Effect of replacing soybean meal with canola meal on growth,feed utilization and haematological indices of juvenile hybrid tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with canola meal (CM) on growth, feed utilization, body composition and haematological indices of juvenile hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus). Six isonitrogenous diets containing graded levels of CM (0, 95, 190, 285, 380 and 634 g kg^?1 of diet corresponding to 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60% and 100%, respectively, of protein from SBM) to replace SBM on an equal protein basis were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile fish (initial weight=6.3 g). The results indicated that up to 30% of SBM could be replaced by CM without causing a significant reduction in growth performance. Fish fed with diets in which CM replaced over 45% of SBM had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio and a significantly higher feed conversion ratio than fish fed with other diets. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, protein and phosphorus were lowest for fish fed the CM100 diet. Significant differences in haemoglobin, haematocrit and white blood cell concentration were found in fish fed diets with different CM levels. It is concluded that up to 19.02% CM can be used to replace 30% of SBM in diets for juvenile hybrid tilapia without compromising growth, feed conversion and protein utilization.     

Clinical application of multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of cranial nerves in horses in comparison with high resolution imaging standards

Although horses are affected by cranial nerve disease, our understanding of these structures' imaging anatomy is limited, and the optimal modality for imaging of each of these nerves is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the imaging appearance of the equine cranial nerves on high‐resolution 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans of a cadaver head, and with these as standards, examine the utility of MRI and CT performed in clinical cases. High‐resolution MRI and CT images were prospectively acquired of the head of a normal Thoroughbred gelding following euthanasia. Ten clinical cases undergoing high‐field MRI under general anaesthesia and 10 clinical cases undergoing CT in the standing horse under sedation were retrospectively evaluated by three reviewers to assess cranial nerve visibility. On high‐resolution, thin‐slice, MRI scans of the normal cadaver head, each of the 12 cranial nerves and their topographic location could be appreciated. On high‐resolution cadaver CT, cranial nerves II, V and VII were clearly visible, but others were less easily identified; osseous structures were clearly visualised. Clinical MRI and CT allowed for variable visualisation of the cranial nerves, dependent on the sequence and the orientation of scan planes. High‐field MRI allowed excellent visualisation of equine cranial nerves, whereas CT allowed for more detailed visualisation of the osseous canals and foramina. In live horses, the ability to identify all 12 nerves is challenging with either MRI or CT; however, high‐field MRI enables better visualisation of the nerve bundles than CT.     

Baicalein induction of hydroxyl radical formation via 12-lipoxygenase in human platelets: an ESR study

The pro-oxidant activities of baicalein, morin, myricetin, quercetin, and rutin were examined in various cell-containing systems including human platelets, rat vascular smooth muscle cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human THP-1 cells, and fibroblast cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) results showed that only baicalein generated hydroxyl radicals in a resting human platelet suspension, whereas the other flavonoids showed no effects on any of the resting cell systems. A low concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) increased the intensity of hydroxyl radicals, but a high concentration inhibited it. Collagen and thrombin, platelet aggregatory agents that can cause the release of AA by platelets, enhanced baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation, whereas ADP and U44619 showed no significant effects. Quinacrine and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic trifluoromethyl ketone, both PLA2 inhibitors, significantly attenuated baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation. These results suggest that baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation is associated with AA metabolite enzymes in human platelets. The formation of hydroxyl radicals was significantly inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors including nordihydroguaiaretic acid, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and hinokitiol, but was not affected by desferroxamine or the heme protein inhibitors KCN and NaN3. On the other hand, semiquinone free radicals were generated when baicalein was incubated with horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 or platelets/AA. The semiquinone radicals formed in the platelets/AA system could be extensively inhibited by desferroxamine, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, KCN, and NaN3, indicating that prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS)-peroxidase may be involved. The results of this study led to the proposal that baicalein induces hydroxyl radical formation via 12-lipoxygenase and induces semiquinone radical formation via PGHS-peroxidase in human platelets.