Resistance to Klebsiella pneumoniae and the importance of two bacterial antigens

The resistance of mice to a lethal infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae, type I, was investigated. Antibody of both IgG and IgM class produced good protection when given with an intra-nasal inoculum of the organism. While antibody directed against capsular antigens was highly protective, so too was antibody directed against a second, non-capsular and heat-labile antigen. This antigen does not appear to be related to either the K or O antigens of Klebsiella and is present in several strains of Klebsiella. It is suggested that this antigen may play a role in determining resistance to this organism by humans.

Hysteroscopic tubal occlusion with formed-in-place silicone plugs

One hundred sixty-one patients underwent hysteroscopic tubal occlusion with formed-in-place silicone rubber plugs over 8 months. In 86% bilateral plug placement was successful with the patient under local anesthesia in an office setting. There have been no pregnancies in 683 woman-months of sterilization to date. The procedure is seen as an effective alternative to current methods of female sterilization. The advantage of the procedure over laparoscopic sterilization is discussed.

Clearance of bacteria from lungs of mice after opsonising with IgG or IgA

The clearance of organisms from the lungs of mice was followed after aerosol administration. Preopsonisation of the organisms with immune serum, as a source of specific antibody, enhanced the rate of pulmonary clearance while s.IgA delayed clearance. In the peritoneal cavity, bacteria pre-treated with immune serum were cleared more rapidly than unopsonised bacteria, but s.IgA had little effect. The presence of Fc receptors for IgG and not s.IgA on alveolar macrophages suggests that, in secretions, IgG is the predominant antibody promoting phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages and that any protective effect of s.IgA is not mediated by these cells.

Changes in the immunoglobulin levels of the mouse gut and serum during conventionalisation and following administration of Salmonella typhimurium

Increasess in all immunoglobulin classes, except IgM, were observed in the sera of specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice beginning 10 days after their removal from barrier conditions. Concentrations of serum immunoglobulins, comparable with those of conventional mice, were obtained in these animals between 21 and 35 days. Following the removal of germ-free mice from their sterile isolaters, their intestinal IgA levels increased over 35 days to attain levels found in conventional animals. A marked increase in serum immunoglobulin occurred within one day following intravenous administration of live Salmonella typhimurium organisms to SPF animals, and this persisted for longer than 7 weeks (the duration of the study), This rapid elevation in serum immunoglobulin was not elicited by nonbacterial antigens, killed Salmonellae, or viable Vibrio cholerae. Negligible amounts of this immunoglobulin increase could be attributed to specific antibody.

Gonadoblastoma with tubal pregnancy

A case of unilateral gonadoblastoma in association with a ruptured ectopic tubal pregnancy is presented. The patient had normal menstrual history prior to a missed period followed by abdominal pain and the passage of clots. The surgical specimens, in addition to the ruptured tubal pregnancy, showed nodular foci of typical gonadoblastoma in the right ovary, the remainder of the ovarian tissue being normal. The left ovary was subsequently removed and examination revealed normal constituents without evidence of tumor. Cytogenetic evaluation of peripheral leukocytes showed cells with a normal female sex chromatin complement, 46-XX, as well as cells with 45 chromosomes in which one of the X chromosomes was missing.

Iliac artery aneurysm presenting as a complication of hysterectomy

Aneurysms rarely presenta as a complication of hysterectomy. A case is reported of a left common iliac artery aneurysm causing readmission 2 weeks after total abdominal hysterectomy. The aneurysm remained undiagnosed prior to percutaneous rupture and subsequent laparotomy. The aneurysm was ligated and resected. No graft or arterial repair was attempted because of the infection that was present. Twenty-three days after hysterectomy, the patient underwent above-the-knee amputation. A review of the literatureis undertaken and possible etiolgic mechanisms discussed.

Oxytocin challenge test in monitoring high-risk pregnancies

Eighty-nine pregnancies, at risk for placental insufficiency, were monitored with serial oxytocin challenge tests (OCT) and estriol determinations on 24-hour urine collections. Intraamniotic catheters were used to accurately record intrauterine pressure in 63% of the tests; 114 of the 116 tests (98%) were adequate for interpretation. Thirteen positive tests were recorded; however, in only 2 cases did the positive OCT predict a dysmature-postmature infant when estriol determinations were normal. Prompt delivery following a positive OCT can significantly reduce the incidence of fetal wastage.

Stimulation of erythroblast maturation in vitro by sphingolipids

A lipid factor previously isolated from leukocytes and found to stimulate basophilic erythroblast formation in an in vitro system of incubated rabbit bone marrow cells has been analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The biologically active components are sphingosine ceramides of tetracosanoic and dehydrotetracosanoic acids. Tests of a series of related ceramides show a high degree of structural specificity for the C(24)-V-acyl compounds with significant but markedly lower activity of the C(22) analog. Commercially available sphingomyelin shows activity comparable to that of the tetracosanoic acid ceramide. Sphingosine and tetracosanic acid supplied in equimolar amounts have negligible activity. The results, in the context of other findings, suggest a possible supportive role of plasma ceramides and sphingomyelins in red cell maturation.