Meningococcal disease in New York City, 1973 to 1978. Recognition of groups y and W-135 as frequent pathogens

In the period 1973 through 1978, the New York City Department of Health serogrouped 648 isolates of Neisseria meningitidis and investigated 259 cases if meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia. Although meningitis and septicemia were mainly due to groups B and C, groups Y and W-135 caused nearly one third of the cases. There was no difference in mortalities when disease caused by the classic groups A, B, and C was compared with disease caused by the new serogroups X, Y, Z, W-135, and Z'. Most isolates from the respiratory tract were from the new serogroups, especially Z and Z' (some from patients with pneumonia), as were most of those from the genitourinary tract, anal canal, and miscellaneous sites. Group X was infrequently seen. Although most of the isolations of these groups of N meningitidis are apparently from asymptomatic carriers, Y and W-135 do cause a substantial number of acute symptomatic infections, in particular, septicemia.

Pulmonary lamellar bodies in human amniotic fluid: their relationship to fetal age and the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio

We investigated the appearance of pulmonary lamellar bodies (LBs) in human amniotic fluid as a function of fetal age. We also studied their relationship to the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and to the results of the rapid surfactant test (RST). LBs observed in amniotic fluid generally ranged in diameter from 1.5 to 2.0 mu and were seen as single structures or in clusters. When patients were grouped by gestational age, there was a significant difference (P less than 0.001) in the distribution of amniotic fluid LBs. No LBs were observed in amniotic fluid before 26 weeks' gestation, but 50% of specimens at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation and 85% of specimens at term had LBs. Patients with amniotic fluid LBs had higher L/S ratios and intermediate or mature RST values when compared to patients without LBs, but a statistically significant relationship between the presence of LBs and the L/S ratio or RST was not found. We conclude that qualitative examination of amniotic fluid LB content by conventional electron microscopy is unlikely to reflect fetal lung maturation in a precise manner. However, direct quantification of LBs may provide a more specific index of fetal lung maturity and the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.

Detergent-containing glucose oxidase reagent for use with the Beckman glucose analyzer

We describe a modified glucose oxidase reagent for use in the polarographic determination of glucose with the Beckman "Glucose Analyzer." The reagent contains 1 mL/L of a surfactant (Brij-35 250 g/L solution) as the wetting agent instead of glycerol. Precipitation of components associated with the formulation recommended by Fischl et al. [Clin. Chem. 21, 760 (1975)] does not occur with this reagent. It can be used immediately after preparation. When compared to analytical performance of the commercially prepared reagent, the precision was unchanged by the modified reagent, but the upper limit of accurate response was diminished (7.5 g/L vs. 6.7 g/L). The modified reagent is less expensive than are commercially prepared reagents.

Detergent-containing glucose oxidase reagent for use with the Beckman glucose analyzer

We describe a modified glucose oxidase reagent for use in the polarographic determination of glucose with the Beckman "Glucose Analyzer." The reagent contains 1 mL/L of a surfactant (Brij-35 250 g/L solution) as the wetting agent instead of glycerol. Precipitation of components associated with the formulation recommended by Fischl et al. [Clin. Chem. 21, 760 (1975)] does not occur with this reagent. It can be used immediately after preparation. When compared to analytical performance of the commercially prepared reagent, the precision was unchanged by the modified reagent, but the upper limit of accurate response was diminished (7.5 g/L vs. 6.7 g/L). The modified reagent is less expensive than are commercially prepared reagents.

Immune response to phosphorylcholine. I. Characterization of the epitope-specific antibody

The antibodies to phosphorylcholine induced in BALB/c mice were isolated and studied with a variety of biochemical and immunochemical methods. Analysis of the idiotype and the hapten-binding specificities showed no differences to the phosphorylcholine-binding myeloma protein TEPC 15, indicating a high degree of homogeneity. However, disc electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and amino acid composition data indicated large differences in the structure of anti-phosphorylcholine antibody and TEPC 15. By these criteria the anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies from BALB/c mice are of oligoclonal origin.

Serial liver biopsy observations in hepatitis B antigen carriers by light and electron microscopy

Liver morphology and function were restudied after an interval of 1 1/2-2 years in 21 Chinese men with hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg). Antigenemia and mild liver histopathology disappeared in one individual who developed antibody to HBsAg(Anti-HBsAg). 20 subjects who were chronic carriers of HBsAg had mild histological abnormalities which were usually persistent and were more commonly lobular than portal. Particularly striking were focal necrosis, eosinophilic bodies, ground-glass cytoplasmic change, and, by electron microscopy, microtubular structures within cytoplasmic membranous cysternae. Interval development of chronic aggressive hepatitis was observed in only one subject. This study suggests that the great majority of HBsAg carriers have a good prognosis at least over a 1 1/2-2-year period, and that liver biopsy is most indicated in those with persistent liver function abnormalities.

[Electron microscopic observations of the rat endometrium during the implantation period, with special reference to its sex steroid hormone regulation (author's transl)]

Ultrastructural changes in the rat endometrium under several conditions including experiments of the inhibition of implantation were studied to clarify the sequential changes of the endometrium and their endocrinologic background during ovoimplantation. The following pertinent findings were noted. 1) Normal pregnancy. In the luminal surfaces, the microvilli were short and arranged rather irregularly and lost their so-called glycocalyx on L3. The large fungus-like protrusions appeared on L4. On L5, the luminal surfaces were completely covered with small serrated cytoplasmic protrusions. They formed the interdigitation btween the apposed surfaces and the uterine lumen was disappeared when the uterus was fixed in situ by the arterial perfusion method. High ATP-ase activity was demonstrated at the site of interdigitation. In the apical cytoplasm, many apical vesicles, well developed Golgi apparatuses, and dilated cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum were observed on L3. On L5, however, these apical vesicles decreased in number and the Golgi apparatuses were small. On the contrary, the semilunar and coated vesicles were numerous, and the lysosomes increased both in number and size. Acid phosphatase activity was detected in these lysosomes. In the glandular epithelium, progressive increase in the number of small granules and the amount of amorphous substance were observed in the glandular lumen from L2, to L4. But on L4, some autophagosomes had already appeared in the cytoplasm. Swollen and degenerated mitochondria as well as many vacuoles were recognized on L5. In the stromal cells, the cytoplasm was enlarged, and contained many polyribosomes, granular endoplasmic reticulum with markedly dilated cisternae, lysosomes and lipid droplets on L5. The cytoplasmic protrusions on L5 were elongated and showed various features; one of them was situated very closely to the basement lamina of the luminal epithelium, and the other surrounded the lumen. Some of these protrusions were connected with the desmosomes. High ATP-ase activity was localized in these cytoplasmic protrusions, on the surfaces of the stromal cells, and in the stroma itself. 2) Delayed implantation and estrogenic transformation. In delayed implantation, the luminal surfaces were covered with regular microvilli and several fungus-like cytoplasmic protrusions. The cytoplasm contained many apical vesicles and large Golgi apparatuses that were observed both on L3 and L4 in normal pregnancy. At 48 hrs after the injection of estrogen, the interdigitation between the apposed luminal surfaces was also established. In the glandular epithelium, a slight enlargement of the glandular lumen and the appearance of small granules similar to those observed in normal pregnancy were noted at the 4th hr of estrogen treatment. In the stromal cells, two cells apposed each other very closely at the 4th hr and formed large cell masses at the 48th hr of estrogen treatment...

Ultrastructure of rat pituitary gonadotrophs after injection of synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing factor (LRF)

The effects of intracarotid injection of synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing factor (LRF) on the ultrastructure of pituitary gonadotrophs are reported. Chronically ovariectomized rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain pretreated with oestradiol and progesterone were sacrificed at zero time and at 30, 120 min after injection of 1 mug of synthetic LRF. A careful observation was made for evidence of granule extrusion from gonadotrophs following intracarotid injection of LRF, but no signs of granule extrusion were demonstrated. However, granule migration to the periphery of the cell was observed 30 min after LRF injection and the distribution of secretory granules recovered 2 hours after injection. The result of ultrastructural observations suggests that LRF plays an important role in releasing and synthesizing gonadotrophins in pituitary gonadotrophs. Further investigations should elucidate more clearly the morphologic aspect of mode of LRF action in pituitary gonadotrophs.

Categorizing externally distributed stimulus samples for unequal molar probabilities

40 Ss categorized random samples from one of two normal distributions and then received feedback. The over-all, molar probabilities of samples for the two distributions were .35 and .65. Problem-solving or Gambling instructions, and distributions on a Dot position or a Number continuum, were combined factorially with sex. There were no main instructional effects. Performance was superior on the position continuum ( p < .01). Over-all performance resembled micromatching of probabilities at each continuum position, but some Ss responded independently of sample position. The molar probability of response “1” for the Dot group was less (.295) than the molar reinforcement level ( p < .001). There were no main sex effects. Distance between centers was overestimated for Dot but not for the Number continuum.

Supra-paragraph prose structure: its specification, perception, and effects on learning

The problem of the specification of the molar, or supra-paragraph structure of a prose passage is discussed in terms of unity, sequence, and hierarchy. These ideas were used to generate passages having the same paragraph units but which were organized at different levels of structure. The method of specification was validated in terms of rated structure and effects on learning. The learning effects of level of structure depend on whether the test is for main parts abstraction, within paragraph detail, or rote; and on the mode of presentation, and part-whole level used.