James A. O'Leary

Spontaneous abortion and human pesticide residues of DDT and DDE

published information regarding the transport characteristics of mammalian urinary bladder, particularly that of the newborn. This study is concerned with the transport characteristics of bladders removed from newborn subhuman primates (Macaca mulattu). The mothers were delivered by cesarean section between 141 and 147 days’ gestation (usual gestation 164 2 5 days). The neonate was killed with sodium pentobarbital within 5 hours of birth and the urinary bladder immediately excised and opened. After the bladder had been washed briefly in a buffered electrolyte 11 mM. glucose solution,2 it was mounted on specially designed chambers3 and bathed with the same solution. This experimental technique permits transmural electrical measurements and flux to be obtained while controlling electrolyte solution concentration, ambient temperature, oxygenation, and mixing.4 The unidirectional transmural sodium flux was determined with the use of Na?” (New England Nuclear Corp.) as a label. Seven individual newborn urinary bladders were examined for periods of 3 hours. In no instance was a transmural electrical potential difference found. Unidirectional mucosa-serosa and seroba-mucosa fluxes of Na are listed in Table I. There is no net Na flux. These findings ,:no net Na flux and no transmural potential difference) are compatible with passive transfer mechanisms dependent upon a concentration gradient as the driving force. They do not suggest the presence of a metabolically dependent active sodium pump in the primate newborn llrinary bladder.

Correlation of daily fetal movements and the nonstress test as tools for assessment of fetal welfare.

I‘HE ASSOCIATION of acceleration of the fetal heart rate with fetal movements (the nonstress test) and the presence of daily fetal movements have been shown to be helpful in assessing antenatal fetal welfare.‘, * Both tests have their greatest accuracy in predicting a healthy fetus. The limitations are their reduced accuracy in identifying a compromised fetus. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the relationship of two fetal biophysical variables, the nonstress test (NST) and the daily fetal movement record (DFMR), and to compare the accuracy of combining rhe two in predicting antenatal fetal welfare and not intrapartum or postpartum complications. .4 f-year prospective study of 237 high-risk prenatal patients was performed. All patients volunteered for the study after a careful explanation of the protocol. The women were provided a form on which to record, three times each day for 30 minutes, daily fetal movements. They were instructed to lie down in a comfortable position fcrr three uninterrupted periods. Movements were recorded in the morning, afternoon, and evening. ‘The results were collected each week, and a new form was provided. Reduced fetal movements were defined as less than 0 to 5 movements per 30 minutes frrr each of the three periods (a modification of the Sadovsky-Yaffe method).’ I f there were reduced fetal movements, the patients were instructed to notify a member of the perinatal team.

Prophylactic tocolysis of twins

The prophylactic use of oral terbutaline was studied in 28 normal, healthy, low-risk women with twin gestations. The mean birth weights were significantly increased over those in a similar group of control patients.

BEHCET SYNDROME: With Immunologic Evaluation

A case of Behcet syndrome with immunologic evaluation, including screening of a vulvar ulcer for IgG, IgM, IgA, and fibrinogen by direct fluorescent microscopy is presented. Attempts were made to demonstrate cellular and humoral immune responses to mucosal antigens by lymphoblast transformation in the presence of cadaver esophageal mucosal extracts and indirect immunofluorescence using autologous serum and mucosal tissue. Serial measurements of percentages of total T, active T, and B lymphocyte populations, and lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation during the course of Behcet syndrome are also presented. Clinical evaluation, histology of a Behcet vulvar ulcer, and a 2-year followup with good response to chlorambucil are reviewed.

Establishment and characterization of a squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in tissue culture and immunologic evaluation of the host

Abstract A continual epithelial cell culture has been established from a squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva metastatic to the right inguinal lymph node. Initial characterization of the cell line (designated LT2), including morphology, growth properties, karyotyping, and secretion of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG-β) is reported. The LT2 cell line satisfies the following criteria of malignancy: (1) establishment in culture for more than one and one-half years exceeding more than 70 generations; (2) heteroploid karyotype; (3) abnormal cytology; (4) growth in soft agar suspension; and (5) tumorigenicity in nude mice. This cell line has also been found to be free from contamination by fibroblasts, mycoplasma, bacteria, and fungi. With the LT2 cell line, the specific tumor-host immunorelationship was assayed by autologous (host lymphocyte versus LT2 cells) cytotoxicity and lymphoblast transformation in the presence of tumor extracts or mitomycin C-treated LT2 cells. In vivo patient immunocompetence was evaluated specifically by skin testing with autologous tumor extracts and nonspecifically with bacterial recall skin test antigens and dinitrochlorobenzene. In vitro nonspecific immunocompetence was evaluated by total peripheral white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, T cell, active T cell and B cell determinations, lymphocyte response to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin, and spontaneous lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity versus cultured bronchogenic carcinoma cells. Correlation of immunocompetence and the status of the tumor-host relationship with the patients clinical course, and the potential significance of LT2 CEA and HCG-β production are discussed. The patients response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy is evaluated.

Plasma estrogens in the assessment of fetoplacental function.

A retrospective study has been undertaken to assess the diagnostic value of plasma estriol (E3) determinations, as compared with determinations of other biochemical parameters, in predicting the outcome of pregnancy. The normal levels of plasma unconjugated and total E3 were determined on weekly samples obtained during the third trimester of 258 normal pregnancies. Weekly concurrent specimens of plasma and 24-hour urine collections were obtained from 17 high-risk pregnancies associated with hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation and diabetes. Determination of plasma unconjugated and total E3 were made along with human placental lactogen (HPL), urinary E3, and other biophysical parameters such as the oxytocin challenge test, non-stressed test, ultrasonography, etc. The results of plasma E3 were not reported nor used for the clinical management of the patient. The data suggests that weekly plasma determinations were of little value in the assessment of feto-placental status. Some observations on the extent of variability of plasma E3 are discussed.