Inhibition of growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus by citrus oils

Aspergillus parasiticus was inoculated into grapefruit juice and a glucose-yeast extract medium; both contained 500-7000 ppm of citrus oils that were incorporated into the media by sonication. Orange and lemon oil were more inhibitory to mold growth and aflatoxin production than was dlimonene, the main constituent of the two peel oils. After 7 days at 28 degrees C, 2000 ppm of lemon and 3000 ppm of orange oil in grapefruit juice afforded maximum suppression of mold growth and toxin formation. When the glucose-yeast extract medium was used, 3000 ppm of either oil were needed to achieve the same result. After 4 days at 28 degrees C, orange oil at 3500 ppm in either medium markedly inhibited mold growth (as evidenced by dry weight of mold mycelium) and aflatoxin production (only 14 and 1% of the amount normally produced in the juice and artificial medium, respectively). Higher concentrations of orange oil further reduced mold growth and aflatoxin production and also delayed the onset of sporulation, if it occurred. Although aflatoxin was detected in all samples, only 0.2 to 0.5% of the amount found in controls (without the citrus oil) was present when the medium contained 7000 ppm orange oil. The mold consistently grew, albeit very poorly, on the glass at the liquid-atmosphere interface even when the substrate contained a large amount of citrus oil.     

Plasma amino acids of infants consuming soybean proteins with and without added methionine

Fasting plasma free amino acids were determined in 54 convalescent malnourished infants: seven infants while consuming a diet based on isolated soybean protein, containing 4.0% to 5.3% of dietary metabolizable energy (calories) as protein (A), 20 at 6.4% to 6.7% protein calories (B), 23 at 6.4% to 6.7% protein calories with added DL-methionine (C), and four with 8.0% to 12.3% protein calories (D). There were no differences in total amino acid concentration (TAA) among the four groups; the molar fraction of essential amino acids (EAA:TAA) was lower for group A; there were no differences among the four groups in Lys:EAA or 1/2 cystine:EAA ratios or in Met concentration. Met:EAA was higher in C than B, with considerable overlap of individual values. In 10 of 13 infants who were represented in both B and C, Met concentration and Met:EAA ratio were higher in group C. Fasting plasma AA levels are not consistently reliable for field or clinical assessment of dietary Met adequacy. Fasting and postprandial (3- and 4-hour) plasma AA were determined in 29 infants: in 12 the preceding diet and the test meal were both Met-deficient with less than 6.7% protein calories (E), in five the preceding diet was milk-based but the test meal was Met-deficient at less than 6.7% (F), in five the preceding diet and test meal were based on isolated soybean protein at less than 6.7% with DL-Met added (G), and in seven the test meal was soy-based with greater than 9.0% protein calories (H). Plasma Met concentration and Met:EAA fell significantly at 3 and 4 hours in groups E and F, but not in groups G and H, suggesting that a postprandial fall in Met:EAA ratio can be used to identify dietary Met deficiency in field situations.     

Effects of Mesocyclops longisetus (Copepoda:Cyclopidae) on mosquitoes that inhabit tires: influence of litter type, quality, and quantity

A 59-week study was conducted to evaluate the impact of adult Mesocyclops longisetus populations on larval mosquito species inhabiting tires. Greater than 90% reduction of number of 1st and 2nd instars was recorded by 4 wk with 90% reduction of number of 3rd and 4th instars after 7 wk. Reduced control was noted with the onset of cooler winter water temperature. Overall. a 52% reduction in the number of 1st and 2nd instars was achieved, and a 57% reduction was noted in number of 3rd- and 4th-instar mosquito larvae. Cooler temperatures resulted in a decline of adult Mesocyclops, which resulted in reduced larval control. Significantly greater numbers of Mesocyclops adults were collected in tires with either new litter or heavy amounts of litter regardless of litter type. Lastly, litter type, either oak leaves or pine needles, did not influence mosquito reduction or abundance of Mesocyclops populations.     

A local immuno-endocrine interaction may mediate rat adrenal glucocorticoid response to bacterial endotoxins

The effects of the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin (IL)-1beta on corticosterone secretion has been studied in vivo by employing the technique of in situ perfusion of the isolated rat left adrenal gland. Both LPS and IL-1beta dose-dependently raised corticosterone output, the response peaking at 60 and 90 min, respectively. IL-1 receptor antagonist dose-dependently reversed the effect of LPS and IL-1beta. The IL-1beta converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK annulled the adrenal response to LPS, but did not affect that to IL-1beta. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that LPS, by enhancing adrenal production of IL-1beta, is able to evoke a sizable glucocorticoid response in the rat, thereby suggesting that local immuno-endocrine interactions may be operative in the adrenal gland of this species.     

Heterotopic ossification after femoral intramedullary rodding

Heterotopic ossification (HO) after femoral intramedullary rodding is a significant complication of the procedure. One hundred eighteen cases of femoral roddings performed on 113 patients were available for review. The data were computerized and evaluated using univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis. A statistically significant increase of HO was found with male gender, increased delay to surgery, and in patients requiring prolonged intubation because of their multiple injuries. HO was classified using a modified version of the method of Brumback et al. (grades 0-IV). A strong correlation of HO with brain injury documented by computed tomography scan was also found to be statistically significant for the more severe grades of HO. This group of patients had not previously been identified as being at high risk for HO.     

