Some factors affecting the transverse strength of repaired denture acrylic resin

The reappearance of strongyle eggs in faeces after treatment with ivermectin or pyrantel embonate was investigated in 22 foals, 36 yearlings, and 45 adult horses on five Dutch horse farms. The results confirmed earlier studies which showed an egg reappearance period of 9 and 6 weeks after ivermectin and pyrantel treatment, respectively. There were no differences between the egg reappearance periods of foals, yearlings, and adult horses. The mean egg counts of the yearlings were, however, consistently higher than the mean egg counts of the adult horses and foals in both ivermectin- and pyrantel-treated animals. It is concluded that shorter treatment intervals in foals and yearlings are not obligatory. However, longer intervals must be prevented in yearlings because their contribution to pasture contamination is relatively high.     

A method of automatic determination of "reference" spectra of CD elements of circular structure of proteins with the "aromatic contribution"

A field survey at 17 stables involving 221 horses was performed to evaluate the presence of anthelmintic resistance in the equine small strongyles (cyathostomes). The horses were allocated into treatment groups, and resistance to fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel pamoate (PYR) and ivermectin (IVM) was tested by the faecal egg count reduction test (FECR-test). Faecal samples were collected at the time of treatment, 14 days post treatment and 90 days post treatment. Resistance to FBZ, which was defined as a faecal egg count reduction < 95%, was found in 14 out of 17 stables. In 2 of the 14 stables the egg reductions were close to the limit of 95%, 91 and 93%, respectively. In 1 stable the egg reductions indicated resistance to PYR as well as detection of resistance to FBZ, 94% reduction for PYR and 85% for FBZ. No signs of resistance were detected to IVM. The investigation was performed in late autumn and winter, and due to the climatic conditions and cleaning procedures in the stables no reinfection took place during this period. The faecal egg count reduction from treatment till day 90 post treatment was used as an expression of the effect of PYR and IVM on the early stage (hypobiotic), late third stage and fourth stage larvae in the gut wall. This was justified because there was no reinfection and because the 14 day post treatment egg counts were zero or close to zero for the PYR and IVM treatment groups. The effects of PYR and IVM on the larval stages were compared and no statistically significant differences were found.     

Effect of three sustained-release devices on parasitic bronchitis in first year calves

The effect of three intraruminal sustained-release devices (SRD) against Dictyocaulus viviparus infection was tested in five groups of six calves. Group 1 served as untreated controls, and groups 2, 3 and 4 were dosed with a levamisole SRD, a fenbendazole SRD, and an ivermectin SRD, respectively. Group 5 was vaccinated against lungworm and received a levamisole SRD. The calves were turned out on May 28 and the devices given seven days later. All the calves received trickle infections with a total of 200 lungworm larvae between 9 and 34 days after turnout. They were housed on October 28, challenged with 5000 lungworm larvae and slaughtered three weeks later. No clinical signs of parasitic bronchitis were observed during the study. The treated groups gained significantly more weight (P < 0.05) than the controls, but did not differ among themselves. Larvae were first detected in the faeces of the control group between 25 and 32 days after the first infection, and had a group mean of 21 larvae per gram (lpg) after 60 to 80 days, after which the lpg gradually decreased. In group 2, larvae were detected near the end of the grazing season and never exceeded a group mean of 1.5 lpg. In group 3, a very low larval output was observed after housing (group mean 0.1 lpg). Groups 4 and 5 never became patent. The results of an ELISA followed the pattern of larval output; optical densities above the cut-off value were recorded in groups 1, 2 and 3. On the basis of worm recoveries after challenge, group 1 was immune. Group 4 had significantly more lungworms than group 2. There were no significant differences in worm numbers between groups 2, 3 and 5, but the worms in group 5 were retarded in growth (P < 0.05).     

Mortality for diarrheic disease in Mexico: problem of accessibility or quality of care?

