Chemical composition, nutritional evaluation, and economic prospects ofSpondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae)

The fruits of “ovo” (Spondias purpurea L) had the highest caloric density of the fruits compared, 74 kcal/100 g edible portion versus 39 to 58 kcal/100 g for peach, apricot, plum, mango, and cherry. This higher caloric density is due principally to ovo's higher concentration of total carbohydrates (19.1%); fructose, glucose, and sucrose together account for 65% of the soluble matter. Unlike the other fruits, ovo retains a fair amount of starch in the mesocarp. It is a moderate source of potassium (250 mgl 100 g edible portion) and an excellent source of vitamin C (49 mg/l00 g edible portion). Analysis of volatile flavor compounds showed 2-hexenal to be the main flavor compound present. Although there is a local market for ovo in Ecuador, large scale exportation of the fresh fruit currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to prolong shelf life, while the current production of ovo is insufficient for large scale industrial processing of the fruit. In the near future, the best alternative to maximize the income of the small holders producing ovo is for them to concentrate on producing “value added products” such as jams, ice creams, alcoholic beverages, and vinegars.     

Chemico-nutritional composition of meat of Strombus galeatus (Mesogastropoda: Strombidae)]

Strombus galeatus samples were collected in Lagarto (10 degrees 06'N,85 degrees 48'W), Bahía Ballena (9 degrees 42'N,85 degrees 01'W) and Golfito (8 degrees 30'N,83 degrees 10'W) at the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Individual weight ranged between 141.9 and 241.3 g (41.3-65.6% edible). Over 72% is water, 23% protein and 3% ash. The caloric content varied between 126.5 and 129 kcal/100g. Fat, crude fiber and carbohydrates contents were small. Mean ranges (%) in minerals were: 403.0-465 P, 233.5-315.7 Ca, 89.7-315.0 K, 122.3-145.5 Na, 217.5-266.3 Mg, 1.5-5.3 Fe, 2.0-8.7 Zn and 0.2-0.5 mg % Cu. As was not detected, and the Cd and Pb contents were 0.046-0.062 and 0.19-0.21 mg/kg, respectively. Concentrations of heavy metals in the meat are not toxic for humans.     

Effects of germination on chemical composition and functional properties of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds

The changes of chemical composition and functional properties of derooted sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds (DSS) before, during, and after germination were investigated. Sesame seeds germinated in dark chambers maintained near 100% relative humidity at 35 degrees C without presoaking reached >99% germination rate in 4 days with the final moisture content stayed ca. 2% (w/w), characterizing sesame seeds as orthodox seeds that are suitable for long term storage at low temperature and humidity under defined environment. With noticeable reduction in fat content (23%), germinated DSS were found rich in linolenic acid, P, and Na, increasing from 0.38% (w/w), 445 mg/100 g, and 7.6 mg/100 g before germination to 0.81% (w/w), 472 mg/100 g, and 8.4 mg/100 g after germination, respectively. DSS after germination contained considerable amount of Ca (462 mg/100 g), higher than that of soybean. Germinated DSS presents an excellent source of sesamol (475 mg/100 g), a potent natural antioxidant, and alpha-tocopherol (32 mg/100 g), the most active form of vitamin E.     

