Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) augment the ability to contribute to microvascular remodeling in vivo and to modulate vascular stability in fresh fat grafts. Although cryopreserved adipose tissue is frequently used for soft tissue augmentation, the viability of the fat graft is poor. The effects of culture-expanded human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) on the survival and quality of the cryopreserved fat graft were determined. hAdMSCs from the same donor were mixed with fat tissues cryopreserved at -70°C for 8 weeks and injected subcutaneously into 6-week-old BALB/c-nu nude mice. Graft volume and weight were measured, and histology was evaluated 4 and 15 weeks post-transplantation. The hAdMSC-treated group showed significantly enhanced graft volume and weight. The histological evaluation demonstrated significantly better fat cell integrity compared with the vehicle-treated control 4 weeks post-transplantation. No significant difference in graft weight, volume, or histological parameters was found among the groups 15 weeks post-transplantation. The hAdMSCs enhanced the survival and quality of transplanted cryopreserved fat tissues. Cultured and expanded hAdMSCs have reconstructive capacity in cryopreserved fat grafting by increasing the number of stem cells.

Piroplasms are tick-transmitted, intracellular, hemoprotozoan parasites that cause anorexia, fever, anemia, and icterus. Theileriosis is caused by Theileria sergenti and causes major economic losses in grazing cattle in Japan and Korea. In May 2003, we examined the antigenic diversity of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene in 35 healthy Jeju black cattle that were born and raised at the National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture. On microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, 9 of 35 cattle had intra-erythrocytic piroplasms. Hematological data were within normal range for all 35 cattle. Amplification of DNA from all blood samples using universal MPSP gene primers showed mixed infections with C, I, and B type Theileria spp. Type C was identified in 20 of 35 blood samples, and type B was identified in 17 samples. Allelic variation was seen in type B.

Totally, one hundred and sixty 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed with a diet containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 )/kg of feed for 21 days. Body weight was lower for the AFB 1 -treated broilers than for the control group. At 14 and 21 DPF, the broilers fed with 2.0 mg of AFB 1 /kg of feed weighed significantly lower than those of the other groups (p<0.05). Relative liver weights increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and relative spleen weights were significantly high in the chicks fed with 2.0 mg of AFB 1 /kg of feed at 21 DPF (p<0.001). Biochemical analyses showed that total protein and albumin levels decreased significantly at 7 and 14 DPF for the chicks of the group fed with 2.0 of mg AFB 1 /kg of feed, compared with those fed with 0.5 and 1.0 mg of AFB 1 /kg of feed (p<0.05). AST and ALT levels increased significantly at 14 and 21 DPF (p<0.05), and the AST levels, particularly, increased dose-dependently (p<0.05). Histopathological analyses showed that the liver tissues of the AFB 1 -treated chicks showed significant lesions, including hemorrhage, hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fatty degeneration. The severity of both hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared to increase dose-and time-dependently. Similarly, hepatic fibrosis increased dosedependently (p<0.05). The results of this study could improve our understanding of parameters used for evaluating aflatoxicosis in poultry.