Determination of Water (Moisture) and Dry Matter in Animal Feed, Grain, and Forage (Plant Tissue) by Karl Fischer Titration: Collaborative Study

A Karl Fischer method for determining water (dry matter) in animal feed and forages was collaboratively studied. Water was extracted from animal feed or forage material into methanol–formamide (1 + 1) directly in the Karl Fischer titration vessel by high-speed homogenization. The water was titrated at 50°C with one-component Karl Fischer reagent based on imidazole. Ten blind samples were sent to 9 collaborators in the United States, Canada, and Germany. The within-laboratory relative standard deviation (repeatability) ranged from 1.14 to 6.99% for water or from 0.09 to 0.56% for dry matter. Among-laboratory (including within-) relative standard deviation (reproducibility) ranged from 5.35 to 10.73%, or from 0.44 to 0.77% for dry matter. The authors recommend that the method be adopted as Official First Action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. A comparable alternative extraction procedure using boiling methanol is also recommended for Official First Action.

The management of lower-extremity ulcers with zinc-saline wet dressings versus normal saline wet dressings

Zinc-saline wet dressings were compared to normal-saline wet dressings for the management of lower extremity ulcers in a pilot study of 28 elderly patients. Although both study groups were comparable at baseline, the data suggest that the use of zinc-saline wet dressings creates a wound environment that is associated with trends toward faster healing and enhanced rates of epithelialization, as well as significantly more efficient wound management than the normal-saline controls. These data are presented in light of the requirement for maintaining a moist, acidic environment within a wound in order to permit the best possible healing and remodeling.