Safe method of collecting leukaemia cells from patients with acute leukaemia for use as immunotherapy

Leukaemia cells were collected from the blood of 72 untreated patients using a continuous-flow blood cell separator. The yield of cells was proportional to the number circulating in the patient, and up to 1 x 10(12) could be obtained in three hours. Complications of the procedure were mild, consisting of chills and shivering in 18% of patients. Leucopheresis at the time of diagnosis is an essential part of setting up a specific immunotherapy programme for patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia, and the lack of harmful side effects makes the collection of these cells ethically justified. The need for a centralized service to provide cells for this form of therapy is emphasized.

Immunotherapy for acute myelogenous leukaemia

One hundred and seven untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) were admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital between 10 October 1970 and 31 January 1973. Before receiving drugs to induce remission they were allocated alternatively into 2 groups to decide their remission treatment-a group to receive chemotherapy alone and a group to receive the same chemotherapy with immunotherapy. The patients were then given induction chemotherapy and 45 of them attained complete remission. All patients in remission then received chemotherapy consisting of 5 days treatment every 28 days. Patients receiving immunotherapy were also given multiple weekly intradermal injections of irradiated stored AML cells and Glaxo B.C.G. using a Heaf gun. There were 19 patients in the group which received only chemotherapy during remission; 7 of these patients remain alive (median survival after attaining remission 303 days) and only 5 are still in their first remission (median remission length 188 days). Twenty-three patients were allocated to receive immunotherapy during remission in addition to chemotherapy and 16 remain alive (median 545 days) and 8 are in their first remission (median 312 days). The difference in survival of the two groups is significant with a P value of 0·003.

Incubation of eggs of three species of Chelid tortoises, and notes on their embryological development

Incubation periods and nest contents of three species of chelid tortoises in northern Victoria were recorded. Mean incubation period for eggs of Emydura macquari (Cuvier) was 75 days and average number of eggs per nest was 15.7; for Chelodina longicollis (Shaw), 138 days and 10.7 eggs per nest; for Chelodina expansa Gray, normally exceeding 324 days and 15.4 eggs per nest. In abnormal seasons C. expansa hatchlings may emerge from the nest in less than 193 days or more than 522 days after eggs were deposited. Eggs artificially incubated at 30�C consistently develop more quickly than those at lower temperatures under natural conditions. In the field nest temperatures closely approximate the mean daily air temperature. Embryos of C. expansa are tolerant to nest temperatures ranging from 4.9�C minimum to 29.6�C maximum. The other species are subject to variations of about 15 degC with up to 8.5 degC variation being recorded in 1 day. Development of early embryos approximated that recorded for cryptodire tortoises. However, there are large individual differences in the period of incubation needed for specific stages to be reached, especially between embryos of the short-necked and long-necked species of these pleurodire tortoises. It is suggested that differences in the anatomy of their eggs are the main factors in the different incubation periods between short-necked and long-necked species.

Age as a factor in Australid mentality

The article reviews briefly work done previously in the Central and Kimberley regions of the Australian interior. Investigations since 1962 had the initial purpose of comparing recent data with those obtained in 1929 and the secondary aim of attempting to demonstrate the effect of age on Maze performance. Difficulties met with in carrying out this program are outlined. What evidence is available indicates a comparative early decline in the mean scores, beginning in the age decade 41 to 50 yr. This was apparent in the work reported by Porteus and Gregor in 1963, by Porteus and David in 1966, and in the present study. These investigations agree in showing that the tempo of the deficiency increases in the next decade (51 to 60 yr. of age), followed by a drastic loss in still older Ss. It appears that among Australids resistance to the inroads of advancing age is less than among more civilized peoples and that this may be an important factor in the matter of inventiveness and technological advance. If these trends are confirmed by further studies, a most significant racial difference will have been uncovered, one that should be of great importance in any program of cultural development. The incidence of trachoma, the most prevalent Australid eye disease, has been demonstrated by Elphinstone and Mann in desert and semi-arid regions. Its possible effect on Maze performance is discussed.