DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 1 2004
P. M. Lawlor
SUMMARY., The aims of this study were to prospectively evaluate gastric function in esophageal cancer patients after chemoradiotherapy and following surgery, using cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG). Twenty-three patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were recruited to the study. A subset of patients (n = 11) underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and were also studied at 14 days after treatment. All patients underwent EGG studies prior to and following surgery, at 3 months postoperatively. Ten of these patients were also studied at medians of 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Twenty normal volunteers were used as controls. Post-operative EGG studies were monitored with a modified technique; the electrodes being placed in the subscapular region in the area of the transposed stomach. Following neoadjuvant treatment there was a significant increase in abnormal gastric myoelectrical activity involving changes in tachygastrias and decreased motility as measured by power ratio. Post-operatively there was a significant increase in bradygastria which persisted at 6 months but not at 12 months. There was a corresponding decrease in normogastria which persisted at 6 months and to a lesser extent at 12 months. Dominant frequency remained significantly depressed at 3, 6 and 12 months. Gastric myoelectrical activity is normal in untreated esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy causes a disruption to normal myoelectrical activity involving reduced motility and tachygastrias. Surgery causes a depression in dominant frequency with a reduced incidence of normogastria at 3 months and 6 months but with a tendency towards normality at 12 months. [source]

BEHAVIOR OF AVIRULENT YERSINIA PESTIS IN LIQUID WHOLE EGG AS AFFECTED BY STORAGE TEMPERATURE, ANTIMICROBIALS AND THERMAL PASTEURIZATION

JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 3 2010
JOSHUA B. GURTLER
ABSTRACT Yersinia spp. are psychrotrophic bacteria capable of growth at temperatures as low as ,2C, known to contaminate shell eggs and liquid eggs in the U.S.A. and South America. A study was performed to determine the thermal sensitivity of avirulent Yersinia pestis in liquid whole egg (LWE), evaluate the growth pattern of the bacterium in LWE at temperatures of 4,22C and assess the ability of 10 antimicrobial compounds to inhibit the growth of attenuated Y. pestis in LWE. The estimated decimal reduction values of avirulent Y. pestis in LWE at 54C (D54) were 1.39,1.58 min, and D60 values were 13.8 and 11.4 s by the addition of 0 and 965 IU of nisin (MP Biomedicals, LLC, Solon, OH), respectively. Low molecular weight chitosan (0.5%) and an activated lactoperoxidase system (2.18 U/mL) were ineffective at inhibiting growth of Y. pestis, while 500 IU/mL of nisin inhibited populations by up to 1 log cfu/mL at 4, 10 and 15C when compared with the control. Allyl isothiocyanate, diacetyl, diethyl dicarbonate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, methylparaben, monolaurin and benzoyl peroxide inhibited the growth of attenuated Y. pestis when added at high levels. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The genus Yersinia does not currently pose a problem in pasteurized liquid egg products, although it has been isolated from eggs in the U.S.A. and Argentina. Yersiniae, which are psychrotrophic bacteria, can grow at temperatures as low as ,2C; therefore, incidental or intentional contamination of liquid whole egg (LWE) with Yersinia spp. could result in multiplication to high populations, even when stored under refrigeration (ca. 4C). We have shown that avirulent Yersinia pestis is able to multiply to populations of >2, 5 and 8 log cfu/mL in LWE at 4C within 6, 14 and 26 days, respectively. This study provides information that will be helpful in determining thermal and nonthermal means of controlling yersiniae in LWE products. [source]

Gastric electrical activity in patients with cholelithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective controlled study

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
SPIROS N SGOUROS
Abstract Background:, The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of gallstone disease (GD) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric electrical activity of slow waves, which was recorded via transcutaneous electrogastrography (EGG). Methods:, Twenty-one consecutive patients (M/F: 12/9, 52.7 ± 15 years old) with GD and no previous history of abdominal operations or known disease affecting gastrointestinal motility were studied. The EGG was performed for 30 min prior to and 90 min after a standard meal, during a 4,6 month period prior to and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The percentile proportion of the three spectra of gastric slow waves frequency was studied, defined as follows: bradygastria, 1,2.1 cycles per min (c.p.m.); normogastria, 2.2,3.9 c.p.m.; and tachygastria, 4,9 c.p.m. The findings were compared to those of nine healthy subjects (M/F: 5/4, 49.5 ± 14.8 years old). Results:, No statistically significant difference was found in percentile distribution of bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria, pre- or post-prandially, neither before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, nor between patients and controls. Conclusions:, Patients with GD do not exhibit differences in gastric electrical activity of slow waves in comparison to normal subjects and laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not alter gastric electrical activity. These findings suggest that cholelithiasis does not seem to cause dyspeptic symptoms due to gastric dysrythmias. [source]

Gastric motility and autonomic activity during obstructive sleep apnea

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2006
M. URATA
Summary Background Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) often experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aim To investigate gastric motility and autonomic nervous activity during sleep apnea. Methods The subjects of this study were 20 individuals with OSAS who experienced 10 or more sleep apnoea events per hour, as measured with a portable sleep polygraph. A percutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) and fast Fourier transformation analysis was carried out on the results. The mean amplitude was compared for bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed, and low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and the LF/HF ratio were measured. Oesophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed on each subject, and the presence of reflux oesophagitis (RE) was diagnosed according to the Los Angeles (LA) grade classification. Moreover, questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux disease (QUEST) was carried out. Results Normogastria was significantly decreased, and brady-, tachygastria, or both were increased during sleep apnea (P < 0.01). There was no significant relation between LA grade classification of RE and severity of OSAS. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher during sleep apnea for patients with RE and OSAS, but the opposite for those with RE without OSAS. Decreased percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation and normogastria were independent risk factors for the severity of RE. Conclusions The present study suggested that, in addition to decreased pressure on the pleural cavity, factors affecting the development of RE might include abnormal gastric motility, low oxygen, and increased sympathetic nervous activity during sleep apnea. [source]

Association of the status of interstitial cells of Cajal and electrogastrogram parameters, gastric emptying and symptoms in patients with gastroparesis

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 1 2010
Z. Lin
Abstract, Our goal was to investigate associations between the status of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and electrogastrogram (EGG) parameters, gastric emptying and symptoms in a large cohort of patients with gastroparesis. Forty-one patients with refractory gastroparesis who were referred for gastric electrical stimulation (GES) underwent full thickness gastric (antrum) biopsy during the surgery to place the GES device. The biopsy samples were stained with c-kit and scored for the presence of ICC based on criteria obtained from 10 controls. All patients underwent EGG recordings, a 4-h standardized scintigraphic gastric emptying study and symptom assessment prior to the surgery. Based on antral biopsy, 15 patients (36%) had almost no ICC (ICC, group) and 26 patients had adequate cell numbers (ICC+ group). EGG recordings in the ICC, group displayed significantly less normal slow waves than in the ICC+ group both in the fasting and fed states. Tachygastria in the ICC, group was significantly more than in the ICC+ group both in the fasting (32 ± 8%vs 11 ± 2%) and fed states (27 ± 9%vs 12 ± 2%). There was no statistical difference in gastric emptying, symptom severity of gastroparesis, aetiology, age and gender between the two groups. Severely depleted ICC occurs in up to 36% of gastroparetic patients and significantly correlates with an abnormal EGG. Severely depleted ICC does not correlate with the severity of gastroparesis as assessed by gastric emptying or symptom status but did result in a poorer symptomatic response to GES. These data suggest that the EGG may have a role for predicting ICC status during clinical evaluation of gastroparetic patients. [source]

22 Comparison of multichannel electrogastrograms obtained with the use of three different electrode types

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2006
K JONDERKO
Background/Aims:, Multichannel recording of the gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) is a promising evolution of electrogastrography. In the study we searched for electrodes the most suitable to obtain high quality multi-channel electrogastrograms. Methods:, Twelve young volunteers (9 F, 3 M, aged 24.3 ± 0.6 years) underwent on separate days three four-channel electrogastrographic recordings of the GMA: 30 min fasted and 90 min after a solid meal stimulation. The electrogastrograms were recorded in randomized order with 3M Red Dot class Ag/AgCl electrodes designed primarily for long-term electrocardiographic monitoring: type2222 (conductive area, CA/total area, TA): 2.00/10.24 cm2, type2271 2.54/29.64 cm2, type2660 11.64/11.64 cm2 (total surface conductive!) and subsequently analysed with Polygram NetÔ EGG 311224 software (Medtronic, USA). Electrical resistance between active electrodes relative to the reference one was measured with a digital ohmmeter before and after the recording session. Results:, Type2660 yielded consistently higher electrical resistance than the other electrode types, moreover in the case of type2271 and type2660 electrical conductivity significantly improved at the end of the recording relative to the basal measurement. Analysis of variance involving the relative time-share of normogastria, meal-induced change in dominant power, as well as a set of parameters unique for the multichannel electrogastrography and intended to characterize the so-called spatial displacement of the gastric slow waves did not reveal any statistically significant effect of the electrode type on the parameters of the multichannel electrogastrogram. Although, when particular numerical data were inspected, type2271 was found to perform slightly worse than the other electrode types. Type2271 was also rated the less handy among the electrodes tested. Conclusion:, Multichannel surface electrogastrography seems to be technically feasible with any type of high quality Ag/AgCl electrodes available on the market, whereas small dimensions enabling easy placement on the abdomen may be a feature favouring the choice of a particular electrode type for this examination. [source]

