Effects of vitamin E on color stability and palatability of strip loin steaks from cattle fed distillers grains.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of preslaughter antioxidant supplementation to cattle fed wet distillers grains on carcass yield and quality grade, and on the color stability and consumer acceptability of steaks. Two hundred five crossbred steers were fed 35% wet distillers grains with the supplementation of 4 different levels of α-tocopheryl acetate: 0, 125, 250, and 500 IU•animal(-1)•d(-1) for 97 d. Chuck rolls (n = 69) and strip loins (n = 185) were collected and processed at 4 and 7 d postslaughter, respectively. Chucks were ground and separated into 0.23-kg samples. Strip loins were faced and cut into 2.54-cm steaks and packaged in a polyvinyl chloride overwrapped (PVC) package, a vacuum package, or modified atmosphere packages (MAP) for further color, α-tocopherol, objective tenderness, palatability, and proximate analysis. Color was measured objectively using a HunterLab Miniscan XE spectrophotometer (HunterLab Associates Inc., Reston, VA) and subjectively by a trained color panel, and a consumer panel was used to indicate which treatments affected retail acceptability and purchase decisions. Warner-Bratzler shear force measurements were used for objective tenderness, and a trained panel assessed subjective palatability characteristics. Instrumental color measurements revealed little difference for ground beef in both PVC and MAP packages, but diets with 500 and 250 IU•animal(-1)•d(-1) of vitamin E had a longer (P < 0.05) retention of redness and yellowness in steaks as compared with steaks from animals receiving less vitamin E. Subjective color evaluation for strip steaks indicated that greater vitamin E was more likely (P < 0.05) to maintain color stability, overall acceptability, and consumer purchase preference while decreasing percentage of discoloration. No significant differences (P > 0.10) were observed for objective tenderness and sensory attributes of strip steaks, and no differences (P > 0.10) were observed in protein, fat, and moisture percentages of ground beef. Lipid oxidation analysis indicated that steaks packaged in PVC for 7 d and MAP for 1, 3, and 7 d, and ground beef packaged in MAP and PVC for 0 and 7 d of retail display required greater inclusion of vitamin E (500 and 250 IU•animal(-1)•d(-1)) to remain below the 2.28 mg of malonaldehyde/kg threshold. Ultimately, 500 IU•animal(-1)•d(-1) of vitamin E should be supplemented to cattle fed wet distillers grain-based diets when products are packaged in MAP to maximize retail shelf life.

Umbilical cord blood processing using Prepacyte-CB increases haematopoietic progenitor cell availability over conventional Hetastarch separation.

BACKGROUND: Currently the most frequently used method for umbilical cord blood separation in many hospitals across the UK and the rest of the world, where small-to-medium amounts of samples are processed, is Hetastarch, a mechanical, starch-based method, which causes red cell agglutination by rouleaux formation. AIM: In this study, a novel method (Prepa-Cyte-CB), in comparison with Hetastarch as part of an FDA-approved clinical study, was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Validation of data included recovery of nucleated and CD34+ cells, red blood cell reduction, colony forming unit potential, flow cytometric analysis and sterility tests. RESULTS: PrepaCyte-CB, in comparison with Hetastarch offers fast, reliable separation with improved recovery of nucleated cells, 72.03% (+/-8.48 SD) compared to 58.09% (+/-20.06 SD), and CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells, 76% (+/-19.54 SD) compared to 64.19% (+/-29.77 SD). PrepaCyte-CB was also 12-fold more efficient in removing red blood cells and haemoglobin (P < 0.001) than Hetastarch. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that PrepaCyte-CB offers superior separation of UCB when compared to Hetastarch.

Cord blood revelations: the importance of being a first born girl, big, on time and to a young mother!

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has become an alternative source for providing haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells as well as non-haematopoietic stem cells, compared to the conventional sources of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB). Although UCB has many advantages over BM and PB there are still limitations to its use in the clinical setting, principally cell numbers. Thus, this study aimed to characterise components that comprise UCB samples and the physiological factors that affect them: (i) gender, (ii) obstetric history, (iii) infant birth weight, (iv) gestation stage and (v) mother's age. Our results show that UCB total nucleated cell (TNC) and haematopoietic stem cell (CD45+/CD34+) content is significantly affected by the baby's birth weight, mother's age at delivery, mother's obstetric history, and gestational stage at due date, all with p values<0.0001. The only parameter not found to be significant was gender, although results did suggest that female infants provide greater stem cell numbers than their male counterparts. Other UCB cellular sub-types affected were T-cells, dendritic cells and B-cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that many different obstetric factors must be taken into account when processing and cryo-banking UCB units for transplantation.

Trends and results in tricuspid valve surgery.

Forty-six tricuspid valve operations were performed over 12 years. Operations were conservative (two valvotomies, eight DeVega annuloplasties, seven Carpentier rings) in 17 and valve replacement (17 mechanicals, 12 tissues) in 29. Operative mortality rate was improved with better preoperative functional class, use of cardioplegia, or use of annuloplasty. Heart block occurred less with annuloplasty (6 vs 24 percent). Long-term survival was similar with annuloplasty or porcine valve replacement, but was poorer with mechanical valve replacement. Four of eight DeVega annuloplasties failed during the operative (two) or late (two) period. When the anatomy is suitable, we believe the Carpentier ring annuloplasty to be safe and effective. When valve replacement cannot be avoided, we believe replacement with a tissue valve is preferable.

Aortic valve endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis.

We have reported the fifth case of endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis and the first known survivor of native aortic valve endocarditis from this pathogen. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, aortic valve replacement was necessary because of heart failure and embolism. The patient also had concurrent viral hepatitis B infection.

Angina after aortocoronary bypass grafting: combined medical therapy including nifedipine.

A second coronary artery revascularization procedure often yields poor results. Nifedipine, a calcium antagonist, was added to the current medical therapy consisting of maximal doses of beta blockers and nitrates in a group of 18 patients who had had one revascularization procedure and subsequently had class 3 and 4 angina pectoris. The overall favorable clinical response was 72%. The average dose of nifedipine to achieve a clinical response was 90 mg/day. Left ventricular function improved with time. We believe nifedipine is an important adjunct in the management of angina after coronary bypass operation.

Comparative study of mexiletine and quinidine in the treatment of ventricular ectopia.

Mexiletine is an antiarrhythmic agent, structurally similar to lidocaine, but useful orally as well as intravenously. The safety and efficacy of mexiletine was compared with quinidine in a double-blind, parallel, randomized study of patients with chronic ventricular ectopia of various causes. Mexiletine was statistically more effective (P less than .05) than quinidine, though the total number of patients studied was small. Like quinidine, side effects limited the usefulness of mexiletine in certain patients, but these side effects are quite distinct from those of quinidine and other type I antiarrhythmic drugs. Mexiletine should be a useful addition to the armamentarium of antiarrhythmic drugs when it is released for clinical use in the United States.

Essential thrombocythemia and coronary artery disease.

An unusual case of essential thrombocythemia in a young man presenting with progressive angina pectoris is presented. Angiography revealed proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis. Successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty along with antiplatelet therapy and a calcium channel blocking drug have rendered this patient asymptomatic.