Hypoelectrolytemia, hypovolemia, and alkalosis in cystic fibrosis with wood-burning stove in winter

Hypoelectrolytemia, alkalosis, and shock were present in an infant subsequently diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis (CF). Environmental temperature control was poorly maintained by a wood-burning stove in winter and contributed to the process of fluid and electrolyte loss. Pediatricians must consider CF and other processes when electrolytes and fluid are lost during environmental heat excess.     

Intratumoural cyst formation in pituitary macroadenomas

Summary Twenty-one patients with various types of pituitary macroadenomas underwent hypophysectomy at the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre between 1985 to 1987. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration of the tumoural content was attempted prior to tumour excision. Although none of the patients had a history compatible with pituitary apoplexy, intratumoural fluid suggestive of a cyst within the tumour was found in 57% of the patients. Analysis of the hormones in the aspirated fluid revealed variable elevations in hormone levels, some reaching 3,000 times the equivalent plasma levels. Concomitant elevated levels of other pituitary hormones found in the cyst fluid support the concept of mixed secretory potential of pituitary adenomas, including the apparently non-functioning tumours. Six out of seven patients (86%) who received preoperative treatment with bromocriptine had an intratumoural cyst while only seven out of fourteen patients (50%) who were not treated with this drug prior to surgery had a cyst within the tumour. The implications of these observations on current theories concerning the pathophysiology of pituitary adenomas are discussed.     

Use of an immune blotting method (western) for studying viral antigens and for detecting antibodies to viral proteins

The technique of the procedure and the results of the use of immune ("western") blotting method for studies on viral antigens and detection of antibodies to individual proteins of viral particles are described. The possibility of detection and study of individual viral antigens in the whole plasma of patients or carriers is demonstrated by the example of HBs antigen of human hepatitis B virus. The method of immune blotting was used for screening of human sera for the detection of antibodies to the AIDS virus proteins. The sera under study positive for antibodies to AIDS virus by preliminary solid-phase enzyme-immunoassay were shown to contain actually the antibodies to different proteins of AIDS virus. The antibody levels to individual AIDS virus proteins varied in different sera. Some sera positive for antibodies to AIDS virus by the solid-phase enzyme-immunoassay contained no antibody to AIDS virus proteins but reacted with cellular proteins present in the antigen. The immune blotting method was also used for determinations of the spectrum of antibodies in animal sera produced by immunization with different viral antigens.     

Pulmonary nodules studied by computed tomography

The authors analyzed 177 pulmonary nodules using thin-section computed tomography (CT), calculating the representative CT number (RCT#) from a computer printout. None of the 96 malignant nodules had an RCT# greater than 151 H. Of the 81 benign nodules, 14 were shown to be calcified by conventional radiography and had an RCT# ranging from 763 and 1,023 H. Thirty had an RCT# greater than 200 H; this included 24 which showed no calcification on conventional tomograms. The remaining 37 benign nodules had an RCT# less than 200 H; 6 of them were hamartomas, including 2 which were diagnosed as such due to their fat content.