Nonvolatile oxidation products of glucose in Maillard model systems: formation of saccharinic and aldonic acids and their corresponding lactones

By using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based methodologies, nonvolatile oxidation products of isotopically labeled glucose/glycine model systems were studied through a postpyrolytic in situ derivatization technique by using trimethylsilyldiethylamine. Analysis of the data indicated that the known reactive sugar intermediates such as glucosone and its deoxy derivatives can undergo in Maillard model systems three types of transformations: oxidation of the aldehydic groups into carboxylic acids, oxidative cleavage of alpha-dicarbonyl moieties into aldonic acids, and benzylic acid rearrangement of 1-deoxy-glucosone into saccharinic acids. The aldonic and saccharinic acids were identified through silylation of their lactone derivatives, and their origin was verified through (13)C-labeling studies. The following lactones were identified in glucose and glucose/glycine model systems: trans-dihydro-3,4-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-2(3 H)-furanone, cis-dihydro-3,4-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-2(3H)-furanone, 2-C-methyl-2,3,5-tris-O-(trimethylsilyl)-D-ribonic acid gamma-lactone, 3-deoxy-2,5,6-tris-O-(trimethylsilyl)-D-ribo-hexonic acid gamma-lactone, 2-deoxy-3,5-bis-O-(trimethylsilyl)-pentonic acid gamma-lactone, and 2,3,5-tris-O-(trimethylsilyl)-D-arabinonic acid gamma-lactone. The observed reduction in color and aroma in Maillard reactions performed under oxidative conditions may be attributed to the oxidation of reactive dicarbonyls into the corresponding carboxylic acids or their corresponding lactones.     

沙漠化对内蒙地区水热通量及降水影响的数值研究

ＲＡＭＳ模式被应用于内蒙干旱地区气系统水热通量交换及水循环过程研究。本文通过敏感性试验,模拟了在半沙漠化和土壤含量变化的情况下内蒙地区地气通量交换的变化及其对降水的影响。     

Endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium sp in a dog

Mitral valve bacterial endocarditis, caused by Corynebacterium sp, was diagnosed in a dog. The bacteria had characteristics unlike those commonly recognized for most species of Corynebacterium. The primary source of bacteremia was suspected to be a pilonidal cyst of the sacrum. The dog was treated with a first-generation cephalosporin for 6 weeks, and the pilonidal cyst was surgically removed. Physical examination 1 year after initial examination revealed no abnormalities other than a cardiac murmur. On echocardiographic examination 1 year after treatment, the vegetative lesion was still present; however, chamber dimensions had returned to normal. Wall thickness and contractility remained increased.     

Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to bovine udder epithelial cells

An assay for the adhesion of tritiated thymidine-labelled Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to bovine mammary ductular epithelial cell lines was developed. The relative adhesion of 15 strains of S. aureus to these cell lines was examined. Four strains did not adhere and the remaining 11 adhered at variable levels. Adhesion to different cell lines was generally similar. Adhesion to freshly collected bovine mammary epithelial cells was significantly greater than that to cells maintained in tissue culture. The system described was demonstrated to be a suitable model for studying adhesion of mastitis-causing organisms to bovine mammary epithelial cells.     

Effect of dietary α -tocopherol concentration on performance and some immune responses in broiler chickens fed on diets containing oils from different sources

1. An investigation was carried out into the effects of dietary α-tocopherol (α-T) concentration and source of supplemental oil on performance, activity of anti-oxidative enzymes and some immune responses in broilers from day-old to 41 d of age. 2. Three dietary concentrations of α-T (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) with three sources of supplemental oil (sunflower - SFO, palm - PMO and safflower - SAO) were provided using a 3 × 3 experimental design. 3. Body weight gain and food conversion efficiency were not affected by either interaction or concentrations of α-T and sources of oil in diet. 4. Concentrations of total protein, globulin, triglycerides and cholesterol in sera increased significantly with dietary α-T concentration irrespective of the source of oil. Significantly higher concentration of serum albumin was evident in broilers fed on the SFO-based diet and the concentration of globulin was higher in groups fed on those diets containing PMO and SAO. 5. The lipid peroxidation (LP), measured as MDA release, decreased with the concentration of α-T in a dose-related manner with SFO- and SAO-based diets, although not with the PMO-based diet. With different oil sources, LP was significantly lower with the PMO-based diet compared to the others. Activities of glutathione peroxidase and RBC catalase increased and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio was reduced with concentration of α-T for each source of oil tested. 6. Assays for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses indicated no effect of the source of dietary supplemental oil or interaction, although an increasing concentration of dietary α-T improved cell-mediated immune responses. 7. It is concluded that sunflower oil, palm oil and safflower oil can be used as sources of oil for broiler diets without having any effect on performance, immune responses or the activity of anti-oxidizing enzymes. Higher concentrations of dietary α-tocopherol (50 or 100 mg/kg) reduced lipid peroxidation activity and enhanced activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, they also improved the cell-mediated immune responses in commercial broilers.     

