Effect of feeding corn, hull-less or hulled barley on fermentation by mixed cultures of ruminal microorganisms.

Increased demands for corn grain warrant the evaluation of alternative grain types for ruminant production systems. This study was conducted to determine the effects of hulled and hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars compared with corn (Zea mays L.) as an alternative grain type on fermentation in cultures of mixed ruminal microorganisms. Three continuous fermentors were fed 14 g of dry feed per day (divided equally between 2 feedings) consisting of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay pellets (40% of dry matter) and 1) ground corn, 2) hulled barley, or 3) hull-less barley concentrate (60% of dry matter) in each fermentor. Following an adaptation period of 5 d, culture samples were taken at 2 h after the morning feeding on d 6, 7, and 8 of each period for analysis. A second run of the fermentors followed the same treatment sequence to provide replication. Culture pH was reduced with corn (5.55) and did not differ between barley cultivars (average pH 5.89). Total volatile fatty acid concentration and acetate to propionate ratio were not different across grain type or barley cultivar with the exception of greater total volatile fatty acid concentrations with hull-less barley. Corn produced less methane (14.6 mmol/d) and ammonia-N (7.3 mg/100 mL) compared with barley (33.1 mmol/d and 22 mg/100 mL, respectively); methane was greater with hull-less barley but ammonia-N concentration was similar between the 2 barley cultivars. Hull-less barley had greater digestibility compared with hulled barley, and corn had reduced digestibility compared with barley. Concentrations of C18:0 were greater and those of C18:1 and C18:2 lesser in cultures fed hulled and hull-less barley compared with corn. Our data indicate that grain type and barley cultivar have an impact on ruminal fermentation. The lesser starch concentration of barley minimized the drop in culture pH and improved digestibility.

Lr41, Lr39, and a leaf rust resistance gene from Aegilops cylindrica may be allelic and are located on wheat chromosome 2DS.

The leaf rust resistance gene Lr41 in wheat germplasm KS90WGRC10 and a resistance gene in wheat breeding line WX93D246-R-1 were transferred to Triticum aestivum from Aegilops tauschii and Ae. cylindrica, respectively. The leaf rust resistance gene in WX93D246-R-1 was located on wheat chromosome 2D by monosomic analysis. Molecular marker analysis of F(2) plants from non-critical crosses determined that this gene is 11.2 cM distal to marker Xgwm210 on the short arm of 2D. No susceptible plants were detected in a population of 300 F(2) plants from a cross between WX93D246-R-1 and TA 4186 ( Lr39), suggesting that the gene in WX93D246-R-1 is the same as, or closely linked to, Lr39. In addition, no susceptible plants were detected in a population of 180 F(2) plants from the cross between KS90WGRC10 and WX93D246-R-1. The resistance gene in KS90WGRC10, Lr41, was previously reported to be located on wheat chromosome 1D. In this study, no genetic association was found between Lr41 and 51 markers located on chromosome 1D. A population of 110 F(3 )lines from a cross between KS90WGRC10 and TAM 107 was evaluated with polymorphic SSR markers from chromosome 2D and marker Xgdm35 was found to be 1.9 cM proximal to Lr41. When evaluated with diverse isolates of Puccinia triticina, similar reactions were observed on WX93D246-R-1, KS90WGRC10, and TA 4186. The results of mapping, allelism, and race specificity test indicate that these germplasms likely have the same gene for resistance to leaf rust.

Identification of herpes simplex virus genital infection: comparison of a multiplex PCR assay and traditional viral isolation techniques.

Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) is of major public health importance, as indicated by the marked increase in the prevalence of genital herpes over the past two decades. Viral culture has traditionally been regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis. In this study, we compared viral culture and the amplification of HSV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with respect to sensitivity, cost, clinical utility, and turnaround time. Patient sample swabs from 100 individuals were inoculated onto MRC-5 cells for isolation. Positive results were confirmed via a direct fluorescent antibody technique, and serotyping, when requested, was performed using HSV-1 and -2-type-specific sera. PCR techniques employed an extraction step of the same initial swab specimen, followed by PCR amplification, using a multiplex assay for HSV-1, 2 DNA. HSV-positive results were found in 32/100 samples via culture and in 36/100 samples via PCR. PCR-positive results yielded 16 (44%) patients infected with HSV-1 and 20 (56%) patients infected with HSV-2. Turnaround time for viral culture averaged 108 hours for positive results and 154 hours for negative results; PCR turnaround time averaged 24--48 hours. Laboratory cost using viral culture was $3.22 for a negative result and $6.49 for a positive result (including direct fluorescent antibody). Serotyping added $10.88 to each culture-positive test. Although laboratory costs for PCR were higher at $8.20/sample, reimbursement levels were also higher. We propose a multiplex PCR assay for diagnosis of HSV-1 and HSV-2 from patient swabs for use in a routine clinical laboratory setting. This assay offers increased sensitivity, typing, and improved turnaround time when compared with traditional viral culture techniques. Although it appears that PCR testing in a routine clinical laboratory setting is cost prohibitive compared with the case of nonserotyped viral culture, it may be very useful when clinical utility warrants distinguishing between HSV 1 and 2 and may be cost effective when reimbursement issues are examined.

