[Hypnosis in psychotherapy]

The methods of hypnotherapy are reviewed and their individual applicability in the treatment of neurotic and psychosomatic syndromes examined according to the criteria of the two most recognised schools of modern psychology; psychoanalysis and behaviourism. The agreements and divergences of these two theoretical approaches are described and other contemporary theories are examined, before their general inadequacy is pointed out. A combination of western psychotherapeutic techniques and oriental meditation methods is therefore suggested, justifying this on both psychological and neurophysiological grounds. A simultaneously rational and intuitive basis for hypnotherapy would appear to offer the hypnologist a more subtle technique and would also make it easier for him to acquire that "therapeutic mentality" indispensable for successful treatment.

Improved growth medium for Campylobacter species

Campylobacter species were grown in a base containing proteose peptone no. 3, yeast extract, K2HPO4, (NH4)2SO4, NA2SO3, soluble starch, and agar. Concentrations and sources of organic nitrogen and growth factors were critical, and the optimal pH range was 7.0 to 7.5. Cultures tolerated 0.7% NaCl in addition to the salt present in the organic constituents and were sensitive to surface-active agents at concentrations recommended for enrichment of other gram-negative bacteria. Cultures were maintained on the proposed medium for 1 year with transfer every 2 weeks.

Seasonal variations of nitrogen and digestible energy intake of cattle on tropical pasture

Organic matter intake of cattle grazing tropical pastures was measured during periods of, firstly, new grass growth in the wet season, secondly, regrowth of grass pasture following rain, and thirdly, mature growth consisting of chiefly either grass or legume. The measurements were made by reference to digesta markers on fistulated cattle carrying portable equipment. The intake values of digestible energy were considered in relation to digestibility values obtained from diet samples from oesophageally fistulated cattle grazing grass and legume pastures over a 5-month period, and also to changes in liveweight of a group of unfistulated cattle grazing the same pastures. The measured values of digestible energy intake during new pasture growth, regrowth and during the dry season were in accord with the weight changes. The relationship between digestibility and liveweight change suggested that the primary limitation to the growth of cattle on tropical pastures is one of digestibility. Although supplementary nitrogen is known to increase feed intake in deficient situations, it would seem that substantial improvement of dry season nutrition can only be achieved by using forage that is more digestible than the native vegetation. Some legume introductions appear to do this.

Relative productivity of five selective plating agars for the recovery of Salmonella from selected food types

During a 3-year period, the relative productivity of brilliant green (BG), bismuth sulfite (BS), Salmonella-Shigella (SS), Hektoen enteric (HE), and xylose lysine, desoxycholate (XLD) agars for recovering Salmonella from 9 food types was determined. Following pre-enrichment, selective enrichment of food samples in tetrathionate broth followed by streaking to BS agar was the single most productive selective enrichment broth-agar combination for recovery of Salmonella in 5 of these food types. A study of the performance of these 5 agars used individually and in various combinations, showed that none of the 5 agars used individually nor any of the possible paired combinations of these agars could be used to satisfactorily detect Salmonella in the 9 food types. The use of all 5 agars was not necessary because one combination of 4 agars (BG, BS, HE, and XLD) recoverd 100% of the Salmonella isolates, as compared with the number of Salmonella isolates recovered by the 5-agar combination, in each food category. This particular 4-agar combination, along with two 3-agar combinations (BG, BS, and XLD agars, and BS, HE, and XLD agars), were each able to recover more Salmonella isolates, than the combination of BG, BS, and SS agars, the combination currently recommended by the AOAC. Finally, the relative costs of using these agars, singly and in various combinations, were determined.

Bacteriological survey of sixty health foods

A bacteriological survey was performed on 1,960 food samples encompassing 60 types of health foods available in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. No consistent bacteriological distinction (aerobic plate counts, total coliform and fecal coliform most probable numbers) was observed between foods labeled as organic (raised on soil with compost or nonchemical fertilizer and without application of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides) and their counterpart food types bearing no such label. Types and numbers of samples containing Salmonella were: sunflower seeds, 4; soy flour, 3; soy protein powder, 2; soy milk powder, 1; dried active yeast, 1; brewers' years, 1; rye flour, 1; brown rice, 1; and alfalfa seeds,1. The occurrence of this pathogen in three types of soybean products should warrant further investigation of soybean derivatives as potentially significant sources of Salmonella.

Comparative accuracy of five biochemical systems for identifying Salmonella and related foodborne bacteria: collaborative study

The comparative accuracy of 4 biochemical diagnostic kits (API, Enterotube, Minitek, and Pathotec) and the conventional (AOAC) tube system for identifying primarily Salmonella and other enteric isolates was collaboratively studied. Each of 11 participating analysts received 40 foodborne isolates (25 Salmonella and 15 non-Salmonella cultures), representing a total of 440 cultures examined by each identification system. In decreasing order of accuracy, the overall number of correctly identified cultures with each of the systems was as follows: AOAC, 423 (96.1%), Minitek, 403 (91.6%), Enterotube, 395 (89.8%), API, 394 (89.5%), and Pathotec, 373 (84.8%). A cost analysis showed that all 4 diagnostic kit systems were less expensive than the conventional AOAC tube system for a single culture identification. Three of the diagnostic kits have been adopted as official first action as alternatives to the AOAC biochemical tube system for presumptive generic identification of foodborne Salmonella and for screening and eliminating non-Salmonella isolates. Routine incorporation of any one of the 3 diagnostic kits, however, should be preceded by the demonstration in the analyst's own laboratory of adequate correlation between the kit and the AOAC system.

