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The antinociceptive effect of 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) imidazole (TRIM), a potent inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in vitro, in the mouse.

1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)imidazole (TRIM) is a potent inhibitor of neuronal (mouse cerebellar) and inducible (lung from endotoxin-pretreated rats) isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with IC50 values of 28.2 microM and 27.0 microM, respectively. In contrast, TRIM is a poor inhibitor of bovine aortic endothelial NOS with an IC50 of 1057.5 microM. TRIM (10-50 mg kg-1) administered i.p. exhibits dose-related antinociceptive activity in the mouse (assessed as inhibition of late phase formalin-induced hindpaw licking behaviour) with an ED50 of 85.8 mumol kg-1. In contrast, TRIM (50 mg kg-1, i.p.) failed to influence mean arterial blood pressure in the urethane-anaesthetized mouse. Thus, TRIM may be of use as an experimental tool with which to investigate the biological roles of nitric oxide (NO) within the central nervous system.

Analgesics↗

Gradually glycosylated protein C mutants (Arg178Gln and Cys331Arg) are degraded by proteasome after mannose trimming.

Proteins that fail to attain their correct three-dimensional structure are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and eventually degraded within the cells. We investigated the degradation of mutant proteins, using naturally occurring protein C (PC) mutants (Arg178Gln and Cys331Arg) which lead to congenital deficiencies. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with normal or mutant expression vectors. The introduction of mutation at Asn329 of an unusual sequence Asn-X-Cys for N-linked glycosylation revealed that the mutation at Cys331, which may preclude a formation of disulfide bond with Cys345, resulted in no addition of N-linked oligosaccharides at Asn329. PC mutants with 4 glycosylation sites were gradually glycosylated in the ER, and the fourth glycosylation site is less accessible for glycosylation as reported for PC in plasma. The half lives of PC178 and PC331 mutants were about 5 and 4 h, respectively. PC mutants were degraded, but the degradation was inhibited by inhibitors for proteasome. Mannose trimming of N-linked oligosaccharides after glucose removal targeted PC mutants for degradation by proteasomes. And also the inhibition of glucose trimming immediately led to mannose trimming, resulting in the accelerated degradation of PC mutants. These degradations were inhibited by mannosidase I inhibitor, kifunensine. These results indicate that the initiation of mannose trimming by mannosidase I leads to the proteasomemediated degradation of glucose-trimmed or untrimmed PC mutants.

Animals↗

Differential role of mannose and glucose trimming in the ER degradation of asialoglycoprotein receptor subunits.

To gain insight into how sugar chain processing events modulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/proteasomal degradation we looked at human asialoglycoprotein receptor polypeptides H2a and H2b, variants which differ only by an extra pentapeptide (EGHRG) present in H2a. Membrane-bound H2a is a precursor of a soluble secreted form while H2b reaches the plasma membrane. Uncleaved precursor H2a molecules are completely retained in the ER and degraded as well as a portion of H2b. Inhibition of N-linked sugar chain mannose trimming stabilized both variants. In contrast, inhibition of glucose trimming with castanospermine greatly enhanced the degradation rate of H2a but not that of H2b. We studied a possible involvement of the ER chaperone calnexin, as inhibitors of glucose trimming are known to prevent calnexin binding. Incubation of cells with low concentrations of castanospermine (30 microg/ml) did not interfere with calnexin binding to H2a while causing the same accelerated degradation as high concentrations (>100 microg/ml) which did inhibit the association. Castanospermine treatment after calnexin binding blocked the dissociation of the chaperone but still caused accelerated degradation. The increased degradation could be blocked by a specific proteasome inhibitor, ZL(3)VS. Our results suggest that extensive mannose trimming or retention of glucose residues due to lack of glucose trimming are signals for ER/proteasomal degradation independent of interaction with calnexin.

3T3 Cells↗

Treatment of partial lacerations in flexor tendons by trimming. A biomechanical in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of a partial laceration in zone 2 of a flexor tendon is controversial. The intact part of the tendon can usually sustain forces of normal unresisted motion, and repaired partially lacerated tendons can actually be weaker than unrepaired ones. However, complications such as triggering or entrapment have been reported in association with unrepaired tendons. The purpose of this study was to measure the biomechanical behavior following trimming of the tendon as an alternative to repair. METHODS: Thirty-six flexor digitorum profundus tendons were harvested from sixteen unpaired fresh-frozen cadaveric human hands and were randomly assigned to be subjected to either 50% or 75% partial laceration, which was either lateral or volar, and were then assigned to no repair, repair with a running suture, or trimming. Mean and maximum gliding resistances were measured as the flexor digitorum profundus glided through the bone-A2 pulley complex and the flexor digitorum superficialis. Values were normalized to those measured in the intact tendon. The tendons were then distracted to failure, and maximum load and stiffness were recorded. RESULTS: There was triggering or entrapment of eight unrepaired tendons; two cases were severe, and six were minor. When no severe trigger was obvious, the unrepaired tendons had the lowest tendency for gliding resistance, followed by the tendons treated with trimming and then by those treated with the running suture. Overall, the tendons with a volar laceration had higher mean and maximum gliding resistance than those with a lateral laceration (p < 0.05), those with a 75% partial laceration had higher mean gliding resistance than those with a 50% laceration (p < 0.05), and the tendons that were repaired with running suture had higher mean gliding resistance than those treated with trimming (p < 0.05). Tendon strength was not significantly different among the three types of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of gliding resistance after partial tendon laceration, no repair appears necessary unless triggering is a problem. If triggering occurs, then trimming of a partially lacerated tendon may be a reliable alternative to repair, at least in terms of gliding resistance and strength.

Adult↗

Estimates of subprimal yields from beef carcasses as affected by USDA grades, subcutaneous fat trim level, and carcass sex class and type.

One hundred beef carcasses were selected to represent the mix of cattle slaughtered across the United States. Selection criteria included breed type (60% British/continental European, 20% Bos indicus, and 20% dairy carcasses), sex class (beef and Bos indicus: 67% steers, 33% heifers; dairy: 100% steers), USDA quality grade (4% Prime, 53% Choice, and 43% Select), USDA yield grade (10% YG 1, 43% YG 2, 40% YG 3, and 7% YG 4), and carcass weight (steers: 272.2 to 385.6 kg, heifers: 226.8 to 340.2 kg). One side of each carcass was fabricated into boneless subprimals and minor cuts following Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications. After fabrication, subprimals were trimmed progressively of fat in .64-cm increments beginning with a maximum of 2.54 cm and ending with .64 cm. Linear regression models were developed for each individual cut, including fabrication byproduct items (bone, fat trim) to estimate the percentage yield of those cuts reported by USDA Market News. Strip loin, top sirloin butt, and gooseneck rounds from heifers tended to have a higher percentage yield at the same USDA yield grade than the same cuts from steers, possibly resulting from increased fat deposition on heifers. Percentage of fat trimmed from dairy steers was 2 to 3% lower than that from other sex-class/carcass types; however, due to increased percentage of bone and less muscle, dairy steers were lower-yielding. Fat trimmed from carcasses ranged from 7.9 to 15.6% as the maximum trim level decreased from 2.54 to .64 cm.

Adipose Tissue↗

Using current on-line carcass evaluation parameters to estimate boneless and bone-in pork carcass yield as influenced by trim level.

The objective of this study was to develop prediction equations for estimating proportional carcass yield to a variety of external trim levels and bone-in and boneless pork primal cuts. Two hundred pork carcasses were selected from six U.S. pork processing plants and represented USDA carcass grades (25% USDA #1, 36% USDA #2, 25% USDA #3, and 14% USDA #4). Carcasses were measured (prerigor and after a 24 h chill) for fat and muscle depth at the last rib (LR) and between the third and fourth from last rib (TH) with a Hennessy optical grading probe (OGP). Carcasses were shipped to Texas A&M University, where one was randomly assigned for fabrication. Selected sides were fabricated to four lean cuts (ham, loin, Boston butt, and picnic shoulder) then fabricated progressively into bone-in (BI) and boneless (BL) four lean cuts (FLC) trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, and BL 0 cm trim, seam fat removed, four lean cuts (BLS-OFLC). Total dissected carcass lean was used to calculate the percentage of total carcass lean (PLEAN). Lean tissue subsamples were collected for chemical fat-free analysis and percentage carcass fat-free lean (FFLEAN) was determined. Longissimus muscle area and fat depth also were collected at the 10th and 11th rib interface during fabrication. Regression equations were developed from linear carcass and OGP measurements predicting FLC of each fabrication point. Loin muscle and fat depths from the OPG obtained on warm, prerigor carcasses at the TH interface were more accurate predictors of fabrication end points than warm carcass probe depth obtained at the last rib or either of the chilled carcass probe sites (probed at TH or LR). Fat and loin muscle depth obtained via OGP explained 46.7, 52.6, and 57.1% (residual mean square error [RMSE] = 3.30, 3.19, and 3.04%) of the variation in the percentage of BI-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively, and 49.0, 53.9, and 60.7% (RMSE = 2.91, 2.81, and 2.69%) of the variation in the percentage of BL-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively. Fat and loin muscle depth from warm carcass OGP probes at the TH interface accounted for 62.4 and 63.5% (RMSE = 3.38 and 3.27%) of the variation in PLEAN and FFLEAN, respectively. These equations provide an opportunity to estimate pork carcass yield for a variety of procurement end point equations using existing on-line techniques.

