Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses

BackgroundThe clinical presentation of horses with back pain (BP) vary considerably with most horse''s willingness to take part in athletic or riding purpose becoming impossible. However, there are some clinical features that are directly responsible for the loss or failure of performance.ObjectivesTo investigate the clinical features of the thoracolumbar region associated with BP in horses and to use some of the clinical features to classify equine BP.MethodsTwenty-four horses comprised of 14 with BP and 10 apparently healthy horses were assessed for clinical abnormality that best differentiate BP from normal horses. The horses were then graded (0–5) using the degree of pain response, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and overall physical dysfunction of the horse.ResultsThe common clinical features that significantly differentiate horses with BP from non-BP were longissimus dorsi spasm at palpation (78.6%), paravertebral muscle stiffness (64.3%), resist lateral bending (64.3%), and poor hindlimb impulsion (85.7%). There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores for pain response to palpation, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and physical dysfunction among horses with BP in relation to non-BP. A significant relationship exists between all the graded abnormalities. Based on the cumulative score, horses with BP were categorized into mild, mild-moderate, moderate and severe cases.ConclusionsBP in horse can be differentiated by severity of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, physical dysfunctions and their cumulative grading score is useful in the assessment and categorization of BP in horses.     

Effects of different organic additives on in vitro shoot regeneration of Celosia sp

Nowadays, many researches were conducted in minimizing tissue culture technology due to the overhead of cost needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using five kinds of organic additives at four level concentrations responsive to the number of shoots produced for eight weeks in culture. Stem segment explants of Celosia sp. were cultured on MS medium that have been supplemented with different kinds of extract juice that serve as organic additives which are mature coconut, young coconut, papaya, banana and tomato at 20, 30, 50 and 70 ml L-1. The numbers of shoot on each explant were recorded and the mean of ten replicates explants were calculated. Among the media used, young coconut water at 70 ml L1- induced the highest shoot regeneration (14.21+/-8.26), followed by mature coconut water at 50 ml L-1 (13.14+/-10.33). Banana and tomato juice promote highest shoot regeneration of stem segments at 50 ml L-1 that produced 9.57+/-4.68 and 9.28+/-5.82 shoots per explants, respectively. While the lowest concentration which at 20 ml L-1 of papaya juice showed highest shoot regeneration (10.50+/-3.45) produced among the three other concentration tested. Statistical results showed that there were significant differences interactions effects (p<0.05) in terms of number of shoot regenerated between the types of extracts juices determined by ANOVA test. Comparing number of shoots regenerated that were cultured in control media, it showed higher than all of experimental medium composition. There were no big different in cost required in preparation of control media and the experimental media. Applications of five kinds of local fruit in tissue culture media should be considered since it responsive in shoot regeneration.     

Waste-Derived Siliceous Materials as a Novel Sorbent for Removal of Ni2+ from Aqueous Solutions

In the present study, the preparation of sorbent from waste-derived siliceous materials has been investigated for the removal of nickel ion (Ni²⁺) from aqueous solutions. Three types of ashes, i.e., rice husk ash (RHA), palm oil fuel ash (PFA), and coal fly ash (CFA), were used in the preparation of sorbent. Batch studies were carried out to examine the effect of various experimental parameters, i.e., RHA/CFA/PFA ratio in the sorbent preparation, contact time, initial concentration of Ni²⁺, agitation rate, and pH. Among all the ratios of the prepared sorbent, it was found that sorbent containing RHA and PFA gave the highest Ni²⁺ removal efficiency. The optimum conditions for Ni²⁺ removal using RHA/PFA sorbent were obtained at contact time of 30?min, Ni²⁺ concentration of 100?mg/L, agitation rate of 130?rpm, and pH?4. During the optimum condition, more than 90% of Ni²⁺ could be removed in all experiment studies. It was also found that the spent RHA/PFA sorbents had a narrow range of particle size distributions as compared to prepared RHA/PFA sorbent. In addition, the surface morphology of the spent RHA/PFA sorbents had more compact structures.     

Effects of Strobilanthes crispus tea aqueous extracts on glucose and lipid profile in normal and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats

Strobilanthes crispus (Acanthaceae) has been used traditionally as antidiabetic, diuretic, antilytic, and laxative and has been proven scientifically to possess high antioxidant activity, anti-AIDS, and anticancer properties. It is commonly consumed in the form of herbal tea. The ethnopharmacological value of this plant, such as the development of nutraceutical S. crispus herbal tea (fermented and unfermented) and assessment of their antihyperglycemic properties were investigated. The antidiabetic properties of S. crispus fermented and unfermented tea was carried out in normal and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic rats for 21 days. Glucose and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) were determined at day 0 (baseline), day 7, and day 21. The results showed that the hot water extract of both fermented and unfermented S. crispus tea reduced blood glucose in hyperglycaemic rats. S. crispus unfermented tea also reduced glucose level in normal rat. Both fermented and unfermented S. crispus tea also showed to improve lipid profile. Antioxidant and polyphenol content that present in the extracts might contribute to the antihyperglycemic and antilipidemic properties. Further study is needed to be carried out in pre-clinical and clinical environment to prove its efficacy in human.     

