Livia R. Turgeon

2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid as an antidote for lead intoxication

2,3‐Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is an orally effective drug more specific and with a wider therapeutic index than currently available drugs for lead intoxication. Eighteen men with elevated blood lead (BPb) concentrations received either 30, 20, or 10 mg/kg DMSA for 5 days in three divided daily doses. The mean BPb level decreased 72.5%, 58.3%, and 35.5% of the pretreatment values, with a simultaneous elevation in urinary Pb excretion. Clinical symptoms and biochemical indices of lead toxicity also improved. Red blood cell d‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity increased, while urinary excretion of d‐aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin fell. DMSA was well tolerated; the only observed adverse drug reaction was a mild, transient elevation of serum SGPT levels in two subjects. DMSA appears promising and may greatly simplify the treatment of lead intoxication.

Trichinella spiralis: growth of the intracellular (muscle) larva.

Abstract Newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis were infective when injected directly into the thigh muscle of mice and rats. Infections initiated in this manner resulted in synchronously growing populations of muscle larvae, thereby permitting a detailed study of larval growth to be carried out. In mice, the mean larval growth, as measured by increase in larval volume, occurred in three phases; an initial growth phase (Day 0–1), a lag phase (Days 1–3), and an exponential growth phase (Days 3–19). Larvae grew an average of 39% per day during the exponential phase. No further increase in larval volume was noted after Day 19. There was no statistically significant difference found in the rate of larval growth among individual mice for any given day. The larval growth rate was the same in rats as in mice.

CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA AND MATERNAL INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY

The Connecticut Tumor Registry has records of 431 children who developed leukemia during their first ten years of life and who were born in Connecticut. These children were grouped into 27 annual birth cohorts for the years 1935 through 1961.Time/space clustering was studied by various statistical methods using the date and place of residence at birth.The hypothesis that children born of women pregnant during epidemics of infectious diseases are at a higher risk of developing leukemia was tested extensively.Evidence was sought for a relation between the occurrence of influenza, chickenpox, measles, German measles, mumps, poliomyelitis and whooping cough during pregnancy and leukemia in the offspring. No significant positive correlations were found.*State of Connecticut Department of Health, Chronic Disease Control Section, Connecticut Tumor Registry, Hartford