Steroid excretion in anorexia nervosa patients

Seven anorexia nervosa (A.N.) patients had reduced urinary excretion values of tetrahydrocortisone (THE), androsterone (A) and 5alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5alpha-THF). THE to tetrahydrocortisol (THF), A to aetiocholanolone (Ae) and 5alpha-THF to THF ratios were all significantly reduced. Six A.N. patients had oral metyrapone tests with quantitatively normal but delayed urinary 3alpha,17alpha,21-trihydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one (THS) response. The steroid determinations were done by capillary gaschromatography, which proves to be of value in the study of the above mentioned metabolic abnormalities.     

Six years' experience of the prediction of severity in rhesus haemolytic disease

Prediction charts used in the management of patients suffering from rhesus haemolytic disease are presented and the accuracy investigated for two methods of amniotic fluid analysis. In 468 samples from 141 patients there were 7-9 per cent errors of prediction when both methods were used together but in only four cases (2-8 per cent) was the error thought to have possibly contributed to wrong management.     

Amebic peritonitis

A total of 18 patients with amebic peritonitis were studied. Fourteen of these cases were due to rupture of amebic liver abscess into the peritoneum and the remaining cases were due to perforation of amebic colitis. No initial suspicion of amebic etiology was made in more than half of the cases. In the group of ruptured liver abscesses, nearly half of the patients showed right lower lung syndrome. The diagnosis in 13 of 14 cases of rupture of liver abscess was confirmed on aspiration. Patients with ruptured amebic liver abcess were of two types: 1. Diffuse type with diffuse signs, shorter duration of illness and poor prognosis. 2. Localized type with longer duration of illness, marked signs of peritonitis and better prognosis. Once the diagnosis of peritonitis was made, the management was surgical. Conservative treatment was tried only in cases with signs of localization. The mortality rate had been 33% in amebic liver abscess rupturing into the peritoneum and 75% in perforation of the intestine. A high index of suspicion of amebiasis in patients with an acute abdomen and institution of early treatment are recommended to help in reducing this mortality. Amebic liver abscess and amebic dysentery should be treated energetically to avoid this fatal complication and surgical intervention whenever indicated should not be delayed.     

Atomic force microscopy analysis of bacteriophages phiKZ and T4.

Bacteriophage phiKZ was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The well-known phage T4 was used as a reference sample. Reproducible contact mode AFM images of native and partially disintegrated particles of bacteriophage phiKZ in air were obtained. It was demonstrated that the heads of phiKZ and T4 phages were compressed differently and depended on adsorption onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and mica. We have established a procedure to partially disintegrate the viral particles after which the internal protein body, which is a helical structure with a cylinder-like form, was easily observable inside the bacteriophage phiKZ head.