Molecular and catalytic properties of an arginine kinase from the nematode Ascaris suum.

We amplified the cDNA coding for arginine kinase (AK) from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum, cloned it in pMAL plasmid and expressed the enzyme as a fusion protein with the maltose-binding protein. The whole cDNA was 1260 bp, encoding 400 amino acids, and the recombinant protein had a molecular mass of 45,341 Da. Ascaris suum recombinant AK showed significant activity and strong affinity ( K(m)(Arg) = 0.126 mM) for the substrate L-arginine. It also exhibited high catalytic efficiency ( k(ca)/K(m)(Arg) = 352) comparable with AKs from other organisms. Sequence analysis revealed high amino acid sequence identity between A. suum AK and other nematode AKs, all of which cluster in a phylogenetic tree. However, comparison of gene structures showed that A. suum AK gene intron/exon organization is quite distinct from that of other nematode AKs. Phosphagen kinases (PKs) from certain parasites have been shown to be potential novel drug targets or tools for detection of infection. The characterization of A. suum AK will be useful in the development of strategies for control not only of A. suum but also of related species infecting humans.

Meningoencephalitis associated with Sarcocystis spp. in a free-living Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus).

A free-living, young adult, male Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) was rescued in Gifu, Japan in March 2009. The animal was weak and emaciated with neurological signs that included head tilt, tremor and tic. The brain showed no gross abnormality at necropsy, but microscopically there was severe meningoencephalitis associated with protozoa, which were morphologically consistent with the asexual developmental stage of Sarcocystis spp. The protozoa were immunohistochemically negative for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, but reacted weakly with antiserum specific for Sarcocystis cruzi. Analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the protozoa were most closely related to an unidentified Sarcocystis species that was isolated from the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons).

Multidimensional assessment of mental state in occupational health care--combined application of three questionnaires: Tokyo University Egogram (TEG), Time Structuring Scale (TSS), and Profile of Mood States (POMS).

We attempted to develop a brief test battery to assess mental state for use in occupational health care settings. As a first step, we focused on the following three psychosocial aspects: ego state, behavioral pattern, and mood state which were considered to be closely related to mental state. To evaluate these parameters, we selected three established self-rating questionnaires: the Tokyo University Egogram for ego state, the Time Structuring Scale for behavioral pattern, and the Profile of Mood States for mood state. The combination of these three questionnaires was applied on 300 healthy company employees and school teachers (170 males and 130 females). Five ego-state factors (Critical Parents, Nurturing Parents, Adult, Free Child, and Adapted Child), five behavioral pattern factors (Withdrawal, Rituals and Pastimes, Activities, Intimacy, and Games), and six mood state factors (Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Anger-Hostility, Vigor-Activity, Fatigue-Inertia, and Confusion-Bewilderment) were scored. Of 85 correlations between test factors, 49 in males and 61 in females were not significant, indicating that each test in this battery assessed aspects of mental state rather independent of those assessed by the others. However, significant correlations (P < 0.05) were observed for remaining pairs of test factors, indicating that these three parameters were also interrelated with each other, indicating that mental state could be elucidated more comprehensively by assessing all three psychosocial parameters than by assessing only one. The possibility that this battery could be used in the future in worksite health promotion programs is discussed.