Use of Body-Mounted Inertial Sensors to Objectively Evaluate the Response to Perineural Analgesia of the Distal Limb and Intra-articular Analgesia of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint in Horses With Forelimb Lameness

Diagnostic analgesia of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint is theoretically helpful to localize the source of pain in the foot to the joint and/or navicular bursa. However, it has been suggested that potential diffusion of local anesthetic agent to nearby distal limb nerves may anesthetize other areas of the foot. The objective of this study was to compare the results of palmar digital (PD) and abaxial sesamoid (AS) nerve blocks to intra-articular anesthesia of the DIP joint in horses with distal forelimb lameness. Palmar digital nerve block (group 1) or PD and AS nerve blocks (group 2) were used to abolish digital pain in 22 horses. The following day lameness was again evaluated in all horses before and 2, 5, and 10 minutes after DIP joint anesthesia. All lameness evaluations were performed objectively with a body-mounted inertial sensor system (Lameness locator; Equinosis LLC, Columbia, MO). In group 1 horses, overall improvement in group lameness was the same after DIP joint block, but only six showed positive response after DIP joint analgesia, five after 2 minutes, and one after 5 minutes. In group 2 horses, overall improvement in lameness was less after DIP joint block, with seven showing a positive response after DIP joint analgesia, one after 2 minutes, four after 5 minutes, and two after 10 minutes. Intra-articular analgesia of the DIP joint and perineural analgesia of the digit result in overlapping but unequal areas of analgesia. In addition, a time-dependent response was observed after DIP joint block with full effect requiring 5–10 minutes.     

Equine Proliferative Enteropathy Caused by Lawsonia intracellularis in a Foal in Brazil

An 8-month-old foal in Brazil presented with fever, colic, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia (especially hypoalbuminemia), leukocytosis, and hyperfibrinogenemia and became lethargic and anorexic with a poor body score. A diagnosis of Lawsonia intracellularis proliferative enteropathy was confirmed by fecal polymerase chain reaction and serologic testing, and the foal was successfully treated with oxytetracycline followed by azithromycin.     

An iron-acquisition-deficient mutant of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis efficiently protects mice against challenge

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic disease that affects sheep and goats worldwide, and its etiological agent is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Despite the economic losses caused by CLA, there is little information about the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, and current immune prophylaxis against infection has been unable to reduce the incidence of CLA in goats. Recently, 21 different mutant strains of C. pseudotuberculosis were identified by random mutagenesis. In this study, these previously generated mutants were used in mice vaccination trials to develop new immunogens against CLA. Based on this analysis, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053, an iron-acquisition-deficient mutant strain, was selected. After challenge with a virulent strain, 80% of the animals that were immunized with the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053 strain survived. Furthermore, this vaccination elicited both humoral and cellular responses. Intracellular survival of the bacterium was determined using murine J774 cells; in this assay, the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053 had reduced intracellular viability. Because iron acquisition in intracellular bacteria is considered one of their most important virulence factors during infection, these results demonstrate the immunogenic potential of this mutant against CLA.     

Allelic variation at the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glu-1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glu-3</Emphasis> loci,presence of the 1B.1R translocation,and their effects on mixographic properties in Chinese bread wheats

