Studies on the quality of duck meat sausages during refrigeration.

Duck farming is on the raise in the current scenario, but processed products from duck meat are still uncommon to find. Investigating the duck meat qualities during storage will provide information to enhance duck meat utilization. Development of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook duck meat products is expected to increase and improve non-chicken meat-based protein. The Study was aimed to evaluate the changes in quality characteristics of duck meat sausages preserved by refrigeration (7 ± 1 °C). Duck meat sausages were prepared by utilizing raw and partially cooked duck meat with addition of soy flour at 10% level as a binder. Different quality characteristics like physical and chemical characteristics, proximate composition, and organoleptic characteristics were evaluated. Cooking loss of partially cooked meat sausages was lower than raw duck meat sausages, whereas emulsion stability and 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values of raw duck meat sausages were lesser than partially cooked meat sausages. Cooking loss and emulsion stability decreased in both types of meat sausages, while, 2-TBA values increased as refrigerated storage progressed for 14 days. Percent moisture content of raw duck meat sausages was higher than partially cooked meat sausages, which decreased in both types of meat sausages as refrigerated storage progressed for 14 days. Percent crude protein (CP) and percent ether extract (EE) content of partially cooked duck meat sausages were higher than raw duck meat sausages. Regardless of type of meat used, refrigerated storage of sausages increased CP and EE up to 10th day but decreased upon further storage up to 14th day. Organoleptic scores for raw duck meat sausages were higher than partially cooked duck meat sausages and all the scores decreased with an increase in the storage period. However the scores were within the acceptable limits. The findings prove that, duck meat can be effectively acclaimed as an alternative avenue to meet the escalating protein demand in the form of ready-to-eat product. The quality of sausages is also retained during refrigerated storage.

Chromosomal profile of indigenous pig (Sus scrofa).

AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate the chromosomal profile of indigenous pigs by computing morphometric measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cytogenetic study was carried out in 60 indigenous pigs to analyze the chromosomal profile by employing the short term peripheral blood lymphocyte culture technique. RESULTS: The modal chromosome number (2n) in indigenous pigs was found to be 38 and a fundamental number of 64 as in the exotic. First chromosome was the longest pair, and thirteenth pair was the second largest while Y-chromosome was the smallest in the karyotype of the pig. The mean relative length, arm ratio, centromeric indices and morphological indices of chromosomes varied from 1.99±0.01 to 11.23±0.09, 1.04±0.05 to 2.95±0.02, 0.51±0.14 to 0.75±0.09 and 2.08±0.07 to 8.08±0.15%, respectively in indigenous pigs. Sex had no significant effect (p>0.05) on all the morphometric measurements studied. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that among autosomes first five pairs were sub metacentric, next two pairs were sub telocentric (6-7), subsequent five pairs were metacentric (8-12) and remaining six pairs were telocentric (13-18), while both allosomes were metacentric. The chromosomal number, morphology and various morphometric measurements of the chromosomes of the indigenous pigs were almost similar to those established breeds reported in the literature.

Phage lysin as a substitute for antibiotics to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum samples with the BACTEC MGIT 960 system.

Phage lysin was evaluated as a substitute for antibiotics in sputum samples processed by a modified Petroff's method for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with the MGIT 960 system. One hundred and fifty sputum samples were processed, inoculated onto two slopes of Lowenstein-Jensen medium, and divided in to two aliquots of 0.5 mL each. One aliquot was added to 7 mL of MGIT medium containing polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim and azlocillin (PANTA) (MGIT-PANTA) and the other was added to 7 mL of MGIT medium containing 0.8 mL of lysin (MGIT-Lysin). The samples were randomized and incubated at 37°C in the MGIT 960 system. The sensitivity and specificity of MGIT-Lysin were 97% and 88%, respectively, as compared with MGIT-PANTA. The average times to detection with MGIT-Lysin and MGIT-PANTA were 9.3 and 8.6 days, respectively. The rate of contamination with MGIT-PANTA and MGIT-Lysin were 16% and 7.3%, respectively. Phage lysin can be substituted for antibiotics in processed sputum samples for the detection of M. tuberculosis.

Methodology for assessing rice varieties for resistance to the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica.

Several physical and chemical attributes of rice were evaluated to determine which character would be best to use to assess multiple rice varieties for resistance to the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). Laboratory tests were conducted on single varieties of long-, short-, and medium grain-rice to develop procedures and methodologies that could be used for large-scale screening studies. Progeny production of R. dominica was positively correlated with the percentage of broken hulls. Although kernel hardness, amylose content, neonate preference for brown rice, and adult emergence from neonates varied among the three rice varieties tested they did not appear to be valid indicators of eventual progeny production, and may not be useful predictors of resistance or susceptibility. Soundness and integrity seem to be the best characters to use for varietal screening studies with R. dominica.

Miglustat has no apparent effect on spermatogenesis in normal men.

BACKGROUND: In mice, administration of the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitor miglustat results in reversible infertility, characterized by impaired sperm motility and markedly abnormal sperm morphology. This observation suggested that miglustat might have utility for fertility control in man. To ascertain the impact of miglustat on human spermatogenesis, we conducted a pilot study of miglustat administration in normal men. METHODS: After a 2-week baseline period, seven normal men were administered miglustat 100 mg, orally, twice daily for 6 weeks. During treatment, subjects had frequent seminal fluid analyses to assess the impact of treatment on sperm concentration, motility and morphology and the ability to undergo the acrosome reaction by in vitro assays. RESULTS: Five subjects completed all aspects of the study. In these subjects, there was no apparent effect of miglustat on sperm concentration, motility or sperm morphology after 6 weeks of therapy. In addition, no changes in acrosome structure or function were observed with treatment, despite therapeutic concentrations of miglustat in the serum and seminal plasma. All subjects experienced gastrointestinal upset, diarrhoea and mild weight loss during treatment. No other abnormalities in blood counts, serum chemistries, vision or overall health were observed. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the observations in mice, the oral administration of miglustat does not appear to affect human spermatogenesis. Further elucidation of the mechanism underlying the species specificity of miglustat may improve our understanding of the role of glycosphingolipids in spermatogenesis and result in alternative approaches to male fertility control.

Susceptibility of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) developmental stages to high temperatures used during structural heat treatments.

Heating the ambient air of a whole, or a portion of a food-processing facility to 50 to 60 degrees C and maintaining these elevated temperatures for 24 to 36 h, is an old technology, referred to as heat treatment. There is renewed interest in adopting heat treatments around the world as a viable insect control alternative to fumigation with methyl bromide. There is limited published information on responses of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), exposed to elevated temperatures typically used during heat treatments. Time-mortality relationships were determined for eggs, fifth-instars (wandering-phase larvae), pupae, and adults of P. interpunctella exposed to five constant temperatures between 44 and 52 degrees C. Mortality of each stage increased with increasing temperature and exposure time. In general, fifth-instars were the most heat-tolerant stage at all temperatures tested. Exposure for a minimum of 34 min at 50 degrees C was required to kill 99% of the fifth-instars. It is proposed that heat treatments aimed at controlling fifth-instars should be able to control all other stages of P. interpunctella.

Phenology and spatial pattern of Typhaea stercorea (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae) infesting stored grain: estimation by pitfall trapping.

The hairy fungus beetle, Typhaea stercorea (L.), occurs frequently in stored grain, often in large numbers. Populations infesting stored barley in Minnesota, corn in South Carolina, and wheat in Florida were sampled by means of grain probe traps. Spatial distribution of the species was examined by contour analysis of trap catch. In South Carolina, corn was sampled at 2 locations over 2 storage seasons, and temperature, moisture content, and malathion residues were measured. These data were used to examine phenology as well as spatial distribution, and showed peak trap catch shortly after harvest in the fall, and in the spring. This pattern followed seasonal changes in grain temperature, but there was no apparent relationship of trap catch to either grain moisture content or malathion residue. The populations of T. stercorea were not distributed randomly, but were largely concentrated in 1 or very few aggregations associated with the "spoutline," a region high in foreign material and broken grain that forms near the center of a bin as it is loaded. However, the spatial patterns were dynamic, even on a very small time scale (week to week). Numbers of insects in aggregations rose and fell, the areas involved expanded and contracted, the centers shifted, and secondary centers appeared and disappeared. These changes were apparently in response to changing patterns of grain temperature and moisture content. Secondary centers of aggregation often formed in warmer grain along bin walls.

Identification and characterization of a potent, selective, and orally active antagonist of the CC chemokine receptor-1.

The CC chemokine receptor-1 (CCR1) is a prime therapeutic target for treating autoimmune diseases. Through high capacity screening followed by chemical optimization, we identified a novel non-peptide CCR1 antagonist, R-N-[5-chloro-2-[2-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-2-methyl-1-piperazinyl ]-2-oxoethoxy]phenyl]urea hydrochloric acid salt (BX 471). Competition binding studies revealed that BX 471 was able to displace the CCR1 ligands macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), RANTES, and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) with high affinity (K(i) ranged from 1 nm to 5.5 nm). BX 471 was a potent functional antagonist based on its ability to inhibit a number of CCR1-mediated effects including Ca(2+) mobilization, increase in extracellular acidification rate, CD11b expression, and leukocyte migration. BX 471 demonstrated a greater than 10,000-fold selectivity for CCR1 compared with 28 G-protein-coupled receptors. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that BX 471 was orally active with a bioavailability of 60% in dogs. Furthermore, BX 471 effectively reduces disease in a rat experimental allergic encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis. This study is the first to demonstrate that a non-peptide chemokine receptor antagonist is efficacious in an animal model of an autoimmune disease. In summary, we have identified a potent, selective, and orally available CCR1 antagonist that may be useful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Prevalence of diabetes in the young in south India.

Students from nine schools and one college in Madras city, were screened for diabetes by oral glucose tolerance test. The criteria recommended by the World Health Organization was adopted to classify glucose tolerance. Among 3,515 students, between 5 and 19 years of age, participated in this survey, 1982 (56.4%) were males and 1.533 were (43.6%) females. Family history of diabetes was positive in 302 (8.6%) students. There was no overt case of diabetes of any type. Three (0.09%) males had renal glycosuria. It is therefore concluded that insulin-dependent diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes or any other type of diabetes in the young is rare in South India.

Alkylamides as inducers of human leukemia cell differentiation: a quantitative structure-activity relationship study using comparative molecular field analysis.

Computer assisted quantitative structure-activity studies using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) were performed on a series of alkylamides that induce cell differentiation. The series included alkylformamides, alkylacetamides, alkylureas, and substituted hexyl analogues of acetamide. The biological activity studied for correlation with structure was the ability of each compound to induce differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, to granulocyte-like cells. In the CoMFA study, both steric and electrostatic fields were used along with molecular weight to determine a correlation between biological activity of the compounds and their structural features. The CoMFA results indicated a linear structure-activity correlation with a high predictive value. There was almost an even contribution towards activity from steric interactions, electrostatic potential, and molecular weight. These findings confirm a previous report by Langdon and Hickman (S. P. Langdon and J. A. Hickman, Cancer Res., 47: 140-144, 1987) that the ability to induce cell differentiation is highly dependent on molecular weight. Additionally, CoMFA contour maps provided information about regions of the molecule that are favorable to increased steric bulk and electrostatic charge. CoMFA was used to predict the activities of six hexamethylene acetamide analogues: ethyl 6-acetamidohexanoate; 6-acetamidohexanol; 1,5-bis(acetamido)hexane; 6-acetamidohexanonitrile; 6-acetamidohexanoic acid; and caprolactam. Although the model incorrectly predicted high activity for 6-acetamidohexanoic acid, the predicted activities for the remaining compounds were 0.3 to 1.5 times that of the corresponding experimental activities, which is comparable to the results obtained from other published CoMFA studies.

Isotopically sensitive regioselectivity in the oxidative deamination of a homologous series of diamines catalyzed by diamine oxidase.

The equivalence of aminomethylene groups in selected diamine substrates of diamine oxidase was exploited for the determination of intramolecular isotope effects. In the series of substrates, [1,1-2H2]-1,3-diaminopropane, [1,1-2H2]-1,5-diaminopentane, [1,1-2H2]-1,6-diaminohexane, [1,1-2H2]-1,7-diaminoheptane and [alpha,alpha-2H2]-4-(aminomethyl)benzylamine, the preference of the enzyme for reaction at the unlabeled methylene was found to vary from 1.45 to 10.5-fold. The observed partitioning ratios go through a minimum value with 1,5-diaminopentane, the best substrate of diamine oxidase of the compounds tested. The results suggest that fast substrates have less opportunity to reorient into alternate binding conformations while bound to the active site of the enzyme. On the other hand, diamine substrates tested that cannot exist in energetically favorable conformations with internitrogen distances of about 7-8 A showed larger intramolecular isotope effects.

Identification of potentially neurotoxic pyridinium metabolite in the urine of schizophrenic patients treated with haloperidol.

Evidence that the parkinsonian inducing agent MPTP is biotransformed to a pyridinium species that selectively destroys nigrostriatal neurons in humans and subhuman primates has prompted studies to evaluate the metabolic fate of the structurally related neuroleptic agent haloperidol. With the aid of a highly sophisticated atmospheric pressure ionspray HPLC/MS/MS assay, unambiguous evidence has been obtained for the presence of the haloperidol pyridinium species in extracts of urine obtained from haloperidol-treated patients and in extracts of NADPH-supplemented human liver microsomal incubation mixtures containing haloperidol. The potential significance of the formation of this putative neurotoxic pyridinium species is considered.

