Effects of packaging on bone marrow discoloration in beef arm, rib, shoulder blade, and thoracic vertebra bones

Meat retailers have reported bone marrow discoloration to be a problem, especially in modified-atmosphere packages (MAP). To evaluate causes of bone marrow discoloration in different beef bones and packaging systems, 36 beef arm bones, ribs, shoulder blades, and thoracic vertebrae from USDA Select and Choice carcasses were obtained from a commercial abattoir, cut into 1-inch-thick sections at 4 days postmortem, and packaged into 1) polyvinyl chloride film (PVC) overwrap; 2) high-oxygen (80% O2, 20% CO2) MAP; or 3) ultra-low-oxygen (70% N2, 30% CO2) MAP. Packages were displayed under continuous fluorescent lighting for 4 days at 35.6°F. Ribs, shoulder blades, and thoracic vertebrae packaged in PVC and high-oxygen MAP developed undesirable gray or black discoloration during display. In ultra-low-oxygen MAP, mean visual-color scores were acceptable throughout display. The a* values (larger values equate to redder color) for ribs, shoulder blades, and thoracic vertebrae decreased (P<0.05) over time. Arm-bone marrow had less oxidation and dramatically less total iron and hemoglobin than did marrow from ribs and thoracic vertebrae. The much larger amounts of iron and hemoglobin in ribs and thoracic vertebrae likely correspond to marrow discoloration. In summary, bone marrow discoloration occurs in ribs, shoulder blades, and thoracic vertebrae packaged in PVC or high-oxygen MAP. Bones packaged in ultralow- oxygen MAP or arm bones packaged in PVC or high-oxygen MAP had minimal oxidation and discoloration

Influence of dietary lysine on growth performance of high-lean growth gilts fed from 160 to 300 lb

One-hundred eight high-lean growth gilts (159.6 lb) were used to determine the dietary lysine requirement to optimize growth performance from 160 to 300 lb. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block, with initial weight serving as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were used, ranging from .44 to .94% digestible lysine (.59 to 1.16% total lysine). Pigs were housed in pens of three, with six replicate pens/treatment. Pig weights and feed disappearance were collected weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G). Average daily gain increased from 160 to 230 lb, from 230 to 300 lb, and from 160 to 300 lb. Average daily feed intake was not influenced by dietary treatment. The gilts consumed 6.47, 6.65, and 6.56 lb/day from 160 to 230, from 230 to 300, and from 160 to 300 lb, respectively. Thus, F/G improved linearly from 160 to 230 lb and quadratically from 230 to 300 and from 160 to 300 lb as a function of increased ADG. Lysine intake was increased linearly for all three weight periods as digestible lysine increased in the diet. The data from this experiment suggest that high-lean growth gilts requires at least 26 g/d of lysine from 160 to 230 and from 230 to 300 lb. Thus, matching nutrition with genetics is essential to optimize both rate and efficiency of gain

Exile Vol. XXVII No. 1

ANDY ACKER: Four Lane Breakfast 30 MIKE AUGUSTA: The Store 25-27 J. L. FREEMAN: Bobbie 22 Poem 33 JENNIFER E. GARDNER: Photo 3 Deeds Field 9 Photo 21 Photo 23 Photo 24 LAURA GILBERT: Photo 13 Photo 28 Photo 29 Photo 31 Photo 36 KATE GLAZER: Drawing 14 MICHAEL HEINLIN: Reflections 19 DAVE HOGSHIRE: The Life And Times Of General Worm 29 CHAD HUSSEY: Waiting for Anne Sexton 13 JOHN WHITWORTH KROPF: Friends in the Park 30 DANE LAVIN: Story 4-8 LISA LAWRENCE: Poem 17 The Man With The Red Hat 15 JAMES LUNDY: Bonds 10 Photo 30 Photo 34 Twisted Ulna 11 LISA MEAD: Resistance 9 LISA MINACCI: The Drop 33 A. PENCE: The Minstrels 1 Mussels 33 PENELOPE A. RISEBOROUGH: Poem 2 Regent Street Mannequins 2 RICK RORICK: Photo 18 A. K. SESSIONS Nervious Tension 10 SUZIE SNYDER: Photo 16 L. S. VIOLA: Trash Can JOHN ZARCHEN: In Autumn 20 ANONYMOUS: Untitled Article 32 Sandymount Strand 35 Cover drawing by Kate Glaze

Does the lateral intercondylar ridge disappear in ACL deficient patients?