Allelic variations at the Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci play an important role in determining dough properties and bread-making quality. Two hundred and fifty-one cultivars and advanced lines from four major Chinese wheat-producing zones in the autumn-sown wheat regions were used to investigate the high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW GS) and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW GS) composition controlled by the Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci, respectively, as well as the presence of the 1B.1R translocation, and to determine the association of storage protein composition with protein content, SDS sedimentation value, and dough-mixing properties measured by mixograph. Three, nine, and four allelic variations were present at Glu-A1, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1, respectively. Subunits 1, N, 7+8, 7+9, and 2+12 are the dominant HMW GS, with frequencies of 51.3, 39.4, 38.2, 45.0, and 59.8%, respectively. Five and eight allelic variations were present at the Glu-A3 and Glu-B3 loci (data of Glu-D3 were not available), Glu-A3a, Glu-A3d, Glu-B3j (presence of the 1B.1R translocation), and Glu-B3d are the dominant LMW GS, with frequencies of 37.1, 31.7, 44.6, and 20.3%, respectively. The frequencies of allelic variation at Glu-1 and Glu-3 differ greatly in different regions. The effects of HMW GS and LMW GS on SDS sedimentation value, mixing time, and mixing tolerance were significant at P = 0.01, with Glu-D1 and Glu-B3 showing the largest contributions to mixing time and mixing tolerance. Averaged data from two locations showed that the quality effects of glutenin loci could be ranked as Glu-B3 > Glu-B1 > Glu-A1 > Glu-D1 > Glu-A3 for SDS sedimentation value, Glu-D1 > Glu-B3 > Glu-A1 = Glu-B1 = Glu-A3 for mixing time, and Glu-D1 > Glu-B3 = Glu-B1 > Glu-A3 > Glu-A1 for mixing tolerance, respectively. The significant and negative effect of the 1B.1R translocation on dough properties was confirmed. It was concluded that the high frequency of undesirable HMW GS and LMW GS and the presence of the 1B.1R translocation are responsible for the weak gluten property of Chinese germplasm; hence, reducing the frequency of the 1B.1R translocation and integration of desirable subunits at Glu-1 and Glu-3 such as 1, 7+8, 14+15, 5+10, Glu-A3d, and Glu-B3d, could lead to the improvement of gluten quality in Chinese wheats.     

Influence of genotype and environment on the content of 5-n alkylresorcinols,total phenols and on the antiradical activity of whole durum wheat grains

The 5-n-alkylresorcinol (AR) contents of thirty different cultivars of durum wheat grown in two years (2009 and 2010) in two Italian locations were determined and related to the total soluble phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity (AA). On average, AR and TPC ranged from 161.3 to 405.8 μg/g (dry matter, DM) and from 19.0 to 192.4 μg/g (DM), respectively. AA (EC₅₀ values) ranged from 70.9 to 289.2 mg of dry whole milled wheat grain (DM). The results showed that the environment (E) and the genotype (G), as well as their interactions (G × E), significantly influenced the phytochemical profiles of the samples. The contribution of G × E to the total variance was much lower than that due to the separate effects (G and E). Principal component analysis identified genotypes that were richer in ARs and more stable across environments. There were significant negative correlations between ARs and TPC (p < 0.05) and between TPC and AA (p < 0.01), but not between ARs and AA. Graphical representation was efficient in summarizing the overall antiradical profiles of the durum wheat grain in each environment.     

Content and relative composition of some phytochemicals in diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid Triticum species with potential nutraceutical properties

Seven cultivated Triticum species or subspecies (Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum ssp dicoccum, T. turgidum ssp. durum, T. turgidum ssp turanicum, Triticum timopheevii, Triticum aestivum and Triticum zhukovskyi) were compared for their contents of bioactive compounds, mainly 5-n-alkylresorcinols (ARs). Multivariate analysis of variance and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the differences in the phytochemical profiles and to establish the relationships among variables. Significant differences were observed for both total phenol (TP) and AR content. The highest AR level (377 μg/g) was observed in Triticum dicoccum, which also exhibited the highest variability for these compounds (298–436 μg/g). By contrast, the lowest AR content (286 μg/g) was found in Triticum durum. C21:0 was the main homologue chain in all the samples, its value ranging between 54.5% in T. durum and 41.2% in T. aestivum. The T. dicoccum and T. monococcum wheats had relatively low amounts of TP, whereas Triticum turanicum (215 mg/kg), T. timopheevii (250 mg/kg) and T. zhukovskyi (286 mg/kg) had approximately 3-fold higher TP levels. These results suggest that there are opportunities for breeding wheat varieties with superior health benefits and for promoting the use of ancient Triticum crops as novel sources of healthy food.     

Heat and drought stress on durum wheat: Responses of genotypes,yield, and quality parameters

Heat and/or drought stress during cultivation are likely to affect the processing quality of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum). This work examined the effects of drought and heat stress conditions on grain yield and quality parameters of nine durum wheat varieties, grown during two years (2008–09 and 2009–10). Generally, G and E showed main effects on all the parameters whereas the effects of G × E were relatively small. More precipitation in Y09–10 may account for the large differences in parameters observed between crop cycles (Y08–09 and Y09–10). Combined results of the two crop cycles showed that flour protein content (FP) and SDS sedimentation volume (SDSS) increased under both stress conditions, but not significantly. In contrast the gluten strength-related parameters lactic acid retention capacity (LARC) and mixograph peak time (MPT) increased and decreased significantly under drought and heat stress, respectively. Drought and heat stress drastically reduced grain yield (Y) but significantly enhanced flour yellowness (FY). LARC and the swelling index of glutenin (SIG) could be alternative tests to screen for gluten strength. Genotypes and qualtiy parameters performed differently to drought and heat stress, which justifies screening durum wheat for both yield and quality traits under these two abiotic stress conditions.     

Sensory evaluation of baked chicken wrapped with antimicrobial apple and tomato edible films formulated with cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol

The addition of plant essential oils to edible films and coatings has been shown to protect against bacterial pathogens and spoilage while also enhancing sensory properties of foods. This study evaluated the effect of adding 0.5 and 0.75% carvacrol (active ingredient of oregano oil) to apple- and tomato-based film-forming solutions and 0.5 and 0.75% cinnamaldehyde (active ingredient of cinnamon oil) to apple-based film-forming solutions on sensory properties of cooked chicken wrapped with these films. Paired preference tests indicated no difference between baked chicken wrapped with tomato and apple films containing 0.5% carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde compared to chicken wrapped with tomato or apple films without the plant antimicrobials. The taste panel indicated a higher preference for carvacrol-containing tomato-coated chicken over the corresponding apple coating. There was also a higher preference for cinnamaldehyde-containing apple films over corresponding carvacrol-containing wrapping. Films containing antibacterial active compounds derived from essential oils can be used to protect raw chicken pieces against bacterial contamination without adversely affecting preferences of wrapped chicken pieces after baking.     

The impact of redox conditions on the rare earth element signature of redoximorphic features in a soil sequence developed from limestone

Redox processes, which are widespread in soils, need to be quantified for an improved comprehension of the dynamics of Fe- and Mn-oxides and their associated trace elements. The classical methodology used to study these redox processes generally relies on the quantification of all mineral species in the various pedological features that can be related to different redox stages. However, this approach usually encounters the difficulty of precisely quantifying the different forms of poorly crystallised Fe- and Mn-oxides.In this study, we use the signature of rare earth elements (REEs) to visualise and, eventually, quantify the importance of redox processes in soils. Our approach relies on that developed by Laveuf et al. (2008) and the idea that the relative contribution to the mobilisation of REEs that is made by the primary minerals reactive to redox conditions depends on the following factors: (i) their initial proportion in the different pedological features that can be related to various redox processes, (ii) their relative mobilisation during the redox process in question, and (iii) their initial REE signatures.The catena studied is characterised by two stages of redox conditions: the first is related to the formation and subsequent dissolution of Fe–Mn concretions, and the second is related to the bleaching of the soil matrix due to morphological degradation. In this soil, the main minerals reactive to redox conditions are Mn-oxides, ferrihydrite, goethite and (fluor)apatite. The results indicate that the primary redox conditions can be characterised by a positive Ce anomaly on the REE pattern, which has been attributed to a preferential immobilisation of this element, due to its association with Mn-oxides. The results also indicate that the secondary redox conditions can be characterised by depletion in medium REEs (MREEs) in the REE pattern, which has been attributed to a preferential release of these elements during the dissolution of (fluor)apatite and, to a lesser extent, of ferrihydrite.These results emphasise the potential of REE signatures of the visualisation of the various redox processes that have been active in a soil. Additionally, REE signatures are a proxy of the frequency and intensity of the redox conditions.