Effects on ewe reproduction of grazing willow fodder blocks during drought

A grazing experiment was conducted in the summer/autumn of 2003 to determine the effect of grazing on willow fodder blocks at 6000 stems/ha during mating, relative to control ewes grazed on drought pasture, upon ewe production and reproduction. The fodder blocks contained a mixture of herbage and small trees. Grazing occurred over 10 weeks, from 19 February including three cycles of mating, with four groups of 100 ewes, comprising short drought pasture typical of drought pasture, long drought pasture typical of the pasture growing in the willow fodder blocks, short drought pasture with restricted access to willow fodder blocks (restricted access) and full access to willow fodder blocks (fenced on the willow fodder blocks all the time; full access). After mating, the four groups were joined and managed as one group until weaning in late November 2003. Ewe live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) change and reproductive rate at foetal ultra-sound scanning, lambing, docking and weaning were measured. Ewe wool production and staple length were measured at weaning. Short drought pasture had a pre-grazing mass of 1639 kg dry matter (DM)/ha with a dead matter content of 60%; typical of drought conditions. Herbage in the willow fodder blocks was similar to both control drought pastures (short and long) in nutritive value, with an organic matter digestibility (OMD) of 0.50. Tree yields were low in the fodder blocks, but they had higher concentrations of all secondary compounds, including 30 g condensed tannin (CT)/kg DM and OMD was higher, at 0.72. CT concentration was higher in the fodder block herbage than in short and long control drought pasture (5.0 g/kg versus 2.5 g/kg DM). Substantial LW loss occurred in the short control group (101 g/day), and reproductive rate was low, as would occur in severe drought conditions. Full access to fodder blocks lowered LW loss to 40 g/day and increased reproductive rate by approximately 20% units, with more ewes giving birth to twin lambs. Restricted access ewes had a low reproductive rate, similar to the short control group. Reproductive rate in full access treatment was slightly higher than in the long control group, despite similar calculated DM intakes in both groups. Calculated crude protein and CT intakes were higher for full access ewes than for any other groups, due to contributions from both the herbage and the trees; this may have increased the flow of undegradable dietary protein (UDP) to the small intestine and so have contributed to the increased fecundity of this group. Full access to willow fodder blocks proved beneficial in increasing ewe reproductive rate. However, both pasture and trees need to be managed as a tree/pasture system in order to produce herbage of higher nutritive value and more efficiently utilise willow fodder blocks as a supplementary feed.     

Maize supplementation of Pelibuey sheep in a silvopastoral system: fodder selection, nutrient intake and resilience against gastrointestinal nematodes

This trial evaluated the effect of maize supplementation on the ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and the resilience against gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection of hair sheep in a silvopastoral system containing tropical grasses and legume trees. In addition, it attempted to determine the metabolic cost of the natural GIN infection in supplemented and non-supplemented animals. Twenty-nine 3-month-old lambs (male and female), raised nematode free, were allocated to four groups: I-NS (infected, not supplemented, n = 8), I-S (infected, supplemented with maize at 1.5% live weight (LW), n = 7), T-NS (treated with moxidectin 0.2 mg/kg LW every 28 days, and not supplemented, n = 7) and T-S (treated with moxidectin and supplemented with maize at 1.5% LW, n = 7). During the 70-day trial, fodder intake, fodder selection, LW change (LWC), red blood cell counts (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht) and eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were measured every 14 days. Supplement consumption was recorded daily. Metabolizable energy (ME) and protein (MP) consumption from the feeds were estimated. Maize supplementation helped to improve the resilience of hair sheep lambs against GIN infections. The I-S and T-NS groups showed similar LWC, RBC, Hb and Ht (P > 0.05) and both were higher than those in the I-NS group (P < 0.05). No difference was found in EPG between the I-NS and the I-S groups (P > 0.05). No effect of sex was observed in the different variables. Although all groups showed low dry matter intake (DMI) (< 2% LW), supplemented groups (T-S and I-S) showed higher total DMI (fodder + maize; P < 0.05), hence higher ME and MP intakes than the non-supplemented groups (T-NS and I-NS). All groups showed similar fodder selection patterns. The estimated metabolic cost of parasitism was ME = 0.70 MJ/day and MP = 9.2 g/day in the I-S animals. Meanwhile, the cost in the I-NS animals was ME = 1.46 MJ/day and MP = 12.71 g/day. Maize supplementation was an economically viable strategy to control GIN compared with no intervention.     

