Divergence of p33/34 Gene of Theileria Found in Cervus nippon in Japan

全国8地域のニホンジカに寄生するタイレリアの18S rRNAおよびp33/34遺伝子を解析した. 18S rRNA遺伝子の相同性は99.7-100%であったが,山口県産ニホンジカのタイレリアp33/34遺伝子の相同性は,他地域のものに比べて塩基配列で68.7〜70.1%,アミノ酸配列で64,1〜70.0%と低く,ニホンジカのタイレリアには遺伝的に異なる株が存在することが示唆された.The 18S rRNA gene and the piroplasm major immunodominant protein gene (p33/34) of Theileria from various subspecies of sika deer in 8 different locations of Japan were analyzed. The similarity between 633 bp partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene among various subspecies of sika deer was found to be between 99.7% and 100%. While the percent identities of the 412 bp partial p33/34 gene sequence and deduced amino acid sequences between Theileria of sika deer from Yamaguchi Prefecture and those found in deer from other Prefectures, were comparatively low, 68.7% to 70.1% and 64.1% to 70.0% respectively. These findings suggest that there are at least two genetically distinct strains of Theileria of sika deer in Japan

Clinical relationship between histopathological necrotic/partial necrotic findings and disease condition of gallbladder mucoceles in dogs

Gallbladder mucocele (GM) is a common extrahepatic biliary disease recognized in dogs and is defined as the expansion and extension of the gallbladder by an accumulation of semi-solid bile or bile acid. Histopathological diagnosis of necrotizing cholecystitis and transmural coagulative necrosis of the gallbladder wall shows poor prognosis. Conversely, histopathological diagnosis with partial necrotic findings is often achieved. We hypothesized that histopathological partial necrosis of the gallbladder wall is the primary lesion of necrotic cholecystitis or transmural ischemic necrosis. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between histopathological necrosis/ partial necrosis findings and their clinical conditions. We retrospectively analyzed 55 dogs diagnosed with GM that had undergone cholecystectomy at the Yamaguchi University Animal Medical Center. The group with histopathological necrosis/partial necrosis of the gallbladder wall showed elevated levels of preoperative white blood cells, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, total bilirubin, and C-reactive protein compared to the non-necrotic group. Partial necrosis of the gallbladder wall may affect the progression of the disease and hematological abnormalities. Additionally, all death cases until 2 weeks were included in the histopathological necrosis/partial necrosis group. In this study, we found that poor prognosis factors were associated with partial necrosis of the gallbladder wall. Furthermore, these cases of partial necrosis showed elevated levels of blood test parameters. These results suggest that necrosis of the gallbladder wall is associated with poor prognosis and poor pathophysiological conditions

Morphological and microarray analyses of human hepatocytes from xenogeneic host livers.

We previously produced mice with human hepatocyte (h-hep) chimeric livers by transplanting h-heps into albumin enhancer/promoter-driven urokinase-type plasminogen activator-transgenic severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with liver disease. The chimeric livers were constructed with h-heps, mouse hepatocytes, and mouse hepatic sinusoidal cells (m-HSCs). Here, we investigated the morphological features of the chimeric livers and the h-hep gene expression profiles in the xenogeneic animal body. To do so, we performed immunohistochemistry, morphometric analyses, and electron microscopic observations on chimeric mouse livers, and used microarray analyses to compare gene expression patterns in hepatocytes derived from chimeric mouse hepatocytes (c-heps) and h-heps. Morphometric analysis revealed that the ratio of hepatocytes to m-HSCs in the chimeric mouse livers were twofold higher than those in the SCID mouse livers, corresponding to twin-cell plates in the chimeric mouse liver. The h-heps in the chimeric mouse did not show hypoxia even in the twin-cell plate structure, probably because of low oxygen consumption by the h-heps relative to the mouse hepatocytes (m-heps). Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations revealed that the sinusoids in the chimeric mouse livers were normally constructed with h-heps and m-HSCs. However, a number of microvilli projected into the intercellular clefts on the lateral aspects of the hepatocytes, features typical of a growth phase. Microarray profiles indicated that similar to 82% of 16 605 probes were within a twofold range difference between h-heps and c-heps. Cluster and principal component analyses showed that the gene expression patterns of c-heps were extremely similar to those of h-heps. In conclusion, the chimeric mouse livers were normally reconstructed with h-heps and m-HSCs, and expressed most human genes at levels similar to those in human livers, although the chimeric livers showed morphological characteristics typical of growth. Laboratory Investigation (2013) 93, 54-71; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2012.158; published online 12 November 201

Laparoscopic partial splenectomy for giant cyst using a radiofrequency-assisted device: a case report

Background: Although radiofrequency-assisted devices have sometimes been used in partial splenectomy, this is not a common technique. This report describes the first case of laparoscopic partial splenectomy using an RF-assisted device (Coolinside) which allows both coagulation and transection of the parenchyma and eventually the protective coagulation of the remnant side. Case presentation: A 27-year-old woman was found to have a giant hydatic cyst measuring 12.0 × 14.0 × 16.6 cm that mainly occupied the lower pole of the spleen and retroperitoneal space. The patient underwent a laparoscopic partial splenectomy using an RF-based device designed to accomplish both the coagulation and dissection of the splenic tissue. The estimated blood loss was less than 200 mL. Conclusions: Even though RF ablation has traditionally been used for hepatic parenchymal transection, it seems equally suited to partial splenectomy. This device seems to provide good results, minimizing blood loss during partial splenectomy; however, randomized trials will be necessary to see if the results are superior to those of other techniques.This work was partially supported by the Spanish “Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad” under Grant TEC2014-52383-C3-R (TEC2014-52383-C3-1-R and TEC2014-52383-C3-3-R)