Biomedical subjects

D M Schaefer

Publications and source records attributed to D M Schaefer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in dairy cattle housed in a confined environment following waterborne inoculation.

A study of Escherichia coli O157:H7 transmission and shedding was conducted with bull calves housed in individual pens within a confined environment. For comparative purposes, the numbers and duration of E. coli O157:H7 shedding in naturally infected calves were monitored after a single purchased calf (calf 156) tested positive prior to inoculation. During the next 8 days, the calves in adjacent pens and a pen directly across a walkway from calf 156 began to shed this serotype O157:H7 strain. Five of the eight calves in this room shed this O157:H7 strain at some time during the following 8 weeks. The numbers of E. coli O157:H7 isolates shed in these calves varied from 60 to 10(5) CFU/g of feces, and the duration of shedding ranged from 17 to >31 days. The genomic DNAs from isolates recovered from these calves were indistinguishable when compared by using XbaI digestion and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Inoculation of calves with 1 liter of water containing ca. 10(3) to 10(4) CFU of E. coli O157:H7/ml resulted in shedding in 10 of 12 calves (trial 1, 4 of 4 calves; trial 2, 6 of 8 calves). The inoculated calves shed the inoculation strain (FRIK 1275) as early as 24 h after administration. The duration of shedding varied from 18 to >43 days at levels from 10(2) to 10(6) CFU/g of feces. The numbers of doses necessary to initiate shedding varied among calves, and two calves in trial 2 never shed FRIK 1275 after four doses (ca. 10(6) CFU per dose). Results from this study confirm previous reports of animal-to-animal and waterborne dissemination of E. coli O157:H7 and highlight the need for an effective water treatment to reduce the spread of this pathogen in cattle.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Normal calves from transfer of biopsied, sexed and vitrified IVP bovine embryos.

Data on biopsied, sexed and cryopreserved in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos, and their in vivo developmental competence are very limited. Two preliminary studies were conducted before the primary study. In Experiment 1, post-thaw in vitro developmental competence of biopsied and vitrified IVP embryos was evaluated using re-expansion as an endpoint. In Experiment 2, the pregnancy rates of biopsied fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos following single embryo transfer were compared. Since vitrified embryos resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than frozen-thawed embryos, in the primary study (Experiment 3), all IVP embryos were vitrified following biopsy and sexing (by DNA fingerprinting). In Experiment 3, we compared pregnancy initiation and calving results of heifers in the following treatments: 1) artificial insemination (AI); 2) AI plus contralateral transfer of a single embryo (AI + SET); 3) ipsilateral transfer of single embryo (SET); or 4) bilateral transfer of two embryos (DET). Birth weights, gestation lengths and dystocia scores were recorded. In Experiment 1, post-thaw re-expansion rate of biopsied and vitrified embryos was 85% (70/82). In Experiment 2, pregnancy rates (90 d) were 44% (7/16), 23% (3/13), and 50% (7/14) for vitrified, frozen and fresh embryos, respectively (P < 0.10). In Experiment 3, pregnancy rates of AI and SET were 65% (20/31) and 40% (16/40), respectively (P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate of AI + SET was 75% (27/36) with 11 carrying twins, and the pregnancy rate of DET was 72% (26/36) with 10 carrying twins. All AI fetuses were carried to term, but only half the SET fetuses were carried to term. Similar calving rates were observed in the AI + SET and DET groups, 76 and 70%, respectively, of those pregnant at Day 40. Mean birth weight, dystocia score and gestation length of AI calves were not different from those of SET calves. Mean birth weight and dystocia score of single-born calves were greater than those of twin born calves (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that biopsied IVP bovine embryos can be successfully cryopreserved by vitrification and following post-thaw embryo transfer, acceptable rates of offspring with normal birth weights can be obtained without major calving difficulties.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Transfer of fresh and cryopreserved IVP bovine embryos: normal calving, birth weight and gestation lengths.