Effects of grazing willow fodder blocks upon methane production and blood composition in young sheep

A 79-day rotational grazing experiment was conducted over the summer and autumn of 2007 to compare effects of grazing willow (Salix spp.) fodder blocks, a combination of small trees (i.e., 1.0 m) and herbage, or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) control pasture on breath methane (CH₄) emissions, concentrations and solubility of CH₄ and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer gas in blood, and haematology variables in young growing female sheep (i.e., hoggets). Measurements of gases in blood followed a double equilibration technique with two (n = 20) replicate per treatment. Ten ewe hoggets in each replicate were dosed on day 22 with intraruminal slow release SF₆ capsules, an inorganic tracer gas used to calculate CH₄ emissions. Breath samples were collected over 5-day periods in weeks 5 (period 1) and 11 (period 2). Total condensed tannin (CT) concentrations calculated in the diet selected by the willow fodder block sheep was 12 g CT kg/dry matter intake, with negligible amounts in control pasture hoggets. Compared to control pasture, grazing willow fodder blocks reduced CH₄ emission/kg metabolic body weight (BW^0.75) by 20% in period 1 (P<0.01), but not in period 2. Blood CH₄ concentrations (ng/mL blood) were similar for both groups on day 36, but higher (P<0.001) on day 76 for hoggets grazing willow fodder blocks, while a different trend was observed for SF₆ blood concentration being higher (P<0.01) on day 36 in hoggets grazing willow fodder blocks, but similar in both groups on day 76. Repeatability of blood CH₄ concentration was 75% in period versus 84% in period 2. Methane and SF₆ Ostwald solubility coefficients in blood were similar in both periods for sheep grazing willow fodder blocks and the control pasture. Hoggets grazing willow fodder blocks had lower BW gain (65 g/day), carcass weight (16.1 kg) and carcass fatness (9.2 mm) than hoggets grazing control pasture (102 g; 18.3 kg; 11 mm). Hoggets dosed with SF₆ capsules had lower (P<0.05) red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit concentrations when grazing either willow fodder blocks or control pasture, while neutrophil (P=0.063), platelet (P=0.073) and monocyte (P=0.072), white blood cell and total lymphocyte counts (P<0.05) were higher for willow fodder block-fed hoggets than those fed the control pasture. Differences in the reduction in CH₄ emission between periods from grazing willow fodder blocks may be due to more willow leaf being eaten during the CH₄ measurement period in period 1 than in period 2.     

Dairy ruminant exposure to persistent organic pollutants and excretion to milk

Human activities produce polluting compounds such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which may interact with agriculture. These molecules have raised concern about the risk of transfer through the food chain via the animal product. POPs are characterised by a strong persistence in the environment, a high volatility and a lipophilicity, which lead to their accumulation in fat tissues. These compounds are listed in international conventions to organise the information about their potential toxicity for humans and the environment. The aim of this paper is to synthesise current information on dairy ruminant exposure to POPs and the risk of their transfer to milk. Three major groups of POPs have been considered: the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), the polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results show that contamination of fodder and soil by these compounds is observed when they are exposed to emission sources (steelworks, cementworks, waste incinerators or motorways) compared with remote areas. In general, soil contamination is considered higher than plant contamination. Highest concentrations of POPs in soil may be close to 1000 ng/kg dry matter (DM) for PCDD/Fs, to 10 000 mg/kg DM for PAHs and 100 μg/kg DM for PCBs. The contamination of milk by POPs depends on environmental factors, factors related to the rearing system (fodder and potentially contaminated soil, stage of lactation, medical state of the herd) and of the characteristics of the contaminants. Transfer rates to milk have been established: for PCBs the rate of transfer varies from 5% to 90%, for PCDD/Fs from 1% to 40% and for PAHs from 0.5% to 8%. The differential transfer of the compounds towards milk is related to the hydrophobicity of the pollutants as well as to the metabolic susceptibility of the compounds.     

Feed intake and dietary composition of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), vitamin E,and tannic acid of five captive black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in a UK collection

