Comparison of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate and yeast cell wall on counteracting aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks.

The objective of this research was to determine the efficacy of 2 types of adsorbents [hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicates (HSCAS) vs. a combination of clay and yeast cell wall] in preventing aflatoxicosis in broilers. A total of 275 one-day-old birds were randomly divided into 11 treatments, with 5 replicate pens per treatment and 5 chicks per pen. The 11 treatments included 3 diets without any adsorbent containing either 0, 1, or 2 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) plus 8 additional treatments employing 2 dietary levels of AFB1 (1 or 2 mg/kg), 2 different adsorbents [Solis (SO) and MTB-100 (MTB)], and 2 different levels of each absorbent (0.1 and 0.2%) in a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement. Solis is a mixture of different HSCAS and MTB is a combination of clay and yeast cell wall. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the 21-d study period. Body weight gain and feed intake were depressed and relative liver weight was increased in chicks fed AFB1 compared with the positive control (P<0.05). Severe liver damage was observed in chicks fed 2 mg/kg of AFB1 with lesions consistent with aflatoxicosis, including fatty liver and vacuolar degeneration. Serum glucose, albumin, total protein, Ca, P, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations were reduced by AFB1 (P<0.05). The addition of either SO or MTB ameliorated the negative effects of 1 mg/kg of AFB1 on growth performance and liver damage (P<0.05). However, supplemental MTB failed to diminish the negative effects of 2 mg/kg of AFB1, whereas SO was more effective compared with MTB at 2 mg/kg of AFB1 (P<0.05). These data indicate that the HSCAS product effectively ameliorated the negative effect of AFB1 on growth performance and liver damage, whereas the yeast cell wall product was less effective especially at the higher AFB1 concentration.

Treatment satisfaction compared with outcome in severe dual disorders.

This paper examines patient (N = 75) ratings of treatment satisfaction and outcome for severely mentally ill dually diagnosed outpatients participating in long-term integrated dual focus treatment. In addition, it compares these ratings with case manager ratings of patient outcome over a one year period. Satisfaction ratings ranged from very good to excellent. Combined means of several outcomes ratings indicated that most patients rated themselves as improved. Satisfaction with over-all care and with case management was significantly, though weakly (r = .3 and .31, respectively, p < .05), related to patient ratings of overall outcome. While most patients rated that they had improved, satisfaction with treatment was only weakly related to either patient or case manager rated clinical outcomes. These findings indicate the relatively independent relationship of satisfaction with treatment outcome and caution against over generalizing the meaning of treatment satisfaction measures.

Effect of turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) breeder hen age and egg size on poult development. 2. Intestinal villus growth, enterocyte migration and proliferation of the turkey poult.

Villus growth, enterocyte migration and proliferation were measured in the small intestine of poults (Meleagridis gallopavo) to determine if hen age and/or egg size influences these characteristics during the first week after hatching. At hatching, distal jejunal villi were 22.8 microns longer in poults from the older (48 weeks) versus the younger (34 weeks) hens (P < 0.05). Similarly, labeled enterocytes in distal jejunal sections from poults from the older hens had migrated 28 microns (10%) farther along the crypt-villus axis at hatching, as compared to poults from the younger hens (P < 0.05). Villus growth differences and enterocyte migration were not consistently affected by hen age or egg weight class in poults from 1 to 7 days old. These results suggest that even though intestinal villi may be more advanced developmentally at hatch in poults from the older hens, however post-hatch growth of the intestine or the poult is not affected by hen age or egg weight class.

Psychiatric assessments of nursing home residents under OBRA-87: should PASARR be reformed? Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Review.

OBJECTIVE: As part of nursing home practice reforms, OBRA-87 mandates formal psychiatric assessments (PASARR) of nursing home residents suspected of having mental disorders, a responsibility it delegates individually to states. We describe the initial year of implementation of the PASARR process in King County, Washington, and characterize the mental disorders and mental health services needs of nursing home residents referred for psychiatric screening. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The 54 Medicare-certified King County nursing homes (total beds = 7013). PARTICIPANTS: All patients referred for psychiatric evaluation under PASARR (n = 510). MEASUREMENTS: A systematic, multidimensional evaluation including a semistructured psychiatric diagnostic examination, validated measures of cognitive dysfunction, depression, and global psychopathology, functional variables relevant to need for nursing home care, and selected mental health services indicators. RESULTS: Fewer than 10% of all nursing home residents were referred for psychiatric evaluation. A primary mental illness, evenly divided between psychoses and mood disorders, was found in 60% of the sample, and a psychiatric disorder associated with dementia or mental retardation was found in 25%. Six percent had complex neuropsychiatric features defying classification, and 4% had no mental disorder. Other disorders, such as substance abuse, were rare. Cognitive impairment and global psychopathology were prevalent in all diagnostic groups, and depressive symptoms were common even in patients without affective diagnoses. Eighty-eight percent of the sample were appropriately placed, based on their needs for daily care. Fifty-five percent had unmet mental health services needs. CONCLUSIONS: The PASARR referral process detected a group of seriously mentally ill, functionally disabled patients, most of whom required the level of care that nursing homes provide. Depressed and psychiatrically impaired dementia patients were underrepresented in the referral pool as measured against widely accepted prevalence figures for mental disorders in nursing home populations. The PASARR process as currently configured appears to be most efficient in identifying schizophrenic patients, who represent a small minority of nursing home residents, and the skewed sample it generates fails to provide an adequate basis for estimating overall mental health services needed in nursing homes. The PASARR process should be altered to improve referral rates for depressed and behaviorally disturbed dementia patients.