Milk casein and fatty acid fractions in early lactation are affected by nutritional regulation of body condition score at the beginning of the transition period in primiparous and multiparous cows under grazing conditions

The objective was to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) at 30 days before calving (−30 days) induced by a differential nutritional management, parity and week of lactation (WOL) on milk yield and composition, and milk casein and fatty acid composition. Primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows with high BCS (PH, n = 13; MH, n = 9) and low BCS (PL, n = 9; ML = 8) under grazing conditions were sampled at WOL 2 and 8 (before and after peak of lactation). Milk yield was greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows and tended to decrease from WOL 2 to 8 only in ML cows. Milk protein, fat and casein yields were greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows and decreased from WOL 2 to 8. Milk casein concentration in milk protein was greater in MH cows than in ML, PH and PL cows at WOL 2. Milk κ‐casein was greater, and β‐casein was less in multiparous than in primiparous cows. As lactation progressed, proportion of casein fractions were not altered. Only κ‐casein fraction was affected by BCS at −30 days as PL showed a higher concentration than PH. The de novo (4:0–15:1) and mixed‐origin fatty acids (16:0–16:1) in milk fat increased, whereas preformed fatty acids (≥17:0) decreased from WOL 2 to 8. Saturated (SAT) fatty acids tended to be greater and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were less in multiparous than in primiparous cows. High‐BCS cows had greater concentrations of polyunsaturated (PUFA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as well as n‐6 and n‐3 fatty acids in milk fat than low‐BCS cows. The results indicate that casein and fatty acid fractions in milk were affected by parity and may be modified by a differential nutritional management during the pre‐calving period (BCS at −30 days) in cows under grazing conditions.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with Aurantiochytrium limacinum on lactating dairy cows in terms of animal health,productivity and milk composition

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA )‐rich microalgae, Aurantiochytrium limacinum (AURA ), on a variety of health and productivity parameters in lactating cows. Twenty‐four cows were blocked by parity and number of days in milk and then randomly assigned to a control (CON ; n  = 12) group with no algal supplementation, or a treatment group (AURA ; n  = 12) provided with 100 g AURA  cow^?1 day^?1 or 16 g DHA  cow^?1 day^?1. A variety of health and productivity measurements were taken, and results indicated that supplementation had no negative effects on animal health in terms of somatic cell count, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, while body condition was marginally improved by algal supplementation. No differences were found for the various production parameters measured; however, a tendency towards increased milk production was observed for the AURA group during the final stage of the study (+4.5 kg cow^?1 day^?1, day 78–84). The fatty acid profile of milk was improved by supplementation, with significantly lower saturated fatty acids, significantly higher omega‐3 fatty acids and an improved omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio observed when compared to the control group. The amount of DHA in the milk of cows provided 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 was 4.7 mg/100 g milk with a peak transfer efficiency from feed to milk at day 49 of 8.3%. These results indicate that supplementation with 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 resulted in the successful enrichment of milk with DHA without negatively impacting the health or productivity of the animals.     

Epidemiological Observations in a Corriedale Flock affected by Brucella ovis

Brucellosis in sheep, caused by Brucella ovis, is primarily a chronic infectious disease of rams with epididymitis as its most characteristic lesion. Six hundred rams from an infected farm were clinically and serologically examined once a year, over a 3-year period. An increase from 2.1% to 6.3% in the prevalence of animals serologically positive to B. ovis occurred over the 3 years. However, the prevalence of rams with lesions in the reproductive tract declined from 14.2% to 6.5% in the third year following one year of strict culling of clinically affected and rams that were serologically positive for B. ovis. Clinical lesions found in the 179 affected rams fell into two main categories: rams with epididymitis and rams with affected lymph nodes. These results suggest that the prevalence of the disease relates mainly to the sexual activity of the animal and not to age in itself. A single cull based on the results of clinical examination and serological test results was unable to decrease the prevalence of B. ovis in an extensive Corriedale sheep flock.     

A spontaneously occurring malignant ovarian Sertoli cell tumor in a young Sprague Dawley rat

Primary ovarian tumors are generally uncommon in rats used in toxicologic studies. A malignant Sertoli cell tumor was present in the ovary of a 19-week-old female Sprague Dawley rat. Macroscopically, the mass was white and firm, 10 × 13 × 17 mm in size, and located in the right ovary. Histopathologically, the mass was composed of nests of pleomorphic cells, which formed seminiferous-like tubules separated by a thin fibrovascular stroma. The tubules were lined by tumor cells, which had basally located nuclei and abundant eosinophilic and vacuolated cytoplasm. In some areas, the tumor cells were arranged in a retiform growth pattern, mimicking a rete testis/ovarii. Disseminated metastases to the surfaces of the mesentery, spleen and liver were also present. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin, estrogen receptor α and Ki 67. Some tumor cells were positive for pancytokeratin and inhibin α. These findings closely resemble those of an ovarian-derived human malignant Sertoli cell tumor. From our review of the literature, we believe this is the first report of a spontaneous malignant Sertoli cell tumor in the ovary of a young laboratory rat. This case might provide useful historical control information for rat toxicity studies.