Effects of dystocia on blood gas parameters, acid-base balance and serum lactate concentration in heavy draft newborn foals

Dystocia is often lethal for neonatal foals; however, its clinicopathological features remain largely unknown. We investigated the effect of dystocia on the foal blood profile. Venous blood samples were collected from 35 foals (5 Percheron and 30 crossbreds between Percheron, Belgian, and Breton heavy draft horses) at 0 hr, 1 hr, 12 hr and 1 day after birth. Dystocia was defined as prolonged labor >30 min with strong fetal traction with or without fetal displacement. The dystocia group (n=13) showed lower mean values for pH (P<0.01), bicarbonate (P<0.01), total carbon dioxide (P<0.05), and base excess (P<0.01) and higher mean values for anion gap (P<0.05) and lactate (P<0.01) immediately after birth than the normal group (n=22). Remarkably high pCO2 values (>90 mmHg) were observed in three foals in the dystocia group but in none of the foals in the normal birth group immediately after birth. These results suggest that dystocia results in lactic acidosis and may be related to respiratory distress. c 2017 Japanese Society of Equine Science

湯種中の加熱グルテンが生地の製パン性に与える影響

湯種製法での製パンにおいて，湯種製造中に加熱変性した小麦グルテンが生地の製パン性にどのような影響を及ぼすかについて，グルテンと小麦澱粉を用いた疑似湯種を用いて検討を行った．結果として，湯種中のHGはコントロールに比べて生地形成時間を延長させ，生地のGRD，パンのSLVを増加させた．これらには，湯種中のグルテンが加熱部分変性し高分子化したことが関係している可能性が示唆された． さらに，HGを製パンに用いることでパンの保存中の含水率が増加し，パンの老化が抑制されることが判った．この老化抑制には，湯種中のHGがより多く保水することでパン中の水分含量を高い状態で維持し糊化澱粉の老化を抑制することが関係していると考えられた．これらの結果から，HGの添加（湯種製造中のグルテンの部分加熱変性）は，これまでの報告と異なり湯種製法のパン生地の製パン性を向上させ，得られたパンの老化を抑制することが明らかになった．This study aimed to investigate the effect of heated gluten on the bread-making qualities of Yudane dough. Yudane is a type of bread dough made by mixing boiling water with flour. Various bread-making tests were performed using non-heated wheat starch and heated freeze-dried gluten, which was used to imitate Yudane dough. The imitation Yudane dough was prepared by mixing heated gluten (prepared by heating a mixture of freeze-dried gluten and water from 55 to 80 degrees C in increments of 5 degrees C) with non-heated wheat starch. The imitation Yudane dough was then added to flour dough at 20% (w/w, flour base). Compared with the control dough (without heated gluten), the dough mixed with imitation Yudane dough (with heated gluten) had longer dough development time, and higher gas retention and specific loaf volume. These improvements in bread-making quality were mainly related to the partially denatured gluten present in the imitation Yudane dough. In addition, the bread made with imitation Yudane dough (including denatured gluten) showed a slow staling rate, attributable to the increased molecular weight of the heated gluten compared to the native gluten

An autoregressive logistic model to predict the reciprocal effects of oviductal fluid components on in vitro spermophagy by neutrophils in cattle

After intercourse/insemination, large numbers of sperm are deposited in the female reproductive tract (FRT), triggering a massive recruitment of neutrophils (PMNs) into the FRT, possibly to eliminate excessive sperm via phagocytosis. Some bovine oviductal fluid components (BOFCs) have been shown to regulate in vitro sperm phagocytosis (spermophagy) by PMNs. The modeling approach-based logistic regression (LR) and autoregressive logistic regression (ALR) can be used to predict the behavior of complex biological systems. We, first, compared the LR and ALR models using in vitro data to find which of them provides a better prediction of in vitro spermophagy in bovine. Then, the best model was used to identify and classify the reciprocal effects of BOFCs in regulating spermophagy. The ALR model was calibrated using an iterative procedure with a dynamical search direction. The superoxide production data were used to illustrate the accuracy in validating logit model-based ALR and LR. The ALR model was more accurate than the LR model. Based on in vitro data, the ALR predicted that the regulation of spermophagy by PMNs in bovine oviduct is more sensitive to alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), PGE2, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and to the combination of AGP or BSA with other BOFCs

Effects of heat stress on production, somatic cell score and conception rate in Holsteins

We examined the effects of heat stress (HS) on production traits, somatic cell score (SCS) and conception rate at first insemination (CR) in Holsteins in Japan. We used a total of 228242 records of milk, fat and protein yields, and SCS for the first three lactations, as well as of CR in heifers and in first- and second-lactation cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2012. Records from 47 prefectural weather stations throughout Japan were used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI); areas were categorized into three regional groups: no HS (THI<72), mild HS (72THI<79), and moderate HS (THI79). Trait records from the three HS-region groups were treated as three different traits and trivariate animal models were used. The genetic correlations between milk yields from different HS groups were very high (0.91 to 0.99). Summer calving caused the greatest increase in SCS, and in the first and second lactations this increase became greater as THI increased. In cows, CR was affected by the interaction between HS group and insemination month: with summer and early autumn insemination, there was a reduction in CR, and it was much larger in the mild- and moderate-HS groups than in the no-HS group

