Novel genetic polymorphisms associated with carcass traits in grazing Texel sheep

Improving meat production traits has increased its importance in sheep breeding. We report novel associations of SNP present in genes related to lipid metabolism and growth with several carcass traits in purebred Texel lambs. Expected progeny differences (EPD) predictions from 461 animals from the Central Progeny Testing of Texel breed in Uruguay were used for the association analysis. Live weights at different stages, ultrasound and post-mortem traits were analyzed. Markers in several genes were associated with growth, carcass and meat quality traits. Among others: PPARGC1A with valuable cuts weight, hot carcass weight and carcass fatness; DGAT1 with live weights, fat thickness, rib-eye area and shoulder weight; CAST with birth weight and fat thickness; GHR with birth weight and carcass fatness, and GHRHR with live weights and fat thickness. Genotypic effects ranged from 0.035 to 0.923 (DGAT1 vs. weaning weight) units of phenotypic SD. Most of the associations described are novel in sheep breeding, deserving further analyses.

Animal welfare and meat quality: the perspective of Uruguay, a "small" exporter country

Public sensitivity towards animal welfare has risen in recent years. Uruguay is a primary meat exporter. Therefore, it is compulsory not only to provide good quality and safe meat, but also to project a welfare friendly image. Uruguayan meat production systems are mainly based on rangeland pastures but, due to international meat prices and the opening of new markets, intensive fattening systems increased. These systems include a wide range of feeding alternatives between pasture and concentrate utilization, involving differences in terms of animal welfare, carcass and meat quality, that require to be studied. Accordingly, some husbandry practices associated mainly with extensive systems must be evaluated, as well as their applicability to international recommendations related to pre-slaughter handling which may not be suitable for local conditions. In the present paper we share scientific results related to the impact of different production systems, husbandry practices and pre-slaughter procedures associated to animal welfare and meat quality in Uruguayan conditions.

Evaluación de panel SNP en genes candidatos de vías metabólicas para carne en Hereford

Se realizó una validación preliminar de un panel de marcadores SNP seleccionados de genes candidatos, relacionados al eje endócrino que regulan la hormona de crecimiento GH/IGF1, y a la formación y desaturación de ácidos grasos SCD/SREBP1, con características de composición de canal, calidad de carne y perfil de ácidos grasos de la grasa intramuscular en novillos Hereford sometidos a diferentes tratamientos de alimentación durante la etapa de recría y engorde intensivo. Se ajustaron las variables por el efecto de los 8 tratamientos nutricionales y se calcularon los valores residuales para los análisis de asociación con los marcadores SNP. Se determinó un total de 11 696 genotipos de 237 novillos utilizando un panel de 58 tag-SNP en los genes GHR, IGF1, IGFBP6, PMCH, SOCS2, STAT6, SCD1, SCD5, SREBP1, SCAP, INSIG1, INSIG2, MBTPS1, MBTPS2 y SRPR, de los cuales se encontraron 11 SNP polimórficos que estuvieron asociados signifi-cativamente: GHR_ rs41639262 sobre EGSu y MARBL; IGF1_ rs136251088 sobre PCC, PCE y PISTOLA; PMCH_ rs135033882 sobre OMEGA36; SOCS2_ ss252841026 sobre Terneza2d; STAT6_ rs109171041 sobre Terneza2d; STAT6_ rs110097583 sobre Terneza2d; INSIG1_ rs109314460 sobre Terneza21d; INSIG1_ ss252452220 sobre OMEGA36; SCD5_ ss252452202 sobre PUFA y Terneza2d; SCD5_ rs43687655 sobre EGSu y OMEGA36; SRPR_ rs42178091 sobre GRASAINTR, SFA, MUFA, PCC, PCE y PISTOLA. Estudios adicionales podrían confirmar estos efectos, posibilitando mejorar la calidad de la canal y de la carne, de animales sometidos a diferentes tratamientos de alimentación a través de la selección.

Sustainable sheep production and consumer preference trends: compatibilities, contradictions, and unresolved dilemmas

There are increasing concerns of society towards the consumption of animal products which have been produced and transformed in a sustainable manner. This trend influences consumer purchasing decision making, particularly in developed countries. On the other hand, in the next years, the pressure to increase the volume and efficiency of meat production will be much higher to cope with the expected unsatisfied demand. At least in part, current and future technologies could contribute to solve this challenge. However, the use of some of these innovations could have a negative effect on consumer preferences. There is no consensus in our society about this dilemma. The objective of this paper is to review the scientific evidence related to these topics and to analyze and discuss the effect of some of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors linked with the sheep industry which could affect the acceptability of lamb meat by consumers.

