Thiamine deficiency impairs common eider (Somateria mollissima) reproduction in the field.

The Baltic Sea population of the common eider (Somateria mollissima) has declined dramatically during the last two decades. Recently, widespread episodic thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency has been demonstrated in feral birds and suggested to contribute significantly to declining populations. Here we show that the decline of the common eider population in the Baltic Sea is paralleled by high mortality of the pulli a few days after hatch, owing to thiamine deficiency and probably also thereby associated abnormal behaviour resulting in high gull predation. An experiment with artificially incubated common eider eggs collected in the field revealed that thiamine treatment of pulli had a therapeutic effect on the thiamine status of the brain and prevented death. The mortality was 53% in untreated specimens, whereas it was only 7% in thiamine treated specimens. Inability to dive was also linked to brain damage typical for thiamine deficiency. Our results demonstrate how thiamine deficiency causes a range of symptoms in the common eider pulli, as well as massive die-offs a few days after hatch, which probably are the major explanation of the recent dramatic population declines.

Widespread episodic thiamine deficiency in Northern Hemisphere wildlife.

Many wildlife populations are declining at rates higher than can be explained by known threats to biodiversity. Recently, thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency has emerged as a possible contributing cause. Here, thiamine status was systematically investigated in three animal classes: bivalves, ray-finned fishes, and birds. Thiamine diphosphate is required as a cofactor in at least five life-sustaining enzymes that are required for basic cellular metabolism. Analysis of different phosphorylated forms of thiamine, as well as of activities and amount of holoenzyme and apoenzyme forms of thiamine-dependent enzymes, revealed episodically occurring thiamine deficiency in all three animal classes. These biochemical effects were also linked to secondary effects on growth, condition, liver size, blood chemistry and composition, histopathology, swimming behaviour and endurance, parasite infestation, and reproduction. It is unlikely that the thiamine deficiency is caused by impaired phosphorylation within the cells. Rather, the results point towards insufficient amounts of thiamine in the food. By investigating a large geographic area, by extending the focus from lethal to sublethal thiamine deficiency, and by linking biochemical alterations to secondary effects, we demonstrate that the problem of thiamine deficiency is considerably more widespread and severe than previously reported.

[Postoperative hypothermia: role of the nurses' aide in ensuring the patient's well-being and comfort]. / Hipotermia posquirúrgica: el auxiliar de enfermería asegurando el bienestar y el confort del paciente.

Non-induced hypothermia is caused by anesthetic techniques, surgical procedures, and the environmental temperature in operating rooms, which affect the body's physiologic thermoregulation mechanisms. Postoperative hypothermia occurs in 93% of surgical patients and is accompanied by shivering in 65% of cases. Non-induced hypothermia affects the patient's postoperative recovery, as it alters metabolic response and reduces the patient's comfort during this period. Within the protocol for controlling postoperative hypothermia, the main objective of the nurses' aide consists of detecting and recording postoperative hypothermia, as well as of correcting the deficit by means of active warming of the body's external surface. These activities not only aid the patient's recovery and reduce complications, but also lower healthcare costs and increase postoperative comfort.

Hipotermia posquirúrgica: el auxiliar de enfermería asegurando el bienestar y el confort del paciente / Postoperative hypothermia: role of the nursesfaide in ensuring the patient & apos; s well-being and comfort

La hipotermia no inducida está producida por las técnicas anestésicas, los procedimientos quirúrgicos y la temperatura ambiente de los quirófanos que alteran los mecanismos de la termorregulación fisiológica del organismo. La hipotermia posquirúrgica se presenta en un 93% de los pacientes quirúrgicos y en un 65% aparece acompañada de escalofríos. La hipotermia no inducida repercute en la recuperación del paciente posquirúrgico, ya que altera su respuesta metabólica y disminuye su grado de confort durante este período. El objetivo principal del auxiliar de enfermería, dentro del protocolo de actuación de control de la hipotermia posquirúrgica, consiste en detectar y registrar las situaciones de hipotermia postoperatoria, así como corregir el déficit mediante el calentamiento activo externo de la superficie corporal. Estas actividades no sólo repercuten en la recuperación del paciente y en la disminución de complicaciones, sino también en la disminución del gasto sanitario y el aumento del confort postoperatorio(AU)

Non-induced hypothermia is caused by anesthetic techniques, surgical procedures, and the environmental temperature in operating rooms, which affect the body's physiologic thermoregulation mechanisms. Postoperative hypothermia occurs in 93% of surgical patients and is accompanied by shivering in 65% of cases. Non-induced hypothermia affects the patient's postoperative recovery, as it alters metabolic response and reduces the patient's comfort during this period. Within the protocol for controlling postoperative hypothermia, the main objective of the nursesŒ aide consists of detecting and recording postoperative hypothermia, as well as of correcting the deficit by means of active warming of the body's external surface. These activities not only aid the patient's recovery and reduce complications, but also lower healthcare costs and increase postoperative comfort(AU)