Effect of glimepiride and nateglinide on serum insulin and glucose concentration in healthy cats

Glimepiride and nateglinide are two common oral hypoglycemic agents currently being used with humans suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Neither drug has been tested with cats thus far and it is currently unknown whether either of these drugs exert any effect in cats or not. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of glimepiride and nateglinide on glucose and insulin responses in healthy control cats, in order to determine their potential use in diabetic cats. The intravenous glucose tolerance tests was carried out since it is an excellent test for evaluating pancreatic β-cell function for insulin secretion. Alterations in the insulin secretion pattern can be perceived as the earliest sign of β-cell dysfunction in many species, including cats. Nateglinide demonstrated a quick action/short duration type effect with serum glucose nadiring and insulin response peaking at 60 and 20 minutes, respectively. Alternatively, glimepiride is medium-to-long acting with serum glucose nadiring and insulin response peaking at 180 minutes and 60 minutes, respectively. Nateglinide’s potency was evident allowing it to induce a 1.5–2 higher preliminary insulin peak (3.7?±?1.1 pg/ml) than glimepiride’s (2.5?±?0.1 pg/ml), albeit only for a short period of time. Because glimepiride and nateglinide have a shared mode of action, no significant differences in overall glucose AUC_0-360min (24,435?±?2,940 versus 24,782?±?2,354 mg min/dl) and insulin AUC_0-360min (410?±?192 versus 460?±?159) in healthy control cats were observed. These findings may provide useful information when choosing a hypoglycemic drug suited for the treatment of diabetic cats depending on the degree of diabetes mellitus the cat is suffering from.     

Effect of feeding rotifers enriched with taurine on the growth and survival of larval amberjack Seriola dumerili

The effect of feeding rotifers enriched with taurine on the growth performance and survival of larval amberjack Seriola dumerili was investigated. Rotifers were enriched with a commercial taurine supplement at four levels (0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/l). The larvae were fed the enriched rotifers in triplicate from 3 days post-hatch for 7 days under static conditions. The average taurine contents of the rotifers were 1.5, 2.7, 4.2, and 7.2 mg/g dry matter, respectively. The growth of the fish fed rotifers enriched with the taurine supplement at 800 mg/l was significantly (P < 0.05) improved compared with that of the fish fed the rotifers without taurine enrichment. The survival rate improved proportionally up to a taurine supplement level of 400 mg/l, but no significant differences in survival were observed among treatments. The fraction of the larvae with inflated swim bladders did not vary significantly between treatments. Taurine content in the whole fish body increased with the taurine level in the rotifers. These results suggest that taurine enrichment of rotifers is an effective method of enhancing the growth of amberjack larvae.     

Origin identification method by multiple trace elemental analysis of intermuscular bones in grilled eel products produced in Japan, China, and Taiwan

Trace elemental composition in intermuscular bones of grilled eel fillets was analyzed to discriminate the geographic origin of eel products derived from Japan, China, and Taiwan. The intermuscular bones were decomposed with nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide, and twelve elements (Li, Ti, V, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Rb, Sr, Ba, Pb, and U) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Trace elemental composition including six elements: V, Co, Sr, Ba, Pb, and U, in intermusucular bones were significantly different between Japanese domestic eels and imported eels from China and Taiwan. The average content of lead in Japanese eels was 1/4 to 1/6 that in eels imported from China and Taiwan. The data of elemental content in intermuscular bones were used for linear discriminant analysis, and two discriminant models were constructed. In the Japan–China discriminant model, the discriminant probabilities between Japanese origin and Chinese origin were 82.5 and 93.3 %, respectively. In the Japan–Taiwan discriminant model, the discriminant probabilities between Japanese origin and Taiwanese origin were 87.5 and 87.0 %, respectively. Therefore, trace elemental analysis is effective for country-of-origin identification of eels processed as grilled eel fillets.     

Partial characterization and ontogenetic development of pancreatic digestive enzymes in Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae

The pancreatic digestive enzymes, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase were partially characterized, and changes in their activities were examined during the initial ontogeny of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae from 5 to 34 days post-hatching (dph). The pH optima of the eel larval enzymes were narrower than those other fish species; trypsin activity was highest at pH 9, chymotrypsin and amylase activities were highest at pH 7 and 8, and lipase activity was highest at pH 8 and 9. In an analysis of thermal profiles, the larval pancreatic enzymes had a high optimal temperature and high thermal stability, which are typical of fish from the tropics. At 12 and 13 dph, lipase activity and gene expression levels of trypsin (-a and -b), lipase and amylase decreased markedly, suggesting a marked change in larval metabolism at that time. These data could be useful in the development of artificial larval diets in Japanese eel.     

Effect of nanoclay incorporation method on mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of starch-based films

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of nanoclay incorporation procedure on the mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of starch/nanoclay composite films. Cassava starch films were prepared with (nanocomposite) and without nanoclay (control) in two steps: firstly the production of extruded pellets and secondly thermo-pressing. The nanocomposite films were prepared via two different methods: in D samples the nanoclay was dispersed in glycerol and subsequently incorporated into the starch; and in ND samples all ingredients were added in a single step before the extrusion. All the composite-films were prepared with cassava starch using 0.25 g of glycerol/g of starch and 0.03 g of nanoclay/g of starch. Control samples showed V_A-type crystallinity induced by the manufacturing process and the nanocomposites presented a semicrystalline and intercalated structure. The nanoclay improved the water vapor barrier properties of the starch film and this effect was more pronounced in D samples, where the water vapor permeability (K^w) was 60% lower than that of the control samples. The K^w reduction was associated with decreases in the effective diffusion coefficient (approximately 61%) and in the coefficient of solubility (approximately 22-32%). On the other hand, the incorporation of nanoclay increased the tensile strength and the rigidity of the films and this effect was more significant when the nanoclay was dispersed in glycerol. Thus, the incorporation of nanoclay into starch-based films is a promising way to manufacture films with better mechanical and water vapor barrier properties.     

Identifying the origin of Corbicula clams using trace element analysis

The trace element contents of Corbicula clam shells collected from Japan, Russia, China, and the Republic of Korea were analyzed to determine their geographic origin. The crushed shells were decomposed with nitric acid–hydrogen peroxide, and the concentrations of 14 elements (Li, Mg, V, Mn, Co, As, Rb, Mo, Ba, Ce, Pb, U, Sr, and Ca) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Some of the elements identified in samples displayed a geographic trend. The average content of manganese in Japanese samples was twice that of Russian samples. Conversely, the arsenic content in Japanese samples was approximately half of that in Russian samples. Linear discriminant analysis was applied to the data from Japanese and Russian samples, and a discriminant model was constructed. The discriminant model was used to determine the geographic origin of Corbicula clams produced in Japan, with 89.8 % of those identified as Japanese and 92.2 % of those identified as Russian being classified correctly. Therefore, trace element analysis of the shells of Corbicula clams is a useful technique for the identification of their country of origin.     

Growth performance and physiological condition of F1 amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae juveniles obtained from broodstock with selective breeding for growth on a low fish-meal diet

A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth and physiological condition of F1 amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae juveniles obtained from broodstock that had been selected for growth on a low fish-meal (LFM) diet. F1 juveniles from broodstock showing superior or inferior growth on a LFM diet (LFM-S, LFM-I), and those from broodstock showing intermediate growth on a fish meal-based (FM) diet (FM-M), were fed a LFM diet and a FM diet. In fish fed the LFM diet, growth of LFM-S was significantly better than FM-M at 3 weeks; however, this superiority in growth disappeared at the end of the 10-week trial. Growth of LFM-I was significantly lower than LFM-S throughout the feeding trial. Growth of fish fed the FM diet was not significantly different among groups, and higher than fish fed the LFM diet. Improvements in the blood hemoglobin concentration and morphological conditions of the distal intestine and liver were observed in LFM-S fed the LFM diet. Although the effect of selective breeding was limited in F1 amago salmon, the present results suggest that continuous selection for growth with a LFM diet has potential as a method to adapt to the limited supply of fish meal.     

Pore structure and the properties of electric double layer capacitor electrode of bamboo-derived activated carbon prepared by superheated steam

Bamboo-derived activated carbon prepared by superheated steam (BAC) exhibited performance for utilization as an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrode. Pore structure and EDLC performances were investigated by comparison with phenol resin-derived activated carbon (MSP-20), which is commercially available and often used for the purpose. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm showed that BAC had a large BET-specific surface area of 1268 g/m² with a developed pore structure, especially of the mesopore, in comparison with MSP-20. It is considered that inherent ash in bamboo promoted activation, in addition to physical activation by superheated steam. Capacitance per electrode volume (C_V) was 52 F/cm³ with BAC. Because the density of BAC is high (0.78 g/cm³) compared with that of MSP-20 (0.58 g/cm³), sufficient C_V for usage was obtained, although the capacitance per electrode mass (C_M) at 5 mA/cm² itself of BAC (67 F/g) was lower than that of MSP-20 (126 F/g). With IR drop, the resistance value of BAC (9.7 Ω) was lower than that of MSP-20 (10.5 Ω). Especially, the diffusion resistance of BAC disclosed to be smaller than that of MSP-20. These results indicated that BAC produced by steam activation is a promising material with a pore structure suitable for ion transfer in EDLC.     

Effect of high molecular weight carbohydrates on bud cell formation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> in potato dextrose broth

Potato dextrose broth (PDB), one of the most popular culture media for fungi, can be made in the laboratory from potato extract and glucose (handmade PDB) and also bought as powder (commercial PDB). We compared growth of Fusarium oxysporum in handmade and commercial PDBs. For seven strains tested, bud cell formation and fungal biomass were higher in handmade PDB than in commercial PDB. Gel filtration analyses revealed that handmade PDB contained carbohydrates with molecular weights >20 MDa, while most carbohydrates in commercial PDB were <45 kDa. Freshly prepared, raw potato starch had a molecular weight >20 MDa and enhanced bud cell formation by five of seven strains when added to commercial PDB. The addition of glucose to commercial PDB promoted biomass production but not bud cell formation. Furthermore, in a semisynthetic medium containing raw potato starch, bud cell formation was enhanced for all strains tested. These results indicate that the high molecular carbohydrates present in raw potatoes enhanced bud cell formation by Fusarium oxysporum.     

地下水硝酸盐污染来源的推断与溯源方法概述

不同地区的地下水中硝酸盐污染物的来源可能不同,这些差异可以通过一定的方法分析和追溯,本文概述了地下水硝酸盐污染来源的推断与溯源几种常用方法,包括六成分法、派珀图法、相关性分析,以及稳定同位素方法。