[The compatibility of ronidazol in racing pigeons in a controlled clinical study]. / Verträglichkeit von Ronidazol bei Brieftauben im kontrollierten klinischen Test.

Ronidazol is often used in racing pigeons for the treatment of Trichomonas infections and diseases. Therefore, in this study, the compatibility of the drug was examined by oral application over 7 days. For this purpose a randomized blind study was performed using four different groups (control group, 10 mg = therapy-group, 20 mg = double-dose-group and 40 mg = high-dose-group) of pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) with 6 male and 6 female birds each. All birds were clinically healthy and between 6 and 12 weeks of age. The application of ronidazol at a dose of 10 mg/racing pigeon did show no side-effect within the duration of the study, e.g. no influence could be seen on clinical, haematological, blood-chemical and pathological parameters. Low-to middle-grade clinical alterations of the gastro-intestinal tract occurred in the high-dose group at day 6 and 7 of the application of the drug. Therefore a fourfold overdosing of ronidazol should be avoided.

Report of general temporary anticoagulation in the treatment of acute cerebral and retinal ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent thrombo-embolism represents by far the commonest cause of cerebral and retinal ischaemia. In an open clinical study, experience with a largely general anticoagulation in the acute phase of cerebral and retinal ischaemia is reported. METHODS: From October 1993 to October 1996, 781 patients with acute cerebral ischaemia were admitted to the medical emergency ward. Taking contra-indications into consideration and after CT exclusion of cerebral haemorrhage (2%). Immediate therapeutic heparinisation (1.5-2-fold prolongation of aPTT) was administered to 664 patients (85%) over 7-10 days. In a concurrent Doppler/duplex comparative study, 143 patients with retinal artery occlusion were investigated for the prevalence of potential sources of emboli in the region of the extracranial carotids and internal carotid circulation respectively. 108 patients served as a reference group whose acute loss of vision of vascular origin could be attributed to retinal vein thrombosis. RESULTS: The complication rate of anticoagulation in acute cerebral ischaemia was 0.8% (major complications), and the recurrence rate during the period of treatment was 2.4%. In 131 patients with acute retinal ischaemia, therapeutic heparinisation was performed without ocular cerebral or extracerebral complications. Potential ipsilateral sources of emboli (highgrade carotid stenosis or complex plaques with thrombotic deposits) were found in 55%, but in only 7% of the control group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Immediate anticoagulation in the form of aPTT-monitored therapeutic heparinisation represents a rational and low-risk concept for the treatment of acute cerebral and retinal ischaemia.

A factor analysis of life satisfaction, adjustment and morale measures with elderly adults.

Seven frequently used measures of life satisfaction, adjustment and morale were subjected to the techniques of construct validation. Data for the analysis was obtained from 259 people over the age of sixty who represented three clusters: nursing home residents, homebound older people and "community" aged. The data were analyzed through Alpha factor analysis methods. Items from six of the seven measures were found on the two factors that best represented the conceptual area of life satisfaction.

Correlations of life satisfaction, morale and adjustment measures.

Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficients were computed for seven frequently used measures of life satisfaction, adjustment, and morale. Data on the seven instruments were collected from 259 subjects over the age of 60 representing three clusters: institutionalized older people, those with limited ambulation, and "community" aged. Intercorrelations among the measures indicate a high level of interrelationship.