The objectives of this trial were to measure the water and electrolyte intake and loss, of horses during road transportation in relatively hot environmental conditions. Six mature, Thoroughbred horses in full training were used in a balanced crossover design. The horses were conditioned on a treadmill for 6 weeks before the start of the trial in order to simulate the type of horse that is transported most often over long distances in South Africa. The horses were assigned randomly to one of 2 treatment groups. On a particular day 3 horses were transported, while the other horses served as controls. One month was allowed before the crossover. Horses in the 'transport group' were transported by tarred road in a circular route over 600 km. This allowed the standardisation of measurements and use of the same instruments in both groups. Data were collected in each treatment group during transportation that lasted for 8 h (transport phase) and for 6 h after travelling (recovery phase). The following data were collected or calculated: Water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride) intake and output, changes in bodyweight and feed consumption. Although water was always available, the transport group failed to drink during transit. Based on bodyweight, the transported horses were 3% dehydrated at the end of transit. This bodyweight loss was corrected within one hour after their return due to a significantly higher water intake compared to control horses. The feed intake in the transported horses was unaffected during travelling, but was decreased for 6 h following transportation. Urinary water loss was similar in the 2 treatment groups during and following transportation. The faecal water loss decreased in the transported horses and remained lower than the control group for 6 h following transit. Total sodium and chloride intake were unaffected, while the potassium intake was decreased during transportation. Sodium and potassium loss via the faeces and urine during the transport period were similar in the 2 treatment groups, whereas potassium output in the transport group was significantly decreased during the recovery period of the study. It was concluded that transportation by road affected the water and electrolyte balance of conditioned horses for a period up to 6 h after travelling.     

Efficacy of an in-feed formulation of ivermectin against adult worms and somatic larvae of Strongyloides ransomi

The efficacy of an in-feed formulation (IVOMEC premix) containing 0.6% ivermectin was tested against Strongyloides ransomi in swine. The efficacy of ivermectin against patent infections of S. ransomi when given via the feed at 2 ppm for 7 days (Days 0-7) to provide 100 mcg ivermectin kg-1 body weight day-1 was evaluated in a study with 16 3-month-old male castrated piglets. Seven days prior to treatment each piglet was infected subcutaneously with 2500 infective larvae of S. ransomi. Fecal egg counts were carried out on Days -7, 0, 7 and 14, and worm counts on Day 14. Efficacy was 100% in all treated piglets. Two trials involving 40 pregnant gilts were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin against the somatic larval stages of S. ransomi when given at a daily dose of 100 mcg kg-1 body weight for 7 days starting on Days 66, 78, 92 or 103 of pregnancy. The gilts were each experimentally infected with three subcutaneous injections of 250,000 infective larvae, with the last infection given between 12 and 30 days prior to commencement of treatment. Gilts were confirmed free of pre-existing intestinal stages of S. ransomi prior to ivermectin treatment. Fecal nematode egg counts were carried out in gilts/sows and piglets subsequently born. The Strongyloides larvae present in sow milk 1, 2 and 7 days post partum were counted. Fourteen days post natum, worm counts were performed in four randomly selected piglets for each litter. IVOMEC premix given to pregnant gilts prevented shedding of larvae in sow milk, egg output in feces and the establishment of S. ransomi in piglets.     

Digital perfusion, evaluated scintigraphically, and hoof wall growth in horses with chronic laminitis treated with egg bar-heart bar shoeing and coronary grooving

Nuclear scintigraphy was used to assess digital perfusion before and after treatment in 10 horses with clinical and radiographic evidence of chronic laminitis. Horses were evaluated for lameness, degree of distal phalanx rotation, and heel-toe hoof wall growth ratio, and randomly divided into two treatment groups. Group 1 horses received only egg bar-heart bar shoeing; Group 2 underwent egg bar-heart bar shoeing and coronary grooving. Horses were re-evaluated for digital perfusion, lameness, degree of distal phalanx rotation, and hoof wall growth at 6 week intervals over the 18 week follow-up period. Prior to treatment, relative scintigraphic activity at the dorsal laminar area was decreased and relative scintigraphic activity at the toe and adjacent solar area was increased. Egg bar-heart bar shoeing was associated with significantly increased dorsal laminar scintigraphic activity and significantly decreased solar scintigraphic activity over the 18 week period. Coronary grooving, in combination with egg bar-heart bar shoeing, resulted in a significantly lower heel-toe hoof wall growth ratio but did not enhance digital perfusion. Seven of 10 (70%) horses were responsive to treatment, defined as an improvement in lameness by at least one grade. Horses that were refractory to treatment had significantly lower dorsal laminar scintigraphic activity and higher palmar coronary scintigraphic activity prior to treatment than horses that responded to treatment. Our results are the first to demonstrate that egg bar-heart bar shoeing is associated with improved dorsal laminar perfusion, and support the use of this technique. In addition, we found that pre-treatment nuclear scintigraphy was predictive of clinical outcome in horses with chronic laminitis treated with corrective shoeing.     

Use of metronidazole in equine acute idiopathic toxaemic colitis

Sixteen cases of acute idiopathic toxaemic colitis developed in a veterinary hospital over a period of three years. Before the onset of colitis, 15 horses had received antibiotics, 11 had undergone general anaesthesia and various surgical procedures, and 10 had been treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The horses had acute onset, profuse watery diarrhoea, profound depression, mild to moderate abdominal pain, reduced intestinal borborygmi, tachycardia, dehydration and endotoxic shock. Leucopenia, neutropenia and pyrexia were common early indicators of impending colitis. Metronidazole appeared to be an effective treatment; eight horses treated with metronidazole survived whereas five of seven horses that received other treatments, but no metronidazole, died or had to be euthanased. The aetiology of the colitis could not be determined, but the clinicopathological features resembled those of colitis attributed to an intestinal overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens type A. No Salmonella species were isolated from 52 samples of faeces, colonic contents and colonic mucosa which were collected from the horses antemortem and postmortem.     

Alar fold resection in horses: 24 cases (1979-1992)

Between 1979 and 1992, the alar folds were resected bilaterally in 22 horses and unilaterally in 2 horses. Abnormal respiratory tract noise and exercise intolerance were the primary complaints prior to surgery. Significantly (P = 0.01) more Standardbreds underwent resection of the alar folds, compared with the number of Standardbreds in the hospital population during the same period. The alar folds palpated abnormally thick in 13 horses and normal in 11 horses. Temporary dilatation of the nares with mattress sutures or clips lessened the respiratory tract noise and improved exercise tolerance in all 8 horses in which the diagnostic test was performed. Manual elevation of the alar folds reduced respiratory noise in the 11 horses evaluated. Long-term follow-up evaluation by telephone was available for 14 horses. All surgical incisions had healed cosmetically. Respiratory tract noise was decreased, and exercise tolerance improved in 10 of 14 (71%) horses. Complete charted racing information was obtained for 16 horses. Fourteen horses started their first race a mean of 118 days (range, 13 to 321 days) after surgery. The mean number of starts after surgery was 51, with 14 of 16 (88%) horses starting more than 6 times after surgery. Of the 16 horses, 8 horses raced at least 3 times before and after surgery; 4 had improved racing performance, 2 had similar performance, and 2 had decreased performance. Five Standardbreds never raced, and 1 Standardbred raced once before surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue residues of [14C]isometamidium in non-infected and Trypanosoma congolense-infected Boran cattle

In this paper, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue residues are reported in non-infected and Trypanosoma congolense-infected Boran steers following either intravenous or intramuscular injection of [14C]isometamidium at a dose rate of 1 mg kg-1 body weight. Two differently labelled compounds of isometamidium were used; 6-14C (ISMM-1) and ring-U-14C (ISMM-2). The cattle were divided into 5 groups: group 1 consisted of 3 non-infected cattle treated with ISMM-1 by intravenous injection; group 2 consisted of 2 non-infected cattle treated with ISMM-1 by intramuscular injection; group 3 consisted of 2 Trypanosoma congolense-infected cattle given similar treatment as group 2 cattle; group 4 consisted of 3 non-infected and group 5 of 2 infected cattle treated with ISMM-2 by intramuscular injection. Radioactivity was measured in plasma, urine, faeces and tissues, and drug concentrations were calculated. Data obtained following i.v. treatment were best described by tri-exponential equations with half-lives of 0.13, 1.22 and 120.7 h. Bioavailability of the intramuscular dose was 58% in group 2 cattle. The major route of excretion was in faeces. Approximately 80% of the intravenous dose given was excreted within 21 days out of which only 18% was through urine. Total residues accounted for approximately 15% the total dose given. Drug residues remained high in organs with excretory functions including the liver and kidneys.     

Alteration in adrenocortical function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction after aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone, respectively

OBJECTIVE: To determine alteration in adrenocortical function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) after aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone, respectively. ANIMALS: 6 horses with inducible and reversible heaves. PROCEDURE: Episodes of heaves were induced by exposure to moldy hay and straw for 7 days (natural challenge). Horses then underwent treatment (aerosolized beclomethasone, parenterally administered dexamethasone, and aerosolized propellant) for 7 days. Horses remained in the mold-contaminated environment for 7 days after discontinuation of drugs. Adrenocortical function was determine by serial evaluation of cortisol concentration in serum obtained on days 0, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, and 21. Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation testing was performed in 4 horses/treatment group on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. RESULTS: Endogenous cortisol production was suppressed in beclomethasone- and dexamethasone-treated horses within 2 days of treatment but recovered to values similar to those in propellant-treated horses approximately 2 and 4 days after discontinuation of drugs. Serum cortisol concentration in propellant-treated horses gradually decreased during the study and was significantly lower than baseline on days 14, 16, 19, and 21. Mean increase in serum cortisol concentration in response to ACTH stimulation testing after beclomethasone and dexamethasone administration did not differ significantly from the response observed in propellant-treated horses. CONCLUSIONS: Aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone and dexamethasone, respectively, suppressed adrenocortical function; however, endogenous cortisol production resumed approximately 2 and 4 days after discontinuation of drugs. Responsiveness to ACTH stimulation testing was not affected by the 7-day treatment period.     

Variability of egg excretion in Schistosoma mansoni infection in Ethiopia: a case report

An Ethiopian boy, aged 18 years, and heavily infected with S. mansoni (1250 eggs per gram of faeces), gave stool sample for microscopy three times a day (at 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm) for 5 consecutive days. Each time two slides were prepared by the modified Kato's thick-smear technique. The maximum egg count at each examination was converted to eggs per gram of faeces (EPG). There was no significant variability (at 10% level, F-value = 0.04) in in egg counts made at different times of the day. However, the coefficient of variations between the egg counts made on different days were fairly high ranging from nearly 61% to 73% and the differences being highly significant at 10% level (F value = 4.076). The implications of this day-to-day variability of S. mansoni faecal excretion in "selected" chemotherapy in Ethiopia is discussed.     

Output of chyle as an indicator of treatment for chylothorax complicating oesophagectomy

BACKGROUND: The management of chylothorax complicating oesophagectomy remains controversial. Even if medical management alone can be successful, some authors advocate early reoperation. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the clinical variables associated with a high probability of full recovery with medical treatment. METHODS: Among 850 Lewis procedures performed for oesophageal carcinoma, 23 patients (2.7 per cent) developed postoperative chylothorax despite systematic preventive ligation of the main thoracic duct. Patients who responded to conservative management were compared with those requiring reoperation for preoperative radiotherapy, unilateral versus bilateral pleural effusion, delay of occurrence of the chylothorax, and ratio of mean chylous output to body-weight 1 and 5 days after its onset. RESULTS: Conservative management was successful in 14 patients with a mean(s.d.) delay of 12(5) (range 7-21) days and there were no hospital deaths. Reoperation was necessary in nine patients; there were two postoperative deaths and no recurrence of the chylothorax. The only significant difference between reoperated and medically treated patients was the mean(s.d.) chylous output at day 5: 23.5(16.6) versus 6.7(5.5) ml per kg body-weight (P< 0.001). At this time, the output was less than 10 ml/kg in 12 of 14 patients in whom medical treatment was successful (sensitivity 86 per cent), and equal to or greater than this cut-off value in all the patients who underwent reoperation (specificity 100 per cent). CONCLUSION: The ratio of chylous output to body-weight on the fifth day after the onset of a chylothorax complicating oesophagectomy seems to reliably predict the success of continuing medical treatment.     

Pulmonary function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction after aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone, respectively

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in clinical signs of disease and response to pulmonary function testing in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) after aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone, respectively. ANIMALS: 6 horses with inducible and reversible heaves. PROCEDURE: Episodes of heaves were induced by exposure (challenge) to moldy hay and straw for 7 days. Horses were assigned to treatment groups (aerosolized beclomethasone dipropionate, parenterally administered dexamethasone, aerosolized propellant [control]), and respiratory frequency and subjective assessment of respiratory effect were determined twice daily. Maximal change in pleural pressure (delta-Pplmax), pulmonary resistance (RL), and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was determined on days 0, 7, 10, 14, and 21. RESULTS: The RL and delta Pplmax were increased, and Cdyn was decreased in all horses in response to natural challenge. Beclomethasone reduced RL on day 10, reduced delta Pplmax on days 14 and 21 and increased Cdyn on day 14. Dexamethasone reduced RL and delta Pplmax on days 10, 14, and 21 and increased Cdyn on days 10 and 14. Respiratory effort (subjective assessment) improved after 2 and 3 days of beclomethasone and dexamethasone administration but rebounded to pretreatment values 1 and 3 days after discontinuation of drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function testing responses and clinical signs of airway obstruction were improved by administration of beclomethasone. The magnitude of response to aerosolized beclomethasone generally was less marked than the response to parenterally administered dexamethasone. Higher or more frequent dosing of aerosolized beclomethasone may be necessary to achieve the anti-inflammatory response to parenterally administered dexamethasone.     

New developments and applications in quantitative electron spectroscopic imaging of iron in human liver biopsies

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of intra-articularly administered triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in exercised equine athletes with carpal osteochondral fragmentation. Eighteen horses were randomly assigned to each of 3 groups. An osteochondral chip fragment was created in one randomly chosen intercarpal joint of each horse. Both intercarpal joints in the placebo control group (CNT) horses were injected with intra-articular administration (IA) of polyionic fluid. Both joints in the TA control group (TA CNT) horses were treated with 12 mg of TA in the intercarpal joint without an osteochondral fragment, and the opposite intercarpal joint was injected with a similar volume of polyionic fluid. The TA treated group (TA TX) horses were treated with 12 mg of TA in the joint that contained the osteochondral fragment and the opposite intercarpal joint was injected with a similar volume of polyionic fluid. All horses were treated IA on days 13 and 27 after surgery and exercised on a high speed treadmill for 6 weeks starting on Day 14. Horses in the TA TX group were significantly less lame than horses in the CNT and TA CNT groups. Horses in either TA CNT or TA TX groups had lower total protein, and higher hyaluronan, and glycosaminoglycan concentrations in synovial fluid than did those in the CNT group. Synovial membrane collected from subjects in TA CNT and TA TX groups had significantly less inflammatory cell infiltration, subintimal hyperplasia and subintimal fibrosis compared to the CNT group. Articular cartilage histomorphological parameters were significantly better from the TA CNT and TA TX groups compared to the CNT group. In conclusions, results from this study support favourable effects of TA on degree of clinically detectable lameness, and on synovial fluid, synovial membrane, and articular cartilage morphological parameters, both with direct intra-articular administration and remote site administration as compared to placebo treatment. The clinical use of IA administered TA in horses may be therapeutically beneficial in selected cases of osteochondral fragmentation and osteoarthritis.     

Efficacy of six anthelmintics against luminal stages of Baylisascaris procyonis in naturally infected raccoons (Procyon lotor)

The efficacy of six anthelmintics against natural infections of Baylisascaris procyonis in raccoons (n = 7 per drug) was determined in a series of critical tests. The drugs were given via moist cat food as a single dose or once daily for three consecutive days. Raccoons treated with pyrantel embonate (1 x 20 mg base kg-1 bodyweight (bwt.)), ivermectin (1 x 1 mg kg-1 bwt.), moxidectin (1 x 1 mg kg-1 bwt.), albendazole (3 x 50 mg kg-1 bwt.), fenbendazole (3 x 50 mg kg-1 bwt.) or flubendazole (3 x 22 mg kg-1 bwt.) expelled 1-198, 2-24, 2-14, 3-80, 2-70, or 2-35 B. procyonis stages, respectively, within the faeces. No roundworm was detected in any raccoon at post mortem examinations 7 days after the end of treatment. These results suggest that any of the six anthelmintics can be used at the dose rates tested in a deworming programme for captive raccoons.     

Comparative efficacy evaluation of dicationic carbazole compounds, nitazoxanide, and paromomycin against Cryptosporidium parvum infections in a neonatal mouse model

The efficacies of dicationic carbazole compounds, nitazoxanide (NTZ), and paromomycin were evaluated against the AUCp1 isolate of Cryptosporidium parvum by using a neonatal mouse model. Compounds were solubilized or suspended in deionized water and administered orally by gavage to neonatal mice at a constant dose rate on days 0 to 5 (treatment started on day 0). Dose rates varied for individual carbazole compounds but ranged from 0.65 to 20 mg/kg of body weight. NTZ was tested at 100 and 150 mg/kg, and paromomycin was tested at 50 mg/kg. Efficacies were determined by comparing numbers of oocysts present in treated versus control mice at necropsy examination on day 6. Demonstrable efficacy was observed for several carbazole compounds, based on significant reductions in the numbers of oocysts recovered from treated mice versus control mice. Compounds 1, 7, and 10 (19.0 mg/kg) reduced oocyst passage in treated mice to less than 5% of that in control mice. Treatment with compounds 6, 8, and 9 (17.0 mg/kg) resulted in reductions of oocyst output to less than 10% of that in controls. Although they were not comparable in efficacy to compounds 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, treatment with other carbazole compounds resulted in statistically significant reductions in oocyst output in treated versus control mice. Compound 1 retained efficacy resulted in reduction of oocyst output to approximately 6% of that in controls when the dose was reduced to 5 mg/kg. Further reductions in the dose rate resulted in considerable reductions in anticryposporidial activity. Likewise, the efficacies of compounds 9 and 10 were reduced substantially when the doses were lowered to one-half the screening dose. Paromomycin yielded excellent activity (reduction of oocyst output to <2% of that in controls) at a dose of 50 mg/kg. NTZ yielded moderate efficacy as powder and injectable formulations administered at 100 mg/kg orally (reduction of oocyst output to 42 and 26% of that in controls, respectively). Oral administration of the injectable formulation of NTZ at a dose of 150 mg/kg resulted in improved efficacy (oocyst output, <5% of that in controls).     

Enrichment of hen eggs with n-3 long-chain fatty acids and evaluation of enriched eggs in humans

Eggs enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were produced by hens fed diets containing fish oil or a combination of fish and vegetable oils. In a sensory evaluation, 78 untrained volunteers could not distinguish between ordinary and enriched eggs. Storage life was also not significantly different between egg types. A food intake survey of 4 groups of 14 subjects each who consumed 7 eggs/wk for 24 wk showed that intakes of the major dietary components were not significantly different for 4 different egg types. Mean (n = 56) plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were not significantly different at the start and finish of the study. Body weight and HDL concentrations increased during the study (P < 0.05). For the last 2 wk of the experiment (weeks 23-24), mean egg consumption was increased from a total of 14 to a total of 21 eggs, resulting in a small increase in plasma triacylglycerols only. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in body weight, blood pressure, or plasma lipid components among treatment groups consuming the 4 different egg types. Blood samples taken after 16 and 22 wk from fasted subjects showed significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and total n-3 PUFAs in subjects consuming enriched eggs compared with controls. In addition, the ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFAs in plasma was significantly reduced from 12.2:1 to 6.5-7.7:1 in subjects consuming enriched eggs compared with controls. Consumption of only one enriched egg daily can contribute substantially to the recommended daily intake of n-3 PUFAs.     

The intestinal ecosystem in chronic functional constipation

Chronic functional constipation is common in infants, and the bacterial composition of stools in this condition is not known. The study aims were to: (i) investigate the composition of the intestinal ecosystem in chronic functional constipation; (ii) establish whether the addition of the water-holding agent calcium polycarbophil to the diet induces an improvement in constipation; and (iii) determine the composition of the intestinal ecosystem after the use of this agent. In total, 42 children (20F, 22M; mean age: 8.6 +/- 2.9 y) were studied. Twenty-eight children with functional chronic constipation without anatomical disorders were treated double-blind in random sequence for 1 month with an oral preparation of calcium polycarbophil (0.62 g/twice daily) or placebo. Intestinal flora composition was evaluated by standard microbiological methods and biochemical assays on faecal samples collected before and after treatment. Fourteen healthy children were studied as controls. The results show that (i) the constipated children presented a significant increase in clostridia and bifidobacteria in faeces compared to healthy subjects--different species of clostridia and enterobacteriaceae were frequently isolated; no generalized overgrowth was observed; Clostridia outnumbered bacteroides and E. coli mean counts by 2-3log, while bacteroides and E. coli counts were similar (5-6 log10/g fresh faeces); these intestinal disturbances could be defined as a dysbiosis, i.e. a quantitative alteration in the relative proportions of certain intestinal bacterial species. (ii) Clinical resolution of constipation was achieved only in 43% of treated children and an improvement in 21% (one bowel movement every 2 d). (iii) Calcium polycarbophil treatment induced no significant changes in the composition of the intestinal ecosystem, nor in blood chemistry parameters.     

