Showing papers by "National Dairy Research Institute published in 1997"

Motivation and Readiness for Therapeutic Community Treatment among Adolescents and Adult Substance Abusers

Abstract: A growing body of research has demonstrated the importance of motivation and readiness among drug abusers in seeking, complying with, and remaining in treatment. To date, however, there is little r...

Antifungal Attributes of Lactic Acid Bacteria—A Review

Abstract: Molds constitute a very important contaminating flora of dairy products. Contamination with undesirable molds has been a serious and frequently disturbing problem in the dairy industry that results in huge losses due to spoilage of cheese and other fermented foods incriminated by a variety of mycoflora such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus, and Mucor. The considerable drop in pH caused by the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented milk makes such foods a breeding ground for the highly opportunistic fungi to proliferate and thrive, spoiling the products and effecting cost and its commensurate accessories. The major antimicrobial substances isolated from the LAB are found effective against bacteria only and their inhibition toward the growth of contaminating bacteria has been explored in detail. However, studies on the fungistatic properties of LAB are relatively rare. This article reviews the investigative studies on the antifungal aspects of different lactic acid bacteria and the prospects of this exceptional trait as a potential food biopreservative.

Ethnic differences in psychiatric disorders among adolescent substance abusers in treatment

Abstract: The present study describes the diagnostic profile of over 800 adolescents admitted to residential therapeutic community programs for treatment of drug abuse and related problems. The relationship between race/ethnicity and psychiatric disturbance is examined, and the association among these factors to outcome is investigated. Over 90% of the sample had a DSM-III-R nonsubstance diagnosis. There were significant differences among the race/ethnic groups on attention deficit-hyperactivity and the disruptive behavior and affective disorders. In general, African-American adolescents yielded the lowest rates of disturbance across all categories of disorders. There was no relationship among race/ethnicity, psychiatric disturbance, and 1-year posttreatment outcomes.

Influence of cumulus cells on in vitro maturation of denuded buffalo oocytes

Abstract: hymenal membrane. It is at this site that developmental abnormalities of the caudal reproductive tract are most frequently found. In other species, particularly the bitch, a number of embryological development abnormalities also occur at this site and cause narrowing of the tract, commonly termed stricture. In dogs such congenital strictures may be considered to have five aetiologies (Todoroff 1979, Holt and Sayle 1981, Wykes and Soderberg 1983, Soderberg 1986, Feldman and Nelson 1996). The first is the result of hypoplasia of the genital canal which causes vestibulovaginal hypoplasia and a vaginal stricture of some length. The second aetiology is the result of inadequate fusion of the Mullerian ducts with the urogenital sinus resulting in annular fibrous strictures at this site. The third condition relates to vestiges of mesodermal tissue remaining at the vestibulo-vaginal junction which form hymenal remnants or a complete hymen. The fourth aetiology is incomplete fusion of the two Mullerian ducts which may result in a double vagina or a vertical fibrous division within the vagina. Finally, imperfect joining of the genital folds and genital swellings can result in vestibulo-vulval hypoplasia. It is theoretically possible for strictures to develop as a result of trauma during coitus or parturition; these are extremely uncommon in the mare even following severe vaginal damage (Trotter 1993). Using the criteria above, it seems that the present case represents a combined type 1 and type 3 development abnormality. It is interesting to speculate why type 3 (hymenal) abnormalities are the most common in the mare and other abnormalities are so rare. It may be that fusion of the Mullerian ducts and the urogenital sinus is usually successful, but that abnormal mesodermal invasion of the urogenital portion of the hymenal membrane may occur with relative frequency. This would be similar to the condition observed in women (Muram 1993). Regardless of the exact aetiology of such abnormalities, if left undetected they could result in trauma to the mare and/or stallion at attempted coitus. The present cases emphasises the necessity of performing a careful pre-breeding soundness examination in mares.

Increased capacitation of buffalo sperm by heparin as confirmed by electron microscopy and in vitro fertilization.

Abstract: Capacitation of buffalo sperm was evaluated by induced acrosome reaction (AR) upon the exposure of 10 mM Ca2+. Culture of sperm for 8 hr in BO medium supplemented with 10 micrograms/ml heparin significantly (P < 0.01) increased the percentage of AR and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Vesiculization of outer acrosomal membrane and plasma membrane was observed significantly higher (P < 0.01) following 8 hr of sperm culture with heparin. Culture of sperm with heparin also increased rate of fertilization of in vitro matured oocytes and their subsequent development up to morula/blastocyst stage (P < 0.01). The study demonstrates that capacitation of buffalo sperm by heparin required at least 8 hr exposure of sperm to heparin for maximum acrosome reaction.

Micromanipulation and cloning studies on buffalo oocytes and embryos using nucleus transfer.

Abstract: An investigation for testing the viability of production of cloned buffalo embryos through nucleus transfer has been made. Matured buffalo oocytes, after zona cutting to an extent of 60 degrees near polar body, were enucleated using a new approach. Instead of aspirating the cytoplasm contents in a pipette, the half of cytoplasm of oocyte was pushed out, thereby also taking away the nuclear material of the oocyte, leaving the demi-oocyte with the zona pellucida enucleated. The absence of fluorescence confirmed the success of the enucleating process. For enucleating, the oocytes which had intact plasma membrane were eligible for bisectioning. There was no significant difference in oocytes having intact membrane among grade I (33.9%) and grade II (31.4%) oocytes, whereas lower percentage of grade III oocytes had a very low percentage having intact plasma membranes (8.5%). The hours of maturation for 32, 37 and 42 did not influence the per cent oocytes which had intact membranes. All the bisected or demi-oocytes tested with fluorescence screening yielded successful enucleation in 88.2% demi-oocytes. The temporal effect of three maturation hours of 32, 37, and 42 hr; two electrical pulse numbers of 2 and 3 pulses and two magnitudes of electric pulses of 15 and 20 V were studied for their effect on the percentage of successful fusion of demi-oocyte blastomere complexes and the rate of complexes undergoing cleavages. The time period for which the oocytes were subjected to the process of maturation significantly affected the per cent fusions and per cent cleavage of the demi-oocyte blastomere complexes and 32 hr maturation yielded less fusions (38.5%) compared to maturation for 37 and 42 h (53.2 and 57.8%, respectively). The treatment of either 2 or 3 electrical pulse numbers resulted in significantly different fusion (45.6 and 54.1%) as well as cleavage rates (18.2 and 26.1%) of demi-oocyte-blastomere complexes electrofused. The treatment of two levels of magnitude of 15 and 20 V of an electric current resulted in similar per cent fusion (48.0 and 51.6%) and cleavage rates (21.0 and 23.2%). Fortified TCM with either 10 or 20% FBS for culturing freshly electrofused complexes for 1 hr did not differ significantly with respect to per cent complexes fused and cleaved, giving a fusion rate of 46.2 and 53.8% and cleavage rate of 21.2 and 23.2% for 10% and 20% FBS, respectively. Production of cloned embryos through the process of nuclear transfer has been accomplished. The successful cleavages of the nuclear transferred oocytes demonstrated the viability of enucleation procedures of the oocytes and technology implementation of electrofusion in buffalo oocytes.