超声波处理对小麦胚芽球蛋白理化和功能性质的影

采用超声波处理小麦胚芽球蛋白以提高其功能性质.研究了超声波处理对小麦胚芽球蛋白理化和功能性质的影响.结果表明:经超声波处理后,小麦胚芽球蛋白的巯基和二硫键含量、紫外光谱和荧光光谱均发生了显著的变化.随着超声波功率的增加,小麦胚芽球蛋白的疏水性、起泡性、起泡稳定性、乳化性和乳化稳定性都降低;当超声波功率大于900 W时,由于小麦胚芽球蛋白重新伸展,疏水基团暴露增多,引起疏水性、起泡性、起泡稳定性、乳化性和乳化稳定性增加.此外.超声波功率对小麦胚芽球蛋白的溶解度有显著影响,随着超声波功率的增加其溶解度明显增加.因此,通过选择适宜的超声波功率水平能够改善小麦胚芽球蛋白的理化和功能性质.     

挤压超声联用提取米糠多糖工艺优化

为了提高米糠多糖得率,将挤压与超声方法联用,在单因素试验基础上采取二次正交旋转组合试验,研究了酶法提取米糠多糖的挤压工艺条件和超声波处理条件,并构建了超声波处理的数学模型.试验结果表明:在物料含水率20％、挤压温度115℃、螺杆转速120 r/min的挤压条件下,获取的米糠经酶解后,在处理时间21 min、超声波功率117W、处理温度72℃、液料比为8.7 mL/g的优化条件下,米糠多糖得率可达7.18％.     

Assessment of Vein Diameter and Body Surface Temperature after High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on the Tarsal Joint in Healthy Horses

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on vein diameter and on body surface temperature changes in the tarsal joint area in a group of clinically healthy racehorses. The hypothesis of the study was that HILT increases vein diameter and body surface temperature in healthy tissue. The study involved 16 Thoroughbreds being subjected to ultrasonographic examination to assess changes of diameter of the cranial branch of the medial saphenous vein and thermographic examination to indicate temperature change of the dorsal surface of the tarsal joint, just before and immediately after HILT treatment. Vein diameter and mean surface temperature of the tarsal joint significantly increased after HILT treatment. In addition, the study was the first to describe the photothermal effect of HILT in healthy horses. More studies are necessary to specify the parameters of the procedure, that is, wavelength, energy density, or time of the procedure, depending on the patient’s individual characteristics and type of tissue.     

Sonographic characteristics of goat testis on water bath based ultrasonography

Assessing the health of the testes in domestic animals is an important aspect of the breeding soundness examination and selection. The aim of the present study was to develop a simple method for scanning and to establish ultrasonographically the gross anatomic structures of the goat testes. Six adult male goats were examined to study the sonographic appearance of normal testes and epididymides using a water bath based ultrasound scanning technique. The ultrasonographic examinations were done using a 5–9 MHz/60 mm (7.5 MHz) linear-array transducer and a B-mode scanner. The ultrasonographic examination was performed in goats after standardizing the procedure on six testes collected from slaughter house. Results showed that in live goats when the probe was placed directly over the scrotum it gave distorted and unclear image. In water bath method the entire scrotum was dipped into a container filled with water and linear probe was used to observe the sonographic features of the testis. Each testis was viewed vertically, resulting in longitudinal image which was frozen, measured and printed through a thermal printer. The results of the ultrasonogram revealed that the testicular parenchyma was homogenous and moderately echogenic throughout. The diameter (mean±se) of the right and left testes was 4.47±0.14 and 4.42±0.07 cm respectively and no significant difference was observed between the testes. The mediastinum testis was a 1.50±0.22 cm wide linear structure of greater echogenicity than the testicular parenchyma when viewed in the transverse plane and nearly circular echogenic “spot” in the midline of the testis when viewed horizontally. The head and tail of the epididymides were easily identified on all the testes, but the epididymal body and ductus deferens were difficult to identify consistently. The tail of the epididymis was easily identified on the distal end of the testis with sonolucent tubules and appeared sonographically as a ‘peaked cap’ upon the testicular parenchyma. The diameter (mean±se) of the tail of right and left epididymis was 2.11±0.18 and 1.92±0.06 cm and no significant difference was observed between epididymides. The vascular pampiniform plexus (1.42±0.18 cm) was easily identified on the proximal end of the testes. The tunics of the testes appeared as a bright echogenic line. Inter-testicular septum appeared between testes as a hyperechoic line. It is concluded that ultrasonography permits a noninvasive evaluation of the internal structure of the scrotum and testes and water bath based sonographic examination may prove to be a valuable simple diagnostic methodology for evaluating physiopathologic conditions of goat testes and can be employed as a routine investigative method during breeding soundness and clinical examination.     

