Variations in protein and fat contents and their fractions in milk from two species fed different forages.

This study aimed at determining the variations in milk constituents which could be varied by feed and animal species. To achieve this goal, two groups of homoparity Baladi cows and Egyptian buffaloes (n = 20 per species) were used. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10): subgroup I received legume forage (Egyptian clover) and subgroup II received grass forage (sorghum forage). All experimental animals were fed the diet consisting of concentrate, forage and rice straw as 50, 25 and 25% of dry matter intake respectively. Milk samples were taken for analysis. The trial lasted until the 3rd month of parturition. The main results indicated that lactating cattle fed legume forage significantly (p ≤ 0.01) had more content of casein nitrogen (513 mg/100 ml milk), lower content of glutamic acid (23.56 g/100 g milk protein) and more content of cis-9, trans-11 18:2 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (0.77 g/100 g milk fat) compared with 433, 26.67 and 0.53, respectively, for cattle fed grass forage. With regard to the species effect, results showed that buffalo milk appeared to contain significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) contents of casein nitrogen, phenylalanine, glutamic and arachidonic acid compared with cow's milk. However, the latter was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) more in the cis-9, trans-11CLA (0.59 g/100 g milk fat) than that in buffalo milk (0.47 g/100 g milk fat). The results revealed that not only forage type played a critical role in determining the variations of milk nitrogen distribution, milk amino acids and fatty acids but also animal species had a significant effect on these parameters.

Effectiveness of immersion treatments with acids, trisodium phosphate, and herb decoctions in reducing populations of Yarrowia lipolytica and naturally occurring aerobic microorganisms on raw chicken.

Yarrowia lipolytica, one of the predominant yeasts in raw poultry, is believed to play a role in spoilage. This study was undertaken to investigate treatments to control the growth of Y. lipolytica on raw chicken stored at refrigeration temperature. Raw chicken wings inoculated with a mixture of five strains of Y. lipolytica isolated from raw poultry were dipped in solutions containing 2, 5, or 8% lactic acid, 2% lactic acid containing 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8% potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate, and 4, 8, or 12% trisodium phosphate solution. Populations of the yeast and total aerobic microorganisms were determined before and after treatment. Immersion of wings in 2% lactic acid (with or without 0.2% potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate) or 4% trisodium phosphate caused a significant (alpha = 0.05) reduction in numbers of Y. lipolytica and aerobic microorganisms. Treatment with 2% lactic acid containing 0.4 or 0.8% preservative did not result in additional significant reductions. Treatment of chicken wings with 2% lactic acid or 8% trisodium phosphate significantly reduced numbers of Y. lipolytica by 1.47 and 0.65 log10 cfu/g, respectively, and aerobic microorganisms by 2.60 and 1.21 log10 cfu/g, respectively, compared to controls. Growth of Y. lipolytica on wings stored at 5 degrees C for up to 9 days, however, was not affected by these treatments. Significant reductions in the population of Y. lipolytica occurred when the yeast was inoculated into 100% basil, marjoram, sage, and thyme decoctions, but not in 100% oregano or rosemary decoctions, held at 5 degrees C for 24 h. Treatment of chicken wings with 100% sage or thyme decoctions significantly reduced populations of Y. lipolytica but did not control its growth during storage at 5 degrees C for up to 9 days. The small, temporary decreases in numbers of Y. lipolytica and aerobic microorganisms resulting from immersion treatment of chicken wings with sage and thyme decoctions render these treatments of questionable value as preservation interventions.

The effect of the aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum on the epididymal sperm pattern of the rat.

An aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum was administered by stomach tube to ten mature male Wistar rats, at a dose of 47 mg/100 kg body weight/day for 14 consecutive days. Ten rats were kept as controls and received normal saline by oral route at the same dosing interval. Sperm was collected from the epididymes after decapitation. The results revealed that the water extract of the Cynomorium coccineum induced significant increase in the sperm count, improved the percentage of live sperm and their motility and decreased the number of abnormal sperm. Testicular histology showed increased spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubules full of sperm in the treated group compared with the controls.

New pyrrole alkaloids from Solanum sodomaeum.

Two new pyrrole alkaloids, solsodomine A and B, were isolated from the fresh berries of Solanum sodomaeum L., collected from the Libyan desert. The structures of these compounds were established by 2D-NMR, including 15N NMR spectroscopy and chemical degradation. Solsodomine A (1) shows activity against Mycobacterium intracellulare. This is the first report of pyrrole alkaloids from the genus Solanum.

Influence of Phoxim on testicular and seminal vesicle organs, testosterone and cholinesterase level and its tissue residues in male rats.

The effect of Phoxim (Volaton) at two dosage levels (23 and 46 mg/kg b.wt.) on male reproduction tissues and their residues in rats were studied. The tested doses were given orally to male rats for 60 consecutive days. Sex organs weight analysis, semen picture, testosterone and cholinestrase enzyme (ChE) levels, histochemistry, histopathological changes and mating trials were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of the treated rats. There was a dose-related decrease in the weights of testicles and sperm motility associated with an increase in the percentages of dead and morphologically abnormal spermatozoa of treated rats. A decrease in plasma testosterone levels was observed in the treated groups. Histopathological examination revealed that phoxim caused testicular lesions characterized by moderate to severe degenerative changes of spermatogonial cells and by partial arrest of spermatogenesis. Plasma, brain and testicular ChE levels were reduced in treated rats. Phoxim and its oxygen analog concentrations were progressively increased by the time of exposure and represented double fold in liver as compared to that in skeletal muscles and testicles. The histochemical examination of testicles of treated rats showed a marked decreament in the ChE activity in tunica albuginea and sperms. A decrease in this enzyme was also noticed in liver hepatocytes, granular layer of the cerebral cortex and medulla of suprarenal gland.

Role of fluoride on corrodability of dental amalgams.

The role of fluoride ions on the corrosion behavior of some commercial dental amalgam in artificial saliva solution at pH level 7.1 was studied by using impedance and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. It was found that, the presence of F- ions in an artificial saliva solution at pH 7.1 increases the corrodability of different types of dental amalgam. Sever pitting corrosion occurred at level of 100 mM F- ions. The formulation of amalgam alloys greatly affect the resistance to pitting corrosion; the resistance of the amalgam to pitting follows the order: Dispersalloy >> Phasealloy > Oralloy > Tytin > Valiant-pH.D. It is recommended to avoid oral treatment involving high F- ions concentration in the presence of amalgam restorations.