Finishing diet, temperament and lairage time effects on carcass and meat quality traits in steers

Sixty Hereford (H) and Braford (B: 3/8 Zebu and 5/8 H) steers were finished on: D1) rangeland plus corn grain (1% of live weight) (H n=15, B n=15); and D2) high quality pasture (H n=15, B n=15) to study the effect of diet, temperament and lairage time on carcass and meat quality. Steers were slaughtered the same day in two groups, spending 15 and 3h in pens, respectively (50% from D1, 50% from D2 in each group). Animals from D1 had better carcass performance without effect of the diet on meat quality. Regardless of breed, calmer steers showed higher average daily gain and lower shear force values. Carcasses from animals in the long lairage group had a better rate of pH decline and more tender meat, suggesting that more than 3h preslaughter time should be necessary to rest and recover, mainly depending on lairage conditions.

Determination of inorganic bromide content in several vegetable foods

The phenol red spectrophotometric method has been studied and applied as an inexpensive screening method for the determination of bromide in vegetables samples. The concentration of bromide ranged from 3.65 to 14.42 mg kg(-1) in capsicum, 4.50 to 9.30 mg kg(-1) in potatoes, and 3.63 to 19.02 mg kg(-1) in fungi. The content of inorganic bromide in the studied vegetables was found to be below the maximum concentration of residues established by Spanish legislation (20 mg kg(-1)).

Classification of some heat-treated liver pastes according to container type, using heavy metals content and manufacturer's data, by principal components analysis and potential curves

A total of 115 pork liver pastes were randomly collected in local markets from different brands, countries and containers. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Co and Zn), determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and some qualitative variables described on the labelling constituted the data set. Chemometrics analysis was performed combining principal components analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA) and typical classification techniques, such as linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and potential curves (PoCu) to classify pork liver pastes. Origin of the sample, manufacturer and effect of manufacturing process were taken into account to verify traceability, which is an important issue in food safety policies.

Correlation of heavy metal concentrations with various factors in canned liver paste products using multivariate statistical strategies

The content of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb were determined in 496 samples of heat-treated canned liver pastes by atomic absorption spectrometry. Canned samples were classified according to the presence or absence of coated varnish on the inner side of the can. For each sample, two subsamples were taken: one from the area in contact with the side of the can, the other from the center of the container. Univariate (correlation, box and whisker) and multivariate (quality control charts, principal component analysis, and factor analysis) statistical techniques were applied to detect the presence of outliers and for exploratory data analysis. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the subsamples considered, presence or absence of coated varnish, the sampling areas, or countries of origin. The multivariate analysis allows for the interpretation of grouping tendencies in samples. Cr, Ni, and Pb were associated with presence or absence of oxide in the can, and the essential metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Co) were associated with the kind of can. The samples tended to differentiate according to the type of container.

[Optimization of formulations for dietetic pastry products]

Optimized formulations of dietetic pastry products such as cake and sponge cake premixes were formulated using the surface response methodology. % Emulsifier agent and baking time were the selected independent variables for cake, as well as % emulsifier agent % chlorinated flour the variables selected for sponge cake. Three different level of each variable summing up thirteen experimental formulae of each product were assessed to optimize the variables that could have some influence in the sensory characteristics of these dietetic products. The total sensory quality was determined for both dietetic products using the composite scoring test and a panel of 18 trained judges. Looking at the contour graphic and considering economic aspects the best combination of variables for cake formulation was 2% emulsifier agent and 48 minutes for baking time, With respect to sponge cake, the best combination was 6% emulsifier agent and 48% chlorinated flour. Shelf life studies showed that both dietetic formulations remained stable during storage conditions of 75 days at 30 degrees C. During this period, significant differences in sensory characteristics were not found (p < 0.05). Data of peroxide values were kept under the critical value reported for detection of organoleptic rancidity. Reported values of hedonic test showed that these dietetics pastry products had good acceptability, and open up marketing opportunities for new products with potential health benefits to consumers.

