Live animal performance, carcass traits, and meat palatability of calf- and yearling-fed cloned steers

Two groups of Brangus steers produced by nuclear transplantation cloning were used in parallel studies investigating the impact of calf- and yearling-feeding. The first group (n = 8) were fed as calves (CF; n = 4) or yearlings (YF; n = 4) to a constant age end point of 16 mo. The second group (n = 10) were fed as calves (CF; n = 5) or yearlings (YF; n = 5) to a constant live weight end point (530 kg). When slaughtered at the same age, CF and YF steers did not differ (P > .05) in feedlot ADG, but the CF steers were heavier and had higher dressing percentages, numeric yield grades, and quality grades (P < .05). Top loin steaks from the groups of steers did not differ (P > .05) in palatability traits. When fed to a constant live weight, the YF steers gained more rapidly (P < .05) and had lower (P < .05) numeric yield grades than did CF steers. Again CF steers had higher (P < .05) dressing percentages. There was no difference (P > .05) between the treatments in carcass quality grade or meat palatability characteristics. Thus, when finished to a constant weight end point, YF steers gained more rapidly, with no adverse effects on carcass quality grade or palatability traits; however, CF steers consistently produced higher dressing percentages, largely due to greater external fatness.     

Johnny's story: transfusing a Jehovah's Witness

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions for themselves and for their children. This action can be difficult for health professionals to understand and can lead to tensions between the staff and family. For one family, their refusal of blood for their child lead to a greater understanding of their religion and its beliefs for those who cared for them. Interspersed with their story are the medical reasons their son required blood, the reasons Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, and what the acceptable alternatives are to Jehovah's Witnesses. This article will share the thoughts and feelings of the family and the nursing staff who cared for the family during this crisis.     

Cortisone-induced osteoporosis: effects on bone adenylate cyclase

The majority of patients with soft tissue or bone sarcomas of the upper extremity can be treated today with limb-saving procedures using combined modality therapies. For patients with a tumor in the shoulder area, sometimes an interscapulothoracic amputation is the only radical surgical treatment. However, in selected cases, in which the tumor does not involve the neurovascular bundle, a limb-sparing alternative might be the Tikhoff-Linberg resection. Normal function of the hand and forearm, with reasonable function of the elbow, can be maintained by this procedure. Four case histories are reported.     

Spatial gradients of cytosolic calcium concentration in neurones during paradoxical activation by calcium

PURPOSE: To assess long-term survival following cladribine salvage treatment for previously treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients aged 39-84 years with previously treated CLL received cladribine 0.12 mg/kg/day in 2-hour infusions for 5 days in monthly courses. Two-thirds were refractory to previous therapy, and 8 had prior fludarabine. RESULTS: Sixteen (31%) patients achieved complete response (CR) and 14 (27%) partial remission (PR) according to consensus criteria. Response correlated with clinical stage, number of previous treatment regimes, blood lymphocyte count, and lymphocyte halflife following the first cladribine course. Toxicity included pneumonia (n = 9), herpes zoster (n = 7), and septicemia (n = 2). Four patients in CR underwent high-dose chemotherapy with autologous blood stem cell support, and 2 remain in CR 48 and 60 months from start of cladribine, and 2 had relapse at 42 and 48 months, respectively. Median progression-free survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis) for CR patients was 23 months from start of cladribine treatment, and for PR patients 16 months. The projected overall survival was 80% at 3 years for CR patients, and the median survival 28 months for PR patients and 4 months for non-responding patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our previous finding of durable CRs from cladribine in advanced CLL is thus confirmed in a larger patient material, and follow-up indicate that long-term survival may be achieved.     

What is driving health system change?

Socially amoral economic forces now drive health system change. The authors, assisted by a panel of experts on employers, health plans, providers, and consumers, discuss current drivers such as (1) employers' price-focused purchasing, without good quality/value measures; (2) health plans' growing successes and market clout; (3) providers declining prospects and fears about their future; and (4) consumers' worries about less choice. Future influences will include Medicare reforms, better information, and pro-consumer regulation of managed care, as well as rising social distress. The health system's future is now open for resolution in an evolving, imperfect market.     

Discrepancies between thyrotropin (TSH) measurement by four sensitive immunometric assays

A comparison of four different commercial immunometric thyrotropin (TSH) assays (Amerlite R TSH-30 Ultrasensitive assay from Kodak, BeriLux R hTSH from Behring Werke, Delfia R hTSH Ultra from Wallac and IMX R Ultrasensitive hTSH from Abbott) was made by measuring serum TSH in 81 consecutive patients referred to hospital for various reasons with a serum TSH less than 0.8 mlU/l in the IMX assay. The analytical and functional assay sensitivities of each of the assays were analysed. Even though three of the methods had a sensitivity corresponding to third generation assays, we could only demonstrate an overall agreement of serum TSH when comparing two of the kits. The measurements in Delfia Ultra and Berilux showed good agreement (P = 0.7, paired t-test and bias = 0.003 mIU/l), while the comparisons between the other assays showed different measurements (P < 0.00001, paired t-test and bias more than 0.07 mIU/l). Differences in the calibrators used in the assays might explain some of the discrepancy, although all methods were calibrated according to the same international standard. Also, differences in the specificity of the TSH monoclonal antibodies used in the assays might be an evident explanation and further studies of the specificity of the monoclonal antibodies are needed. An international collaborative study to clarify reasons for the differences between the TSH assays and to standardize the measurements is recommended.     

A general and flexible method of problem definition in structural optimization systems

This paper describes the implementation of a general and flexible method of formulating problems of mathematical programming in structural optimization systems. The method enables the formulation and solution of problems involving scalar, integral, min/max, max/min and possibly non-differentiable user defined functions in any conceivable mix. The mathematical formulation is based on the bound formulation, and the implementation specific details involve a parser capable of interpreting and performing symbolic differentiation of the user defined functions.