Maturation of insulin and glucose responses to normal feeding in foals

SUMMARY Postprandial insulin and glucose concentrations were measured in 3 Arabian and 3 Thoroughbred foals at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of age. Prefeeding serum Insulin concentrations were similar in foals at 1 day (25.9 ± 5.1 pmol/L), 1 week (32.4 ± 5.8 pmol/L), and 1 month (38.2 + 7.9 pmol/L), but had Increased significantly to 131.0 ± 20.2 pmol/L at 3 months of age (P < 0.05). There was significantly increased serum Insulin secretion after a feed In foals at 3 months of age (P < 0.05) when compared with that at younger ages. Prefeeding serum glucose concentrations ranged from 6.0 ± 0.7 mmol/L at 1 day, to 5.9 ± 0.9 mmol/L at 1 week, 4.9 ± 1.7 mmol/L at 1 month, and 4.4 ± 1.5 mmol/L at 3 months of age. There were lower postprandial glucose concentrations with advancing age. It appeared that there was a period of maturation in pancreatic β-cell function after birth in foals, which reached adult levels by 3 months of age.     

Detection of classical and newly described staphylococcal superantigen genes in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections

The coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the most prevalent mastitis pathogen group yet their virulence characteristics have not been well described. We investigated the presence of 19 classical and newly described staphylococcal superantigen (SAg) genes in CNS isolates from bovine intramammary infections (IMI). A total of 263 CNS representing 11 different Staphylococcus spp. were examined, and 31.2% (n = 82) of CNS isolates had one or more SAg genes; there were 21 different SAg gene combinations. The most prevalent combination of SAg genes (seb, seln and selq; n = 45) was found in S. chromogenes, S. xylosus, S. haemolyticus, S. sciuri subsp. carnaticus, S. simulans and S. succinus. The genes for SAgs appear to be widely distributed amongst CNS isolated from bovine IMI.     

Solubilization of water soluble anthocyanins in apolar medium using reverse micelle

Crude anthocyanins extracted from grape skin were solubilized in hexane containing 100 mM bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) by forming stable reverse micelles (RMs). Anthocyanins solubilized in RMs showed about four times greater color intensity than that in aqueous medium. The color intensity of anthocyanins in RMs was primarily affected by the interaction between sulfonate head of AOT and flavylium cation of anthocyanins. The molar ratio of water to AOT (Wo) also influenced the color properties. As the Wo increased from five to 20, the color intensity increased and resulted in a bathochromic shift. This result suggests that increased micelle size facilitates complexation between AOT and flavylium cation. The color stability of anthocyanins in RM was higher than that of buffered anthocyanins during the storage at 30 degrees C. The current study might be utilized as a model system to predict color properties of anthocyanins in apolar medium.     

Comparison of the cytotoxic effects of bupivacaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine in equine articular chondrocytes

Objective To compare the chondrotoxicity of bupivacaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine in equine articular chondrocytes in vitro. Study design Prospective, experimental study. Study material Equine articular chondrocytes. Methods Primary cultured equine chondrocytes were exposed to 0.5% bupivacaine, 2% lidocaine, or 2% mepivacaine for 30 or 60 minutes. After treatment, cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion and the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay in a dose dependent manner. Apoptosis and necrosis of chondrocytes were analyzed with the double staining of Hoechst 33258 and propidium iodide using fluorescence microscopy, and the results were confirmed using flow cytometry. Results After 30‐minute exposure, trypan blue exclusion assay revealed that cell viability of 0.5% bupivacaine group was 28.73 ± 8.44%, and those of 2% lidocaine and 2% mepivacaine were 66.85 ± 6.03% and 86.27 ± 2.00%, respectively. The viability of chondrocytes after saline treatment was 95.95 ± 2.75%. The results of MTT assay and fluorescence microscopy had similar tendency with trypan blue assay. Each result showed that bupivacaine was the most toxic of the three local anaesthetics. Mepivacaine was less toxic than lidocaine. The results of the viability test suggest that bupivacaine and lidocaine exhibit a marked chondrotoxicity, and that this is mainly due to necrosis rather than apoptosis. Conclusions and clinical relevance Bupivacaine may induce detrimental chondrotoxicity when administered intra‐articularly, especially in patients with joint disease, and we suggest that it should be used cautiously in equine practice. Mepivacaine may be an alternative to both bupivacaine and lidocaine.     

Metal ion adsorbability of electrospun wool keratose/silk fibroin blend nanofiber mats

In this study, electrospun wool keratose (WK)/silk fibroin (SF) blend nanofiber was prepared and evaluated as a heavy metal ion adsorbent which can be used in water purification field. The WK, which was a soluble fraction of oxidized wool keratin fiber, was blended with SF in formic acid. The electrospinnability was greatly improved with an increase of SF content. The structure and properties of WK/SF blend nanofibers were investigated by SEM, FTIR, DMTA and tensile test. Among various WK/SF blend ratios, 50/50 blend nanofiber showed an excellent mechanical property. It might be due to some physical interaction between SF and WK molecules although FTIR result did not show any evidence of molecular miscibility. As a result of metal ion adsorption test, WK/SF blend nanofiber mats exhibited high Cu²⁺ adsorption capacity compared with ordinary wool sliver at pH 8.5. It might be due to large specific surface area of nanofiber mat as well as numerous functional groups of WK. Consequently, the WK/SF blend nanofiber mats can be a promising candidate as metal ion adsorption filter.     

