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Notes: In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery (n=91), a single intravenous infusion of ceruletide (2.5 ng kg−’min−1’for 1 hour) resulted in audible bowel sounds in 42/47 patients as opposed to 30/44 receiving placebo (P 〈 0.025). Excessive bowel sounds were noted in 16 patients in the ceruletide group and four receiving placebo (P 〈 0.01). Significantly more patients (P 〈 0.01) in the ceruletide group (22/45 versus 9/44) passed flatus per rectum between the second and third post-operative day. Ceruletide infusion was accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P 〈 0.005, P 〈 0.0025) but these side effects were short-lived. These results indicate that ceruletide is likely to be a useful therapeutic agent for acute intestinal adynamic motility disorders.

Notes: Summary Ephemera simulans maintains an oxygen consumption in a suitable substratum (Ø-1) of approximately 0.23 cc/g/hr from at least February, and probably before, through approximately the middle of April at which time it rises to around 0.37 cc/g/hr (Table I). Such data indicate quite clearly that a rise in metabolic rate occurs in the spring in this burrowing mayfly. A surge of growth and gonad development in April and May is here suggested as the factor most likely responsible for the metabolic increase. Observation of successive collections of nymphs at this time of year makes obvious the rapid development.

Notes: Summary The introduction made mention of features necessary to consider in design of the most suitable water-current respirometer. We feel our apparatus suitably meets these requirements where other presently used devices are unsatisfactory in one way or another. Size has been reduced to attain a volume of 200 ml, sufficient to complete an experiment with, for example, one large caddis larva in two hours. If less time is required, the apparatus can be miniturized further. (We have constructed several units by drilling or milling all components, except current tube and animal chamber, into plexiglass blocks. Although one must use a smaller spin bar to achieve lower velocities, other functional characteristics of these 85 ml units are identical to the larger ones). The animal chamber may easily be modified to accomodate a wide variety of lotic invertebrates and a series of these respirometers are easily and rapidly set up, whatever the modification. Magnetic current induction eliminates parafin oil, gaskets or gears, etc., which are messy or difficult in construction and are questionable when considering oxygen contamination. Currents are reasonably uniform and non-turbulent in all parts of the animal chamber as they pass over the experimental animal(s) from one direction. By contrast highly turbulent flow is difficult to quantify and interpret; and current-swirls offer various velocities with slight lateral movement of the organism, thus making it quite impossible to know the effect of any given velocity. The size and control of the driving motor and impeller magnets determine the constancy of current velocity, variety of currents available and in part the ultimate velocity attainable. Magnetic stirrers fail in these respects as well as with standardization between units. Our design is simple enough that it can be duplicated exactly, allowing equal rpm to result in equal current velocity in different units. The design makes oxygen electrode monitoring feasible, because water movement can be very fast in the outer swirls of the current box, accurately controllable and constant. Accuracy of measurement must be questioned in situations where these capabilities are u navailable. While the greatest velocity possible previously in a respirometer suitable for use with invertebrates was approximately 20 cm/sec, velocities of 100 cm/sec are attainable in our apparatus. According to Nielsen (1950), 50 cm/sec, may be classed as the lower limit of swift flowing water. Rarely will current velocity exceed 115 cm/sec even in rushing mountain streams. A device producing such velocities would obviously aid in answering a number of questions concerning effects of the current.