Diphtheroid colitis in a Boa constrictor infected with amphibian Entamoeba sp

A female boa (Boa constrictor) from a zoological collection was submitted for necropsy after sudden death. Prominent pathological findings included a diphtheroid colitis, endoparasitism, focal pneumonia and inclusion bodies typical for inclusion body disease (IBD). In the colon entamoebae were identified, which differed in size and distribution from Entamoeba invadens. Gene sequence analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA revealed 100% similarity with an Entamoeba species from the African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), probably Entamoeba ranarum. The snake was possibly immunosuppressed, and the source of infection remains unclear. This is the first report of an infection with an amphibian Entamoeba species associated with colitis in a snake.     

Use of latissimus dorsi and abdominal external oblique muscle for reconstruction of a thoracic wall defect in a cat with feline osteochondromatosis

A 4-year-old, male castrated European shorthair cat was presented with a firm mass palpable on the right caudal rib cage. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs of the thorax revealed a 4x3x2cm large, expansile and radiodense mass originating from the distal part of the 13th rib. After removal of the tumour, which was histopathologically confirmed as feline osteochondromatosis, the diaphragm, omentum, external abdominal oblique and latissimus dorsi muscles were used to reconstruct the defect. Feline osteochondromatosis is induced by retroviruses, eg, feline leukaemia virus, for which the cat tested positive. The tumour was removed for palliative reasons, because such tumours have the tendency to transform into osteosarcomas. Six months after the surgical excision the cat showed no clinical signs of reoccurrence.     

Survival of Post‐larval Litopenaeus vannamei Following Acclimation to Low Salinity Waters at Different Temperatures

Temperature and salinity are two factors known to influence the growth potential and survival of the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, acclimated to low salinity waters. In west Alabama, farmers suspect low water temperatures at stocking, in conjunction with low salinity and suboptimal ionic profiles, might be responsible for reduced survival and production at harvest. To determine the influence of temperature and salinity on post‐larval (PL) L. vannamei, a series of bioassays were conducted at the E.W. Shell Fisheries Research Station in Auburn, Alabama and Claude Peteet Mariculture Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama. PL L. vannamei of ages 11, 13, and 20 (PL₁₁, PL₁₃, and PL₂₀) were acclimated down to salinities of 12, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.2 ppt at different temperatures ranging from 17.6 to 24.0 C. During the acclimation bioassays survivals were assessed at 24 and 48 h. PL survival of the three age groups examined were significantly reduced at salinities of 1, 0.5, and 0.2 ppt. These results correspond well to those reported at higher temperatures confirming that across the tested temperature range salinity endpoint was the driving factor in determining survival and that suboptimal temperatures had a minimal influence on survival.     

Effects of High and Low Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits on Rheological Dough Properties and Breadmaking Quality of Wheat

High molecular weight (HMW) or low molecular weight (LMW) subunits of different chemical state (reduced, reoxidized with KBrO₃, or KIO₃) or gliadins were added in 1% amounts to a base flour of the wheat cultivar Rektor and mixed with water. The corresponding doughs were then characterized by microscale extension tests and by microbaking tests and were compared to doughs from the base flour without additives. The maximum resistance of dough was strongly increased by HMW subunits in a reduced state and by HMW subunits reoxidized with KBrO₃. A moderate increase of resistance was caused by HMW subunits reoxidized with KIO₃ and by LMW subunits reoxidized with KBrO₃ or KIO₃. This resistance was strongly lowered by LMW subunits in a reduced state and by gliadins. The extensibility of dough was significantly increased only by gliadins and reduced HMW subunits; HMW subunits reoxidized with KBrO₃ had no effect, and all other fractions had a decreasing effect. In particular, glutenin subunits reoxidized with KIO₃ induced marked decrease of extensibility, resulting in bell‐shaped curve extensigrams, which are typical for plastic properties. The effect of reoxidized mixtures (2:1) of HMW and LMW subunits on maximum resistance depended on the oxidizing agent and on the conditions (reoxidation separated or together); extensibility was generally decreased. Bread volume was increased by addition of HMW subunits (reduced or reoxidized with KBrO₃) and decreased by LMW subunits (reoxidized with KBrO₃ or KIO₃) and by a HMW‐LMW subunit mixture (reoxidized with KBrO₃). The volume was strongly decreased by addition of reduced LMW subunits. A high bread volume was related to higher values for both resistance and extensibility.     

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase—a Graminicide Target Site

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase catalyses the first committed step in fatty acid (and acyl lipid) formation. The enzyme has been shown to exert a high degree of flux control for lipid biosynthesis in leaves and, therefore, it is not surprising that chemicals which can inhibit it effectively are successful herbicides. These chemicals belong mainly to the cyclohexanedione and aryloxyphenoxypropionate classes and are graminicides. The reason for the selectivity of these herbicides towards grasses lies in the nature of the target site, acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Recent advances in our knowledge of acetyl-CoA carboxylases from sensitive and resistant plants has revealed some important facts. Dicotyledons, which are resistant, have a multi-enzyme complex type of carboxylase in their chloroplasts while grasses have a multifunctional protein. Both divisions of plants have two isoforms of the enzyme, the second being in the cytosol. Detailed study of multifunctional forms of acetyl-CoA carboxylases, which have different sensitivities to herbicides, suggests that herbicide resistance is correlated with cooperativity of herbicide binding to the native dimeric form of the carboxylase. © 1997 SCI.     

Use of Baru (Brazilian Almond) Waste from Physical Extraction of Oil to Produce Gluten Free Cakes

The extraction of oil from baru almonds produces a waste that carries part of their nutritional qualities and antioxidants. It can be used to produce partially deffated baru flour (PDBF). We aimed to evaluate the applicability of PDBF and the effect of the addition of xanthan gum (XG) to produce gluten free cakes. Cakes were prepared with 100 % wheat flour (WF cake) and with 100 % PDBF and four different levels of XG (0 %-PDBF cake, 0.1 %-X1, 0.2 %-X2 and 0.3 %-X3 cakes), and evaluated for composition, antioxidants, moisture, specific volume, texture and sensory acceptance. PDBF cakes showed lower carbohydrate values, but higher protein, lipids, calories and antioxidant contents. They were rich in fiber, as well as iron, zinc and copper. The replacement of WF by PDBF resulted in an increased hardness and adhesiveness and a decreased cohesiveness, elasticity and moisture. Chewiness of X2 cake was similar to that of WF cake. X2 and X3 cakes showed specific volume closer to that of WF cake. No difference was found among the treatments for texture and appearance acceptances. Flavor of X2 and X3 cakes were more accepted than WF cake. Acceptance of all cakes were in the liking region of hedonic scale. PBDF associated to XG is a feasible option to substitute WF in gluten free cake, improving its nutritional quality.

     

Evaluation of pacing site in dogs with naturally occurring complete heart block

Objective

To compare left ventricular synchronization and systolic performance with transvenous pacing of the right ventricular apex (RVA), left ventricular free wall (LVF) or simultaneous pacing of the RVA and LVF (BiV).

Animals, materials and methods

Seven canine patients with complete heart block. Prospective study evaluating effect of pacing site. Twenty four hours following implantation of transvenous BiV pacing systems, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were assessed during pacing from the: (1) Right Atrial Appendage/RVA (RAA/RVA), (2) RAA/LVF, and (3) RAA/BiV.

Results

QRS duration was significantly shorter with BiV pacing versus LVF pacing (p < 0.001), or RVA pacing (p < 0.001). Echocardiographic indices of systolic performance fractional shortening (FS), ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO) were significantly higher with BiV pacing than with pacing from the RVA (P = 0.023, 0.006, and 0.002 respectively). Cardiac output, measured by the biplane Simpson's method, was higher with LVF versus RVA pacing (P = 0.036). There was no difference in FS or EF when comparing LVF to RVA pacing. Tissue Doppler measurements of synchronization and systolic performance did not show any difference between pacing mode, but a significantly increased number of segments were seen to contract following aortic valve closure during LVF pacing (P = 0.0268) and RVA pacing (P = 0.0197) as compared to BiV pacing.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that BiV pacing improves cardiac output and systolic performance versus RVA pacing. This improvement however, is not reflected in tissue Doppler indices of synchronization and systolic performance.     

A reassessment of the electrophoretic mobility of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of wheat

The high molecular weight subunits of wheat glutenin (HMW-GS) are important for bread-making quality. Their composition is routinely identified by Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE after reduction of glutenin disulfide bonds. However, the relation between their molecular weight and, hence, their primary structure, and their mobility in Tris-glycine SDS-PAGE has proven to be ambiguous. We demonstrate a Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE procedure with a neutral, instead of alkaline, pH in the gel and running buffers. In this method commonly occurring HMW-GS from wheat migrated in the order 5 > 2 ≈ 3 > 1 > 6 ≈ 2* > 7 > 8 > 9 > 12 > 10, which is different from the order obtained in the Tris-glycine system. HMW-GS were identified by N-terminal sequencing after isolation with RP-HPLC. Protein sequences of HMW-GS were further confirmed by LC-MS/MS analyses of chymotryptic peptides after comparing the MS data to amino acid sequences in protein databases. The numbers of amino acids of HMW-GS reflected well the mobility order in Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE. The results indicate that Bis-Tris SDS-PAGE may not only be used to identify HMW-GS, but also to estimate the length of their polypeptide chain, as such avoiding previously observed anomalies in migration order.