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the presence of the lateral intercondylar ridge and the lateral bifurcate ridge between patients with sub-acute and chronic ACL injuries. We hypothesized that the ridges would be present less often with chronic ACL deficiency. Twenty-five patients with a chronic ACL injury were matched for age and gender to 25 patients with a sub-acute ACL injury. The lateral intercondylar ridge and lateral bifurcate ridge were scored as either present, absent, or indeterminate due to insufficient visualization by three blinded observers. The kappa for the three observers was .61 for the lateral intercondylar ridge and .58 for the lateral bifurcate ridge. The lateral intercondylar ridge was present in 88% of the sub-acute patients and 88% of the chronic patients. The lateral bifurcate ridge was present in 48% of the sub-acute and 48% of the chronic patients. This matched-pairs case–control study was unable to show a difference in the presence of the femoral bony ridges between patients with acute and chronic ACL injuries. The authors would suggest looking for the ridges as a landmark of the native ACL insertion site during ACL reconstruction in both acute and chronic ACL injuries

Kidney Pathology Precedes and Predicts the Pathological Cascade of Cerebrovascular Lesions in Stroke Prone Rats

INTRODUCTION: Human cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) has been hypothesized to be an age-dependent disease accompanied by similar vascular changes in other organs. SHRSP feature numerous vascular risk factors and may be a valid model of some aspects of human CSVD. Here we compare renal histopathological changes with the brain pathology of spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHRSP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We histologically investigated the brains and kidneys of 61 SHRSP at different stages of age (12 to 44 weeks). The brain pathology (aggregated erythrocytes in capillaries and arterioles, microbleeds, microthromboses) and the kidney pathology (aggregated erythrocytes within peritubular capillaries, tubular protein cylinders, glomerulosclerosis) were quantified separately. The prediction of the brain pathology by the kidney pathology was assessed by creating ROC-curves integrating the degree of kidney pathology and age of SHRSP. RESULTS: Both, brain and kidney pathology, show an age-dependency and proceed in definite stages whereas an aggregation of erythrocytes in capillaries and arterioles, we parsimoniously interpreted as stases, represent the initial finding in both organs. Thus, early renal tubulointerstitial damage characterized by rather few intravasal erythrocyte aggregations and tubular protein cylinders predicts the initial step of SHRSPs' cerebral vascular pathology marked by accumulated erythrocytes. The combined increase of intravasal erythrocyte aggregations and protein cylinders accompanied by glomerulosclerosis and thrombotic renal microangiopathy in kidneys of older SHRSP predicts the final stages of SHRSPs' cerebrovascular lesions marked by microbleeds and thrombotic infarcts. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate a close association between structural brain and kidney pathology and support the concept of small vessel disease to be an age-dependent systemic pathology. Further, an improved joined nephrologic and neurologic diagnostic may help to identify patients with CSVD at an early stage

Quality and display life of chilled or frozen all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters

Chilled (35±3°F) or frozen (0±3°F) all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters made with or without sodium nitrite (NaNO2) were evaluated. Treatments included frankfurters made with: all-natural beef without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (B0F); all-natural beef and buffalo without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BU0F); all-natural beef with NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BNF) or chilled (BNC). Batter pH, smokehouse yield, and proximate analysis were determined. No differences (P>.05) were noted in batter pH, smokehouse yield, proximate analysis, or cooking yield. Day of display had no influence (P>.05) on oxidation. However, BU0F had the highest (P<.05) oxidation value, a measure of potential rancidity. For all treatments, instrumentally measured lightness increased during display, while redness decreased. Both B0F and BU0F had lower (P<.05) redness and nitrosoheme pigments than BNC. Purge loss increased (P<.05) with longer display. Microbial counts and pH of frozen products were not different (P>.05) during display. Nitrite-free frankfurters can be displayed frozen up to 90 days based on microbial counts, but display life may be limited to 60 days by product color. Inclusion of buffalo did not influence physical or microbiological quality of nitrite-free frozen frankfurters but may accelerate oxidative rancidity

Effects of antioxidants on bone marrow discoloration in beef lumbar vertebrae in different packaging systems

To evaluate how antioxidants might prevent bone marrow discoloration, beef lumbar vertebrae held at 35.6°F for 6 or 14 days postmortem before packaging were cut into 1- inch-thick sections and packaged into 1) PVC overwrap; 2) high-oxygen (80% O2, 20% CO2) modified atmosphere packages (MAP); or 3) ultra-low-oxygen (70% N2, 30% CO2) MAP. Before packaging, bones were treated with: no treatment application (control); 1.25% or 2.5% ascorbic acid; 0.1% or 0.2% rosemary; or a combination treatment of 0.15% Origanox™ + 0.3% ascorbic acid. Packages were displayed under continuous fluorescent lighting for 4 days at 35.6°F. Untreated lumbar vertebrae and those treated with 0.1 or 0.2% rosemary discolored to gray or grayish-black, as measured by visual color scores and instrumental a* values, in PVC and high-oxygen MAP. The 1.25% ascorbic acid and 0.15% Origanox™ + 0.3% ascorbic acid were able to maintain desirable color scores through day 2 of display in PVC and high-oxygen MAP, but not after 4 days. The 2.5% ascorbic acid treatment was most effective in preventing discoloration and maintaining initial color in both PVC and high-oxygen MAP. In ultra-low-oxygen MAP, the 1.25% ascorbic acid treatment was as effective as the 2.5% ascorbic acid treatment in preventing bone marrow discoloration. In general, discoloration tended to be greater in bones held 14 days postmortem before packaging than in those held 6 days. Ascorbic acid treatments, particularly the 2.5% application, were effective in preventing bone marrow discoloration

Influence of dietary lysine on carcass characteristics of high-lean growth gilts fed from 80 to 160 lb

Seventy-two high-lean growth gilts (initially 75.5 lb BW) were used to determine the influence of dietary lysine on carcass characteristics at 120 and 160 lb. Gilts were randomly selected for slaughter when the average weight of pigs in the pen equaled or exceeded 120 and 160 lb. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block, with initial weight serving as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .54 to 1.04% digestible lysine (.69 to 1.25% total dietary lysine). At 120 lb, hot carcass weight decreased and then increased as did dressing percentage for gilts fed increased dietary lysine. Average backfat thickness and 10th rib fat depth were not influenced by dietary treatment. However, longissimus muscle area (loineye) was increased for gilts fed greater dietary lysine. Kidney fat and total carcass lipid decreased but carcass moisture increased as dietary lysine increased. The decreased carcass lipid content resulted in reduced longissimus muscle marbling at 120 lb. For gilts fed to 160 lb, hot and chilled carcass weight decreased and then increased as dietary lysine increased. Dressing percentage followed a similar pattern because of the difference in carcass weight. Backfat thickness, 10th rib fat thickness, and kidney fat decreased for gilts fed increased dietary lysine. Carcass moisture and crude protein increased and then decreased as dietary lysine increased. The moisture content was maximal for gilts fed .94% digestible lysine, whereas carcass crude protein was maximal for gilts fed .74% digestible lysine. However, carcass lipid followed an opposite pattern, decreasing and then increasing as dietary lysine increased. Carcass muscle score improved but longissimus muscle marbling decreased for gilts fed greater dietary lysine. The data from this experiment suggest that the high-lean growth gilt requires at least 18 and 22 g/d lysine intakes from 80 to 120 and from 120 to 160 lb, respectively, to optimize longissimus muscle area and minimize carcass lipid content