Prediction of pork quality using visible/near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a rapid screening technique that may be used to determine meat quality traits. While several calibrations on meat quality parameters have been published, the accuracy and robustness of a calibration has rarely been validated with independent samples. In this study, in 207 loin muscles from three independent batches of pigs of different breeds drip loss, colour values, pH and intramuscular fat were determined. Calibrations were made from each combination of two batches and validated with the third batch. Validations of pH, intramuscular fat, drip loss, and L(∗), a(∗), and b(∗) colour values had on average 1.27 times the accuracy of the calibration. Breed did not influence the accuracy of the calibration. Intramuscular fat can be determined with good accuracy. Muscle pH and colour values are reasonably well predicted. Drip loss can not be determined quantitatively with sufficient accuracy, but classification of quality groups is possible.

Quantification of calpastatin using an optical surface plasmon resonance biosensor.

An immunological biosensor for calpastatin was developed on a surface plasmon resonance based system (Biacore Q). The performance of the biosensor assay was evaluated using ovine and bovine muscle and heart extracts with known calpastatin activity. In addition, the relationship between immunologically detectable calpastatin at 1 day postmortem and shear force at 14 days postmortem was investigated for bovine longissimus dorsi. Calpastatin biosensor results for several experiments were linearly related to calpastatin activity measurements with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.99. The intra- and inter-assay CVs were <6% (n=12). During postmortem storage, the amount of immunologically detectable calpastatin decreased faster than the inhibitory activity in the enzymatic assay. Probably, the epitope recognized by the antibody is degraded faster than the inhibitory sites of calpastatin during postmortem storage. Calpastatin content at 1 day postmortem was correlated to shear force at 14 days postmortem (r=0.75). It is anticipated that developments in the near future will allow for at-line calpastatin determinations in beef plants. At present, the calpastatin biosensor assay appears suitable for research purposes where large numbers of samples need to be processed for breed evaluation or selection programs because this assay requires less labor than other methods.

Short-term feeding strategies and pork quality.

Two experiments were done to determine whether short-term supplementation (5 days pre-slaughter) with magnesium acetate, or a combination of magnesium acetate, tryptophan, vitamin E and vitamin C would improve pork quality. In the first experiment the pigs (Pietrain×Yorkshire, n=96) were fed a standard feed or a magnesium supplemented feed for 5 days prior to slaughter. As a possible stress factor half of the animals were slaughtered upon arrival at the slaughterplant whereas the remaining animals were allowed two hours of rest in lairage before slaughter. Magnesium supplementation did not result in an increase in plasma magnesium concentration at slaughter. Omission of lairage resulted in higher plasma glucose concentrations, but plasma lactate concentrations were not affected. Drip loss and ultimate pH were not affected by diet or omission of lairage. Omission of lairage resulted in poorer color characteristics. This effect was prevented by supplementation with magnesium. In the second experiment the pigs (Pietrain×Yorkshire, n=92) were fed a standard feed or this standard feed supplemented with magnesium acetate, tryptophan, vitamin E and vitamin C for 5 days prior to slaughter. Supplementation with vitamin E did not increase muscle vitamin E concentration. Inclusion of supplements in the diet failed to improve water-holding capacity or color characteristics. These results indicate that short-term supplementation with magnesium acetate, tryptophan, vitamin E and vitamin C is of little value in improving pork quality when pigs are not stressed beyond levels associated with routine slaughter procedures.

Growth performance and health status in weanling piglets fed spray-dried porcine plasma under typical Northern European conditions.

The effect of inclusion of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in diets for weanling piglets was studied. The objectives were to determine whether SDPP would have positive effects on post-weaning piglet performance and health under typical Northern European conditions. In experiment 1, 160 weanling piglets were assigned randomly to a control diet or a diet containing 3% SDPP, which was added at the expense of both fishmeal and dried skim milk. In experiment 2, 264 weanling piglets were assigned to a control diet containing whey protein, a diet without whey protein but with SDPP or a diet containing both whey protein and SDPP. In essence, SDPP was added to the test diets at the expense of either whey protein or fishmeal. Piglets were fed the diets for 3 weeks. In experiment 1, the piglets fed the SDPP diet had a 7% higher average daily gain (ADG) and a 4% lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) during the first 3 weeks after weaning than did those fed the control diet. There were no differences in leucocyte counts or gamma-globulin. In experiment 2 there were no significant differences in ADG and FCR among the dietary treatments. It is concluded that low amounts of SDPP in weanling diets can have positive effects on growth performance under Northern European conditions.

