C. Park

Blockade of CD40–CD154 Costimulatory Pathway Promotes Long‐Term Survival of Full‐Thickness Porcine Corneal Grafts in Nonhuman Primates: Clinically Applicable Xenocorneal Transplantation

The porcine cornea may be a good solution for the shortage of human donor corneas because its size and refractive properties are comparable to those of the human cornea. However, antigenic differences need to be overcome to apply xenocorneal transplantation in actual clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of full‐thickness porcine corneas as human corneal substitutes using a CD40–CD154 costimulatory pathway blocking strategy in a clinically applicable pig‐to‐nonhuman primate corneal transplantation model. As a result, the mean survival time of the xenocorneal grafts in recipients who received anti‐CD154 antibody‐based immunosuppressants (POD318 (n = 4); >933, >243, 318 and >192) was significantly longer than that in controls (POD28 (n = 3); 21, 28 and 29; p = 0.010, log‐rank test). Administration of anti‐CD154 antibodies markedly reduced inflammatory cellular infiltrations (predominantly CD8 T cells and macrophages) into the xenocorneal grafts and almost completely blocked xenoantigen‐triggered increases in Th1‐associated cytokines, chemokines and C3a in the aqueous humor. Moreover, systemic expansion of memory T cells was effectively controlled and responses of anti‐Gal/donor pig‐specific antibodies were considerably diminished by programmed injection of anti‐CD154 antibodies. Consequently, porcine corneas might be promising human corneal substitutes when the transplantation is accompanied by potent immunosuppression such as a CD40–CD154 costimulatory pathway blockade.

Moment-Carrying Capacity of Dovetailed Mortise and Tenon Joints with or without Beam Shoulder

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of beam shoulder on the moment-carrying capacity of traditional post-beam joints, dovetailed mortise, and tenon joints. The specimens were manufactured by a computer numerical controlled (CNC) cutting machine with Japanese larch six-ply glulams (glued laminated timber), and moment-carrying capacity was investigated by static loading tests. The results of the tests indicated that the moment resistance, joint stiffness, and failure modes were different with or without beam shoulder. The results also indicated that all joints types underwent significant deformation without breaking and maintained after the yield point. The failure mode, which included post splitting, shear failure of mortise branches, or embedment failure of tenon, was dependent on the presence of the beam shoulder. The results indicated that the beam shoulder significantly affected the performance of the post-beam joint. It was concluded that the beam shoulder reinforced the dovetailed mortise and ...

Uterine extramedullary plasmacytoma in a dog.

Y-K. Choi, PhD, Korea Research Institute of BioScience and Biotechnology, Daejon, 305-333, Republic of Korea J-Y. Lee, DVM, H-M. Park, PhD, C. Park, DVM, Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, J-I. Park, PhD, Department of Theriogenology, S-W. Jeong, PhD, Department of Veterinary Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea, D-Y. Kim, PhD, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea

Comparison of the Pathogenesis of Single or Dual Infections with Type 1 and Type 2 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

The aim of this study was to compare the pathogenicity of single or dual infections with type 1 and type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in pigs. Pigs were inoculated intranasally with type 1 or type 2 PRRSV or both viruses together. Pigs infected with type 1 and type 2 PRRSV together had significantly (P <0.05) fewer genomic copies of type 1 PRRSV than did pigs infected with type 1 PRRSV alone. Pigs infected with type 2 PRRSV alone or type 1 and type 2 PRRSV together had significantly (P <0.05) higher gross and microscopical lung lesion scores than did pigs infected with type 1 PRRSV alone. Pigs infected with type 2 PRRSV alone or type 1 and type 2 PRRSV together had significantly (P <0.05) higher scores for PRRSV-positive cells in the lung than did pigs infected with type 1 PRRSV alone. Pigs infected with type 1 PRRSV alone had significantly (P <0.05) higher scores for type 1 PRRSV-positive cells in the lung than did pigs infected with both types of PRRSV together. Pigs infected with both types of PRRSV together developed similar clinical disease and lesions as pigs infected with type 2 PRRSV alone. Significant differences in virulence were not observed between pigs infected with type 2 PRRSV alone and pigs infected with both types of PRRSV together in terms of viraemia, lung lesion score and virus distribution within lung lesions.

Comparison of commercial type 1 and type 2 PRRSV vaccines against heterologous dual challenge

This study was to compare the effect of vaccination of pigs with either type 1 or type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) against heterologous dual challenge of both genotypes. Pigs were administered type 1 (UNISTRAIN PRRS) or type 2 (Fostera PRRS) PRRSV vaccine at 28 days of age and inoculated intranasally with both genotypes at 63 days of age. Vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV was able to reduce the levels of type 1 but not type 2 PRRSV viraemia, whereas vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV was able to reduce the levels of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV viraemia against a dual challenge. Vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV significantly reduced lung lesions after dual challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV. Vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV induced higher numbers of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-specific interferon-γ secreting cells compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV after dual challenge. The results of this study demonstrated that vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV is efficacious in protecting growing pigs from respiratory disease after heterologous dual type 1 and type 2 PRRSV challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV.

