Study on Controlling the Surface Structure and Properties of a Cellulose Nanocrystal Film Modified Using Alkoxysilanes in Green Solvents.

Film and sheet products made from naturally derived materials that exhibit high-performance surface functions are important as regards the environment. This study aimed to control the surface structure of a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) film modified using methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane coprecursors with environmentally friendly solvents (water and ethanol) during a spin-coating process. The surface-modified CNC film on the glass substrate was evaluated by microstructure analyses (Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM)) and water contact angle (hydrophobicity) measurements.

Circulating activin A during equine gestation and immunolocalization of its receptors system in utero-placental tissues and fetal gonads.

Although equine gestation is unique from the standpoint of fetal gonadal enlargement and regression, the activator of this process is still unknown. The present study aimed to show a possible role of activin during equine gestation. In the first experiment, weekly plasma samples from six pregnant mares were used to measure activin A.

Morphometric changes in the aortic arch with advancing age in fetal to mature thoroughbred horses.

Aortic rupture is a well recognized cause of sudden death in thoroughbred horses. Some microscopic lesions, such as those caused by cystic medial necrosis and medionecrosis, can lead to aortic rupture. However, these microscopic lesions are also observed in normal horses.

Blindness associated with nasal/paranasal lymphoma in a stallion.

A 29-year-old stallion presented with bilateral blindness following the chronic purulent nasal drainage. The mass occupied the right caudal nasal cavity and right paranasal sinuses including maxillary, palatine and sphenoidal sinuses, and the right-side turbinal and paranasal septal bones, and cribriform plate of ethmoid bone were destructively replaced by the mass growth. The right optic nerve was invaded and involved by the mass, and the left optic nerve and optic chiasm were compressed by the mass which was extended and invaded the skull base.

Characterization of equine hyalocytes: their immunohistochemical properties, morphologies and distribution.

In horse, the characterizations of hyalocytes under the steady state are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated characterizations of hyalocytes in normal equine eyes by their immunohistochemical phenotype, histomorphology and distribution. Thirty-one eyes from 18 horses, divided into 4 groups (G) by age, were used: early (G1) and late gestation (G2) fetuses, 1- to 3-year-old (G3) and 8- to 24-year-old (G4) horses.

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of stroma variations and their correlation with the Ki-67 index and expressions of glucose transporter 1 and monocarboxylate transporter 1 in canine thyroid C-cell carcinomas.

Canine thyroid C-cell carcinomas (CTCCs) are malignant tumors derived from calcitonin-producing C-cells of the thyroid gland. This study aimed to investigate the histological diversity of CTCCs from the viewpoint of stroma variations and to investigate their components by histological and immunohistochemical analyses including semiquantitative analysis of the density of microvessels (MVs) and α-SMA-positive cell count. Moreover, we examined whether the variations correlated with the Ki-67 index and expressions of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) and monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT-1).

Distribution of CD163-positive cell and MHC class II-positive cell in the normal equine uveal tract.

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the uveal tract participate in ocular immunity including immune homeostasis and the pathogenesis of uveitis. In horses, although uveitis is the most common ocular disorder, little is known about ocular immunity, such as the distribution of APCs. In this study, we investigated the distribution of CD163-positive and MHC II-positive cells in the normal equine uveal tract using an immunofluorescence technique.

Effects of a custom-made hinged knee brace with knee flexion support for patients with knee osteoarthritis:a preliminary study.

A knee brace for medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) is required to restrict knee adduction moment (KAM), but must not restrict knee flexion during swing phase. There is no report of a knee brace with both functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the custom-made hinged knee brace for patients with knee OA compared to the hinged knee brace generally used, and to assess the KAM and knee flexion angle during swing phase.

First detection of adiaspiromycosis in the lungs of a deer.

Adiaspiromycosis is a pulmonary infection caused by the soil fungi, Emmonsia crescens and E. parva. It primarily affects small mammals and can range from an asymptomatic condition to fatal disseminated disease.

Identification and preservation of the parathyroid gland during total thyroidectomy in dogs with bilateral thyroid carcinoma: a report of six cases.

Simultaneous removal of bilateral thyroid tumors was performed while preserving the parathyroid gland in six dogs. At least one external parathyroid gland was identified in all dogs. In five cases, the external parathyroid gland and its blood supply were preserved intact.

Systemic mycobacteriosis in an aborted thoroughbred fetus in Japan.

A male Thoroughbred fetus was aborted on day 251 of pregnancy. Gross and histological examinations detected systemic granulomatous lesions in many superficial and visceral lymph nodes and organs including the liver, tonsils, lungs, thymus, spleen, right thyroid gland and gastrointestinal tract, and suppurative placentitis, pyogranulomatous amnionitis and intralesional acid-fast bacilli were also detected. An examination of the DNA base sequence of the β subunit of RNA polymerase demonstrated that Mycobacterium avium strain 104 had infected several organs.

Comparative endoscopic evaluation of normal and ulcerated gastric mucosae in Thoroughbred foals.

To contribute to early diagnosis and treatment of gastric ulcer of foals, we examined the gastric mucosa of healthy and affected foals using an endoscope. In healthy foals, the characteristic changes in the development of the squamous mucosa were seen mainly in the squamous mucosa, and maturation of the squamous mucosa in the greater curvature (GC-S) occurred more slowly than that of the squamous mucosa in the lesser curvature (LC-S). Epithelial desquamation in the LC-S and GC-S was observed between 6 and 90 days but was not observed in the LC-S at about 60 days, whereas it was observed in the GC-S until 90 days old.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of chordoma in ferrets.

