Biochemical Intestinal Parameters in Pigs Reared Outdoors and Indoors,and in Germ‐free Pigs

Intestinal microbial functions reflect cross‐talk between a host and its flora, and external factors may influence these functions. The aim of this investigation was to follow the development of six biochemical microbial‐related functions of piglets, raised outdoors (OPs) or indoors (IPs), from birth to slaughter age. The following parameters (microflora‐associated characteristic; MAC) were consecutively measured at five different ages: production of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA), conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol and of bilirubin to urobilinogens, inactivation of trypsin, degradation of β‐aspartylglycine and of mucin. Additionally, four parameters (production of SCFA, conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, inactivation of trypsin, degradation of β‐aspartylglycine) were investigated in faecal samples from germ‐free minipigs. The differences in MAC patterns between OPs and IPs were most pronounced at 20 days of age. Differences were found in the total amount of SCFAs, proportions of the acetic, propionic and butyric acids, conversion of bilirubin to urobilinogens, degradation of faecal tryptic activity and degradation of mucin. The values found in the minipigs were within the range of a germ‐free animal characteristic (GAC) pattern. Our results show that environmental factors influence the development of some intestinal microbial functions in pigs.     

Estimation of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction by Semiautomated Edge Detection

Left ventricular (LV) volume and ejection fraction estimation from two-dimensional echocardiograms requires off-line analysis and time-consuming manual tracing. LV volumes may be estimated on-line with a semiautomated edge detection echocardiographic system [also known as acoustic quantification (AQ)], but there are few data that compare volumes obtained from the AQ method with volumes derived from off-line manual tracing of conventional two-dimensional echocardiograms. Echocardiograms were performed in 48 patients at two medical centers. LV volumes were measured from the apical view with the method of discs and area-length formulae and from the parasternal short-axis view with the modified ellipsoid model. Based on the criterion of ± 75% endocardial visualization, 25 (52%) of the short-axis views and 14 (29%) of the apical views were analyzed by a single investigator. End-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes derived on line with the AQ system showed a very strong linear association with off-line, manually traced volumes (r = 0.96–0.99). Correlations for ejection fraction also were strong (r = 0.90–0.96). End-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes, measured from the apical views, were underestimated by the AQ method. However, because the error was in the same direction, ejection fractions measured with the AQ system and by manual tracing of conventional echocardiograms were similar. Estimation of ejection fraction using a semiautomated edge detection echocardiographic system is a promising method for noninvasive evaluation of systolic function in carefully selected patients.     

Shed preconceived ideas…look, listen… A response to Sheridan's position on the spontaneous play of handicapped children

SUMMARY Sheridan's article concerning the importance of spontaneous play for learning in handicapped children reflects both a historical and a contemporary negative valuation of 'handicapment'. Specifically, the authors suggest that contemporary views of handicapment fail to take into consideration the social and cultural concomitants of handicapment and in fact create an atmosphere wherein learned helplessness and self-fulfilling prophesies thrive. This state of affairs can only serve to perpetuate contemporary negative valuations of those individuals culturally labelled as 'handicapped'.