Effects of Daily Oral Care with 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate and a Standard Oral Care Protocol on the Development of Nosocomial Pneumonia in Intubated Patients: A Pilot Study

Purpose. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a difference existed between nosocomial pneumonia rates for intubated critical care unit (CCU) patients who received twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and those who received the standard oral care. Methods. Over seven months (February to August), CCU patients were identified through screening and informed consent procedures, and randomized into 1 of 2 groups. Over the 7 months, due to the critically ill nature of the patients, only 5 subjects were enrolled. While in the study, twice-daily oral hygiene care consisted of brushing the cheeks, teeth, and endotracheal tube with a suctioning toothbrush using an FDA-approved 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate antimicrobial agent with the experimental group (2 intubated patients in the CCU). The control group (3 intubated patients in the CCU) received the standard oral care 6 times per day utilizing a soft foam swab and half strength hydrogen peroxide. All oral care was performed by the nursing staff. The number of persons developing nosocomial pneumonia was monitored until hospital discharge. Results. Results revealed that 1 person out of 3 in the control group was discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of nosocomial (aspiration) pneumonia. Neither of the 2 subjects in the experimental group was diagnosed with nosocomial pneumonia. Preliminary findings suggest that twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate may reduce the risk of nosocomial pneumonia in intubated patients more than the 6-times daily standard oral care protocol. The standard oral care protocol does not include the use of an FDA-approved antimicrobial solution. However, the small size of the sample makes this finding inconclusive. Conclusion. Twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate may hold promise as a nosocomial pneumonia reduction strategy within hospital CCUs; however, its application requires further testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR

Incidência do míldio em cebola sob adubação mineral e orgânica.

Analisou-se a relação entre adubação mineral e orgânica sobre a incidência de míldio (Peronospora destructor) em cebola (Allium cepa). O trabalho constituiu-se de dois experimentos localizados em Ituporanga, conduzidos entre agosto e dezembro de 1998. O experimento 1, com fontes orgânicas, constou dos tratamentos: esterco de suínos, esterco de aves, composto, esterco de peru e húmus, na dosagem de 75 kg/ha de N; esterco de suínos, na dosagem de 37,5 kg/ha de N; adubação mineral, 30-120-60 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 60-240-120 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O e testemunha sem adubação. O experimento 2 constou dos tratamentos: fontes minerais, 30-120-60 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 90-360-180 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 75 kg/ha de N; 225 kg/ha de N; 80 kg/ha de P2O5; 240 kg/ha de P2O5; 60 kg/ha de K2O; 180 kg/ha de K2O; esterco de suínos + fosfato natural, em três combinações, 7,9+0,1, 15,7+0,2 e 47,2+0,6 t/ha, respectivamente; testemunha sem adubação. Não houve diferença entre as fontes mineral e orgânica sobre a incidência de míldio. A relação entre nutrientes e doença foi variável entre datas de amostragem e distinta para fontes minerais e orgânicas

A Review of the Distribution, Seasonal Occurrence and Demography of Selected Species of Large Coastal Sharks From the U.S. Coast and Gulf of Mexico

Sharks are a diverse group of approximately 400 species. They belong to the class of fishes known as Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras), subclass Elasmobranchii. Sharks are cartilaginous fish, possessing no true bone. Found throughout the world\u27s oceans, they range in size from 25 cm in length (spined pygmy shark, Squaliolus laticaudus) to over 15m (whale shark, Rhincodon typus) (Compagno, 1984). Compared to the bony fishes (Osteichthyes), most sharks grow slowly, require many years to mature, have complex reproductive cycles, and produce relatively few offspring. The life-history characteristics of many elasmobranchs, such as late age of maturity and relatively slow growth rates, make them more susceptible to overfishing than most bony fishes. Adding to their complex life history strategies sharks are also migratory, with seasonal and/or diel movements related to food sources, reproductive cycles, temperature, photoperiod, and possibly other environmental factors (Castro, 1983). These characteristics, together with their low fecundity, result in low productivity for most species (Bonfil, 1994; Smith et al. 1998). In order to manage sharks more effectively in fisheries the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) separated 39 Atlantic sharks species into three species groups (large coastal, small coastal and pelagic sharks) in the first secretarial Fisheries Management Plan (NMFS, 1993). This paper will focus on the large coastal shark group found off the east coast of the U.S. and Gulf of Mexico. Sharks in this group that will be reviewed are the bull, (Carcharhinus leucas); blacktip, (Carcharhinus limbatus); bignose, (Carcharhinus altimus); sandbar, (Carcharhinus plumbeus); lemon, (Negaprion brevirostris); dusky, (Carcharhinus obscurus); spinner (Carcharhinus brevipinna); tiger, (Galeocerdo cuvier); night shark ( Carcharhinus signa/us); silky, ( Carcharhinus falciform is); scalloped hammerhead, (Sphyrna lewini); smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) and the great hammerhead, (Sphyrna mokarran). Several investigators have reported on the distribution, age and growth, and relative abundance of these species in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (Branstetter et al. 1987; Berkeley and Campos, 1988; Kohler et al. 1994). In addition, data collected by commercial, scientific_ and recreational fishermen have been useful to migration and distribution studies of coastal and pelagic sharks in the north Atlantic (Klimley, 1987; Casey and Kohler, 1992; Quinn, 1994). These authors provided valuable information regarding individual species, however, a comprehensive review of the distribution, migration, demography, and relative abundance of these sharks in the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico is lacking

Yield Loss Models for Foliar Diseases of Alfalfa and Evaluation of Chemical and Cultural Disease Control Methods

115 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1986.Regression models relating various measures of disease level to yield were developed for the complex of fungi which cause foliar disease on alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The accuracy and precision of the models was evaluated using data other than those from which the models were constructed. Linear models using disease severity one week before harvest (DS1), on the day of harvest (DS0), or area-under-disease-progress curve (AUDPC) to predict yield as percent of maximum explained 52 to 60% of the variation in yield. Models estimated a yield reduction of 2.40, 1.83, and 0.142% for each DS1, DS0, and AUDPC unit, respectively. All models overestimated yield but were more accurate within the range of disease levels commonly observed in alfalfa fields than at higher levels. Field studies were done to determine the economically optimal fungicide application frequency and timing for control of alfalfa leaf spot diseases and identify the predominant fungal pathogens responsible for causing foliar disease. A single application of mancozeb after 10 to 14 days of regrowth was the most profitable treatment schedule with a 215% return on investment and net marginal return of $20.58/ha. Stemphylium botryosum and Phoma medicaginis were the predominant pathogens with Leptosphaerulina and Colletotrichum spp. also present at lower but significant levels. The contribution of an early harvest towards minimizing yield and quality losses due to foliar diseases of alfalfa was evaluated. High and low levels of disease were established using inoculations and fungicides. Fungicide protected plots yielded more dry matter, crude protein, and digestible dry matter. Differences between disease level treatments for these variables increased with time. However, even at high disease levels, values for these response variables increased over time. Hay digestibility was reduced when disease levels were high and decreased with time regardless of the disease level treatment. Therefore, early harvesting of alfalfa affected by foliar disease may improve hay quality but not the quantity of dry matter and quality constituents.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD