The key components of a successful model of midwifery-led continuity of carer, without continuity at birth: findings from a qualitative implementation evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Recent UK maternity policy changes recommend that a named midwife supports women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal care. Whilst many studies report high levels of satisfaction amongst women receiving, and midwives providing, this level of continuity of carer, there are concerns some midwives may experience burnout and stress. In this study, we present a qualitative evaluation of the implementation of a midwife-led continuity of carer model that excluded continuity of carer at the birth. METHODS: Underpinned by the Conceptual Model for Implementation Fidelity, our evaluation explored the implementation, fidelity, reach and satisfaction of the continuity of carer model. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with midwives (n = 7) and women (n = 15) from continuity of carer team. To enable comparisons between care approaches, midwives (n = 7) and women (n = 10) from standard approach teams were also interviewed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: For continuity of carer team midwives, manageable caseloads, extended appointment times, increased team stability, and flexible working patterns facilitated both care provided and midwives' job satisfaction. Both continuity of carer and standard approach midwives reported challenges in providing postnatal continuity given the unpredictable timing of labour and birth. Time constraints, inadequate staffing and lack of administrative support were reported as additional barriers to implementing continuity of carer within standard approach teams. Women reported continuity was integral to building trust with midwives, encouraged them to disclose mental health issues and increased their confidence in making birth choices. CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation highlighted the successful implementation of a continuity of carer model for ante and postnatal care. Despite exclusion of the birth element in the model, both women and midwives expressed high levels of satisfaction in comparison to women and midwives within the standard approach. Implementation successes were largely due to structural and resource factors, particularly the combination of additional time and smaller caseloads of women. However, these resources are not widely available within the resources of maternity unit budgets. Future research should further explore whether a continuity of carer model focusing on antenatal and postnatal care delivery is a feasible and sustainable model of care for all women.

Feeding fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with either barley straw or pasture silage to non-lactating dairy cows.

AIMS: To determine the suitability of diets containing either approximately 85% fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with barley straw or 65% fodder beet with pasture silage when fed to non-lactating dairy cows, by measuring intakes, digestibility, rumen function including microbial growth, and N excretion. METHODS: Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with permanent rumen fistulae were fed either 65% fodder beet with pasture silage (Silage; n=8) or 85% fodder beet with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (Straw; n=8) in an indoor facility over a 9-day period, for measurement of intakes, digestibility, rumen function and urine production. The cows were adapted to the diets over 2 weeks before the indoor measurements. Feed was available for about 6 hours/day, as practiced commercially for wintering non-lactating cows. RESULTS: Five cows fed the Straw diet had to be removed from the trial because of acute acidosis; four on Day 1 of the measurement period and one on Day 7. One cow allocated to the Silage diet refused to eat fodder beet bulbs and was also removed from the trial. Two cows fed the Silage diet were also treated for acidosis. DM intakes were lower with the Straw than Silage diets (6.4 (SE 0.4) vs. 8.3 (SE 0.5) kg/day) and organic matter (OM) digestibility was lower with the Straw than Silage diets (77 (SE 1) vs. 83 (SE 1) g/100g). The N content of the two diets was 1.14 and 1.75 g/100 g DM and there was a net loss of N by cows fed the Straw diet (-22.7 (SE 7) g/day). Rumen microbial N production was much lower in cows fed the Straw than the Silage diet (6.6 (SE 1.3) vs. 15.8 (SE 0.7) g microbial N/kg digestible OM intake). Concentrations of ammonia in rumen liquid collected on Days 5-6 were below detection limits (<0.1 mmol/L) in 36/48 (75%) samples collected from cows fed the Straw diet and in 27/48 (56%) cows fed the Silage diet. Mean urinary N excretion was lower in cows fed the Straw than the Silage diet (52.0 (SE 5.8) vs. 87.7 (SE 5.9) g/day). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVENCE: An over-wintering diet for dry cows comprising about 65% fodder beet with 35% pasture silage provided adequate nutrition, although there was some risk of acidosis. In contrast, the diet containing about 85% fodder beet with barley straw resulted in lower DM intakes, poor rumen function, negative N balance so that both nutrition and welfare were compromised.

Comparison of Natuphos and Phyzyme as phytase sources for commercial layers fed corn-soy diet.

The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of 2 sources of phytase on performance of commercial Leghorns fed corn-soy diets. Seven diets were fed to Hy-line W-36 hens (n = 840; 8 replicates of 15 hens per treatment) from 21 to 33 wk of age. The treatments consisted of a control diet containing 0.38% nonphytate P (NPP) and a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of 2 dietary NPP concentrations (0.11 and 0.26%) with 2 phytase sources [Natuphos (BASF, Mt. Olive, NJ) and Phyzyme (Danisco Animal Nutrition, Carol Stream, IL)] and without phytase. Dietary NPP had significant effects on feed intake, NPP intake, total P intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, egg specific gravity, and excreta P. The addition of Phyzyme or Natuphos significantly increased egg production and egg mass of hens fed the P-deficient diet (0.11% NPP) to levels that were similar to hens fed the control diet containing 0.38% NPP. Feed intake of hens fed the diets supplemented with Phyzyme or Natuphos was significantly less than that of hens fed the control diet containing 0.38% NPP. Phyzyme or Natuphos supplementation in the diets containing 0.11% NPP had significantly reduced excreta P of the control diet (approximately 58 and 54%, respectively) with no adverse effect on egg production and egg mass. There were no significant differences in feed intake, NPP intake, total P intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion, egg specific gravity, mortality, BW, and excreta P between the diets supplemented with Natuphos and the diets supplemented with Phyzyme. In conclusion, Phyzyme had the same positive effects on performance of commercial Leghorns fed corn-soy diets as Natuphos.

Effect of consumption of soy isoflavones on behavioural, somatic and affective symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Up to 80 % of the Western female population experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Long-term pharmacological therapy is unacceptable to most women, and is not warranted for moderate symptoms. Nutritional therapies are popular, but lack a clear evidence base. Anecdotal evidence suggests beneficial effects of soy isoflavones because of their influence on endogenous oestrogen and actions on specific tissues. The effect of isolated soya protein (ISP) containing 68 mg/d (aglycone equivalents) soy isoflavones (IF) on premenstrual symptom severity was studied in a seven-menstrual cycle, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention study in twenty-three women with prospectively confirmed PMS aged 18-35 years and BMI 19-30 kg/m(2). ISP containing IF or milk protein placebo was consumed for two complete menstrual cycles. ISP containing IF (genistein, daidzein, equol) were measured in 24 h urine samples. After two cycles of ISP containing IF intervention, total symptoms (F(2,36) 8.20, P=0.000) and physical symptoms (F(2,36) 8.18, P=0.000) were significantly reduced compared with baseline after both active and placebo treatments, although differences between active and placebo treatment were non-significant. Specific premenstrual symptoms, headache (F(2,32) 4.10, P=0.026) and breast tenderness (F(2,32) 4.59, P=0.018), were reduced from baseline after soy IF, but not milk protein placebo. Cramps (F(2,32) 4.15, P=0.025) and swelling (F(2,32) 4.64, P=0.017) were significantly lower after active treatment compared with placebo. Concentrations of genistein and daidzein were increased following soy IF consumption, but equol production did not enhance symptom reduction. The present study showed that ISP containing IF may have potential to reduce specific premenstrual symptoms via non-classical actions.

Estimation of bioavailability of DL-methionine hydroxy analogue relative to DL-methionine in layers with exponential and slope-ratio models.

An experiment was conducted using molted hens to estimate the bioavailability of DL-methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) relative to DL-methionine (DLM). In this experiment, 5 supplemental levels (0.012, 0.024, 0.036, 0.048, and 0.060%) of DLM or equimolar concentrations of MHA-FA were added to a basal diet containing 14.97% protein and 0.27% methionine. The low protein diet was used to increase the sensitivity of laying hens to methionine deficiency. Feed consumption, egg production, egg mass, and egg weight increased (P < 0.05), and feed conversion decreased (P < 0.05) when DLM or MHA-FA was added to the basal diet for some supplemental methionine levels. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in feed consumption between hens fed DLM and hens fed MHA-FA. Regression analysis showed that the bioavailability of MHA-FA relative to DLM on a molar basis was 88.7% (egg production), 88.0% (egg mass), and 84.6% (egg weight) with the exponential model, and was 89.7% (egg production), 89.6% (egg mass), and 86.8% (egg weight) with the slope-ratio model. The average bioavailability of MHA-FA relative to DLM was 88% on a molar basis.

Effects of cottonseed cake-based diets supplemented with blood meal, alone or with lysine, on the growth of pigs.

An experiment was carried out to establish the effect on the growth of pigs of including blood meal or lysine in diets containing gossypol from cottonseed cake. Forty Landrace x Large White pigs (20 of each sex) were randomly allocated to 5 treatments of 8 pigs each in a 2 x 2 factorial design with two levels of lysine or two levels of blood meal in the diets plus a control diet. The pigs were fed different diets and slaughtered at 75.0 +/- 2.0 kg live weight for carcase analysis. Supplementing the diets with blood meal resulted in higher live weight gains (p<0.001) and improved feed conversion ratios (p<0.001) than supplementing with lysine. Pigs fed the higher level of cottonseed cake showed a significant (p<0.001) depression in live weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to those fed a low level of the cake. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in intake in the pigs fed diets with cottonseed cake including blood meal or synthetic lysine. The kidney and liver weights of the pigs fed the diets with a higher level of cottonseed cake were significantly greater (p<0.001) than in those fed the lower level, but when the diets containing cottonseed cake were supplemented with blood meal or lysine at the same level there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the weights of these organs. Lysine or other factors derived from blood meal appear to be more efficient than synthetic lysine in reducing the adverse effects of gossypol.

An evaluation of the use of cottonseed cake in the diet of growing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of including cottonseed cake in rations for weaned growing pigs. Thirty-two Landrace x Large White pigs, weighing 20-24 kg, were included in four blocks formed on the basis of initial weight within sex in an otherwise completely randomized block design. The pigs were killed when they reached a live weight of 75.0 +/- 2.0 kg and the half carcases were analysed into cuts and the weights of the organs were recorded. An estimate of the productivity of the pigs on each diet was calculated. Cottonseed cake reduced the voluntary feed intake (p < 0.001) and live weight gains p < 0.001) and increased the heart, kidney and liver weights (p < 0.01). The pigs on the soya bean-based control diet took the shortest time to reach slaughter weight. The result was probably in part due to lysine deficiency and in part to the effect of free gossypol. It was found that it is at present cost-effective to include cottonseed cake in pig weaner-grower diets up to 300 g/kg in Cameroon.

The effects of a short-term increase in supplementation on the reproduction performance in lactating crossbred dairy cows.

The hypothesis that dairy cows partially suckling their calves would ovulate following removal of calves when restored to positive energy balance by a short-term increase in supplementation was investigated in 65 crossbred cows. Five treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) that differed in the amount of total concentrate fed from calving to week 24 were involved. Calves were allowed to suck residual milk to 12 weeks of age. Energy balance was estimated by measuring intake, milk yield and organic matter digestibility. The occurrence of ovulation was determined by the analysis of milk progesterone (P4) concentration. Four groups that were receiving additional supplementation were restored to positive energy balance, while the control group (T1) remained in negative energy balance. The percentage of cows ovulating was 36%, 58%, 92%, 90% and 60% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively (p = 0.026). Comparison of the timing of ovulation for combined results from T1+T2 and T3+T4+T5 estimated mean time to fail to ovulate as 110+/-9.0 and 87+/-7.6 days, respectively (p = 0.023). The percentage of the cows showing oestrus was 9%, 8%, 33%, 40% and 40% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively (p = 0.197). Short-term increases in supplementation are unlikely to be an attractive means of reducing calving intervals.

Influence of supplemental lysine, isoleucine, threonine, tryptophan and total sulfur amino acids on egg weight of Hy-line W-36 hens.

