Rapid loss of factor XII and XI activity in ellagic acid-activated normal plasma: role of plasma inhibitors and implications for automated activated partial thromboplastin time recording

Rapid prolongation of the aPTT of normal plasma upon incubation with ellagic acid containing aPTT reagents was observed. The aPTT prolongation was not due to time-dependent changes in pH in the incubation mixture or loss of activity of the labile coagulation factors VIII and V but occurred as a result of rapid progressive inactivation of ellagic acid-activated factors XII and XI. Prolongation of the aPTT and loss of contact factor activities was not observed in plasma incubated with particulate activator reagents. This finding seemed to indicate that adsorption of factors XII and XI to larger particles during the activation process might protect these factors from inactivation by naturally occurring plasma inhibitors. Evidence is presented which supports previous findings that C1-INH, alpha1-AT, and antithrombin (in the presence of heparin) contribute to factor XIIa and XI a inactivation in ellagic acid-activated plasma and that plasma albumin may compete with factor XII for ellagic acid binding. The data indicate that ellagic acid-containing aPTT reagents have unfavorable properties which seriously limit their usefulness in the clinical laboratory, particularly in respect to recording of the aPTT with certain fully automated clot timers.

Characterization of alpha-galactosidase isoenzymes in normal and Fabry human-Chinese Hamster somatic cell hybrids

The alpha-galactosidases in normal man-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids were investigation with antibodies specific for human alpha-galactosidase A and antibodies specific for Chinese hamster alpha-galactosidase. It was found that an isoenzyme in hybrid cells, which has an electrophoretic mobility between that of human alpha-galactosidase A and Chinese hamster alpha-galactosidase, contains immunologic determinants of both human and Chinese hamster origin, suggesting that it is a heteropolymeric molecule. Moreover, the locus for human alpha-galactosidase, which was found to be X-linked, is the locus coding for alpha-galactosidase A. Hybrids isolated after fusion of Chinese hamster cells with cells of a patient with Fabry's disease did not express human alpha-galactosidase A or the heteropolymeric molecule even in the presence of the active human X chromosome, indicating that the deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A in Fabry's disease is probably due to a mutation in a structural gene resulting in the inability to form immunologically detectable and functionally active molecules of alpha-galactosidase A.

[Intranasal skin grafting for Osler's disease (author's transl)]

Between 1965-1972, 12 patients with Osler's disease of the nose were treated surgically by a modification of the method suggested by Saunders. The mucosa of the entire nasal septum and entire floor of the nose up to the insertion of the inferior turbinate was removed without interference to the perichondrium or periosteum. The denuded area was covered with split thickness skin graft taken from the thigh. Haemorrhage, which was never severe, occassionally occurred. In all patients, there occurred crusting and foetor, which was controlled by nasal douching. Patients with Osler's disease should be treated as early as possible in order to curtail the work disability.

Epidemiologic investigation of an outbreak of Shiga bacillus dysentery in an island population

An epidemic of dysentery broke out in St. Martin island during May through July 1973. The epidemic was caused by Shigella dysenteriae type 1. The dysentery could not be controlled by conventional antibiotics and other antidysenteric drugs. The average attack rate was 32.9%. The age specific attack rate was highest in the age group 1-4 years (52.2%). The attack rates were higher in smaller families. The rates were not greatly different amongst people using different sources of water. The overall death rate was 2.1%. The overall infection-to-death rate was 6.4% but amongst children less than a year old, it was 41.1%. A common source outbreak was unlikely. The higher attack rate in smaller families suggested limited possibility of person to person spread. No particular water source could be implicated with higher attack rate. Flies may have played an active role in transmission.

Cirrhosis of liver in Bangladesh. (A preliminary report)

The incidence of cirrhosis of liver in Bangladesh, its possible aetiological factors and clinical features have been studied. This being the initial report, embraces the population of only two hospitals in Dacca viz., Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research (P.G. Hospital) and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital situated three and a half kilometers apart. In a population of 5889, a total of 154 cases (2.6%) of cirrhosis of liver have been recorded. Nutritional deficiency has been considered to be the important aetiological factor whereas alcoholism does not appear to have any significant role. Almost all the cases (94.2%) were non-alcoholic. Pattern of clinical features have been compared with those of other authors and variations recorded. Further study on an elaborate scale has been suggested.

