Borna disease virus--a possible etiological agent of human psychoneurological disorders?

The effect of three different feeding techniques (electronic automated feeder, teat bucket and bucket with floating teat) on oral activities, skin condition, health and performance of 144 German Holstein group housed veal calves was investigated. About 21% of the observed time over 24 hours was spent on oral activities and only about 1% with the particularly health-relevant activities at prepuce, navel or scrotum. As a consequence of sucking activities at pen mates in most cases reddening of the skin and, with low incidence (about 7%), additional loss of hair could be found. Altogether about 74% of the calves were affected with the highest incidence in the electronic automated feeder groups. Calves of these groups had, moreover, higher disease incidences and a lower weight gain and feed conversion rate than those fed by teat bucket or by bucket with floating teat. Altogether results show that in terms of behaviour and health it is possible to keep calves at the age of two weeks in groups, even in conventional veal calf production, when satisfactory management is applied. The electronic automated feeder still needs further technical development for use with veal calves.     

Respiratory findings in workers employed in the brick-manufacturing industry

We studied 233 male workers employed in two brick-manufacturing plants and 149 matched control workers. The mean age of the brick workers was 35 years, with a mean duration of employment in this industry of 16 years. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms as well as acute symptoms during the work shift were recorded. Lung function was measured on Monday during the work shift by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves, from which the forced vital capacity (FVC), the one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and flow rates at 50% and the last 75% of the FVC (FEF50, FEF75) were measured. The results of periodic chest roentgenograms were reviewed. There was a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough (31.8%), chronic phlegm (26.2%), and chest tightness (24.0%) in exposed workers, compared with control workers (20.1%; 18.1%; 0%) (P < 0.05). This increased symptom frequency was also documented among nonsmokers studied by age and by length of employment, suggesting a work-related effect. Among work shift-related symptoms, high prevalences were noted for upper respiratory tract symptoms (e.g., dry throat, eye irritation, throat irritation). The measured FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower than predicted for brick workers and suggested a restrictive pattern. The mean FVC (as a percent of predicted) was 78.1% and FEV1 was 88.1%. The FEF50 and FEF25 were not significantly decreased. A multiple regression analysis with age, exposure, and smoking as predictors and lung function parameters as response variables showed a significant effect between exposure and FVC. Significant chest roentgenographic abnormalities were not documented. These findings of a restrictive lung function pattern in brick workers with normal chest roentgenograms may suggest early interstitial disease. Additionally, a bronchitic component, as suggested by the respiratory symptoms, may also be present.     

Sternal osteomyelitis

The authors present data based on the analysis of diagnosis and treatment of 11 patients with sternal osteomyelitis which in 9 patients was of traumatic origin and in 2 was hematogenous. Early diagnosis is difficult. Clinical manifestations and roentgenography of the sternum are essential for diagnosis. In combined treatment of osteomyelitis preference is given to radical removal of osteomyelitic masses within healthy tissues with tamponade of the residual osteal cavity by local tissues.     

An experimental study of the anti-ulcer properties of an extract of poplar bark

Marked antiulcerative properties of a Populus tremula bark extract were demonstrated in experiments on mice and rats with stress-, reserpine-induced, and acetylsalicylic ulcers. The gastroprotective activity of the extract was expressed in decrease in the number of animals with mucosal ulcers and in marked decrease in the number of ulcers. It exceeded similar parameters of alanton, plantaglucide, and Hippopheae oil.     

The effect of salben on the rheological properties of the bronchial secretion

We report a case of a 1.5 cm cystine staghorn calculus of the right lower pole in a 32 year female known cystinuric patient. With a 200 microns Holmium laser probe through a 9,5 F flexible ureteroscope the calculus was fragmented in small particles. An internal ureteral stent was inserted at the end of the procedure. All but one small residual fragments were evacuated spontaneously after removal of the stent. This case shows that flexible ureteroscopy combined with the Holmium laser is a safe and efficient procedure to treat medium size renal cystine calculi. It can be repeated in case of recurrence with minimal trauma to the urologic tract.     

Autologous transplantation of mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells selected by immunomagnetic procedures in patients with multiple myeloma

In the use of autologous PBPC transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma, contamination of PBPC with myeloma cells is commonly observed. Enrichment for CD34+ cells has been employed as a method of reducing this contamination. In this study the reduction of myeloma cells in PBPC was accomplished by the positive selection of CD34+ cells using immunomagnetic bead separation (Isolex 300 system). PBPC were mobilized from 18 patients using cyclophosphamide (4.5 g/m2) and G-CSF (10 microg/kg/day). A median of two leukaphereses and one selection was performed per patient. The median number of mononuclear cells processed was 3.50 x 10(10) with a recovery of 1.11 x 10(8) cells after selection. The median recovery of CD34+ cells was 48% (range 17-78) and purity was 90% (29-99). The median log depletion of CD19+ cells was 3.0. IgH rearrangement, assessed by PCR, was undetectable in 13 of 24 evaluable CD34+ enriched products. Patients received 200 mg/m2 of melphalan followed by the infusion of a median of 2.91 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells (1.00-16.30). The median time to absolute neutrophil count >0.5 x 10(9)/l was 11 days, and sustained platelet recovery of >20 x 10(9)/l was 14 days. We conclude that immunomagnetic-based enrichment of CD34+ cells results in a marked reduction in myeloma cells without affecting engraftment kinetics.     

Ferroelectricity in SrTiO3: Pb

Dielectric study of phase transitions in SrTiO₃ -PbTiO₃ ceramic samples with PbTiO₃ content x ranging from 0.002 up to 0.3 is reported. It is shown that there is a ferroelectric phase transition for x value as low as 0.005. At low x the transition temperature T_C varies as (x-x_c)^1/2 with x_c = 0.002.     

Strength capability while kneeling

Work sometimes has to be carried out kneeling, particularly where jobs are performed in confined spaces as is common for miners, aircraft baggage handlers and maintenance workers. In order to assess the risks in performing forceful tasks under such conditions, data is needed on strength capabilities of kneeling subjects. A study was undertaken to measure isometric strength in single-handed exertions for male subjects and to investigate the effects on this of task layout factors (direction of force exertion, reach distance, height of the workpiece and orientation relative to the subject's sagittal plane). The data has been tabulated to show the degree to which strength may be reduced in different situations and analysis of the task factors showed their influence to be complex with direction of exertion and reach distance having the greatest effect. The results also suggest that exertions are weaker when subjects are kneeling on two knees than when kneeling on one knee, although this needs to be confirmed by direct experimental comparison.