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PubMed1987

Studies on yellow fever vaccine. I. Quality-control parameters.

Several parameters have been established for the control of yellow fever vaccine produced in embryonated eggs at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brasil. A Vero cell plaque titration technique was used throughout this study. A local reference vaccine with an infectivity titre of 5.78 log10 ml-1 (standard deviation 0.28) was routinely included in all tests. It was found that, while one cycle of freezing and thawing did not affect the virus titre, a second thawing reduced it. The titres of the embryo pulp and the embryo juice, virus losses during lyophilization cycles, the titre of the final product and the thermodegradation of the virus were measured and these parameters are being currently applied to every step of the production procedures with a view to strict quality control of yellow fever vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Field trial of a diluent for the transportation of human semen at ambient temperatures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of a citrate-yolk buffer extender to preserve human semen samples at ambient temperatures over a 25- to 30-hour period. DESIGN: Human semen samples were diluted 1:1 with citrate-yolk buffer or homologous seminal plasma and transported at ambient temperature between two distant locations (London to Edinburgh, United Kingdom). Various criteria of semen quality then were assessed before and after 25 to 30 hours storage and transportation in these diluents. SETTING: An institutional research laboratory and a private fertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Samples were provided by 21 donors of unknown fertility and 7 asthenozoospermic patients. INTERVENTION(S): The diluent used to preserve human semen comprised an egg yolk buffer supplemented with fructose and citrate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Aspects of semen quality assessed included movement, hyaluronate penetration, viability, acrosome reaction, and reactive oxygen species generation. RESULT(S): The deterioration of semen quality at ambient temperatures could be prevented by the presence of citrate-yolk buffer, permitting the accurate analysis of oxidative stress and human sperm function, 25 to 30 hours postejaculation. CONCLUSION(S): Citrate-yolk buffer offers considerable promise as a medium for the ambient temperature storage and transportation of human semen.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1995

Follicular volume and number during in-vitro fertilization: association with oocyte developmental capacity and pregnancy rate.

This study examined the effect of the number of follicles aspirated during egg retrieval on pregnancy likelihood during an ovulation induction, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. In addition, the volume of each individual follicle was related to the probability of obtaining an oocyte from that follicle. Its capacity to be fertilized, the incidence of polyspermic fertilization, the quality of early embryos derived from that oocyte and the influence of patient age were the other outcomes studied. Large follicular number and high mean follicular volume related positively to pregnancy outcome. Successful egg retrieval, normal fertilization and good embryo quality were more likely with increasing individual follicular volume. A model was constructed to quantify the predictive value of follicular fluid volume on the developmental potential of individual oocytes and embryos derived from that follicle. Successful outcome of IVF is more likely if ovulation induction results in many follicles, particularly if they have a high mean volume. Individual oocyte and embryo quality can be traced back to the follicular level.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The influence of feeding diets containing different calcium-phosphorous ratios on the laying hen.

Six experiments were conducted to determine the influence of feeding diets containing different calcium-phosphorus (Ca:P)ratios at different times on the laying hen. Feeding a diet containing 0.75% P from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and a diet containing 1.50% P from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. decreased serum calcium in three or four experiments and decreased specific gravity of eggs in four of four experiments, when compared to that of the birds fed the control diet which contained 0.75% P during both time periods. Specific gravity of eggs from hens fed a diet containing 0.75% P from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and a diet containing 0.33% P from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. was increased in three of four experiments. Although the differences are not significant, with one exception, the trend in the experiments indicate that the level of P in the diet and time of intake can influence shell quality and serum calcium. The dietary treatments had no significant influence on feed consumption, egg production or egg weight during any of these experiments. It was postulated that the adverse or beneficial effect on specific gravity of eggs and serum calcium as a result of feeding diets containing various CaP ratios was due to the influence on calcium absorption and/or bone resorption.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Long-term preservation of chilled canine semen: effect of commercial and laboratory prepared extenders.

