DzyNA-PCR: use of DNAzymes to detect and quantify nucleic acid sequences in a real-time fluorescent format.

Background: DzyNA-PCR is a general strategy for the detection and quantification of specific genetic sequences associated with disease or the presence of foreign agents. The method allows homogeneous gene amplification coupled with signal detection in a single closed vessel.

Methods: The strategy involves in vitro amplification of genetic sequences using a DzyNA primer that harbors the complementary (antisense) sequence of a 10-23 DNAzyme.

Detection of rare mutant alleles by restriction endonuclease-mediated selective-PCR: assay design and optimization.

Background: Restriction endonuclease-mediated selective (REMS)-PCR, allows detection of point mutations, deletions, and insertions. Reactions require concurrent activity of a restriction endonuclease (RE) and a DNA polymerase, both of which must be sufficiently thermostable to retain activity during thermocycling. The inclusion of the RE in REMS-PCR inhibits amplification of sequences containing the RE recognition site, thus producing selective amplification of sequences that lack the RE site.

Effect of turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) breeder hen age and egg size on poult development. 2. Intestinal villus growth, enterocyte migration and proliferation of the turkey poult.

Villus growth, enterocyte migration and proliferation were measured in the small intestine of poults (Meleagridis gallopavo) to determine if hen age and/or egg size influences these characteristics during the first week after hatching. At hatching, distal jejunal villi were 22.8 microns longer in poults from the older (48 weeks) versus the younger (34 weeks) hens (P < 0.

Effect of turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) breeder hen age and egg size on poult development. 1. Intestinal growth and glucose tolerance of the turkey poult.

Three experiments were conducted to determine if turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) hen age and egg weight affect poult intestinal development and glucose tolerance during the first week after hatching. Differences in glucose tolerance were not consistent across the experiments. In experiment 1, 4-day-old poults from the younger hens and lightest egg weight class had significantly greater fasting plasma glucose concentrations (P < 0.

Effects of feeding high carbohydrate or fat diets. 2. Apparent digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy of the posthatch poult.

An experiment was conducted with turkey poults to determine the apparent digestibility and derivation of ME from diets containing a high proportion of carbohydrate from corn (CHO; 60% of diet) or 10%) supplemental fat from an animal-vegetable blended fat (FAT) or a synthetic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT). Poults fed the FAT diet consumed more feed from 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 d of age than poults fed the CHO diet, intake of the MCT diet was intermediate. From 3 to 11 d of age, the percentage apparent digestibility of nonlipid DM by poults fed the CHO diet was greater than that observed for either the FAT or MCT diets (P < or = 0.

Effects of feeding high carbohydrate or high fat diets. 1. Growth and metabolic status of the posthatch poult following immediate or delayed access to feed.

Three experiments were conducted with turkey poults to determine the effects of diet and delayed placement on growth and selected aspects of carbohydrate metabolism. Immediately after hatch, poults were placed in batteries and allowed either immediate access to feed and water (FED) or feed and water withdrawal for 48 h (WH). In the first two experiments, diets contained a high proportion of carbohydrate from corn (CHO; 60% of diet) or a lower proportion of corn (26%) and 10% supplemental animal-vegetable fat (FAT).

Effect of hen age on intestinal development and glucose tolerance of the Pekin duckling.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether hen age affects intestinal development and glucose clearance in Pekin ducklings after hatching. In Experiment 1, 85- to 92-g eggs were collected from 32- and 44-wk-old hens. The eggs from older hens contained proportionately more yolk, which resulted in a greater mass transfer of yolk sac DM and lipid from 21 to 25 d of incubation, and ducklings from older hens were heavier at hatching (P < or = 0.

Effect of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development in commercial Pekin ducks.

At 26, 31, 36, and 42 wk of age, eggs were collected from the same duck breeder flock to study the effects of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development. At each hen age, yolk and albumen measurements were made on a random subsample of unincubated eggs. Embryo and yolk sac measurements were made at 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, and 28 d of incubation.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of bone presenting as chronic back pain.

Objective: To discuss a case of chondromyxoid fibroma presenting with low back pain.

Clinical Features: A 50-yr-old man had an 8-yr history of low back pain. This was diagnosed and treated as arising from the disc and caused by spinal stenosis.

Metabolism of ethanol by rat pancreatic acinar cells.

It has been postulated that ethanol-induced pancreatic injury may be mediated by the oxidation of ethanol within the pancreas with secondary toxic metabolic changes, but there is little evidence of pancreatic ethanol oxidation. The aims of this study were to determine whether pancreatic acinar cells metabolize significant amounts of ethanol and, if so, to compare their rate of ethanol oxidation to that of hepatocytes. Cultured rat pancreatic acinar cells and hepatocytes were incubated with 5 to 50 mmol/L carbon 14-labeled ethanol (25 dpm/nmol).

Periacinar stellate shaped cells in rat pancreas: identification, isolation, and culture.

Background: The pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis is unknown. In the liver, stellate cells (vitamin A storing cells) play a significant role in the development of fibrosis.

Aims: To determine whether cells resembling hepatic stellate cells are present in rat pancreas, and if so, to compare their number with the number of stellate cells in the liver, and isolate and culture these cells from rat pancreas.

The effect of ethanol on pancreatic enzymes--a dietary artefact?

The effects of ethanol on pancreatic digestive and lysosomal enzymes may be relevant to the pathogenesis of alcoholic pancreatitis since pancreatic enzymes are thought to play an important role in the development of pancreatic injury. Previous studies, using the Lieber-DeCarli pair-feeding model of ethanol administration, have demonstrated that ethanol significantly increases the content and gene expression of pancreatic enzymes. However, these findings have been questioned because, in the Lieber-DeCarli model, ethanol-fed rats have a lower carbohydrate intake than their pair-fed controls, making it difficult to ascribe any observed changes to ethanol alone.

Effect of hen age, body weight, and age at photostimulation. 2. Embryonic characteristics of commercial turkeys.

Turkey hens from two BW groups (which averaged 11.8 and 12.9 kg, Normal and Heavy, respectively) were photostimulated at either 29 or 31 wk of age to determine how changes in egg weight and egg component weights with hen age affect subsequent embryonic growth and yolk sac lipid mobilization.

Effect of hen age, body weight, and age at photostimulation. 1. Egg, incubation, and poult characteristics of commercial turkeys.

Turkeys from two BW groups (which averaged 11.8 and 12.9 kg, Normal and Heavy, respectively) were photostimulated at either 29 or 31 wk of age to determine what effects age-associated changes in hen carcass characteristics, egg weight, and egg components have on subsequent poult weight at hatching during the first 10 wk of production.

Effect of age and body weight on plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone in turkey hens before and after photostimulation.

The independent effects of age and body weight (BW) on photostimulatory response in turkey breeder hens were studied by measuring changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH; ng/mL) before and 3 d after photostimulation. The study was conducted with hens from two BW groups at 24-25, 27-28, and 31-32 wk of age. There was approximately a 1-kg difference in BW between groups within an age.

Rapid Ca2+ influx induced by the action of dibutylhydroquinone and glucagon in the perfused rat liver.

Glucagon induces a slight Ca2+ efflux when administered to the perfused rat liver. However, the hormone promotes rapid and significant Ca2+ influx after the prior administration of 2, 5-di(t-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (BHQ), an agent that promotes Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The concentrations of glucagon that promote Ca2+ influx are similar to those that promote glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes.

Independent effects of hen age and egg size on incubation and poult characteristics in commercial turkeys.

Nicholas hens from the same flock were studied throughout the growing and laying periods. From 36 to 55 wk of age, 800 eggs were collected at approximately 5-wk intervals. At each age, a subsample of 100 eggs were randomly selected for egg weight, yolk weight, yolk DM, and yolk lipid (DM).

Effect of dietary linoleic to linolenic acid ratio and vitamin E supplementation on vitamin E status of poults.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary linoleic to linolenic acid (LO:LN) ratio and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TA) supplementation on selected characteristics of the liver and cerebellum and on vitamin E status of turkey poults from hatch through 22 d of age. In Experiment 1, 1-d-old poults were fed diets containing no supplemental TA (0E) or 150 IU TA/kg diet (150E). Poults fed the 150E diet had greater (P < 0.