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is a critically endangered species facing multiple anthropogenic pressures in its natural home range across Africa. Black rhinoceros are difficult to maintain ex situ and subject to diseases that are linked with captive dietary factors. Hemochromatosis is of particular concern, as it is a common finding at necropsy of captive adults, and has been linked to excessive dietary iron intake. This intake study investigates the select nutrient composition of the diets offered to and consumed by five captive black rhinoceros in a UK zoo to evaluate, ensure adequacy, and/or make adjustments if necessary. Alfalfa hay, pellets and six browse species offered were analyzed for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), vitamin E, and tannic acid content. Intakes were quantified and evaluated against levels found in wild diets and the currently available feeding guidelines for black rhinoceros. Diets eaten by five individual rhinoceros (1.4%–2.3% of bodyweight dry matter [DM] intake), comprising 68%–82% hay, 6%–13% pellets, and 13%–27% browse, contained 76–98 mg/kg Fe (on a DM basis), fell within the ranges of plants eaten by free‐ranging rhinoceros (45–140 mg/kg DM), as well as values recommended for captive‐fed browsing rhinoceros (50–100 mg/kg DM). Consumed diets were found to be marginal to adequate in Cu (9–11 mg/kg DM) compared with the recommended 10 mg/kg DM; dietary vitamin E ranged from 54 to 79 IU/kg DM, and tannic acid measured 13–14 g/kg DM. Commercial pellets were the primary contributor of dietary Fe, Cu, and vitamin E, containing up to 10 times more of each of those nutrients than the forages. Native browses were important sources of lower Fe ingredients, as well as appropriate levels of dietary Cu and vitamin E (dependent on species). Interestingly, pellets (23 g/kg) and alfalfa hay (14 g/kg) contained higher concentrations of tannic acid compared with any of the browses fed (4–13 g/kg). All nutritional parameters evaluated were close to recommended dietary levels, diets resembled values consumed in the wild, and the animals remained clinically healthy throughout the study. Overall, diets were considered nutritionally adequate for captive feeding of black rhinoceros; evaluating the nutrient composition of all ingredients, including browse plants in diets, provides important information for achieving optimal nutrient balance.     

Cellulolytic enzymes on lignocellulosic substrates in solid state fermentation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>

The production of cellulolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger on lignocellulosic substrates groundnut fodder, wheat bran, rice bran and sawdust in solid state fermentation in a laboratory scale was compared. Czapek Dox liquid broth amended with cellulose (0.5%) was used to moisten lignocellulosic solid supports for cultivation of Aspergillus niger. The production of filter paperase, carboxymethyl cellulase and -glucosidase were monitored at daily intervals for 5 days. The peak production of the enzymes occurred within 3 days of incubation. Among solid supports used in the study, wheat bran was the best solid matrix followed by groundnut fodder in production of cellulolytic enzymes in solid state fermentation. Groundnut fodder supported significant production of FPase (2.09 FPU/g), CMCase (1.36 U/g) and -glucosidase activity (0.0117 U/g) in solid state fermentation. Considerable secretion of protein (5.10 mg/g) on groundnut fodder at peak time interval 1st day of incubation was recorded.     

Seasonal variations of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in the hedgehog, an animal model for lipoprotein (a) metabolism: relation to plasma thyroxine and testosterone levels

We describe a study of the seasonal variations of hedgehog plasma lipids and lipoproteins and their correlation with changes in the activities of the thyroid and testis. In ten male hedgehogs, plasma concentrations of lipids, thyroxine and testosterone were assayed each month for 1 year beginning in September, while plasma lipoproteins from five of these animals were analyzed at the same dates using density gradient ultracentrifugation. All classes of plasma lipids (cholesterol, total glycerol and phospholipids) exhibited statistically significant seasonal variations in their respective concentrations, with simultaneous maxima (cholesterol: 207 +/- 39 mg/100 ml; total glycerol: 50 +/- 9 mg/100 ml; phospholipids: 266 +/- 25 mg/100 ml) during late fall-early winter, i.e., during the period of the year when plasma levels of both thyroxine and testosterone were minimal. Plasma lipids subsequently decreased to minimal levels either in early summer (cholesterol: 129 +/- 18 mg/100 ml; phospholipids: 178 +/- 20 mg/100 ml) or in late winter (total glycerol: 22 +/- 9 mg/100 ml). Very low density lipoproteins (d less than 1.015 g/ml) were found at low levels (less than 15 mg/100 ml) during the cold months, and then became detectable as trace components only. The total concentration of the mixed lipoprotein population (i.e., low density lipoproteins, Lp(a), and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-like particles) in the d 1.015-1.065 g/ml interval decreased by almost 50% from January to February (from 164.3 to 89.2 mg/100 ml), i.e., following a 10-fold increase in the level of plasma testosterone, and immediately before the rapid doubling in plasma thyroxine concentration. The staining intensity of the electrophoretic band with migration characteristics corresponding to those of Lp(a) decreased considerably during winter. At the same period of the year, lower density (1.032-1.055 g/ml) HDL-like particles disappeared. The concentration of lipoproteins with d 1.065-1.162 g/ml, which included Lp(a) particles in addition to typical HDL, equally underwent seasonal variations. These variations consisted of two successive maxima in late fall (426.4 mg/100 ml) and late winter (458.3 mg/100 ml) with two subsequent decreases leading to minima in February (327.8 mg/100 ml) and August (257.1 mg/100 ml). Finally, very high density lipoproteins (d 1.162-1.259 g/ml) were heterogeneous, containing both cholesterol-rich (d 1.162-1.227 g/ml) and phospholipid-rich (d 1.194-1.259 g/ml) subpopulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Chemical composition and oxidative stability of flax, safflower and poppy seed and seed oils

