Experiences with segregated early weaning (SEW) in of swine

The ongoing trend towards SEW has arrived the eastern European countries as well. In order to examine the effect of 17 days weaning on production in a large pig production unit there were the following evaluations, carried out in the following steps: Step one: Two groups of sows were randomly formed before weaning: Group one (90 sows) were weaned at day 21 of lactation. Group two (109 sows) were weaned at day 17 of lactation. The following parameters were evaluated: A: Weaning to estrus interval in days B: Liveborn litter size at the following parturition Step 2: The number of weaned piglets that were the subject to the next evaluation were not the complete number of the weaned ones from the sows of group one and two, as due to technical reasons some of the animals could not be included in the second step of the evaluation. Group one: 901 piglets conventionally weaned at day 21 of lactation. Group two: 798 piglets SEW weaned at day 17 of lactation. The following parameters were evaluated during 6 weeks after weaning: C: Average daily weight (ADG) gain, measured weekly in gram in each group D: Mortality in percent in each group In step 1 the following results were evaluated: the sows in group one showed a significant shorter (p < 0.05) weaning to estrus interval when compared to the sows in group two (5.65 +/- 2.30 vs. 6.38 +/- 2.31), but there was no significant difference regarding liveborn litter size between the groups (10.87 +/- 2.01 vs. 10.74 +/- 2.22). Regarding step 2 the group two (SEW) showed, when compared to the group one (21 day weaning) during the first three weeks after weaning lesser weekly measured daily gains (185 +/- 13; 184 +/- 41; 361 +/- 23 vs. 201 +/- 11; 202 +/- 21; 365 +/- 32). Following the third week after weaning there existed a significant (p < 0.05) better weekly measured average daily gain in the SEW weaned group (group 2) when compared to group one (401 +/- 34; 412 +/- 30; 439 +/- 41 vs. 433 +/- 29; 465 +/- 31; 543 +/- 29). Regarding mortality both of the groups revealed a very low percent of losses (group one 0.89% vs. group two 0.75%), which differences were not significant. Step 3: retrospective evaluation of culling of the sows. Group one (412 sows) were SEW weaned in three consecutive weaning at day 14-17 of lactation. Group two (597 sows) were weaned in three consecutive weaning at day 21-28 of lactation. The reasons for culling included no observed postweaning estrus, repeat breeders, abort, small litter size, locomotor problems, periparturient diseases (PDC/MMA), small weaning litter weight, old age, urogenital diseases, overweight. The calculated average "Culling Rate" showed no significant differences between the groups (46.4% in group one vs. 47.1% in the group two).     

Radiotherapy, local control and survival in lung cancer

Better local control in locally advanced IIIA-B non small cell lung cancer, not considered for surgery, can be achieved through therapy intensification with non conventional fractionation of radiation dose, concomitant boost to the tumor volume, conformal therapy and combined modality therapy. All these procedures tend to produce an improved response, which, if stable in time, may also improve local control and survival. The reported experiences define a positive and encouraging trend on which new guidelines for a more suitable definition of standard therapies for the disease can be modulated.     

Comparison of two techniques of automated screening in respiratory and food allergy (UniCAP versus IMMULITE)

Screening tests plays an essential part in primary allergy diagnosis, therefore they have to show the highest level of reliability. In order to assess how UniCAP system fulfill these requirements, in comparison with Immulite, we analysed the results obtained with Phadiatop, (UniCAP) and AlaTOP (IMMULITE) in 110 patients with a clinical positive diagnosis for inhalant allergy. Furthermore we compared the results from food allergy screening tests performed in 103 patients with a clinical positive diagnosis for food allergy and we analysed 110 tests results of controls with negative diagnosis for allergy. We obtained the following results: [table: see text] Samples for which the tests results were not in concordance with the clinical diagnosis were tested with the follow up panel of the different screening tests. We obtained a better concordance with Phadiatop, than with Alatop. Specificity of the inhalant allergy screening tests is the same in the two systems. We also obtained a better concordance with fx5 than with fp5. We conclude on the basis of their respective clinical sensitivity that both Phadiatop and fx5, available on UniCAP, better answer inhalant and food allergy screening needs than Alatop and fp5, available on Immulite.     

Are weaning foods causing impaired iron and zinc status in 1-year-old Swedish infants? A cohort study

Retrobulbar hematoma is a rare complication of blunt periorbital trauma with the potential disastrous consequence of visual impairment and blindness. The preoperative assessment, diagnostic symptoms and signs, as well as the treatment of this condition are reviewed. The patients presented as well as a review of the literature confirm that although retrobulbar hematoma is a rare complication of blunt periorbital trauma, irreversible visual sequelae can be prevented by prompt diagnosis and immediate surgical and pharmacological therapy.     

Comparison of two oral evacuants (Citromag and Golytely) for bowel preparation before barium enema

Oral regimens for bowel preparation before barium enema examination are routinely used because of their convenience and simplicity, rather than the traditional method of colonic wash-out. We performed a prospective study comparing the side-effects and efficacy of two commonly used oral bowel evacuants (Citromag and Golytely) for bowel preparation before barium enema examination in 102 patients. The side-effects associated with the agents were assessed by analysing a questionnaire completed by the patients. There was no significant difference in the side-effects between the two agents although more patients taking Golytely (45.5%) deemed its taste unacceptable than those taking Citromag (25.9%). The results of the bowel preparation were assessed by two independent radiologists giving scores on the amount of faecal residue and the quality of mucosal coating. The amount of faecal residue was less in the Golytely group (p < 0.05). The quality of mucosal coating by barium was also better in the Golytely group than the Citromag group (p < 0.05).     

Influence of locoregional irradiation on local control and survival in breast cancer

A profiling ELISA was developed to detect antibody to the non-structural (NS) proteins Lb, 2C, 3A, 3D, and the polyprotein 3ABC, of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The assay was used to examine panels of sera from naive cattle, and from experimentally infected or vaccinated animals. All sera from cattle experimentally infected with any of the seven serotypes of FMDV were positive for antibody to 2C, 3A, 3D and 3ABC, and the majority were positive for Lb. The three categories of sera could be differentiated on the basis of the presence or absence of antibody to the structural and/or NS proteins of FMDV. The assay is simple, rapid and reproducible and can be used to identify previous infection in animals which are seropositive for antibody to the structural proteins of the virus. Validating the assay with field sera demonstrated that antibody to 3ABC, and usually one or more of the other non-structural proteins, was detected only in animals reported to have shown clinical signs of FMD. Vaccinated cattle which had received less than five vaccinations, were frequently positive for antibody to 3D but were negative for antibody to 3ABC. Occasional animals which had received more than ten vaccinations had NS protein antibody profiles which were similar to those seen following infection.     

Growth and survival of Shigella flexneri in common Bangladeshi foods under various conditions of time and temperature

Survival and growth of Shigella flexneri were assessed in various foods, including boiled rice, lentil soup, milk, cooked beef, cooked fish, mashed potato, mashed brinjal, and raw cucumber. Growth at 25 and 37 degrees C and survival at 5 degrees C were observed by viable counts on MacConkey agar. The organism grew well in all tested foods and growth increased from 10(5) to 10(8) to 10(10) cells per ml or g within 6 to 18 h after inoculation at 25 and 37 degrees C.     

Absorption of zinc from lupin (Lupinus angustifolius)-based foods

The absorption of Zn from a lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) milk fortified with Ca, a bread containing lupin flour (230 g/kg), a sauce containing lupin flour and a sauce containing a lupin-protein isolate was determined in humans by measuring the whole-body retention of radioisotope from meals labelled with 0.02 MBq 65Zn, allowing for endogenous excretion of Zn, after 14 d. The absorption of Zn from the Ca-enriched milk (16.2%) and the bread made with lupin flour (27.0%) was similar to literature figures for comparable soya-bean products. The absorption from composite meals made with lupin flour (28.2%) and protein isolate (32.7%) was significantly higher than that reported for comparable soya-bean products. In a second experiment the absorption of Zn from a lupin-milk base and a soya-bean-milk base was compared with that from Ca-supplemented bases. The absorption of Zn from the lupin-milk base (26.3%) was significantly higher than from the soya-bean-milk base (17.6%), and neither was significantly altered by the addition of Ca. Overall the absorption of Zn from lupin-protein foods was found to be higher than from comparable soya-bean products. Lupin milk could be an attractive alternative to soya-bean milk for infant formulas.     

