Methane digester effluent from swine excreta as a nutrient and water source for growing and finishing swine.

The experimental objective was to evaluate swine methane digester effluent (SMDE) as a water and nutrient source for swine. The mesophilic methane digester was loaded daily with manure from finishing swine fed a corn-soybean meal diet. Dry diet was mixed with SMDE (3.7% DM) and fed twice daily in troughs. Tap water was provided and consumption measured. Barrows were group fed (3 pigs/pen) and adapted to SMDE by increasing SMDE for 7 d, with the full amount fed from d 8 to the end of the feeding phase (d 21, 14, 23, or 37 for Exp. 1 to 4, respectively). Blood samples were collected on d 0, 10, 21, and 31 to determine plasma concentrations of glucose and plasma urea N (PUN). Barrows were placed in individual metabolism cages for a 5-d acclimation and a 5-d fecal and urine collection to determine apparent N and energy utilization. For Exp. 1, 18 pigs averaging 75 kg BW were allotted to diets with 0, 48.6, or 63.7% SMDE, as-fed basis. For Exp. 2 and 3, 12 pigs/experiment averaged 117 and 70 kg, respectively, and were allotted to diets with 0 or 63.7% SMDE, as-fed basis. At the end of Exp. 2 and 3, pigs were sacrificed and liver samples were collected to determine urea cycle enzyme activity, and loin was saved for taste panel evaluation. For Exp. 4, pigs averaged 40 kg and were allotted to diets with 0 or 57.5% SMDE, as-fed basis. The ADFI, ADG, and G:F of finishing swine (Exp. 1 to 3) were not reduced by feeding diets containing 63.7% SMDE (as-fed basis), whereas ADG and G:F of growing swine (Exp. 4) were reduced (P < 0.01) by feeding a diet containing 57.5% SMDE. Pigs fed diets containing SMDE consumed 31 to 56% less (P < 0.05) water and had greater (P < 0.01) PUN concentrations than pigs fed control diets. Pigs fed diets containing SMDE excreted more (g, P < 0.05) fecal N and absorbed and retained less N (%; P < 0.01) and energy (DE and ME) than pigs fed control diets. Treatment had no effect on urea cycle enzyme activity. In conclusion, finishing swine adapted to diets containing 63.7% SMDE (as-fed basis) based on growth performance, whereas growing swine did not adapt to a diet containing 57.5% SMDE because of the large content of nonprotein N in SMDE. Recycling SMDE to swine greatly reduced fresh water consumption, whereas the protein and energy values of SMDE were approximately 0 for swine. Therefore, SMDE is more appropriately recycled as a source of water and N for ruminant nutrition or crop production.

Molecular architecture and electrical properties in evaporated films of cobalt phthalocyanine.

Thin films of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) were deposited onto solid substrates through physical vapor deposition (PVD) by thermal evaporation up to 60 nm thick to determine their molecular architecture and electrical properties. The growth was monitored using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, revealing a linear increase for absorbance versus thickness. PVD films were found in the crystalline alpha phase and with the CoPc molecules forming ca. 45 degrees in relation to the substrate surface. The film surface was fairly homogeneous at the micro and nanoscales, with the roughness at ca. 3 nm. DC and AC electrical measurements were carried out for devices built with distinct structures. Perpendicular contact was established by depositing 60 nm CoPc PVD films between indium tin oxide (ITO) and Al, forming a sandwich-type structure (ITO/CoPc/Al). The current versus DC voltage curve indicated a Schottky diode behavior with a rectification factor of 4.2. The AC conductivity at low frequencies increased about 2 orders of magnitude (10(-9) to 10(-7) S/m) with increasing DC bias (0 to 5 V) and the dielectric constant at 1 kHz was 3.45. The parallel contact was obtained by depositing 120 nm CoPc PVD film onto interdigitated electrodes, forming an IDE-structured device. The latter presented a DC conductivity of 5.5 x 10(-10) S/m while the AC conductivity varied from 10(-9) to 10(-1) S/m between 1 Hz and 1 MHz, respectively, presenting no dependence on DC bias. As proof-of-principle, the IDE-structured device was applied as gas sensor for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).

Milking action: a new functional concept of a different orthotopic neobladder: 4-year followup.

PURPOSE: We demonstrate how the combined use of detubularized and remodeled intestine with intact cecum in the construction of an orthotopic colonic neobladder determines different functioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since February 1993, 11 men who underwent radical cystectomy due to invasive bladder carcinoma have received a new bladder substitute consisting of an upper component of ascending colon and a detubularized and remodeled right half of transverse colon, and a lower component with intact cecum. During postoperative years 1 and 4 all patients were evaluated with urodynamics and cystography. RESULTS: The detubularized upper component of the neobladder acts as a large capacity, low pressure filling reservoir, while the intact cecum with its haustral contractions (inverted milking action) contributes as an additional continence mechanism. The mass contractions (milking action) with abdominal wall tension actively collaborate to evacuate the reservoir completely. CONCLUSIONS: This new structural concept of a neobladder constructed from detubularized and intact intestine has a different functional behavior than neobladders described in literature. This neobladder enables complete evacuation and total continence in the immediate postoperative period.