Immune response in the hamster. VIII. Ig class differences in susceptibility to tolerance induction

A hemolytic plaque assay was used to quantitate the antibody response of the Syrian hamster after immunization with hen egg albumin (HEA). Whereas HEA in complete Freund's adjuvant (HEA-CF) induced a prolonged heterogeneous (IgM, IgG1 and IgG2) antibody response, the response to soluble HEA in saline (HEA-S) differed in that: 1)both the primary and secondary responses were restricted to the IgG1 class; 2)the IgG1 primary response was cyclical with PFC peaks on days 9 and 16; 3)although an anamnestic secondary response was demonstrated, no further augmentation was noted after tertiary and quaternary boosters; 4)the booster response was transient reaching a peak after 48 hr and declining to low levels within 7 days. Adoptive transfer of lymph node cells to irradiated recipients followed by challenge with HEA-CF revealed: 1)that HEA-S-treated donor cells were primed for an IgG1 response because anamnesis was seen 7 days after challenge, yet on day 21, IgG1 PFC were 20-fold less than that of controls; 2)recipients of HEA-S treated cells showed profound suppression of both IgM and IgG2 PFC on days 14 and 21. These studies indicate that soluble antigen induced in hamsters a state of complete tolerance of IgM and IgG2 classes whereas the anamnestic response of the IgG1 class remained intact.     

Systemic availability of bovine immunoglobulin G and chicken immunoglobulin Y after feeding colostrum and whole egg powder to newborn calves

In connection with a study on the prophylaxis of infectious diarrhea with specific egg yolk antibodies, the systemic availability of colostral bovine immunoglobulin G (bIgG) and chicken immunoglobulin Y (IgY) after feeding egg powder was investigated on 26 newborn calves from 23 different farms. Blood was sampled daily and at the same day time from these calves in the first 14 days of life. During the feeding of colostrum, the mean bIgG concentration was highest at day 1 post natum with a value of 9.3 mg/ml serum. Thereafter, the mean bIgG level was reduced continuously to a significant lower concentration of 4.9 mg/ml serum at day 12 post natum and remained nearly constant at 5.2 mg/ml till to the end of the observation period. Total protein concentrations in the serum did not change and plateaued at a mean value of 56.2 mg/ml (SD 11.2). The number of colostrum meals had no significant effect on the mean bIgG concentrations during that period. The individual variation of bIgG concentrations was very high on every day of the sampling period. The mean coefficient of variation was at 52.1 % (SD 5.7). After having described the individual bIgG concentration curves mathematically with a regression curve, two groups with significantly different bIgG elimination constants (k) could be obtained. Thus in one group (n = 10) with k-values of < -0.02 a mean half time of serum bIgG of 24.3 days (SD 4.6) was calculated. In the other group of calves (n = 16) with elimination constants of k > -0.02, a mean half time of 68.5 days (SD 36.7) could be calculated, possibly because these calves started earlier with their endogenous bIgG production. Additionally, to 18 of these calves 20 g egg powder with an IgY concentration of 15 mg/g was fed up to day 14. Calves had a maximal mean IgY concentration of 1.9 micrograms/ml serum if egg powder feeding started already during the first 12 hours of life. Starting at a later time resulted in a significant reduction of IgY levels. For example, the mean initial IgY concentration dropped to 0.035 micrograms/ml serum after having had the first egg powder application between 25 and 48 hours post natum. Using the individual IgY elimination constant derived from a regression analysis (r2 = 0.84) of the IgY concentration curve, a mean IgY half time of 5.0 days (SD 2.5) could be calculated. To prevent the absorption of heterologous antibodies and consecutively, also to prevent a possible systemic effect, egg powder for prophylactic purposes in newborn calves should be fed after the first 24, better 48 hour, post natum. Most important for the prophylactic effect of specific antibodies on infectious diarrhea is not their systemic but their high local intestinal availability.