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Biomedical subjects

M F Miller

Publications and source records attributed to M F Miller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Microbiology of hot-fat-trimmed beef.

The effects of removal of fat from hot beef carcasses on the shelf life of beef involved measuring the incidence of aerobic (TPC), lactic (LAC), and coliform (TCC) bacteria and the pathogen Escherichia coli (EC) from alternate sides that were hot-fat trimmed (HFT) or not trimmed (NFT) then subjected to a conventional 24-h chill. The biceps femoris, psoas major, longissimus thoracis et lumborum, and supraspinatus muscles were assayed. Higher (P < .05) TPC and EC counts were found for all muscles at 0 d than at 7 and 14 d of storage. The LAC and TCC counts were higher (P < .05) on all muscles after the 14 d of storage than after 0 or 7 d of storage. The significant differences in microbial counts were less than one log 10/g of tissue and therefore are of questionable importance. The HFT did not increase carcass microbial load compared with NFT. This study showed that HFT and accelerated processing of beef for the production of lean retail cuts did not adversely affect the shelf-life of vacuum-packaged beef.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Real-time ultrasonic measurement of fat thickness and longissimus muscle area: I. Description of age and weight effects.

Serial ultrasonic measures of fat thickness (FTU) and longissimus muscle area (LMU) were taken on 180 feedlot steers representing 11 sire-breed groups at two 60-d intervals. Cattle then were slaughtered in four groups of 45 at 21-d intervals with ultrasonic measures taken at each interval. Analyses of variance indicated weight (WT) effects (P < .001) for all FTU measures and many of the LMU measures. Age was a source of variation (P < .05) for FTU and LMU over the first five measurement dates. Sire-breed (SBD) effects (P < .001) were prevalent for all FTU estimates and early LMU predictions. Some dam line and SBD x dam line interactions were detected (P < .1) for the FTU and LMU estimates. Age effects were described quadratically (P < .001) when FTU and LMU were regressed on age (R2 = 47 and 68%, respectively). When FTU and LMU were regressed on WT, effects were described quadratically (P < .001) with R2 values of 46 and 72%, respectively. Animals then were assigned to one of four biological types (BT) based on percentage of retail product (0-mm fat trim) using discriminant cluster analysis. Within BT, ultrasonic variables were regressed on age. Quadratic effects (P < .01) were detected for both FTU and LMU. Weight also contributed to variation observed in both ultrasonically measured variables for all BT (P < .001). These data indicate that changes in fat and muscle size as affected by age and weight are detectable using serially collected ultrasound measures. Furthermore, the age and weight relationships of predicted FTA and LMA varied across the four biological types. This suggests a need for derivation of biological type-specific age and(or) weight adjustment equations for cattle evaluation purposes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

Postmortem injection of calcium chloride effects on beef quality traits.

Twenty-two Bos indicus type steers were commercially slaughtered, and their carcasses were chilled and processed to determine the effects of injecting calcium chloride (CaCl2) on beef steak palatability and quality traits. Top loin and inside round subprimals were removed from each carcass using industry fabrication procedures. No injection (control) or injection of 200 mM CaCl2 at 5% (wt/wt) was applied at 30 h postmortem to subprimals from alternating right and left sides. After vacuum storage for 7 d postmortem at 2 degrees C, 2.54-cm thick steaks were cut from each subprimal. Eighty-six percent of the control longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks and 78% of the semimembranosus (SM) control steaks had Warner-Bratzler (WBS) values > 4.5 kg, and the injection of CaCl2 reduced this percentage to 43 and 24%, respectively. The injection of CaCl2 improved (P < .05) trained sensory tenderness ratings for both LL and SM, while not affecting (P > .05) flavor intensity or causing any off-flavor problems (P > .05), compared with the controls. Lean color scores for the LL were not affected (P > .05) by the injection of CaCl2, but SM lean color was lighter red (P < .05) than controls. Therefore, a 5% (wt/wt) injection of 200 mM CaCl2 solution can be applied under commercial conditions to improve beef steak tenderness and reduce tenderness variation without detrimental effects on other palatability or quality traits.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Performance, carcass yield, and carcass quality characteristics of steers finished on rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata)-tropical grass pasture or concentrate.