The present study was conducted to evaluate chilled semen conservation over time in 3 commercial and 4 laboratory prepared extenders, including a new Tris-glucose extender. The beneficial effect of adding egg yolk to these media was also analyzed. The effects of these extenders on motility and acrosome reaction were characterized objectively using a computer-aided semen analyzer and the chlortetracycline staining, respectively. No significant differences were observed when comparing the different commercial extenders without egg yolk, but addition of egg yolk improved all motility parameters significantly (preservation of 50% of motility was observed at 3.2+/-1, 2.9+/-0.5, 2.3+/-0.5, 8.5+/-0.2, 5.4+/-1.1, 5.2+/-0.4 d, for Biladyl, green extender and fresh-phos extenders without and with egg yolk, respectively). Motility parameters were best preserved in egg yolk supplemented Biladyl extender with a mean percentage of 86.3+/-10.5 motile spermatozoa after 7 d at 4 degrees C. Efficacy of egg yolk-supplemented commercial extenders on sperm motility at 4 degrees C was (in decreasing order) as follows: Biladyl > green extender > fresh-phos. However, high quality motility and the percentage of motile spermatozoa were highest with some of the laboratory prepared extenders: a 50% conservation rate of motile spermatozoa was observed following the use of supplemented egg yolk extenders. These are classified in decreasing order as follows: Tris-glucose (13+/-1 d) > Tris-fructose (9.7+/-0.6) > EDTA (4.+/-0.6 d) > Tris-bes (3.6+/-1.1 d). A low concentration of motile spermatozoa was still observed in the Tris-glucose egg yolk extender 16 d after collection, clearly demonstrating the importance of the medium and the beneficial effect of egg yolk on sperm motility of 4 degrees C chilled semen. Similar effects of extender were observed for acrosome reactions. Egg yolk clearly had a protective effect reducing acrosome reactions significantly in all media tested as follows: the highest acrosome losses were observed in the fresh-phos and EDTA extenders without egg yolk; the lowest rate was observed with Tris-glucose supplemented egg yolk extender. In conclusion, at 4 degrees C, egg yolk extender best-protected sperm motility parameters. Differences in osmolarity between the extenders in terms of substrate related to sperm metabolic activity may explain the optimal results obtained using egg yolk-supplemented Tris-glucose extender, which preserved motility and acrosome integrity in chilled dog semen. These results indicated that good quality dog spermatozoa could be preserved for up to 10 d.

Acrosome Reaction↗
PubMed1997

Site-specific de-N-glycosylation of diglycosylated ovalbumin in hen oviduct by endogenous peptide: N-glycanase as a quality control system for newly synthesized proteins.

Hen ovalbumin (OVA) is known to exist as a singly N-glycosylated form with a glycan chain on Asn-292 in egg white. Previous studies showed that di-N-glycosylated form of OVA [Di-OVA; CHO-Asn-292/CHO-Asn-311 (CHO, N-glycan chain)], which has two N-glycan chains on Asn-292 and Asn-311, was expressed only transiently in hen oviduct. Di-OVA was not found in egg white, suggesting that this form cannot be secreted normally and may possibly be converted to mono-N-glycosylated OVA (CHO-Asn-292/Asp-311) by the action of peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase) during synthesis and secretion. In this study, we have identified the putative PNGase activity in the homogenate of hen oviduct, purified 1,000-fold, and designated as PNGase HO. We examined the reactivity of Di-OVA to PNGase HO and found that this enzyme site-specifically cleaved off the glycan chain at Asn-311 to convert Di-OVA into the mono-N-glycosylated form (CHO-Asn-292/Asp-311). In contrast, this enzyme was found not to act on the mono-N-glycosylated OVA (CHO-Asn-292/Asn-311) found in egg white when it was tested as a substrate. The present findings support our view that de-N-glycosylation catalyzed by PNGase may be involved in quality control of newly synthesized proteins by converting its diglycosylated form into the mono-N-glycosylated form that can be secreted. However, the alternative possibility that de-N-glycosylation may trigger cytosolic degradation of the aberrantly glycosylated glycoprotein cannot be ruled out.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1981

[A new method for testing the quality of food proteins for maintenance metabolism. 4. Testing of isolated proteins as well as various protein sources of plant and animal origin].

Male adult rats (370 g body weight) were fed on maintenance level (460 kJ ME/kg 0,75). In a 10 days preliminary period they received a casein/methionin diet (95,5 W/W) supplemented with 10 mg N-15-excess per 0,178 kg metabolic body weight in form of ammonium acetate. Thereafter the animals were changed on 8 isonitrogenous diets containing as protein sources casein, soya protein, gelatine, whole egg, fish meal, pea, wheat and yeast. The N-15-excretion via urine and faeces 6th and 10th day after the end of labelling period was used to evaluate the dietary proteins for maintenance. N-15 in urine was lowest in animals fed with the wheat diet and highest after feeding the whole egg diet. From these data a so called "N-15-excretions BV" was calculated, which indicated the highest quality for wheat and soy protein in meeting the needs of the intermediary metabolism in maintenance. On the other hand, dietary protein sources influence the loss of endogenous nitrogen as metabolic faecal nitrogen (MFN). It was found to be lowest in animals fed with diets containing isolated proteins (6 mg MFN/100 g body weight) and highest after feeding protein sources of plant origin with a high content in crude fibre (10 mg MFN/100 g). Both, losses of N-15 via urine and via feces were combined in a parameter called "total BV". According to this parameter the differences in quality for maintenance were only little between the protein sources testet (casein 100, soy protein 100, pea 99, wheat 99, whole egg 92, fish meal 89, gelatin 89). It was concluded that in maintenance the supply with indispensable amino acids is not critical and that the supply with dispensable amino acids (or nonspecific nitrogen) is of great importance.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2004