Acarbose vs. bedtime NPH insulin in the treatment of secondary failures to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of acarbose in the treatment of secondary failures to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy, its comparison against bedtime NPH insulin, and to measure the changes in postprandial metabolism resulting from both treatments.

METHODS

One hundred type 2 diabetic patients in a secondary failure were included. The study begun with a run-in diet period of 6 weeks, in which an isocaloric diet was prescribed. Only subjects who continued hyperglycaemic were randomly assigned to placebo and acarbose (n = 17) or bedtime NPH insulin (n = 12). Acarbose (300 mg/day) or placebo were administered using a randomized, double blind, crossover design. Treatment periods of 3 months were separated by a 3-week washout period. Insulin was administered during 3 months. At the beginning and the end of each treatment period, an i.v. glucose tolerance test and a meal test were performed. Safety tests were done every 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Acarbose resulted in a small but significant improvement in fasting plasma glucose (13.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 11.3 +/- 3.9 mmol/l, p = 0.05), HbA1c (11.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 10.3 +/- 2.5%, P = 0.3) and in a decreased plasma glucose during the meal test. Bedtime insulin significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (13.1 +/- 2.9 vs. 8.2 +/- 2.3 mmol/l, p < 0.01), HbA1c (11.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 9.4 +/- 2.7%, p < 0.01) and plasma cholesterol. No change in insulin secretion resulted from insulin and acarbose treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Acarbose decreases blood glucose in secondary failure to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy; however, the decrease is not enough to reach the desired metabolic control. Bedtime NPH insulin is, by far, a more effective alternative.

Vasorelaxant effect of the analgesic clonixin on rat aorta

1. A novel vasorelaxant effect of clonixinate of L-lysine (Clx), analgesic and anti-inflammatory, was studied in rat aortic rings. 2. Clx completely relaxed aortic rings contracted by KCl 70 mM and together with its analog flunixin exhibited lesser potency but equal efficacy than verapamil. In comparison, indomethacin, which is a more potent cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor relaxed only about 40% of the maximal contraction of aortic rings. 3. Furthermore, Clx antagonized Ca2+ dependent aortic contraction and BAY K-8644 induced aortic contraction suggesting its calcium antagonist character. 4. From these results it can be concluded that the hypotensive effect seen in rats in vivo after Clx i.v. injection arises because of vasodilatory effect of Clx and gives further support to the proposal that the pharmacological mechanism of action of Clx should be calcium antagonism.

[Influence of age on the morbidity and mortality in coronary artery surgery]

To study the effects of age on the results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 250 patients operated on from 1986 to 1989 were divided into two groups: 1) less than 65 years of age and 2) older than 65. Pre, intra and postoperative data collected in all patients included: sex, type and class of angina, associated diseases, previous myocardial infarction, previous CABG, left ventricular aneurysm, bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, number of grafts per patient, need for prolonged inotropic support, postoperative complications, and mortality. A large number of elderly patients had unstable angina (20.3% vs 6.2%), post-infarction angina (10.1% vs 7.8%), angina at rest (10.1% vs 3.6%), peripheral vascular disease (8.4% vs 2.6%), required prolonged inotropic support (18.6% vs 3.1%), had major neurological complications (8.4% vs 0.1%) and perioperative myocardial infarction (5.0% vs 0.5%). Overall mortality was 3.6% but mortality rates were significantly higher in elderly patients (11.8% vs 1.0%). These data suggest that elderly patients have an increased risk of cardiac and neurologic morbidity and mortality. It appear that the increased morbidity and mortality is related to an increased susceptibility of the elderly to serious postoperative complications.

Variations in serum lipids and lipoproteins throughout the menstrual cycle

One hundred fourteen women of reproductive age were included in a cross-sectional study with the aim of establishing the variations in serum lipids and lipoproteins during the menstrual cycle. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids were determined in whole serum and in the following lipoprotein fractions: very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins, obtained by ultracentrifugation. A significant decrease was found in total cholesterol (P less than 0.05) and phospholipids (P less than 0.01) during the late luteal phase. The LDL cholesterol decreased during the luteal phase and VLDL cholesterol increased in the early and midluteal phases. The LDL phospholipids and VLDL triglycerides also showed a significant decrease during the luteal phase (P less than 0.01). The results of this investigation demonstrate major fluctuation in cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid-lipoprotein composition during the menstrual cycle.