Steers (n = 156) finished on rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.)-tropical grass pasture in Florida and slaughtered at Central Packing, Center Hill were compared with steers (n = 152) finished on a concentrate diet in Texas and slaughtered at Excel, Plainview. Average daily gain during the growing and finishing periods was lower (P < .001) for forage-finished steers (.49 and .94 kg/d, respectively) than for concentrate-finished steers (.78 and 1.33 kg/d, respectively). Forage-finished steers had less fat over the ribeye (8.3 vs 11.4 mm; P < .01), lighter hot carcass weight (280 vs 346 kg; P < .001), and smaller longissimus muscle area (70.8 vs 86.6 cm2; P < .001) than concentrate-finished steers. Yield grade was not different (2.7 vs 2.6; P > .10), but quality grade was slightly better (low Select vs mid Select; P < .01) for concentrate-finished steers. Lean color of forage-finished steers was darker (P < .001) and fat of forage-finished steers had a creamier color (P < .001), but carcasses were not discounted due to yellow fat color. Shear force values were higher (6.8 vs 4.0 kg; P < .001) for forage-finished than for concentrate-finished steers. Off-flavors were detected by trained sensory panelists in 36% of forage-finished and 14% of concentrate-finished carcasses, but all at barely detectable levels. This research indicates that steers can be finished on rhizoma peanut-tropical grass pastures, but with some reduction in quality grade relative to concentrate-finished steers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Retail consumer acceptance of beef tenderized with calcium chloride.

Beef inside round subprimals were injected with a 200 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution at 5% (wt/wt) to determine its effects on beef steak palatability and quality traits. Alternating subprimals from the right and left sides were selected for injection of CaCl2 or not injected to serve as a control. After 7 d of postmortem storage, 2.5-cm-thick steaks were cut from each subprimal for consumer evaluation (n = 478) in a retail setting. Three supermarkets with customers varying widely in income were selected as test sites for measuring consumer perceptions of the treated and control steaks and package labeling acceptance. Supermarket, income level, education, and sex were evaluated for their impact on acceptance of calcium-injected beef. Steak flavor and tenderness both were important in determining beef eating quality; 50% of consumers said tenderness was the most important and 40% said flavor was the most important. Consumers visually preferred CaCl2-treated steaks 71% of the time over the control steaks based on package labeling. The CaCl2 injection improved tenderness, juiciness, flavor desirability, and overall palatability ratings by the consumers for inside round steaks and did not cause any off-flavor problems compared with the controls. Therefore, injecting beef with a solution of 200 mM CaCl2 at 5% (wt/wt) can improve retail consumer evaluations of beef steak tenderness and reduce tenderness variation without detrimental effects on other palatability or quality traits.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Can we galvanize?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1994

Dietary energy source and density: effects of roughage source, roughage equivalent, tallow level, and steer type on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics.

The effects of roughage level (10, 20, or 30% roughage equivalent [RE]), roughage source (alfalfa vs cottonseed hulls), roughage regimen (constant RE vs 2% RE during the mid-finishing period), tallow level (1.2 vs 4.6%), and steer type (British crossbred [BRITX] vs Bos indicus crosses [BRX]) were evaluated in three experiments with a common allotment and several overlapping treatments. Steers (n = 432; initial weight = 326 +/- 26 kg) were divided into three BW blocks and allotted randomly to 72 pens and 24 treatments. Steers were fed steam-flaked, sorghum grain-based finishing diets for 124 to 166 d. Diets with 20% RE decreased gain efficiency and 30% RE diets decreased both gain (linear, P < .07) and efficiency (linear, P < .001) compared with 10% RE diets. Reducing roughage level during the mid-finishing period improved overall gain efficiency 2, 7, and 24% (P > .2, < .05, and < .001, respectively) for the 10, 20, and 30% RE diets, respectively. Steers fed cottonseed hulls consumed more feed (9.6 vs 8.8 kg/d, P < .001) but tended to gain less (1.53 vs 1.58 kg/d, P = .11) than steers fed alfalfa, were leaner, and had fewer carcasses grading Choice (62 vs 77%, P < .05). Feeding 4.6% tallow decreased DMI (P < .05) and improved gain efficiency (P < .05) compared with 1.2% tallow. The BRITX steers consumed more feed (6%, P < .001) but were somewhat less efficient (3.5%, P < .05) than BRX steers. Carcasses from BRITX steers tended to be fatter than carcasses from BRX steers and more of them graded Choice (62 vs 37%, P < .01). Commercial BRX steers did not perform as well as BRITX steers on higher-energy-density diets (4.6% tallow or variable roughage regimen). Knowledge of the genetic background of feeder cattle can be important in the selection of dietary energy density and marketing expectations.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Calcium chloride concentration, injection time, and aging period effects on tenderness, sensory, and retail color attributes of loin steaks from mature cows.