Evaluation of methods of resynchronization for insemination in cows of unknown pregnancy status

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of 3 methods of resynchronization of estrus and ovulation for lactating dairy cows of unknown pregnancy status on conception rate and time to pregnancy. Holstein cows (n = 495) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control (n = 167), resynchronization with a timed AI protocol upon diagnosis of nonpregnancy on d 31 after preenrollment AI (PAI); 2) CIDR-G (n = 159), use of an intravaginal progesterone insert from d 14 to 21 after AI, with AI at estrus from d 21 to 24 and initiation of a timed AI protocol on d 24 after AI in cows not reinseminated; 3) CIDR-G + ECP (n = 169), the same treatment as CIDR-G but with an injection of 1 mg of estradiol cypionate at the time of progesterone insert removal. Cows were continuously reenrolled in the same treatment until diagnosed as pregnant, which resulted in a total of 1,148 AI (495 PAI and 653 resynchronized AI; RAI). Blood was collected from 1,001 cows on d 14, 21, and 24 after each AI for analysis of progesterone, and ovaries were scanned on d 21, 24, and 31 after AI. The presence of an active corpus luteum was presumed based on progesterone ≥1 ng/mL. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography on d 31 and 61 after AI. The presence of an active corpus luteum and the incidence of luteolysis were similar for all treatments from d 14 to 24; however, luteolysis increased in the CIDR-G + ECP treatment from d 21 to 24. Conception rates for the PAI and all AI were similar on d 31 and 61 after insemination. Conception rates at 31 and 61 d after the RAI were also similar among treatments. Overall pregnancy loss for the PAI, RAI, and all AI were similar for all treatments. The accuracy of estrous detection, based on progesterone concentration within 2 d of detection of estrus, was similar for all treatments for the RAI and averaged 95.3%. The estrus-detection rate (EDR) decreased for the CIDR-G and CIDR-G + ECP treatments from d 14 to 21, but increased from d 21 to 24 compared with control cows; however, the EDR was smaller for cows in the CIDR-G treatment during the entire resynchronization period compared with those in the CIDR-G + ECP and control groups. The reinsemination interval was reduced in cows receiving the CIDR-G + ECP treatment compared with control cows because of increased EDR after removal of the intravaginal insert; however, the interval from study enrollment to pregnancy was not different among treatments. These results indicate that the reproductive performance of dairy cows did not differ among the 3 resynchronization treatments evaluated.     

Performance of automated activity monitoring systems used in combination with timed artificial insemination compared to timed artificial insemination only in early lactation in dairy cows

Identifying cows in estrus remains a challenge on dairy cattle farms, and tools and technologies have been developed and used to complement or replace visual detection of estrus. Automated activity monitoring (AAM) systems and timed artificial insemination (TAI) are technologies available to dairy farmers, but many factors can influence their relative performance. The objective of the present study was to compare reproductive performance of cows managed with an AAM system combined with TAI, or with a TAI program (Double Ovsynch) for insemination before 88 DIM. From April 2014 to April 2015, 998 cows from 2 herds were randomly assigned either to be inseminated at 85 ± 3 DIM exclusively using the Double Ovsynch protocol for TAI, or to be inseminated based on estrus detection by AAM without hormonal intervention between 50 and 75 DIM; if no alarm was detected by 75 DIM, cows were inseminated following the single Ovsynch protocol (AAM + Ovsynch). The herds used different AAM systems. Parity, hyperketonemia at wk 1 and 2 postpartum (PP), purulent vaginal discharge at wk 5 PP, body condition score at wk 7 PP, and anovulation to wk 9 PP were recorded. These health indicators did not significantly differ between treatments, but did between herds. The effect of treatment on pregnancy at first insemination and by 88 DIM were assessed using logistic regression models. Time to pregnancy was assessed using survival analysis. Results are reported from intention-to-treat analyses. Treatment did not affect pregnancy at first insemination or pregnancy by 88 DIM, but we found significant interactions between treatment and herd for both outcomes. In herd 2, marginal mean pregnancy at first AI was greater with Double Ovsynch (38%) than AAM + Ovsynch (31%), but no difference was observed in herd 1 (Double Ovsynch = 31%; AAM + Ovsynch = 34%). By 88 DIM, a smaller proportion of cows in herd 1 were pregnant in Double Ovsynch (31%) than AAM + Ovsynch (49%), but there was no difference in herd 2 (Double Ovsynch = 38%; AAM + Ovsynch = 38%). We observed a treatment by herd interaction for median (95% confidence interval) time to pregnancy, which were, in herd 1, 110 (106 to 129) and 98 (88 to 113) d, and, in herd 2, 126 (113 to 139) and 116 (105 to 131) d for the Double Ovsynch and AAM + Ovsynch treatments, respectively. The relative performance of AAM-based reproductive management compared with TAI only is likely influenced by herd-specific variables, in particular related to insemination rate when estrus detection is employed.