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Multilocus isoenzyme electrophoresis was used to screen 47 field isolates of Yersinia ruckeri for electrophoretic variation at 15 enzyme loci. Only four electrophoretic types were observed, thus indicating that the genetic structure of Y. ruckeri is clonal. Forty-two isolates were of one electrophoretic type, a reflection of the low amount of genetic diversity extant in this species. Although sorbitol fermentation has been considered to be indicative of a second biotype, no significant gene frequency differences were found between the group of 20 isolates that readily used sorbitol as the sole carbon source and the group of 27 that did not.

The influence of 11 variables on the infiltration of peripheral venous lines (PVLs) was evaluated during 151 infusions in patients younger than 1 year of age. Infusions were followed from the time of cannula placement to discontinuation. Fifty-eight percent of PVLs were infiltrated by 36.30 +/- 33.53 hours (mean +/- SD; median 40 hours, range 10 to 187 hours). No difference between infiltrated and noninfiltrated PVLs was noted with regard to patient age, gender, weight, cannula type, cannula gauge, cannula site, infusion device, potassium or dextrose concentration, medications, or rate of solution administration (P greater than 0.05). Infiltration was observed more often in black than in white infants (P = 0.03) and in patients with lower controller solution head heights (P = 0.01). The time to infiltration was decreased significantly for steel verus Teflon cannulas (P = 0.02), for administration of intravenous medication versus no administration of medication (P = 0.03), for peripheral parenteral nutrition solutions compared with 5% or 10% dextrose solutions (P = 0.014), and with increasing cannula gauge (P = 0.05). The time to infiltration did not differ significantly for gravity-controlled versus positive-pressure infusion device delivery (P = 0.51) or for potassium concentrations less than or equal to 20 mEq/L versus greater than 20 mEq/L (P = 0.13). Infusion device occlusion alarms were associated with only 19% of infiltrations. No sloughing of skin or necrosis of tissue occurred related to infiltration.

The metabolic alterations, nutritional and metabolic assessment, and nutritional requirements of critically ill patients are discussed, and parenteral nutrition support therapies are reviewed. Physiological alterations in the metabolism of the injured or septic patient are mediated through the interactions of neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, toxic, and starvation responses. These responses cause mobilization of nutritional substrates in an effort to maintain vital organ function and immune defenses. A patient's nutritional status can be determined from anthropometric measurements, creatinine excretion rate, and evaluations of protein stores and immune reserves and function; body weight is a poor indicator. Nitrogen-balance calculations are also useful for determining the adequacy of nutritional intake and the degree of metabolic stress. Early assessments of nutritional status may assist in identifying those patients for whom nutritional support interventions are needed. Nutritional requirements are altered by the metabolic responses to injury and sepsis. Studies suggest that use of nutrient solutions enriched for branched-chain amino acids may enhance nitrogen retention and that energy expenditures in injured or septic patients are only moderately elevated. Most nonprotein calories in parenteral nutrient solutions are provided as glucose, but lipids are an important source of energy in the critically ill patient who has high energy requirements or carbohydrate intolerance; however, clearance of lipids may be decreased. Fluid, electrolyte, and mineral status must be evaluated frequently. Critically ill patients have unique nutritional requirements, and parenteral nutrition support therapies for these patients are being investigated and refined.

Occupational therapy plays a significant role in helping patients with coronary artery disease move to restored health and function and in facilitating their change from states of crisis to adaptation. Treatment begun early and carried out both in group and individual sessions, addresses cardiac function and risk factors in all phases of daily activities with emphasis on managing stress. Activities of daily living groups particularly emphasize energy conservation techniques in both vocational and avocational pursuits. Staff also teach and encourage appropriate lifestyle modifications.

The epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever are reviewed. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a severe infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted to man by various species of ticks. High-incidence areas exist in the southeast and south central United States. Only 60-70% of patients with the disease report a history of tick bite or exposure to tick-infested areas. The disease is initially characterized by fever, headache, gastrointestinal complaints, myalgia, and a generalized rash. In several days generalized vasculitis may lead to periorbital edema and nonpitting edema of the face and extremities. Central nervous system involvement is common. Because signs and symptoms associated with the disease are nonspecific, the diagnosis is often delayed or missed. Traditionally diagnostic confirmation relied on serologic testing, but an indirect fluorescent antibody assay will soon be commercially available. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is usually treated with the rickettsiostatic agents chloramphenicol or tetracycline, but few comparative data on these agents in patients with the disease are available. For patients who cannot tolerate oral medications, intravenous chloramphenicol sodium succinate is the preferred treatment; chloramphenicol is also the drug of choice for children less than eight years of age. Otherwise, oral tetracycline hydrochloride is the drug of choice. Antibiotic therapy should be continued for 7-10 days or until the patient is afebrile for two to five days. All cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever must be reported to the Centers for Disease Control. The best ways to decrease the morbidity and mortality of the disease are to increase awareness of its signs and symptoms and to prevent exposure to ticks.

Ten uncured legs from the right side of the sampled pork carcasses (Study A) were vacuum tumbled with the cure adjuncts for 30 min (T) and 10 counterparts from the left side were tumbled 30 min, rested 30 min and tumbled an additional 30 min (TRT). Evaluations were conducted at 40 and 70 days after cure application for color, taste attributes, percentage moisture, percentage salt and NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) content. Study B was the same except that 18 legs were boned, tumbled and cured for 40, 56 and 70 days. The TRT samples (Study A) at 40 days sustained less color fading (P < 0.05) during cookery, but no differences (P > 0.05) existed among the uncooked hams. Increased cure time enhanced moisture loss and salt content (Study A) and color retention during cookery (Study B). The TRT samples had increased moisture loss and salt content (Study A)., (Copyright © 1987. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance(s) has been measured in serum during pregnancy. Because of its presence in pregnancy, investigators have suggested that digoxin-like immunoreactive substance may play an etiologic role in the development of preeclampsia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between maternal digoxin-like immunoreactive substance and gestational age and compare digoxin-like immunoreactive substance concentrations in patients with and without preeclampsia who were in the third trimester. Two hundred twenty patients were studied during either the first (n = 53), second (n = 56), or third (n = 111) trimester of pregnancy. Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance was undetectable in the serum of patients during the first trimester; however, 11% of second-trimester and 96% of third-trimester patients had measurable levels of serum digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (p less than 0.05). The mean +/- SEM concentration of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in serum in third-trimester patients was 0.29 +/- 0.01 ng/ml (range 0 to 0.58 ng/ml). Gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in patients with preeclampsia than in those without preeclampsia (36.3 +/- 0.6 versus 38.8 +/- 0.4 weeks; p less than 0.001). In addition, there was no statistical difference in mean +/- SEM concentration of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance between 27 patients without preeclampsia (0.32 +/- 0.02 ng/ml) and 27 patients with preeclampsia (0.30 +/- 0.02 ng/ml; p = 0.47) matched for gestational age. We conclude that (1) digoxin-like immunoreactive substance appearance and increasing serum concentration during pregnancy are correlated with increasing gestational age and (2) there is no difference in digoxin-like immunoreactive substance values between patients with and without preeclampsia, which may exclude digoxin-like immunoreactive substance as a predictor of preeclampsia.

Protein, calorie, fluid, fat, and micronutrient requirements of pediatric patients are reviewed, as are methods of nutritional assessment and complications associated with the use of parenteral nutrition in these patients. In general, preterm infants and neonates require greater per-kilogram amounts of protein, calories, fluid, and micronutrients than older children. In addition, preterm infants and neonates have deficiencies in enzymes that metabolize certain amino acids, making otherwise nonessential amino acids essential. These unique protein needs have been addressed in amino acid formulations designed specifically for this group of patients. Supplying the neonate with the calcium and phosphorus needed for bone growth can be difficult because of solubility limitations in parenteral nutrient solutions. The use of intravenous fat emulsion in infants with hyperbilirubinemia or pulmonary complications is controversial. However, only rarely does fat emulsion have to be completely withheld. Complications associated with parenteral nutrition in pediatric patients include infection, metabolic disorders (cholestasis, bone demineralization), and mechanical problems. Cholestasis induced by parenteral nutrition has been shown to be more common in low-birth-weight infants; however, the precise etiology is unknown and may be multifactorial. Basic requirements necessary to promote growth while pediatric patients are receiving parenteral nutrition have been determined. However, current studies are challenging what were thought to be standards of pediatric parenteral nutrition therapy.