Calcium chloride (CaCl2) injection effects on retail color changes and sensory traits of loin steaks from mature cows were studied. Left side strip loins (SL) of 10 carcasses were divided into three portions within .5 h postmortem. One was a control, and the other portions were injected with either 150 mM or 200 mM CaCl2. At 24 h postmortem, the chilled, right side SL was removed and the same treatments applied. Steaks from each treatment were evaluated for color changes during 5 d of retail display. Treatments were also divided into 7-d or 14-d aging periods. Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) values and sensory evaluations of juiciness, tenderness, flavor intensity, flavor description, and overall palatability were obtained on all treatments. Concentration of CaCl2 had no effect on measures of color. However, injection at 24 h reduced colorimeter L values and visual color scores on d 1 and 2 of retail display and increased discoloration scores on d 3 (P < .05) compared with injection at .5 h. All steaks had greater than 40% discoloration when measured beyond d 3. Steaks aged 14 d exhibited significantly lower WBS values than steaks aged 7 d (P < .05). Injections of CaCl2 increased scores for juiciness, tenderness, and overall palatability, and aging improved tenderness, flavor intensity, flavor description, and overall palatability (P < .05). Cuts injected at 24 h had 8.3% and 8.8% higher yields than cuts injected at .5 h or controls, respectively (P < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Reducing financial barriers enhances the return rate of stool Hemoccult packets.

Patient compliance in returning fecal-hemoccult card packets has been studied in recent years but no specific interventions have been shown consistently to improve the return rate. It was wondered whether removing a small financial barrier for indigent patients would positively affect compliance. Therefore, the effect of prepaid postage on the rate of return was studied. Pre-prepared packets containing hemoccult cards with return envelopes were distributed in a randomized fashion to indigent and private insurance patients in outpatient clinics. On half of the return envelopes return postage was applied. The main outcome measure was the rate of return of stamped and unstamped packets stratified between indigent and private insurance patients. The overall rates of return were 117 of 159 (74%) for the stamped packets and 102 of 166 (61%) for unstamped packets (p < 0.02). After stratification, in the indigent patients (n = 177), 73 of 95 (77%) stamped packets were returned compared to 46 of 82 (56%) unstamped packets (p < 0.006). In the private insurance patients (N = 148), 44 of 64 stamped packets (69%) and 52 of 84 unstamped packets (62%) were returned (p > 0.10). Removing even small financial barriers (eg, providing a postage stamp) can enhance compliance for indigent patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Nitric oxide synthase in bovine superior cervical ganglion.

We investigated the mechanism of increases in cyclic GMP levels in bovine superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in response to muscarinic receptor stimulation. Acetylcholine increased cyclic GMP levels in SCG. This increase was inhibited by NG-methyl-L-arginine (NMA), and the inhibition was reversed by L-arginine. Soluble nitric oxide (NO) synthase was partially purified from bovine SCG using 2',5'-ADP Sepharose affinity chromatography. The resulting enzyme activity was Ca2+/calmodulin dependent and required NADPH and tetrahydrobiopterin as cofactors. Superoxide dismutase protected and oxyhemoglobin blocked the effect of NO formed by the enzyme. NMA inhibited the activity of the NO synthase. In western blots, an antibody generated against rat brain NO synthase specifically recognized the NO synthase from SCG as a 155-kDa protein band. Immunohistochemistry using the same antibody demonstrated that NO synthase was localized in postganglionic neuronal cell bodies of the SCG. Immunofluorescent labeling showed that some of the cells staining positive for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase also contained NO synthase. Thus, NO is synthesized in specific cells within bovine SCG, including sympathetic neurons, and mediates the acetylcholine-induced stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Effects of postmortem injection time, injection level, and concentration of calcium chloride on beef quality traits.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the optimum protocol for maximizing meat quality with CaCl2 injection. Experiment 1 compared the effects of 30 min or 24 h postmortem injection of 175 mM CaCl2 or water at 10% (wt/wt) to controls on various measures of meat quality. An injection of CaCl2 reduced (P < .05) shear force values in all three beef muscles evaluated (longissimus, semimembranosus, and triceps brachii). Retail lean color was not affected (P > .05) by a CaCl2 injection at 24 h postmortem, but was slightly darker (P < .05) for an injection at 30 min postmortem. Psychrophilic and total aerobic microbial counts were higher (P < .05) in 30-min than in 24-h treatments and were higher (P < .05) in CaCl2- or water-injected semimembranosus muscle than in the control, but the treatment differences were minimal in 24-h injected meat. Experiment 2 compared the effects of 24-h postmortem injection of 200 mM or 250 mM CaCl2 at either 5 or 10% (wt/wt) to controls on meat quality traits. Both 200 and 250 mM CaCl2 reduced (P < .05) shear force values compared with the control. In addition, variation in shear force was decreased (P < .05) with CaCl2 injection. Beef flavor intensity was slightly lower (P < .05) and off-flavor ratings were slightly higher (P < .05) in CaCl2-injected meat, but the small differences were of no practical significance. Retail lean color was not affected (P > .05) by injection of the CaCl2 at 24 h. Injecting 200 mM CaCl2 at 5% (wt/wt) into 24 h postmortem meat can produce consistently tender meat without compromising other palatability or lean quality traits.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