Gene frequencies and racial intermixture in a Mestizo population from Mexico City

Blood specimens from a sample (of some 460 subjects) from the Mestizo population in Mexico City were tested for haptoglobin, transferrin, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and haemoglobin types and blood groups. Gene frequencies for these characters were estimated. From the data on O, M, N, S, R degrees, r, Pc frequencies, the amount of admixture was calculated. In the Mestizo population studied the major contribution comes from European sources and the secondary contributions from Mexican Indians; the contribution from African sources is minimal.

Usefulness of the stomacher in a microbiological regulatory laboratory

The relative efficiency of the Waring blender, the Stomacher 400, and the Stomacher 3500 for preparing food samples for microbiological analysis was studied. Comparative aerobic plate count (APC) values were determined on 671 samples, representing 30 categories of foods. Of the 26 categories of nonfatty foods, the blender gave significantly higher geometric mean APC values than those given by the Stomacher 400 and the Stomacher 3500 in 65 and 69 percent of the categories, respectively. In a comparison of the two Stomacher models, the Stomacher 400 gave significantly higher geometric mean APC values than these given by the Stomacher 3500 in 73 percent of the food categories. Addition of Tween 80 to four categories of fatty foods at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 percent did not raise the APC values given by either model of stomacher to the levels given by the Waring blender. Overall, the efficiency of both models of Stomacher, relative to the blender and to each other, was specific and depended upon the particular food being analyzed.

Disease-surveillance and decision-making after the 1976 Guatemala earthquake

In the first 3 weeks after the 1976 earthquake in Guatemala a system for collecting, analysing, and disseminating information of medical importance was instituted in the disaster area. Data on cases of selected diseases, number of available hospital beds, and medical supplies were collected, and reported epidemics were investigated. The system functioned well despite the limited numbers of trained personnel. Collection and analysis were quick enough for data to be used immediately in decision-making. No epidemics of communicable diseases were observed in the affected area. The number of dog bites in Guatemala City increased but no cases of rabies were reported. The success of the surveillance system in Guatemala suggests that immediate use of epidemiological methods should be an integral part of disaster relief.

Comparison of methods for the isolation of Salmonella from imported frog legs

Four methods of sample preparation were compared for their relative efficiency in recovering Salmonella from imported frog legs. No significant difference (P greater than 0.10) was observed in the efficiency of submersion, blending, and stomaching methods, but rinsing recovered significantly fewer (P less than 0.01) Salmonella-positive frog legs than the other three methods. No significant difference (P less than 0.25) was observed in the number of positive frog legs recovered by selenite cystine or tetrathionate broth. Salmonella-Shigella agar, when streaked from either of these broths, gave significantly fewer (P less than 0.01) Salmonella-positive frog legs than brilliant green, bismuth sulfite, xylose lysine deoxycholate, and Hektoen-enteric agars. Use selective agars, resulted in detection of an additional 11 and 6 Salmonella-positive frog legs, respectively. A variety of serotypes, mostly uncommon, was recovered. One Salmonella serotype (6,14,24:r,i:e,n,z15), possessing a heretofore unreported antigenic formula, was isolated.

Culture method for detection of Salmonella in dried active yeast: collaborative study

A method for detecting Salmonella in dried active yeast was subjected to collaborative study. This method employs trypticase soy broth as the pre-enrichment medium, a sample-to-broth ratio of 1:10, and subsequent transfers to lauryl sulfate tryptose broth and tetrathionate before streaking onto selective agars. Each collaborating analyst received ten 25 g samples of dried active yeast. Duplicate 25 g samples were each inoculated with Salmonella oranienburg at a low level (28 cells) and a high level (107 cells). Similarly, duplicate 25 g samples were each inoculated with S. senftenberg at a low level (30 cells) and a high level (114 cells). The remaining 2 of 10 samples were not inoculated. Results from 12 of 13 collaborators were evaluated. Only 2 (8.2%) of the 24 low level S. oranienburg samples were reported incorrectly as negative. Twelve of the analysts detected S. senftenberg at both levels and S. oranienburg at the high level in the inoculated samples. Results from 12 collaborators used in the final evaluation show that 117 of 119 (98.3%) collaborative determinations are in agreement. The official final action method for the detection and identification of Salmonella, 46.013-46.026, has been revised official first action to include applicability to dried active yeast.

A study on the effect of frequency of urea ingestion on the utilization of low quality roughage by steers

Steers were fed a low quality roughage supplemented with 50 g urea day-1 administered at different frequencies. The effect of the different treatments was measured in terms of intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and changes of some rumen fermentation measures in two different but complementary experiments. Utilization of the roughage was enhanced as the frequency of ingestion of urea increased. Organic matter digestibility was unaffected but voluntary intake was stimulated by all urea treatments. There was negative nitrogen balance in control animals but all treated were in positive nitrogen balance. However, the greatest retention was produced when urea was sprayed onto the ration. Possible reasons for the better utilization of urea as the frequency of ingestion spreads over the day are suggested by the results observed in the fermentation measures considered.