Pyrazole-induced thyroid necrosis: a distinct organ lesion

One oral dose of pyrazole caused necrosis of rat thyroid follicular epithelial cells but spared the parafollicular (C) cells and the parathyroid glands. Serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were significantly decreased on day 3 after pyrazole administration and were immeasurable on day 5. At day 5 the thyroid was enlarged and the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the serum was increased, indicating an appropriate pituitary response to a primary lesion in the thyroid. Doses of pyrazole which produced no morphologic change in the thyroids also significantly depressed the concentrations of T4 and T3 in the serum.     

Swelling Index of Glutenin (SIG) Related to Protein Quality,Dough Characters and Noodle Quality

The swelling index of glutenin (SIG) and the protein fraction of 25 Chinese wheat varieties were studied with new protein fractions extracting method. The protein fractions compose of monomeric protein, soluble glutenin and insoluble glutenin. The relations between other protein index, dough character, and fresh noodle quality were also discussed. The SIG results at different time is positively and highly significantly related to the insoluble glutenin content (r=0.808 -0.867, P＜ 0.01). The SIG result can reflect the insoluble glutenin content. The protein content, gluten index, farinograph stability time, extensibility length and extensigramenergy were positively and significantly correlated with SIG5 and SIG20 (r=0.516- 0.734, P＜0.05, 0.01).SIG proved to be applicable in Chinese wheat dough evaluation. Fresh noodle making quality parameters were evaluated by fresh noodle length, thickness, maximum resistance to extension, extension area and extension distance, while cooked noodle texture was determined by cutting firmness, compression recovery, surface firmness and TPA by using a texture analyzer of TA.XT2i.The noodle cooking quality was significantly correlated with SIG value. The surface firmness and cutting firmness were more desirable for predicating the quality difference than TPA test and compression. Cooking loss and water absorption were negatively related to SIG value and insoluble content (r=-0.556 - - 0.787, P＜ 0.05, 0.01) . The results showed that SIG test was also suitable in evaluating noodle making and cooking quality in very small sample size, which was very important in wheat breeding programs. Therefore,SIG test, as a small scale test, is suitable to evaluate dough rheological properties for Chinese wheat varieties, and will be helpful in cereal research and wheat breeding program, especially, in early generations.     

谷蛋白溶涨指数与面团特性和面条品质的关系

 采用谷蛋白溶涨指数 (SIG)法及新的蛋白质组分分离方法 ,分析了 2 5个中国小麦品种的蛋白质组分含量 ,并对面团物理特性、面条制作特性和蒸煮品质进行了评价。结果表明 ,不同溶涨时间 (min)SIG与不溶性谷蛋白含量呈极显著正相关 (r=0 .80 8～ 0 .86 7;P <0 .0 1) ,说明SIG可间接反映不溶性谷蛋白的含量。蛋白质含量、面筋指数、稳定时间、拉伸长度、拉伸能量与SIG5、SIG2 0显著正相关 (r=0 .5 16～ 0 .734;P <0 .0 5 ,0 .0 1) ,说明SI     

Xylanase production by Trichoderma strains in solid substrate fermentation

The importance of microbial enzymes in pulp and paper manufacturing has grown significantly in the last two decades. Solid substrate fermentation (SSF) holds tremendous potential for the production of microbial enzymes of commercial interest. SSF can be of special interest in those processes where the crude fermented product (whole SSF culture, in situ enzyme) may be used directly as the enzyme source. Xylanase preparations practically free of cellulase activity are especially useful for …     

Perceptions of environmental change in a tropical coastal wetland

To assess whether local knowledge can contribute to the identification and evaluation of natural and anthropogenic disturbances in a mangrove forest, interviews were conducted with local fisherman of the Teacapán‐Agua Brava lagoon–estuarine system of Mexico. The results indicate that an increase in water salinity, following the opening of an artificial canal, has resulted in a major disturbance in the mangroves of this region. Observations of changes in the fauna of the mangroves also coincide with this modification. The responses of the fishermen further suggest that the degree of impact from the salinity on the mangroves varies by species (e.g. Laguncularia racemosa is less tolerant than Rhizophora mangle). Other factors identified as inciting disturbances, but not previously reported for this system, include a hurricane and an infestation by caterpillars. According to the fishermen, the continued modification of the water salinity and hurricanes are the two greatest threats to the remaining mangroves. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Serum chemistry of free-ranging white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard

BACKGROUND: Abnormal physiological conditions and diseases can change the concentrations of enzymes, metabolites, and minerals in the body. Serum chemistry information may thus be indicative of a specific disease; interpretation of such information requires knowledge of serum chemistry reference intervals from a seemingly healthy population of the species. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to obtain serum chemistry reference intervals for a population of white whales. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 21 free-ranging white whales (beluga; Delphinapterus leucas). The whales were live-captured in nets during 1996-2001 in Storfjorden, Van Mijenfjorden, and Van Keulenfjorden (Svalbard, Norway). While the whales were briefly physically restrained, blood was collected from the caudal vein into vacuum tubes without anticoagulant. The blood was left to clot for 4-6 hours before serum was obtained by centrifugation. The serum samples were then kept at -20 degrees C until analysis. Enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], amylase, lipase), metabolites (urea, creatinine, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, glucose), and minerals (calcium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride) were analyzed in an Advia 1650 System (Bayer, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Cortisol was analyzed in an Immulite One system (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA). The major blood proteins (albumin and globulins) were separated by gel electrophoresis in a Beckman Paragon electrophoresis system (Beckman Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, CA, USA). RESULTS: Serum values for all analytes were reported as median and range, and reference intervals were calculated as 10-90th percentiles. Activities of ALP and LDH and cortisol concentration were higher, and protein and bilirubin concentrations were lower compared with those previously reported for white whales from Canada; remaining results were strikingly similar in these 2 white whale populations. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide valuable serum chemistry reference intervals for future health assessments of white whales in Svalbard and other white whale populations, as well as captive individuals.     

Are mycoparasitism and chitinase production species or isolate dependent in Trichoderma ?

The relationship between taxonomic status of Trichoderma spp., chitinase production in solid substrate fermentation (SSF) on four media and mycoparasitism in dual culture (confrontation assay)against four plant pathogenic fungi was studied. Seventy five Trichoderma isolates belonging to 35species have been screened. The plant pathogenic fungi used in confrontation assay were Botrytis cinerea , Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi , Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . The SSF media contained wheat bran, crude chitin (from crab shells, SIGMA) and salt solutions. The best performing isolates in mycoparasitism tests were Trichoderma flavofuscum, T. harzianum, T.inhamatum, T. koningii and T. strigosum. Some isolates exhibiting good mycoparasitism produced chitinase in SSF only at low or medium level. In contrary there were isolates with excellent extracellular chitinase production but their biocontrol potential did not belong to the leading group.Statistical methods have been used to evaluate the data.……     

Serum chemistry reference values in free‐ranging North Atlantic male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from the Svalbard archipelago

Background: Information regarding health and disease is limited for walruses, a keystone species in arctic marine ecosystems. Serum chemistry analysis is a useful clinical tool for the health assessment of walruses, but only a few captive Pacific walruses have been evaluated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine serum chemistry reference values for free‐ranging male Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) on Svalbard and to assess potential differences in animals with low and high tissue levels of organic pollutants. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 17 wild, adult, male Atlantic walruses chemically immobilized with etorphine at eastern Svalbard (Norway). Serum was obtained for routine biochemical analysis as well as nonesterified free fatty acids (NEFA) and cortisol tests. Serum protein concentration was also measured by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Reference values (ranges) included alanine aminotransferase (12–51 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (54–137 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (42–243 U/L), creatine kinase (32–506 U/L), lactate dehydrogenase (480–1322 U/L), amylase (0–23 U/L), lipase (68–298 U/L), total protein (68–91 g/L), albumin (25.3–34.8 g/L), creatinine (84–137 μmol/L), urea (8.2–19.9 mmol/L), bilirubin (0–4 μmol/L), cholesterol (4.4–7.3 mmol/L), NEFA (0.1–0.4 mmol/L), triglycerides (0.6–2.2 mmol/L), calcium (2.0–2.7 mmol/L), phosphorus (1.7–2.8 mmol/L), sodium (147–162 mmol/L), potassium (4.7–7.4 mmol/L), chloride (102–115 mmol/L), and cortisol (<28–214 nmol/L). Walruses exposed to high levels of organic pollutants (n=6) had significantly lower (P=.022) phosphorus concentration than those with low levels of pollutants (n=6). Conclusions: The clinical chemistry reference values determined in this study can serve as baseline data for future health‐related studies of walruses in a changing Arctic and may also be helpful for health evaluations of walruses in captivity. Impacts of the exposure of marine mammals to organic pollutants should be further investigated.