Improved growth and health of the Malaysian prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii,by addition of fresh leaves to the artificial diet

Supplementation of dry artificial feed with fresh leaves of Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae) and Malva parviflora (Malvaceae) during a 12-month-long laboratory trial resulted in elimination of molt death syndrome and a considerable reduction of black spot disease incidence in Macrobrachium rosenbergii adults. An additional effect of this supplement was the shortening of intermolt intervals, as well as increased average body weight.     

Influence immédiate du brossage des bacs sur certains paramètres sanguins du loup d'elevage,Dicentrarchus labrax L.: Effet de stress

Two trials showed that scrubbing the tank walls for 5 min resulted in a change of some blood parameters of the young European sea bass. Half an hour after beginning the scrubbing a significant increase of the following parameters was noted: erythrocytes number, hematocrit, hemoglobinemia, osmotic pressure of plasma, chloremia, natremia, glycemia and, in half of the cases, proteinemia.On the other hand, there was no change in leucocrit or erythrocytic constants. The splenosomatic index decreased significantly, indicating a contraction of the spleen. These results suggest effects due to a secondary response to stress, comparable to consequences of severe, non-hypoxic exercise.     

Insecticide metabolism by multiple glutathione S-transferases in two strains of the house fly,Musca domestica (L)

Glutathione S-transferases from two strains of house fly have been prepared in a high degree of homogeneity by a procedure involving affinity chromatography and isoelectrofocusing. They fall into two groups in each strain. One group, of isoelectric point greater than pH 6.5, catalyzes the glutathione-dependent degradation of lindane, diazinon and methyl parathion. The other group, of low isoelectric point, has conjugating activity with the model substrate CDNB, but very little activity with the insecticide substrates. In the Cornell R strain the three isoenzyme forms in the high pI group appear to be almost identical in their substrate specificities. In the A strain, it is apparent that the enzyme forms falling into this group vary markedly in substrate specificity. The dehydrochlorination of DDT paralleled very closely the conjugation of the other insecticides catalyzed by the three high pI enzymes in the Cornell R strain. In the A strain, DDT dehydrochlorinase was most strongly associated with a glutathione S-transferase isoelectric at pH 7.1. It is tentatively concluded that multiple genes are involved in the production of the glutathione S-transferases involved in pesticide metabolism in the house fly and that DDT dehydrochlorinase may be derived from some, but not all, of these same genes.     

Therapeutic Potential of Phlorotannin-Rich Ecklonia cava Extract on Methylglyoxal-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in In Vitro Model

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Methylglyoxal (MGO), one of the major precursors of AGEs, is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phlorotannin-rich Ecklonia cava extract (ECE) on MGO-induced diabetic nephropathy in in vitro models using mouse glomerular mesangial cells. ECE showed anti-glycation activity via breaking of AGEs-collagen cross-links and inhibition of AGEs formation and AGE-collagen cross-linking formation. The renoprotective effects were determined by assessing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MGO accumulation, cell apoptosis, and the Nrf-2/ARE signaling pathway. MGO-induced renal damage, intracellular ROS production level, and MGO-protein adduct accumulation were significantly decreased by pretreating ECE. Moreover, ECE pretreatment exhibited preventive properties against MGO-induced dicarbonyl stress via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and reduction of RAGE protein expression in mouse glomerular mesangial cells. Collectively, these results indicated potential anti-glycation properties and prominent preventive effects of ECE against MGO-induced renal damage. Additionally, ECE may be utilized for the management of AGE-related diabetic nephropathy.     