Comparison of iontophoresis of lidocaine with a eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) for topically administered local anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Almost all dermatologic surgery is accomplished using local anesthesia. To make our patients more comfortable, there is a constant search for less painful methods of administering anesthetic agents. Topical EMLA as well as iontophoresis are both useful in this regard. OBJECTIVE: In this study we compared topical EMLA with lidocaine delivered by iontophoresis in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Our goal was to assess the degree of anesthesia obtained as well as the relative rapidity of onset. METHODS: A double-blind controlled study was performed on 10 healthy volunteers between 26 and 37 years of age. Three test sites were placed on each forearm. EMLA or a moisturizer control was placed on two of the three test sites on each arm. Each site was wiped free of cream and tested for sensitivity to pinprick 30 and 60 minutes after cream placement. One iontophoretic unit was placed on each forearm. Both units were saturated with anesthesia with the control unit being turned off. Sensitivity to pinprick was evaluated at the iontophoretic sites and one of the EMLA sites 30 minutes after site placement on the subject. The additional EMLA-treated site was tested in the same manner 60 minutes after placement. RESULTS: Both EMLA cream and the iontophoretic unit delivered topical anesthesia greater than the control. Significantly more anesthesia was acquired 1 hour after application of EMLA than was seen 30 minutes earlier. The iontophoretic patch-treated area provided greater anesthesia than the EMLA-treated sites evaluated 30 and 60 minutes after placement. Both modalities provided significant anesthesia when left in place for 60 minutes. CONCLUSION: Both iontophoresis of lidocaine and topical EMLA delivered significant, and sometimes complete, local anesthesia. A greater degree of anesthesia is delivered via iontophoresis after 30 minutes as compared with EMLA left on the skin for 30 or 60 minutes. Both modalities have important and unique advantages and disadvantages. Topical EMLA and iontophoretically delivered lidocaine are both valuable tools for the dermatologic surgeon.     

Comparison in survival between hepatic metastases of gastric and colorectal cancers

BACKGROUND/AIM: The outcome after hepatectomy and non-surgical treatment of liver metastases from gastric and colorectal malignancies are reported. METHODOLOGY: Between April 1988 and March 1994, 176 patients with metastatic liver cancer were treated at the First Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital. RESULTS: All patients received multi-disciplinary treatment, and 51 underwent hepatectomy. The survival after hepatectomy for metastatic liver cancer from a colorectal primary was better than that for gastric cancer. The survival after hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy for metastases from gastric cancer was better than that for colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection may be the best treatment for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. HAI may be a better option for liver metastases from gastric cancer.     

Anastomotic leakage: impact on local recurrence and survival in surgery of colorectal cancer

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication in colorectal surgery, especially in the treatment of adenocarcinoma located in the left-sided colon and rectum. It is controversial whether anastomotic leakage is a prognostic factor for local recurrence and/or survival in this disease. To evaluate the impact of anastomotic dehiscence on the outcome of surgery we reviewed data on 467 consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma of the left colon and rectum treated between 1985 and 1995 in our Department. Of these, 41 (8.8%) developed anastomotic leakage. The overall-survival differed nonsignificantly (P = 0.57) between leakage and nonleakage groups. Of 331 patients with curative resection 29 showed an anastomotic leakage. There were 46 R0-resected patients who died under disease-related conditions: 7 patients in the leakage group (24.1%) and 39 in the nonleakage group (12.9%; P = 0.045). In the curatively resected group 5 of 29 patients developed local recurrence in the leakage group (17.2%) but only 26 of 302 patients in the nonleakage group (8.6%; P = 0.0357). Multivariate analysis showed only the factors of age, stage of resection, staging of lymph nodes, and tumor staging as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. For local recurrence the multivariate analysis revealed tumor staging and anastomotic leakage as independently significant. Anastomotic leakage thus appears to be a prognostic factor for local tumor recurrence of colorectal cancer. In addition, disease-related survival is considerably decreased under leakage conditions. Anastomotic leakage was not shown in this study to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival due to the lack of statistical significance.     

Comparison of CO2 generation (BACTEC) and viable-count methods to determine the postantibiotic effect of antimycobacterial agents against Mycobacterium avium complex

The postantibiotic effects (PAEs) of antimycobacterial agents determined with a BACTEC TB-460 instrument (CO2 production) and by a traditional viable-count method against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The longest PAEs following a 2-h exposure to 2x the MIC were induced by amikacin (10.3 h), rifampin (9.7 h), and rifabutin (9.5 h), while the shortest PAEs resulted from clofazimine (1.7 h) and ethambutol (1.1 h) exposure. CO2 generation is a valid and efficient means of determining in vitro PAEs against MAC.