Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasma) in vaginal fluid and cervical mucus from fertile and infertile women

Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasma) was isolated more frequently and in heavier growth from cervical mucus (49%) than from vaginal fluid (34%). It was isolated in 24% of vaginal fluid samples and in 35% of cervical mucus samples from fertile women, and in 29% of vaginal fluid samples and in 47% of cervical mucus samples from infertile women. The incidence of infection was high following abortion or total hysterectomy and during pregnancy or oral contraceptive use. T-mycoplasma was also isolated from the vaginal fluid and cervical mucus of a woman with tubo-ovarian abscess, but was not present in women with Trichomonas vaginalis infection. U. urealyticum did not alter the physiophysiologic characteristics of vaginal fluid and cervical mucus or the sperm penetration and sperm viability in cervical mucus. Treatment with tetracycline eradicated the organism in 88% of the infected women. Pregnancies were recorded during a 6-month follow-up in 1 of 19 infertile women who were treated with tetracycline.

Further epidemiological evaluation of a malaria model

The malaria model previously fitted to 1 year of baseline data from the Garki District in the Sudan savanna of northern Nigeria was tested against data collected in the same area over a period of 3 years, including 1(1/2) years during which the insides of houses in certain villages were sprayed with propoxur. It was also tested against data collected in Kisumu, Kenya, also over a period of 3 years, including 20 months during which the insides of houses in part of the area were sprayed with fenitrothion. The test consisted in using the vectorial capacity, calculated from the entomological observations made in the above places and periods, as input in the Garki model while keeping the other parameters as fitted to the Garki baseline data, and in comparing the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia as estimated by the model to that actually observed. There was relatively good agreement and the model is considered epidemiologically satisfactory and fit for use in planning malaria control operations.

Initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotes. Binding to Sepharose-heparin and partial purification of initiation factors from Krebs II ascites cells

By means of affinity chromatography of lysates from Krebs II ascites cells and rabbit reticulocytes on Sepharose-heparin an active fraction of initiation factors has been obtained. The fraction is eluted from the column at 350 mM KCl using a linear gradient and displays a number of activities, i.e. binding of Met-tRNAfMet to form a ternary complex with GTP; transferring this complex to 40-S subunits in an A-U-G-independent step and finally coupling of the 40-S initiation complex to the 60-S subunit, a reaction which is completely A-U-G-dependent. Moreover, MettRNA is bound into the P-site as is indicated by its puromycin sensitivity. The method is very suitable for large-scale preparation. Further purification and characterization of the factors have been carried out on DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose columns. Evidence is presented that the polysomes present in a lysate that has been passed through the Sepharose-heparin column can only complete their nascent chains, initiation of new polypeptides is completely dependent on addition of initiation factors.

The lithium librarian. An international index

Lithium salts are being widely used for treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) and are under investigation in more than 30 other illnesses. The relevant literature has grown from 43 articles published between 1949 and 1964 to nearly 4,000 today. A computer-based lithium librarian program has been developed that provides an up-to-date registry of all lithium references, rapid search capability, constant availability, and easy transferability to identical computer systems located on three continents. References provided by the system are more complete, more rapidly available, and less costly than references obtained from other bibliographic services. This specific response to the rapidly expanding lithium literature provides a model for comprehensive aquisition and searching of other specialized subjects areas needed by clinicians and researchers.

Glomerular pathology in leprosy. An electron microscopic study

Electron microscopic examination of renal biopsies from 19 patients with leprosy who had edema, proteinuria, or hematuria showed a proliferative glomerulonephritis in 12, amyloidosis in 2, and no lesion in 5. The proliferative glomerulonephritis was of different patterns: diffuse with or without exudation, focal, or mesangial. Subendothelial and/or subepithelial deposits were seen in five biopsies. Of the patients with glomerulonephritis, 3 had a reduced total serum complement level, 5 had erythema nodosum leprosum, 5 had evidence of recent streptococcal infection, and 2 had microfilariae in the peripheral blood. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Evolution of behavior disorders into adolescence

The New York longitudinal study has followed the development of 136 subjects from infancy into adolescence. The authors report the distribution of diagnoses and outcome of 43 children who developed behavior problems before the adolescent period and the characteristics of 5 new cases diagnosed in adolescence and discuss issues of prediction. The analysis of the longitudinal data for subjects with and without behavior disorders permits discussion of two of the general issues in the literature: the significance of adolescent turmoil and the distinctness of adolescence as a developmental stage.

Congenital hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency secondary to maternal hypoparathyroidism

A new case of congenital hyperparathyroidism secondary to maternal hypoparathyroidism is described. Neonatal roentgenograms of the skeleton showed severe bone demineralisation and the distal metaphyses of the long bones were spread, frayed and cupped. Elevated levels of serum immunoreactive parathormone (iPTH) were found at the age of 41 days=270 mulEq/ml (Normal: less than 50 mulEq/ml). A very low plasma 25-OH-D concentration (less than 4 ng/ml) was found at the same time in spite of previous administration of 600 units of vitamin D every day for 18 days and in spite of healing of the bone lesions. At the age of 3 months, 15 mg of vitamin D was given orally: iPTH levels which remained high 3 weeks before (210 mulEq/ml) were found to be normal one week after this vitamin D load (37 mulEq/ml). It is suggested that in congenital hyperparathyroidism secondary to maternal hypoparathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism increases the infants needs for vitamin D. This could result in a state of vitamin D deficiency which in turn would maintain the parathyroid hyperactivity.

A longitudinal study of three brain damaged children. Infancy to adolescence

The developmental course of three children with brain damage (now 14 to 16 years of age) was followed since early infancy in the New York Longitudinal Study. Data on behavioral characteristics, patterns of parental attitudes and practices, clinical neurological, and psychiatric evaluation, and psychometric findings at different age periods are available. Each child has shown a different behavioral course that could not be explained only in terms of motor dysfunction, intellectual deficit, patterns of parental management and attitudes, or more general features of environmental demand alone, but also required a consideration of the constellation of temperamental organization. Patterns of adaptation and levels of functioning were the complex product of the interaction of all these factors. One child developed the clinical syndrome of childhood schizophrenia.