Changes in tissue protein synthesis are involved in regulating urea synthesis in rats given proteins of different quality.

The purpose of present study was to determine whether the regulation of urea synthesis is mediated through changes in supply of amino acids by protein synthesis and whether the concentration of ammonia, or activities of amino acid catabolizing enzymes, regulate urea synthesis when the dietary protein quality is manipulated. Experiments were done on three groups of rats given diets containing 10 g gluten, 10 g casein or 10 g whole egg protein/100 g for 10 d. The urinary excretion of urea, and the liver concentrations of glutamate, serine and alanine increased with a decrease in quality of dietary protein. The fractional and absolute rates of protein synthesis in tissues declined with the decrease in quality of dietary protein quality. The ammonia concentration in plasma and liver, and activities of hepatic amino acid catabolizing enzymes was not related to urea excretion under these conditions. These results suggest that the lower protein synthesis seen in tissues of rats given the lower quality of protein is likely to be one of the factors to increasing the supply of amino acids and stimulating urea synthesis.

Alanine↗
PubMed1992

Soil contamination with Ascaris lumbricoides eggs as an indicator of environmental hygiene in urban areas of north-east Brazil.

The objective of this study was to detect the pathways of transmission of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs in low-income households of two Brazilian cities. An inexpensive flotation technique for egg isolation was applied for the determination of soil contamination in 227 households. The median contamination levels were 0.8 (indoor), 0.3 (backyard) and 0.6 (defaecation site) eggs per gram soil. The contamination levels showed no significant correlation with the presence or quality of latrines or flush toilets. Houses with flush toilets were found to be sources of faecal contamination of the neighbourhood due to the absence of an adequate sewage system. Households with small children were more often contaminated than those without. The keeping of pigs was correlated with an increased yard contamination. The faecal egg excretion showed a significant correlation with the soil contamination in the backyard. Embryonated eggs, which represent the 'older' eggs, constituted 37% of all eggs. In the dry season significantly fewer Ascaris eggs were found in the soil than during the rainy season. The usefulness of the soil contamination with Ascaris lumbricoides eggs as an indicator of the efficacy of hygiene programmes is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Differential staining of western blots of avian egg white glycoproteins using diverse lectins.

Avian egg white glycoproteins which differ in structure and carbohydrate composition, vary in their interactions with diverse lectins. Generally, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and concanavalin A (Con A) are used for the identification and separation of those of the chicken. In the present study, interactions of a battery of lectins, including: the above two, several galactophilic lectins (from Aplysia gonad (AGL), Erythrina corallodendron (ECorL), peanut (PNA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-IL)), and fucose-binding lectins (from Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), Ulva lactuca (ULL) and P. aeruginosa (PA-IlL), which also binds mannose) with chicken, quail and pigeon egg white glycoproteins, were examined using both hemagglutination inhibition and Western blot analyses. The chicken egg white glycoproteins interacted most strongly with WGA, followed by Con A >> AGL = PA-IlL. The quail glycoprotein order of affinities was: Con A >> WGA = AGL = PA-IlL, while that of the pigeon was: AGL > PA-IL > WGA > Con A = PA-IlL. The blocking of the other lectins by the egg whites were insignificant. The results demonstrated the selectivity and efficiency of the five most reactive lectins for differential tagging of avian egg white glycoproteins and unveiled the profound heterogeneity of the latter, as well as the possible potential lectin usage for improving purification and quality control of the desired glycoproteins.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Biochemical quality assessment of broiler production using a hydrogen bacteria biomass in the diet].

The authors studied the biochemical composition of the meat of broilers, eggs, liver and muscles of laying hens of 3 generations on a 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100% (broilers), 10 and 20% (laying hens) replacement of the animal protein quota in the diet by protein obtained from the hydrogen bacteria Alcaligenes eutrophus L-1. No deterioration of the quality of the produce was found from the standpoint of the main biochemical parameters.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed1993

Effect of dietary proteins on zinc bioavailability in pregnant rats.