Four experiments were conducted to determine whether synthetic lysine, isoleucine, threonine, and tryptophan (LITT) or TSAA supplementation to diets formulated based on lysine improved egg weight (EW) and hen performance. In Experiment 1, diets were formulated with three TSAA levels (0.65,0.72, and 0.81%). These diets were fed with and without adding lysine and isoleucine each at 0.055% and threonine and tryptophan each at 0.022%. Treatments were randomly assigned to 960 Hy-Line W-36 hens in eight replicates per treatment (20 birds/replicate). Inclusion of LITT improved (P < 0.05) EW within 2 wk with no TSAA x LITT interaction. Inclusion of LITT also increased average feed consumption (FC) by 1.4 g/d (P < 0.01). However, no effect (P > 0.05) of LITT was observed on egg production (EP), egg specific gravity (SG), or BW. The EW, EP, and FC increased linearly (P < 0.05) as dietary TSAA increased. The TSAA had no effect on SG or BW. In Experiment 2, supplemental LITT were removed to determine how rapidly hens lose the effect of LITT on performance. Within 2 wk, the effect of LITT on EW was lost. Average EW, EP, and FC of hens fed higher TSAA levels remained higher (P < 0.05) than hens fed 0.65% TSAA. In Experiment 3, all hens were fed a diet containing 0.65% TSAA to determine the time it takes to lose the effect of TSAA supplementation. The TSAA supplementation effect on EW, EP, and FC observed in the previous two experiments was lost within 1 wk. In Experiment 4, hens were again fed diets similar to Experiment 2 to confirm the time required for TSAA supplementation to improve EW. Within 1 wk, hens fed 0.72 or 0.81% TSAA improved (P < 0.05) EW over hens fed 0.65% TSAA. It was concluded that hens fed diets formulated based on lysine were deficient in LITT. Hens responded to the inclusion or removal of supplemental LITT and TSAA within 1 to 2 wk.

Antiviral beta-L-nucleosides specific for hepatitis B virus infection.

Three simple, related nucleosides, beta-L-2'-deoxycytidine (LdC), beta-Lthymidine (LdT), and beta-L-2'-deoxyadenosine (LdA), have been discovered to be potent, specific and selective inhibitors of the replication hepatitis B virus (HBV), as well as the closely related duck and woodchuck hepatitis viruses (WHV). Structure-activity relationship analysis indicates that the 3'-OH group of the beta-L-2'-deoxyribose of the beta-L-2'-deoxynucleoside confers specific anti-hepadnavirus activity. The simple nucleosides had no effect on the replication of 15 other RNA and DNA viruses, and did not inhibit human DNA polymerases (alpha, beta and gamma) or compromise mitochondrial function. The nucleosides are efficiently converted intracellularly into active triphosphate metabolites that have a long half-life. Once-daily oral administration of these compounds in the woodchuck efficacy model of chronic HBV infection reduced viral load by as much as 10(8) genome equivalents/ml serum and there was no drug-related toxicity. In addition, a decline in WHV surface antigen (WHsAg) paralleled the decrease in viral load. This class of nucleosides displays an excellent overall safety profile. The first compound, LdT, has already entered clinical trials and LdC, currently being developed as a prodrug, is expected to enter the clinic in the near future. These compounds have the potential for use in combination therapy with the goal of achieving superior viral suppression and diminishing the onset of resistance.

Influence of cage density and prior dietary phosphorus level on phosphorus requirement of commercial leghorns.

Two studies were conducted to determine whether cage density and prior dietary nonphytate P (NPP) level affect hens' P requirements. In Experiment 1, hens were housed at three cage densities (300, 400, and 600 cm2 or 46.5, 62.0, and 93.0 inches2/hen) and fed four levels of NPP (0.15, 0.25, 0.35, and 0.40%) for 6 wk to determine the effect of cage density on the P requirement. Egg production (EP), feed consumption (FC), egg weight (EW), and egg specific gravity (ESG) were measured to evaluate performance. Cage density influenced EP within Week 1 (P < 0.01), and during Weeks 5 and 6, there was a cage density x NPP-level interaction (P < 0.05). At 300 cm2, EP was more severely affected by 0.15 and 0.25% NPP than at 400 and 600 cm2. A linear decrease (P < 0.001) in FC was observed because of decreased NPP. Hens at 300 cm2 consumed 4 g less feed/hen per d than hens at 400 cm2. A linear decrease in EW was observed as the NPP level decreased (P < 0.01) from 0.25 to 0.15%, and there was no effect of cage density. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine the effect of prior dietary P levels on time required to create a P deficiency. Hens fed 0.4% NPP were divided into two groups and fed 0.25 and 0.4% NPP for 4 wk. At the end of 4 wk, hens fed 0.25% NPP were further divided into three groups and were fed diets containing 0.09, 0.25, and 0.30% NPP for an additional 6 wk. Hens fed 0.4% NPP were divided into three groups and fed diets containing 0.09, 0.4, and 0.45% NPP. Reduction of NPP from 0.4 and 0.25% to 0.09% reduced EP by 8.5 and 6.8%, respectively, within 3 wk. Prior NPP levels had no influence on time required to create a P deficiency in terms of EP. Reduction of NPP from 0.4 and 0.25% to 0.09% reduced (P < 0.05) FC. A decline in FC occurred 2 wk earlier in hens previously fed 0.4% than those fed 0.25% NPP. This result indicates that hens fed 0.4% NPP became P deficient more quickly than hens fed 0.25%. We concluded that cage density and prior NPP level affect the hen P requirements or time required to create a P deficiency.

"Point of entry" treatment gives best time to thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

The aim was to compare time to thrombolysis for patients treated via three treatment pathways: thrombolysis in the emergency department (ED), thrombolysis following direct admission by ambulance officers to coronary care (CCU) and thrombolysis after transfer from ED to CCU. We used a retrospective study of time to thrombolysis for all patients receiving thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at Western Hospital during 1999. The median time to thrombolysis in the ED group was 30 minutes (mean 40 minutes), compared with 60 minutes for the CCU group (mean 63 minutes) and 40 minutes (mean 43 minutes) for the direct CCU admission group. Eighty-five percent of patients treated in ED received thrombolysis in less than 60 minutes compared with 21% of those transferred from the ED for treatment in CCU and 52% of those directly admitted to CCU. We conclude that point of entry thrombolysis, be it in ED or in CCU after direct admission, gives shorter times to thrombolysis than processes that require transfer of patients between departments.

Tissue repair with a therapeutic transcription factor.

The healing of tissue involves a wide range of molecular, cellular, and physiological events that are coordinated in a temporally specific manner. The cellular transcription factor early growth response factor 1 (Egr-1) is expressed minutes after acute injury and serves to stimulate the production of a class of growth factors whose role is to promote tissue repair. We have studied the effects of Egr-1 expression at the site of dermal wounding in rodents. We find that Egr-1 promotes angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, increases collagen production, and accelerates wound closure. These results show that Egr-1 gene therapy accelerates the normal healing process and raises the potential use of this therapeutic transcription factor for any aspect of tissue repair.

Effects of fumonisin B1 in pregnant rats. Part 2.

The developmental toxicity of purified fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin from the common corn fungus Fusarium moniliforme, was examined in Charles River rats. Pregnant rats were dosed orally on gestation days 3-16 at 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 mg FB1/kg body weight/day. FB1 was not teratogenic at the doses tested. At 50 mg/kg, maternal toxicity (inappetence, emaciation, lethargy, death, resorption of entire litters) and foetal toxicity (increased number of late deaths, decreased foetal body weight, decreased crown rump length, increased incidence of hydrocephalus, increased incidence of skeletal anomalies) were seen. The foetal toxicity observed at 50 mg/kg may be related to maternal toxicity. Histopathological evaluation of tissues from dams of control and all treated groups revealed dose-related toxic changes in kidney and liver tissues. Acute toxic tubular nephrosis was seen in kidneys from all treated groups. Hepatocellular cytoplasmic alteration and individual cellular necrosis of the liver was seen in the two high-dose groups. Sphinganine (Sa) and sphingosine (So) were measured in day-17 adult and foetal tissues. Dose related increases in Sa/So ratios were seen in maternal liver, kidney, serum and brain, but there was no effect on foetal liver, kidney and brain. These data suggest that FB1 does not cross the placenta and further suggest that the observed foetal toxicity is a secondary response to maternal toxicity.

Age at sexual maturity influences the response of single comb White Leghorn pullets to marginal and low levels of dietary phosphorus.

This study was designed to determine the differences in response of early-maturing (EM) and late-maturing (LM) Single Comb White Leghorn pullets within a flock to marginal or low dietary phosphorus. Various levels of dietary phosphorus were fed to EM and LM Leghorn pullets from 18 wk of age until the age of peak egg production (24 wk). The dietary phosphorus levels were 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55 and 0.70 g total phosphorus (tP)/100 g diet, corresponding to calculated available phosphorus values of 0.18, 0.23, 0.28, 0.33 and 0.48 g/100 g, respectively. At 0.70 and 0.55 g tP/100 g, the plasma inorganic phosphorus, Ca++ and urine calcium concentrations did not differ between EM and LM pullets, whereas LM pullets had a better bone status than EM pullets as reflected by bone mineral content, bone density and bone breaking strength. As dietary phosphorus was lowered from 0.55 to 0.4 g tP/100 g, the plasma concentration of inorganic phosphorus dropped and that of Ca++ increased at greater rates in LM pullets than in EM pullets. The magnitude of decline in bone status was also greater in LM than in EM pullets when dietary phosphorus was lowered from 0.55 to 0.40 g tP/100 g. The maximum incidences of osteoporosis and mortality were observed in LM pullets fed 0.40 g tP/100 g followed by LM pullets fed 0.45 g tP/100 g diet. We conclude that when early layer diets contain marginal or low levels of phosphorus, the severity of adverse effects are greater in LM pullets than in EM pullets.