Animals↗

Effect of rearing floor type and ten-day beak trimming on stress and performance of caged layers.

Beak trimming pullets at an early age is a widespread industry practice. There is some concern that this practice may have effects on the subsequent performance of the birds in the production phase. Effects of beak treatment (trimmed or untrimmed) and rearing floor type (litter or wire) on performance of caged layers were evaluated in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pullets that were trimmed or untrimmed at 10 days of age and reared on either litter or wire floors were placed in a cage house. Production factors and stress measurements were recorded to determine detrimental effects of the early trimming and rearing floor types. No interactions (P = .15) between rearing floor type and beak treatment were observed for BW, feed consumption, egg production, heart weight, spleen weight, or blood corticosterone. However, an interaction (P = .02) between rearing floor type and beak treatment was observed for adrenal weight. There were no differences (P = .08) in the final BW of the pullets. Birds reared on litter ate considerably (P = .0002) more than those reared on wire. There were no differences (P = .27) in egg production rate. Adrenal weights were different (P = .007), with the litter-raised birds having much smaller adrenals at the end of the 36-wk trial. Hearts of the beak-trimmed birds were smaller (P = .02) than those of the untrimmed birds. There were no differences in spleen weights (P = .07) or blood corticosterone levels (P = .07). Differences in the feather cover were observed.

Adrenal Glands↗

Beak trimming effects on beak length and feed usage for growth and egg production.

Two experiments were conducted to compare beak treatment effects on pullets of three genetic stocks. Within each stock, equal numbers were assigned to three treatments: no beak trimming (IN), beak trimming once (1X), and beak trimming twice (2X). Beak treatment, genetic stock, and age effects along with interactions among main effects were examined for production-associated traits during rearing and brief periods of early egg production. Beaks of 1X and 2X pullets remained shorter than those of IN pullets through final measurements at 36 and 32 wk of age in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, differences in beak length decreased as age increased. Upper beaks of 2X pullets remained shorter than those of 1X pullets, but lower beaks of 1X and 2X pullets did not differ by 20 wk in Experiment 2. Weight gains, feed usage, and efficiency of growth were affected by beak treatments. Beak trimming reduced gains, feed eaten, feed wasted, and total feed used, and 2X pullets used their feed more efficiently for weight gain and egg production. A general decrease occurred in differences among beak treatments for weight gains, feed eaten, feed wasted, and efficiency of gains with increasing age during rearing. Nevertheless, significant differences in feed consumed, feed wasted, and efficiency of feed used for egg production indicated an economic advantage in favor of beak trimming.

Aging↗

The effect of beak trimming on two strains of commercial tom turkeys. 2. Behavior traits.

The influence of beak trimming of two strains of commercial male turkeys (Strains A and B) on behavior during the growing period was investigated. Poults were either left with beaks intact or arc beak trimmed at hatching. Strain by beak treatment interactions were generally lacking, indicating that these two strains responded similarly. Beak trimming did not influence tameness (as measured by response to a novel object at 16 wk), fearfulness (as measured by tonic immobility response at 18 wk), or resting behavior from 3 to 15 wk of age. When compared to birds with intact beaks, birds with trimmed beaks spent more time standing during the week of hatching and were observed eating more often at 2 wk of age. Strain B birds were more tame, less fearful, and rested more at 8 and 11 wk of age than Strain A birds. Results of the current study indicate that the influence of arc beak trimming at hatching on behavior of male turkeys at hatching did not appear to have a lasting negative impact on their well-being.

