The construction of canine distal limb models used in teaching sonography identification of vegetal foreign bodies.

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is a useful tool to identify radiolucent vegetal foreign bodies (VFBs). However, limited ultrasound experience and unfamiliarity with the normal sonographic appearance of anatomical structures can decrease clinician confidence. This study aimed to design a reusable silicone model that can teach VFB identification within the canine distal limb. Four canine hindlimbs were used to design the silicone models, and 12 canine distal forelimbs were constructed. The model was constructed using cadaver bones, barley grass (Avena fatua) seeds, and silicone to mimic the anatomy of the canine distal limb with a grass seed VFB. Limbs were randomly grouped based on grass seed locations: (1) the interdigital webbing, (2) the palmar surface of the canine forelimb immediately proximal to the metacarpal pad, (3) the dorsal surface of the distal limb immediately proximal to the proximal phalange, or (4) no grass seed (control) placed. Each limb was systematically ultrasounded and compared with cadaver limbs and clinical VFB cases. A comparison of ultrasonographic images validated the construction, revealing that the simulation model replicates the anatomical and echotexture characteristics of the normal canine distal limb. Furthermore, these models also have a likeness to clinical canine distal limb VFB cases and can be utilized as a training tool.

The development of a systematic ultrasound protocol facilitates the visualization of foreign bodies within the canine distal limb.

Ultrasonography is an excellent investigative tool that can assist with the diagnosis of soft tissue conditions. In human medicine, ultrasonography is a fundamental diagnostic tool for the investigation of suspected vegetal foreign bodies (VFB), with protocol-based ultrasonography providing increased accuracy compared to lesion-focused examinations. Protocol-based ultrasonography is an emerging tool within the veterinary field, however, compared to human medicine is not routinely employed. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic ultrasound protocol to examine the distal limb for the visualization of vegetal foreign bodies (SUEDVEG). A 12 MHz linear and an 18 MHz high-frequency small-footprint linear array transducer was used on cadaver forelimbs (n = 6) and hindlimbs (n = 6) with images obtained from three common foreign body locations within the distal limb; 1; the interdigital webbing, 2; the palmar/plantar aspect of the phalanges and metacarpus and 3; the dorsal region of the phalanges and metacarpus. From these images, a 13-step systematic musculoskeletal protocol was developed and utilized on eight clinical cases or 10 limbs that had signs typical of distal limb VFB to preliminarily validate the proposed method. Vegetal foreign bodies were successfully identified and retrieved in seven (n = 8) clinical cases with method steps 9 and 11 (orthogonal views) identifying the majority of VFBs. The described ultrasound method appears highly useful for visualizing soft tissue locations of the canine distal limb known for tracking foreign bodies. Further studies are required to validate the described systematic examination method as the preferred clinical protocol over currently used lesion-focused exploration techniques.

Review of Associated Health Benefits of Algal Supplementation in Cattle with Reference to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex in Feedlot Systems.

Within the Australian beef industry bovine respiratory disease is considered one of the most common disease and costs the industry an average net loss of $1647.53 Australian dollars per animal death to bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD). This is due to the disease overwhelming the animal's immune system during a period where they experience multiple stressors that consequently increase the animal's susceptivity to disease. Research into the bioactive compounds commonly found in marine algae is rapidly increasing due to its positive health benefits and potential immune modulating properties. Algal supplementation within previous studies has resulted in improved reproduction potential, growth performance, increases antioxidant activity and decreased proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. Additional research is required to further understand the aetiology of BRD and complete analysis of the bioavailability of these bioactive compounds within marine algae to fully explore the potential of marine algae supplementation.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of pigmented rice consumption in an obese cohort.

The development of lifestyle diseases in the obese has been attributed to higher levels of inflammation and free radical mediated oxidative stress. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols in pigmented rice varieties could have potential to neutralize oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory responses in the obese. A cross-over dietary intervention human clinical trial was conducted with three pigmented rice varieties chosen from previous chemical and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory screening. Obese (n = 22, BMI > 30) sedentary participants consumed one cup of pigmented rice (Reiziq (brown), Purple (purple) and Yunlu29 (red)). Blood samples were collected prior consumption (baseline) and at set time points of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours post rice consumption. The collected blood samples were analysed for antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers. Total antioxidant activity increased (p < 0.001) at the 1 hour time point by 40.3% post purple rice consumption. The red rice variety, Yunlu29 increased antioxidant activity at the 30 minute (p < 0.001) and 1 hour (p < 0.01) time point by 29.5% and 21.2% respectively. Lipid peroxidation biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased (p < 0.05) at the 30 minute time point by 6.8% post purple rice consumption. At the 4 hour time point MDA levels was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by the red rice variety Yunlu29, by 9.6%. Pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced by 3.1% 30 minutes post purple rice consumption. In contrast, Yunlu29 (red) reduced interleukin-6 levels by 13.6% and 11.0% at the 30 minute and 1 hour time points respectively. Both the purple (p < 0.01) and red (p < 0.001) varieties significantly reduced interleukin-12p70 concentrations at 30 minutes by 8.7% and 10.3% respectively. Reiziq (brown) did not affect any of the biomarkers analysed in this study. The outcomes of this study highlight that polyphenols found in pigmented rice may play a key role in targeting specific therapeutic pathways in obesity-related oxidative stress and inflammation.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of acute consumption of pigmented rice in humans.

