[Do low-threshold detoxification units reach new groups of the drug dependent?]. / Erreichen niedrigschwellige Entzugsstationen neue Gruppen von Drogenabhängigen?

The conventional form of detoxication for illicit drug users in German psychiatric hospitals is an inpatient treatment approach connected with high admission prerequisites. These demand a high stage of motivational compliance from of the patients, e.g. the determination to continue with long-term treatment aiming at a life free of drugs. This strategy is termed "high-threshold" approach. A new form of inpatient treatment is the "low-threshold" approach offering intervals of some days or weeks free of drugs to illicit drug users, supported by professional detoxication strategies. This study compares client characteristics of illicit drug users treated at "high-threshold" vs. "low-threshold" units. A new subpopulation of clients could be reached who are more advanced in their drug intake careers and less influenced by social pressure to enter treatment. The differences in clients treated can be explained rather by differences in admission prerequisites than by a more balanced distribution of sexes in the newly introduced detoxication programme.

[Various forms of chronicity in addicted patients at a psychiatric hospital]. / Unterschiedliche Formen der Chronifizierung bei suchtkranken Patienten eines psychiatrischen Krankenhauses.

Developing differential treatments for addicts implies discrimination of clinically relevant subgroups of addicts. It is common practice to classify patients by their capability to engage in an in-patient therapy covering a period of six month on average. This rough classification offers no starting-point to optimize therapeutic strategies especially for patients with only insufficient understanding of and suffering from their disorder (so-called depraved alcoholics). They are rarely motivated to continue therapy. Most patients at the admission ward for addicts at the State Mental Hospital Weissenau belong to that group of patients. Our study enclosed 362 patients from this ward, and we used the varying disease- and treatment-careers, which differ in duration and/or frequency to make up four subgroups of patients according to that different forms of chronicity. The groups differ in a number of social, treatment- and disease-related features. Guided by clinical practice, such a formation of subgroups can be seen as a first step in the identification of subpopulations of chronic addicted. Conclusions how to complete existing medical care and guidance-patterns can be drawn.

A case of acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites in guinea fowl.

Acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites were observed in a disease outbreak in adult white and pearl guinea fowl. The clinical history and gross and microscopic lesions resembled those described for marble spleen disease of pheasants and avian adenovirus group II splenomegaly of chickens. A small number of intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in liver, spleen, and lung sections of affected guinea fowl. Attempts to isolate virus and serological tests to detect the presence of viral antigens were unsuccessful. Adult female pearl guinea fowl experimentally exposed to pheasant and turkey isolates of type II avian adenoviruses developed gross and microscopic lesions similar to those seen in the field outbreak. The pheasant isolate was the more virulent. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in liver, spleen, and lung sections of pearl guinea fowl inoculated with either of the virus isolates, and direct immunofluorescent examination revealed viral antigen in the spleen and lung.

Exercise attenuates diet-induced arteriosclerosis in the adult rat.

The present investigation was conducted to assess the effects of exercise on diet-induced arteriosclerosis in retired breeder rats. Thirty-two 8- to 9-mo-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to one of four treatment groups: hypercholesterolemic diet-exercise (HE), hypercholesterolemic diet-sedentary (HS), normocholesterolemic diet-exercise (NE) and normocholesterolemic diet-sedentary (NS). The hypercholesterolemic diet contained 10% lard and 0.4% cholesterol. Exercise consisted of running on a motor-driven treadmill at an 8% grade 1 h per day at 0.5 mph, 6 d weekly for 5 mo. A histological assessment of the aortas demonstrated that although grossly visible atherosclerotic plaques were absent, there were significant microscopic differences among groups in the thoracic aorta, iliac bifurcation and aortic arch. Aortic histopathological changes were greatest in cross sections from rats in the HS group. The accumulation of collagen and sulfated mucosubstances was greater in the HS versus HE group. Our results demonstrate a beneficial effect of exercise on diet-induced histopathological changes in the aortas of male retired breeder rats.

An outbreak of avian urolithiasis on a large commercial egg farm.

A significant outbreak of avian urolithiasis was observed on a large commercial egg farm. From the initial outbreak site (a single laying house), the incidence of urolithiasis slowly spread in the ensuing months to numerous other laying houses. Increasing mortality associated with urolithiasis commenced during late growout to early lay and then leveled off when egg production peaked. At the height of the outbreak, mortality was typically 0.5% per week; 75% of this mortality was due to urolithiasis. The clinical and pathologic features of this condition are described. Both infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and fowl adenoviruses were isolated from organ homogenates of sampled birds. A clone of the IBV strain was found to induce nephritis in specific-pathogen-free white leghorns.

