Comparison of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian abalone

The fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian adult blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. Wild abalone contained significantly higher levels of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) than cultured abalone (P<0.05). The predominant n-3 PUFA was docosapentaenoic acid in wild abalone, while in cultured abalone a high level of eicosapentaenoic acid was found. The concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was low in both wild and cultured abalone, and cultured abalone had a significantly higher percentage composition of this fatty acid than wild abalone (P<0.01). Significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), 22:2n-6, 22:4n-6 and total n-6 PUFA were also found in wild abalone than in cultured animals (P<0.05). The ratio of n-3 PUFA to n-6 PUFA was the same in wild and cultured abalone. Manipulation of nutrient sources of cultured abalone may influence their lipid composition. Consumption of either wild or cultured abalone will contribute to dietary n-3 PUFA intake, with benefits to human health.

Variation in platelet size during recovery from thrombocytopenia following extracorporeal circulation

Serial platelet counts and measurements of mean platelet volume have been performed on patients who became thrombocytopenic during open heart surgery. The results show that large platelets are released from the bone marrow during the 48 hours following the operation as a primary response to an acute increase in demand. During this period there is only a gradual recovery of the platelet count. In the subsequent days there is an acceleration of platelet production and a simultaneous reduction in platelet volume. These results suggest a change in the nature of the stimulus following the initial postoperative period, indicating a close relationship between platelet size and the total platelet count. Platelet size, therefore, may not be wholly dependent upon either megakaryocytic heterogeneity or platelet age.

Use of serum CPK-MM to monitor response to nutritional intervention in catabolic surgical patients

Nutritional status of surgical patients is widely assessed using anthropometrics, visceral proteins, and urinary nitrogen losses. Since assay of muscle-specific marker 3-methylhistidine (3MH) is currently limited to research laboratories, routine use of serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) and myoglobin is potentially useful in monitoring nutritional repletion of stressed patients. An acute and a temporal phase human studies were done to test this hypothesis. After an overnight fast, nondiabetic, noncardiac patients were given an IVGTT (0.5 g/kg) 3 days after a standard abdominal midline operation. Glucose, insulin, total CPK, myoglobin, and 3-methylhistidine were measured serially. Baseline CPK was elevated threefold above normal range of upper limits, whereas myoglobin was at the upper limit of normality. After the IVGTT insulin rose, (P less than 0.005) and CPK and 3MH fell (P less than 0.005) whereas myoglobin rose and remained elevated throughout the study (P less than 0.05). As long as insulin levels remained elevated, CPK remained depressed. With sufficient TPN to induce positive nitrogen balance (35 kcal and 0.2 g N/kg/day), elevated CPK levels fell and remained depressed in direct correlation with elevated insulin. Greater than 95% of total serum CPK consisted of the isoenzyme CPK-MM. These initial studies indicate that total serum CPK is useful in monitoring the short-term responses of postoperative catabolic patients who receive nutritional repletion.

Changes in the synovia after the intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate into normal horse joints and after arthrotomy and experimental cartilage damage

Sodium hyaluronate was injected into normal horse joints and joints that had undergone an arthrotomy and experimental cartilage damage. The elimination half-life for hyaluronic acid in normal joints was found to be approximately 96 h. The injection caused a non-significant increase (42%) in synovial fluid protein concentration and a fall in the intrinsic viscosity of the fluid. In the arthrotomy group the synovial fluid hyaluronic acid concentration fell after surgery but it was unaffected by the injection of sodium hyaluronate. An initial rise in the intrinsic viscosity of the synovial fluid from the arthrotomy group coincided with an increase in protein concentration. However there was no significant difference between the mean intrinsic viscosity or protein concentration in synovia from the control and treated joints at any time after surgery.

Hyaluronic acid concentration in synovial fluid from normal and arthritic joints of horses

A method previously described was used to determine the hyaluronic acid concentration in synovia from normal and arthritic horse joints. The concentration of hyaluronic acid in the synovia from arthritic joints was found to be significantly lower than the concentration in fluid from normal joints.

Quantitation of hyaluronic acid in equine synovia

An assay for the determination of hyaluronic acid concentration in equine synovia (synovial fluid) was investigated. The method involved the degradation of hyaluronic acid, using a highly specific microbial enzyme. The unsaturated tetra- and hexasaccharide products were oxidized with periodate and caused to react with thiobarbituric acid for form a chromophore which absorbed in the visible range of the spectrum. The method was precise within acceptable limits for synovia and compared favorably with the widely used carbazole method of Bitter and Muir (Anal Biochem 4:330-334, 1962). The between-assay coefficient of variation was 1.7% and the method was found to be linear to 100 microgram of hyaluronic acid. The mean value for hyaluronic acid concentration in synovia of health horses was 127 mg/100 ml.

Distribution of biologically labelled radioactive hyaluronic acid injected into joints

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