Patient satisfaction and outcome using emergency care practitioners in New Zealand.

Objective: A patient satisfaction survey was undertaken in the Kapiti District of the Wellington Region to ascertain patients' experience and opinions of New Zealand's first extended care paramedic (ECP) service before consideration is given to extending it to other locations within the region. Patient outcomes were also analysed for 1 week following ECP care.

Methods: One hundred patients, 50 attended by ECPs and 50 by standard emergency ambulance service paramedics, were interviewed by an independent assessor, either in person or by phone according to patient preference.

Haematology of foetal sheep.

Objective: To describe the ontogeny of blood cells throughout foetal development in sheep.

Design: A haematological study on blood and bone marrow from 42 sheep foetuses aged between 19 days gestation and full term.

Procedure: Virgin Merino ewes were mated and the developing foetuses removed surgically at different stages of gestation.

Cell membrane changes induced by the cytolytic peptide, melittin, are detectable by 90 degrees laser scatter.

The 90 degrees light scatter parameter of the flow cytometer was used to observe changes in the membrane of human lymphoblastoid cells (HMy2) as a result of the action of the cytolytic peptide, melittin. There was a rapid and concentration-dependent increase in 90 degrees light scatter after incubation of the cells with melittin, with the level of 90 degrees light scatter reaching a maximum after 2 min. Even after all the cells were killed, as determined by ethidium bromide incorporation, the 90 degrees light scatter continued to increase.

Hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic principles in Terminalia oblongata.

A study was conducted to identify and characterise the toxic principle in Terminalia oblongata, commonly known as yellow-wood. Crude aqueous extracts of yellow-wood leaf were found to produce the same liver lesion in mice as has been reported in ruminants. The hepatotoxic fraction was isolated and identified as a hydrolysable vegetable tannin called punicalagin.