The effects of population density and intercropping with cowpea on the water use and growth of sorghum in semi-arid conditions in Botswana

Soil moisture was measured below sorghum crops of differing density in rainfed trials in increasingly droughty conditions from 1981/2 to 1983/4. Additional measurements were made in sorghum/cowpea intercrops and cowpea monocrops during the drought seasons of 1982/3 and 1983/4.Increasing crop density, by addition of either sorghum or cowpea, resulted in increased effective root activity, which was accompanied by small increases in actual/potential evapotranspiration (E_a/E_p) early in each season. These small increases were followed by small decreases later in the season, but these effects were rarely statistically significant. Both sorghum density and intercropping had little effect on total seasonal water use.Dry matter production increased linearly with increasing seasonal water use. Water use efficiencies of dry weight production were increased by increasing sorghum density. Intercropping in dry conditions did not have significant effects on water use efficiencies. Estimates of soil evaporation suggested that the effects of density on water use efficiency could be attributed to reductions in soil evaporation.The effects of density on reproductive yields were governed by two opposing processes: increasing crop density increased water use efficiencies of dry weight production, but decreased the proportions of dry weight allocated to grain.     

Protective storage and transit environments for kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch.) and their effect on fruit quality

Transit times for kiwifruit shipped from California to European markets varied from 16 to 29 days, depending upon the route and transport mode. Temperatures in transit averaged 1·5°C, but ranged from −2° to 13°C. Occasional malfunctions of refrigeration equipment account for the wide range. When the equipment was operating properly, temperatures generally ranged from 0·5° to 3°C. Loss of firmness was the most serious defect in kiwifruit on the European market. Most softening occurred in pre-shipment storage, except in the earliest shipments (October) that had not been stored long; fruit averaged 8·5 kilogram-force (kgf) when harvested, 2·5 kgf when shipped, 1·3 kgf on arrival, and 0·7 kgf after ripening. Decay and other defects were negligible in most test shipments. Soluble solids content did not change appreciably in transit, except in the earliest shipment in which it increased. Ethylene levels did not exceed 44 ppb when the fruit was shipped, and when it arrived in Europe, except in two shipments in which the averages were 58 and 137 ppb, respectively.     

Effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in Holstein heifers

This study examined the effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in dairy heifers. Twenty Holstein heifers in early pregnancy were divided into non‐transported (NT; n = 7) and transported (T; n = 13) groups. Blood was collected before transportation (BT), immediately after transportation for 100 km (T1) and 200 km (T2), and 24 h after transportation (AT). The T heifers had higher (P < 0.05) blood cortisol and non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations after T1 and T2 than did NT heifers. By contrast, the T heifers had lower (P < 0.05) serum triglyceride concentrations after T1 and T2 than had the NT heifers. The serum cortisol and triglyceride concentrations returned (P > 0.05) to the BT concentrations at 24 h AT in the T heifers. The granulocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and the percentage of monocytes were higher (P < 0.05) after T2 in the T heifers than in the NT heifers, suggesting that transportation stress increased the numbers of innate immune cells. T heifers had higher (P < 0.01) plasma haptoglobin concentrations than NT heifers 24 h AT. In conclusion, transportation increased cortisol secretion and was correlated with increased metabolic responses and up‐regulation of peripheral innate immune cells in dairy heifers.     

Thymol attenuates allergic airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse asthma

Thymol, a naturally occurring monocyclic phenolic compound derived from Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae), has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory property in vivo and vitro. However, the mechanism of thymol is not clear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of thymol on allergic inflammation in OVA-induced mice asthma and explore its mechanism. The model of mouse asthma was established by the induction of OVA. Thymol was orally administered at a dose of 4, 8, and 16 mg/kg body weight 1 h before OVA challenge. At 24 h after the last challenge, mice were sacrificed, and the data were collected by various experimental methods. The results revealed that pretreatment with thymol reduced the level of OVA-specific IgE, inhibited recruitment of inflammatory cells into airway, and decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BALF. Moreover, the pathologic changes of lung tissues were obviously ameliorated and goblet cell hyperplasia was effectively inhibited by the pretreatment of thymol. In addition, thymol reduced the development of airway hyperresponsiveness and blocked the activation of NF-κB pathway. All data suggested that thymol ameliorated airway inflammation in OVA-induced mouse asthma, possibly through inhibiting NF-κB activation. These findings indicated that thymol may be used as an alternative agent for treating allergic asthma.