24 Electrogastrography EGG in pancreas diabetes

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2006
E SCHAFER
Background:, Timing and criteria of testing for gastric dysmotility in pancreatic diabetes is not well established. Aim:, To investigate the pattern of EGG and autonomic neuropathy (AN) in patients with pancreas diabetes mellitus to clarify the relationship between autonomic neuropathy, alcohol consumption, glucose homeostasis, diabetes duration, and EGG. Patients and methods:, Thirty patients with pancreas diabetes mellitus were enrolled into the study. Mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 11 (0,25) years, mean blood glucose levels: 8.13 ± 2.7 mmoll,1, HbA1c 8.3 ± 2.96%; 25/30 patients were treated with insulin, the others were on rigorous diet, all of them received high dose pancreatin substitution therapy. Ten matched controls without diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency were also examined. AN was evaluated by the cardiovascular reflex tests according to the Ewing's criteria (Diab. Care 8 (5): 491,497, 1985.), EGG was monitored for 30,30 min in both fasting and in postprandial states, using a Digitrapper EGG (Synectic Med., Stockholm). EGG rhythm disturbances (bradygastria: 0,2 cpm, tachygastria: 4,10 cpm) and meal evoked EGG signal amplitude (power) changes were determined. Results:, 9/30 pts had mild to moderate parasympathetic AN, 1/30 pts had sympathetic AN, 5/30 pts had both parasympathetic and sympathetic AN; 17/30 pts demonstrated myoelectric abnormalities: 5/30 pts had predominant bradygastria, 3/30 tachygastria, and in other 9/30 pts only an absence of increase in the postprandial signal amplitude was found. Overall, 7/30 pts with abnormal EGG did not demonstrated AN. Abnormal EGG showed no correlation with actual blood sugar values or HbA1c, but it was associated with diabetes duration more than 10 years. Conclusion:, Our results suggest that beside neuropathy other factors such as alcohol toxicity, sympathetic and parasympathetic imbalance or long-term inappropriate glucose metabolism may be involved in the gastric myoelectric abnormalities provoked by pancreas diabetes. [source]

35 Electrogastrography in healthy participants: comparison of children and adults

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2006
CA FRIESEN
The current study examined whether electrogastrogram (EGG) patterns differ between children/adolescents and adults, including whether EGG recordings obtained from healthy children would be considered normal by standards established for adults. Twenty-eight healthy children (54% females; ages 8,17, M = 12.4 years) were evaluated and compared to 15 healthy adults. EGGs were recorded for 30 min in the fasting state and for 1 h following a standard meal. For both pediatric and adult participants, there was a significant increase in both the dominant frequency and the dominant power from the pre- to the post , prandial period (p < 0.001 for each). There was a significant post-prandial increase in the %normal slow waves in pediatric participants only (81.5 vs. 89.0% vs. p < 0.001). Children demonstrated a significantly lower mean fasting %normal slow waves (81.5% vs. 94.2%) and a significantly greater fasting % tachygastria (8.9% vs. 2.3%) than did adults. Other parameters did not differ. Using adult standards, the %normal slow waves were ,70% of recording time in 96% children in the fasting state and in 100% in the postprandial period. A postprandial power increase was seen in 89% of the children. In conclusion, while adults should not be used as controls in pediatric studies of EGG, our data would indicate that American Motility Society (AMS) consensus adult criteria for a normal EGG are appropriate to apply to children and adolescents when utilizing methodology and meal challenge similar to that used to establish the adult norms. [source]

Detection of gastric slow wave uncoupling from multi-channel electrogastrogram: validations and applications

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 5 2003
Z. S. Wang
Abstract Current methodology of single channel electrogastrography is unable to detect coupling or uncoupling of gastric slow waves, which is crucial for gastric emptying. In this study, a new methodology, called cross-spectral analysis method, was established to compute the coupling percentage of multi-channel gastric slow waves recorded using serosal electrodes and electrogastrogram (EGG). Two experiments were performed to validate the method and demonstrate its applications in clinical research. In experiment 1, simultaneous recordings of gastric slow waves were made in five dogs from serosal electrodes and cutaneous electrodes. In experiment 2, four-channel fasting EGGs were made in 10 volunteers for 30 min during waking and 30 min during non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The validation study (experiment 1) showed that the slow wave coupling calculated from the EGGs was correlated with that computed from the serosal recordings. The gastric slow wave coupling percentages detected from both serosal and cutaneous recordings were significantly impaired during vasopressin infusion (6.3 ± 2.6 vs 62.4 ± 6.3, P < 0.001 for serosal recordings; 6.7 ± 3.0 vs 57.2 ± 2.7, P < 0.001 for cutaneous recordings), and the coupling percentages respectively calculated from serosal and cutaneous recordings were significantly correlated during the baseline recording period (R = 0.922, P < 0.05) and vasopressin infusion period (R = 0.916, P < 0.05). In experiment 2, the gastric slow wave became less coupled when healthy volunteers fell asleep. The percentage of slow wave coupling calculated from the EGGs was 68.2 ± 17.9% during waking but 41.9 ± 20.8 during non-REM sleep (P < 0.05). The method developed in this study is reliable for the detection of slow wave uncoupling from multi-channel EGGs. Gastric slow wave coupling is impaired during vasopressin infusion and sleep. These data suggest that this method has potential applications in physiological and clinical studies. [source]