Effect of hammer mill screen size and addition of fibre or S-methylmethionine-sulphonium chloride to the diet on the occurrence of oesophagogastric lesions in fattening pigs.

Four groups of about 86 pigs from a common source were fed a grower diet from 25 kg to 45 kg liveweight, and then from 45 to 107 kg liveweight they were offered one of four diets ad libitum: A) normal commercial feed, ground through a 3 mm screen (the control diet), B) the same diet ground through a 6 mm screen, C) the control diet to which lucerne meal was added before the diet was ground to increase its crude fibre content, and D) the control diet to which was added 400 ppm S-methylmethionine-sulphonium chloride (MMSC). All the diets were pelleted. Approximately 21 per cent of the animals fed the control diet had severe oesophagogastric erosions and/or ulcers after slaughter. The addition of 400 ppm MMSC decreased (P = 0.066) the proportion of severe oesophagogastric erosions and/or ulcers by about 50 per cent compared with the control diet. The diet with the higher crude fibre content (but finely ground) did not have a significant effect on the proportion of severe oesophagogastric erosions and/or ulcers. There was a tendency for the pigs fed the diet ground through a 6 mm screen instead of a 3 mm screen, to have fewer severe oesophagogastric erosions and/or ulcers. However, there were only small differences between the particle size distribution obtained from the wet sieve analysis of the two diets. As a result, the observed tendency for a decrease in the proportion of severe oesophagogastric erosions and/or ulcers in pigs fed the diet milled through the larger screen size was of questionable significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The distinction of elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels in amniotic fluids for antenatal diagnosis of genetic defects]. / Zur Differenzierung erhöhter Alpha-Fetoproteinwerte im Fruchtwasser bei pränataler Diagnostik genetischer Defekte.

Among 1017 amniotic fluid samples of 831 patients were 110 cases (10,8%) cases with sanguivolent amniotic fluid in the first portion and a second clear specimen. Contrary to the trend to analyse only the second clear share, we tested both samples. 110 pregnancies are analysed. The abortion risk (1,8%) in this group and the rate of prematurity (8,1%) are not increased. Retrospectively we were able to demonstrate a fetus injury in one case. The different analysis enable us to a conclusion about the fetal risk.

[Cause for increased alpha-fetoprotein values in amniotic fluid in prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects (author's transl)]. / Ursache erhöhter Alpha-Fetoproteinwerte im Fruchtwassser bei der pränatalen Diagnostik genetischer Defekte.

Alpha-fetoprotein measurement was undertaken in 1,582 instances, with 957 tests being applied to 776 patients for prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects, against the background of various indications - increased alpha-fetoprotein levels were recorded from the amniotic fluid of 24 patients (3.1 per cent). Values were defined as being increased, when they had exceeded threefold standard deviation from normal mean values. The causes underlying increased alpha-fetoprotein levels included six cases of anencephalia, one case of Turner's syndrome, one omphalocele, one intra-uterine foetal death, and one puncturing injury to a foetus. No foetal malformation or other foetal disorder, known to be accompanied by increased alpha-fetoprotein values, was recordable from 14 patients. Displacement of the pathological limit value to data five times the standard deviation reduced the number of erroneously positive findings to 0.8 per cent. Possibilities are discussed for differential of increased alpha-fetoprotein values. The proposal is made to respond to increased alpha-fetoprotein levels by another intensive ultrasonic B-scan test, control puncture, and, in certain cases, amniofetography.

[Comparison between clinical information capability of increased alpha-fetoprotein values in amniotic fluid and in maternal serum (author's transl)]. / Vergleich der klinischen Aussagefähigkeit erhöhter Alpha-Fetoproteinwerte im Fruchtwasser und im mütterlichen Serum.