National Beef Quality Audit: survey of producer-related defects and carcass quality and quantity attributes.

To assess the then-current population of fed beef cattle for quality defects, the federally inspected beef steer and heifer slaughter in 28 packing plants was surveyed during a 3-mo period (October to December 1991). Data were collected over the course of 1 d of production at chain speed. Carcasses were selected randomly to include 50 and 10% of each lot on the slaughter floor and in the cooler, respectively. Slaughter floor defects evaluated were brand location and size, degree of bruising, grubs and injection sites, condemnation of offal, and the presence of mud and horns. USDA grade factors and other data were collected in the cooler. The distribution of hot-iron brand scars on the hide for the sample was as follows: cattle with no brand, 55.0%; cattle with butt brands, 29.9%; cattle with side brands, 13.8%; and cattle with shoulder brands, .8%. In addition, 83.3, 85.6, 76.6, 97.3, 99.9, and 99.8% of the carcasses had no superficial bruising in the chuck, rib, loin, round, brisket, and other areas of the carcass, respectively. The incidence of viscera condemnations for livers, lungs, tripe, and total viscera were 19.2, 5.1, 3.5, and .1%, respectively. Means for the carcass traits were as follows: USDA yield grade, 3.1; hot carcass weight, 344.7 kg; adjusted fat thickness, 1.5 cm; longissimus muscle area, 83.4 cm2; kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, 2.2%; USDA quality grade, high Select; marbling score, Small-minus; and overall maturity, A69.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1992

The value of chest pain during the exercise tolerance test in predicting coronary artery disease.

UNLABELLED: The predictive power of 10 common exercise test parameters compared with coronary angiography was studied. Only the exercise electrocardiogram (EXECG), maximal rate pressure product (MAXRPP), and exercise chest pain (EXCP) contributed unique predictive information with the emergence of two interactions involving EXCP (EXCP.EXECG and EXCP.MAXRPP). IN CONCLUSION: (1) EXCP appears to be a more serious finding only in those higher risk individuals with either a positive EXECG or lower MAXRPP; (2) EXCP and its interactions may help discriminate between anginal and nonanginal, exertional chest pain, and (3) the contradictory results found when EXCP was allowed to interact may explain conflicting results in previous multivariate models regarding the predictive significance of EXCP.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mapping of neural nitric oxide synthase in the rat suggests frequent co-localization with NADPH diaphorase but not with soluble guanylyl cyclase, and novel paraneural functions for nitrinergic signal transduction.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS Types I-III) generate nitric oxide (NO), which in turn activates soluble guanylyl cyclase (GC-S). The distribution of this NO-mediated (nitrinergic) signal transduction pathway in the body is unclear. A polyclonal monospecific antibody to rat cerebellum NOS-I and a monoclonal antibody to rat lung GC-S were employed to localize the protein components of this pathway in different rat organs and tissues. We confirmed the localization of NOS-I in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, where NO may regulate cerebral blood flow and mediate long-term potentiation. GC-S was located in NOS-negative neurons, indicating that NO acts as an intercellular signal molecule or neurotransmitter. However, NOS-I was not confined to neurons but was widely distributed over several non-neural cell types and tissues. These included glia cells, macula densa of kidney, epithelial cells of lung, uterus, and stomach, and islets of Langerhans. Our findings suggest that NOS-I is the most widely distributed isoform of NOS and, in addition to its neural functions, regulates secretion and non-vascular smooth muscle function. With the exception of bone tissue, NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity was generally co-localized with NOS-I immunoreactivity in both neural and non-neural cells, and is a suitable histochemical marker for NOS-I but not a selective neuronal marker.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