Three seeds of Turkish origin, flax, poppy and safflower were analyzed for their proximate, fatty acids, tocols (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and total phenolic composition, and oxidative stability of their oil. The major fatty acid in the flax oil was alpha-linolenic acid, comprising 58.3% of total fatty acids, whereas poppy and safflower oils were rich in linoleic acid at 74.5% and 70.5% level, respectively. The amount of total tocols was 14.6 mg/100g flax, 11.0mg/100g poppy and 12.1mg/100g safflower seed. Flax and poppy oil were rich in gamma-tocopherol as 79.4 mg/100g oil and 30.9 mg/100g oil, respectively, while alpha-tocopherol (44.1g/100g oil) was dominant in safflower oil. Only alpha- and gamma-tocotrienol were found in the oils. Oxidative stability of oils was measured at 110 degrees C at the rate of 20 L/h air flow rate, and poppy oil (5.56 h) was most stabile oil followed by safflower oil (2.87 h) and flax oil (1.57). There were no correlation between oxidative stability and unsaturation degree of fatty acids and tocol levels of the oils. All of the seeds investigated provide a healthy oil profile and may have potential as a source of specialty oils on a commercial scale.     

Lipid composition of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) saliva

The content and composition of lipids in saliva of healthy caries-free squirrel monkeys were investigated. The dialyzed and lyophilized saliva on extraction with chloroform/methanol yielded 8.0 +/- 0.9 mg of lipids/100 ml of saliva. Following fractionation on silicic acid column, 30.9% of lipids were found in the neutral lipid fraction, 58.8% in the glycolipid fraction, and 10.3% in the phospholipid fraction. The neutral lipids exhibited high content of free fatty acids (58.8%) and triglycerides (23.3%), the glycolipids consisted mainly of neutral and sulfated glyceroglucolipids (95%), while the phospholipids were rich in sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine. The results show that squirrel monkey saliva, while displaying lipid content similar to that of caries-susceptible humans, contains 50% less lipids than saliva of periodontal disease-prone marmoset.     

The effect of post-heparin lipolytic activity on plasma lipoproteins

Summary Electron microscopy of negatively stained plasma shows that intravenous administration of heparin to healthy humans results in a fast degradation of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are very rich in triglycerides (50% w/w). VLDL are also rapidly digested by post-heparin lipolytic activity when serum from non-heparinized subjects is incubated at 27°C in vitro with post-heparin serum of healthy controls.Abbreviations VLDL very low density lipoproteins - LDL low density lipoproteins - HDL high density lipoproteins - LP-X lipoprotein-X, abnormal lipoprotein characterizing obstructive jaundice     

Use of raw glycerol to produce oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids by a thraustochytrid

Glucose is the typical carbon source for producing microbial polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with single cell microorganisms such as thraustochytrids. We assessed the use of a fish oil derived glycerol by-product (raw glycerol), produced by a fish oil processing plant, as a carbon source to produce single cell oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), notably docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These results were compared to those obtained when using analytical grade glycerol, and glucose. The thraustochytrid strain tested produced similar amounts of oil and PUFA when grown with both types of glycerol, and results were also similar to those obtained using glucose. After 6 days of fermentation, approximately 320 mg/g of oil, and 145 mg/g of PUFA were produced with all carbon sources tested. All oils produced by our strain were 99.95% in the triacylglycerol form. To date, this is the first report of using raw glycerol derived from fish oil for producing microbial triglyceride oil rich in PUFA.     

