• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1497-1504
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• 2001

There is emerging interest in using xenotransplantation of porcine cells, tissues and organs for treatment of human illness. This article reviews the current status of xenotransplantation, with particular emphasis on the physiological and immunological barriers to xenotransplantation and genetic manipulations to overcome xenograft rejection. Preliminary success in xenotransplantation therapy for human Parkinson's disease using porcine foetal brain cells is described. Finally the zoonotic dangers of porcine xenotransplantation, most particularly porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), are discussed.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2021

Pluripotent stem cells could self-renew and differentiate into various cells. In particular, porcine pluripotent stem cells are useful for preclinical therapy, transgenic animals, and agricultural usage. These stem cells have naïve and primed pluripotent states. Naïve pluripotent stem cells represented by mouse embryonic stem cells form chimeras after blastocyst injection. Primed pluripotent stem cells represented by mouse epiblast stem cells and human embryonic stem cells. They could not produce chimeras after blastocyst injection. Populations of embryonic stem cells are not homogenous; therefore, reporter systems are used to clarify the status of stem cells and to isolate the cells. For this reason, studies of the OCT4 reporter system have been conducted for decades. This review will discuss the naïve and primed pluripotent states and recent progress in the development of porcine OCT4 reporter systems.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2022

Currently, there is no treatment to reverse or cure heart failure caused by ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction despite the remarkable advances in modern medicine. In addition, there is a lack of evidence regarding the existence of stem cells involved in the proliferation and regeneration of cardiomyocytes in adult hearts. As an alternative solution to overcome this problem, protocols for differentiating human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) into cardiomyocyte have been established, which further led to the development of cell therapy in major leading countries in this field. Recently, clinical studies have confirmed the safety of hPSC-derived cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). Although several institutions have shown progress in their research on cell therapy using hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, the functions of cardiomyocytes used for transplantation remain to be those of immature cardiomyocytes, which poses a risk of graft-induced arrhythmias in the early stage of transplantation. Over the last decade, research aimed at achieving maturation of immature cardiomyocytes, showing same characteristics as those of mature cardiomyocytes, has been actively conducted using various approaches at leading research institutes worldwide. However, challenges remain in technological development for effective generation of mature cardiomyocytes with the same properties as those present in the adult hearts. Therefore, in this review, we provide an overview of the technological development status for maturation methods of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and present a direction for future development of maturation techniques.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.190-193
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• 2006

Two weeks of therapy with intra-articular hyaluronic acid and oral caprofen failed to improve the clinical signs of hip osteoarthritis radiologically confirmed in a dog. Then, over the period of 30 days (7 sessions at 5-day intervals), bee- venom acupuncture (BV-AP, injection of bee venom at acupoints, also called apitoxin-aquapuncture) plus Trigger Point (TP) therapy was used. Five acupoints on the affected right limb were injected each time: GB30(as local point), plus ST35, GB33, BL40 and LIV08 (as distant points). The injection mixture (0.2 ml/point; total 1 ml/session) was saline + apitoxin + 2% lidocaine, so that the injected solution contained $100{\mu}g$ apitoxin diluted in 0.2% lidocaine-saline solution/ml. The total dose of apitoxin used was, therefore, $100{\mu}g/session$, divided over the 5 acupoints. One TP in the middle of the right quadriceps muscle was injected with 2% lidocaine (0.2 ml/point) each time. BV-AP improved the clinical signs rapidly; lameness and ataxia were disappear after 7 sessions (30 days); the right hind limb muscular atrophy was much improved and the hip radiograph was almost normal two weeks after 7 sessions (44 days). The present patient was a case with canine hip osteoarthritis which showed favorable therapeutic response by BV-AP plus TP therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.580-585
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to determine cow characteristics and farm management factors during the dry period associated with early postparturient intramammary infection (IMI) and subsequent clinical mastitis (CM). Data were collected three times: before drying off (P1), during the dry period (P2), and 5 to 14 days after calving (P3), using questionnaires and farm investigation. Milk samples were aseptically collected for bacterial identification at P1 and P3. Factors associated with IMI and CM were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. The final model showed that IMI in early postpartum was significantly associated with full insertion of dry cow antibiotic, dry cows in barns with a combination of tie and free stalls, body condition score (BCS) in dry period and after calving, and milk yield before drying off. For IMI cows, factors significantly associated with clinical expression of mastitis were having daily barn cleaning, teat disinfected with alcohol before administration of dry cow therapy, BCS before drying off, milk yield before drying off, and days in milk at drying off. In conclusion, both cow and farm management factors are associated with the IMI rate and subsequent expression of clinical signs of mastitis in early postpartum cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 1991