The pathogenesis of lifestyle diseases has been significantly correlated to high levels of oxidative stress and pro-inflammation. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols in coloured rice varieties could have potential to neutralize oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory responses. A cross-over design, randomised, dietary intervention human clinical trial was conducted on a pre-screened healthy population (n = 24) investigating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of pigmented rice (purple, red and brown) varieties. Post baseline blood samples collection volunteers consumed a serve of cooked pigmented rice. Blood samples were collected at 30-minutes, 1, 2 and 4-hours post rice consumption. A one-week wash-out period between each supplementation bout (rice variety) was conducted. Blood and biochemical parameters were analysed on baseline blood samples. Antioxidant activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and a pro-inflammatory cytokine panel were analysed on the blood samples collected. Post purple rice consumption, antioxidant activity increased (p < 0.0001) by 70.5% and maintained elevated for all time points. The red rice variety Yunlu29, significantly (p < 0.005) reduced MDA levels by 9.2% at the 30-minute time point. Purple rice demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease by 4.0% at the 30-minute time point only. Purple rice significantly decreased TNF-α levels at the 1-hour (p < 0.05) and 4-hour (p < 0.005) time points by 21.9% and 25.4% respectively. IL-6 concentrations were significantly reduced at 1 and 2-hour post Purple (p < 0.05; 11.7%) and Yunlu29 (red) (p < 0.01; 14.1%) consumption respectively. The brown rice variety did not affect any parameters tested. The outcomes of this study, highlight that polyphenols found in pigmented rice may play a key role in targeting specific oxidative stress and inflammatory therapeutic pathways. Pigmented rice varieties may serve as a potential functional food in reducing risk factors associated with lifestyle diseases.

Pigmented Rice-Derived Phenolic Compounds Reduce Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

SCOPE: Endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis is significantly associated with increased oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Rice-derived phenolic compounds have been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. This study aims to determine if phenolic extracts (PE) from pigmented rice varieties (Purple, Yunlu29-red, and Reiziq-brown) at varying concentrations modulate biomarkers of OS and inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells under induced OS conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay quantification demonstrate that Purple PE significantly decreases reactive oxygen species and increases SOD-1 by 27% and 226%, respectively. Yunlu29 PE (50 µg mL-1 ) is the most effective in reducing (p < 0.0001) interleukin-8 (61%) and interleukin-6 (57.2%). Yunlu29 (50 µg mL-1 ) reduces intracellular-adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.0001) expression by 34%, followed by Reiziq (31.9%) and Purple (30.2%). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrates that vascular cell-adhesion molecule-1 expression is reduced (p < 0.0001) by 53.5% by Yunlu29 followed by Purple (46.8%) and Reiziq (46.7%). Yunlu29 is the most effective in reducing nuclear factor kappa-B expression by 50.1%, followed by purple (48.8%) and Reiziq (38.6%). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that colored rice PE may potentially target OS and inflammatory pathways associated with the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction.

Coloured rice-derived polyphenols reduce lipid peroxidation and pro-inflammatory cytokines ex vivo.

Rice-derived polyphenols have been demonstrated to alleviate obesity-related oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of the study was to investigate if coloured rice polyphenol extracts (PE) reduce malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in obese individuals ex vivo. Malondialdehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and flow cytometry respectively. Fasting blood samples were treated with PE from three coloured rice varieties (purple, red and brown rice) at varying concentrations (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 µg mL-1). PE treatment demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in malondialdehyde and TNF-α levels. Purple PE reduced plasma malondialdehyde concentration by 59% compared to red (21%) and brown (25.5%) rice PE. Brown rice PE at 50 µg mL-1 reduced TNF-α levels by 98% compared to red (80%) and purple rice PE (74%). Rice PE did not modulate plasma interleukin-6 concentrations. Coloured rice may be of therapeutic benefit as a potential functional food alternative in targeting specific pathways associated with obesity.