Nutritional Evaluation of Terrestrial Invertebrates as Traditional Food in Amazonia1

In tropical areas worldwide, more than 1000 terrestrial species of invertebrates are used as food. For populations of Amazonian areas, different species of insects and other invertebrates serve as nourishing food sources. Here, we document the composition and nutritional quality of some invertebrates consumed in Venezuelan Amazonia, including termites (Isoptera) and earthworms (Glossoscolecidae) eaten by the Ye'Kuana (Makiritare) and caterpillars (Lepidoptera) and grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) consumed by the Yanomamo. Consumption of 100 g of any of these invertebrates contributed 1.2–9.4 percent of the daily fat requirement and 26–144 percent of the protein daily requirement for an adult male. The sample of caterpillars regularly eaten by these peoples was rich in beta carotene (provitamin A), and a 100 g ingestion guaranteed 323 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. The greatest amount of alpha tocopherol was provided by the consumption of the smoked earthworms (36.7%). Earthworms and termites contained high levels of sterols, mainly cholesterol. The consumption of these animals by tropical human populations represents not only an important traditional habit but also, considering their nutritional composition, a substantial contribution to the human diet.     

福建华安竹园一些竹类植物叶的热值研究

在冬季对福建省华安县竹园14属46种（含变种和栽培型）竹类植物叶的热值和灰分含量进行了研究。结果表明：竹类植物叶的灰分含量在8.05%-28.14%之间,平均为15.18%;干重热值在14957.3-19111.4J/g之间,平均为17672.1J/g;去灰分热值在19473.1-24646.2J/g之间,平均为20845.6J/g;竹类植物叶干重热值和灰分含量有显著的线性关系,相关方程为Y＝－169.21X 20241(r=0.7370,df=44）,高灰分含量是竹叶干重热值相对较低的重要原因之一。     

Lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in intestinal lymph of the preruminant calf, Bos spp., at peak lipid absorption

We have recently evaluated the in vivo role of the liver in lipoprotein homeostasis in the preruminant calf (Bauchart, D., D. Durand, P. M. Laplaud, P. Forgez, S. Goulinet, and M. J. Chapman, 1989. J. Lipid Res. 30: 1499-1514). We now present the partial characterization of lipoprotein particles in postprandial intestinal lymph at peak lipid absorption (i.e., 10 h after a meal) in the preruminant calf fed a curdled milk replacer. Intestinal lymph from four male preruminant calves was analyzed for its content of lipids and fractionated by sequential and density gradient ultracentrifugation into chylomicrons (Sf greater than 400), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (Sf less than 400; d less than 1.006 g/ml), and a series of lipoprotein subfractions with d greater than 1.006 g/ml. Postprandial lymph contained predominantly triglycerides (1099 +/- 611 mg/100 ml), with lesser amounts of phospholipids (197 +/- 107 mg/100 ml) and cholesterol (52 +/- 30 mg/100 ml). The most abundant particles were triglyceride-rich chylomicrons and VLDL which accounted for approximately 76% and approximately 19%, respectively, of total d less than 1.21 g/ml lipoproteins. As judged by negative stain electron microscopy, chylomicron particle diameters ranged from 650 to 2400 A, while VLDL were smaller and distributed over a distinct size range (340-860 A). These two lipoprotein classes each presented protein components with Mr comparable to those of human apoB-48, apoA-I, and C apoproteins, together with an Mr 52,000 protein resembling human beta 2-glycoprotein-I. In addition, VLDL exhibited a polypeptide with Mr approximately 61,000. Lymph lipoproteins with d greater than 1.006 g/ml consisted primarily (approximately 81% of total) of particles distributed over the 1.053-1.119 g/ml density range. Electrophoretic analysis of the latter lipoprotein fraction showed it to be heterogeneous, including particles with the migration characteristics of low and of high density lipoproteins, respectively. Subfractions in the d 1.053-1.076 g/ml range were dominated by particles with Stokes diameters typical of high density lipoproteins (HDL), but also contained three different populations of low density lipoprotein-like particles. The high molecular weight apolipoproteins in these same cholesteryl ester-rich (greater than 30% of lipoprotein mass) subfractions comprised components with Mr resembling those of human apoB-100 and apoB-48, respectively, and with the latter protein predominating to a varying degree. A counterpart to human apoA-I was the major protein component over the entire density range from d 1.053 to 1.119 g/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Determination of human apolipoprotein E by electroimmunoassay.