Electrogastrography: a document prepared by the gastric section of the American Motility Society Clinical GI Motility Testing Task Force

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 2 2003
H. P. Parkman
Abstract The objective of this document is to present the consensus opinion of the American Motility Society Clinical GI Motility Testing Task Force on the performance and clinical utility of electrogastrography (EGG). EGG is a non-invasive means of recording human gastric myoelectrical activity or slow waves from cutaneous leads placed over the stomach. In healthy volunteers, EGG tracings exhibit sinusoidal waveforms with a predominant frequency of 3 cycles per minute (cpm). Clinical studies have shown good correlation of these cutaneous recordings with those acquired from serosally implanted electrodes. The amplitude of the EGG waveform increases with ingestion of caloric or non-caloric meals. Some patients with nausea, vomiting, or other dyspeptic symptoms exhibit EGG rhythm disturbances or blunting of meal-evoked EGG signal amplitude increases. These abnormalities correlate to some degree with delayed gastric emptying of solids. In selected patients, EGG may be complementary to gastric emptying testing. To date, no therapies have convincingly demonstrated in controlled studies that correcting abnormalities detected by EGG improves upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Proposed clinical indications for performance of EGG in patients with unexplained nausea, vomiting and dyspeptic symptoms must be validated by prospective controlled investigations. [source]

Preterm infant massage elicits consistent increases in vagal activity and gastric motility that are associated with greater weight gain

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2007
Miguel A Diego
Abstract Aim: To determine whether preterm infant massage leads to consistent increases in vagal activity and gastric motility and whether these increases are associated with greater weight gain. Methods: EKG and EGG were recorded in 80 preterm infants randomly assigned to a moderate pressure massage therapy group or to a standard care control group to assess vagal activity and gastric motility responses to massage therapy. Results: Massaged infants exhibited consistent short-term increases in vagal activity and gastric motility on both the first and the last days of the 5-day study that were associated with weight gain during the 5-day treatment period. No changes in basal vagal activity or gastric motility were noted across the 5-day treatment period. Conclusion: Preterm infant massage is consistently associated with increases in vagal activity and gastric motility that may underlie the effects of massage therapy on preterm infant weight gain. [source]

Electrogastrography in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Weak correlation with metabolic control parameters

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2006
Ewa Toporowska-Kowalska
Abstract Aim: To evaluate gastric myoelectrical activity with respect to duration and metabolic control of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: 172 children and adolescents with T1DM (mean 14.4±3.7 y), divided into subgroups depending on diabetes duration (<5 and > 5 y), and 35 healthy controls (mean 13.93±3.59 y) were examined. All subjects underwent electrogastrography (EGG) performed after overnight fasting. In subjects with T1DM, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels during EGG records were measured. Results: 15.69% of T1DM patients and 91.42% of the controls fulfilled normal EGG criteria (p < 0.001). T1DM subjects had a lower percentage of fasting normogastria (34.56±27.35% vs 69.84±18.16%, p = 0.0001) and higher bradygastria (51.97±30.24% vs 19.11±15.01%, p = 0.0001) compared to controls. In diabetic patients, an increase in postprandial normogastria (60.37±23.96% vs 76.68±12.38, p < 0.05) and a decrease in bradygastria percentage (25.67±21.01% vs 9.58±7.13%, p < 0.05) was observed. In children with disease < 5 y, diabetes duration correlated with power ratio (r= - 0.27, p = 0.01), postprandial normogastria (r= - 0.24, p = 0.03) and tachygastria (r= 0.25, p = 0.02). Weak correlations between EGG parameters and glucose (preprandial dominant frequency r= - 0.19, p < 0.05; postprandial normogastria r= 0.23, p < 0.01) and HbA1c levels (preprandial bradygastria r= 0.19, postprandial dominant power r= 0.23; p < 0.05) were observed. Conclusion: Gastric myoelectrical rhythm derangement is present in a large proportion of young diabetic patients. Bradygastria is the most prominent EGG abnormality. Weak correlation was found between EGG parameters and diabetes metabolic control. [source]