South Thames quality standard for nuclear medicine equipment. South Thames Region Nuclear Medicine Specialty Service Committee.

A survey of the quality assurance of the nuclear medicine equipment in use in the South Thames Region was undertaken as part of the clinical audit process within the region. The results revealed the variation in practice across the region and highlighted the need for an agreed quality standard, together with the appropriate level of physics support to provide that standard.

Prevalence of the C282Y and H63D polymorphisms in a multi-ethnic control population.

Recently a candidate gene for hereditary hemo-chromatosis, HFE, was identified. The finding raises the possibility for genetic testing to provide earlier detection and more complete genotypic evaluation of hemochromatosis affected individuals. We determined the frequency of the HFE polymorphisms, C282Y and H63D, in a randomly selected multi-ethnic control population for establishment of a hemochromatosis genetic testing program. Prevalence was determined by PCR amplification and restriction enzyme digestion of HFE in 100 Caucasians, 100 Hispanics, and 56 African Americans. Heterozygosity for C282Y was detected in 8% of Caucasians, 3% of Hispanics, and 2% of African Americans. Homozygosity for C282Y was detected in 1% of Caucasians. Heterozygosity for H63D was detected in 24% of Caucasians, 15% Hispanics, and 3.5% of African Americans. Homozygosity for H63D was present in 4% of Caucasians and 1% of Hispanics. One Hispanic case was double heterozygous for C282Y and H63D. These results indicate the highest prevalence of C282Y and H63D in the Caucasian population. Additionally, we demonstrate C282Y and H63D polymorphisms in our Hispanic and African American populations, groups in which prevalence rates remain less defined. Our results support the need for thorough interpretation of genetic results for hereditary hemochromatosis in various ethnic populations.

Performance of Four New Leaf Rust Resistance Genes Transferred to Common Wheat from Aegilops tauschii and Triticum monococcum.

The objective of this study was to test the performance of four new wheat leaf rust resistance genes previously transferred from wild relatives of common wheat. Leaf rust resistance gene Lr43, in wheat germplasm line KS92WGRC16, was originally from Aegilops tauschii. A second resistance gene, in line KS92WGRC23, was transferred from Triticum monococcum var. monococcum. Two other genes, in lines KS93U3 and KS96WGRC34, were obtained from T. monococcum var. boeoticum. In greenhouse tests, the typical low infection types produced by these lines were fleck (;), immune (0), fleck with chlorosis (;C), and heterogeneous (X-) for KS92WGRC16, KS92WGRC23, KS96WGRC34, and KS93U3, respectively. In field tests in Kansas and Texas, KS92WGRC23 and KS92WGRC16 were highly resistant. KS93U3 was moderately resistant in Kansas but moderately resistant to moderately susceptible in Texas. KS96WGRC34 was moderately resistant in Kansas but moderately resistant to susceptible in Texas. Greenhouse adult-plant tests with race PBJL of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici indicated that KS92WGRC16, KS92WGRC23, and KS96WGRC34 were highly resistant, but KS93U3 gave a moderately resistant reaction. Growth-chamber studies in different environments (12, 16, 20, and 24°C) showed slight temperature effects on the expression of resistance in KS96WGRC34 but not in the other lines. Tests with nine races of P. recondita f. sp. tritici indicated that only KS92WGRC16 was resistant to all the races. Races PNML and PNMQ were virulent on KS92WGRC23, and race TFGL was virulent on both KS93U3 and KS96WGRC34. The genes in the four germplasm lines should be used in combination with other resistance genes to prolong their usefulness.

Measurement of the secretion of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime into breast milk.

There are no published data for the activity of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) found in breast milk. The amount of radioactivity in breast milk following the administration of 500 MBq 99mTc-HMPAO for a brain perfusion study has been measured. The effective dose to the infant was calculated to be 0.26 mSv, so necessitating no interruption of breast feeding. Unbound 99mTc is readily secreted into breast milk and the effective dose will remain less than 1 mSv if the 99mTc-HMPAO labelling efficiency is >/=99% for the worse reported case, and could remain <1 mSv for the mean reported case for 99mTc-HMPAO labelling efficiencies down to 94%.