The incidence and level of contamination of British fresh sausages and ingredients with salmonellas

A five-tube most probable number (MPN) method, with the pre-enrichment and enrichment stages, was used in a study of the incidence of salmonella contamination of British fresh sausages and the ingredients used in their manufacture. All samples were taken from a large factory in the course of routine production. There was an incidence of 65% contamination of pork (n = 20) and 55% (n = 20) in pork and beef sausages. The incidences of contamination of uncooked ingredients varied from 95% for mechanically recovered meat (n = 20) to 10% for another type of meat. Cooked and/or dried ingredients were rarely contaminated with these organisms, and when contamination occurred, coliforms were also important. The numbers of salmonellas isolated ranged from 7-40 for pork sausages, from 8-24 for beef and pork sausages and from 0.8-378 organisms/g for ingredients. The following salmonella serotypes were isolated (ranked in descending order or incidence): S. derby, S. dublin, S. newport, S. stanley. S. typhimurium, S. heidelberg, S. infantis and S. agona.     

COMPLIANCE WITH PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS IN VISUALLY COMPROMISED SUBJECTS

Abstract
The compliance with prescribed medications has been assessed in a group of 65 patients with compromised vision. It was found that the mean level of compliance in this group with respect to all medications was 64.2+2.1 %, and that this level was significantly lower than that obtained for a group of 40 normally sighted individuals of comparable age. Itis recommended that medication routines should be kept as simple as possible in patients with visual loss, and that suitable pill dispensers be used to enhance compliance where appropriate. Counselling and family support may additionally encourage adherence to drug regimens.     

Antigenic stimulation of T lymphocytes in chronic nononcogenic retrovirus infection: equine infectious anemia.

Equine infectious anemia is a chronic disease of horses caused by a nononcogenic retrovirus. Studies were undertaken to determine the types of cells involved in the in vitro lymphoproliferative response to viral antigens and the dynamics of this reaction. It was observed that reactive lymphocytes were present at unpredictable times in the peripheral blood of infected horses. This reaction was shown to be specific for the interaction of equine infectious anemia virus and T lymphocytes. Enriched B-lymphocyte populations did not divide when exposed to equine infectious anemia virus. Macrophages were depleted from the reaction by two methods: adherence to Sephadex and a combination of binding to Sephadex and adherence to complement-coated erythrocytes. Both methods reduced the number of monocytes, but only the combination of Sephadex and complement-coated cells removed the accessory cells needed for lymphocyte proliferation. We conclude that during the chronic stages of equine infectious anemia the number of antigen-reactive T lymphocytes fluctuates within the peripheral blood and that these cells require a complement-binding cell for reaction. The relationship of these cells to the lymphoproliferative stages of this disease is discussed.     

Glomerulonephritis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leucocytoclastic vasculitis

2 cases of active focal proliferative glomerulonephritis, lymphocytic malignant lymphoma and leucocytoclastic vasculitis are described. 1 presented with the nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal impairment, the other with acute renal failure. Cryoglobulins were detected in the serum of 1 patient, but not in that of the other. Initial renal and skin biopsies in the 2 patients were strikingly similar. As well as demonstrating glomerular lesions, the renal biopsies contained interstitial lymphomatous infiltrate which, in 1 case, was initially incorrectly interpreted and resulted in delay in specific treatment. Immunosuppressive therapy markedly improved renal function and induced remission of the vasculitis and lymphoma. Repeat renal biopsy in 1 case confirmed regression of the glomerulonephritis. A common immunological aetiology may explain the co-existence of these three conditions in the 2 patients.     

Morbidity and mortality in regional enteritis

The morbidity and mortality in 168 patients with regional enteritis treated at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston from 1929 to 1960 have been reviewed. Every patient was traced successfully and his status determined. The mean number of hospital admissions per patient was 3.8 during the period surveyed. The most frequent major complication was intestinal obstruction, which was present in 27% of patients on their first admission, in 30% of those admitted for a second time, and in a similar proportion of patients requiring a third or fourth admission. Of all patients in the series, 70% required major operations for treatment of their disease. Half of these had one or more additional major abdominal operations on a subsequent hospital admission. The number of such surgical procedures averaged 2.8 per patient. The surgical case mortality was 6.5%. Only 4 of 29 patients with the acute regional ileitis syndrome progressed to the chronic form of the disease. Less than 10% of all patients have died of regional enteritis during the span of three decades covered by this study.Trainee of the National Institutes of Health, Grant T01AM05114.     

Antler growth and osteoporosis I. Morphological and morphometric changes in the costal compacta during the antler growth cycle

Three three-year-old Rocky Mountain mule deer were studied for a year to determine the role of skeletal mineral in antler growth. Costal biopsy material, which was obtained at four-week intervals, was analyzed histologically and histometrically. There was a cyclic mobilization of costal cortical bone during antler growth despite the dietary access to high quantities of elements essential for bone development. Following antler growth the ribs returned to a stable configuration with few resorption spaces. Corresponding to the period of possible weakening from the internal remodeling, there also appeared to be a thickening of the cortical bone by circumferential lamellar addition. A cyclic physiological osteoporosis was produced.