The practice of Chinese medicine has continued for more than 2,000 years, based on its long record of effectiveness. In this regard, Kampo medicine has also been used successfully for these many years, and it is still equally effective today, reflecting the fact that humans have changed little during that duration. In fact, it is said that humans have not undergone much evolutionary change in the last four million years. In contrast to this, however, are the ongoing changes in our environment and surroundings, which are giving rise to a host of new diseases, including many that are allergy-related.In the Japanese system of Kampo medicine, the pathophysiological diagnosis (Sho) and treatment are decided on the basis of two venerable texts, Shokanron and Kinkiyoryaku. There is, as a matter of fact, a prevailing, and possibly too extreme, opinion among Kampo practitioners that Kampo methods and medications not found in these two manuals are not to be applied. However, it is thought that changes had already been made to these texts in 1065-1066 by Rinoku et al., and possibly also by others earlier during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Furthermore, two other texts, Ishimpo and Taiheiseikeiho, present many points that differ from those found in Shokanron. Thus, it is highly likely that Sho is also based on other revisions possibly carried out on these texts (originally authored by Cho Chukei) before Rinoku et al., if not on their own revised versions. From this, it must be realized that revision itself is not a bad process, and rather that the changes for which Rinoku et al. were responsible are quite in harmony with the present age.We must not be afraid to break with an old style. From the early days of Kampo medicine, Sho was assessed on the basis of the four available examination methods (visual examination, examination according to hearing and smell, questions and answers, and palpation). The field of medicine has since undergone some remarkable transitions, and its current state is one of tremendous development. As part of these newly acquired abilities, elevated levels of leucocytes and CRP as reflecting the state of the disease, for example, can be incorporated into the assessment of Sho. In this sense, Kampo practitioners should adopt and apply useful methods also originating from Western medicine. As a matter of fact, this is in line with the preface of Shokanron, which states that useful medications and methods should be gathered as broadly as possible ( ?? ).
Medicine, Kampo ; Medicine ; Diagnostic ; Classical ; New

Highly contagious classical swine fever (CSF) remains a major trade and health problem in the pig industry, resulting in large economic losses worldwide. In CSF-endemic countries, attenuated CSF virus (CSFV) vaccines have been routinely used to control the disease. However, eradication of CSFV in a geographical area would require permanent reduction to zero presence of the virus. It is therefore of paramount importance to develop a safe, potent, and non-infectious CSF vaccine. We have previously reported on a cost-effective CSF E2 subunit vaccine, KNB-E2, which can protect against CSF symptoms in a single dose containing 75 µg of recombinant CSFV glycoprotein E2. In this study, we report on a series of animal studies undertaken to elucidate further the efficacy of KNB-E2. We found that pigs vaccinated with a single KNB-E2 dose containing 25 µg of recombinant CSFV glycoprotein E2 were protected from clinical symptoms of CSF. In addition, KNB-E2-mediated reduction of CSF symptoms was observed at two weeks post-vaccination and the vaccinated pigs continued to exhibit reduced CSF clinical signs when virus challenged at two months and four months post-vaccination. These results suggest that KNB-E2 effectively reduces CSF clinical signs, indicating the potential of this vaccine for safely minimizing CSF-related losses.
Animals ; Classical Swine Fever ; Glycoproteins ; Swine ; Vaccines

Classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar, has serious economic implications. The present study examined the virulence and transmission of CSF virus strain YC11WB (isolated from a wild boar in 2011) in breeding wild boar. Virulence of strain YC11WB in domestic pigs was also examined. Based on the severe clinical signs and high mortality observed among breeding wild boar, the pathogenicity of strain YC11WB resembled that of typical acute CSF. Surprisingly, in contrast to strain SW03 (isolated from breeding pigs in 2003), strain YC11WB showed both acute and strong virulence in breeding pigs. None of three specific monoclonal antibodies (7F2, 7F83, and 6F65) raised against the B/C domain of the SW03 E2 protein bound to the B/C domain of strain YC11WB due to amino acid mutations (⁷²⁰K→R and ⁷²³N→S) in the YC11WB E2 protein. Although strains YC11WB and SW03 belong to subgroup 2.1b, they had different mortality rates in breeding pigs. Thus, if breeding pigs have not developed protective immunity against CSF virus, they may be susceptible to strain YC11WB transmitted by wild boar, resulting in severe economic losses for the pig industry.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Breeding ; Classical swine fever virus* ; Classical Swine Fever* ; Mortality ; Sus scrofa* ; Swine ; Virulence

No abstract available.
Animals ; Base Sequence* ; Classical swine fever virus* ; Classical Swine Fever* ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Swine

Classical swine fever (CSF), previously known as hog cholera, remains one of the most important swine-related contagious diseases worldwide. In order to eradicate classical swine fever virus (CSFV), it is commonly used in LOM-850 strain as a live attenuated CSF vaccine. However, there are symptoms of vaccination, such as the depression of feed intake, and difficulty of differentiation between infected and vaccinated hosts is impossible based on the antibodies induced. Nicotiana benthamiana were considered as an alternative to the production of recombinant vaccines on account of higher yields and levels of soluble protein than other models and crops in protein recombinant products. This study was conducted to evaluate histopathological validation of the plant-produced E2 fusion protein (ppE2) in piglets. The piglets were challenged by an injection of YC11WB strain in 7 days, 11 days and 14 days after one shot of the vaccination. The histopathological examination indicated that ppE2 can protect against lethal CSFV challenge at least 11 days of vaccination in piglets. These data suggest that the ppE2 can be an effective vaccine against CSFV in piglets.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Classical swine fever virus ; Classical Swine Fever ; Depression ; Swine ; Tobacco ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Synthetic

