Effect of halofuginone (Stenorol) on Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar).

This study was conducted to assess the effect of the coccidiostat halofuginone (Stenorol) on growth, feed consumption, and survival of Chukar partridge. Halofuginone was fed to three replicates (14 chicks per replicate) of chukar chicks from 2 to 7 d of age at levels of 0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 12 ppm. Mortality from 2 to 7 d was 0, 0, 0, 11, and 21 birds, respectively, by treatment. Seven-day body weight showed a significant linear decrease with increasing halofuginone level (P < 0.01). On the 7th d, replicates receiving 6.0 and 12.0 ppm halofuginone were transferred to unmedicated feed for the remainder of the test due to excessive mortality. The other groups were continued until 6 wk of age. At 6 wk, chicks fed 6 or 12 ppm halofuginone from 2 to 7 d and then unmedicated feed did not differ in body weight from those fed the unmedicated control diet. A significant difference in mortality was not observed among the other three treatment groups to 6 wk of age. A linear depression in 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-wk body weight with increasing halofuginone level was observed within the first three treatment levels (P < 0.05). It was concluded that 1.5 ppm halofuginone depressed growth of young chukars and that 6 ppm resulted in increased mortality.

Intracranial germ cell tumors: a comprehensive update of the European data.

Intracranial germ cell tumors are rare tumor entities in childhood and adolescents. Extra- and intracranial germ cell tumors are identical in their histologic pattern and occur in preferential midline localizations such as the pineal and the suprasellar region. Germ cell neoplasms show increasing incidence rates over the last 30 years. The majority of intracranial germ cell neoplasms are germinomas. About 90% of the patients with pure germinomas can be salvaged by radiotherapy alone according to modern protocols. Non-germinomatous malignant CNS-germ cell tumors are considered to have a poor prognosis. In order to improve the survival of patients affected by these tumors different treatment approaches adding chemotherapy to conventional surgery and radiotherapy have been initiated by various study groups throughout the world. Due to the rarity of these neoplasms only a very limited number of patients has been enrolled in each study. In 1993 an international working group on these tumors was established by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP).

[Stress ulcerations: pathogenesis and prevention]. / Stressulcerationen: Pathogenese und Prophylaxe.

Clinically inapparent gastric stress ulcerations are a frequent complication of extensive trauma, intracranial diseases, burns, sepsis, respiratory insufficiency etc. With improvement of the underlying disease the acute erosions will disappear, however, approximately 20% of the patients will develop major gastro-intestinal bleedings. Besides the known and above mentioned risk factors gastric acid must be present for acute stress lesions to develop. Therefore, attempts at prophylaxis against stress erosions have focused on a decrease of intragastric hydrogen ion concentration. In a number of clinical trials during recent years it was documented that neutralization of gastric content (elevation of intragastric pH to 3.5 or higher) will prevent stress ulcers and their life threatening complication: exsanguinating hemorrhage. Therefore critically ill patients should receive high doses of antacids or cimetidine in combination with antacids to prevent acute stress ulcerations.

[Antacids: A comparison of their in vitro neutralizing capacity in hydrochloric acid and in acidified peptone solution (author's transl)]. / Ein Vergleich der Neutralisationskapazität von Antazida in verdünnter Salzsäure und salzsaurer Peptonlösung.

Using a simple and reproducible in vitro-test the neutralizing capacity of different liquid commercial antacids was measured at pH 2.0 and at pH 3.5 in diluted hydrochloric acid and in acidified peptone solution. In peptone solutions corresponding to postprandial gastric juice, antacids containing aluminum hydroxide and aluminate forming components demonstrated a marked loss in their neutralizing capacity when compared to peptone free hydrochloric acid as control. This loss in buffering capacity is dependent on the reaction time, the pH of the reaction mixture, the concentration of peptone in the solution and the amount of aluminum in the different antacid compounds. Furthermore the neutralizing capacity of aluminum hydroxide is also diminished by dibasic organic acids which mimicked fasting gastric juice in the experiment. The different availability of neutralizing potency of aluminum hydroxide containing antacids in acid and in acidified peptone solution will need to be considered when antacids are recommended for the treatment of patients with peptic ulcer disease.