Age-related differences of Ascaridia galli egg output and worm burden in chickens following a single dose infection.

Ninety white chickens (Lohmann LSL) were reared under helminth-free conditions and divided into five groups. Four groups were artificially infected with 250 embryonated Ascaridia galli eggs at the age of 6, 12, 18 or 24 weeks. Ten birds were kept as uninfected controls. Six and 10 weeks after infection (p.i.), individual faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed. The birds were slaughtered after the second sampling and their gastrointestinal tracts were examined for the presence of adult A. galli. The FEC increased from the first to the second sampling significantly in all the infected groups. The highest increase was shown in the group infected at 12 weeks of age, whereas the increase in the other groups was relatively moderate. However, the total worm burden and mean FEC at the second sampling were highest (p<0.01) in those birds infected at an age of 12 or 18 weeks. The serum protein and triiodothyronine (T3) levels did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between any of the groups. Thyroxine (T4) was significantly different between the groups infected at 6 and 18 weeks of age (p<0.05), and those at 6 and 24 weeks of age (p<0.01). The thyroid hormone levels correlated significantly with the FEC. Age does not seem to play a major role in resistance to A. galli infections in layers, whereas a bird's hormonal and immune status, related to laying activity, seems to have a significant negative impact on resistance.

Psychosocial adjustment of children with spina bifida.

It was the aim of the present prospective study to investigate the influence of age, sex, intellectual function, and school type as well as of hydrocephalus, the level of lesion, and of the degree of handicap on the psychosocial adjustment of children with spina bifida. Seventy-five patients with spina bifida, aged 6 to 16 years were assessed concerning their psychosocial adjustment and their intellectual function by use of standardized instruments. The findings were compared with those of nondisabled controls, matched for age and sex. Children with spina bifida showed a tendency to be at an increased risk for psychosocial maladjustment. Influencing factors were age, sex, and the degree of handicap. Twelve- to 16-year-old boys and girls displayed significant adjustment problems in specific areas in comparison with their controls. There was a tendency for children with spina bifida to be attending inappropriate school types according to their intellectual abilities. Perhaps the most striking finding of our study was that children with spina bifida who attended a school for disabled children, even though it might be an IQ-appropriate setting, had a higher rate of psychosocial maladjustment than the disabled children in mainstream schools.

[Synthesis of 4-aryl-1-lambda-2, 2-lambda- 4-dithia-3,4-diaza-buta-1,2-dienes, a new dithiadiazabutadiene system]. / Synthese von 4-Aryl-1 lambda 2,2 lambda 4-dithia-3,4-diaza-buta- 1,2-dienen, einem neuen Dithiadiazabutadien-System.

4-Aryl-1 lambda 2, 2 lambda 4-dithia-3,4-diaza-buta-1,2-dienes 1a-12a as representatives of a dithiadiazabutadiene structure in which sulphur occupies a different oxidation number are synthesized by reaction of diazotated acceptor-substituted aryl- and hetarylamines 1-12 with thiosulfates or disodium disulfide in strong acid solution. For some examples a first pharmacological test indicate an immune-stimulating effect. Analytical examination as well as MNDO calculation which give some mechanistical insight, supplements the new synthesis.