Infection of the uterine cervix with Chlamydia trachomatis

For identification of those variables in the history and in the clinical and routine laboratory examination that are most likely to indicate infection of the uterine cervix with Chlamydia trachomatis, 284 women attending a venereal disease clinic were studied, were studied, of whom 58 (20.4%) yielded the organism from the cervix. Women with chlamydial cervical infection showed no distinctive symptoms. Although associations were found between the presence of C. trachomatis and cervical discontinuity, purulent cervical exudate, and inflammatory changes in cervical cytology, these signs were not pathognomonic of chlamydial infection since they were also seen in some women infected with other microorganisms. There was a significant relationship between the presence of antibodies, detected by immunofluorescence, and the recovery of C. trachomatis in cell culture. There were no associations between ethnic group, history of sexually transmitted disease, method of contraception, phase in the menstrual cycle, or numbers of sexual contacts and infection with C. trachomatis.

In vivo measurement of calcium by the 37Ar method: a study of the effect of recirculating breath collection systems on the exhalation rate

A study has been made of the effect that different methods of breath collection have on the measurement of calcium in vivo by the 40Ca(n,alpha) 37Ar method. The effect of open and rebreathing breath collection methods has been examined by using intravenous injections of 133Xe. This study has indicated that comparison of calcium measurements between individuals and between centres is likely to be accurate only if breath is collected on 'open circuit'.

Problems in the interpretation of the in vivo measurement of calcium by the argon-37 method: an investigation of inert-gas elimination in humans

An investigation has been made of some physiological problems associated with the interpretation of in-vivo measurements of calcium by the argon-37 method. Inert-gas elimination in humans over a period of several days was studied using i.v. injections of Xe-133. The results imply that the exhalation rate of A-37 formed in bone will be affected by the individual's composition, in particular body fat. Comparison of calcium measurements between individuals and between laboratories is meaningful only if corrections are made for differing individual composition.

Early detection of chlamydial inclusions combining the use of cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells and immunofluorescence staining

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions only 21 h after a specimen reaches the laboratory has been achieved by the combined use of cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells and immunofluorescence staining. Moreover, cells exposed to cycloheximide were more sensitive for detecting chlamydial inclusions than those pretreated by irradiation, since larger numbers of inclusions were found in the former cells. The application of this rapid and sensitive method allows a diagnosis of chlamydial infection to be made before antibiotic therapy is started. In this way, it should enable the treatment of nonspecific genital infections to be placed on a more rational basis.

The effects of glucosamine derivatives on the growth of cultivable Treponema

The effects of glucosamine and its derivatives on the growth of Treponema phagedenis biotypes reiter and kazan 5 were studied to determine if these agents could act as growth stimulants for organisms of the genus Treptonema. Growth studies on the cultivable treponemes were conducted in culture tubes containing glucosamine, glucosamine derivatives, and (or) glucose and galactose in serum-based media. Glucosamine and N-phenylacetylglucosamine were definitely inhibitory to growth at the concentrations studied. N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) produced mixed effects.

Simplified serological test for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis

Three-hundred sixty sera from unselected patients attending two London venereal disease clinics were examined by a microimmunofluorescence test. Eleven egg-grown serotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis and the so-called "fast" strain SA2(f) were used as antigens. Of the 360 sera tested, 119 (33%) reacted to a titer of 1:16 or above with at least one antigen. Of these positive sera, over 50% cross-reacted with all 12 serotypes, and 95.5% reacted with SA2(f) in addition to other antigenic types. It is suggested that SA2(f) could be used as a single antigen for preliminary screening of a large number of sera for the presence or absence of chlamydial antibody.

Measurements of neutron spectra at depths in tissue equivalent material for fast neutron beams generated by deuterons on beryllium

The threshold foil technique has been used to investigate the behaviour in tissue of the spectra of neutron beams produced by the bombardment of thick Be targets with 13-0 and 20-5 MeV deuterons. The results indicate a gradual "softening" with depth in tissue of the spectrum generated by 20-5 MeV deutrons which contrasts with a gradual hardening as reported by other authors. This is discussed in terms of the significance of field size and the methods used for data collection and analysis.

