon dioxide over a 24-hr period.