Biofeedback in the treatment of a selected dysphagic patient.

Electromyography and biofeedback techniques are well established in the disciplines of physical medicine for the retraining of muscle groups to approximate functional performance. This report documents the application of biofeedback techniques to the treatment of swallowing dysfunction in a selected dysphagic patient.

Lipid growth requirement and influence of lipid supplement on fatty acid and aldehyde composition of Syntrophococcus sucromutans.

Results concerning the ruminal fluid growth requirement of the ruminal acetogen, Syntrophococcus sucromutans, indicate that octadecenoic acid isomers satisfy this essential requirement. Complex lipids, such as triglycerides and phospholipids, can also support growth. The cellular fatty acid and aldehyde composition closely reflects that of the lipid supplement provided to the cells. Up to 98% of the fatty acids and 80% of the fatty aldehydes are identical in chain length and degree of unsaturation to the octadecenoic acid supplement provided in the medium. S. sucromutans shows a tendency to have a greater proportion of the aldehyde form among its 18 carbon chains than it does with the shorter-chain simple lipids, which may be interpreted as a strategy to maintain membrane fluidity. 14C labeling showed that most of the oleic acid taken up from the medium was incorporated into the membrane fraction of the cells.

Peptostreptococcus productus strain that grows rapidly with CO as the energy source.

Anaerobic bacteria were enriched with a sewage digestor sludge inoculum and a mineral medium supplemented with B-vitamins and 0.05% yeast extract and with a 50% CO-30% N2-20% CO2 (2 atm [202 kPa]) gas phase. Microscopic observation revealed an abundance of gram-positive cocci, 1.0 by 1.4 micron, which occurred in pairs or chains. The coccus, strain U-1, was isolated by using roll tubes with CO as the energy source. Based on morphology, sugars fermented, fermentation products from glucose (H2, acetate, lactate, and succinate), and other features, strain U-1 was identified as Peptostreptococcus productus IIb (similar to the type strain). The doubling time with up to 50% CO was 1.5 h; acetate and CO2 were the major products. In addition, no significant change in the doubling time was observed with 90% CO. Some stock strains were also able to use CO, although not as well. Strain U-1 produced acetate during growth with H2-CO2. Other C1 compounds did not support growth. Most probable numbers of CO utilizers morphologically identical with strain U-1 were 7.5 X 10(6) and 1.1 X 10(5) cells per g for anaerobic digestor sludge and human feces, respectively.

Toxicity of thornapple (Datura stramonium L) seeds to the pig.

Experimental work reported here, together with a review of the available published work, indicates an intake of Datura stramonium seeds equivalent to a dose of about 1.5 mg alkaloid per kg body-weight as a threshold level for the expression of mild toxicity symptoms in the pig. The pig can very effectively reject whole seeds in the diet and whole seeds ingested may pass through the gut intact. Thornapple seems far less likely to cause poisoning in the housed pig than is generally believed. The standard text misquotes the findings of earlier work by a factor of 250.

VIP in the rat brain: evidence for a major pathway linking the amygdala and hypothalamus via the stria terminalis.

We report here on the detailed distribution of VIP-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain by a combined immunological approach using immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. VIP-like immunoreactivity was widely distributed. Cell bodies and and fibres were noted principally in the cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, suprachiasmatic nucleus and brain stem. In addition dense areas of immunoreactive fibres and terminals were seen in the stria terminalis and its bed nucleus. The fibres appear to form a major VIP-containing pathway which links the amygdaloid complex with the hypothalamus. Although the functional significance of VIP in the brain is unknown, its presence in the amygdala, the hypothalamus and their linking pathway, as well as its pharmacological actions suggest that it may play a role in neuroendocrine regulation and the modulation of hypothalamic function.