Inhibition of T-cell differentiation by an antibody to a soluble thymic factor

An antiserum to chicken soluble thymic factor (STF) was prepared in rabbits and absorbed with chicken thymocytes until it reacted only with thymic reticuloepithelial cells. When injected into 6-day-old embryonated eggs, this antiserum caused a severe depletion of small lymphocytes in the cortical region of the thymus which was filled with large undifferentiated cells. In addition, reticuloepithelial cells displayed a marked disruption of cytoplasmic elements. The percentage of thymic lymphocytes bearing the T antigen was greatly reduced. It is believed that a factor responsible for differentiation of stem cells into T cells has been inhibited.

[Thromboembolic risks and surgery for varicose veins]

The authors carried out a study on 53 patients operated on for varices with the object of determining the risk of postoperative thromboembolism. They tried to answer three questions : 1) What is the magnitude of the risk of thromboembolism after this kind of surgery? 2) What is the value of the different methods of detection available? 3) What attitude should be adopted towards therapy, not of thromboembolism as a complication, but of the threat of thromboembolism?