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings for the initial stage of equine temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in a thoroughbred foal

Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is characterized by progressive osseous proliferation of the stylohyoid and petrous temporal bones. Generally, diagnosis is confirmed by guttural pouch endoscopy and skull radiography. In the present case, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in a 6-month-old Thoroughbred foal showing signs of head tilt and unilateral ear droop, consistent with the presence of a vestibular disease and unilateral facial paralysis. CT revealed bony fusion and proliferation of the right temporohyoid joint, while MRI revealed that otitis media was responsible for THO. In conclusion, this report suggests that CT and MRI provide a more concrete diagnosis and better understandings of the mechanism of THO etiology. © 2017 Japanese Society of Equine Science

Humeral fracture in a Japanese Black calf repaired by closed approach and two methods of external skeletal fixation

A healthy 71-day-old female Japanese Black calf was evaluated for fracture of the left humerus. The left humeral fracture was treated by closed repair and unilateral external skeletal fixation (ESF) with an epoxy putty fixator. The calf was active, and eight days after surgery slipped and fell, resulting in breakage of the ESF. The calf underwent repair by transfixation pinning and casting (TPC), which is an alternative to the ESF method. The TPC was removed 37 days after the first surgery, and the calf could bear weight on the left forelimb while walking. This case suggests that recovery after closed repair with TPC for a humeral fracture in an active calf can be successfully managed on the farm

腹膜炎を伴う巨大な片側性水賢症を発症したホルスタイン種乳牛の1症例

後産停滞で治療中の4歳5カ月齢のホルスタイン種乳牛雌で、直腸検査により大型腫瘤を触知した。超音波検査では大型腫瘤の内部に液体および線維素様構造物を確認し、穿刺により細胞と細菌を含む淡黄色混濁液が回収された。病理解剖により腫瘤は、高度に腫大（63×37×30cm、約40kg）した左腎であり、腎盂相当部位の著しい拡張と腎実質の菲薄化がみられたことより水腎症と診断した。左腎周囲は結合組織で覆われ、腹壁および腸管との癒着がみられた。さらに腹腔内には淡黄色の腹水が貯留し、第一胃、腹壁、横隔膜、大網は広範囲に癒着しており、腹膜炎と診断された。病理組織学的検索では、左腎の正常構造の消失と重度の線維化および細菌の集簇がみられた。細菌検査では、左腎臓よりEscherichia coli およびStreptococcus sp.が分離された。水腎症の一次的原因は明らかにできなかったが、何らかの原因で片側性水腎症が形成され、細菌感染が二次的に生じ、さらに拡張した腎臓の一部が破裂して内容物が腹腔に漏れ、腹膜炎が生じたと考えられた

Possibility of exporting halal-certificated food in Hokkaido, Japan: acceptance by Malaysian consumers

Expectations of exporting food and agricultural product to Malaysia have been substantially growing in Japan. Although Japan has two halal certification bodies recognized by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM), it is unclear whether Malaysian consumers trust its certified processed foods. Thus, this study aims to clarify Malaysian consumers' preference for Hokkaido ice cream by conducting a conjoint analysis. The results show no significant difference in the level of consumer trust in halal certifications, indicating a distribution based on both Malaysian and Japanese certification bodies. Therefore, it is possible that Malaysian consumers would accept Japanese products with a halal certification approved by JAKIM. In addition, the willingness to pay for Hokkaido ice cream reported a high satisfaction value. However, there is no significant effect on food functionality possibly because Malaysian consumers' awareness of the health benefits remains low

Effects of Thai piperaceae plant extracts on Neospora caninum infection

Neosporosis has a worldwide distribution and causes economic losses in farming, particularly by increasing the risk of abortion in cattle. This study investigated the effects of Thai piperaceae (Piper betle, P. nigrum, and P. sarmentosum) extracts on Neospora caninum infections in vitro and in vivo. In an in vitro parasite growth assay based on the green fluorescent protein (GFP) signal, P. betle was the most effective extract at inhibiting parasite growth in human foreskin fibroblast cells (IC50 of GFP-expressing N. caninum parasites, 22.1 mu g/ml). The P. betle extract, at 25 mu g per ml, inhibited parasite invasion into host cells. Furthermore, in two independent experiments, treating N. caninum-infected mice with the P. betle extract for 7 days post-infection increased their survival. In trial one, the anti-N. caninum effects of the P. betle extract reduced the mouse clinical scores for 30 days post-infection (dpi). The survival rate of the mice treated with 400 mg/kg was 100% compared with 66.6% for those treated with 100 mg/kg and the non-treated controls. In trial two, treating the infected mice with the P. betle extract increased their survival at 50 dpi. All mice in the non-treatment group died; however, the survival rates of the 400 mg/kg-treated and 100 mg/kg-treated mice were 83.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Also, a trend towards a reduced parasite burden was noted in the brains of the P. betle extract-treated mice, compared with the control mice. Therefore P. betle extract has potential as a medicinal plant for treating neosporosis. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved