High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of amino acids in ackee fruit with emphasis on the toxic amino acid hypoglycin A.

High-performance liquid chromatography is used to determine the amino acid content of ripe and unripe ackee fruit. Specific emphasis is placed on the level of the toxic amino acid hypoglycin A (hyp-A) in the unripe and ripe ackee fruit and seed. Unripe samples are found to contain significantly higher quantities (P < 0.05) of hyp-A when compared with ripe samples. Uncooked unripe fruit is found to contain 124.4 +/- 6.7 mg/100 g fresh weight and uncooked ripe fruit 6.4 +/- 1.1 mg/100 g fresh weight. The seed of the uncooked unripe fruit is found to contain 142.8 +/- 8.8 mg/100 g fresh weight, and the seed of uncooked ripe fruit has 106.0 +/- 5.4 mg/100 g fresh weight. Boiling fruit in water for approximately 30 min is efficient in removing hyp-A from the edible arilli; however, low levels of 0.54 +/- 0.15 mg/200 mL are detected in the water that was used to cook the ripe fruit. The average %recovery of the amino acids was 80.34%.

Amino acid, fatty acid, and carbohydrate content of Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit).

A study is conducted to determine the amino acid, fatty acid, and carbohydrate content of breadfruit using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). An HPLC method is used for the determination of amino acids and fatty acids in breadfruit. Representative amino acid samples are derivatized with phenylisothiocianate and the resulting phenylthiocarbamyl derivatives are separated on a reversed-phase column by gradient elution with a 0.05M ammonium acetate buffer and 0.01M ammonium acetate in acetonitrile-methanol-water (44:10:46, v/v). Representative fatty acid samples are derivatized with phenacyl bromide and the resulting fatty acid phenacyl esters are separated on a reversed-phase column by gradient elution with acetonitrile and water. Amino acid and fatty acid derivatives are detected by ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. The analysis of the carbohydrates in breadfruit employs a GC method. Carbohydrates are derivatized using trimethylchlorosilane and hexamethyldisilazane to form trimethylsilyl ethers. Compounds in the samples are separated by the temperature programming of a GC using nitrogen as the carrier gas. Percent recoveries of amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates are 72.5%, 68.2%, and 81.4%, respectively. The starch content of the breadfruit is 15.52 g/100 g fresh weight.

Domestic partner abuse treatment programs and cultural competence: the results of a national survey.

Partner abuse literature reveals that treatment is less effective with minorities than with their white counterparts. Our survey of partner abuse programs (N = 142) indicates that, for the most part, little or no special effort is being made to understand or accommodate the needs of minority populations. This colorblind approach lacks the effectiveness of a culturally competent approach, which fosters an environment that helps minority groups succeed in treatment. Do partner abuse programs make efforts to be culturally competent? The major characteristics of an organizational transformation towards cultural competence occur when these programs do the following: (a) network with the minority community, (b) locate outside consultants with expertise in working with minority clients, (c) obtain information concerning service delivery and programming for minority clients, and (d) have at least one bilingual counselor. These four characteristics accounted for .58 of the variance in the minority-focused activities.

Hepatotoxicity to dogs of horse meat contaminated with indospicine.

An outbreak of liver disease which killed more than 30 dogs at Alice Springs was associated with feeding meat from horses, some of which had developed Indigofera linnaei poisoning (Birdsville horse disease). Affected livers were small, nodular and yellow. There was associated jaundice, ascites, elevation of alanine aminotransferase levels in serum, a tendency to bleed, and signs of hepatic encephalopathy. Histologically, livers showed periacinar necrosis, collapse and haemorrhage, with severe swelling, vacuolation and cholestasis in remaining hepatocytes. Indospicine, a toxic amino acid found in the genus Indigofera, was detected in samples of suspect horsemeat. Experimental feeding of horsemeat containing 16 mg indospicine/kg for 32 days produced periacinar necrosis and hepatocellular swelling in 2 dogs, although neither died nor showed clinical illness. In another experiment, intakes of as little as 0.13 mg indospicine/kg bodyweight/day for 70 days produced periacinar liver lesions, and indospicine concentrations in serum, muscle and liver rose during this period to 3.9, 7.9 and 17.5 mg/kg, respectively. It was concluded that meat from horses grazing I. linnaei can be hepatotoxic for dogs, and that this toxicity may be related to its indospicine content.

Pelvic colonization with Actinomyces in women using intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Recent reports suggest a relationship between intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) use and colonization or infection of the genital tract with Actinomyces species. This prospective, case-controlled study was designed to determine the incidence of colonization or infection with Actinomyces in IUD users. None of 50 control patients and four of 50 study patients (8%) had Actinomyces identified. None of the patients with positive results had symptomatic pelvic infection. Cervical cytology was effective in detecting each of the four study patients with positive results. It appears that the presence of any type of IUD is a major predisposing factor to colonization with Actinomyces.

PIP: Recent reports indicate that colonization or infection of the genital tract with Actinomyces israelli (an anaerobic, gram-positive, non-acid fast, obligate parasite classified between the true bacteria and complete fungi) may be related to IUD use. To determine the incidence of Actinomyces infection in IUD users and a comparable samples of nonusers, a prospective controlled study was undertaken using 50 study and 50 control patients from the Grady Memorial Hospital's gynecology and family planning clinics. The age and parity of the 2 groups ranged from 17 to 52 years, and 1.9 to 2.8, respectively. Selected risk factors predisposing to colonization or infection with Actinomyces were considered and included frequency of intercourse per week; contraceptives used; and histories of appendicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Both groups were divided into women less than 35 years of age and those more than 35 years of age. There were 29 control and 9 study patients in the older group. Of the 9 study patients, 4 (44.4%) had Actinomyces compared to none of the 29 control patients (p .01). The Lippes loop, which was used by 50% of the IUD users, was the most commonly removed IUD. The characteristics of the 4 patients were described in Table 5. Cervical cytology was used in detecting the Actinomyces infection or colonization of the 4 study patients, who were managed by IUD removal and follow-up biopsies or Pap smears. Symptomatic patients should have their IUDs removed and should be treated with antibiotics to provide both aerobic and anaerobic coverage.

COMPARISON OF THE EFFICIENCY OF TWO DOSES OF BOVINE PPD TUBERCULIN IN SINGLE CAUDAL FOLD TESTS ON AUSTRALIAN CATTLE.

The sensitivity and specificity of 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg doses of bovine PPD tuberculin were compared in Northern Territory beef cattle from tuberculous herds and herds with a prevalence of tuberculosis of less than 0.1%. Reactions were interpreted subjectively by observation and palpation, and were also measured to the nearest mm with calipers at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after injection of tuberculin. All cattle were examined post mortem for the presence of macroscopic and microscopic tuberculous lesions. The apparent specificity of caudal fold tests with 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg doses was determined in cattle in Victoria from tuberculosis-free dairy and beef herds. Victorian cattle reacting to the caudal fold tests were subjected to a comparative intradermal test with 0.1 mg bovine PPD and 2,500 IU avian PPD not less than 42 days later. Tests with the 0.2 mg dose achieved the highest level of sensitivity of 95.6% at 48 h, 72 h and 96 h, while in tests with 0.4 mg the maximum reached was 94.7% at 72 h. The specificity of tests in Northern Territory cattle ranged from 85.0% to 88.3% with the 0.2 mg dose and from 80.6% to 82.3% with the 0.4 mg dose. The highest specificity was achieved with both doses at 96 h. The apparent specificity of 0.2 and 0.4 mg doses of bovine PPD in tuberculosis-free herds in Victoria was high, a false-positive reactor rate of only 0.6% occurring with caudal fold tests. All false-positive reactions were shown to be non-specific or due to previous experimental sensitisation.

The use of bovine PPD tuberculin the single caudal fold test to detect tuberculosis in beef cattle.

The efficiency of 2 different doses of bovine PPD tuberculin was compared using the caudal fold test for the detection of tuberculosis in beef cattle. Two matched groups of 98 cattle were selected on the basis of their reactivity to HCSM tuberculin. Cattle in each group were tested with a singl 0.1 ml dose of bovine PPD tuberculin containing either 0.1 mg or 0.2mg bovine PPD respectively. Two further groups of 100 young stock from a herd with an incidence of tuberculosis of less than 0.1% were selected as controls. Tests were interpreted subjectively by palpation and observation and objectively by caliper measurement at 48, 72 and 96h. All cattle were examined post mortem for the presence of visible lesions. The 0.2 mg dose of PPD detected 95% tuberculous cattle and caused false-positive reactions in 19% of cattle without lesions. The 0.1 mg dose detected 80% of tuberculous cattle and caused 11% false-positive reactions. No visible lesions of tuberculosis were found in either of the control groups although 11% reacted to 0.2 mg and 5% to 0.1 mg bovine PPD at 72h. The optimum time for reading tuberculin tests was found to be in the period 48 to 72h after the injection of bovine PPD and subjective interpretation was more efficient than caliper measurement as a means of detection of tuberculous cattle. The 0.2 mg dose of bovine PPD was found to be more specific than HCSM tuberculin.

Malignant schwannoma of the brachial plexus in a dog.

A 4-year-old Labrador bitch was presented for veterinary examination with a history of lameness and muscle atrophy of the left forelimb. On clinical examination a painful mass was detected medial to the left shoulder joint. Radiographs of the shoulder showed mineralisation of this mass. Exploratory surgery revealed a tumour involving the radial nerve, axillary nerve and the trunk of the median and ulnar nerves. Histopathologic diagnosis was a malignant Schwannoma.