Eficacia y seguridad de la cefodizima en el tratamiento de pacientes con infección complicada de las vías urinarias o pielonefritis aguda no complicada / Efficiency and safeness of cefodizime in the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infection or acute uncomplicated pielonephritis

Se presentan los resultados de un estudio clínico abierto binacional, no controlado, llevado a cabo en 85 pacientes hospitalizados con infección complicada del tracto genitourinario o pielonefritis aguda no complicada, tratados con 1 g de cefodizima una vez al día, administrada parenteralmente por inyección intramuscular o intravenosa o perfusión, durante siete a 10 días (mínimo cinco días y máximo 14). El objetivo principal fue evaluar la eficacia y seguridad del tratamiento. La tasa de curación clínica fue alcanzada en el 92.7 por ciento de los pacientes tratados con cefodizima, observando una marcada remisión de los signos y síntomas clínicos al final del tratamiento. La erradicación bacteriológica fue observada en 95.9 por ciento de los enfermos. El microorganismo aislado con mayor frecuencia fue Eschirichia coli (80.2 por ciento). La cefodizima fue bien tolerada, con escasos y leves eventos adversos. Se concluye que 1 g de cefodizima administrada parenteralmente una vez al día en pacientes hospitalizados con infección complicada de vías urinaria con pielonefritis aguda no complicada es un tratamiento eficaz y seguro

Eficacia y seguridad de la cefodizima en el tratamiento de pacientes con infección de vías respiratorias bajas adquirirdas en la comunidad / Efficiency and safeness of cefodizime in the treatment of patients with community acquired of low respiratory tract

Se presentan los resultados de un estudio clínico abierto, no controlados, binacional, conducido en 73 pacientes hospitalizados con infecciones de vías respiratorias bajas adquiridas en la comunidad, tratados con 1 g de cefodizima una vez al días (OAD) administrada parenteralmente por inyección intramuscular, intravenosa o por infusión endovenosa. El objetivo fue evaluar la eficacia y seguridad del medicamento. La curación clínica, se evaluó por la desparición y/o mejoría de los síntomas relacionados a la infección (esputo purulento, tos, disnea y dolor torácico) y la resolución de la fiebre (ó 38ºC). La tasa de éxito se obtuvo en el 92.3 por ciento de los pacientes. La erradicación bacteriológica fue del 98 por ciento. Los microorganismos patógenos aislados con mayor frecuencia fueron: S. pneumoniae (53 por ciento), S aureus (20 por ciento) y K. pneumoniae (10 por ciento). En tres pacientes, los eventos adversos clínicos fueron considerados posiblemente relacionados con la medicación en estudio. Los resultados clínicos muestran que 1 g de cefodizima adminstrada una vez al día es un tratamiento eficaz y seguro en el tratamiento de pacientes adultos hospitalizados con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad

Nuevo concepto estructural y funcional en neovejiga ortotopica / Orthotopic neobladder new structural and functional concept

A partir de 1993, en el servicio de urología del Hospital "Dr. José Penna" de Bahia Blanca se introdujo una serie de modificaciones técnicas a la derivación urinaria colónico-continente (Florida Pouch). La más significativa consistió en la no "destabulación" del ciego para poder utilizarlo como neovejiga ortotópica. Este nuevo sustituto vesical tierne en su estructura dos componentes: uno superior, contruido con intestino grueso ascendente y mitad derecha del transverso, destubilizado y reconfigurado, y otro inferior, con ciego indemne. En siete pacientes, en quienes se efectuó cistectomía radical, se utilizó este nuevo procedimiento como reemplazo vesical. Todos ellos lograron continencia completa diurna y nocturna desde el primer día en que se retiró el catéter uretral. Tres tienen un seguimiento de más de tres años. En el presente trabajo se describe la técnica quirúrgica de esta nueva derivación y su funcionamiento, distinto de los dem,ás sustitutos descriptos en la literatura, que permite una evacuación completa sin maniobra de Credé, con óptima continencia

Nuevo concepto estructural y funcional en neovejiga ortotopica / Orthotopic neobladder new structural and functional concept

A partir de 1993, en el servicio de urología del Hospital "Dr. José Penna" de Bahia Blanca se introdujo una serie de modificaciones técnicas a la derivación urinaria colónico-continente (Florida Pouch). La más significativa consistió en la no "destabulación" del ciego para poder utilizarlo como neovejiga ortotópica. Este nuevo sustituto vesical tierne en su estructura dos componentes: uno superior, contruido con intestino grueso ascendente y mitad derecha del transverso, destubilizado y reconfigurado, y otro inferior, con ciego indemne. En siete pacientes, en quienes se efectuó cistectomía radical, se utilizó este nuevo procedimiento como reemplazo vesical. Todos ellos lograron continencia completa diurna y nocturna desde el primer día en que se retiró el catéter uretral. Tres tienen un seguimiento de más de tres años. En el presente trabajo se describe la técnica quirúrgica de esta nueva derivación y su funcionamiento, distinto de los dem,ás sustitutos descriptos en la literatura, que permite una evacuación completa sin maniobra de Credé, con óptima continencia(AU)

Amikacin (BB-K8) treatment of multiple-drug resistant Proteus infections.

The new aminoglycoside antibiotic, amikacin (formerly called BB-K8), was used to treat 12 episodes of urinary tract infection caused by hospital-acquired Proteus rettgeri strains. These bacteria were resistant in vitro to kanamycin and gentamicin, and infection persisted in most of the patients in spite of therapy with one of these agents. In all cases, the urinary tract infection was controlled or eradicated by therapy, although relapse or reinfection was frequently encountered in these patients with complicated urological problems. No toxicities attributable to the drug were encountered in the small group of patients.