Masao Akuzawa

Improvement of the Tissue-adhesive and Sealing Effect of Fibrin Sealant Using Polyglycolic Acid Felt

Although fibrin sealant (FS) has an advantage of high biocompatibility, its adhesive force and sealing effect have been generally considered to be inadequate. In the present study, a high adhesive force and sealing effect were obtained by first rubbing fibrinogen solution into the target tissue, attaching polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt to the treated area, and finally spraying it with FS. This method was compared with three conventional FS application methods and a method using fibrin glue-coated collagen fleece. The adhesive force resulting from the present method was 12 times higher than that for the sequential application method, 4.5 times higher than the spray method, 2.5 times higher than the rubbing and spray method, and 2.2 times higher than the use of fibrin glue-coated collagen fleece. The high adhesive force of FS with PGA felt seemed to be due the high fibrin content of the fibrin gel (FG). Light and electron microscopic observations suggested that the formation of FG in closer contact with the muscle fibers was a factor contributing to this superior adhesive force. Comparison of the sealing effect of the present method with other methods using various biomaterials in combination with FS showed that the sealing effect of FS with PGA felt was 1.4 times higher that of polyglactin 910, 1.8 times that of polytetrafluoroethylene, and 6.7 times that of oxidized regenerated cellulose.

Helminths of the Tsushima leopard cat (Felis bengalensis euptilura).

Three Tsushima leopard cats (Felis bengalensis euptilura) in Japan were collected as road kills. Three species of trematodes (Pharyngostomum cordatum, Paragonimus sp. and Dicrocoeliidae gn. sp.), one species of cestode (Spirometra erinacei) and nine species of nematodes (Arthrostoma hunanensis, Uncinaria felidis, Uncinaria sp., Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Molineus springsmithi, Toxocara cati, Capillaria aerophila, Capillaria feliscati, and Capillaria sp.) were found. Among these helminths, Arthrostoma hunanensis, Uncinaria spp., and Molineus springsmithi have not been reported previously in Japanese domestic cats.

Purification, characterization and developmental expression of pig liver PSP

We have isolated a perchloric acid-soluble protein designated as PL-PSP from the post-mitochondria supernatant fraction of pig liver. It is soluble in 5% perchloric acid and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and CM-Sephadex chromatography. The PL-PSP showed approximately 80-90% homology with PSP isolated from rat liver (RL-PSP) with its partial amino acid sequences. The protein has a molecular mass of approximately 14 kDa which was slightly higher than that of RL-PSP. It inhibited protein synthesis in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The expression of PL-PSP was predominant in liver, kidney and duodenum, and was also expressed in stomach, lung and brain. PL-PSP expression in liver increased from the 1st day to the 1st month. Thus, our findings are the first report on the presence of a PSP in porcine tissues which may be involved in the regulation of cellular growth and differentiation.

Reference Values and Limited Serological Survey for the Iriomote Cat in Japan

Clinical investigations and hematological, serum biochemical, and serological surveys were carried out on 11 male and 6 female Iriomote cats (Felis iriomotensis) in Japan. Examined Iriomote cats were considered clinically healthy by the inspection for the general physical conditions. However, urinalysis suggested the inflammation of the urinary tract in all the cats. Antibody for feline panleukopenia virus was positive in one of the examined Iriomote cats, which suggested a previous infection.

Hematological, Osmotic, and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Erythrocytes of Dogs Given β-acetylphenylhydrazine

Hematologic examinations, osmotic fragility tests, and scanning electron microscopy of erythrocytes were done on blood of dogs given 5 mg/kg of β-acetylphenylhydrazine for 5 weeks. Reticulocytes, Heinz bodies, and serum total bilirubin values increased in the 1st week. Reticulocyte numbers peaked in the 2nd week, and reticulocytosis persisted through the 5th week. Erythrocyte, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin values decreased markedly and became lowest in the 2nd week. Mean corpuscular volume increased in the 1st week and remained increased for the duration of treatment. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility was increased after 1 week of treatment. Echinocytes were increased with a peak level of 47.6% at week 1 of treatment. Increased numbers of acanthocytes and schizocytes also were detected.

Changes of Plasma Cortisol Concentration, Total and Differential Leukocyte Counts and Phagocytic Function of Monocytes and Neutrophils in Peripheral Blood after Grouping Unfamiliar Piglets

本試験は,子豚の群編成後の闘争が末梢血のコルチゾール濃度,白血球数,単球および好中球の貪食能に及ぼす影響を明らかにする目的で実施した.LW×D種去勢雄子豚,12頭(4頭/腹×3腹)を用い,生後45±0日齢に,同腹豚4頭(移動豚)を,別の同腹豚4頭(先住豚)を飼育している豚房に移動し,8日間同居させた.残りの同腹豚4頭は,移動せずに対照豚とした.編成直後から6時間,先住豚は移動豚に対して,顔,耳,頸および肩を噛むあるいは前肢で頸や肩に乗るなど激しく攻撃したが,移動豚の先住豚はこ対する反撃はほとんど認められなかった.その後,子豚間の闘争は試験終了時まで全くみられなかった.試験期間中,対照豚では血漿コルチゾール濃度,白血球数および単球と好中球の酵母貪食能には変化はみられなかった.いっぽう,先住豚と移動豚では,以下の成績が得られた.1) 編成後1時間における血漿コルチゾール濃度は,編成前1時間(編成前)および対照豚に比較して有意に高かったが,編成後24時間には編成前の値まで低下した.2) 試験期間中,好中球数には変化はみられなかったが,編成後1および8日における単球数および単球と好中球の酵母貪食能は,編成前および対照豚に比較して有意に低かった.3) 試験期間中,血漿コルチゾール濃度,白血球数および単球と好中球の酵母貪食能には,先住豚と移動豚との間には有意差は認められなかった.これらの成績から,群編成後の闘争はブタにとってストレッサーであり,子豚は編成後少なくとも8日間は単球数は減少し,単球および好中球の貪食能は抑制されていることが明らかになった.