In vitro and in vivo developmental competence of fresh and cryopreserved in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos was evaluated up to birth. Three experiments were done. The objective in the first experiment was to develop an optimal vitrification procedure for IVP bovine embryos by determining effects of exposure time (2, 5, 10, 20 min) and temperature (4, 22, 27 degrees C) in cryoprotective agents prior to vitrification on their post-thaw viability. The best combination was used in Experiments 2 and 3. In the second experiment, the importance of post-thaw morphologic selection on pregnancy rates was determined by transferring either selected or unselected single embryos. In the third experiment, pregnancy initiation, maintenance and calving results of vitrified embryos were compared with fresh and conventionally frozen embryos. Fetal losses, birth weights, gestation lengths and frequency of dystocia in the third experiment were monitored. The interaction of exposure time and temperature on both post-thaw re-expansion and hatching rates was significant (P < 0.01). Five minute exposure at 27 degrees C was optimal. In the second experiment, post-thaw selected vitrified embryos had higher pregnancy rates than unselected embryos (P < 0.05). In the third experiment, the pregnancy rate of vitrified embryos did not differ from that of fresh embryos (P > 0.05). However, pregnancy rate of conventionally frozen embryos was lower than that of fresh or vitrified embryos (P < 0.05). Of 92 calves born, 53 were male and 39 were female. Birth weights and dystocia scores of single-born calves did not differ between sexes (P > 0.05). Twin-born calves were lighter than single-born calves (P < 0.05). Overall, the data demonstrate that the transfer of vitrified IVP bovine embryos can result in healthy, apparently normal calves similar to those derived from transfer of fresh and conventionally frozen IVP bovine embryos.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Assessment of reductive acetogenesis with indigenous ruminal bacterium populations and Acetitomaculum ruminis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of reductive acetogenesis as an alternative H2 disposal mechanism in the rumen. H2/CO2-supported acetogenic ruminal bacteria were enumerated by using a selective inhibitor of methanogenesis, 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid (BES). Acetogenic bacteria ranged in density from 2.5 x 10(5) cells/ml in beef cows fed a high-forage diet to 75 cells/ml in finishing steers fed a high-grain diet. Negligible endogenous acetogenic activity was demonstrated in incubations containing ruminal contents, NaH13CO3, and 100% H2 gas phase since [U-13C]acetate, as measured by mass spectroscopy, did not accumulate. Enhancement of acetogenesis was observed in these incubations when methanogenesis was inhibited by BES and/or by the addition of an axenic culture of the rumen acetogen Acetitomaculum ruminis 190A4 (10(7) CFU/ml). To assess the relative importance of population density and/or H2 concentration for reductive acetogenesis in ruminal contents, incubations as described above were performed under a 100% N2 gas phase. Both selective inhibition of methanogenesis and A. ruminis 190A4 fortification (>10(5) CFU/ml) were necessary for the detection of reductive acetogenesis under H2-limiting conditions. Under these conditions, H2 accumulated to 4, 800 ppm. In contrast, H2 accumulated to 400 ppm in incubations with active methanogenesis (without BES). These H2 concentrations correlated well with the pure culture H2 threshold concentrations determined for A. ruminis 190A4 (3,830 ppm) and the ruminal methanogen 10-16B (126 ppm). The data demonstrate that ruminal methanogenic bacteria limited reductive acetogenesis by lowering the H2 partial pressure below the level necessary for H2 utilization by A. ruminis 190A4.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1998

Beef color update: the role for vitamin E.

Dietary supplementation of livestock with vitamin E results in improved quality of meat subsequently obtained from these animals. The effect is especially noteworthy in cattle, in which the primary effects are delayed discoloration and lipid oxidation. A threshold level of alpha-tocopherol in muscle ensures a detectable effect; dietary strategies for attaining this threshold must consider tocopherol status of cattle arriving at the feedyard and duration and level of supplementation. The alpha-tocopherol concentration in muscle must be determined before proper interpretation of experimental results can be made. Muscles vary in their color stability, and this relative difference is not changed by vitamin E supplementation. Several in vitro models have been used to characterize the interaction between alpha-tocopherol, lipid oxidation, and oxymyoglobin oxidation. Alpha-tocopherol seems to exert its color-stabilizing effect by indirectly delaying oxymyoglobin oxidation via direct inhibition of lipid oxidation. However, recent results demonstrating a protective effect of alpha-tocopherol toward oxymyoglobin in low-oxygen atmospheres indicate that additional mechanisms may exist. A better understanding of the fundamental bases for protection of water-soluble myoglobin by lipid-soluble alpha-tocopherol is needed to optimize this beneficial effect.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Tapeworm infection decreases intestinal transit and enteric aerobic bacterial populations.

Intestinal myoelectric patterns in rats are altered after chronic luminal infection with the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. This study evaluates whether these altered patterns were associated with changes in intestinal fluid transit and endogenous enteric microbe levels. Luminal transit, measured throughout the small intestine during the interdigestive state, was significantly decreased during tapeworm infection. Reduced transit was regional, occurring in the same location as that of the tapeworm and maximal myoelectric alterations. In other experimental systems, aerobic and anaerobic bacterial overgrowth is associated with decreased transit; however, reduced transit during tapeworm infection was unexpectedly associated with decreased numbers of aerobic bacteria, whereas anaerobic bacterial populations remained unchanged. The lack of overgrowing endogenous microflora suggests that overgrowth is not responsible for tapeworm-stimulated alterations in host myoelectric patterns. We speculate that a tapeworm secretion could be responsible for both transit and motility changes while delayed intestinal transit could prevent tapeworm expulsion, aid the tapeworms' migration, and contribute to the digestion and absorption of nutrients by hosts and/or parasites.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Growth and fermentation responses of Selenomonas ruminantium to limiting and non-limiting concentrations of ammonium chloride.

The objective of this study was to assess fermentation product, growth rate and growth yield responses of Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 to limiting and non-limiting ammonia concentrations. The ammonia half-inhibition constant for S. ruminantium in batch culture was 296 mM. Cells were grown in continuous culture with a defined ascorbate-reduced basal medium containing either 0.5, 5, 25, 50, 100 or 200 mM NH4Cl and dilution rates were 0.07, 0.14, 0.24 or 0.40 h-1. Ammonia was the growth-limiting nutrient when 0.5 mM NH4Cl was provided and the half-saturation constant was 72 microM. Specific rates of glucose utilization and fermentation acid carbon formation were highest for 0.5 mM NH4Cl. Lactate production (moles per mole of glucose disappearing) increased at the fastest dilution rate (0.40 h-1) for 5.0 mM NH4Cl while acetate and propionate decreased when compared to slower dilutions (0.07 and 0.14 h-1). Lactate production remained low while acetate and propionate remained high for all dilution rates when NH4Cl concentrations were 25 mM or greater. Yield (Y(Glc) and Y(ATP)) were nearly doubled when NH4Cl was increased from 0.5 mM (25.1 g cells/mol glucose used and 13.9 g cells/mol ATP produced respectively) to the higher concentrations. Y(Glc) was highest at 25 mM and 50 mM NH4Cl (48.2 cells/mol and 43.1 cells/mol respectively) as was Y(ATP) (23.2 cells/mol and 20.8 cells/mol respectively). Y(NH3) was highest at the lowest NH4Cl concentration. The maximal fermentation product formation rate occurred at a growth-limiting ammonia concentration, while maximal glucose and ATP bacterial yields occurred at non-growth-limiting ammonia concentrations. Given the growth response of this ruminal bacterium, it is possible that maximization of ruminal bacterial yield may necessitate sacrificing the substrate degradation rate and vice versa.

Ammonium Chloride↗

PubMed1996

Technical note: a simplified procedure for vitamin E determination in beef muscle.

A simplified method for the determination of alpha-tocopherol concentration in beef muscle was developed and evaluated. The method consists of a saponification step applied to 1-g samples of intact, fresh muscle, followed by a single isooctane extraction of the saponified samples. alpha-Tocopherol in the extract was separated by normal phase chromatography and quantified by fluorescence detection. A single extraction with the simplified method accounted for 95% of the total muscle alpha-tocopherol concentration obtained by two extractions with the Arnold et al. (J. Food Sci. 58:28, 1993) method. Recovery of added alpha-tocopherol standard after two extractions of a saponified muscle sample was 91% for the simplified method, which was not different (alpha = .78) from recovery using the Arnold method, and the efficiency of the single extraction in the simplified method was 89%. The coefficients of variation for the simplified and Arnold methods were both 3.1%. This method should permit the duplicate analysis of 100 fresh muscle samples within 24 h.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Color coordinates for assessment of dietary vitamin E effects on beef color stability.

Color stability was investigated in longissimus lumborum (LL), semimembranosus (SM), and gluteus medius (GM) muscles from Holstein steers fed diets including doses of alpha-tocopheryl acetate that were 0 (EO), 250 (E250), 500 (E500), and 2,000 (E2000) mg.steer-1.d-1 for 42 or 126 d. Longissimus lumborum was aged for 14, 28, and 56 d and GM and SM were aged for 14 d. Effects of vitamin E dose on retention of redness (a*), yellowness (b*), color saturation (chroma), and proportions of redness and yellowness (hue angle) following an aging period of 14 d were E2000 > E500 = E250 > EO (P < .01). Effectiveness of dose duration on the color parameters was 126 d > 42 d (P < .01). Dietary vitamin E supplementation stabilized redness and color saturation, decreased yellowness, and extended color display life of fresh beef. A technique for estimation of color display life based on hue angle measurements of fresh beef is described. Color display life estimates based on hue angle measurements were more consistent with vitamin E supplementation effects on metmyoglobin percentage and hue angle than were estimates obtained from the metmyoglobin threshold method. Color display life across LL, SM, and GM stored until d 14 and then displayed under simulated retail conditions was extended (P < .01) 2.0 (E250) to 5.0 d (E2000). Coefficients of determination for regressions of color display life on muscle alpha-tocopherol concentration were .81, .64, and .63 in LL, SM, and GM muscles aged 14 d, respectively. Supplementation of 500 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate per steer daily improved (P < .01) the mean color display life of these three muscles by 2.3 d, or 100%.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Titration of fresh meat color stability and malondialdehyde development with Holstein steers fed vitamin E-supplemented diets.

Pigment and lipid oxidations were investigated in longissimus lumborum (LL), semimembranosus (SM), and gluteus medius (GM) from Holstein steers fed four doses of vitamin E (64 [control], 295, 550, or 2,173 IU/d) for two durations (42 or 126d). Vitamin E dose did not affect (P = .30) carcass quality or yield characteristics. The LL was stored in vacuum packages at 4 degrees C for 14, 28, and 56 d, and GM and SM were stored for 14 d. Increments of dose and duration of vitamin E supplementation increased (P < .001) alpha-tocopherol concentration in blood plasma and in these muscles. During simulated retail display, accumulations of metmyoglobin (METMB) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were greater (P < .01) in beef from control than in beef from supplemented steers. In cubic models, muscle alpha-tocopherol accounted for 79% of the variation in TBARS and 66% of the variation in METMB. Color display life, calculated by the METMB threshold method, revealed fewer dose and duration effects of vitamin E than were evident following analysis of variance of the METMB responses. Across durations and muscles, color display-life of fresh beef calculated by the METMB threshold method was extended (P < .05) .9 to 1.8 d by vitamin E supplementation (P < .05). Storage for 28 or 56 d caused only a slight decline (P < .001) in LL alpha-tocopherol concentration but diminished (P < .05) vitamin E effects on color display-life. Although the ranking of alpha-tocopherol accumulation was GM > SM > LL, the color display-life ranking of these muscles across vitamin E treatments was LL > SM > GM.

Aging↗

PubMed1995

Supranutritional administration of vitamins E and C improves oxidative stability of beef.

Vitamins E and C are important antioxidants in animals. Their antemortem activity continues to function in postmortem muscle (meat), where they have a critical role in maintaining quality in the food product. Dietary supplementation of vitamin E, and intravenous infusion of vitamin C immediately before harvest, are efficacious techniques for increasing the concentration of these vitamins in beef skeletal muscle. Meat with elevated levels of either and probably both of these antioxidant vitamins possesses greater stability of oxymyoglobin and lipid, which results in less discoloration and rancidity, respectively. A model is proposed for the redox relationships between myoglobin and phospholipid in beef with emphasis on vitamins E and C. Antemortem nutritional intervention appears to be a promising approach for improving the quality of fresh meat products subsequently obtained from livestock.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1995

A review of dietary vitamin E supplementation for improvement of beef quality.

Color is a primary factor used by consumers to judge beef quality, especially freshness. Recent studies indicate that dietary supplementation of vitamin E to beef cattle increases the alpha-tocopherol concentration in muscle and its membranous subcellular fractions. The increased tissue alpha-tocopherol concentration protects not only membranal lipids but also myoglobin from oxidation. This results in delayed onset of discoloration in fresh, ground, and frozen beef and in suppression of lipid rancidity, especially in fresh, ground, and frozen beef and less so in cooked beef. Extension of beef color display life depends on dose level and duration of dietary vitamin E, muscle, and aging period. Cumulative results of experiments conducted to date indicate that beef from animals that receive 500 IU/steer daily of vitamin E for 126 d could assuredly benefit the domestic retail market by extending color display life. Implementation of this technology by the beef industry requires development of a method for rapid determination of alpha-tocopherol concentration in muscle samples collected on the day of harvest.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Dietary vitamin E supplementation shifted weight loss from drip to cooking loss in fresh beef longissimus during display.

Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on drip loss, cooking loss, and muscle fiber disruption in fresh beef loin steaks from Holstein and crossbred beef steers were studied. Nine Holstein steers and nine beef steers were fed a control diet and nine Holstein steers and eight beef steers were supplemented daily with 298 IU of vitamin E/kg of diet for 211, 232, or 252 d. Drip loss, cooking loss, cooking yield, and shear value were measured in each longissimus lumborum sample displayed in PVC film for 2, 6, 10, or 14 d. Dietary vitamin E supplementation produced meat that had smaller (P < .001) increases in drip loss during 14 d of display but higher (P < .01) cooking losses. Cooking yield was reduced (P < .05) by vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation reduced (P < .01) muscle cell disruption in beef steak displayed for 14 d. These results indicated that dietary vitamin E treatment stabilized cell integrity and enhanced the ability of beef steak to hold sarcoplasmic components during display, although subsequent losses due to cooking were greater.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1993

Pelvic growth, calf birth weight and dystocia in Holstein x Hereford heifers.

The pelvic area was measured in 129 Holstein x Hereford heifers at 10, 16 and 22 months of age. The heifers were fed an all forage diet. Pelvic growth was not linear over time, changing from an increase of 0.27 +/- 0.2 cm(2)/day during the first 6 months of the study to 0.13 +/- 0.13 cm(2)/day during the last 6 months (P<0.01). The relationship of pelvic area to body weight, height at hooks, and distance from hooks to pins did not change with age, and a moderate correlation between the pelvic area and these other measures (R=0.20 to 0.80) was noted. The pelvic area was measured within 24 hours after calving in 76 of the heifers. The rate of increase of pelvic area/day increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the month prior to calving from 0.14+/-0.13 cm(2) to 1.15 +/- 0.88 cm(2). As a result, the pelvic area at calving had a moderate correlation (R=0.29 to 0.52) to the pelvic area prior to calving. Logistic regression and discriminant analysis techniques were used to model the influence of the pelvic area and calf birth weight on the incidence of dystocia. Ratio of the pelvic area at calving to calf birth weight significantly (P < 0.01) influenced the incidence of dystocia. Logistic regression techniques were not superior to discriminant analysis; both correctly predicted 73% of the cases. Pelvic area measurement at any time other than calving was not associated with dystocia (P >0.05). Pelvic area and calf birth weight are important determinants of dystocia in heifers. The high degree of variation noted in pelvic growth, in particular during the month prior to calving, resulted in low correlation between pelvic area at calving and the precalving measurement. Therefore, we were not able to predict dystocia by measuring the pelvic area prior to calving.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Tissue equilibration and subcellular distribution of vitamin E relative to myoglobin and lipid oxidation in displayed beef.

Supplementary alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) was fed to provide none (E0), 2,000 IU/d (E2000), 5.8 IU/kg live weight (E5.8), or 8.6 IU/kg live weight (E8.6) to steers that were individually fed mainly a corn diet. Three steers were placed on each of 10 treatments: E0, E2000, E5.8, E5.8 to d 126 then E0 to d 266, E0 to d 126 then E5.8 to d 266, E8.6, grazing followed by either E0 or E8.6 all with Holstein steers; and E0 and E2000 with crossbred beef steers. During the last 100 d, vitamin E consumption (International Units/day) averaged 96 for E0, 1,840 for E2000, 2,520 for E5.8, and 3,610 for E8.6. Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in plasma and in liver and longissimus lumborum biopsy samples obtained every 42 d were elevated (P < .01) by vitamin E supplementation. Tissue saturation was approached at these vitamin E intakes causing similar incorporation of alpha-tocopherol with both per day and per BW supplementation strategies. Maximum accretion or depletion of alpha-tocopherol in plasma and liver occurred before 42 d, but accretion required 120 d and depletion required 180 d in longissimus lumborum. Vitamin E supplementation elevated (P < .01) concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in liver, lung, subcutaneous fat, omental fat, perirenal fat, kidney, diaphragm, spinal cord, longissimus lumborum, and plasma at slaughter with maximum accretion achieved (P < .01) in lung, subcutaneous fat, kidney, diaphragm, and spinal cord. Depletion was not achieved in longissimus lumborum and spinal cord (P < .01), subcutaneous fat (P < .06), and perirenal fat (P < .08) within 140 d. Vitamin E inhibited (P < .01) oxidation at the surface and center of longissimus lumborum steaks displayed for 19 d. Lipid oxidation occurred throughout E0 steaks, but metmyoglobin accumulation occurred more rapidly (P < .01) on the surface than in the center. Myoglobin and lipid oxidation were not concurrent events. Supplementation with vitamin E increased (P < .01) alpha-tocopherol concentrations in longissimus lumborum fractions (mitochondria, microsome, cytoplasm, connective, and remainder) but, except for connective tissue, the proportional distribution of total longissimus lumborum alpha-tocopherol was not affected (P > .1) by vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation for at least 44 d at 1,300 IU/d is expected to incorporate adequate amounts of alpha-tocopherol into muscle (3.3 micrograms/g for longissimus lumborum) to produce beef with extended color and lipid stability.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1993

Dietary versus postmortem supplementation of vitamin E on pigment and lipid stability in ground beef.

Effects of dietary supplementation and postmortem addition of vitamin E on pigment and lipid stability in raw ground beef were examined in this study. Six Holstein steers were fed a control diet for 232 or 252 d and six Holstein steers were supplemented with 1,500 IU of vitamin E per animal daily for 232 or 252 d. Three aliquots of ground beef from each longissimus lumborum were allotted to the following postmortem treatments: no addition (NO), white mineral oil (OIL), and white mineral oil containing sufficient D-alpha-tocopherol to equal the mean difference of alpha-tocopherol concentration between beef from supplemented and control steers (OIL + E). Metmyoglobin percentages and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values were determined at d 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 after postmortem treatment. Dietary vitamin E supplementation delayed metmyoglobin increase and highly suppressed lipid oxidation in ground beef during 9 d of display compared with the control. The postmortem addition of vitamin E (OIL + E) was slightly effective in retarding the oxidation of pigment and lipid, especially compared with the OIL treatments. Endogenous vitamin E improved pigment and lipid stability much better than exogenous vitamin E.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1993

Magnetic resonance imaging related to neurologic outcome in cervical spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the initial intramedullary hemorrhage, as seen by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the neurologic deficit and eventual neurologic outcome of acute cervical spinal cord injured subjects. MRI and motor assessments were performed on 24 subjects with motor complete (Frankel A & B) and incomplete (Frankel C & D) injuries. Recovery was determined by evaluating an initial and a final motor power following spinal cord injury (SCI), as defined by the manual muscle test (grade 1-5) and motor index score (MIS). Results showed that all 15 subjects having hemorrhage had motor complete injuries (Frankel A & B). Sixteen percent of the muscles in the upper extremities and 3% of the muscles in the lower extremities in these 15 subjects improved to a grade of > or = 3/5 at the final evaluation post-SCI. In comparison, of the nine subjects not having hemorrhage, eight had motor incomplete injuries (Frankel C & D) and had 73% and 74% of muscles improving in the upper and lower extremities, respectively. In addition, a change in MIS from initial to final evaluations showed a significant difference between subjects with hemorrhage and subjects without hemorrhage (upper extremities: p = .002 and lower extremities: p = .0001). In conclusion, the initial MR image and neurologic assessment correlated with motor power recovery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Effect of long- or short-term feeding of alpha-tocopheryl acetate to Holstein and crossbred beef steers on performance, carcass characteristics, and beef color stability.

Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of vitamin E supplementation on feedlot cattle. Vitamin E supplementation did not affect feedlot performance or carcass characteristics of cattle fed a high-concentrate diet (P greater than .1). The major finding was the effectiveness of vitamin E in extending the color stability of displayed beef (P less than .01). Color stability during display of longissimus lumborum steaks from cattle supplemented with 300 IU/d for 266 d, 1,140 IU/d for 67 d, or 1,200 IU/d for 38 d was extended by 2.5 to 4.8 d. Gluteus medius steaks had an extended color display life of 1.6 to 3.8 d. The accumulation of lipid oxidation products, but not aerobic microbes, associated with displayed longissimus lumborum was suppressed for muscle from vitamin E-supplemented steers. Taste panelists detected no difference among longissimus lumborum steaks from control and vitamin E-supplemented steers but found (P less than .01) steaks aged for 21 d to be more tender than steaks aged for 7 d. Supplementing cattle with vitamin E should reduce economic losses associated with discolored beef during retail display.

Adipose Tissue↗