Effect of administration of progesterone and oestrogen on litter size in pigs

Progesterone and oestrone alone or in combination were administered to sows during early gestation. A dose of 25 mg progesterone and 12-5 mug oestrone injected together for 10,5 or 2 consecutive days during the implantation interval caused increased litter size at term.     

Characteristics of prickly lettuce seed oil in relation to methods of extraction

Samples of seed oil of prickly lettuce (Lactuca Sacriola oleifera) which had been obtained by pressing or by extracting with acetone, ethyl ether, petroleum ether or carbon tetrachloride were analysed for the following parameters: viscosity, saponification number, iodine number, thiocyanogen value, unsaponifiable matter, free fatty acids, peroxide number and fatty acid composition. The different parameters varied in part considerably in relation to the method of production (pressing or solvent extraction) and to the solvent. It is tried to interprete these relationships.     

A review of colonoscopy in 200 patients

During the examination of the colon by fibre-optic colonoscopy in 200 consecutive patients it was possible to reach the caecum or suspected lesion in 80% of cases. Careful bowel preparation, sedation and detailed attention to techniques described are necessary for safe and successful performance of this procedure. In 85% of examinations, colonoscopy produced positive results including the definition of uncertain radiological lesions in 45 patients, finding of a cause for rectal bleeding not shown on barium studies in 15 patients, the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease in 28 patients, and the removal of polyps in 40 patients. Important was the finding of a normal colon in 49 cases, which obviated unnecessary surgery. Colonic perforation occurred in 2 patients. The limitations and complications of the procedure must be realised, but it is concluded that the colonoscope provides a valuable and effective means of diagnosis and therapy of lesions in the large bowel.     

Seroepidemiologic investigations of human hepatitis caused by A, B, and a possible third virus

The results of magnet implantation in the upper and lower eyelids of 29 patients suffering from Keratopathia due to lagophthalmos due to facial palsy as well as the surgical techniques involved are described. Contrary to a lateral tarsorrhaphy - still popular today - this method does not alter the form or the size of the palpebral fissure nor does it hinder the visual field. It is technically simple to perform and easily reversible should nerve function recover. The subjective results were also good.     

Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of potato peel,sugar beet pulp and sesame cake

BACKGROUND: Growing interest in the replacement of synthetic food antioxidants by natural ones has fostered research on vegetable sources and screening of raw materials to identify new antioxidants. The food‐processing industry generates substantial quantities of phenolic‐rich by‐products that could be valuable natural sources of antioxidants. In this study the antioxidant properties and total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents of three industrial by‐products, sugar beet pulp, sesame cake and potato peel, extracted with various solvents were examined. Since different antioxidant compounds have different mechanisms of action, several methods were used to assess the antioxidant efficacy of extracts. RESULTS: Among the six solvents tested, methanol gave the highest extract yield of potato peel and sugar beet pulp, while diethyl ether gave the highest extract yield of sesame cake. Methanol exhibited the highest extraction ability for phenolic compounds, with total phenolics amounting to 2.91, 1.79 and 0.81 mg gallic acid equivalent g^?1 dry weight in potato peel, sugar beet pulp and sesame cake extracts respectively, and also showed the strongest antioxidant capacity in the three assays used. All three methods proved that potato peel extract had the highest antioxidant activity owing to its high content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results obtained, potato peel, sugar beet pulp and sesame cake extracts could serve as natural antioxidants owing to their significant antioxidant activity. Therefore they could be used as preservative ingredients in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry