Experimental infection of domestic cats (Felis domesticus) with Cytauxzoon manul from Pallas' cats (Otocolobus manul).

In a random, blind study, six domestic cats were assigned to two treatment groups that received either sterile water or dexamethasone by subcutaneous injection prior to intravenous inoculation with Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) blood infected with Cytauxzoon manul. A seventh domestic cat served as a control and was inoculated only with sterile water. Cats were monitored for clinical signs consistent with cytauxzoonosis, and periodically screened for hemoparasitemia. All domestic cats (6/6) that received Pallas' cat blood infected with C. manul developed a low but detectible parasitemia by 9 days post-inoculation, yet remained clinically healthy. All domestic cats (7/7) were subsequently challenged with Cytauxzoon felis and developed clinical signs typical of cytauxzoonosis within 5 days post-challenge. Affected animals were euthanized and cytauxzoonosis was confirmed by histopathology. While inoculation of domestic cats with Pallas' cat blood infected with C. manul induced a parasitemia, it did not cause disease or provide protection against challenge with C. felis. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential for interspecies transmission and disease with C. manul.

Staff-led interventions for improving oral hygiene in patients following stroke.

BACKGROUND: For people with limitations due to neurological conditions such as stroke, the routine practice of oral care may become a challenge. Evidence-based supported oral care intervention is essential for this patient group. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of staff-led oral care interventions with standard care for ensuring oral hygiene for individuals after a stroke. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the trials registers of the Cochrane Stroke Group and Oral Health Group (August 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2006), CINAHL (1982 to February 2006), Research Findings Electronic Register (February 2006), National Research Register (Issue 1, 2006), ISI Science and Technology Proceedings (August 2005), Dissertation Abstracts and Conference Papers Index (August 2005). We scanned reference lists from relevant papers and contacted authors and researchers in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: We identified randomised controlled trials that evaluated one or more interventions designed to improve oral hygiene. Trials based on a mixed population were included, provided it was possible to extract the data specific to the individuals post stroke. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently classified identified trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed the trial quality and extracted data. Clarification was sought from study authors when required. MAIN RESULTS: Eight eligible randomised controlled trials were identified but only one provided stroke-specific information. It compared an oral health care education training programme (OHCE) delivered to nursing home care assistants to delayed training intervention in the control group. Comparisons were made at one and six months after the intervention, using the primary outcome measures dental plaque and denture plaque, and three secondary outcomes. The data available for the 67 individuals with a stroke (obtained from the larger cluster randomised controlled trial) showed that denture plaque scores were significantly reduced up to six months (p < 0.00001) after the intervention. Staff knowledge (P = 0.0008) and attitudes (P = 0.0001) towards oral care also improved significantly. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on one study with a small number of stroke survivors, providing oral care training for carers in a nursing home setting improves their knowledge of and attitudes towards the provision of oral care. In turn, residents' dentures were cleaner, though other oral hygiene measures did not change. Further evidence relating to oral care interventions is severely lacking, in particular with reference to care in hospital for those following stroke.

Evaluating the impact of training in psychosocial interventions: a stakeholder approach to evaluation--part II.

Part I of this article presented an examination of the methodology used in previous psychosocial interventions (PSI) research and the rationale for the collaborative, qualitative design used in this study. In this second article the findings from an evaluation of five short PSI training courses are presented. Findings demonstrated that while the training was positively evaluated by participants and seen to be relevant to practice, the actual dissemination of PSI training into practice was a complex and context dependent process. There was difficulty for course participants in using PSI in practice as discrete, formal interventions. Rather the predominant way participants used PSI in practice was via a process of modifying PSI. The course philosophy, content and mode of delivery impacted on how the respondents constructed PSI as an overall approach to care and working relationships. Participants reported other 'hidden' benefits of training, such as reaffirming practice, increasing confidence and perhaps most powerfully, a change in attitude linked to the importance and impact attached to the service user and carer involvement in delivering the courses. Discussion locates the findings within the findings from previous PSI training evaluations and recommendations are made for a reappraisal of approaches to PSI training and research.

Whole body and tissue protein synthesis in cattle.

1. The daily rates of synthesis of protein by the whole body and by the individual tissues were determined in two Hereford x Friesian heifers (236 kg and 263 kg live weight), and a dry Friesian cow (628 kg live weight). 2. The rate of whole-body protein synthesis (g protein/d) was estimated from the total flux through the blood of [3H]leucine and [3H]tyrosine following infusion at a constant rate for 8 h. 3. The fractional rates of protein synthesis (ks) in the tissues (g synthesized/d per g tissue protein) were obtained after slaughter of the animals at the end of the infusion period. The fractional rate of protein synthesis was calculated assuming that the specific radioactivity of free tyrosine in either the blood (to give ks, b) or the tissue homogenate (to give ks, h) defined closely the specific radioactivity of the amino acid precursor for protein synthesis. total protein synthesis (As, b or As, h; g/d) in an individual tissue was calculated as the product of ks, b (or ks, h) x protein content. 4. Based on the total leucine flux, i.e. without correction for oxidation, 1.6 kg protein were synthesized daily in the heifers; for the cow this value was 2.0 kg/d. 5. The sum of the daily total synthesis in the major tissues (muscle+bone+brain, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver, hide) gave values of 1.4-1.9 kg/d based on As, b, and 2.2-3.0 kg/d based on As, h. 6. percentage contributions of the individual tissues to the total protein synthesis were similar in all three animals, for example based on As, h muscle was 12-16; carcass (muscle+bone+brain) 32-33; GIT 38-46; liver 7-8; skin 14.21%. 7. The contribution of muscle to total synthesis estimated from the leucine flux was 19-22%; this value is in agreement with those calculated on the same basis for other species. 8. The energy cost of protein synthesis was estimated to account for a maximum of 30% of heat production.