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SHELL SWAB AND SHELL CRUSH METHODS FOR THE RECOVERY OF SALMONELLA FROM SHELL EGGS

JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 4 2008
T. KAWASAKI
ABSTRACT Swabbing is the standard methodology for the recovery of resident microorganism from shell eggs in Japan. A comparative study of shell swab (SW) and shell crush (CR) techniques was performed to recover the laboratory-inoculated Salmonella from shell eggs. It was found that the recovery of Salmonella by CR methods was significantly higher (4.5,7.5 log cfu/egg) than that of SW methods (3.1,6.3 log cfu/egg). However, analyses with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (invA as a target gene), fluorescent microscopic and quantitative analyses with a Live/Dead BacLight bacterial viability kit revealed that not all of the inoculated Salmonella spp. populations were recovered as intact cells by either method. The chemiluminescent bacterial viability assay showed that chemiluminescence intensity (CI) began to increase after 30 min in CR samples; on the other hand, SW samples did not show any increase in CI for 2 h. These results suggest that SW might cause more damage and lethality to cells than CR. In addition, to determine the most appropriate method for recovering resident aerobic bacteria, coliforms and Salmonella spp from shell eggs, 4,000 commercial eggs were collected and sampled by shell rinse (SR) and CR techniques using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) warmed to different temperatures. PBS at 37C was found to be the best recovery solution and temperature, respectively, for recovering aerobic microorganisms from shell eggs by both methods and the CR methods recovered a higher population than did the SR methods (4.9 versus 5.8 log cfu/egg for SR and CR methods, respectively; n = 500 eggs/method). Therefore, the CR method along with recovery buffer (PBS) at 37C could be an effective technique for the recovery of microorganisms from post-processed shell eggs. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There is a need to develop a rapid and highly sensitive method for the recovery of microorganisms from shell eggs. Such recovery methods are also useful for evaluating the efficacy of newly developed shell egg disinfection techniques. Many methods involving rinsing, swabbing, and crushing of shell eggs have been reported; however, we performed a comparative study of the method used to recover the Salmonella from shell eggs. We found that the shell crush method (CR) was superior to the shell swab method (SW) for the recovery of Salmonella spp., and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37C was found to be the best recovery solution and temperature, respectively, for recovering microorganisms from shell eggs by both methods. Therefore, the CR method along with recovery buffer (PBS) at 37C could be an effective technique for the recovery of microorganisms from post-processed shells. Use of this method could be recommended for the microbial evaluation of post-processed shell eggs in industries. [source]

FREQUENCY OF SALMONELLA, CAMPYLOBACTER, LISTERIA AND ENTEROBACTERIACEAE DETECTION IN COMMERCIALLY COOL WATER-WASHED SHELL EGGS

JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 4 2006
DEANA R. JONES
ABSTRACT The effect of cool water washing on shell egg temperature and pathogen detection was examined. Three temperature schemes were utilized in commercial dual washer systems: (1) HH = 48.9C, 48.9C; (2) HC = 48.9C, 23.9C; and (3) CC = 23.9C, 23.9C. HH eggsmaintainedthe highest surface temperature (26.25C in-line, 20.25C off-line and 23.25C combined, P < 0.05). The lowest temperatures were found in the CC eggs (21.25C in-line, 17.25C off-line and 19.25C combined). The frequency of Enterobacteriaceae detection in shell and membrane emulsions was greatest for the CC eggs (P < 0.05 for in-line and combined). There was no difference in Enterobacteriaceae detection for the off-line facility. Salmonella was detected in three of 384 samples from the in-line facility. They were found in HC (2) and CC (1) shell emulsions. Two of 384 samples were positive for Campylobacter from the in-line facility (CC). Three wash water samples were positive for Listeria in the off-line facility (1 HC, 2 CC). No pathogens were detected in the egg contents during this study. The results of this study indicate that warm followed by cool water washing has the potential of decreasing egg temperature while maintaining surface microbiology at an acceptable level. [source]