In order to clarify the effects of dietary proteins on zinc bioavailability during pregnancy, two experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, changes in zinc retention due to pregnancy (difference in retention between pregnant and nonpregnant animals) during early-mid and late pregnancy were examined in rats fed 10 and 20% egg white diets. Total amounts of retained zinc due to pregnancy were about 1000 micrograms or slightly more, equal to the zinc content in the products of conception at term. However, extra zinc retention during late pregnancy ranged between only 20 to 40% of overall retention, suggesting that almost all zinc retained during early-mid pregnancy moved from the mothers to the fetuses near term. Zinc retention in early-mid and late periods of pregnancy was higher in pregnant than nonpregnant rats, due mainly to increases in intake and bioavailability. In Experiment 2, to examine the effects of quality and quantity of dietary proteins, pregnant rats were fed either 10 or 20% egg white (EW), whole egg (WE), casein (C) and soy protein isolate with or without methionine (SM and S, respectively) diets. Total zinc retention during pregnancy was affected by both zinc and nitrogen intakes, though the former effect was greater than the latter. Because rats fed the EW diets retained dietary zinc efficiently, a relationship between zinc retention (Y, microgram/100 g BW/21 d.) and zinc intake (X, microgram/100 g BW/21 d.) was also examined in the non-EW protein groups, resulting in the following regression equation: Y = 0.471X-1790 (n: 51, r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Dietary protein quality affected the food intake resulting in different zinc intake and retention during pregnancy. Zinc from EW diets was more available than from the other four protein diets, because similar plots for rats fed the 10 and 20% EW diets fell above this line. Reasons for efficient bioavailability of zinc in EW were discussed in connection with the forms of zinc in diets and the pancreatic or intestinal responses to ingested EW.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Habitat quality as a predictor of spatial variation in blue tit reproductive performance: a multi-plot analysis in a heterogeneous landscape.

Vertebrate studies have rarely investigated the influence of spatial variation in habitat richness on both short-term (breeding) and long-term (offspring recruitment) reproductive performance using simultaneously multi-patch, multi-habitat type and multi-year approaches at landscape level. Here we present results of such an approach using the influence of two oak tree (Quercus ilex, Q. humilis) species on reproductive performance in Corsican blue tits (Parus caeruleus ogliastrae) as a model system. We found that blue tits breeding in rich broad-leaved deciduous patches consistently laid eggs earlier in the season, and produced larger clutches and more fledglings of higher quality, than those breeding in poor evergreen patches. Also, parents, especially males, were in better physical condition in the broad-leaved deciduous than in the evergreen patches. Surprisingly, estimates of long-term effects of reproduction, such as recruitment rates of locally born offspring, did not differ between the two habitat types. Our results suggest that short-term breeding performance and phenotypic quality of both chicks and parents do not necessarily provide reliable information about contributions to following generations at a scale larger than that of the local study plot. Differences in reproductive performance between the two oak habitat types could not be attributed to density-dependent effects, differences in levels of nest predation, or differences in age structure of the birds. We suggest that habitats that are optimal for breeding are not necessarily optimal for survival after the breeding season.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Use of ascorbic acid to prevent the decline in eggshell quality observed with saline drinking water.

Three experiments were carried out to determine the value of ascorbic acid in overcoming the poor eggshell quality problem associated with the use of saline drinking water. Laying hens were supplied with either town water or town water supplemented with NaCl, ascorbic acid, or a combination of NaCl and ascorbic acid. Supplementing the drinking water lf laying hens with NaCl (2 g/L) significantly increased the incidence of eggshell defects and significantly decreased eggshell quality. Simultaneous supplementation of the saline drinking water with ascorbic acid (1 g/L) prevented these detrimental effects. This response to ascorbic acid was dependent upon concentration. Ascorbic acid acted as a preventive rather than a remedial treatment: hens producing eggs with defective shells as a result of receiving saline drinking water failed to show any improvement in eggshell quality or any reduction in the incidence of eggshell defects when the saline water was supplemented with ascorbic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

An original approach to determining traces of tetracycline antibiotics in milk and eggs by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

