Pathogens Detection in the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae))

Aethina tumida Murray is currently a worldwide emergent pest of Apis mellifera L. hives. Although the damaging effect on the colony stores and brood is well known, the possible role of these beetles as a disease carrier is not clear. This is the first report of DNA presence of the trypanosome honeybee parasite Lotmaria passim and Crithidia bombi, and the Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) in A. tumida. Further studies will be needed to determine if A. tumida is indeed a mechanical or biological vector of these pathogens.

Peritoneal dialysis: a case for home visits

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) training usually takes place within the dialysis unit. Home visits, however, provide an ideal way for the dialysis team to assess and observe the implementation of the training objectives and to uphold the continuation of care between the dialysis unit and the home. This article describes the benefits and limitations of performing home visits as well as practical guidelines, including the use of an assessment record to document the home visit.

Comparison of the attitudes of Israeli therapists and lay persons to ethical dilemmas in psychotherapy

The issues of confidentiality and boundaries cause ethical dilemmas for psychotherapists. We investigated whether therapists have ethical attitudes to confidentiality and boundaries that are unique to their professional group compared with lay persons and whether gender or professional characteristics are associated with these attitudes. Clinical vignettes capturing ethical dilemmas regarding confidentiality and boundaries were presented to 93 psychotherapists of different professional backgrounds (professional group) and 55 staff and students from the fields of law and the humanities (lay group). In general, the lay group showed a greater tendency to maintain confidentiality than the professional group. Regarding boundaries, the majority of psychotherapists were against initiating any sexual relationship with current patients, former patients, students, or supervisees; the differences between the groups in this area were statistically significant. The vast majority of therapists (96.7%) disapproved of accepting money in advance compared with only 54.4% of the lay group. Analysis of the psychotherapists by professional background revealed that for the majority of the vignettes, there was no difference in attitude to confidentiality and boundaries between psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. The present study shows that therapists have different ethical codes from nontherapists regarding the issues of boundaries and the treatment contract. Therapists are stricter than nontherapists regarding issues of boundaries but less strict regarding issues of confidentiality, and there are some minor differences in the attitudes to these issues among different types of therapists.

Induction of estrus in bitches with normal and persistent anestrus using human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)

Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) was administered intramuscularly to 10 bitches during apparently normal anestrus (n = 7) or persistent anestrus (n = 3). Each dog received a 75-IU dose of hMG (75 IU LH and 75 IU FSH; 1 to 7 units/kg) daily for nine days. Nine bitches responded with obvious signs of proestrus within 3 to 9 days. Of these, 3 bitches exhibited a weak proestrus while 2 exhibited a normal estrus and ovulation but failed to become pregnant The remaining 4 bitches became pregnant at the induced cycle and produced normal litters at 72 to 85 d after the start of treatment, including 1 bitch that had been treated at 24 mo after the last estrus. In 2 cases, treatment resulted in ovulation following 25 or 34 mo of chronic pubertal anestrus, 1 of which became pregnant. The results suggest that hMG can be a useful gonadotropin preparation for inducing estrus in dogs.

Ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors and fetal growth retardation in mice

Putrescine (PUT) and the putrescine analogues, 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) and 1,6-diaminohexane (DAH), were administered to pregnant female mice during the time of maximal fetal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, days 10-14 of gestation. Such treatment resulted in an inhibition of fetal ODC activity, as measured 2 hours later, and a proportional decrease in fetal weight, as measured on day 18 of gestation. The order of effectiveness for these compounds was DAP greater than DAH greater than PUT. Neither DAP nor DAH nor PUT were fetocidal nor maternally lethal under the treatment regimen employed. The generality of the effect of these compounds, i.e., the retardation of fetal growth and the lack of gross malformations, is consistent with the hypothesis that they are interfering with a primary process, probably protein synthesis. The restricted time span of effectiveness implies that these compounds are specific inhibitors of ODC and that decreased ODC activity is producing an effect on growth.

Anaesthesia and Huntington's chorea. A report of two cases

Two patients with Huntington's chorea were anaesthetized successfully with a technique including thiopentone, nitrous oxide and either a narcotic analgesic or halothane; pancuronium was employed for myoneural blockade.