Biochemical and Structural Effects of Rigor Mortis-Accelerating Treatments in Broiler \u3ci\u3ePectoralis\u3c/i\u3e

This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of two selected rigor mortis-accelerating treatment systems employed in the prevention of the toughness associated with early-harvested (1 h post-mortem) broiler Pectoralis muscle. The treatments included 14 min of low voltage electrical stimulation (110 V, 1 A, pulsing 1 s on and 1 s off) combined with high temperature conditioning (39 C) and muscle tensioning (LV + HTC + MT); a 15-s high voltage stimulation (440 V, 1 A pulsing 2 s on and 1 s off) combined with muscle tensioning (HV + MT); and a control simulating commercial broiler processing practices. The rigor-accelerating treatments reduced pH and increased R-value (inosine:adenosine ratio) at 1 h post-mortem, but only the LV + HTC + MT treatment reduced sarcomere shortening. Both rigor treatments reduced the amount of measurable myofibrillar fragmentation. Cathepsin B and B + L activities were not affected by the rigor treatments. Calpain I activity was not detectable in any 24-h post-mortem sample. Calpain II activity at 24 h post-mortem was greater in muscles receiving HV + MT than from the LV + HTC + MT or control carcasses, but was reduced in all muscles by 24 h postmortem. An SDS-PAGE indicated a 30-kDa polypeptide that was absent at death and appeared in control and LV + HTC + MT muscles but to a lesser extent in HV + MT muscles. These results suggested that the LV + HTC + MT treatment has a greater tenderizing effect than the HV + MT treatment because the former achieves a better balance between reduced sarcomere shortening and myofibrillar fragmentation

Biochemical and Structural Effects of Rigor Mortis-Accelerating Treatments in Broiler \u3ci\u3ePectoralis\u3c/i\u3e

This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of two selected rigor mortis-accelerating treatment systems employed in the prevention of the toughness associated with early-harvested (1 h post-mortem) broiler Pectoralis muscle. The treatments included 14 min of low voltage electrical stimulation (110 V, 1 A, pulsing 1 s on and 1 s off) combined with high temperature conditioning (39 C) and muscle tensioning (LV + HTC + MT); a 15-s high voltage stimulation (440 V, 1 A pulsing 2 s on and 1 s off) combined with muscle tensioning (HV + MT); and a control simulating commercial broiler processing practices. The rigor-accelerating treatments reduced pH and increased R-value (inosine:adenosine ratio) at 1 h post-mortem, but only the LV + HTC + MT treatment reduced sarcomere shortening. Both rigor treatments reduced the amount of measurable myofibrillar fragmentation. Cathepsin B and B + L activities were not affected by the rigor treatments. Calpain I activity was not detectable in any 24-h post-mortem sample. Calpain II activity at 24 h post-mortem was greater in muscles receiving HV + MT than from the LV + HTC + MT or control carcasses, but was reduced in all muscles by 24 h postmortem. An SDS-PAGE indicated a 30-kDa polypeptide that was absent at death and appeared in control and LV + HTC + MT muscles but to a lesser extent in HV + MT muscles. These results suggested that the LV + HTC + MT treatment has a greater tenderizing effect than the HV + MT treatment because the former achieves a better balance between reduced sarcomere shortening and myofibrillar fragmentation

Severe Tracheobronchomalacia after Prolonged Intubation of Multitrauma Patient

Tracheobronchomalacia is a condition with significant morbidity with many etiologies including iatrogenic ones and should be considered in critically ill ventilated trauma patients. We present a case of a multitrauma patient who had difficulty weaning from the ventilator after prolonged intubation followed by tracheostomy tube placement. We describe her presentation, diagnosis, and management provide and as well a discussion of the condition

Effect of Soybean Oil Fatty Acid Composition and Selenium Application on Biodiesel Properties

Biodiesel consisting principally of monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) has been reported to have the optimal balance between cold flow properties and oxidative stability, therefore producing a superior fuel. In addition, treating biodiesel with antioxidants such as selenium (Se) also increases oxidative stability. Fuel properties including acid value (AV), cloud point (CP), iodine value (IV), pour point (PP), peroxide value (PV), induction period (IP), onset temperature (OT), and kinematic viscosity (KV) were used to evaluate a newly developed Roundup Ready® soybean recombinant inbred line (RIL) and a commercial cultivar. The RIL had a fatty acid profile with elevated levels of monounsaturated FAME. TN07-93RR was determined as the more desirable line for production of biodiesel, based on its fatty acid composition and subsequent fuel properties. The commercial cultivar AG3906 contained the highest abundance of polyunsaturated FAME and exhibited comparatively high IV and low oxidative stability. AG3906 was therefore not acceptable under the European biodiesel standard, EN 14214. However, TN07-93RR and AG3906 both were considered satisfactory according to the American biodiesel standard, ASTM D6751. Foliar treatment of soybean plants with varying amounts of Se had no effect on subsequent biodiesel oxidative stabilities

