Effects of electrical stimulation on meat quality of bison striploin steaks and ground patties

As bison is characteristically dark in colour, this study was conducted to determine if high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) could improve the colour and other quality characteristics in bison, similar to positive effects of HVES previously observed in beef. Forty bison bull carcasses were split and HVES (400 V peak, 5 ms pulses at 15 pulses s−1 for 30 s) was applied to the right sides and subsequently evaluated for grade characteristics, metabolic activity, and quality characteristics. The bison carcasses used in this study had a wide range of lean and fat, with minimal marbling. In the present study, HVES had no effect on bison quality traits, sensory attributes, retail display characteristics, nor the glycolytic metabolites (P > 0.05) except lactate. Inherent differences in muscle fibre type or physical carcass differences may have influenced the response to the electrical parameters used in the present study and merits further investigation.

Association between circulating adipokines, radiographic changes, and knee cartilage volume in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES

To explore the associations between serum adipokine levels, radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) severity, and articular cartilage volume in patients with knee OA.

METHOD

A cross-sectional sample of 205 patients (aged 45-74 years) with knee OA were consecutively recruited to the Anhui Osteoarthritis (AHOA) study. ROA was assessed using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system (grades 0-4). Knee cartilage volume was determined using fat-saturated T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Serum levels of the adipokines leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Serum adiponectin, but not serum leptin or resitin, was significantly associated with reduced ROA severity in univariable analyses and this association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and disease duration [β = -0.012, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.021 to -0.002]. In ROA patients, leptin was significantly and positively associated with knee cartilage volume at patellar and medial tibial sites in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (β = 0.006, 95% CI 0.02-0.010 for medial tibia and β = 0.009, 95% CI 0.001-0.018 for patella sites) but adiponectin and resistin had no significant associations with cartilage volume. In non-ROA patients, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were not significantly associated with cartilage volume at any site.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum levels of leptin are independently associated with increased knee cartilage volume. In addition, serum adiponectin is significantly and negatively associated with ROA severity, suggesting a potentially protective effect.

Functional and association studies of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene in a Wannan Black pig model

Some polymorphisms of the human CETP gene are causally and significantly associated with serum lipids levels; however, the information regarding this gene in pigs is sparse. To evaluate the effects of CETP on blood lipid traits and fat deposition in pig, porcine CETP tissue expression patterns were observed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) first. High expression was detected in liver, spleen, gluteus medius (GM) muscle and backfat. A de novo polymorphism (AF333037:g.795C>T) in the intron 1 region of porcine CETP was identified. This polymorphism was further genotyped by direct sequencing of the PCR products of 390 Wannan Black pigs, a Chinese native breed population. Association analyses at 45 and 300 days of age revealed highly significant associations between CETP genotypes and serum lipid traits. Furthermore, this polymorphism was proved to be associated with differences in liver CETP mRNA levels: pigs at 300 days of age with the TT genotype had higher levels than did those with other genotypes (P = 0.021). Additionally, analysis at 300 days of age showed that GM CETP mRNA expression correlated positively with serum lipids levels as well as with carcass backfat thickness and intramuscular fat content in GM. These results indicate that CETP is involved in serum, adipose and muscle lipid metabolism in pigs. The mechanisms underlying such relationships and their functional implications are worthy of further research.

Association of patellar bone marrow lesions with knee pain, patellar cartilage defect and patellar cartilage volume loss in older adults: a cohort study

AIM

To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of patellar bone marrow lesion (BMLs) with knee pain, cartilage defects and cartilage volume in older adults.

METHODS

A total of 904 randomly selected subjects (mean 62.4 years, 49.9% female) were studied. Fat suppressed T1-weighted spoiled gradient recall and T2-weighted fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were used to assess cartilage volume, cartilage defects and/or BMLs at baseline (n = 904) and 2.6 (range: 1.4-4.8) years' follow-up (n = 414). Knee pain was assessed by self-administered Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire at baseline (n = 904) and follow-up (n = 790).

RESULTS

The prevalence of any patellar BMLs was 19% and was higher in those with tibiofemoral BMLs. In multivariable analyses, patellar BMLs were positively associated with any knee pain at baseline and an increase in knee pain when going up/down stairs (odds ratio (OR): 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 2.59) but not with other knee pain subscales. Patella BMLs were also associated with patellar cartilage defects both at baseline and change over time (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.00, 3.70) but not tibiofemoral defects. Patellar BMLs were negatively associated with baseline and change in patella cartilage volume (β: -2.10%, 95% CI: -3.39%, -0.80%). These associations remained significant after further adjustment for tibiofemoral BMLs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patellar BMLs were consistently associated with increased knee pain especially going up/down stairs, increased patellar cartilage defects, and decreased patellar cartilage volume cross-sectionally and longitudinally, suggesting a predominantly compartment specific role for patellar BMLs.

Association between DEFB103 gene copy number variation and ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study

In this brief communication, we investigate the role of DEFB103 gene copy number variation (CNV) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility. A total of 807 Chinese individuals including 406 AS patients and 401 controls were enrolled. The DEFB103 copy number was measured by two sets of probes to obtain a stable result in a custom-by-design Multiplex AccuCopy(™) kit (Genesky Biotechnologies Inc., Shanghai, China) based on a multiplex fluorescence competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) principle. The copy number of DEFB103 ranged from 2 to 6 in both AS patients and controls. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test were performed to analyze the difference of DEFB103 copy number between AS patients and controls while no statistical difference has been found. We considered the copy number of DEFB103 gene may not associate with susceptibility to AS.

Correlation between the BRAF V600E mutation status and the clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma

This study sought to investigate the correlations of V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) gene mutations with the clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and central lymph node metastasis. We retrospectively analyzed the 2-year medical records of patients who underwent surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. After screening, the records of 126 patients who met the study requirements were used to assess the characteristics associated with the BRAF V600E gene mutation. The BRAF mutation incidence rate among patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma was 69.0% (87/126). Univariate analysis revealed that the BRAF mutation status was correlated significantly with both tumor size and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant correlation between lymph node metastasis and BRAF mutation status (P < 0.05). When the tumor diameter was ≤10 mm, the BRAF mutation status had no effect on lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). When the tumor diameter was >10 mm, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher among BRAF mutation-positive patients than among BRAF mutation-negative patients (P < 0.05). BRAF gene mutations independently predicted central lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. For patients preoperatively diagnosed to be BRAF mutation-positive, the importance of central lymph node dissection should be emphasized because the tumor diameter increases; regional lymphatic and adipose tissue dissection should be routinely conducted. However, in mutation-negative patients with tumor diameters of ≤5 mm, the need for central lymph node dissection should be re-examined.

The status of research into resistance to diet-induced obesity

Obesity resistance is an increasingly popular area of study in academia, although the factors that lead to the occurrence of obesity resistance remain unclear. In this review, we discuss the currently known causes of obesity resistance. By comparing the differences between obesity-resistant individuals and obesity-susceptible individuals, researchers have identified the characteristics of obesity-resistant individuals. The primary approach has been to breed rats and mice with a high-fat diet and to compare the differences between obesity-resistant and obesity-susceptible individuals. The characterized differences have included gastrointestinal fat absorption, appetite, physical activity, fat storage, and fat consumption. Considerably more research is needed into the mechanisms of obesity resistance that could be used to lose weight among human subjects. However, there are few ongoing obesity resistance studies. Due to the relatively slow rate of development in this field, greater efforts must be applied in this area.