Use of diatomaceous earth for the management of stored-product pests

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is almost pure amorphous silicon dioxide, made up of fossilised diatoms; it acts as an insecticide by absorption of epicuticular lipids and fatty acids, leading to desiccation in arthropods. Numerous DE formulations have been attempted for the management of stored-product pests with good results. DE is persistent in its action, poses few or no pest resistance problems, and it leaves no residue. The efficacy of DE is affected by factors such as: its provenance, temperature, humidity and characteristics of target pests and substrate. Application of DE at currently recommended doses causes changes in bulk density of the grain; however, the use of enhanced DE formulations provides control at much lower doses. Therefore, new formulations of DEs usually include other low toxicity insecticides.     

The role of performance assessment in real time system management

This paper discusses paddy irrigation development in Malaysia in relation to real-time systems management and the role of performance assessment in such a system. The Muda Irrigation Scheme real-time management system is given as an illustration. This system has shown that, with performance assessment, managers are more prepared and able to respond quickly to issues faced in the day to day systems operations. In this system, demand-supply matching can be made faster and with improved utilisation of effective rainfall and uncontrolled flows. Opportunities for saving uncontrolled flows in the paddy fields can be identified in time. With dryseeding method, the system has been successful in sustaining production in severe water shortage situations. Into the 90s and beyond, no major infrastructure investments in irrigation systems are expected. Irrigation managers must be committed towards excellence in performance. This can be achieved through improved real-time performance assessment. Some aspects of performance assessment that could be improved are in its roles in meeting cropping intensity targets, accurate demand-supply matching, meeting water savings target and in alerting managers to potential crisis situations. Carefully designed and installed, performance assessment can also improve organisational and staff management.     

Insight into the origin of common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) grown in the state of Jammu and Kashmir of north-western Himalayas

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is considered as one of the principal grain legume crops grown in north-western Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India. Huge diversity has been observed for this crop in state Jammu and Kashmir. The hilly regions of the state J&K are famous for producing high quality, tasty and highly flavoured beans. In order to characterise this huge diversity and trace the origin of common bean, systematic efforts have been made for the first time in collection, evaluation and characterization of bean collection from Jammu & Kashmir. A set of 428 common bean lines were initially collected/procured and based on cluster analysis using few qualitative traits/site of collection, a diverse set of 96 lines was selected. The PCR assay for phaseolin locus led to the characterization of 96 lines into Meso-american and Andean types. Out of 96 lines tested, 45 possessed “S” type phaseolin and 51 possess “T” type phaseolin. The ITS region of selected local and exotic lines was Sanger sequenced and the sequence analysis of ~ 800 bp long region revealed the presence of 12 SNPs including one promising SNPs showing significant association with phaseolin patterns. The clustering based on ITS sequence data led to the clear cut separation of common bean lines into two distinct clusters based on their phaseolin types. The results of the present study helped to gain insights into the origin of common bean landraces grown in state of J&K, India.     

Efficiency of fertilizer formulation,stock solution volume and media on chili (Capsicum annum kulai F1)

The growth of the greenhouse chili industry is rapidly increasing in the world including Malaysia. Currently, compost is the most popular growing media. Four fertilizer formulations commonly used by farmers (Local), including the recommended Cooper, Bennoit and Cooper Modified formulation, were evaluated in combination with two volumes (400 and 750 L) for enhancement fruit yield of chili in soilless culture. The results indicate that, the day of blooming and fruiting was reduced by 91% and 50% in media containing coconut dust (CD) + empty fruit bunch (EFB) compared with CD alone. Yield with CD+EFB was increased 36% compared with CD while volume of water shows insignificant difference. Interestingly, Cooper, Local and Cooper Modified formulation enhanced 32, 28 and 19% of yield, respectively. As conclusion, combination of CD+EFB with Cooper, Local and Cooper Modified were more efficient in yield production compared with CD alone for future research.     

Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation and up-regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor in HepG2 cells by tropical plant extracts

Twelve edible plant extracts rich in polyphenols were screened for their potential to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro and to modulate LDL receptor (LDLr) activity in cultured HepG2 cells. The antioxidant activity (inhibition of LDL oxidation) was determined by measuring the formation of conjugated dienes (lag time) and thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS). Betel leaf (94%), cashew shoot (63%), Japanese mint (52%), semambu leaf (50%), palm frond (41%), sweet potato shoot, chilli fruit, papaya shoot, roselle calyx, and maman showed significantly increased lag time (>55 min, P < 0.05) and inhibition of TBARS formation (P < 0.05) compared to control. LDLr was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by Japanese mint (67%), semambu (51%), cashew (50%), and noni (49%). Except for noni and betel leaf, most plant extracts studied demonstrated a positive association between antioxidant activity and the ability to up-regulate LDL receptor. Findings suggest that reported protective actions of plant polyphenols on lipoprotein metabolism might be exerted at different biochemical mechanisms.     

Comparison of symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium sp. with positive hydrogen-uptake activity compared with negative mutants in relation to nitrogen fixation in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

H₂ uptake activity was well distributed in Rhizobium sp. strains isolated from nodules of mung-bean (Vigna radiata L.). Two effective strains, RMP1 und RMP2, exhibiting significantly higher H₂ uptake activity were subjected to mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine. The respective mutation frequencies were 0.18 and 0.19%. Three Hup^- mutants each of RMP1 und RMP2 were compared with the wild-type parent strains under pot culture experiments to evaluate the significance of the H₂ uptake system in biological N₂ fixation. Nodulation capabilities, plant growth characteristics, and the chlorophyll content of the leaves were significantly reduced in the plants treated with Hup^- mutants. Nitrogenase activity in Hup^- nodules was reduced by 8–41%. Similarly, N accumulation was also reduced singificantly.