Tests were applied to 118 out of 1,534 patients in a programme for alpha-fetoprotein analysis to compare values recorded from amniotic fluid with those obtained from maternal serum. The tests were part of a prenatal diagnosis scheme by which to rule genetic defects. Six clearly increased alpha-fetoprotein values which were indicators to malformations and admixture of fetal blood were recorded from amniotic fluid by means of Mancini's technique. No falsely negative findings were recordable. Only two values were increased in maternal serum, among them one falsely positive result with no malformation at all. The conclusion drawn from the above findings is that in the context of prenatal diagnosis of malformation the most reliable values are obtainable from determination of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid. Maternal serum tests may be recommended for screening for neural tube defects, with due reference to be made to upper limit values.

[Risks in amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects]. / Risiko der Amniozentese in der pränatalen Diagnostik genetischer Defekte.

In 139 patients for prenatal diagnosis 186 amniocenteses were required. The repetiion of amniocentesis followed in 12.3% due to failure of cell growth, in 1.1% due to failure to obtain fluid, and in 10.2% to performe the fetography. In 3 pregnant women 2 repetitions were indicated. Although the amniocentesis were performed without ultrasound, in 92% the first insertion of needle were already succeeded in obtaining fluid. In repeated amniocenteses no significant differences were found. Brownish fluid were observed in 4.7% of the first amniocentesis. With 24.4% it was significantly more frequent in the repeated amniocenteses. Bloody taps appeared in each fifth puncture, but only in 2.8% blood fluid were also withdrawed for cell culture. 82.9% of the first amniocentesis followed between 16 and 19 week's gestational age and the result was present after 20.3 days on an average. The abortion rate was 4.3%. Among the newborns one hydrocephalus with questionable needle mark, one microcephalus and one further child with questionable needle mark were found. In one duodenal atresia and in one achondroplasia an inconclusive result was obtained. Two erroneous diagnoses of sex occurred and no diagnosis was obtained in two women.

[Course of pregnancy and labor after prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects and abnormalities]. / Schwangerschaftsverlauf und Geburt nach pränataler Diagnostik genetischer Defekte und Missbildungen.

138 patients were referred to us to prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects. Only in 120 patients the diagnostic procedures could also be carried out. In 75% the amniocentesis was performed to establish the amnion cell culture and in 22.5% for analysis of alphafetoprotein and for performance of fetography. In 4.2% a genetic indication for interruption was found by the prenatal diagnosis. Among the 61 terminated pregnancies a premature delivery occurred in 13.1%. The operating frequency of delivery was 16.2% and the perinatal mortality was 1.6%.

[Alpha 1 fetoproteins determination in the amniotic fluid -- a method for prenatal diagnosis]. / alpha1-Fetoproteinbestimmung im Fruchtwasser -- eine Methode der pränatalen Diagnostik

It is reported on the evaluation of alpha1-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid by means of single radial immundiffusion method. Our results are compared with those in the literature. The importance of this method is discussed for antenatal diagnosis of spina bifida and anencephaly.

[Genetic aspects in anencephalus]. / Genetische Aspekte beim Anenzephalus

According to one case of repeated anencephalic pregnancy the etiology of anencephaly has been discussed. The possibilities of prevention of repeated anencephalic pregnancies are described. To determine the alpha-I-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid and the ultrasonic diagnosis are most important in risk pregnancies. The significance of genetic counselling and examination in definitive risk population is advised.

[Genetic counseling in progressive muscular dystrophy]. / Genetische Beratung bei progressiven Muskeldystrophien

PIP: Problems of genetic counseling in connection with Duchenne progressi ve muscular dystrophy are discussed. The disorder is transmitted by a sex-linked recessive mechanism; thus, it rarely appears in women, although it is transmitted from mother to son. Sons of a carrier mother have a 50% chance of receiving the pathological chromosome (and manifesting the disorder clinically), while daughters have a 50% chance of being carriers themselves. Carriers may be identified from studies of family trees and by elevated creatine phosphokinase levels. In the case of a carrier who desires children, amniocentesis and termination of pregnancy in the case of a male fetus is the only possibility for preventing the birth of a boy with the disorder. Prospective parents must be informed of the risk as well as of the means of prevention.^ieng