Effect of the Milwaukee brace on vital and ventilatory capacity of scoliotic patients

The vital capacity (VC) and the maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were studied in 29 patients with scoliosis (predominantly idiopathic). The results obtained confirmed earlier observations that scoliotic patients have decreased VC and MVV. The immediate effect of the application of the Milwaukee brace was a slight though statistically significant decrease in MV, whereas there was no significant effect on VC. Treatment with the Milwaukee brace for a mean period of 15 months did not appreciably influence the VC or MVV, as a percentage of the predicted normal values of the patients, when measured without the brace applied.     

Effect of exercise on cardiac output and distribution of uterine blood flow in pregnant ewes

This study was designed to determine what effect physical training has on heart rate and stroke volume responses to exercise stress and to determine if exercise altered the distribution of uterine blood flow. Measurements were made in ten pregnant ewes at rest and immediately following exercise on a treadmill. Five ewes underwent physical training for 3 wk prior to measurement. An increase in heart rate with no change in stroke volume was observed following exercise in both trained and untrained ewes. Total uterine blood flow was not changed following exercise, but distribution was altered in favor of the placenta. Blood flow was evenly distributed within the placenta before and after exercise. The redistribution of flow to the placenta that occurs after exercise. tphe redistribution of flow to the placenta that occurs after exercise might represent a compensatory mechanism for the fetus.     

Laboratory evaluation of 3-(5-tetrazolyl) penam, a new semisynthetic beta-lactam antibacterial agent with extended broad-spectrum activity

In the new agent 3-(5-tetrazolyl)penam, hereafter referred to as CP-35,587, the carboxyl function at C3 in the penicillin nucleus has been replaced with the 5-tetrazolyl moiety. Marked changes in spectrum and resistance to gram-negative beta-lactamases, particularly with regard to Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, were conferred by this modification. The anti-Klebsiella activity clearly distinguishes the antibacterial spectrum of CP-35,587 from any known broad-spectrum penicillin. Compared to orally active cephalosporins, the spectrum advantage of CP-35,587 encompasses Enterobacter, Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter, Providencia, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus faecalis, both in vitro and in murine infections produced by many of the above-named microorganisms. Thus, CP-35,587 combines and extends the antibacterial activity of broad-spectrum penicillins and orally active cephalosporins.     

Continuous dynamic monitoring of pressure and flow patterns during assisted ventilation

On curettage, done in a 39 year old patient because of metorrhagia, a peanut-sized nodule was scraped away from the endometrium. Histologically it consisted of a jumble of irregularly shaped portions of normal appearing embryonal cartilage, of tortuous thick-walled vessels, of twisted bundles of nerves of ducts of respiratory and intestinal epithelium, and of sheets of hornifying skin. The haphazard disarray of tissues supported the notion that the lesion was not a remnant of a malformed embryo. Step-sections through the lesion revealed no traces of placental villi or decidua in the surrounding endometrium. The following were considered as possible origins of the teratoma: 1. displaced germinal cells, 2. retention of pluripotent müllerian epithelium, 3. overaged or blighted ovum. The latter seems most compatible with the histological findings.     

Sarcoidosis with salivary gland involvement: biochemical studies on parotid saliva

Parotid saliva from a patient suffering from sarcoidosis with salivary gland involvement has been shown to have a decreased level of alpha-amylase but increased levels of albumin and lysozyme. These observations suggest that in addition to impaired gland function, gland damage as a result of inflammation had occurred which permitted increased passage of constituents from serum into the gland secretion.     

Influence of lipase and/or emulsifier addition on the ileal and faecal nutrient digestibility in growing pigs fed diets containing 4% animal fat

Information on the addition of lipase and/or emulsifiers to less digestible or saturated fat sources, such as tallow or other animal fats, used in swine feeding is very limited. Therefore, in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, the effects of adding lipase (0.05% L5, microbial source) and/or an emulsifier (0.3% Lysoforte) on the apparent ileal (AID) and faecal (AFD) digestibility of the main nutrients and fatty acids in particular were studied with four ileal‐cannulated growing pigs (female, initial live weight 20 kg) fed diets containing barley/soybean meal supplemented with 4% animal fat. The fat source contained 35% saturated (S) and 65% unsaturated (U) fatty acids. All diets were free of antibacterial substances (antibiotics, copper sulphate or zinc oxide beyond requirements), in order to avoid interactions between the parameters studied and the gut flora. Lipase addition did not affect the AID or AFD of fat. However, the digestibility of minor fatty acids (C6:0, C14:0) was significantly improved by lipase at both ileal and faecal level. On the other hand, lipase supplementation (P < 0.05) improved the AID of dry matter (DM) and energy as well as the AFD of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ash and energy. Addition of an emulsifier did not have any significant influence on the AID or AFD of fat, while the AID values of DM, OM, CP and energy as well as the AFD values of DM, OM, CP and ash were significantly (P < 0.05) improved. Adding lipase in combination with an emulsifier to the diets decreased (P < 0.05) the AID and AFD of fat, with minor effects on the AID and AFD of the non‐fat components of the diet. The lack of improvement in the digestion of fat by exogenous lipase and/or emulsifier may be related to the rather high U/S ratio (0.65:0.35) of the animal fat source used and to the mode of incorporation of the emulsifier (no pre‐dispersion in the fat source). Furthermore, during the trial the diets, stored at room temperature, showed a steady increase in their content of free fatty acids (to more than 700 g kg^?1 fat), due to endogenous lipase activity, leaving less room for upgrading the digestion of animal fat by exogenous lipase and/or emulsifier. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry