Fermentation Quality of Phasey Bean and Guineagrass Silages

Silages were made from guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. var. maximum) and phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.) at three-growth stages. The silages were investigated in relation fermentation quality. Phasey bean silage showed a better fermentation quality than guineagrass silage. The latic acid to total acid ratio of phasey bean silage was higher than 500g/kg DM, and the volatile basic nitrogen to total nitrogen ratio was lower than 100g/kg. It is concluded that phasey bean is an unique legume suitable for good silage fermentation

The Carrying Capacity of Pure and Oversown Giant Star Grass (\u3ci\u3eCynodon nlemfuensis\u3c/i\u3e Vanderyst) under Different Stocking Rate in South-Western Islands of Japan

The objective of this study was firstly to know the potential carrying capacity, pasture production, pasture utilization of giant star grass under different stocking rates in intensive rotational grazing system, and to evaluate a carrying capacity of giant star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) pasture oversown with annual hybrid ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum X Lolium perenne) on short low productive winter pasture in South-western Islands of Japan. High herbage availability and good quality forage to bring about effective animal productions were produced by using relatively heavy stocking rates of 6 - 8 heads/ha, and achieved optimum pasture utilization of giant star grass. Herbage utilization and daily dry matter intake on pasture oversown with ryegrass were higher than pure giant star grass during winter. Average herbage availability and utilization at heavy stocking rate was higher than at light stocking rate even in winter

Variation of Pollen Viability in \u3ci\u3eBrachiaria\u3c/i\u3e Species and Opportunity in Increased Filled Seed Percentage

On pseudogamy process, pollen fertility affects endosperm development in Brachiaria apomictic hybrids. Also, it was well-known that self-incompatibility could affect the fertilization in cross pollination species. Evaluation of pollen viability and percentage of filled seed, and the demonstration of pollen induction technique for increasing filled seed percentage in Brachiaria spp. are presented in this paper. In the first experiment, 8 cultivars/breeding lines of Brachiaria, including 2 open-pollinated cultivars, an apomictic cultivar and 5 hybrids, were planted in randomized completely block design, with 3 replications at northeast Thailand. Each experimental unit consisted of 20 plants, 6 central plants were evaluated. Four anthers of each plot were collected, and pollen cells were stained by iodine-potassium iodide. The specimens were investigated under microscope, with stained cell was classified as viable pollen, whereas non-stained cell was non-viable one. Percentages of filled seed were determined by hand counting method. It was found that both traits showed variation significantly), however, there was no correlation between them. In the second experiment, a hybrid (tetraploid B. ruziziensis × B. decumbens) was planted with other genotypes in crossing cage, with 4 replications of completely randomized design. Because of the failure of inflorescence development in hybrid in some cages, hence, analysis of variance could not be performed. However, the data showed evidence that growing hybrid with tetraploid ruzigrass could improve filled seed percentage of hybrid

Potentiation of 17 beta-estradiol synthesis in the brain and elongation of seizure latency through dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid

Several studies have shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) attenuates epileptic seizures; however, the molecular mechanism by which it achieves this effect is still largely unknown. DHA stimulates the retinoid X receptor, which reportedly regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom). This study aimed to clarify how DHA suppresses seizures, focusing on the regulation of 17β-estradiol synthesis in the brain. Dietary supplementation with DHA increased not only the expression of P450arom, but also 17β-estradiol in the cerebral cortex. While DHA did not affect the duration or scores of the seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole, DHA significantly prolonged the seizure latency. A P450arom inhibitor, letrozole, reduced 17β-estradiol levels and completely suppressed the elongation of seizure latency elicited by DHA. These results suggest that DHA delays the onset of seizures by promoting the synthesis of 17β-estradiol in the brain. DHA upregulated the expression of anti-oxidative enzymes in the cerebral cortex. The oxidation in the cerebral cortex induced by pentylenetetrazole was significantly attenuated by DHA, and letrozole completely inhibited this suppressive action. Thus, the anti-oxidative effects of 17β-estradiol may be involved in the prevention of seizures mediated by DHA. This study revealed that 17β-estradiol in the brain mediated the physiological actions of DHA.This work was partially supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan, KAKENHI for Y.I., K.I. and T.Y. (Nos. 26740024, 26460139 and 25340047), a grant from the Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation for Y.I. and a grant from the SKYLARK Food Science Institute for Y.I. This work was also financially supported in part by Tokushima Bunri University. We thank Y. Kamihashi, Y. Utagawa, and K. Kojima for their technical assistance. We also acknowledge S. Smiley-Jewell and M. Paz Prada for editing the manuscript. This manuscript has been checked by a professional language editing service, American Journal Experts