11 Gastric myoelectric activity while viewing and eating food in obese participants

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2006
JY WANG
Purpose:, This study observed the reactions of the stomach to food viewing and food eating in obese people. Method:, The participants were 20 obese (mean BMI of 32) and 20 normal-weighted (mean BMI of 21) undergraduate students, who were required to fast for at least 4 hours preceding the experiment. They viewed a video clip of food for 6 minutes; consumed food till full; and viewed the same video clip of food 30 minutes after the meal. Cutaneous electrogastrograms (EGGs) were recorded during the entire procedure. Questionnaires concerning the participants' perception of somatic and affective changes during the tasks were completed. Results:, The percentages of bradygastric, normal and tachygastric EGG activity were very similar between obese group and normal-weighted group during the baseline period. During the first food image viewing, an increase in normal 3 cpm activity and a decreased in bradygastric activity occurred in both groups, but obese participants showed less of an increase in 3 cpm activity than normal-weighted participants and the percentage of bradygastric activity was higher in obese group than in the normal-weighted group. During the 30 min. period following the meal, a higher percentage of bradygastric activity and a lower percentage of 3 cpm activity were observed in obese participants than in normal-weighted participants. Furthermore, obese participants showed a different pattern of change in 3 cpm and bradygastric activity than normal-weighed participants during the 30 min. The whole 30-min period was divided into five 6-min periods. In the obese group, the percentage of 3 cpm activity decreased in the third and forth 6-min periods and increased to the highest level in the last 6-min period, while in the normal-weighted group, the 3 cpm percentage was the greatest in the first 6-min period. Obese participants and normal-weighted participants reacted similarly to the second food image exposure, except that a higher increase in 3 cpm activity was observed in the normal-weighted group in the period after the termination of viewing the food images. Conclusions:, These data suggest that obese people react to food images and to food eating differently from normal-weighted people. EGG activity in obese participants needs further investigation. [source]

35 Electrogastrography in healthy participants: comparison of children and adults

Detection of gastric slow wave uncoupling from multi-channel electrogastrogram: validations and applications

Egg and sperm recognition systems during fertilization

DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 2008
Noritaka Hirohashi
Fertilization is a programmed process that has many molecules and sequential events amenable to study. The biochemistry of fertilization has identified cellular and acellular components fundamental to the interactions between sperm and egg. Recent studies highlight the molecular details of the species-specificity of fertilization that involve protein,protein and protein,carbohydrate interactions. Although the diversity of structure and mechanism may imply rapid evolution of fertilization proteins, understanding the structure,function relationships has become important. Here, we introduce the molecules controlling the sperm AR, sperm attachment to, and penetration through, the egg investments. [source]

Preference and performance of the sawfly Diprion pini on host and non-host plants of the genus Pinus

ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 3 2002
Florence Barre
Abstract The sawfly, Diprion pini L., is a pest of Pinus in Europe and is mainly found on P. sylvestris L. and P. nigra laricio Poiret. The relative importance of female oviposition capacity and behaviour, egg development, and larval survival on a new host plant was measured on 11 pine species. Five were natural host plants and six non-host plants, five of which are not indigenous to Europe. Oviposition choice tests showed that females discriminated between the pine species. Egg and larval development also differed between pine species. However, the female choice was not linked with hatching rate and larval development. Results of biological tests clearly indicated that there were different response patterns of D. pini life stages in relation to pine species, and these patterns were the same with insects of four different origins. We discuss the importance of each potential barrier to colonisation of a new host. [source]

Purification and Characterization of Acid Phosphatase from the Egg of the Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera)

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004
Jun Hyuk LEE
ABSTRACT Acid phosphatase (AP) in the egg of the lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, was purified and characterized. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, CM column and isoelectrofocusing (IEF) were applied to purify an estimated molecular weight of 66 kDa AP. The purity was checked by SDS PAGE, native PAGE and Western blot. AP was detected in the hemolymph of the female and the egg, but not in the male on the blotting. Km of AP for a substrate, p -nitrophenyl phosphate (p -NPP), was 1.64 x 10 -4 M. AP had the optimum enzymatic activity at pH 3.5. In inhibition tests performed with various chemicals, ammonium molybdate suppressed 99% of the enzyme activity of AP even at the concentration of 5 x 10 -4 mM. AP was stable up to 50°C. [source]

Nest, but Not Egg, Fidelity in a Territorial Salamander

ETHOLOGY, Issue 9 2000
Megan G. Peterson
Egg recognition and subsequent egg brooding are costly forms of parental investment in many species of vertebrates. Life history factors, such as coloniality or risk of brood parasitism, may constrain egg recognition in vertebrates. Female red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) from my study site are territorial and do not share nest sites with other females. They are terrestrial and neither they nor their eggs are likely to be displaced by environmental factors such as flooding. I experimentally tested, in the laboratory, the hypothesis that female red-backed salamanders can discriminate between their own eggs and the eggs of unfamiliar females. Each female was allowed to move about a test chamber containing two clutches of eggs, one clutch with which it was found in the forest and one that had been found with a distant female. Most females remained with one clutch of eggs, which they brooded during the entire observation period. However, they did not significantly prefer to brood their own eggs over the eggs of another female. In a corollary field experiment, I tested whether brooding females that were displaced 1 m from their nest sites would return to their territories and commence brooding behaviour within 3 d. All 10 displaced females returned to their own nest within this time period and were found brooding their eggs. Because female red-backed salamanders at my study site do not tend to share nest sites with other females and because their eggs remain in stationary nests, selection may not have favoured egg recognition. However, the results suggest that female salamanders indirectly recognize their own eggs by actively recognizing their territorial nest sites. [source]

When fathers make the difference: efficacy of male sexually selected antimicrobial glands in enhancing fish hatching success

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Matteo Pizzolon
Summary 1.,Egg and offspring resistance to pathogens is a major determinant of survival and has been mainly ascribed to maternal factors. However, paternal production of antimicrobials was recently suggested to increase offspring survival in species where males perform egg care. 2.,In the peacock blenny, Salaria pavo, a demersal spawning species where males exhibit a pair of anal glands producing lysozyme-like compounds, we tested the antimicrobial activity and the egg protection efficacy of these glands. The anal gland secretion (AGS) has an inhibitory effect on the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including those causing the most severe fish diseases in marine culture. The egg clutches cared for by males deprived of anal glands have a significantly lower survival rate than those cared for by sham-operated males and non-viable eggs showed clear signs of bacterial infection. 3.,Anal gland secretion production and its protein content are proportional to gland size. In species where male parental care plays a crucial role in offspring survival, females are expected to assess mates selecting those traits that are reliably associated with parental ability. Hence, we experimentally challenged females with dummy males differing in anal gland size. Females definitely preferred dummy males with larger anal glands, suggesting that their choice is driven by the pursuit of direct fecundity benefits. 4.,These findings indicate that antimicrobial production is a crucial component of male parental care. The contribution of antimicrobials to male performance as fathers suggests that the development of traits devoted to this function may influence male attractiveness and be sexually selected. [source]

Characterization of Phase Separation Behavior, Emulsion Stability, Rheology, and Microstructure of Egg White,Polysaccharide Mixtures

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009
E. Alben Erçelebi
ABSTRACT:, Phase separation behavior of egg white-pectin/guar gum mixtures was investigated. These systems led to phase separation arisen by either depletion flocculation or thermodynamic incompatibility. The influence of polysaccharides on the emulsifying activity index (EAI), emulsifying stability index (ESI), creaming stability, microstructure, and rheological properties was also studied at different polysaccharide concentrations (0% to 0.5%, [w/v]). Increasing pectin and guar gum concentration from 0.01% to 0.5% significantly improved EAI by 51% and 25%, respectively. The highest ESI and EAI values were obtained in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) pectin/guar gum. Microscopic images showed that emulsions containing polysaccharides had small droplets as compared to that of emulsions without polysaccharides. The addition of polysaccharides improved emulsion stability against creaming. Egg white-stabilized emulsions with and without polysaccharides reflect the pseudoplastic behavior with,n,< 1.0. Polysaccharides, especially at high concentrations, affected the viscoelastic behavior of the emulsions; storage (G,) and loss modulus (G,) crossed-over at lower frequency values as compared to that of emulsions containing no polysaccharide. [source]

Salmonella Enteritidis Risk Assessment: A Kinetic Analysis

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002
S. Almonacid
ABSTRACT: Egg and egg preparations are important vehicles for Salmonella enteritidis infections. The influence of time-temperature becomes important when the presence of this microorganism is found in commercial shell eggs, particularly in countries where refrigeration is not mandatory as in Chile. The objective of this research was to develop a mathematical model to analyze the Salmonella enteritidis risk under variable ambient temperatures. Breakdown of vitelline egg membrane was assumed to be required for initiation of bacterial growth. When the critical factor concerning safety is the vitelline membrane breakdown, 15 °C was found to be the storage threshold temperature for a 30-d shelf life. This computer based tool can be used as a contribution in current regulation adjustments or modifications. [source]

Egg of the Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis): Morphology and elemental analysis

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Elizabeth P. Nickles
Abstract Most insect eggshells are ornately sculptured; that of the Karner Blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis, exhibits a series of interwoven ridges and depressions. Scanning electron microscopic views of the shell show that the patterning resides in the outer chorion, while the inner vitelline membrane is relatively flat and featureless. We here describe the morphology of the egg and introduce a physical technique, use of a Dynamitron accelerator, to identify and localize elements in the eggshell. Most elements present are represented in the chorion, but sulfur appears restricted to the vitelline membrane. The micropyle is particularly rich in calcium and, in unhatched eggs, phosphorus as well. J. Morphol. 251:140,148, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Doing Wonders with an Egg: Optimal Re-distribution When Households Differ in Market and Non-Market Abilities

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMIC THEORY, Issue 3 2003
Alessandro Balestrino
The paper studies non-linear income taxation and linear commodity taxation in a household production context with households differentiated by market and non-market ability. In such a setting, there is an efficiency motive for re-distribution which is independent from the usual equity motive, and operates also when the social planner is indifferent to utility inequality. As a consequence, some of the policy prescriptions applicable to the case in which households differ in market ability only do not hold when households differ also in non-market ability. For instance, re-distribution is not necessarily from high- to low-wage households, and it is not necessarily true that the marginal rate of income tax should be zero for high incomes and positive for low incomes. In some cases, re-distribution may accentuate rather than lessen utility inequality, and can reverse the direction of income inequality relative to the laissez-faire equilibrium. Furthermore, contrary to Atkinson-Stiglitz, it may be optimal to use indirect and direct taxation simultaneously even when the utility function is separable in commodities and labour. [source]

Comparison of food allergy prevalence among Chinese infants in Chongqing, 2009 versus 1999

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2010
Yan Hu
Abstract Background:, Food allergy prevalence is increasing in developed countries, but these results have not yet been verified in developing countries, especially in China. Our aim was to determine whether the prevalence and characteristics of food allergy have changed over the last 10 years in Chongqing, China. Methods:, Two cross-sectional studies were performed, 10 years apart (1999 and 2009) using the same diagnostic methods in the same age group (0,24 months) of the same clinic in Chongqing, China. A total of 401 infants were randomly selected for the present study. Food allergy was confirmed by food challenge. spss 15.0 was used to analyze the difference in prevalence. Results:, Food allergy prevalence increased significantly from 3.5% in 1999 to 7.7% in 2009 (P= 0.017). The prevalence of a positive skin-prick-test response was also increased (from 9.9% to 18%; P= 0.002). Egg and cow's milk were still the most common food allergens, which cause skin and gastrointestinal symptoms in most infants. Conclusion:, This is the first study in China to indicate time trends in food allergy prevalence and characteristics. Our data show that in the 10-year period from 1999 to 2009, the prevalence of food allergy seems to have increased in China. [source]

Egg and larval quality, and egg fatty acid composition of Eurasian perch breeders (Perca fluviatilis) fed different dietary DHA/EPA/AA ratios

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010
Emilie Henrotte
Abstract In Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), the variability in spawning quality is a major limiting factor for successful production, especially when breeders are fed with an artificial diet. The influence of the dietary DHA/EPA/AA ratio on the egg and larval quality and on the fatty acid and lipid class composition of eggs has been investigated in perch broodstock. Two experimental diets (16% lipids) with two different DHA/EPA/AA ratios, D1 (3/2/2) and D2 (23/9/1), were compared with a natural diet consisting of cultured carp juveniles, CC (10/10/1) and with a commercial diet for salmonids, CDS (14/16/1). Percentages of fertilization and hatching were comparable between fish fed D1, D2 and CC, with the highest hatching rate observed for D1 (63.5 ± 3.8%). These diets supported better values than the CDS. Larval survival and TL50 observed after osmotic stress were higher for the D1 group, followed by larvae produced by fish fed D2 and CC. Larvae from fish fed D1, D2 and CC were significantly more robust than larvae from the CDS group. Differences were observed regarding the fatty acid (FA) profile in the eggs, which was related to the dietary FA composition. The results indicate that a ratio of 3/2/2 seemed to be effective for obtaining eggs and larvae of good quality. [source]

Can one ,Bad Egg' really spoil the batch?

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 13 2010
Hanne B. Moeller
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Protein tyrosine phosphatases in Chaetopterus egg activation

DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 5-6 2003
Shantá D. Hinton
Changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation are an essential aspect of egg activation after fertilization. Such changes result from the net contributions of both tyrosine kinases and phosphatases (PTP). This study was conducted to determine what role(s) PTP may have in egg activation. We identified four novel PTP in Chaetopterus pergamentaceus oocytes, cpPTPNT6, cpPTPNT7, cpPTPR2B, and cpPTPR2A, that have significant homology to, respectively, human PTP,, -,, -D2 and -BAS. The first two are cytosolic and the latter two are transmembrane. Several PTP inhibitors were tested to see if they would affect Chaetopterus pergamentaceus fertilization. Eggs treated with ,-bromo-4-hydroxyacetophenone (PTP inhibitor 1) exhibited microvillar elongation, which is a sign of cortical changes resulting from activation. Those treated with Na3VO4 underwent full parthenogenetic activation, including polar body formation and pseudocleavage and did so independently of extracellular Ca2+, which is required for the Ca2+ oscillations that initiate development after fertilization. Fluorescence microscopy identified phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in the cortex and around the nucleus of vanadate-activated eggs, whereas in fertilized eggs they were concentrated only in the cortex. Immunoblots of vanadate-activated and fertilized eggs showed tyrosine hyperphosphorylation of approximately140 kDa protein. These results suggest that PTP most likely maintain the egg in an inactive state by dephosphorylation of proteins independent of the Ca2+ oscillations in the activation process. [source]