Taxonomy and pathogenicity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles infesting conifers in Japan, with special reference to those related to subalpine conifers

Ophiostomatoid fungi are ambiguous. They belong to the Ascomycota, and were formerly treated as one family and grouped in one genus, but molecular phylogenic studies have shown that they are divided into two orders and their generic classification must be altered. Our research group conducted taxonomic studies on ophiostomatoid fungi, their association with bark beetles, and their pathogenicity against host trees. This review summarizes recent changes in the taxonomic treatment of these fungi and their relationships with bark beetles associated with subalpine conifers in Japan. Furthermore, methods for evaluating their virulence against conifer trees are discussed

Influence of Carbon Content on Solidifying Shell Growth of Carbon Steels at the Initial Stage of Solidification

A dipping test that a water cooled copper plate was continuously dipped at 14 mm/s was performed in order to investigate solidifying shell growth in initial solidification. Anomalous rough surfaces and uneven shell growth were exhibited for an ultra-low carbon steel (0.005 mass% C) and a hypo-peritectic carbon steel (0.116 mass% C), while for a low carbon steel (0.044 mass% C) and a hyper-peritectic carbon steel (0.304 mass% C), flat surfaces were formed. The carbon content dependence of the anomalous uneven shell growth can be explained by stress caused by solidification shrinkage and = transformation occurring from a fraction solid 0.7, where shell begins to have strength, to 1.0, complete solidification state. Besides the analysis shows that decrease of the cooling rate can reduce the stress in the shell generated during the initial solidification

Inhibitory Effects of Pretreatment with Radon on Acute Alcohol-Induced Hepatopathy in Mice

We previously reported that radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in the liver and inhibits carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in mice. In addition, it has been reported that reactive oxygen species contribute to alcohol-induced hepatopathy. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of radon inhalation on acute alcohol- induced hepatopathy in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 50% alcohol (5 g/kg bodyweight) after inhaling approximately 4000 Bq/m(3) radon for 24 h. Alcohol administration significantly increased the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in serum, and the levels of triglyceride and lipid peroxide in the liver, suggesting acute alcohol- induced hepatopathy. Radon inhalation activated antioxidative functions in the liver. Furthermore, pretreatment with radon inhibited the depression of hepatic functions and antioxidative functions. These findings suggested that radon inhalation activated antioxidative functions in the liver and inhibited acute alcohol- induced hepatopathy in mice

Ash dieback病原菌の起源地周辺での生態、多様性と移入病原菌リスク評価

科学研究費助成事業 研究成果報告書：基盤研究(B)2015-2017課題番号 : 15H0450

Inhibitory Effects of Pre and Post Radon Inhalation on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Oxidative Damage in Mouse Organs

Radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in some organs of mice. We examined the prevention effects of pre radon inhalation and the alleviation effects of post radon inhalation on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative damage in the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney of mice. In addition, we compared the effect of pre and post radon inhalation on oxidative damage. Mice inhaled radon at a concentration of 18000Bq/m3 for 6hrs before or after CCl4 administration. As a result, the total glutathione(t-GSH) contents and catalase(CAT) activities in the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in the heart and lung were significantly higher in pre and post radon-inhaled mice than in mice treated with only CCl4. Pre radon inhalation inhibited and post radon inhalation reduced lipid peroxidation induced by CCl4. In addition, there were no significant differences in lipid peroxide(LPO) levels in the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney between pre and post radon-inhaled mice. These findings suggested that post radon inhalation has the same effects as pre radon inhalation against CCl4-induced oxidative damage in the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney

Protective Effects of Radon Inhalation on Carrageenan-Induced Inflammatory Paw Edema in Mice

We assessed whether radon inhalation inhibited carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice. Carrageenan (1% v/v) was injected subcutaneously into paws of mice that had or had not inhaled approximately 2,000 Bq/m3 of radon for 24 h. Radon inhalation significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and significantly decreased lipid peroxide levels in mouse paws, indicating that radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions. Carrageenan administration induced paw edema and significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide in serum. However, radon inhalation significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema. Serum TNF-α levels were lower in the radon-treated mice than in sham-treated mice. In addition, SOD and catalase activities in paws were significantly higher in the radon-treated mice than in the sham-treated mice. These findings indicated that radon inhalation had anti-inflammatory effects and inhibited carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw edema

Helicobacter pylori from gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer show same phylogeographic origin in the Andean Region in Colombia

Background: A recent report has shown that the phylogenetic origin of Helicobacter pylori based on multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was significantly associated with the severity of gastritis in Colombia. However, the potential relationship between phylogenetic origin and clinical outcomes was not examined in that study. If the phylogenetic origin rather than virulence factors were truly associated with clinical outcomes, identifying a population at high risk for gastric cancer in Colombia would be relatively straightforward. In this study, we examined the phylogenetic origins of strains from gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer patients living in Bogota, Colombia. Methods: We included 35 gastric cancer patients and 31 duodenal ulcer patients, which are considered the variant outcomes. The genotypes of cagA and vacA were determined by polymerase chain reaction. The genealogy of these Colombian strains was analyzed by MLST. Bacterial population structure was analyzed using STRUCTURE software. Results: H. pylori strains from gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer patients were scattered in the phylogenetic tree; thus, we did not detect any difference in phylogenetic distribution between gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer strains in the hpEurope group in Colombia. Sixty-six strains, with one exception, were classified as hpEurope irrespective of the cagA and vacA genotypes, and type of disease. STRUCTURE analysis revealed that Colombian hpEurope strains have a phylogenetic connection to Spanish strains. Conclusions: Our study showed that a phylogeographic origin determined by MLST was insufficient for distinguishing between gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer risk among hpEurope strains in the Andean region in Colombia. Our analysis also suggests that hpEurope strains in Colombia were primarily introduced by Spanish immigrants. © 2014 Shiota et al

Comparative Study on the Inhibitory Effects of α-Tocopherol and Radon on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Renal Damage

Since the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, the effects of low-dose irradiation, especially internal exposure, are at the forefront of everyone’s attention. However, low-dose radiation induced various stimulating effects such as activation of antioxidative and immune functions. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the quantitative effects of the activation of antioxidative activities in kidney induced by radon inhalation on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced renal damage. Mice were subjected to intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of CCl4 after inhaling approximately 1000 or 2000 Bq/m3 radon for 24 h, or immediately after i.p. injection of α-tocopherol (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg bodyweight). In case of renal function, radon inhalation at a concentration of 2000 Bq/m3 has the inhibitory effects similar to α-tocopherol treatment at a dose of 300–500 mg/kg bodyweight. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in kidneys were significantly higher in mice exposed to radon as compared to mice treated with CCl4 alone. These findings suggest that radon inhalation has an antioxidative effect against CCl4-induced renal damage similar to the antioxidative effects of α-tocopherol due to induction of antioxidative functions