Prediction of intramuscular fat by ultrasound in lean cattle

To study the accuracy and precision of intramuscular fat prediction by ultrasound (USIMF) in lean cattle, prediction models were developed based on 325 pure and crossbred beef and dual purpose bulls originating from I) commercial herds (n = 180) and II) a performance test station (n = 145). The bulls were scanned across the 12th thoracic vertebrae using a Pie 200 SLC scanner. Five images were collected per individual bull for later processing in the lab. After slaughter, a 2.5 cm cross-sectional sample located by the 13th thoracic vertebrae was used for chemical analysis to determine intramuscular fat % (CHIMF; Mean 1.25%, SD 0.6%) at the image site. The data were analysed sequentially involving 1) the Total Dataset, 2) Dataset I and 3) Dataset II. Prediction models were developed separately for each dataset, using stepwise regression procedures. The validation model R², RMSE, overall mean bias, SEP, r_P and rank correlations for CHIMF and USIMF based on the best prediction model (Dataset I) were 0.48, 0.46%, − 0.02%, 0.46%, 0.70 and 0.67, respectively. Further improvement in prediction accuracy can probably be achieved by increasing the size of datasets and the CHIMF variation. The results strongly indicate that ultrasound has potential for IMF prediction in lean cattle, although the value in indirect selection of breeding cattle for meat quality needs to be further evaluated.     

Effects of ultrasound and high pressure argon on physico-chemical properties of white mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during postharvest storage

Effects of high pressure argon (H), ultrasound (U) and their combination treatments (UH) on physico-chemical characteristics of white mushrooms were studied during 9 d of postharvest storage at 4 °C. H treated samples exhibited the smallest weight loss and respiration rate compared to all other samples. Mass losses after 9 d of storage were 3.01%, 5.09%, 5.39% and 9.59% for H, UH, U and untreated mushrooms, respectively. Furthermore, U treated samples showed lower polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO, E.C. 1.14.18.1) during storage while UH treated samples showed a slight increase in antioxidant capacity during storage and also experienced reduced mass loss and respiration rate. In addition, treated samples were effective in retaining mushrooms colour changes compared to control. Physico-chemical properties of differently treated mushrooms (UH, H and U) stored at 4 °C were significantly different (p < 0.05) from control.     

Hepatic abscesses in cats: 14 cases (1985-2002)

In this retrospective study, we describe 14 cats diagnosed with hepatic abscesses. The objective of the study was to report the clinical signs, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic findings, and outcomes in affected cats. These findings were then compared with those previously reported in dogs and humans. Clinical signs were vague and included anorexia, lethargy, and weight loss. Only 23% of cats had fever, whereas 31% were hypothermic. Increases in serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were found in 45 and 18%, respectively, of the 11 cats that had laboratory work performed. Abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed in 7 cats, and abnormalities were found in 71% of them. Four cats had solitary abscesses, all of which were located in the right liver lobes. The other 10 cats had multifocal small abscesses or microabscesses, and all of these cats had clinical signs suggestive of sepsis. Cytologic evaluation of samples obtained by abdominocentesis indicated septic inflammation in 67% of cats in which peritoneal fluid was analyzed. Hepatic abscess cultures yielded polymicrobial growth in 66% of the cats: Escherichia coli was the most commonly cultured organism. Overall mortality rate was 79%. All survivors underwent exploratory laparotomy for partial hepatectomy to resect the abscess followed by medical management. Hepatic abscesses should be considered in cats with signs consistent with sepsis. More routine use of ultrasonography may aid in earlier diagnosis of hepatic abscesses, potentially improving prognosis and outcome.     

Computed Tomographic Angiography under Sedation in the Diagnosis of Suspected Canine Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study

Background

Computed tomography (CT) is highly accurate for diagnosing pancreatitis in humans. The diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs is based on clinical signs, laboratory findings, and ultrasonographic (US) changes. There are, however, inherent limitations in relying on laboratory and ultrasound findings for the clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

We hypothesized that CT angiography would be a rapid and reliable method to confirm pancreatitis in dogs compared to ultrasonography. The aim was to describe the CT characteristics and compare them to ultrasound findings and correlate the CT appearance to the severity of the patients'' clinical course.

Animals

A prospective pilot case series; 10 dogs with pancreatitis were enrolled if the history, clinical signs, laboratory, and ultrasonographic findings were indicative of pancreatitis.

Methods

A 3‐phase angiographic CT was performed under sedation. Afterward, each dog had US‐guided aspirates of the pancreas collected and blood drawn for cPLi assay. Images were evaluated for portion of visible pancreas, pancreatic size and margin, pancreatic parenchyma, presence of peripancreatic changes and contrast enhancement pattern. The results were compared with outcome.

Results

An enlarged, homogeneously to heterogeneously attenuating and contrast‐enhancing pancreas with ill‐defined borders was identified in all dogs. CT identified more features characterizing pancreatic abnormalities compared to US. Thrombi were found in 3/10 dogs. Three dogs with heterogeneous contrast enhancement had an overall poorer outcome than those with homogenous enhancement.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

CT angiography under sedation was used in dogs to confirm clinically suspected pancreatitis and identified clinically relevant and potentially prognostic features of pancreatitis in dogs.