Studies on the in vitro conversion of haloperidol to a potentially neurotoxic pyridinium metabolite.

Evidence that partially oxidized piperidine derivatives such as the Parkinsonian inducing agent 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) are biotransformed in a reaction catalyzed by monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) to neurotoxic pyridinium metabolites led to studies resulting in the identification of the haloperidol-derived pyridinium metabolite in the urine of drug-treated rats. The present in vitro studies examine the metabolic pathway governing this overall four-electron oxidation. Although haloperidol and its 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine dehydration product were not substrates for purified bovine liver MAO-B, both compounds were biotransformed to the pyridinium product by rat liver microsomal preparations. The dependence on NADPH and the inhibition by SKF-525A argue that one or more liver cytochrome P-450 isozymes may catalyze this transformation. Attempts to detect possible metabolic intermediates were not successful. Chemical model studies, however, suggest that the expected intermediary amino enol and dihydropyridinium species may be too unstable to isolate. The possible significance of this pathway with respect to haloperidol-induced central nervous system dysfunction is considered.

The effect of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor isocarboxazid on the canine metabolism of the cell-differentiating agent hexamethylene bisacetamide.

The acute toxicities of the cellular differentiating agent hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) in humans and animals include CNS toxicity (agitation, somnolence, seizures, hallucinations) and an anion-gap metabolic acidosis. N-Acetyl-1,6-diaminohexane (NADAH), the first metabolite of HMBA, is as active as the parent compound in causing differentiation of leukemic cells in vitro, whereas 6-acetamidohexanoic acid (6AcHA), which is formed by the oxidation of NADAH in the presence of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and aldehyde dehydrogenase, is inactive. To test whether the inhibition of MAO blocks the production of an inactive and possibly toxic HMBA metabolite (6AcHA) or increases the amount of active compounds (HMBA + NADAH) in vivo, we investigated the effect of the MAO inhibitor isocarboxazid on the metabolism and toxicity of HMBA in beagle dogs. Two groups of dogs, composed of one male and one female dog per group, were used in the study. One group received isocarboxazid (3.3 mg/kg p.o. q8h x 9) beginning at 24 h before the initiation of a 48-h i.v. infusion of HMBA (40 mg kg-1 h-1), whereas the other received placebo in an identical fashion prior to the start of an identical HMBA infusion. The mean plasma steady-state concentration (css) of HMBA was 0.91 mM in dogs given HMBA and isocarboxazid as opposed to 0.78 mM in those given HMBA and placebo. As measured spectrophotometrically, plasma MAO activity was inhibited by 86% +/- 3% in dogs receiving isocarboxazid. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry detected 6AcHA in the plasma of animals that were given placebo but not in the plasma of dogs that received isocarboxazid. Gas chromatographic analysis of urine samples revealed that the total amount of 6AcHA and of NADAH excreted in urine was 8 times less and 3 times greater, respectively, in isocarboxazid-treated dogs than in animals that received HMBA and placebo. One dog was excitable after the initial two doses of isocarboxazid and developed seizures at the end of the HMBA infusion. Another dog was agitated during treatment with HMBA and isocarboxazid. No CNS toxicity occurred in animals that were treated with HMBA and placebo. We conclude that isocarboxazid inhibits the production of 6AcHA in vivo, thus supporting the involvement of MAO in HMBA metabolism. Because the combination of HMBA and isocarboxazid produces CNS toxicity, 6AcHA is probably not the neurotoxic agent in dogs.

Identification of a potentially neurotoxic pyridinium metabolite of haloperidol in rats.

In vivo metabolic studies have revealed that haloperidol is converted to the corresponding pyridinium metabolite which has been characterized in both urine and brain tissues isolated from haloperidol treated rats. Unlike the corresponding conversion of the structurally related Parkinsonian inducing agent MPTP to the ultimate neurotoxic pyridinium metabolite MPP+, the oxidative biotransformation of haloperidol is not catalyzed by MAO-B. Microdialysis studies in the rat indicate that intrastriatal administration of this pyridinium metabolite is about 10% as effective as MPP+ in causing the irreversible depletion of striatal nerve terminal dopamine. The results point to the possibility that some of the neurological disorders observed in experimental animals and man during the course of chronic haloperidol treatment may be mediated by this pyridinium metabolite.