Acaricidal toxicity of 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone isolated from Angelicae koreana roots and structure-activity relationships of its derivatives

The acaricidal activities of 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone derived from Angelica koreana roots and its derivatives against Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae were examined by vapor phase and contact toxicity bioassays. In the vapor phase toxicity bioassay, 2'-methylacetophenone (1.25 μg/cm(2)) was 8.0 times more toxic against D. farinae than benzyl benzoate (10.00 μg/cm(2)), followed by 3'-methylacetophenone (1.26 μg/cm(2)), 4'-methylacetophenone (1.29 μg/cm(2)), 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone (1.75 μg/cm(2)), and 2'-hydroxy-5'-methylacetophenone (1.96 μg/cm(2)). In the contact toxicity bioassay, 3'-methylacetophenone (0.58 μg/cm(2)) was 17.24 times more effective against D. farinae than benzyl benzoate (7.52 μg/cm(2)), followed by 2'-methylacetophenone (0.64 μg/cm(2)), 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone (0.76 μg/cm(2)), 4'-methylacetophenone (0.77 μg/cm(2)), and 2'-hydroxy-5'-methylacetophenone (1.16 μg/cm(2)). The acaricidal activities of 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone derivatives against D. pteronyssinus and T. putrescentiae were similar to those against D. farinae. In terms of structure-activity relationships, acaricidal activity against the three mite species changed with the introduction of hydroxyl and methyl functional groups onto the acetophenone skeleton. Furthermore, some of 2'-hydroxy-4'-methylacetophenone derivatives could be useful for natural acaricides against three mite species.     

Comparable bone healing capacity of different bone graft matrices in a rabbit segmental defect model

We compared the bone healing capacity of three different demineralized bone matrix (DBM) products applied using different carrier molecules (hyaluronic acid [HA] vs. carboxymethylcellulose [CMC]) or bone compositions (cortical bone vs. cortical bone and cancellous bone) in a rabbit segmental defect model. Overall, 15-mm segmental defects in the left and right radiuses were created in 36 New Zealand White rabbits and filled with HA-based demineralized cortical bone matrix (DBX), CMC-based demineralized cortical bone matrix (DB) or CMC-based demineralized cortical bone with cancellous bone (NDDB), and the wound area was evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation. DBX showed significantly lower radiopacity, bone volume fraction, and bone mineral density than DB and NDDB before implantation. However, bone healing score, bone volume fraction, bone mineral density, and residual bone area at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation revealed no significant differences in bone healing capacity. Overall, three DBM products with different carrier molecules or bone compositions showed similar bone healing capacity.     

Effect of monensin and vitamin E on milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows

Feeding unsaturated oils to lactating dairy cows impair ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) and increase ruminal outflow of BH intermediates such as trans‐10, cis‐12 CLA that are considered to be potent inhibitors of milk fat synthesis. Supplementing lactating dairy cow’s rations containing plant origin oils with monensin and/or vitamin E may minimise the formation of trans‐10 isomers in the rumen, thereby preventing milk fat depression. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of monensin and vitamin E supplementation in the diets of lactating dairy cows containing whole cottonseed, as the main source of FA on feed intake, milk production and composition, milk fatty acid profile, efficiency of nitrogen (N) utilisation, efficiency of net energy (NE) utilisation and nutrients digestibilities. Four multiparous Holstein lactating dairy cows (86 ± 41 days in milk) were assigned to a balanced 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 21 days with a 14 days of treatment adaptation and a 7 days of data collection. The control diet was a total mixed ration (TMR) consisted of 430 g/kg forage and 570 g/kg of a concentrate mixture on dry matter (DM) basis. Cows were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments including control diet (C), control diet supplemented with 150 mg of vitamin E/kg of DM (E), control diet supplemented with 24 mg of monensin/kg of DM (M) and control diet supplemented with 150 mg of vitamin E and 24 mg of monensin/kg of DM (EM). Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 19.1 to 19.5 kg/d and was similar among the dietary treatments. Dietary supplementation with vitamin E or monensin had no effect on milk production, milk fat, protein and lactose concentrations, efficiency of utilisation of nitrogen and net energy for lactation (NE_L). Digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) was not affected by the dietary treatments. Digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was higher in cows fed with the M and EM diets in relation to those fed the C and E diets. The concentrations of C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, trans‐10‐16:1, cis‐9‐16:1, 17:0, 18:0, trans‐11‐18:1, cis‐9‐18:1, cis‐9, trans‐11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), trans‐10, cis‐12 CLA, and 18:3n‐3 FA in milk fat were not affected by the dietary supplementations. While feeding the M diet tended to decrease milk fat concentration of C16:0, the milk fat concentration of C18:2n‐6 FA tended to be increased. Dietary supplementation with vitamin E or monensin had no effect on milk fat concentrations of saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, short chain and long chain FA, but feeding the M diet numerically decreased milk fat concentration of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). The results showed that vitamin E and/or monensin supplementations did not improve milk fat content and did not minimise the formation of trans‐10 FA isomers in the rumen when whole cottonseed was included in the diet as the main source of fatty acids.