Adolescent ; Classical Lissencephalies and Subcortical Band Heterotopias ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans

An attenuated classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Suri strain, is a va.iant derived from a vaccine virus, LOM strain. This study was performed to elucidate the molecular biologcal properties of CSFV Suri strain, and to obtain the basic data for molecular epidemiological approaches for the disease. The truncated form of gp55 gene without the C-terminal transmembrane domain, in size of 1,023bp, was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced by dye terminator cyclic sequencing method, and inserted into BamHI site of pAcGP67B baculovirus vector, establishing a cloned pAcHEG plasmid. By the nucleotide sequences determined, 341 amino acid sequences were predicted. As compared the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of gp55 of Suri with the various CSFV, Suri strain showed the high homology over 99.1% with ALD and LOM strains, but comparably the lower homology with Alfort and Brescia. In comparison of amino acid sequence in variable domain of gp55 protein, the similar tendency of homology was observed. In hydrophobicity analysis, all of four CSFV strains revealed the analogous patterns of hydrophobicity. The numbers and locations of N-glycosylation site and cysteine residues in gp55 were analyzed, those of Suri strain being coincident with ALD and LOM strains. The results suggest that gp55 in Suri strain has the high similarity to those in ALD and LOM strains in terms of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences and the functional properties of gp55 protein..
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Baculoviridae ; Base Sequence ; Classical swine fever virus ; Classical Swine Fever* ; Clone Cells ; Cysteine ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Plasmids ; Sequence Analysis* ; Swine

Classical swine fever (CSF), an acute and highly contagious disease of swine, is caused by classical swine fever virus. CSF is one of the most devastating diseases to the pig industry worldwide and results in serious economic losses. Currently prophylactic vaccination is still an important strategy for the control of CSF. Live attenuated vaccines (such as C-strain) are safe and effective. However, there are significant changes in the clinical features of CSF, displaying concurrent typical and atypical CSF, and simultaneous inapparent and persistent infections. Immunization failure has been reported frequently and it is difficult to distinguish between wild-type infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA). So there is an urgent need to develop more effective and safer DIVA or marker vaccines for the control of CSF. In this review, some of the most recent advances in new-type vaccines against CSF, including DNA vaccines, live virus-vectored vaccines, protein or peptide-based vaccines, gene-deleted vaccines and chimeric pestivirus-based vaccines, are reviewed and discussed.
Animals ; Classical Swine Fever ; prevention & control ; Classical swine fever virus ; Swine ; Vaccination ; veterinary ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Vaccines, Subunit ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

BACKGROUND: Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually less than 10micrometer in size, and known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general population. There is little evidence linking Asian dust to adverse effects on the airways. In 2002, the authors found that particulate matter during Asian dust events had an effect on the symptoms and pulmonary function of patients with bronchial asthma. An aggravating factor might be that of a viral infection, but this remains unclear. Conversely, it has been speculated that African dust may carry the virus responsible for foot and mouth disease. Asian dust events are also likely to be responsible for transporting viruses, some of which are pathogenic, and common in many environments. Therefore, in this study, air samples were screened for the presence of viruses. METHODS: Air samples were collected 20 times each during Asian dust events and under non-dust conditions, for at least 6 hours per sample, using a high volume air sampler (Sibata Model HV500F), with an airflow rate of 500L/min, between April and August 2003, and between April and August 2004. The samples were then screened for the presence of targeted viruses (Influenza A, B, Hog cholera virus, and Aphthovirus) using a polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: One Asian dust event occurred between April and August 2003, and 3 between April and August 2004, with a 24 hour average PM10 level of 148.0microgram/m(3). The 24 hour average PM10 level was 57microgram/m(3). There was a significant difference in?the PM10 concentration between dusty and clear days. No viruses (Influenza virus, Aphthovirus, and Hog cholera virus) were identified in the air samples obtained during the dusty days. CONCLUSIONS: Although no virus was detected in this study, further studies will be needed to identify suspected viruses carried during Asian dust events, employing more appropriate virus detection conditions.
Animals ; Aphthovirus ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Asthma ; Atmosphere* ; Classical Swine Fever ; Classical swine fever virus ; Dust* ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Particulate Matter ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease among swine that has an important economic impact on worldwide. One clinical symptom of CSF is leukopenia, in particular lymphopenia, which is a characteristic event that occurs early in the course of CSF. Though lymphopenia associated with apoptosis, the pathogenic mechanism underlying the lymphopenia has not been well studied. To understand these mechanisms, we investigated the response of porcine B cell lines to infection with SW03, virulent strain isolated from swine tissue in Korea. This study demonstrated that SW03-infected L35 cell were induced apoptosis through the detection of activated caspase-3. In addition, SW03 infection leaded to alterations in pro-apoptotic, Bax, and anti-apoptotic, Bcl-xL proteins of Bcl-2 family. Our results would suggest that SW03-infected L35 cells induced apoptosis via intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; bcl-X Protein ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line ; Classical Swine Fever ; Classical swine fever virus ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukopenia ; Lymphopenia ; Phenylurea Compounds ; Sprains and Strains ; Swine