Patch test reactions to house dust mites in dogs with atopic dermatitis

The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of dogs with spontaneous atopic dermatitis that show a positive patch test reaction to a commercially available 20% house dust mites mixture containing equal parts of Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in white petrolatum. In addition, we evaluated whether skin reactions induced after the epicutaneous application of house dust mites were clinically and histologically similar to naturally developed skin lesions of dogs with atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, we investigated if the reactions induced by house dust mites were true allergic reactions by comparing them to atopic lesional skin and to patch test reactions induced by an irritant substance (sodium lauryl sulphate). White petrolatum alone and nonlesional skin sites were used as negative controls. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of the patch test and control sites were performed in a blinded fashion at 48 and 72 h after patch test application. Microscopic results were evaluated in a qualitative and quantitative manner. A chi‐square test for homogenicity was used for the quantitative analysis to compare the proportion of each dermal inflammatory cell type among positive histopathological tested sites. P values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. The study included 12 healthy nonatopic dogs and 13 dogs with nonseasonal atopic dermatitis. None of the nonatopic dogs reacted to house dust mites and white petrolatum. Ten (77%) of the 13 atopic dogs reacted macroscopically and histopathologically to house dust mites. Macroscopic reactions induced by house dust mites were characterized by erythema, oedema and papules. The macroscopic reactions induced by house dust mites were identical to lesional skin in 20% of the dogs and identical to reactions induced by sodium lauryl sulphate in 40% of the dogs. Qualitative histopathological findings showed that the reactions induced by house dust mites were similar to atopic lesional skin in 80% of the dogs and were similar to sodium lauryl sulphate in 20% of the dogs. Quantitative analyses showed that the proportion of neutrophils in reactions induced by sodium lauryl sulphate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to house dust mites reactions, which could be a differentiator factor between an allergic and an irritant reaction. These results showed that the epicutaneous application of house dust mites in dogs with atopic dermatitis induced histopathological lesions similar to spontaneous atopic lesions in dogs. Therefore, this study demonstrated that house dust mites penetrated the skin of dogs with atopic dermatitis and induced an inflammatory response that resembled a true allergic reaction. Funding: Small Companion Animal Grant, University of Minnesota.     

Fortification of Wheat Dough with Calcium and Magnesium Ions Affects Empirical Rheological Properties

This study evaluated the influence of calcium and magnesium ions on the empirical rheological properties of wheat flour to verify possible effects of these ions on processing because, in addition to their nutritional importance, they are also responsible for water hardness. Calcium (0–1.30 g/100 g) and magnesium (0–0.34 g/100 g) ions from sulfate salts were added to wheat flour, according to a central composite rotatable design. The farinograph and extensigraph properties of wheat flour and its mixtures were evaluated. The results were analyzed by response surface methodology. Calcium ions stood out for increasing water absorption, decreasing mixing stability, and producing a delayed effect on dough extensibility (reduced at 135 min). Magnesium ions influenced most flour rheological properties in a similar manner to oxidizing agents (increased dough stability, increased resistance to extension, and reduced extensibility), thus proving to be a possible replacement agent for these additives. An interaction effect of the combined calcium and magnesium ions was observed on dough development time. The results showed that effects on processing can occur when wheat flour fortification is made, and adaptations on wheat flour specifications, product formulation, and processing parameters may be required.     

Addition of Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate to Corn and Sorghum Starch Extrudates Enhances the Performance of Pregelatinized Beer Adjuncts

Double mashing for wort production is a time‐consuming process that can be reduced if pregelatinized adjuncts are used. Optimal extruding conditions were determined to obtain brewing adjuncts from corn and sorghum starch. For corn starch extrusion, a Box–Behnken design was devised in which moisture, screw speed, temperature of the barrel, and concentrations of sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL) were varied, and sorghum starch was extruded according to a 2³ model in which the modified variables were moisture, SSL concentration, and temperature. The aim was to maximize starch damage and minimize resistant starch and final viscosity as determined with a Rapid Visco Analyzer. The treatments that satisfied these requirements were mashed, and wort extract yield was determined. Glucose, maltose, and maltotriose concentrations in the resulting worts were determined by HPLC with a refractive index detector. Feedstock tempering and SSL content were the most important factors affecting the response; for corn starch, treatments with lower moisture (20%) and middle levels of SSL (0.5%) or with high levels of both moisture (40%) and SSL (1%) produced the most desirable samples for mashing, whereas for sorghum starch the best treatment was tempering to 20% moisture and containing middle levels of SSL (0.5%). No statistical differences were found between these experimental treatments and the control.     

The industries of the future in Mexico: Local and non-local effects in the localization of “knowledge-intensive services”

The current characteristics in the global economy have defined “knowledge-intensive services” (KIS) as part of the so-called “industries of the future” due to the attributes of their employment and central function in the development processes in science, technology, art, and culture. This study outlines as a central hypothesis that the localization of KIS depends on different factors according to the type of knowledge being developed (analytical, synthetic, and symbolic). The main objective in this work is to explore the spatial economic factors associated with the localization and changes (positive and negative) when using KIS in the “national urban system” in México between 2004 and 2014. To do so, the services sector is defined according to the “intensity” and the “types” of knowledge that they develop. An analysis of spatial econometrics is carried out that distinguishes between the geographic (local) effect and the spatial (non-local) effect of the independent variables using data and microdata from the period 2004 to 2014. The results partly correspond with the central hypothesis of the study and offer possibilities of public policies to take advantage of and to promote the benefits of KIS, especially regarding cities in developing countries looking to become part of the 21st century economy.     