Aging↗

Comparison of water wash, trimming, and combined hot water and lactic acid treatments for reducing bacteria of fecal origin on beef carcasses.

Cleaning treatments, such as high-pressure water wash at 35 degrees C or trim, alone and combined with sanitizing treatments, such as hot water (95 degrees C at the source), warm (55 degrees C) 2% lactic acid spray, and combinations of these two sanitizing methods, were compared for their effectiveness in reducing inoculated numbers (5.0 to 6.0 log CFU/cm2) of Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, aerobic plate counts, Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, and generic E. coli on hot beef carcass surface areas in a model carcass spray cabinet. Log reductions in numbers of all tested organisms by water wash or trim alone were significantly smaller than the log reductions obtained by the different combined treatments. Regardless of the cleaning treatment (water wash or trim) or surface area, the range for mean log reductions by hot water was from 4.0 to > 4.8 log CFU/cm2, by lactic acid spray was from 4.6 to > 4.9 log CFU/cm2, by hot water followed by lactic acid spray was from 4.5 to > 4.9 log CFU/cm2, and by lactic acid spray followed by hot water was from 4.4 to > 4.6 log CFU/cm2, for S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7. Identical reductions were obtained for thermotolerant coliforms and generic E. coli. No differences in bacterial reductions were observed for different carcass surface regions. Water wash and trim treatments caused spreading of the contamination to other areas of the carcass surface while providing an overall reduction in fecal or pathogenic contamination on carcass surface areas. This relocated contamination after either water wash or trim was most effectively reduced by following with hot water and then lactic acid spray. This combined treatment yielded 0% positive samples for S. typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7, thermotolerant coliforms, and generic E. coli on areas outside the inoculated areas, whereas percent positive samples after applying other combined treatments ranged from 22 to 44% for S. typhimurium, 0 to 44% for E. coli O157:H7, and 11 to 33% for both thermotolerant coliforms and generic E. coli. From data collected in this study, it is possible to choose an effective, inexpensive treatment to reduce bacterial contamination on beef carcasses. In addition, the similar reduction rates of total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, or generic E. coli may be useful in identifying an indicator to verify the effectiveness of the selected treatment as a critical control point in a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program.

Animals↗

Evaluation of combination treatment processes for the microbial decontamination of pork trim.

Combination treatment processes for the microbial decontamination of pork trim were developed and evaluated. Lean pork trim tissue (LPT) and fat-covered pork trim tissue (FPT) inoculated with swine feces were treated with intervention processes as follows: (i) control (untreated), (ii) water (15 degrees C, 120 s), (iii) water followed by lactic acid wash (15 degrees C, 75 s), (iv) combination 1 (water plus hot water [65.5 degrees C, 15 s] plus hot air [510 degrees C, 60 s] plus lactic acid), (v) combination 2 (water plus hot water [82.2 degrees C, 15 s] plus hot air [510 degrees C, 75 s] plus lactic acid), and (vi) combination 3 (water plus hot water [82.2 degrees C, 45 s] plus hot air [510 degrees C, 90 s] plus lactic acid). Populations of aerobic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and lactic acid bacteria were determined before and after treatment and at days 2 and 7 of 4 degrees C storage. Regardless of the intervention treatment, lower microbial populations were observed on FPT than on LPT immediately after treatment and during the 7-day storage period. Both LPT and FPT treated with water plus lactic acid, combination 1, combination 2, and combination 3 had lower remaining populations of all microbial groups immediately after treatment than did water-treated samples. Populations of aerobic bacteria, coliforms, E. coli, and lactic acid bacteria on either LPT or FPT did not statistically increase during the 7-day storage period. On LPT, populations of psychrotrophic bacteria grew during 4 degrees C storage but remained lower at day 7 on LPT treated by combinations 2 and 3 (2.29 and 1.89 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively) than on LPT treated with water (4.07 log10 CFU/cm2) or water plus lactic acid (3.52 log10 CFU/cm2). Populations of psychrotrophic bacteria remained below detectable levels throughout the 7-day storage on FPT treated with water plus lactic acid or any of the three combination treatments. Treatment of pork trim with any of the combination treatments significantly (P < 0.05) affected the color and emulsion stability of the ground pork. Water and water plus lactic acid were the most favorable treatments in reducing microbial populations on pork trim without affecting the quality attributes of the ground pork.

