Transplacental IgG Subclass Concentrations in Pregnancies at Risk of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn

The relationship of haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) to the transplacental passage of the four IgG subclasses was assessed at varous gestational ages by comparing the maternal and fetal IgG subclass concentrations in 34 pregnancies at risk of HDN with those in 30 pregnancies not at risk. Higher maternal and fetal IgG1 levels were attained in pregnancies at risk of HDN than in pregnancies not at risk. In contrast, a slight decrease in maternal IgG2 and IgG4 levels occurred in pregnancies at risk of HDN, as compared with a slight rise in maternal IgG2 and IgG4 levels in pregnancies not at risk of HDN. Changes in fetal IgG2 and 4 concentrations in either type of pregnancy were very similar, showing only slight increases between the 19th and 34th week of gestation. A slight decrease in maternal IgG3 occurred in both types of pregnancy. In contrast, higher and fairly steady levels of fetal IgG3 were observed in fetuses not at risk of HDN throughout gestation, when compared with those in 'at risk' pregnancies. However, the statistical reliability of these results is not clear since only small numbers of samples were tested and because wide variations in IgG concentrations were observed. The IgG subclass concentrations in 50 paired maternal and cord blood samples were also measured and revealed that IgG1 levels were substantially higher in cord rather than maternal blood; cord and maternal IgG2, 3 and 4 levels, on the other hand, were fairly similar.     

Suppurative corneal ulceration in Bangladesh

Suppurative keratitis is an important preventable cause of blindness, particularly in the developing world. This study analyses 142 cases of suppurative keratitis referred to Chittagong Eye Infirmary, Bangladesh. Some 53.5% of cases were bacterial and 35.9% were fungal. The five most common pathogens were: Pseudomonas sp. 24%, Streptococcus pneumoniae 17%, Aspergillus sp. 13%, Fusarium sp. 7% and Curvularia sp. 6%. Gram stain and culture results were consistent in 62.6% of cases. Previous antibiotic treatment was a significant factor for failure of culture isolation and less so for Gram stain failure. On Gram stain, 55.9% of pseudomonal cases were missed, but only 2% of fungal cases were missed. Over all, Gram stain had a sensitivity of 62% and positive predictive value of 84% for bacterial cases, and 98% and 94% for fungal cases, respectively. Fungal ulcers were typically filamentous, but an antecedent history of trauma was not common. The most frequent injury was due to rice grains, but the inoculum appeared to be introduced during eye washing with contaminated water. Pseudomonal ulcers occurred most frequently in the monsoon season, and Fusarium cases were seen only in the hot, dry season.     

Psychiatric mental health nursing: challenge and change

. We invited Dr Peplau to provide a personal reflection on the recent history of psychiatric nursing and her thoughts on immediate challenges facing the profession. The paper is an individual scholar's commentary on the way that psychiatry has waxed and waned over the years, in relation to nursing. This historical review discovers and reports a challenge to current practice. Dr Peplau describes a professional shift that is pulling nurses toward the subordinate role observed earlier this century. The paper draws attention to how contemporary practice can be positively influenced, e.g., by giving a structure to the allocation and conduct of nurse–patient time.     

Effect of Zr:Mo ratio on 99mTc generator performance based on zirconium molybdate gels.

Zirconium molybdate gels have shown to be viable alternatives for preparation of 99mTc generators using 99Mo produced by neutron activation. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the Zr:Mo molar ratio on the gel chemical structure and correlate it with the elution efficiency. A series of gels were prepared at Zr:Mo molar ratios from 0.5:1 to 2.3:1 and characterized by TGA, IR, XRD and UV. It was found that the variation of Zr:Mo ratio produces different polymolybdate arrangements on the octahedral units around to the zirconia which is mainly influenced by the water content. When the matrix molybdenum concentration was increased a lesser amount of water was found and the elution efficiencies were increased. However high elution efficiencies produce higher 99Mo breakthrough values. The gel formulation appears thus to be a compromise between the elution efficiency and the molybdenum breakthrough. The chemical-physical properties of these gels are presented and discussed.     

Verrucous carcinoma of the skin associated with syringadenoma papilliferum: a case report

We report the case of a 67-year-old man with a granular, cauliflower-pink lesion on the skin of the thigh. Histopathological study showed a typical verrucous carcinoma associated with a syringadenoma papilliferum. To our knowledge this association has not been previously reported.     

Possible mechanism of the stimulatory effect of 4-aminopyridine on toad skin

1. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the facilitatory effects of 4-aminopyridine on transmitter release in the toad skin preparation. 2. A dose-dependent increase in the bioelectric parameters was found. 3. This effect was blocked by propranolol and by verapamil but not by dibenamine, and was mimicked by the calcium ionophore A-23187 but not by potassium channel blockers. 4. These results support the hypothesis that 4-aminopyridine increases presynaptic nerve terminal permeability of calcium and thus the release of noradrenaline.     

Glycine modulation of the phencyclidine binding site in mammalian brain

Neurophysiological studies have shown that glycine potentiates the NMDA response in cultured neurons by a strychnine-insensitive mechanism. Autoradiographic data have demonstrated a correspondence between strychnine-insensitive [3H]glycine binding sites and NMDA-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding sites. Here we report that in synaptic plasma membranes from rat brain, the binding of a PCP analog, [3H]TCP, was enhanced more than 5-fold by 1 microM glycine. This glycine stimulation of binding of [3H]TCP was blocked by the competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist, D-AP7. These data provide support for the hypothesis that a unique amino acid recognition site is associated with the proposed NMDA/PCP receptor complex in brain.