Biotypes and serotypes of thermophilic campylobacters isolated from cattle, sheep and pig offal and other red meats

In this study we examined 730 faecal samples of offal (mainly liver), mince-meat and sausage meat collected from abattoirs and retail butchers' shops for campylobacters. Campylobacter jejuni or C. coli were isolated from 30.6, 10.5 and 6% of sheep, cattle and pig offal samples respectively. Specimens collected from abattoirs were, in general, more often contaminated than material obtained from retail butchers' shops. Only 1.4% of minced meats and sausage meats contained campylobacters. Most isolates (89.5%) were C. jejuni biotype 1 (Skirrow & Benjamin, 1980) of serotypes 1 and 2 (Penner & Hennessy, 1980). This study shows that animal offal is frequently contaminated with C. jejuni of biotypes and serotypes commonly isolated from human beings with campylobacter enteritis.     

Effect of repeated aspirin administration on the gastric mucosal barrier and cell turnover.

The effect on the gastric mucosa of repeated administration of aspirin was studied by measuring gastric mucosal permeability, blood loss, and cell turnover. Cell turnover was increased after a lag phase but this did not affect the increase in gastric mucosal permeability produced by the aspirin. It is suggested that the increase in cell turnover may account for the observed resistance to mucosal erosions that develops after repeated aspirin administration, but that the continued presence of a damaged and leaky gastric mucosal barrier accounts for the failure of mucosal resistance to confer significant benefit in the form of protection from the hemorrhagic consequences of aspirin ingestion.     

Therapy of the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome with alternate day steroids

Eighty-one adult patients with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were treated with prednisone, 60 to 120 mg, on alternate days. Treatment was continued with diminishing drug doses for up to 10 years. Biopsy specimens were categorized as showing lipoid nephrosis 36 per cent, focal sclerosis 12 per cent, diffuse proliferative 22 per cent and membranous nephropathy 30 per cent. Patients with systemic causes of the nephrotic syndrome were excluded.     

Ischaemic neuropathy in uraemic patients caused by bovine arteriovenous shunt.

A bovine shunt, inserted between the radial artery and cephalic vein in the upper arm for access during chronic haemodialysis, caused a distal, ischaemic neuropathy in two patients. There were electrophysiological signs of axonal degeneration of motor and sensory nerve fibres in the patient with severe ischaemia, and, of only sensory fibres in the patient with mild ischaemia. Thenar muscle blood flow studies using 133Xe were a useful measure of altered tissue perfusion. Recovery was incomplete in both cases, despite banding of the graft and improved tissue perfusion in the severe case.     

Increased release of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion from asbestos-primed macrophages

The ability of asbestos-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages to release superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, followingin vitro triggering, has been investigated. The asbestos-elicited macrophages produced increased levels of super oxide and hydrogen peroxide compared to control macrophages and similar levels to those produced byCorynebacterium parvum elicited macrophages. The supernatants from asbestos-elicited macrophages which had been triggered invitro were capable of impairing the ability of ₁protease inhibitor to inhibit elastase function. The catalase sensitivity of this effect showed it to be due to hydrogen peroxide.     

Medium chain triglycerides and hepatic encephalopathy

The oral administration of short (C(6)) and medium (C(8) and (C(10)) chain triglycerides produced no clinical or electroencephalographic changes in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.Arterial ammonia levels were also monitored in these patients and showed no significant change after medium chain triglycerides.It was concluded that medium chain triglycerides, known to be of potential value in the treatment of malabsorption in patients with cirrhosis, are not clinically contraindicated, even in patients with evidence of hepatic encephalopathy.     

A SURVEY OF NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITY AT A DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

SUMMARY Neurological disease accounts for 20% of all admissions to medical wards, but the number of inpatients with neurological disability is unknown. The notes of all adult inpatients in a district general hospital were reviewed to identify all those with a neurological disorder. Over 40% of inpatients on medical wards and 4% on surgical wards had a neurological disorder. Stroke was the most common neurological diagnosis, accounting for 36% of neurological disorders and 22% of all patients on medical wards. Other neurological diagnoses included dementias 10%, degenerative disorders 10%, epilepsy 7%, demyelination 4%, and head injuries 3%. Neurological patients have long inpatient stays (mean 80 days), and often remain in hospital awaiting changes in accommodation. Seven patients under 65 years stayed more than 6 months awaiting long-term care. Neurological disorders contribute significantly to the inpatient workload. Identifying those requiring rehabilitation and concentrating them on one ward could improve the quality and efficiency of their care.