Current practice in dietary management of diabetic children. A transatlantic comparison

Dietary therapy practice in 18 British clinics for diabetic children is reviewed, and contrasted with Canadian and American practice. Values for dietary composition expressed as energy are presented for small groups of British and Canadian children. Fat is often the principal energy source in British diabetic children; protein intake is much higher in the Canadian. It is suggested that British practice might be improved by the adoption of a simple uniform exchange system. Reported differences in growth characteristics may reflect differences in protein intake.

Studies in whole body potassium and whole body nitrogen in newly diagnosed diabetics

Serial measurements of whole body potassium and whole body nitrogen were carried out in 18 newly diagnosed diabetcs. Initial measurements were made before treatment of diabetes was commenced, and further measurements were carried out following the start of treatment. Six patients required insulin and the remainder were treated either with diet alone (four cases) or with diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents. Significant increases in whole body potassium and whole body nitrogen were noted following control of diabetes.Thesees. These changes were most marked in the patients treated with insulin. The techniques used for measurement of body potassium and nitrogen offer considerable advantages over conventional metabolic balance studies and the results indicate that the losses of potassium and nitrogen during period of poor diabetic control are much greater than that has been realized.

Survey of dietary policy and management in British diabetic clinics

Questionnaires about dietary policy were sent to 471 physicians in diabetic clinics throughout the United Kingdom, and usable replies were received from 281. Insulin-dependent patients were mostly taught to use carbohydrate-exchange units in regulating their diets; this method was used less often for maturity-onset diabetics. Restriction of sucrose and foods containing concentrated sugars was more rigorous in clinics in teaching hospitals than elsewhere; paediatric clinics were the most liberal. Maturity onset diabetics were generally advised to restrict their fat intake, but most clinics did not restrict fat for their insulin-dependent patients. Again teaching-hospital clinics were the most restrictive. Patients were rarely encouraged to weigh their food. In general physicians thought that insulin-dependent patients adhered to their diets but maturity-onset patients did not. There is uncertainty about the ideal dietary policy for diabetics and the best way of helping patients to follow the regimen prescribed.

Measurement of liver-cadmium concentrations in patients and industrial workers by neutron-activation analysis

A new, rapid, non-invasive technique for measuring tissue-cadmium concentrations in patients and industrial workers has been designed and developed with a view to studying the cadmium content of the liver. The method utilises the principle of neutron-activation analysis whereby the specific changes produced by the inter action of nuclei and neutrons are analysed. Liver-cadmium content has been studied in cadavers and in four men with known of suspected cadmium poisoning. The patients all showed very high liver-cadmium levels of between 35 and 200 p.p.m. compared with under 1.0 p.p.m. in non-exposed subjects. The dose of radiation used in clinical studies was 0.4-1.0 rem and the detection limit of cadmium was 1.0 p.p.m.

Infection with Chlamydia group A in men with urethritis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Men with urethritis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae were treated with gentamicin, which is inactive against Chlamydia. Urethral specimens were collected before treatment and one and two weeks after treatment and cultured for Chlamydia in irradiated McCoy cells. The overall incidence of chlamydial infection was 15 of 44 (34%). All of 15 Chlamydia-positive men and 11 of 29 Chlamydia-negative men (38%) developed postogonococcal urethritis two weeks after treatment. Pre-treatment sera were examined by a complement fixation test and a simplified indirect fluorescent antibody (FA) test with a yolk sac-cultured antigen, strain SA2)f). Sera from all of 15 Chlamydia-positive men had titers of larger than or equal to 1:16 in the indirect FA test; 13 of 29 Chlamydia-negative men (45%) had positive tests. The complement fixation test was insensitive, detecting chlamydial antibodies in only one of 15 sera from Chlamydia-positive men. These results suggest that Chlamydia may cause many cases of postgonococcal urethritis.

Cadmium-its in vivo detection in man

Neutron capture gamma-ray analysis has been applied to the in vivo detection of Cd in man. The technique was designed for the screening of industrial workers at risk. The limit of sensitivity in a liver-sized phantom is 0-5 ppm for a dose of 0-4 rad. Reproducibility and the effects of positional uncertainties have been investigated. A number of cadavers were studied to establish normal limits prior to commencement of a programme of clinical investigation. A patient with known Cd poisoning was estimated to contain 65-110 ppm of Cd in his liver. A liver dose of 0-05 rad was required.