NOS2 polymorphisms associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary arterial hypertension with systemic sclerosis: contribution to the transcriptional activity

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by tissue fibrosis. One of several complications of SSc, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can be refractory to treatment, both novel and established. In the present study we investigated the ratio of circulating nitric oxide to endothelin-1 in patients with both SSc and PAH, and determined whether polymorphisms in NOS2 (the nitric oxide synthase 2 gene) are associated with susceptibility to PAH. Endothelin-1 in plasma and nitric oxide metabolites (nitrate and nitrite) in serum were measured. The nitric oxide/endothelin-1 ratio was significantly lower in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. We confirmed the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -1,026 and -277 and a pentanucleotide repeat (CCTTT) at -2.5 kilobases. There were significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms between patients with SSc who had PAH and those who did not, and between patients with both SSc and PAH and healthy control individuals. The CCTTT repeat was significantly shorter in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. Transcriptional activity were analyzed using the luciferase reporter assay. The transcriptional activity of NOS2 was much greater in fibroblasts transfected by a vector with a long allele of the CCTTT repeat than in those transfected by a vector with a short allele. Polymorphisms in the NOS2 gene are associated with transcriptional activity of the NOS2 gene and with susceptibility to SSc-related PAH

Cloning of cDNA and genomic DNA for human cytochrome P-45011β

AbstractA full-length cDNA clone encoding steroid 11β-hydroxylase (P-45011β) has been isolated from a cDNA library derived from human adrenal tumor. The insert of the clone contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 503 amino acid residues together with a 4 bp 5'-untranslated region and a 576 bp 3'-untranslated region to which a poly(A) tract is attached. The promoter region of the P-45011β gene has also been isolated from a genomic library derived from human pre-B cells. It contains a TATA box, a putative cAMP-responsive element, several repeated sequences and two sequence elements similar to the consensus sequence for binding of AP-1. A transient expression assay in Y-1 adrenal tumor cells demonstrates that the promoter activity is remarkably enhanced by treatment of the cells with cAMP. In addition, analysis using deletion mutants containing various lengths of the 5'-flanking region of the gene suggests that several cis-acting elements participate in transcriptional regulation of human P-45011β gene

Effects of Preservation with Pre-Fermented Green Juice (FGJ) on Fermentation Quality and Energy and Nitrogen Utilization of Round-Baled Alfalfa Silage by Dairy Cattle

This study was conducted to examine the effects of pre-fermented green juice (FGJ) of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the fermentation quality and animal performance of round-baled alfalfa silage (Medicago stativa L.,cv. Dupuits). Ensiling treatments of wilting and FGJ additives (WFGJ) and direct-cut and FGJ additives (DFGJ) improved the fermentation quality of alfalfa silage more than that of wilting (W). Enhanced fermentation in the WFGJ and DFGJ silage was also associated with the increases of energy and nitrogen utilization of the silage by dry Holstein dairy cattle, as fed on diets formulated with alfalfa silage, oat hay, and oat grains

Prognostic value of an increased in flourine-18 deoxyglucose uptake in patients with myocardial infarction: Comparision with stress thallium imaging

AbstractObjectives. This study was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic value of an increase in fluorine (F)-18 deoxyglucose uptake compared wilh clinical, angiographic and stress thallium findings in patients with myocardial infarction.Background. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using F-18 deoxyglucose has been applied to assess tissue viability in patients with coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that patients with a myocardial segment with augmented F-18 deoxyglucose uptake are at high risk for a future cardiac event.Methods. One hundred fifty-eight consecutive patients with myocardial infarction referred for F-18 deoxyglucose PET and stress thallium scans were studied. Follow-up was obtained in 84 patients at a mean interval of 23 months to investigate prognostic implications of radionuclide studies.Results. Seventeen patients had a cardiac event during the follow-up interval. Univariate analysis showed that an increase in F-18 deosyglucose uptake was the best predictor of a future cardiac event (p = 0.0006), followed by the number of stenosed vessels (p = 0.008). In the multivariate analysis, when an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake was entered into the model, only angiographic variables had an independent value, whereas no other radionuclide variables showed value. Among patients who did not show redistribution, a future cardiac event was observed more often in patients with than in those without an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake (p < 0.05).Conclusions. Thus, an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake seemed to be the best predictor of a future cardiac event among all clinical, angiographic and redionuclide variables in this study of stable patients with myocardial infarction. Even when a stress thallium-201 scan does not show redistribution, those patients who have an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake in a PET study may be at risk for a future cardiac event, and these patients may need aggressive treatment to prevent a future cardiac event