Demonstration of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) with pneumonia and airsacculitis.

Outbreaks of respiratory disease were investigated in reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) aged approximately 18 to 32 weeks, released into the semi-wild on four shooting estates in southern England. The clinical signs in the affected birds included swelling of the face and eyes, loss of condition, gasping respirations and coughing. The gross pathology findings included sinusitis, airsacculitis, pleural oedema and lung lesions. The histopathological findings in the affected lungs were characterized by a granulomatous pneumonia. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) was isolated from respiratory tract tissues, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing on three isolates revealed two distinct genotypes, one previously associated with some electrophoretic type (ET) 1 strains and the other a novel genotype that clustered among sequences previously associated with ET 3, ET 4, ET 5 and ET 6 isolates. The localization of ORT within the lung tissue was demonstrated by fluorescent in-situ hybridization in the bronchial exudate of three cases, although not within the granulomatous lesions themselves. In each case, ORT was identified as part of a complex of other respiratory agents including avian paramyxovirus type 2, avian coronavirus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae and other Mycoplasma species, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, other Pasteurellaceae and Syngamus trachea, suggesting synergism with other agents. Exposure to other intercurrent factors, including adverse weather conditions and internal parasitism, may also have exacerbated the severity of disease.

Response of pheasants to live attenuated turkey rhinotracheitis vaccine.

The entire crop of 18,120 pheasants for the 2000 rearing season (May 8 to August 7) of one estate in the south of England was vaccinated at one day and five weeks of age with a turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) vaccine. Blood samples and oropharyngeal swabs were taken from the second week's hatching every three weeks throughout the growing season to assess the response of the birds. There was evidence of seroconversion in samples collected three weeks after vaccination, with positive titres being maintained in 33 per cent or more of the population up to at least 22 weeks of age. Positive titres were also recorded in samples taken on December 6 from shot birds between 22 and 30 weeks of age. Positive titres to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were identified in a high proportion of the poults as early as one day of age. Reverse-transcriptase PCR detected IBV-like virus and TRT of the same subtype as the TRT vaccine administered three weeks previously.

The use of voice recognition as a control interface for word processing.

The purpose of this case study was to compare the speed and accuracy of the subject's word processing skills using the Dragon Systems, Incorporated Dragon Dictate voice recognition system, to the speed and accuracy of the subject's current method of accessing a computer by mouthstick. The subject received fifteen hours of training and practice on the voice recognition technology. Following training the subject was asked to type a 216-word document using his mouthstick skills and again using voice recognition. The subject was able to type 13 words per minute using his current method of mouthstick access, resulting in 10 errors or 95.4% accuracy. Using voice recognition technology, the subject dictated 20 words per minute with 3 errors, resulting in 98.6% accuracy. The results of this objective clinical measurement indicate that voice recognition technology may be a viable means of word processing for individuals with severe upper extremity restrictions.

Depression. The missing diagnosis in the elderly.

Depression has been a significant problem in the elderly. The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of depression in elderly clients who are homebound and to investigate whether home healthcare nurses make depression-related nursing diagnoses. The Geriatric Depression Scale was done on 40 subjects from an urban home health agency. Results of the study showed that although 27.5% of the subjects scored in the depressed range on the GDS, home health nurses failed 100% of the time to document any depression-related nursing diagnoses.

Metabolic changes in patients undergoing right colon continent urinary pouch diversion.

The concept of continent urinary diversion is undergoing re-evaluation now that a stable continent valve can be produced with certainty. The right colon pouch consists of the distal 6 inches of the terminal ileum, the cecum, ascending colon, and proximal third of the transverse colon, and has a volume of up to 1,200 mL. The present study investigates the electrolyte changes that occur when urine is held in the pouch for increasing lengths of time. No significant changes in serum electrolytes occurred with catheterization intervals up to six hours in a group of patients that were studied for an excess of six months.

Two cases of ureteroscopy and attempted stone disintegration complicated by disruption of the burr tip of the ultrasonic probe.

Ureteroscopy with endoscopic stone removal or stone disintegration has become an established technique for removal of ureteral stones. This rapidly advancing technology has not been without problems. We report 2 cases in which defects in the instruments led to failure of the endoscopic technique, and the stones and broken parts of the ultrasound probe were removed by an open operation. Convalescence was uneventful.

Subperiosteal rib-saving approach to kidney.

An operative approach to the kidney is described which takes advantage of the single attachment of the eleventh and twelfth ribs to their vertebral bodies, and an avascular plane that is present in the periosteal bed of the rib. By separation of the posterior attachments, the rib can pivot posteriorly and give a wide exposure of the kidney. By using an approach through the bed of the rib, the vascular supply to the intercostal space is avoided and less operative blood loss occurs. Saving the rib, rather than transecting it, avoids pleural and glove damage during the operation and adds a firmness to the wound not present when the rib is excised.

Use of sigmoid colon in sex reassignment operations.

Over the past ten years mores have changed regarding sexual activity, preference, and assignment. Many patients have undergone major surgery to modify their external genitalia. However, the results of these operations are not always functionally nor anatomically satisfactory. This article describes the results of corrective surgery in 6 of these patients, outlines the anatomic difficulties presented by them, and describes a technique whereby further problems during corrective surgery can be avoided.

Practical management of venous injury during pelvic surgery for urologic disease.

There is a selection of techniques (ligation, lateral suture repair, venous patch graft, end to end repair, and vein replacement graft) which can be adopted to deal with venous injury during pelvic surgery for urologic disease. Technical details of the various methods of repair are described for the benefit of the urologist who occasionally finds himself with a major venous injury and no vascular surgeon available to help.