As a possible step to evaluate in the mammary gland the role of motherwort (Leonurus sibiricus L), a representative medicinal plant used traditionally for the therapy of gynecologic diseases, the effects of the agent on lactation which was suppressed by preganacy-dependent mammary tumors (PDMT) were studied in GR/A mice. Beginning the day of placing with males at 45-50 days of age, female mice were given 60% methanol-extract of the aerial part of motherwort as drinking water at the concentration of 0.5% throughout the experiment. Mice developing PDMT during pregnancy [PDMT(+)] and given motherwort were similar to mice developing no PDMT [PDMT(_)] with or without motherwort treatment and were significantly higher than PDMT(+) mice given tap water in litter growth and mammary RNA/DMA ratio on day 12 of the 2nd lactation. Mammary DNA and RNA contents were also elevated by motherwort in PDMT(+) mice. The results suggest that motherwort can ameliorate lactation suppressed by PDMT through its stimulation of both growth and function of the mammary glands.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.152-155
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• 2017

A 5-year-old intact female Maltese dog was referred to us with a history of left side head tilt and ataxia. Based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid analysis results, the patient was tentatively diagnosed to meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). Clinical signs were gradually improved and diminished after imatinib mesylate plus prednisolone therapy. At 90 days after treatment, we performed MRI recheck and brain inflammatory lesions were significantly improved compared with initial MRI results. However, the present patient showed head turn and tetraparesis after anesthesia and euthanized according to client's request. This report describes the clinical findings, serial magnetic resonance imaging characteristics under imatinib mesylate treatment in a MUE case.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.360-362
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• 2020

A 12-year-old intact female Pomeranian dog was presented with vulvar discharge, lethargy, polyuria, and polydipsia. A complete blood count revealed leukocytosis and anemia. The serum biochemical analyses showed elevated serum alkaline phosphatase activity and blood urea nitrogen. Survey abdominal radiography revealed an enlarged left kidney. Abdominal ultrasonography identified multiple rounded hypoechoic subcapsular lesions in the left kidney. The bilateral uterine horn was enlarged, and contained echogenic fluid. Percutaneous ultrasonographic-guided aspiration of the renal subcapsular lesions was performed on the left kidney. Cytological examination revealed bacterial cocci, degenerated neutrophils, and suppurative inflammation. Bacterial culture produced growth of Escherchia coli. Left nephrectomy and ovariohysterectomy were performed. Dilated uterine fluid was also evaluated for bacterial culture, and showed growth of E. coli. Urine was examined by bacterial culture, and showed negative results. The treatment consisted of antibiotic therapy according to the antibiotic sensitivity test. Based on these findings, the diagnosis was renal subcapsular abscess associated with pyometra. This study suggests that pyometra should be considered as the cause of renal abscess.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.788-797
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• 2018

In many countries, vaccines are used for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). However, because there is no protection against FMD immediately after vaccination, research and development on antiviral agents is being conducted to induce protection until immunological competence is produced. This study tested whether well-known chemicals used as RNA virus treatment agents had inhibitory effects on FMD viruses (FMDVs) and demonstrated that ribavirin showed antiviral effects against FMDV in vitro/in vivo. In addition, it was observed that combining the administration of the antiviral agents orally and complementary therapy with vaccines synergistically enhanced antiviral activity and preserved the survival rate and body weight in the experimental animals. Antiviral agents mixed with an adjuvant were inoculated intramuscularly along with the vaccines, thereby inhibiting virus replication after injection and verifying that it was possible to induce early protection against viral infection prior to immunity being achieved through the vaccine. Finally, pigs treated with antiviral agents and vaccines showed no clinical signs and had low virus excretion. Based on these results, it is expected that this combined approach could be a therapeutic and preventive treatment for early protection against FMD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.205-212
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• 2022

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating chronic disorder characterized by suprapubic pain and urinary symptoms such as urgency, nocturia, and frequency. The prevalence of IC/BPS is increasing as diagnostic criteria become more comprehensive. Conventional pharmacotherapy against IC/BPS has shown suboptimal effects, and consequently, patients with end-stage IC/BPS are subjected to surgery. The novel treatment strategies should have two main functions, anti-inflammatory action and the regeneration of glycosaminoglycan and urothelium layers. Stem cell therapy has been shown to have dual functions. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising therapeutic option for IC/BPS, but they come with several shortcomings, such as immune activation and tumorigenicity. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) hold numerous therapeutic cargos and are thus a viable cell-free therapeutic option. In this review, we provide a brief overview of IC/BPS pathophysiology and limitations of the MSC-based therapies. Then we provide a detailed explanation and discussion of therapeutic applications of EVs in IC/BPS as well as the possible mechanisms. We believe our review will give an insight into the strengths and drawbacks of EV-mediated IC/BPS therapy and will provide a basis for further development.