Comparison of eight kits for the diagnosis of pregnancy.

The results obtained with eight pregnancy kits on 735 urines were compared. Overall accuracies were similar and fairly high (93.4 to 95.37%), although only 78.28% of all pregnancies were simultaneously detected by all eight kits. It is suggested that the different performances of each kit could be accounted for not only by lack of product homologation, differences in kit sensitivity, and laboratorian error, but also by the presence of various hormonal components in various concentrations in the urines of pregnant women, and by the presence of different antibodies against these hormonal components in various concentrations in the antisera included in the various kits.     

IFN-alpha and IFN-beta: a link between immune memory and chronic inflammation

The majority of expanded T cells generated during an immune response are cleared by apoptosis. Prevention of death in some activated T cells enables the persistence of a memory T-cell pool. Here, observations that IFN-alpha and IFN-beta inhibit activated T-cell apoptosis are described. Although this enables memory T cells to persist without antigen, excessive IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma secretion might lead to chronic inflammation.     

Eccentric nephroscopy for the incarcerated nephrostomy

Following a percutaneous stone extraction and demonstration of antegrade flow, conventional methods of traction and coaxial dilatation failed to allow removal of a Stamey-Malecot nephrostomy. An eccentric track was created for nephroscopy. Grasping forceps were used to cut the fibrous tissue from the "wings" of the nephrostomy tube to allow its easy withdrawal. The combined approach by the radiologist and urologist safely overcame the fibrous entrapment.     

Semi-quantitative assessment of tibial blood flow and distribution in response to surgical intervention using first pass radionuclide angiography and intravascular vital dye

The acute vascular response in bone to surgical trauma was investigated utilizing a sheep model. Blood flow and distribution were determined using two methods; perfusion of the vasculature with an intravascular vital dye (Disulphine blue) prior to euthanasia and by radionuclide angiography (RNA) before and after each surgical intervention. The pattern of Disulphine blue distribution provided a good indication of local perfuslon and response to surgical trauma (drilling holes). Radionuclide angiography provided a dynamic image of the vascular response to surgical trauma. The generation of time activity curves of the first pass of radionuclide bolus enabled calculation of the relative blood flow through selected regions.

For both techniques areas of ischaemia were apparent which were directly related to the location of screw holes. We conclude that factors other than bone plate contact influence the ischaemia that develops in bone subsequent to the application of bone plates.     

Outcome of children with respiratory symptoms without objective evidence of asthma: a two-year, prospective, follow-up study

This study evaluated the outcome of 33 children with asthma-like symptoms without objective evidence of asthma, and the role of certain factors in predicting the development of clinical asthma in these children. Data on symptom histories, lung functions (flow-volume spirometry, free running test and methacholine inhalation challenge test) and atopic sensitization (skin prick tests and markers of eosinophilic inflammation) were collected twice with an interval of 2 y, and the diagnoses were re-evaluated after the follow-up period. Based on the results, it was concluded that one-third of the children with prolonged or recurrent lower airway symptoms, such as cough or wheeze, either have mild asthma or will develop asthma in the near future. Children who had a significant response [≥ 10% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)] in the free running test formed a risk group for active asthma, whereas other baseline characteristics seemed not to predict the outcome.