Biosynthesis of digalactosyl diglyceride in Vicia faba leaves

Developing and mature leaf tissue from Vicia faba plants were pulse-fed 14-CO2. The lipids were extracted at intervals after exposure to light, and the galactolipids monogalactosyl diglyceride (MGDG) and digalactosyl diglyceride (DGDG) were separated. After methylation and methanolysis, gas-liquid chromatography was used to separate the two galactose units of DGDG and the galactose of MGDG. The specific activities of the galactoses and the changes over the time period of the experiment were determined. The results support the view that DGDG is formed by galactosylation of MGDG. This does not take place by a rapid two-enzyme system reaction but more slowly in two phases: galactosylation of a pool of newly formed MGDG and a more random galactosylation of MGDG. There is no evidence of a high turnover of galactose in these lipids.

Ophthalmomyiasis in humans

Background: Ophthalmomyiasis in humans is a rare phenomenon. Objectives: To create awareness among the ophthalmologists regarding larval conjunctivitis. Cases: We report two cases of ophthalmomyiasis, which came to a tertiary care centre with features of unilateral acute catarrhal conjunctivitis. Observations: Fly larvae were detected on slit-lamp examination and removed after immobilizing them with topical 4 % lignocaine. Topical antibiotics and steroid drops were prescribed for 2 weeks. The samples were identified as Oestrous ovis by the entomology department of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. The signs and symptoms regressed within 48 hours. Conclusion: The ocular myiasis can manifest as a unilateral catarrhal conjunctivitis. Key words: Ophthalmomyiasis, Oestrous ovis, conjunctivitis DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v3i2.5277 Nepal J Ophthalmol 2011; 3(2): 193-195

Isolation of Vibrio cholerae from nightsoil during epidemics of classical and E1 Tor Cholera in East Pakistan

A clear difference has been observed between the classical Inaba V. cholerae and the El Tor Ogawa V. cholerae in relation to the ability to isolate the organism from the environment.An early attempt to utilize nightsoil sampling as a tool to measure the extent of infection in the community during an epidemic of classical Inaba cholera in Dacca, East Pakistan, in the spring and fall of 1968 proved unsuccessful. During an epidemic caused by both the classical Inaba and the El Tor Ogawa vibrios in Chittagong between July 1968 and March 1969 the reasons for this failure became apparent. In Dacca, only 2 isolations of classical Inaba were made from 9906 individual latrine and pooled communal nightsoil samples, whereas in Chittagong, from 62 588 similar samples in which 2 classical Inaba isolations were also made, there were 52 El Tor Ogawa isolations. In areas where cases due to both biotypes were occurring simultaneously, El Tor Ogawa vibrios were isolated 10 times more frequently than the classical Inaba.It remains unclear whether the differences observed between El Tor Ogawa and classical Inaba are related to the biotype or to the serotype of the organism, or to both. An extrapolation of nightsoil sampling, therefore, to the incidence and prevalence of infection in a community must consider both the biotype and the serotype.

Antagonistic effect of fatty acids against Salmonella in meat and bone meal

The purpose of this study was to determine whether fatty acids have an antagonistic effect on the growth and viability of Salmonella organisms. Thirty-two different lipid materials were used, utilizing a wide range of short and long free fatty acid chains expressed as per cent oleic acid.

Production of Enterotoxin A

A method for production of enterotoxin A in multiple liter lots is described. The medium contained 4% N-Z Amine NAK supplemented with 0.001% niacin and 0.00005% thiamine, and was adjusted to p H 6. The inoculated medium in lots of 400 to 600 ml, in 2-liter Erlenmeyer flasks, was incubated at 37 C for 24 hr on a gyrotory shaker at 280 rev/min. Production of 4 to 6 μg of enterotoxin A per ml occurred.