Effects of temperature and lipid droplet adherence on mortality of hatchery-reared southern hake Merluccius australis larvae

Effects of exogenous (water temperature) and endogenous (lipid droplet adherence) factors were experimentally tested on early survival of southern hake Merluccius australis reared under controlled conditions. Experiments to determine the effect of temperature (10, 12 and 14 °C) on larval growth rates and yolk-sac absorption rates of unfed southern hake were carried out under laboratory conditions. There was no significant differences in growth rates at the temperature range tested (ANCOVA, F = 0.164, p > 0.25), but yolk-sac absorption rates and mortality increased with temperature (ANCOVA, F = 53.84, p < 0.001). A high percentage (between 31 and 81%) of hake eggs showed a lipid droplet not adhered (i.e., freely moving in the yolk, and not located in the posteriormost portion of the yolk-sac). In a second experiment, fed southern hake larvae with the lipid droplet not adhered during embryonic development did not survive after yolk-sac absorption. This study provides the first data on the influence of the lipid droplet absorption on larval survival of cultured hake, and can be used as an early indication of the quality of the batch.     

The development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish in the salmon aquaculture industry

Norway leads the world aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and farmed Norwegian Atlantic salmon is currently consumed around the globe. However, sea lice infestation is a major problem faced by the salmon aquaculture industry in Norway and elsewhere. The use of wild-caught cleaner fish, mainly wrasses, has been recommended over the other available methods as the most economical and environmentally friendly option to control sea lice infestation in salmon farming. Here, we review the development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish. In this document, we address the sea lice problem and introduce the main wrasse species employed as cleaner fish, document the cleaning behaviour of wrasses, present the development of a new wrasse fishery associated with the salmon aquaculture industry, and finally, we identify the main challenges associated with the intensive use of wild-caught cleaner wrasses and provide some insight for future directions of the wrasse fishery and further development of aquaculture techniques to supply salmon facilities with domesticated cleaner fish.     

Biochemical,Physical, Chemical,and Microbiological Assessment of Blue Shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) Stored in Ice

Postmortem changes in blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) muscle were studied on the basis of biochemical, chemical, physical, and microbiological changes during an 18 day storage period at 0°C. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content, breakdown products, K-value, pH, trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), water holding capacity (WHC), color, and texture (shear force) changes were examined. Also, total mesophilic and psychrophilic bacterial counts were measured. K-value increased linearly (r² = 0.98) from an initial value of 1.37 ± 0.59 to 59.42 ± 6.05% at Day 18. Spoilage indicators TVB-N and TMA-N increased from 29.56 ± 1.33 and 0.69 ± 0.25 to 39.04 and 2.04 ± 0.59 mg of N/100 g at Day 18, respectively; meanwhile, the total viable counts of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria increased from 3.48 ± 0.44 and 2.61 ± 0.29 log CFU/g to 6.27 ± 0.21 and 7.14 ± 0.39 log CFU/g, respectively, which indicated spoilage at the end of the storage period. The pH, texture, WHC, and color were affected (p < 0.05) during the storage period. Overall, results indicate that blue shrimp muscle quality was maintained for 12 days of storage in ice.     

Kinetic model for the antiradical activity of the isolated p-catechol group in flavanone type structures using the free stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl as the antiradical probe

The time evolution of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) concentration in four solvents (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and acetonitrile) during its reduction by three flavanones containing an isolated p-catechol group (taxifolin, eriodyctiol, and fustin) as well as the time evolution of the mass spectra of the reaction mixture has been determined by spectrophotometry and liquid mass spectrometry, respectively. In alcoholic solvents the reduction curves consisted of an initial short but fast kinetics step followed by a longer slow kinetics step; in contrast, in acetonitrile the reduction curves completely lacked the slow kinetics step. From the results, a kinetic model for the reaction of reduction of the DPPH* by the isolated p-catechol group in flavanone type structures is proposed. According to this model, the p-catechol group rapidly transfers two hydrogen atoms to DPPH*, through a fast rate constant k1, yielding the corresponding o-quinone. Then, the intermediate o-quinone forms an adduct with the alcoholic solvent, through a slow rate constant k2, and regenerates the p-catechol group. The regenerated p-catechol group reduces additional DPPH* through a fast rate constant k3, yielding the corresponding o-quinone, which can form a new adduct with the solvent to regenerate the p-catechol group, and so on. From the kinetics model, two explicit kinetics equations have been derived that fit very well the experimental data points acquired from all assayed compounds in all of the experiments carried out, thus allowing an accurate determination of the corresponding rate and stoichiometric constants.     

Chitosan-Based Films with 2-Aminothiophene Derivative: Formulation,Characterization and Potential Antifungal Activity

In this study, films of chitosan and 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile (6CN), a 2-aminothiophene derivative with great pharmacological potential, were prepared as a system for a topical formulation. 6CN-chitosan films were characterized by physicochemical analyses, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the antifungal potential of the films was evaluated in vitro against three species of Candida (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis). The results of the FTIR and thermal analysis showed the incorporation of 6CN in the polymer matrix. In the diffractogram, the 6CN-chitosan films exhibited diffraction halos that were characteristic of amorphous structures, while the micrographs showed that 6CN particles were dispersed in the chitosan matrix, exhibiting pores and cracks on the film surface. In addition, the results of antifungal investigation demonstrated that 6CN-chitosan films were effective against Candida species showing potential for application as a new antifungal drug.     

Mineralized,obstructive cardiac myxoma with chondroid differentiation in a cocker spaniel

A 12-year-old castrated male cocker spaniel dog was referred for evaluation of signs consistent with right-sided heart failure. Thoracic radiography revealed mineralization in the region of the right atrium. Echocardiography identified a mass partially filling the right atrium and right ventricle and obstructing flow through the right heart. These findings were confirmed at necropsy and histopathologic features were consistent with myxoma with chondroid differentiation.