Extensive analysis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, CLA, trans-18:1 isomers, and plasmalogenic lipids in different retail beef types

The objective of this investigation was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the total lipid composition of present-day retail beef meat available at the consumer level and to evaluate the total lipid composition with special emphasis on the nutritional value. For this purpose, 40 beef cuts were obtained from four cattle farms based on either a natural grazing system (NGS) or an intensive production system (IPS). The total lipid composition was analyzed using complementary chemical and chromatographic procedures. The content of n-3 LC-PUFA, CLA, total trans-18:1, and branched-chain fatty acids was significantly higher in NGS beef than in IPS beef. The trans-18:1 and CLA profiles were affected by the different production systems, whereby they can be utilized empirically to differentiate between feeding regimen and production management. Fatty acid ratios that have health implications ( n-6/ n-3, LA/alphaLNA, and AA/EPA) were remarkably beneficial for NGS beef compared with IPS beef. In conclusion, from the human health perspective, beef raised on NGS is clearly superior with regard to a more favorable fatty acid profile in comparison to IPS beef.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics of warfarin enantiomers in cats

The purpose of this study was to determine the dispositions of S-warfarin and R-warfarin in normal cats following intravenous and oral administrations of racemic warfarin. Citrated blood samples were collected from 10 cats prior to and at times 5, 15, and 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h following a single intravenous bolus of 0.5 mg/kg of racemic warfarin. After a 21-day washout period, samples were then similarly collected in three groups of four cats for 120 h following oral administration of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg racemic warfarin. S-warfarin and R-warfarin were detected using a high-performance liquid chromatography assay validated for cat plasma. Drug concentration-time curves were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Median pharmacokinetic parameters associated with the intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg racemic warfarin were as follows: t1/2 (S:28.2, R:18.3 h), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC; S:33.0, R:24.6 h*microg/mL), area under the moment curve (AUMC; S:1889, R:527.8 h*h*microg/mL), and mean residence time (MRT; S:38.7, R:20.9 h). For each parameter, S-warfarin was significantly different from R-warfarin (P<0.05). Warfarin was absorbed rapidly after oral administration, and the dosage did not affect the time to maximum concentration (S:0.87, R:0.75 h). Oral dosage significantly influenced maximum plasma concentration (ng/mL, S:1267, R:1355 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:614.9, R:679.4 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:250.5, R:367.6 at 0.1 mg/kg), AUC (h*microg/mL, S:45.12, R:30.91 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:22.98:, R:18.99 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:3.922, R:3.570 at 0.1 mg/kg) and AUMC (h*h*microg/mL, S:2135, R:1062 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:943.1, R:599.9 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:132.2, R:59.03 at 0.1 mg/kg), but not t1/2 (S:23.5, R:11.6 h) nor MRT (S:26.3, R:13.5 h). Both warfarin enantiomers were highly (>96.5%) protein-bound. Quantitation of the warfarin content in commercially available tablets indicated an unequal distribution of the drug throughout the tablet.     

Pharmacodynamics of warfarin in cats

The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacodynamic response to warfarin in cats. The specific aim was to determine if a log-linear indirect response model (Nagashima et al., 1969) used to describe the in vivo effect of warfarin in humans could be applied to cats. The pharmacokinetics of racemic warfarin were described using a non-compartmental approach. The relationship between prothrombin complex activity (PCA) and normalized prothrombin time (PTR) was defined for feline plasma under our experimental conditions, and determined to be: %PCA=12.38+648 e-PTR/0.492. These data were then integrated and used to predict the warfarin dose associated with therapeutic anti-coagulation defined as an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2.0-3.0. The maximum prothrombinopenic response to warfarin in cats after a single intravenous dose of 0.5 mg/kg occurred at 24-48 h. Pharmacodynamic modeling suggested that each cat had a narrow therapeutic range of the steady-state concentration of total warfarin required to appropriately block prothrombin complex synthesis (median: 265.2-358.7 ng/mL). The median daily dose range predicted to yield therapeutic concentrations of warfarin was 0.061-0.088 mg/kg per day. Wide inter-individual variations in both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic response suggest that a more optimal dosing of warfarin may be possible with the development of individual pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic algorithms, analogous to those currently employed in human patients.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in dogs with congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure, and hyperadrenocorticism.

The function of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is claimed to be control of salt and water homeostasis, and thus, the hormone may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain diseases with impaired volume regulation. We, therefore, studied plasma ANP concentration in dogs with chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, and hyperadrenocorticism. Dogs with chronic renal failure had twofold higher plasma ANP concentration (16.2 +/- 5.8 fmol/ml), compared with healthy dogs (8.3 +/- 3.5 fmol/ml). An even more distinct increase (sixfold) of plasma ANP concentration was found in dogs with congestive heart failure (52.9 +/- 29.7 fmol/ml). In contrast, dogs with hyperadrenocorticism did not have high ANP plasma concentration (5.5 +/- 2.0 fmol/ml). High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of plasma from dogs with congestive heart failure indicated that, in addition to the normal circulating form of ANP (99-126), the unprocessed precursor ANP (1-126) is detectable in the circulation. These qualitative and quantitative alterations of plasma ANP concentration in dogs further suggest involvement of this peptide in the development and/or maintenance of diseases associated with impaired volume regulation.     

Consistent Quantitative Trait Loci in Pea for Partial Resistance to Aphanomyces euteiches Isolates from the United States and France

ABSTRACT Development of pea cultivars resistant to Aphanomyces root rot, the most destructive root disease of pea worldwide, is a major disease management objective. In a previous study of a mapping population of 127 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross 'Puget' (susceptible) x '90-2079' (partially resistant), we identified seven genomic regions, including a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), Aph1, associated with partial resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in U.S. fields (21). The objective of the present study was to evaluate, in the same mapping population, the specificity versus consistency of Aphanomyces resistance QTL under two screening conditions (greenhouse and field, by comparison with the previous study) and with two isolates of Aphanomyces euteiches originating from the United States and France. The 127 RILs were evaluated in the greenhouse for resistance to pure culture isolates SP7 (United States) and Ae106 (France). Using the genetic map previously described, a total of 10 QTL were identified for resistance in greenhouse conditions to the two isolates. Among these were Aph1, Aph2, and Aph3, previously detected for partial field resistance in the United States. Aph1 and Aph3 were detected with both isolates and Aph2 with only the French isolate. Seven additional QTL were specifically detected with one of the two isolates and were not identified for partial field resistance in the United States. The consistency of the detected resistance QTL over two screening environments and isolates is discussed with regard to pathogen variability, and disease assessment and QTL detection methods. This study suggests the usefulness of three consistent QTL, Aph1, Aph2, and Aph3, for marker-assisted selection.     

Physical principles and technical considerations for equine computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

This article discusses how cross-sectional imaging methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can provide unique and diagnostically important information in situations where radiography or diagnostic ultrasound have been unrewarding.     

Multimorbidity in aged dogs and cats

As in humans, an increase in the incidence of concurrent diseases occurs in dogs and cats with age. To some extent considerable species specific differences occur; the dog is affected more than the cat. In advanced age more chronic diseases are observed as in humans. The following diseases show a particular predisposition in aged dogs and cats: The dog exhibits especially non-inflammatory skin diseases, cardiopathies, chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, oral cavity, liver, kidneys and urinary tract, diseases of the CNS, and tumours, whereas the cat suffers from the leukaemia complex, to a lesser extent from non-inflammatory skin and cardiac diseases, also from chronic diseases of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and urinary tract, endocrine system, and tumours.