These data suggest that solute transfer increases and UF declines with time on peritoneal dialysis. This process is exacerbated and accelerated by peritonitis, and appears to be proportional to the degree of associated inflammation and number of infections in close proximity.

Rainbow trout were fed either a diet containing fishmeal (FM) as the crude protein source or a diet containing 50% replacement with soybean meal (SBM) for 16 weeks. An enteritis-like effect was observed in the SBM group; villi, enterocytes and microvilli were noticeably damaged compared with the FM group. The posterior intestine microvilli of SBM-fed fish were significantly shorter and the anterior intestine microvilli significantly less dense than the FM-fed fish. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of autochthonous bacterial populations associated with microvilli of both fish groups. Reduced density of microvilli consequently led to increased exposure of enterocyte tight junctions, which combined with necrotic enterocytes is likely to diminish the protective barrier of the intestinal epithelium. No significant differences in total viable counts of culturable microbial populations were found between the groups in any of the intestinal regions. A total of 1500 isolates were tentatively placed into groups or genera, according to standard methods. Subsequent partial 16S rRNA sequencing revealed species that have not been identified from the rainbow trout intestine previously. Compared with the FM group levels of Psychrobacter spp. and yeast were considerably higher in the SBM group; a reduction of Aeromonas spp. was also observed.

Aim:  To assess Pediococcus acidilactici as a dietary supplement for on‐growing red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Methods and Results:  Tilapia were fed either a control diet or control diet supplemented with Ped. acidilactici at 107 CFU g−1 for 32 days. Ped. acidilactici colonized the intestinal tract and significantly affected the intestinal microbial communities. PCR‐DGGE revealed direct antagonism of gastric Ped. acidilactici with an endogenous uncultured bacterium during a period of reverting to nonsupplemented feeding. Light microscopy revealed that gut integrity and leucocyte levels were unaffected by Ped. acidilactici; however, blood leucocyte levels and serum lysozyme activity were elevated after 14‐days' feeding. No significant improvements in growth performance were observed at the end of the trial (day 32), but survival was significantly higher in the probiotic group. Conclusions:  The study demonstrates that oral supplementation of Ped. acidilactici modulates intestinal bacterial communities in on‐growing red tilapia and also stimulates some aspects of the nonspecific immune response. Significance and Impact of the study:  To our knowledge this is the first study assessing the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of tilapia using culture‐independent methods. Such methods are crucial to understand the mechanisms which underpin and mediate host benefits.

Although preliminary, these data suggest that the English version of EssenCES may be a valid tool for assessing the social climate of high secure hospital settings in the UK, but a larger research study is required, covering a wider range of psychiatric disorders, types of service and levels of security.