Local health workers' perceptions of substandard care in the management of obstetric hemorrhage in rural Malawi.

Background: To identify factors contributing to the high incidence of facility-based obstetric hemorrhage in Thyolo District, Malawi, according to local health workers.

Methods: Three focus group discussions among 29 health workers, including nurse-midwives and non-physician clinicians ('medical assistants' and 'clinical officers').

Results: Factors contributing to facility-based obstetric hemorrhage mentioned by participants were categorized into four major areas: (1) limited availability of basic supplies, (2) lack of human resources, (3) inadequate clinical skills of available health workers and (4) substandard referrals by traditional birth attendants and lack of timely self-referrals of patients.

High rates of HBsAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients responding to interferon: a long-term follow-up study.

Background/aims: To assess the HBsAg seroconversion rate and its impact on the long-term outcome in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with conventional interferon, and to analyze the serum HBsAg concentration prior to seroconversion.

Methods: Ninety-seven HBeAg-positive patients were retrospectively evaluated. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as HBeAg seroconversion and undetectable serum HBV-DNA 48 weeks after treatment discontinuation.

Particle size of roasted soybeans and the effect on milk production of dairy cows.

Fifteen cows were used in an experiment with a 5 x 5 replicated Latin square design to quantify the effect of particle size of roasted soybeans on milk production and fecal excretion of soybeans. The five experimental periods were each 2 wk long. Diets contained (percentage of dry matter) 33% alfalfa silage, 17% corn silage, 30.

Susceptibility to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in pigs from an endemically infected herd is related to the presence of toxin-neutralizing antibodies.

Our objective was to identify pigs of an endemically infected herd that were susceptible to pleuropneumonia due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The presence of toxin-neutralizing antibodies was studied in serum of 36 pigs from birth until 24 weeks of age. Titers gradually declined during the first twelve weeks of life and increased thereafter.