An alternative method of treating comminuted intra-articular fractures of the distal radius.

Comminuted intra-articular fractures of the distal radius will inevitably end in poor results if inadequately treated. We recommend an external fixator by two proximal and one distal Steinmann pins incorporated into a short plaster of Paris cast. This distraction method is easy, does not need special instrumentation, and is very cost-effective. Our method differs from previous methods in its simplicity and predictably good results if the recommended technique is followed.

The freeze-drying of Cowdria ruminantium.

Lyophilized tissues of mice and blood of sheep, infected with either the Kümm, the Welgevonden or the Ball 3 stock of Cowdria ruminantium, remain infective to mice and sheep after storage at 4 degree C for 90 days. Freeze-dried tissues stored at -18 degrees C and -28 degrees C are still infective after 6 months and 2 years, respectively.

Freeze-drying of Aegyptianella pullorum.

Heparinized whole blood, parasitized with Aegyptianella pullorum, was collected from 2 fowls. Buffered lactose peptone (BLP) was added v/v as a stabilizer and the mixture lyophilized in 2 ml aliquots after rapid or slow freezing. At different stages during the freeze-drying process, as well as after lyophilization and reconstitution with 1.8 ml of sterile water, samples were taken and injected into pullets. Infectivity was maintained throughout. However, the prepatent period was lengthened after freezing and particularly after lyophilization when there was some loss of viability.

Glucose turnover, tolerance and insulin response in wethers, ewes and pregnant ewes in the fed and fasted state.

Glucose turnover parameters were obtained in fed and fasted wethers, ewes and pregnant ewes in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters, using a jugular bolus injection of D-glucose-2-3H. Fasting significantly (P less than 0,05) reduced glucose turnover (c. 40%) in both the wether and the non-pregnant ewe. A somewhat larger difference (c. 54%) between the fed and fasted ewes was found in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy due to an increase when fed (c. 29% higher turnover than in the non-pregnant ewe) rather than a decrease when fasted, since there was no statistical difference (P less than 0,1) between glucose turnover values of pregnant or non-pregnant fasted ewes. Glucose tolerance was estimated from an intrajugular glucose load (1 g/kg0,75 body mass) in these 3 groups of sheep under both fed and fasted conditions, and the resulting insulin response was followed for 4 hr after the injection. Fasting reduced the plasma clearance rate of glucose by c. 63% in both the wether and the non-pregnant ewe while the reduction was somewhat smaller (c. 51%) during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Only the pregnant ewe group showed a corresponding reduction in the resulting insulin response of 46% which was similar in magnitude to the diminished clearance, indicating that factors other than insulin are responsible for the reduced glucose clearance associated with fasting in the wether and non-pregnant ewe. Despite similar baseline plasma glucose values the glucose load appeared to distribute in a space that was significantly less than that found in all 3 groups of fed sheep when trace amounts were injected.