1. Apolipoprotein E ("arginine-rich" polypeptide) was isolated from delipidized human very low density lipoproteins by agarose column chromatography in the presence of 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride. 2. An electroimmunoassay ("rocket" electrophoresis) is described for quantitative determination of human serum apolipoprotein E. Purified apolipoprotein E was used for the preparation of monospecific antisera and standardization of assay. This sensitive, specific, rapid (time required for the completion of the assay is 5 h) and precise (the within- and between-assay coefficients of variation are 5 and 8%, respectively) assay is applicable to measurement of apolipoprotein E in whole serum and density classes. The results correlated well with those obtained by radial immunodiffusion (r = 0.85). 3. Serum apolipoprotein E levels of normal subjects and hyperlipoproteinemic phenotypes IIa, IIb and IV were the same (10 to 16 mg/100 ml). In contrast, patients with type III and V hyperlipoproteinemias had markedly elevated serum apolipoprotein E levels )27 and 25 mg/100 ml, respectively). The apolipoprotein E in serum of normolipidemic subjects was equally distributed among three major lipoprotein density classes: d less than 1.030 g/ml (27%), d 1.030-1.063 g/ml (36%)and d 1.063-1.21 g/ml (37%).     

Physical and mechanical properties of calf lumbosacral trabecular bone.

The physical and mechanical properties of calf lumbar and sacral trabecular bone were determined and compared with those of human trabecular bone. The mean tissue density (1.66 +/- 0.12 g cm-3), equivalent mineral density (169 +/- 36 mg cm-3), apparent density (453 +/- 89 mg cm-3), ash density (194 +/- 59 mg cm-3), ash content (0.6 +/- 0.05%), compressive strength (7.1 +/- 3.0 MPa) and compressive modulus (173 +/- 97 MPa) of calf trabecular bone are similar to those of young human. There were moderate, positive linear correlations between apparent density and equivalent mineral density, ash density, and compressive strength; and between compressive strength and equivalent mineral density (R2 ranging from 0.35 to 0.48, p less than 0.001). Apparent density, ash density, and equivalent mineral density did not differ significantly in different regions. In contrast to humans, the compressive strength increased from posterior, near the facet, to the anterior vertebral body. These comparisons of physical and mechanical properties, as well as anatomical comparisons by others, indicate that the calf spine is a good model of the young non-osteoporotic human spine and thus useful for the testing of spinal instrumentation.     

五种丛生状棕榈植物叶热值的月变化研究

对5种丛生状棕榈植物一欧洲棕、细叶棕竹、小箬棕、玲珑椰子、缨络椰子的叶片热值和灰分含量的月变化进行了研究,结果表明,5种植物具有较高的灰分含量,但灰分含量的月变化趋势各不相同;欧洲棕、细叶棕竹、小箬棕3种植物干重热值的月变化趋势有些差异,同属的缨络椰子、玲珑椰子干重热值的月变化趋势基本相似;缨络椰子、小箬棕的干重热值与灰分含量具有显著的线性相关(P<0．05),而其余3种植物的干重热值与灰分含量相关性不显著(P>0．05);从去灰分热值的月变化来看,细叶棕竹与小箬棕,缨络椰子与玲珑椰子的月变化趋势相似。