Immune thrombocytopenia, red cell aplasia, lupus, and hyperthyroidism

A patient is presented with multiple manifestations of an autoimmune diathesis: immune thrombocytopenia, red cell aplasia, hyperthyroidism, a lupus-like syndrome, and an anti-i autoantibody, with inability to be transfused. Some of these entities are known to be commonly associated, but some are not, and it is unusual to find five of these phenomena in a single patient.

Solitary leiomyoma of the prostate presenting as an encrusted intravesical mass

A leiomyoma of the prostate presented as an encrusted intravesical mass on excretory urography. A prostatic leiomyoma usually is benign and is relatively rare with only 41 cases reported previously. Surgical and pathological findings and differential diagnosis are presented.

Pulmonary phycomycetoma in a patient with diabetes mellitus

Phycomycetes are ubiquitous saprophytic fungi sharing with other fungi a propensity for invasion and disease production in immunologically compromised hosts. Diabetes mellitus, in particular diabetic ketoacidosis, is a common clinical setting for phycomycosis. A pulmonary phycomycetoma was diagnosed in a diabetic patient from material obtained by bronchial brushing was treated successfully with a combination of surgery and amphotericin B.

Effect of boron on cell elongation and division in squash roots

This work establishes that cessation of root elongation of intact squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants is an early result of boron deficiency. Root elongation is slowed by 6 hours and is virtually stopped as early as 24 hours after boron is first withheld from the nutrient solution. As root elongation ceased, cell elongation progressed distally into the region normally occupied by the apical meristem and eventually the meristem became indistinguishable. Differentiation was determined by use of an elongation index in which cell length was compared to cell width. This index ranged from a low of 0.8 in boron-sufficient root meristems to a high of 3 in root meristems grown in a boron-deficient nutrient solution for 98 hours. It is concluded that a continuous supply of boron is not essential for cell elongation but is required for maintenance of meristematic activity. Boron may act as a regulator of cell division in this tissue.

The effects of prostaglandins on sperm motility

Inflammatory exudates around intrauterine devices were found to produce large concentrations of prostaglandin F2alpha. To evaluate the effect of this substance, 100 semen specimens were incubated in concentrations 100 times greater than that found in normal semen. Motility indices were calculated, and significant inhibition of sperm motility was found. The effect of prostaglandin E on sperm motility is also reviewed. The physiology of prostaglandins and their mechanism of action via the cyclic nucleotide system are discussed.

Recurrence of group B streptococcal infection

It is clear that the group B streptococcus has become a major pathogen of young infants within the comparatively recent past. Further it is clear that, as with other endemic and epidemic pathogens, increasing clinical and laboratory experience brings to light variations not initially evident. In addition, therapy presumably effective in initial cases may not continue to be so. The following papers by coincidence were received over a relatively brief period of time. Hence, for emphasis of some of the problems related to this organism, they are presented as a group.

The role of internal spermatic vein plasma catecholamine determinations in subfertile men with varicoceles

Catecholamine concentrations were determined in left spermatic vein blood of 18 patients with varicocele. These values were compared with concentrations of catecholamines in the right femoral vein. Of 18 patients studied, 6 had moderate to marked elevations of spermatic vein catecholamine concentrations. Norepinephrine was the fractioned component that was elevated. In an average 1-year follow-up the group with elevated catecholamine levels had a much better semen improvement percentage and pregnancy rate than the other group. Chronic exposure of testicular vasculature to norepinephrine may account for the spermatogenic dysfunction encountered in varicocele patients. Once this exposure is interrupted, there may be reversibility of function and the fertility prognosis may improve. The presence of other adrenal or renal metabolites detrimental to spermatogenesis must be considered.

Planning for a pediatric disaster -- experience gained from caring for 1600 Vietnamese orphans

The sudden arrival of 1600 Vietnamese orphans in San Francisco required the rapid development of a co-ordinated disaster plan, including the overnight establishment of a 1000-bed pediatric field hospital. The plan required rapid identification and involvement of lay and governmental resources, acute medical triage and provision of ongoing medical care and basic nurturing services and eventual discharge to adoptive families. Because one third of the orphans were under six months of age, conventional nursery resources were insufficient, and a "warehouse" model was implemented. This process required development of a specialized transportation and communication system, the services of 800 physicians, 1400 nurses, and 3200 volunteers and 162 back-up acute hospital beds. Disaster planning in most sizable American cities has focused on the problems of adults. Because of the unusual problem presented by infants and small children, we recommend that cities carefully evaluate their disaster planning with special reference to the needs of children.

Autoradiographic Examination of Meristems of Intact Boron-deficient Squash Roots Treated with Tritiated Thymidine

Intact roots of boron-sufficient squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants, plants entering boron deficiency, and plants recovering from boron deficiency were exposed to tritiated thymidine at the end of the treatment period to label the replicating DNA of root tip cells. Using histological sections, autoradiographs of intact root meristems were prepared. The labeling pattern in +B root tips revealed the presence of a well defined quiescent center. The ability of root tip cells to incorporate label is correlated with the total root elongation during the -B treatment period. A greater amount of total root elongation during boron deficiency and recovery reflects the fact that root tip cells have retained their ability to synthesize DNA and enter mitosis for a longer time. In roots recovering from boron deficiency, cells of the quiescent center were seen to play no part in the recovery process in roots treated for as long as 20 hours in a -B nutrient solution. They were inactive before, during, and after the -B treatment. Cessation of mitosis occurs as early as 6.5 hours after boron is withheld from the nutrient solution while DNA synthesis can occur for as long as 20 hours after withholding boron. It was concluded that boron is essential for continued DNA synthesis and mitotic activity. The absence of boron results in the cessation of mitosis and DNA synthesis within 20 hours from the time boron is withheld.

The localization of adrenaline-rich medullary chromaffin cells adjacent to the adrenal cortex

The residual catecholamine content of the cat adrenal gland after the removal of much of the medulla contained a significantly higher percentage of adrenaline than that of the excised medulla. Fluorescent and phase microscopy showed that in these glands a layer of medullary tissue adjacent to the cortex still remained. The high concentration of adrenaline in chromaffin cells nearest to cortical tissue provides further evidence for the theory that the adrenal cortex acts to facilitate the formation of adrenaline from noradrenaline in the medulla.