An original and highly specific method able to identify and quantify traces of five tetracycline antibiotics (TCAs) in milk and eggs is presented. This method uses a single solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge for simultaneous extraction and purification of TCAs in the above matrices. After diluting 5 mL of intact whole milk or 2 g egg samples with Na(2)EDTA-containing water, samples are passed through a 0.5-g Carbograph 4 extraction cartridge. After analyte elution from the SPE cartridge, an aliquot of the final extract is injected into a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) instrument equipped with an electrospray ion source and a single quadrupole. MS data acquisition is performed in the positive-ion mode and by a time-scheduled multiple-ion selected ion-monitoring program. With methanol as organic modifier, the in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) process generated fragment ions able to pick up one methanol molecule. In several cases, these methanol-adduct fragment ions have m/z values higher than those of the protonated molecules. This event is rarely encountered in MS, thus making the analysis of TCAs by this method extremely specific. Compared with a conventional published method, the present protocol extracted larger amounts of TCAs from both milk and egg and decreased the analysis time by a factor of 3. Recovery of TCAs in milk at the 25-ppb level ranged between 81 and 96% with relative standard deviation (RSD) no larger than 9%. Recovery of TCAs in egg at the 50-ppb level ranged between 72 and 92% with RSD no larger than 7%. Estimated limits of quantification(S/N = 10) of the method were 2-9 ppb TCAs in whole milk and 2-19 ppb TCAs in eggs.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Preparation of reference sera with desired levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.

Simple methods for isolating cholesterol-rich protein fraction from human serum and triglyceride-rich fraction from hen egg yolk are presented. The isolated fractions are combined separately with small volumes of human serum in order to stabilize concentrated cholesterol and triglyceride. Precalculated volumes of concentrates are added to human serum in order to prepare reference sera with desired levels of cholesterol or triglyceride, or both. The reference sera resemble human serum in appearance, composition, and stability. Properties of preparations are discussed and stability of reference sera is illustrated.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed2004

Transfer and uterine factors are the major recipient-related determinants of success with donor eggs.

OBJECTIVE: To define the recipient-related determinants of outcome with donor eggs. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Community hospital-based assisted reproductive technology (ART) program. PATIENT(S): One hundred thirty-four embryo transfers (ETs) in which two recipients were matched to one donor. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and ovum retrieval in donors; IVF and ET to recipients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Recipients' age, body mass index (BMI), medical conditions, endometriosis, gravidity, uterine pathology, endometrial thickness, egg number, total motile sperm count, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), zygote number, fertilization rate, embryos per ET, embryos frozen, embryo quality, difficulty with transfer, and ongoing pregnancies per ET. RESULT(S): Forty-one recipient pairs had discordant outcomes. Pregnant patients had a lower frequency (9.7% vs. 31.7%, P=.04) and lesser severity of uterine pathology. Endometrium <8 mm was found solely in failed cycles. Pregnant women had fewer moderate or difficult ETs (9.7% vs. 31.7%, P=.04) and more good embryos (1.8 vs. 1.3, P=.03) than the nonpregnant group. CONCLUSION(S): Analysis of recipient pairs with discordant outcomes identifies the recipient-related predictors of success by keeping oocyte quality and the laboratory component constant. Uterine pathology, thin endometrium, transfer difficulty, and number of high-grade embryos are the principal recipient-related determinants of outcome with donor eggs.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Eating patterns and obesity in children. The Bogalusa Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a growing public health problem. This study examined the association between eating patterns and overweight status in children who participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study. METHODS: A single 24-hour dietary recall was collected on a cross-sectional sample of 1562 children aged 10 years (65% Euro-American [EA], 35% African American [AA]) over a 21-year period. Overweight was defined as body mass index greater than the 85th percentile using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the association between eating patterns and overweight. RESULTS: Consumption of sweetened beverages (58% soft drinks, 20% fruit flavor drinks, 19% tea, and 3% coffee) (p<0.001); sweets (desserts, candy, and sweetened beverages) (p<0.001); meats (mixed meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, pork, and beef) (p<0.051); and total consumption of low-quality foods (p<0.01) were positively associated with overweight status. Total amount of food consumed, specifically from snacks, was positively associated with overweight status (p<0.05). There was a lack of congruency in the types of eating patterns associated with overweight status across four ethnic-gender groups. The percent variance explained from the eating pattern-overweight models was very small. The interaction of ethnicity and gender was significantly associated with overweight status (p<0.001). The odds of being overweight for EA males were 1.2 times higher than for AA females. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that numerous eating patterns were associated with overweight status, yet the odds of being overweight were very small. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings in a longitudinal sample having multiple days of assessment.

Adolescent↗