Three further cases of triploidy in man surviving to birth

Three triploid infants, two male (69,XXY) and one female (69,XXX) all of which survived beyond 35 weeks' gestation are described. One was stillborn due to a difficult delivery, the other two survived for a few hours only. Two were of relatively low birth weight, the other was normal. There was no evidence of mosaicism in the tissue examined.

In keeping with previously reported triploid infants they showed a variety of abnormalities. From a total of 13 cases now reported the more frequent associated anomalies are low set ears, coloboma of the iris, syndactyly of the hands, a single palmar crease, abnormal male genitalia in XXY individuals, polycystic kidney, and congenital heart defect. The most common anomaly, however, is hydatidiform degeneration of a large placenta.

Projection of eyes in paranoid schizophrenia

Inkblot and self-report measures of eye awareness were administered to samples of paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenics and neurotics. The significant negative χ2 found only within the paranoid group was interpreted as supporting a pathological projection mechanism as well as previous research which has demonstrated relationships between body attitudes and preferred modes of personality defense.

Bronchopleural fistula following intrauterine transfusion

An infant developed a bronchopleural fistula following intrauterine transfusion given for severe haemolytic disease of the newborn. The fistula was shown to be due to the transfusion being given into the right pleural cavity and lung. Initial treatment along conservative lines is suggested, reserving thoracotomy and lobectomy for use if these simple measures fail. Hypocalcaemia was a complicating feature.

Smoking in pregnancy and vitamin B 12 metabolism

In pregnancy the level of serum vitamin B(12) is lower in women who smoke than in non-smokers. This finding occurs independently of social class, parity, or level of haemoglobin. In addition, the mean serum B(12) level tends to be less in women who are anaemic and is less in those women who have smaller babies. These findings may be an effect of the cyanide content of tobacco smoke, since cyanide may be detoxified by a mechanism which depletes the stores of vitamin B(12) in the body.