Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatographic serum profiles of humans and dogs

The sera of 30 healthy male beagles were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The profiles were compared with those obtained from the sera of 30 healthy human donors. The chromatograms of each group were very reproducible; however, there were characteristic differences between the two groups. The compounds observed in both the human and canine profiles were identified as creatinine, uric acid, tyrosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, kynurenine, inosine and tryptophan. Compounds present only in the canine profiles were identified as cytindine, riboflavin and 5-methyl-cytidine. Compounds present only in the human profiles include uridine, guanosine, hippuric acid and the dietary dependent compounds theobromine and caffeine. The compounds present in both human and canine sera were quantitated and compared statistically. The amounts of these compounds were very similar, except for uric acid.     

Reporting of zoonotic diseases

Departments of public health and agriculture in all 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia were queried in 1977 to determine which of some selected zoonoses are reportable, the method of reporting and the diagnostic stage at which reporting is required. Fifty-three of the 62 diseases on the public health questionnaire were listed as reportable, with hepatitis A required by 49 of the 51 jurisdictions. Telephone reporting was required in nearly 19% of the disease-jurisdiction combinations and, in nearly 55%, reporting was required when the disease first was suspected. Thirty-three of the 41 diseases on the agriculture questionnaire were reportable, with anthrax most frequent. Telephone reporting was required in 30% of the reportable situations and suspected diagnoses were reportable in 54%. The disease lists varied markedly between the public health and agriculture agencies.     

Readmission discount factors in program evaluation. An output value analysis of an adult psychiatry program

The application of output value analysis, a type of benefit/cost analysis, to a psychiatric patient population is reported. A method for discounting the value of the program if a patient was readmitted within a year after discharge was introduced. The application of this discount factor reduces the value produced by the program and thereby reduces both productivity and effectiveness indices. When applied to groups known to differ in readmission rates, such as first admissions and readmissions or voluntary and involuntary admissions, the discount factor can accentuate group differences markedly. When selected diagnostic groups were compared, the discount factor could even reverse the relative standing of the groups.     

Growth of clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria on agar media: effects of media composition, storage conditions, and reduction under anaerobic conditions

The quantitative growth, the colony size, and the rate of growth of 47 clinical anaerobic isolates were compared on five different media, namely Brucella agar, brain heart infusion agar, Columbia agar, Schaedler agar, and tryptic soy agar. There was no significant difference in the quantitative growth of the anaerobes inoculated onto the five media. Although no single medium was superior for the growth of all isolates, 12 of 22 isolates, inoculated onto media stored for 4 weeks or less, grew best on Schaedler agar. The effects of supplementation of the media with reducing agents and reduction of the media before use were also analyzed and were found to be affected by the composition and length of storage of the media, as well as the bacteria tested.     

Cytogenetic studies of the Australian rodent, Uromys caudimaculatus, a species showing extensive heterochromatin variation

The Australian rodent, Uromys caudimaculatus, consists of two chromosome races. a) The Southern Race is characterized by the possession of two to twelve B-chromosomes. These vary considerably in size, morphology, and C- and G-banding characteristics, they behave as univalent at meiosis and are inherited in a random manner. b) The Northern Race lacks B-chromosomes, but possesses large blocks of distal C-positive heterochromatin on between 18 and 28 of the 46 chromosomes. The C-blocks may be entirely G-positive entirely G-negative, or G-banded, suggesting heterogeneity with the C-blocks. There is extensive variation both between and within populations of the northern race in the number and size of the distal heterochromatic blocks. There is no apparent difference between the races in chiasma frequency. The northern race does have much higher proportion of interstitial versus distal chiasmata, although it is probable that this is merely a reflection of lack of crossing over in the heterochromatic blocks rather than an actual shift of chiasma localisation within the euchromatin. Despite the extensive differences between the races in the amount and organization of constitutive heterochromatin, hybrids show no abnormalities at meiosis and they are fully fertile.     

Interviewer specificity in seminaturalistic interviews.

Attempted to replicate earlier findings by B. Pope and A. W. Siegman (see PA, Vol. 39:13386, and Vol. 40:509) that there is an inverse relationship between interviewer specificity and both interviewee productivity and uncertainty, through the use of more naturalistic interviewers. 24 18-40 yr. old psychiatric inpatients were interviewed 3 times in a low specificity, high specificity, and an uncontrolled interview. Previous findings were supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using an improvement model to reduce adverse drug events in VA facilities

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug events cause significant morbidity and mortality in health care. Many adverse drug events are due to medication errors and are preventable. In 1999 and 2000 the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry collaborated with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to implement a quality improvement (QI) project designed to reduce medication errors within the Veterans Administration system. METHODS: During a 6- to 9-month period, interdisciplinary teams that want to achieve much higher levels of performance work on a common aim, under the guidance of faculty, and come together for three 2-day educational and planning sessions. Between these sessions, teams implement some of the suggested changes, measure the results of those changes, and report back to the larger group. RESULTS: During the formal project, teams collected allergy information on more than 20,000 veterans and averted 1,833 medication errors that had the potential to cause adverse events. At 6-month follow-up, the majority of teams remained intact, continued to collect data, and maintained their gains, approximately doubling the results obtained during the formal project. Half of the teams expanded their efforts to other settings, and one-third of the teams expanded beyond their original topics. Returns on investment in the QI effort were substantial. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that gains made in organized QI efforts can be maintained for 6 months without additional external support or coaching if team structure and leadership support remain intact. Facilitators of QI efforts should focus on teams that are having difficulty learning new techniques. Finally, this effort appeared to generate cost savings.     

Unusual Temperature Dependence of Heterogeneous Nucleation of Water Vapor on Ag Particles

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