Animals↗

Gas formation in ground beef chubs due to Hafnia alvei is reduced by multiple applications of antimicrobial interventions to artificially inoculated beef trim stock.

Gas-forming microorganisms were isolated from gas-swollen ground beef chubs obtained from a commercial source and were phenotypically identified as Hafnia alvei. In in situ experiments, the isolated H. alvei strains produced gas in inoculated irradiation-sterilized ground beef chubs. A five-strain cocktail of H. alvei isolates was inoculated on beef trim. The inoculated beef trim samples were treated with either a water wash (W) at 65 psi for five passes (a pass refers to the application of successive multiple antimicrobial treatments to inoculated beef trim on a moving processing conveyor belt at a speed of 1 cm/s under heat ducts or oscillating spray nozzles), W plus a 2% (vol/vol) lactic acid wash (L) at room temperature at 30 psi for three passes (W/L), or a combination treatment (COMB) consisting of W plus 82 degrees C water for three passes plus 510 degrees C hot air for six passes plus L, or were not treated (control). After treatment, the beef trim was ground and vacuum packaged. The numbers of H. alvei were reduced with water alone and with the aforementioned antimicrobial intervention treatments. For the untreated and inoculated control samples, the numbers of H. alvei increased from 7.03 to 8.40 log CFU/g after 7 days of incubation at 4 degrees C. However, the numbers of H. alvei treated by successive antimicrobial interventions (COMB) were initially reduced to 5.25 log CFU/g and increased to just 6.9 log CFU/g after 7 days of incubation at 4 degrees C. Gas was produced in untreated control samples after 3 days at 15 degrees C (15 of 15 inoculated chubs). However, in meat treated with W, W/L, and COMB, gas was produced after 4 to 5, 7 to 8, and 9 to 10 days of storage at 15 degrees C, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of multiple antimicrobial interventions in reducing H. alvei numbers on beef trim and subsequently delaying gas formation in the resulting ground beef chubs.

Animals↗

A scale for rating tricyclic response in major depression: the TRIM.

We describe the construction and validation of the TRIM, an empirically derived scale designed to rate tricyclic antidepressant response in major depression. Symptoms selected were those that improved in direct association with therapeutic desipramine plasma levels, were frequently present, were substantially correlated with the scale total, could be reliably rated, and for which interview ratings were concordant with observed behavior. Eight symptoms met these criteria and were included. The sensitivity of the TRIM was tested and compared with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Scale (MADS) in a new 4-week prospective desipramine study of nonpsychotic unipolar inpatients with major depression. TRIM 4-week totals were significantly associated with total desipramine plus hydroxydesipramine plasma concentrations, r = -0.32, p less than 0.05, but HAM-D and MADS scores were not. Using multiple regression to control for pretreatment severity, TRIM scores were significantly associated with desipramine plus hydroxydesipramine levels, while HAM-D and MADS scores were not. The data appear to validate the sensitivity of the TRIM and illustrate that scales designed for drug response may detect drug effects that global scales do not.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗

An efficient and site-specific gene trimming method.

Trimming a DNA strand into a precisely determined fragment can be carried out efficiently by an improved method involving a site-specific trim-primer and a single-stranded DNA template which is generated from a multifunctional vector, pTZ18R, and linearized by using an Eco RI-pTZ18R splinter. A complementary DNA strand is synthesized by DNA polymerase I (Klenow), and the 3'-end of the template upstream from the annealed primer is trimmed by subsequent T4 DNA polymerase reaction. An ATG translation initiator codon or a termination codon can be incorporated into the trim-primer, providing versatility to this single-stranded DNA-initiated gene trimming method that can be applied to subcloning and expression of any DNA fragment with known terminal sequences.

Biotechnology↗

Characterization of terminal-repeat retrotransposon in miniature (TRIM) in Brassica relatives.

We have newly identified five Terminal-repeat retrotransposon in miniature (TRIM) families, four from Brassica and one from Arabidopsis. A total of 146 elements, including three Arabidopsis families reported before, are extracted from genomics data of Brassica and Arabidopsis, and these are grouped into eight distinct lineages, Br1 to Br4 derived from Brassica and At1 to At4 derived from Arabidopsis. Based on the occurrence of TRIM elements in 434 Mb of B. oleracea shotgun sequences and 96 Mb of B. rapa BAC end sequences, total number of TRIM members of Br1, Br2, Br3, and Br4 families are roughly estimated to be present in 660 and 530 copies in B. oleracea and B. rapa genomes, respectively. Studies on insertion site polymorphisms of four elements across taxa in the tribe Brassiceae infer the taxonomic lineage and dating of the insertion time. Active roles of the TRIM elements for evolution of the duplicated genes are inferred in the highly replicated Brassica genome.

Base Sequence↗

A comparative study of the effect of refining on organosolv pulp from olive trimmings and kraft pulp from eucalyptus wood.

This paper examines the influence of the degree of refining of different pulps, produced from olive trimmings and eucalyptus wood, on various physical properties. Corresponding pulps were obtained by means of different cooking processes. Pulp from olive trimmings was obtained by means of an organosolv process and pulp from eucalyptus was obtained by means of a kraft process. Pulp from olive trimmings exhibited a lower specific surface area, water retention volume, breaking length, stretch and burst index, but a higher porosity, than eucalyptus pulp. On the other hand, the same degree of refining was achieved with less energy for olive pulp than for eucalyptus pulp. Mixed pulp from olive trimmings and eucalyptus provided paper sheets with acceptable physical properties but with reduced refining energy costs relative to eucalyptus pulp alone.

Eucalyptus↗

Trimmed estimators for robust averaging of event-related potentials.

Averaging (in statistical terms, estimation of the location of data) is one of the most commonly used procedures in neuroscience and the basic procedure for obtaining event-related potentials (ERP). Only the arithmetic mean is routinely used in the current practice of ERP research, though its sensitivity to outliers is well-known. Weighted averaging is sometimes used as a more robust procedure, however, it can be not sufficiently appropriate when the signal is nonstationary within a trial. Trimmed estimators provide an alternative way to average data. In this paper, a number of such location estimators (trimmed mean, Winsorized mean and recently introduced trimmed L-mean) are reviewed, as well as arithmetic mean and median. A new robust location estimator tanh, which allows the data-dependent optimization, is proposed for averaging of small number of trials. The possibilities to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of averaged waveforms using trimmed location estimators are demonstrated for epochs randomly drawn from a set of real auditory evoked potential data.

Adult↗

Measurements of claw dimensions in cows before and after functional trimming: a post-mortem study.

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of the medial and lateral claws of the hind feet in cattle, and to establish reference values to aid in functional claw trimming. Variables of the medial and lateral claws of 40 hind feet obtained from 40 slaughtered German Simmental cows were measured. To standardise the observations the soles of both the medial and lateral claws were first trimmed to a defined thickness of 5mm at the apex and 8mm at the heel, before measurements were taken. After this standardisation, the mean lengths of the dorsal walls of the two claws were not significantly different (means, lateral 76.8, medial 77.1 mm). However, there were considerable other differences. For example, the soles of the lateral claws were significantly (P < 0.01) longer (means, 120.1mm versus 112.7 mm, and wider (means, 52.0 mm versus 42.5 mm). In 36/40 feet, the sole of the lateral claw protruded approximately 2-3mm above the sole of the medial claw after the standardisation. The soles of the lateral claws were therefore then trimmed to the height of the medial claw ("levelling") and the measurements were repeated in the lateral claws. The dorsal wall of the lateral claw was then significantly shorter than that of the medial claw (means, 74.8 mm versus 77.1 mm) and, most importantly from a functional point of view, the sole was significantly thinner than that of the medial claw (means, 2.71 mm versus 5mm at the toe tip, 4.9mm versus 8 mm at the heel). Finally, the horn capsule of all claws was removed and various measurements of the corium surface were made. The length of the dorsal corium surface did not differ statistically (P > 0.05) between the lateral (mean, 62.6 mm) and medial (mean, 62.5 mm) claws. Strict adherence to the principles of functional trimming thus reduces the thickness of the sole, the length of the dorsal wall and the length and height of the bulb of the lateral claw. This suggests that the sole of the medial claw should be left an extra 3 mm thicker than previously recommended such that, after "levelling", the sole of the lateral claw remains thick enough to protect fully the corium and the claw retains a more normal shape.

Animal Husbandry↗