Accidental fatal poisoning of a dog by Dieffenbachia picta (dumb cane)

A single case of accidental fatal poisoning by Dieffenbachia picta, (dumb cane) (Araceae) in a 9-y-old female Poodle is described. Clinical signs included severe, locally extensive erosive/ulcerative glossitis accompanied by marked dyspnea of acute onset. The animal did not respond to emergency procedures to relieve severe respiratory distress; fatal asphyxiation ensued from edema of the glottis a few hours after the first clinical signs were observed. According to the owner, the dog had access to a tall, potted dumb cane plant and chewed the thick stem of the plant intensely. The owner did not authorize a necropsy of the animal. The diagnosis of Dieffenbachia picta poisoning was based on the history of accidental consumption of dumb cane and clinical signs. A comparison of this single case with other reports of dumb cane poisoning suggests that dogs poisoned by Dieffenbachia species usually recover uneventfully with conservative management and that death from asphyxiation is a rare but possible consequence of this intoxication. Severe edematous swelling of the glottis with occlusion of the larynx airway passage can occur in those cases in which large amounts of sap are quickly squeezed from the plant during intense chewing. Death would occur if owners do not seek veterinary care immediately and if emergency procedures are not instituted on time.     

Cadmium and lead accumulation in cattle in NW Spain

This study investigated if differences in nutritional management (linked to feed composition and feed intake) could determine differences in the toxic metal accumulations in beef and dairy cattle in NW Spain. Cadmium and lead concentrations were determined in the liver, kidney and muscle of 57 cows (3-16 y-o) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Dairy cattle accumulated significantly higher cadmium and lead residues in liver (51.6 and 43.7 microg/kg fresh weight) than did beef cattle (35.7 and 14.7 microg/kg). In the kidney and muscle, cadmium and lead residues were similar in both dairy and beef cattle. The higher metal accumulations in the liver of dairy cattle could be related not only to higher dietary intake, but also to the higher hepatic metabolism associated with milk production.     

A model for ammonia poisoning in cattle

The intravenous infusion of ammonium chloride was used to induce ammonia (NH3) poisoning in cattle. A 1.5 M ammonium chloride solution, buffered to pH 7.0, was infused at 400 mL/h until a convulsive episode occurred and therapy was initiated. Convulsions occurred with 200 to 1200 mL of ammonium solution. The clinical picture and metabolic effects were similar to the natural poisoning; no side effected occurred. The hypermmoniemia caused hyperglycemia, hyperlactemia, hyperkalemia and Intense metabolic acidosis. After treatment there was a sharp decrease in plasma NH3. Within 110 min all steers stood and recovered appetites. The induction of NH3 poisoning in cattle with ammonium chloride offers many advantages over the administration of high po doses of urea.     

Effects of metabolic control on vitamin E nutritional status in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the metabolic control of the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on the nutritional status of vitamin E. METHODS: A total of 47 children with IDDM and a mean age of 11.91+/-1.60 (mean+/-SD) years were studied, matched for age and sex with 16 healthy children (11.75+/-1.83 years). Following the American and British Associations for IDDM, we used a classification of "good", "moderate" or "poor" control of the illness: (a) good control [glycosilated haemoglobin (HbAlc) < or =7%]; (b) moderate control (7%< HbAlc < or =8%); and (c) poor control (HbAlc>8%). Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDLc), very low- and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (VLDLc and LDLc), plasma and erythrocyte vitamin E (Vit Ep and Vit Ee) and plasma vitamin A (Vit Ap) were measured in all children. RESULTS: The children with "poor" metabolic control of the illness presented significantly higher plasma concentrations of CHOL, LDLc, VLDLc, LDLc/HDLc, (VLDL+LDL)c/HDLc, TG and Vit Ep; higher indices Vit Ep/Vit Ee and Vit Ep/Vit Ap relative to those with a "good" control of the illness. Direct-linear correlations were found between Vit Ep and the percentage of HbAlc and with the markers of atherogenic risk in the IDDM children. CONCLUSION: There is a significant rise in Vit Ep concentrations as metabolic control of the illness worsens, whereas Vit Ee remained unchanged. These results suggest that vitamin E maintains its nutritional status despite a poor control of the IDDM during childhood.     

Control of lead emissions from a battery repair shop in the city of Rio de Janeiro using the air as indicator

Lead levels in the air surrounding a battery repair shop (BRS) located in the Olaria neighborhood (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) were monitored from April to July 1999. Most of the samples collected within 25 meters of the BRS exceeded the limit of 1.5 micro g.Pb.m-3 established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These results were published in a previous article (Quiterio et al., 2001). In the current study, installation of a Venture ventilation system and some changes in the operational procedure were proposed. After the modifications in the BRS, a new monitoring campaign was performed (August and September, 2000). Three points were selected for air collection, corresponding to the most critical points found in the previous assessments. The new concentrations ranged from 0.8 to 17.6 micro g.Pb.m-3, showing that lead emissions into the environment had decreased adequately. However, concentration at the chimney exhaust was still higher than EPA limits, and further improvements in the installations and procedures are definitely needed.     

Building competences in the care, according to Boff: a new perspective of nurse's ethical conduct

In this study, authors characterize nurse's managerial conduct in the perspective of the work, illustrated through the analysis of three investigations. Understanding the fragility of managerial nurse's situation, considering the commitment with the users and with the ones who provide the services, authors advocate in favor of an intervention to change this situation. Therefore, they propose an alternative of reflection about the changes that are necessary. They defend a new ethics articulating a new sense of providing care proposed by Boff, in which the relationship is based on the companionship, interaction and sharing. According to this way of being, nurse's care is an attitude of concern, responsibility and affective commitment with the other. Thus, the instrumental reasoning is substituted by the sensible reasoning and the spirit of deep feelings. Considering these new values, nurses understand better the other's dimension, the respect, reciprocity, and complementarity in the managerial relationship.     

Beliefs about humanized care in a pediatric intensive care unit

This study aimed to understand the nurses' beliefs about humanized care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Data collection was accomplished through open interviews with five nurses, which were then taped and fully transcribed. The content analyzed was realized in the framework of symbolic interactionism as a theoretical reference base, and used the Grounded Theory methodology. This study allowed for the understanding that the nurse, although she has difficulties in rendering humanized assistance, seems to be giving up the belief that the PICU is a technicist unit and starts looking for strategies to deliver a more humanized assistance.