Abstract Background Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is associated with enzootic bovine leukosis, which is the most common neoplastic disease of cattle. BLV infects cattle worldwide, imposing a severe economic impact on the dairy cattle industry. Recently, we developed a new quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using Coordination of Common Motifs (CoCoMo) primers to measure the proviral load of known and novel BLV variants in BLV-infected animals. Indeed, the assay was highly effective in detecting BLV in cattle from a range of international locations. This assay enabled us to demonstrate that proviral load correlates not only with BLV infection capacity as assessed by syncytium formation, but also with BLV disease progression. In this study, we compared the sensitivity of our BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR method for detecting BLV proviruses with the sensitivities of two real-time PCR systems, and also determined the differences of proviral load with serotests. Results BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR was found to be highly sensitive when compared with the real-time PCR-based TaqMan MGB assay developed by Lew et al . and the commercial TaKaRa cycleave PCR system. The BLV copy number determined by BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR was only partially correlated with the positive rate for anti-BLV antibody as determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, passive hemagglutination reaction, or agar gel immunodiffusion. This result indicates that, although serotests are widely used for the diagnosis of BLV infection, it is difficult to detect BLV infection with confidence by using serological tests alone. Two cattle were experimentally infected with BLV. The kinetics of the provirus did not precisely correlate with the change in anti-BLV antibody production. Moreover, both reactions were different in cattle that carried different bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3 genotypes. Conclusions Our results suggest that the quantitative measurement of proviral load by BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR is useful tool for evaluating the progression of BLV-induced disease. BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR allows us to monitor the spread of BLV infection in different viewpoint compared with classical serotest.
In this study, we developed novel multifunctional raw materials, polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene dimethyl ether (EPDME). EPDME is a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The structure of the obtained EPDME was confirmed by Infrared (IR) absorption and NMR spectra. EPDME, which dissolves in water and oil. The compound has the following effects: [1] a high moisture-retaining effect without sticky feeling, [2] a preventing effect on dry skin, and [3] an improving effect on dry skin by daily application. It was also found that the application of EPDME in combination with glycerol resulted in a synergistic effect on the dry skin. When EPDME was formulated to lipsticks (oily bases), a high moisture-retaining effect was found. EPDME is a useful cosmetic ingredient that can give a good skin care effect in both water-based formula and oil-based formula. As the polarity of EPDME can easily be controlled, it is expected to be applicable for various cosmetics in the near future.
TiO2 thin films doped with various transition metals were systematically fabricated by combinatorial laser MBE technique. Alternating KrF excimer laser ((lambda) equals 248 nm) ablation of TiO2 and Ti1-x MxO2 (M equals transition metal) was employed to deposit combinatorial library of 18 samples for each dopant with different concentrations. Anatase films with c-axis orientation were grown epitaxially on SrTiO3(001) substrate while the rutile phase films with a-axis orientation were on Al2O3(0001) substrate. Solid solubility of transition metals in both the phases was determined by X-ray diffraction. The anatase phase was found to dissolve the transition metals in higher concentrations than rutile phase. The parallel evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO2 in combinatorial libraries was performed with respect to photo-decomposition of water in presence of a small amount of oxidizing or reducing agent which induced pH changes on the pixels. The high throughput evaluation of combinatorially deposited photocatalytic thin films was realized by adopting a potentiometric pH field effect transistor for sensing such pH changes.
We investigated the effects of a chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) on the circulation system in humans. A total of 58 subjects with either mild hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90-99 mmHg) or high-normal blood pressure (SBP 130-139 mmHg or DBP 85-89 mmHg) were assigned to two groups, one involving a placebo and the other, the test food (including CCH of 2.9 g/d). The parameters related to each subject's circulation system were monitored over the study period of 18 weeks. The Δbrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an indicator of arterial stiffness and marker of vascular damage, was significantly lower in the test food group than in the placebo group during the treatment period. The blood pressure in the test food group was also significantly lower than that in the placebo group, while the serum nitrogen oxide was higher in the test food group after the treatment. These results suggest that CCH exerted modulatory effects on the human circulation system.
High pressures of 1, 000 to 5, 000 atm were applied to beef rounds to study the effects of pressure on the proteolytic activities involved. Acid protease was scarcely inactivated, and neutral protease was slightly inactivated at 4, 000 atm or higher. Aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidase were completely inactivated at 5, 000 and 4, 000 atm, respectively. The autolytic activity of the extract from pressure-treated beef at pH 3.0 to 6.0 increased with increasing applied pressure, while that at pH 6.5 to 8.0 showed two maxima at 3, 000 and 5, 000 atm. The increase in free amino acid content was amplified by pressurization at 1, 000 to 3, 000 atm, and the tryptic digestibility of the extract from the pressurized beef was increased at 4, 000 atm or higher. These results suggest that high-pressure treatment modulates the proteolytic activities of meat to improve its quality.
Aims The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between cognitive function and clinical variables in people with schizophrenia. Methods The subjects were 61 stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia ( DSM‐IV ). Their mean age was 40.1 ( SD = 12.2) years. All subjects gave written informed consent to participate in the research. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and the Drug‐Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale. Results The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Negative syndrome score was significantly correlated with verbal memory score (r = −0.37, P < 0.01), working memory score (r = 0.38, P < 0.01), attention and speed of information processing score (r = −0.51, P < 0.01), verbal fluency score (r = −0.39, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = −0.54, P < 0.01). In addition, the Drug‐Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale score was significantly correlated with attention and speed of information processing (r = −0.45, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = −0.41, P < 0. 01). Dose of antipsychotics and anti‐Parkinson drugs was not significantly correlated with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scores. Conclusions These results indicate that cognitive dysfunction of people with schizophrenia might be associated with negative and drug‐induced extrapyramidal symptoms, suggesting that their minimization would be important for improving cognitive dysfunction.