Immunohistochemical and nucleic acid analysis of somatotropin receptor populations in the bovine ovary.

Ovaries were analyzed for somatotropin receptor protein and mRNA through use of immunohistochemistry, solution hybridization/nuclease protection, Northern blotting, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). As indicated by immunoperoxidase staining, CL expressed immunoreactive somatotropin receptor (positive stain). Ovarian stroma, connective tissue, endothelium, and erythrocytes did not express somatotropin receptor (negative stain). Within the CL, somatotropin receptor protein was expressed primarily in large luteal cells whereas small luteal cells were negative. Most follicles (1-5 mm, after fixation) were negative for somatotropin receptor. On the basis of solution hybridization/nuclease protection, the mRNA for somatotropin receptor was found in greatest abundance in CL and large luteal cells and was nearly undetectable in small luteal cells or follicles (class 1, 3-5 mm; class 2, 6-9 mm; and class 3, > or = 10 mm). Northern blotting of mRNA for somatotropin receptor showed expression of somatotropin receptor mRNA transcripts in whole ovary (4.7 and 4.4 kb), CL (4.7 and 4.4 kb), and liver (4.4 kb); and RT-PCR amplified a single amino acid coding region for somatotropin receptor in CL and liver. In summary, somatotropin receptor (both immunoreactive protein and mRNA) is found primarily in the large luteal cell, and lesser amounts of the expressed receptor or its message are found in the follicle. Alternative sizes of mRNA for somatotropin receptor suggest novel mRNA processing in the bovine ovary.

Screening for depression in hospitalized geriatric medical patients.

As part of an effort to improve the detection of depression in geriatric hospitalized medical patients, the validity of two self-rating depression scales, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Popoff Index of Depression (ID), was evaluated. These two scales were completed by 42 medical inpatients whose mean age was 68 years. A psychiatrist who was "blind" to scale results interviewed each patient and diagnosed the presence or absence of depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III (DSM-III) criteria for Major Depressive Episode. On both the SDS and the ID, there was significant agreement between the scale results and the interview diagnosis. Compared with the interview diagnosis, the SDS had a sensitivity of 58 per cent and a specificity of 87 per cent, and it correctly identified 74 per cent of the patients as being either depressed or nondepressed. The ID had a sensitivity of 88 per cent and a specificity of 52 per cent, and it correctly identified 66 per cent of the patients. Although performance on both scales is reduced compared with that of younger depressed patients, these self-rating scales appear to be useful aids for the detection of depression in geriatric medical patients.

Bromide intoxication in the elderly.

Four patients with dysfunction of the central nervous system secondary to bromide intoxication are reported. Three of them were referred because of symptoms of "senility," which appeared to preclude further independent living. After diagnosis and treatment of the bromism, they were able to continue living at home. The development of bromide toxicity with relatively low serum bromide levels in the elderly is discussed. The importance of a home visit to establish the diagnosis of drug-induced cognitive dysfunction is emphasized.

Intrauterine fetal transfusion, 1965-1976, with an assessment of the surviving children.

The need for IUT in the management of Rh hemolytic disease is likely to continue in the foreseeable future. Recent reports have been skeptical about the success of this procedure and the quality of the surviving infants. Of 84 fetuses who received 134 IUT's, over all, 35.7 per cent survived; 48.3 per cent of the nonhydropic group survived. Fifteen of the 23 survivors between 3 and 11 years of age received intellectual, academic, behavioral, health, and developmental evaluations. When compared to sibling and high-risk control groups, the study children showed no significant differences in intelligence quotients, arithmetic achievements, or reading achievements; their school performance is acceptable and none is presenting significant behavioral problems. Except for an excessive number of umbilical and inguinal hernias, there were no physical abnormalities that could be directly related to IUT.

Outcome at ages 1, 3, and 5 years of children born to diabetic women.

A prospective study of infants born to women with diabetes mellitus is reported. The children were examined at birth and followed at 1, 3, and 5 years of age. Medical and psychological information was obtained through follow-up examinations. Intrauterine growth was atypical and there was an increase in neonatal problems and congenital malformations. There was an increased incidence of intellectual delay at 3 and 5 years of age. The presence of acetone in the urine during pregnancy had a significant, adverse effect on intellectual status of the offspring at 5 years of age. Birth weight was negatively related to intellectual status at both 3 and 5 years of age.