Renal Stone Risk During Space Flight: Assessment and Countermeasure Validation

NASA has focused its future on exploration class missions including the goal of returning to the moon and landing on Mars. With these objectives, humans will experience an extended exposure to the harsh environment of microgravity and the associated negative effects on all the physiological systems of the body. Exposure to microgravity affects human physiology and results in changes to the urinary chemical composition during and after space flight. These changes are associated with an increased risk of renal stone formation. The development of a renal stone would have health consequences for the crewmember and negatively impact the success of the mission. As of January 2007, 15 known symptomatic medical events consistent with urinary calculi have been experienced by 13 U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. Previous results from both MIR and Shuttle missions have demonstrated an increased risk for renal stone formation. These data have shown decreased urine volume, urinary pH and citrate levels and increased urinary calcium. Citrate, an important urinary inhibitor of calcium-containing renal stones binds with calcium in the urine, thereby reducing the amount of calcium available to form calcium oxalate stones. Urinary citrate also prevents calcium oxalate crystals from aggregating into larger crystals and into renal stones. In addition, citrate makes the urine less acidic which inhibits the development of uric acid stones. Potassium citrate supplementation has been successfully used to treat patients who have formed renal stones. The evaluation of potassium citrate as a countermeasure has been performed during the ISS Expeditions 3-6, 8, 11-13 and is currently in progress during the ISS Expedition 14 mission. Together with the assessment of stone risk and the evaluation of a countermeasure, this investigation provides an educational opportunity to all crewmembers. Individual urinary biochemical profiles are generated and the risk of stone formation is estimated. Increasing fluid intake is recommended to all crewmembers. These results can be used to lower the risk for stone formation through lifestyle, diet changes or therapeutic administration to minimize the risk for stone development. With human presence in microgravity a continuing presence and exploration class missions being planned, maintaining the health and welfare of all crewmembers is critical to the exploration of space

Plasma Cytokine Levels During Long-Duration Spaceflight

Reduced T cell, granulocyte, NK and monocyte function have all been reported following both long and short duration spaceflight, however these data indicate crews are generally not experiencing inflammatory or adaptive immune activation during spaceflight. There appear to be varied individual crew responses, and specific relationships between cytokines and markers of iron status and muscle turnover that warrant further evaluation. Increases in growth factors and chemokines may indicate other types of adaptation occurring during spaceflight, such as attempts to overcome diminished immunocyte function

The Stability Balloon for Two-dimensional Vortex Ripple Patterns

Patterns of vortex ripples form when a sand bed is subjected to an oscillatory fluid flow. Here we describe experiments on the response of regular vortex ripple patterns to sudden changes of the driving amplitude a or frequency f. A sufficient decrease of f leads to a "freezing" of the pattern, while a sufficient increase of f leads to a supercritical secondary "pearling" instability. Sufficient changes in the amplitude a lead to subcritical secondary "doubling" and "bulging" instabilities. Our findings are summarized in a "stability balloon" for vortex ripple pattern formation.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Frequency distribution of post race urine pH from Standardbreds compared with Thoroughbreds: research and regulatory significance

The concentration of drugs and drug metabolites in urine samples of racing horses is strongly influenced by urine pH(Tobin, 1981), depending on whether the drugs are weak acids or weak bases. Drugs that are weak acids tend to concentrate in besic urine. In contrast, drugs that are weak bases tend to concentrate in acidic urine. These relationships have a well-established theoretical basis (the Henderson-Hasselbalch relationship) and have been demonstrated repeatedly in experimental animals and man (Tobin, 1981). More recently, evidence suggests that these relationships also occur with clinically and forensically significant agents in equine urine (Wood, et al. 1990; Gerken et al.1991.

Absence of detectable pharmacological effects after oral administration of isoxsuprine

Isoxsuprine is reported to be a peripheral vasodilator used in human and veterinary medicine to treat ischaemic vascular disease. In horses, it is generally administered orally to treat navicular disease and other lower limb problems. To deflne the scope and duration of its pharmacological responses after oral administration, 6 horses were dosed with isoxsuprine HCI (1.2 mg/kg bwt) q. 12 h for 8 days and then tested to assess the duration and extent of pharmacological actions. There was no significant difference between isoxsuprine and control treatment values for heart rate, spontaneous activity, sweat production, anal muscle tone, core and skin temperatures, and cutaneous blood flow. The lack of pharmacological effect following oral administration was in sharp contrast to the marked response following i.v. dosing reported in earlier experiments