Elizabeth M. Smithwick

In vitro Suppression of the Lymphocyte Response to Tuberculin by Live Measles Virus.

Summary The addition of live measles virus to PPD sensitive lymphocytes has been shown to reduce significantly the mean response of these cells to PPD. The stimulatory effect of PHA in a similar system was not influenced by the measles virus.

Transplacental infection due to ECHO virus type 22

Summary Serological evidence of in utero infection with the ECHO 22 virus is presented. Neither the infected infant nor the mother became ill.

Hepatitis-associated antigen: A possible relationship to premature delivery

quate flow of drug to the spinal cerebrospinal fluid in the absence of repeated lumbar punctures, Our studies suggest that the optimal distribution of a drug in an unobstructed cerebrospinal fluid system may be achieved when intraventricular administration is followed by repeated lumbar punctures. O n the basis of our experience we feel that further evaluation should be made of the role of aggressive intraventricular therapy for meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli, especially when the infecting organism has relatively high resistance to antibiotics and the drug of choice enters the cerebrospinal fluid poorly after parenteral administration.

Osmotic resistance of abnormal red cells exposed to lead in vitro.

Summary. Exposure of normal red cells to lead in vitro is known to result in decreased osmotic fragility. Red cells from a normal individual and from two children with genetically determined red‐cell abnormalities (spherocytosis and elliptospherocytosis) were exposed to lead acetate solution. Osmotic fragility curves were determined for treated and untreated red cells. Exposure to lead was found to increase the osmotic resistance of normal as well as abnormal red cells.

Hepatitis-associated antigen in urban children.

Using an immunodiffusion technique, hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) was detected in 3 children with posttransfusion or serum hepatitis. Five children lacking a history of parenteral exposure had a clinical diagnosis of infectious hepatitis; 2 of these children were HAA positive. Two of 636 hospitalized children, excluding those with known hepatitis, had positive tests for HAA. Four of 27 contacts of HAA-positive children were found to have positive tests. A striking history of exposure to adults who had had hepatitis or who used drugs was obtained. These results, from a crowded urban area in which drug usage is prevalent, suggest that children may be HAA positive as a consequence of exposure to HAA-positive individuals. In addition, it is postulated that some cases of hepatitis in urban children may be due to nonparenteral transmission of serum hepatitis virus rather than infectious hepatitis virus as usually assumed.