Homeopathic treatment as an alternative prophylactic to minimize bacterial infection and prevent neonatal diarrhea in calves.

Bovine neonatal diarrhea is common due low immunity in newborn calves, poor management (or absence) of sanitary barriers, and other factors. Newborn calves with diarrhea in the first days of life suffer failure to thrive and may die if left untreated. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether prophylactic administration of a homeopathic product (Dia 100®) can control bovine neonatal diarrhea in calves born on a farm with substantial sanitary challenges. We counted total bacteria and protozoan parasites in fecal samples. We measured serum glucose, total protein, globulin, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides on days 1, 7 and 14 of life. Twenty newborn calves were maintained in individual stalls, and were divided in two groups: ten untreated animals (control) and ten animals treated with Dia 100®. Fecal consistency was evaluated daily. We diagnosed diarrhea in five animals in the treated group, and in all animals from the control group. Infections with Escherichia coli and Giardia duodenalis were identified as the responsible organisms. The E. coli count was low in the treatment group on day 7 of life compared with the control group. Antibiotics were given to eight animals in the control group, and to two animals in the treatment group. On day of life 7, serum levels of total protein and globulins were higher in the control group, but were lower on day 14. Serum levels of glucose and triglycerides were greater in treated animals on days 7 and 14, suggesting that the homeopathic product contributes to improvement of intestinal health and absorption and nutrients. We conclude that Dia 100® controls diarrhea with 50% of efficacy, and reduces antibiotic utilization.

Clinical experience and pharmacological effects of an oral contraceptive containing 20 micrograms oestrogen.

The performance of a new low-dose oral contraceptive (Mercilon) containing only 20 micrograms ethinyloestradiol combined with 150 micrograms desogestrel is reviewed. Eight multicentre clinical trials have been completed and provide information on 10,672 women studied over 73,477 cycles. The high efficacy of Mercilon was indicated by the finding that only 10 pregnancies were reported; nine of these occurred in women who omitted to take Mercilon on a number of days and only one in a woman who took all the tablets according to instructions. Cycle control was good; as with all oral contraceptives, the incidence of breakthrough bleeding and spotting was highest in the first treatment cycle and by the sixth treatment cycle the values were usually < 5% and < 7%. More than 80% of women had regular cycles. Side effects were few, the most common being headache, nausea and breast tenderness with incidences in the sixth treatment cycle of less than 2%, 6% and 6%, respectively. There were no significant changes in body weight or blood pressure. Pharmacodynamic investigations showed no adverse effects. Only 1 of 5 studies found an increased response to a glucose tolerance test compared to the pretreatment test. In 8 of 10 studies, serum HDL-C concentrations increased on treatment and this was associated with increases in apoproteins A1 and A2. Serum triglyceride levels also increased but no change occurred in serum cholesterol or LDL-C levels. Haematological factors were assessed in 8 studies and only minor changes were observed. Serum binding protein (SHBG, CBG, caeruloplasmin) concentrations increased and serum androgen levels decreased. Measurements of blood FSH, LH, oestradiol and progesterone indicated adequate inhibition of ovulation. Mercilon is the only oral contraceptive containing 20 micrograms ethinyloestradiol to have high efficacy, to have no adverse pharmacodynamic effects and, importantly, to produce an acceptable bleeding pattern not significantly different from that of oral contraceptives with a higher content of ethinyloestradiol.

[Comparison of 4 plasmapheresis procedures]. / Vergleich von vier Verfahren zur Plasmapherese.

In recent years the collection of plasma has been increasingly carried out by apparative plasmapheresis. In the University Hospitals of Göttingen and Würzburg the plasmapheresis machines PCS from Haemonetics, Autopheresis-C from Baxter, as well as Plasmapur-Monitor from Organon-Teknika, were compared with each other and with the conventional centrifugation of blood bags; experiences in routine use were complemented by specific studies. Altogether, the apparative methods distinguished themselves through a high quality of retransfused blood and collected plasma. Furthermore, practicability, donor compatibility and donor safety resulted in good acceptance by both donors and staff.

Treatment with zincum metallicum CH5 in patients with liver cirrhosis. Preliminary study.

The zinc, an important enzymatic cofactor, is involved in many metabolic processes. Its deficiency might be due either to malabsorption or to excessive utilization. In the medical literature of the latest 10 years, zinc was considered to play a part in the immune processes. The authors of the present paper intend to study the zinc and immunoglobulin levels in various diseases, i.e., chronic progressive hepatitis, liver cirrhosis (LC), dermatitis, bronchial asthma. This preliminary investigation was carried out in 30 patients with LC in whom serum zinc values were assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the immunoglobulin levels were determined using the Mancini type simple radial immunodiffusion technique. All these patients presented considerable decrease of serum zinc concentration, the values ranging between 3.06 and 7.65 mumol/l as compared with 19.8 +/- 1.5 mumol/l in the controls, alongside with the increase of immunoglobulins G and M. In the patients treated with Zincum metallicum CH5 it was observed after about 30 days of treatment that the clinical state was considerably improved and IgG and IgM as well as serum zinc had resumed their normal values. This treatment should not be interrupted since in LC, without permanent additional supply, the serum zinc returns rapidly to the initial deficit or even lower.

Influence off haemodilution on the potency of neuromuscular blocking drugs.

The potencies of suxamethonium, pancuronium, and tubocurarine were increased, as shown by a parallel shift to the left of cumulative dose-response curves, following normovolaemic haemodilution before operation. This is attributed to an increase in cardiac output, to a decrease in protein binding and, in the case of suxamethonium, to a decrease in cholinesterase activity.

Avaliação da qualidade de Albumina 20 por cento e Imunoglobulina G 5 por cento produzidas pelo método de cromatografia líquida, no período de 5 anos / Quality evaluation of Albumin 20% and Immunoglobulin G 5% by means of liquid chromatography method: data from five years period-study

A qualidade das soluções de albumina 20% e de imunoglobulina G 5%, produzidas na Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, foi avaliada pelo método de cromatografia líquida, durante o período de 5 anos. Durante esse período, os medicamentos foram estocados a temperatura de 4ºC a 8ºC. O método de análise utilizado foi o recomendado pela Portaria nº 2.418 de 17/12/1996 do Ministério da Saúde, Resolução nº 46 de 18/05/2000, Agência Nacional de Vigilânica Sanitária - Ministério da Saúde e Farmacopéia Européia (1997, 2º Edição). As avaliações de qualidade realizadas durante os últimos 5 anos não apresentaram quaisquer alterações nos valores obtidos quando da liberação dos produtos, com exceção da análise de distribuição molecular, na qual se constatou um leve aumento em porcentagem de dímeros nas soluções de albumina 20% e de IgG 5%. Na solução de IgG 5% após 5 anos de estocagem, foi observada a presença de moléculas polímeras. Apesar dessas alterações nos referidos produtos, os valores obtidos estão dentro das especificações estabelecidas pelo país