Influence of crossing-beam shoulder and wood species on moment-carrying capacity in a Korean traditional dovetail joint

This study investigated the interaction effects of a crossing beam on the moment-carrying capacity of a Korean traditional dovetail joint. In particular, the length of the crossing-beam shoulder (Bs) and the wood species were varied as important factors. Clearly, the Bs acts as a fastener that improves the performance of timber joints by preventing splitting failure parallel to the grain. All the specimens experienced tension failure by tension force in the direction perpendicular to the grain; therefore, the tension strength perpendicular to the grain could be considered an important property, and standard values could be determined to develop a formula for predicting the structural behavior of the joints or the structural design codes of the joints. The results of the tests indicated that the moment resistance of the joints increased as the length of the crossing Bs and the density of the wood species increased. Joint stiffness results also indicated that the joints became stiffer when the crossing beam had shoulders, but the results were not affected by the length of the Bs. In addition, the joint stiffness was proportional to the density of the wood species.

Study of the Distribution Properties and LRFD Code Conversion in Japanese Larch

This study was performed to develop an LRFD (Load Resistance Factored Design) Code for Domestic Larch. To accomplish his, we evaluated bending, compression, tension and shear strength. The results of the strength evaluation were utilized to verify the distribution and code conversion. For bending, tension and compressive strength, the Weibull distribution was well-fitted, but for shear strength we observed a normal distribution. For evaluating the bending and compressive strength, a full-sized specimen was used. A small clear specimen was used to test tension and shear strength. Compressive strength in particular was found to be affected by tight knots, although there was little difference between grades. In the code conversion, the design value of the LRFD was larger than the existing allowable stress value in the Korean Building Code. However, the allowable stress in this study was about two times higher than the value listed in the Korean Building Code. This result induced the difference between the soft and hard conversions. For greater reliability, the accumulation of additional data is necessary and further studies should be performed

In-situ Hybridization for the Detection of Sacbrood Virus in Infected Larvae of the Honey Bee (Apis cerana)

The aim of this study was to develop and use in-situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection and localization of the sacbrood virus (SBV) in Korean honey bee (Apis cerana) larvae that were infected naturally with SBV. A 258 base pair cDNA probe for SBV was generated by polymerase chain reaction. Cells positive for viral genome typically showed a dark brown reaction in the cytoplasm. SBV was detected consistently in trophocytes and urocytes. The ISH was successfully applied to routinely fixed and processed tissues and thus should prove helpful in the diagnosis and characterization of viral distribution in infected larvae.

The Effect of Diluted Water Treatments on the Superconducting Properties of

To examine the effect of diluted water treatments on the superconducting properties of MgB₂, MgB₂ powders were prepared by mixing with a series of diluted water (water-ethanol mixture). XRD analyses were carried out to investigate the phases of the diluted water-treated MgB₂ powders. Both the isothermal magnetizations <i>M</i>(<i>H</i>) of the series of samples at fixed temperature and <i>M</i>(<i>T</i>) in fixed field, employing a PPMS-9 (Quantum Design), were measured. The degradation of the superconductivity of MgB₂ by the diluted water treatments was observed. The diluted water-treated MgB₂ powders have shown reduced superconductivity as the water concentration in the diluted water increases.

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The effect of total radiation dose (TRD) on the outcome of patients with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus was assessed. Sixty-seven patients with esophagectomy, followed by postoperative RT for squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus from June 1984 through February 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 13 patients were excluded. No patient had chemotherapy. Patients were classified into two groups based on TRD delivered: TRD of less than 50 Gy (Group A, n = 16) and at least 50 Gy (Group B, n = 38). Follow-up duration of all patients ranged from 4 to 140 months (median, 14). Median TRD of Group A and B were 45 Gy (range, 45-48.6) and 54 Gy (range, 50-59.6), respectively. Median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of all patients were 15 and 10 months, respectively. Although the TRD of 50 Gy or higher was marginally significant for improved OS (hazard ration [HR] 0.559, P = 0.066), it was statistically significant for improved DFS (HR 0.398, P = 0.011), and locoregional recurrence-free survival (HR 0.165, P = 0.001) with multivariate analysis. Three patients in group A and two in group B experienced a complication of grade 3 or higher. Our study suggests a positive impact of TRD of 50 Gy or higher on DFS and locoregional control, with acceptable morbidity in postoperative RT for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus. According to the present analysis, TRD should be at least 50 Gy in postoperative RT alone setting.