Chordomas of the tip of the tail in 6 ferrets were examined using histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures. Histopathologically, round neoplastic cells containing numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles of varying sizes, categorized as "physaliphorous cells", were observed in the amorphous eosinophilic or pale basophilic myxoid stroma. Physaliphorous cells were arranged in lobules and in a "chordoid" or "cobblestone" manner.

Primary ischial osteosarcoma occupying the pelvic cavity in a Japanese Black cow.

A 10-year-old Japanese Black cow presented with a swelling of the right femur, and a hard, large mass occupied the pelvic cavity. The mass strongly adhered to the visceral surface of the ischium and had posteriorly invaded among the right femoral muscles. Histologically, the mass was composed of neoplastic osteoblasts and exhibited osteoid and immature trabecular bone production.

Testicular yolk sac tumor of myxomatous, reticular, and polyvesicular vitelline type in a newborn calf.

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are rare neoplasms of germ cell origin. In humans, the tumors primarily occur in the testes or ovaries, but occasionally develop at other sites. The neoplastic cells of YSTs form many histological patterns resembling embryonal structures, and the World Health Organization classification lists 11 such patterns: reticular, macrocystic, endodermal sinus, papillary, solid, glandular-alveolar, myxomatous, sarcomatoid, polyvesicular vitelline, hepatoid, and parietal.

Jejunal intussusception associated with lymphoma in a horse.

A 2-year-old Thoroughbred horse presented with acute onset of colitis, and the intussuscepted jejunum was surgically resected. A transmural mass protruding into the lumen was found at the leading edge of the intussusceptum. Based on histological and immunohistochemical examinations, the mass was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with metastasis to the mesenteric lymph nodes.

Intestinal undifferentiated carcinoma in a red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis).

A 33-year-old red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) had a diffuse intestinal thickening from the duodenum to colon. Microscopically, neoplastic cells were arranged in sheets and occasionally nests or cords without gland or squamous differentiation. Metastatic tumor cells were found in the lungs, heart, kidneys and adrenal glands.

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations of lobular dissecting hepatitis in American cocker spaniel dogs.

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations of lobular dissecting hepatitis (LDH) were performed in nine American cocker spaniel dogs. Histological examination showed diffuse fibrosis with weak inflammatory reaction of extensive neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the myofibroblastic cells positive for anti-α-smooth muscle actin and anti-vimentin antibodies produced reticular and collagen fibers and brought about the dissection of hepatic cords and diffuse disappearance of hepatocytes.

Contrast agent Gd-EOB-DTPA (EOB·Primovist®) for low-field magnetic resonance imaging of canine focal liver lesions.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a new liver-specific contrast agent gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA; EOB·Primovist®) was studied in 14 normal beagles and 9 dogs with focal liver lesions. Gd-EOB-DTPA accumulates in normally functioning hepatocytes 20 min after injection. As with Gd-DTPA, it is also possible to perform a dynamic multiphasic examination of the liver with Gd-EOB-DTPA, including an arterial phase and a portal venous phase.

Pathological classification of canine mammary tumor based on quantifying mRNA levels of hormonal receptors, SATB1, and Snail in tissue and fine needle biopsy samples.

Cytological diagnosis is not generally conclusive enough to identify histopathological malignancy in canine mammary tumors (CMTs). To establish cytological examination using fine needle biopsy (FNB) samples, gene expressions of hormonal receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and transcription regulators (Special AT-rich binding protein 1: SATB1 and Snail) were investigated in both tissue and FNB samples of CMTs. In tissue samples of malignant CMTs, especially invasive ones, low expressions of hormonal receptors and high expressions of SATB1 and Snail were detected.

Cutaneous lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with systemic metastasis in a cat.

A lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma was diagnosed in a 12- year-old domestic cat that had a primary cutaneous mass involving the stomach, liver, kidneys, heart, abdominal wall, diaphragm, bone marrow and several lymph nodes. Histopathologically, the most characteristic feature of this tumor was the heterogeneity of cell components, such as small lymphocytes, well-differentiated plasma cells and plasmacytoid transformed lymphocytes. Amyloid was deposited in the skin, stomach, and several lymph nodes.

Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in an Indian flap-shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata punctata).

We report an atypical mycobacterial infection in an Indian flap-shelled turtle, Lissemys punctata punctata, that died in an aquarium in Japan. At necropsy, the turtle showed multiple white nodules on the capsular surface and parenchyma of various organs such as the liver, spleen, intestine, and lung. Histologically, granulomatous inflammation surrounding a central zone of necrosis was observed.

Equine major histocompatibility complex class I molecules act as entry receptors that bind to equine herpesvirus-1 glycoprotein D.

The endotheliotropism of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) leads to encephalomyelitis secondary to vasculitis and thrombosis in the infected horse central nervous system (CNS). To identify the host factors involved in EHV-1 infection of CNS endothelial cells, we performed functional cloning using an equine brain microvascular endothelial cell cDNA library. Exogenous expression of equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I heavy chain genes conferred susceptibility to EHV-1 infection in mouse NIH3T3 cells, which are not naturally susceptible to EHV-1 infection.

Annual Changes in Day-length, Temperature, and Circulating Reproductive Hormones in Thoroughbred Stallions and Geldings.

Changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, immunoreactive(ir)-inhibin, testosterone, estradiol-17β, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in Thoroughbred stallions along with changes in prolactin secretion in geldings were studied. The correlations of day-length with changes in the concentrations of these hormones were also studied. Five stallions and thirteen geldings were employed to draw blood samples in monthly basis and radioimmunoassay was performed to measure these hormones.