Changes in the microscopic anatomy of the bovine teat canal during mammary involution.

Changes in the microscopic anatomy of the bovine teat canal were examined during mammary involution. Morphometric analyses revealed a significant (P less than 0.05), temporary dilatation of the teat canal lumen on day 7 of the nonlactating period. Additionally, the teat canal epithelium physiologically atrophied as evidenced by decreased cross-sectional area and thickness during the first 30 days of the nonlactating period, significantly so (P less than 0.05) between days 0 and 7. This physiologic atrophy was due mainly to a reduction in area and thickness of the stratum granulosum and may have resulted from continuing keratinization, a process that led to increased thickness of the keratin layer and formation of a functional plug during later stages of involution. Changes in cells of the stratum granulosum indicated a decrease in the rate of epithelial cell maturation during involution. The mitotic index (percentage of basal cells in mitosis) of the teat canal epithelium decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) between days 0 and 7 of the nonlactating period. Bacteria, observed in histologic sections, appeared to colonize only certain regions of the keratin layer. Seemingly, changes in the teat canal during mammary involution may be important factors in changing susceptibility to new intramammary infection during the early and mid-nonlactating periods.

The effect of exercise and hyperlipemic diet on aortic histopathology in the rat.

Histological changes in the aorta were used as criteria to assess the effect of treadmill exercise on the development of atherosclerosis in rats consuming a moderately hyperlipemic diet. While grossly visible atherosclerotic plaques were absent, microscopic examination of sections of the abdominal aorta were distinctly different between exercised and sedentary rats. Aortas of sedentary rats fed a diet containing lard and cholesterol had a high degree of plaque development, fat accumulation, mineralization, erosion and necrosis. Aortas of exercised rats fed the same diet had considerably less atherogenic involvement. Both hyperlipemic groups had greater plaque formation than sedentary rats fed a normolipemic diet. In addition, there were marked differences in plasma lipids; exercise ameliorated the diet-induced changes in plasmatic atherogenic lipids. Our results indicate that exercise retards the development of atherosclerosis in rats fed a hyperlipemic diet.

Epizootiology, pathology, and microbiology of an outbreak of urolithiasis in chickens.

An outbreak of urolithiasis that doubled the annual mortality rate of chickens in a large flock of table-egg-layers is described. Despite the presence of a large unilateral urolith and/or severe renal atrophy, the layers often maintained active egg production and apparent homeostasis until a small urolith blocked the ureteral flow from the contralateral kidney. This terminal episode appeared to produce acute obstructive renal failure, rapidly developing visceral gout (visceral urate deposition), uremia, and death. The atrophy observed appeared to be acquired and progressive. Histologic features in the kidneys were acute to chronic glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and pyelonephritis. Epizootiologic and microbiologic studies indicated that a combination of infectious and noninfectious mechanisms may have been involved. Causative roles for calcium-phosphate imbalance, infectious bronchitis (IB), Newcastle disease (ND), and adenovirus or reovirus infections could be neither excluded nor confirmed. Contributory factors may have been spray ND-IB and other vaccinations of 15-week-old ND-IB-susceptible pullets, water deprivation, shipping stress, Mycoplasma synoviae infection, immune complex disease, and mycotoxins.

Kidney function of pullets and laying hens during outbreaks of urolithiasis.

Renal function evaluations were conducted on pullets and laying hens during outbreaks of urolithiasis. The following parameters were measured: kidney weights; hematocrits; plasma concentrations of uric acid, calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, sodium, and potassium; urine flow rates; glomerular filtration rates; renal plasma flow rates; urine pH; and relative clearances of inorganic phosphate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and para-amino hippuric acid. The adequacy of renal portal perfusion was estimated by timed phenol red extraction. Considerable interindividual variability was noted, presumably due to differences in age and reproductive status. Intraindividual left versus right kidney comparisons also were made, since urolithiasis often is associated with macroscopic lesions of one kidney but not the other. The results indicate that even when gross lesions of only one kidney were present, specific tubular transport processes were similar in both kidneys. Urolithiasis did cause significant alterations in urine flow rates, glomerular filtration rates and renal plasma flow rates. it was concluded that the changes associated with urolithiasis reflect the expected compensatory hypertrophic responses of surviving kidney tissue to a reduction of renal mass. The physiological impact of this form of kidney damage appears to arise from reduced renal mass rather than from inappropriate renal handling of minerals or electrolytes.

Sarcocystis sp. in the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

Sarcocystis sp. was observed in 100 of 185 (54.1%) Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) examined in Pennsylvania over a three year period. Gross and histologic examination commonly revealed cysts in skeletal muscle of the fore and hind legs, flanks and loins. Two rabbits had cysts in esophageal skeletal muscle. Host response to Sarcocystis sp. is described. Adult rabbits had a significantly greater rate of infection (69.3%) than juveniles (20.7%) (P less than 0.01).

Gastrointestinal parasites of the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) in central Pennsylvania.

During a 3 year period, 186 eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) were trapped from two areas and examined for helminth and protozoan parasites. Fecal samples from 139 were evaluated for coccidia and helminth ova. Nine species of coccictia were identified: Eimera audubonii, E. azul, E. environ, E. honessi, E. maior, E.minima, E. neoirresidua, E. neoleporis, and E. sylvilagi. Ova from 5 helminth species were found: Cittotaenia sp., Hastilesia tricolor, Passalurus sp., a trichostrongyle-type nematode species, and Trichuris sp. Five helminths were recovered from stomachs and small intestines: Cittotaenia sp. H. tricolor, Obeliscoides cuniculi,, Passalurus ambiguus, and Trichostrongylus calcaratus.

Target organ pathology in iron-deficient suckling rats.

Pathological changes in 18-day-old rat pups from iron-deficient dams (5 ppm dietary iron) included severe fatty degeneration of the liver with focal hepatocellular necrosis plus complete depression of hemopoiesis in this organ. Similar fatty degeneration occurred in the cortical tubular epithelial cells of the kidneys of deficient rats. Lesions in spleens and thymuses of the iron-deficient rat pups indicate depression of hemopoiesis and lymphopoiesis of both thymus-dependently lymphocyte (T-cell) and bursa-equivalent lymphocyte (B-cell) areas. From the qualitative andquantitative evaluation of thymus and spleen it may be concluded that the iron-deficient young rats are immunologically retarded and/or are permanently less competent than the controls.

Histologic evaluation of the effects of diethylstilbesterol and zeranol on certain lamb tissues.

Forty-eight lambs with equal numbers of rams, ewes, and wethers were used in a growth and metabolism trial. Within each sex, equal numbers were used as controls, and implanted with zeranol or deithylstillbestrol (DES) or both. The lambs were slaughtered 44 days after implanting and the effects of the different implants (or in combination) on certain endocrine glands, urogenital tracts, and other selected tissues were determined. All animals given implants had adrenal cortical hyperplasia. Thyroid gland activity was depressed by DES implants in wethers, and by the combination of zeranol and DES in wethers and rams. Changes in the urogenital tracts of DES-implanted lambs, including the urethra, seminal vesicle, epididymis, testis, and uterus, were similar to those observed following treatment with exogenous estrogens. The results of this evaluation confirm that DES has higher estrogenic activity than zeranol. When these two compounds were used in combination, their estrogenic effects were additive.

Some hematological and histopathological effects of the alkaloids gramine and hordenine on meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were used to evaluate the relative toxicity of the alkaloids, gramine and hordenine, which are present in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and to assess their effects on the quality of this grass as a forage. One hundred and twenty meadow voles, 31 days of age, were fed gramine (0, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5% of a nutritionally complete diet) or hordenine sulfate (0, 0.15, 0.31, or 0.62% of the diet) for 21 days. The effects of treatment on growth, mortality, hematology, blood chemistry, and histology of body organs were examined. Approximately one-third of the voles died when fed either 0.25 or 0.50% gramine. Voles that survived on gramine diets had kidney lesions, glycosuria, higher intakes (P less than 0.05), and lower weight gains (P less than 0.01) than control animals. Voles fed 0.25 and 0.50% gramine had increased circulating reticulocyte levels (P less than 0.01) and those fed 0.125% gramine had higher alkaline phosphatase activity (P less than 0.05) than the control voles. Hordenine did not affect vole diet intake, weight gain, or rate of mortality. Voles fed hordenine developed kidney lesions and glucose was detected in the urine of 62% of these animals. Gramine was more toxic than hordenine on a molar equivalent basis.

Eimeria azul sp. n. (protozoa: Eimeriidae) from the eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, in Pennsylvania.

Eimeria azul sp. n. is described from the cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus, in central Pennsylvania. The oval oocysts are 19.5--27.0 micrometer by 15.0--19.0 (mean - 22.9 X 16.7 micrometer). The fusiform sporocysts are 7.8--14.0 micrometer by 3.3--6.5 micrometer (mean = 11.8 X 5.8 micrometer). A Stieda Body is present. There is no micropyle, oocyst residuum or polar granule. The sporocyst has a residuum which is variable in appearance. The oocysts are characterized by a blue tint when viewed with an apochromatic objective lens.