Induction and prevention of virus-associated malignant lymphoma by serial transmission of EBV-related virus from cynomolgus by blood transfusion in rabbits.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related herpesvirus (Si-IIA-EBV) was serially transmitted for 3 passages from rabbit to rabbit of the opposite sex by blood transfusion, which subsequently induced virus-associated rabbit lymphomas. The virus could be transmitted by transfusion with 15-20 ml of whole blood (7/7) or irradiated blood (1/6) from the EBV-related virus-infected rabbits, but there was no transmission with transfusion of cell-free plasma (0/6) from the infected rabbits. Passive anti-EBV-VCA IgG (x 20 approximately x 10) titers decreased during the first 1-2 weeks in the transfused rabbits. The virus-transmitted rabbits showed a gradual increase in antibody titers ranging from peak titers of x 640 to x 2560 after 3 weeks of transfusion. The recipient origin of malignant lymphoma that developed in the first rabbit transfused by infected blood was confirmed by chromosomal analysis. This rabbit model thus shows that EBV-related herpesvirus is serially transmissible by blood transfusion and that transmission can not be completely prevented by irradiation of blood, but removal of blood cells is the best way to prevent transmission of EBV-related virus. Therefore, this animal model provides a convenient in vivo system for studies of the prevention and therapy of transfusion-related transmission of EBV and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases in immunocompromised human beings.</p

Immunotherapy by a Slow Delivery System of Interleukin-2 in Mice Model

A sustained release system for interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL-2 mini-pellet (IL-2 mp), was developed by fusing IL-2 into a needle shaped collagen. Serum concentration of IL-2 after a single subcutaneous injection of the IL-2 mp into C57BL/6 mice remained elevated longer than after an injection of aqueous IL-2. IL-2 in the serum became undetectable by 6h after a subcutaneous injection of 1 x 10(6) unit of IL-2 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). In contrast, after a single subcutaneous injection of IL-2 mp containing the same amount of IL-2, the concentration of IL-2 increased to its maximum at 6h after injection, then began to decrease gradually. IL-2 was detected even on the third day after a single subcutaneous injection of one IL-2 mp. Augmentation of NK activity and generation of IL-2 activated killer cells were observed in the spleen from day 1--day 3 after a single subcutaneous injection of IL-2 mp into C57BL/6 mice. This activation was not observed following a single subcutaneous injection of the same amount of IL-2 in PBS. Adoptive immunotherapy by a single subcutaneous injection of IL-2 mp followed by intravenous injections of in vitro cultured IL-2 activated killer cells showed better results in decreasing the number of metastases of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice than immunotherapy using IL-2 solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)</p

Global legume diversity assessment : concepts, key indicators, and strategies

While many plant species are considered threatened under anthropogenic pressure, it remains uncertain how rapidly we are losing plant species diversity. To fill this gap, we propose a Global Legume Diversity Assessment (GLDA) as the first step of a global plant diversity assessment. Here we describe the concept of GLDA and its feasibility by reviewing relevant approaches and data availability. We conclude that Fabaceae is a good proxy for overall angiosperm diversity in many habitats and that much relevant data for GLDA are available. As indicators of states, we propose comparison of species richness with phylogenetic and functional diversity to obtain an integrated picture of diversity. As indicators of trends, species loss rate and extinction risks should be assessed. Specimen records and plot data provide key resources for assessing legume diversity at a global scale, and distribution modeling based on these records provide key methods for assessing states and trends of legume diversity. GLDA has started in Asia, and we call for a truly global legume diversity assessment by wider geographic collaborations among various scientists.This paper is an outcome of the workshop on the global legume diversity assessment held from 19 to 22 August 2011 in Kyushu University, Japan.The Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (S9) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the JSPS fund for Global Center of Excellence Program “Asian Conservation Ecology”.http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/s_taxon.phpam201

Courbe d'ionisation dans l'oxygène pur relative aux rayons alpha du polonium

L'auteur a construit la courbe de Bragg relative aux rayons α du polonium dans l'oxygène pur. Il en déduit le parcours extrapolé de ces rayons à 15°C et 760 mm Hg, soit 3,63 ± 0,01 cm. Ayant déterminé, d'autre part, le parcours extrapolé de ces mêmes rayons dans l'air, dans les mêmes conditions de pression et de température, soit 3,87 ± 0,01 cm, l'auteur en déduit la valeur du pouvoir d'arrêt de la molécule d'oxygène O2 par rapport à l'air, soit : 1,06

Courbe d'ionisation dans l'hydrogène pur relative aux rayons alpha du polonium

Dans ce travail, on a construit la courbe de Bragg relative aux rayons α du polonium dans l'hydrogène pur. On donne 17,30 ± 0,03 cm pour le parcours extrapolé dans l'hydrogène pur à 15°C et 760 mm Hg; on en déduit la valeur du pouvoir d'arrèt de H² par rapport à l'air : 0,223 De nombreuses déterminations ont donné 3,87 ± 0,01 cm à 15°C et 760 mm Hg pour le parcours extrapolé dans l'air