Vitreous Cinematography in the Study of Vitreoretinal Diseases

A new technique of vitreous cinematography involves scanning of the vitreous cavity using optical sections to provide objective, reproducible information on the dynamics of the posterior vitreous and vitreoretinal relationships. Using a newly developed preset lens (El Bayadi-Kajiura lens), this technique makes it possible to document an entire optical section of the posterior vitreous. This is done by mechanically displacing the vitreous so that maximum reflectivity can be obtained from the vitreous gel. This article describes the technique and presents clinical examples documenting complete and incomplete vitreous detachment in normal eyes, Cloquet's canal associated with an optic disc pit, vitreous traction associated with a lamellar hole in an area of preretinal macular fibrosis, and vitreous traction at the anterior flap of a retinal break.     

Serum tube identification of Candida albicans

The production of filaments (germ tubes) by cells of Candida albicans in serum tubes permits presumptive identification to be made within two to three hours. The proportion of yeast-like cells forming filaments is progressively decreased with increasing cell concentration. The test is effective over a comparatively wide range of temperatures and using different types and concentrations of sera.     

A Comparative Trial of Oil-Adjuvant and Aqueous Polyvalent Influenza Vaccines

In the early autumn of 1963, 957 volunteers were inoculated with Admune (an oil-adjuvant polyvalent influenza vaccine) and 337 with Munevan (an aqueous polyvalent vaccine).

A survey by questionnaire suggested that the oil-adjuvant vaccine was more acceptable to the inoculated than the aqueous one. The oil-adjuvant vaccine seemed less likely than the aqueous to provoke serious side effects in unknown reactors, and this more than offset the possibility of subcutaneous nodules not encountered with the aqueous vaccine. No difficulty was encountered in administering the oil-adjuvant vaccine, in the recommended dose, to those giving a history of hay fever, asthma, and some other major allergies.

On this occasion, reactions to both vaccines were fairly prevalent, and about a quarter of all those vaccinated complained of a feeling of malaise lasting at least two weeks. These reactions were thought to be severe enough to induce consumer-resistance to routine annual immunization, which is considered hardly acceptable in a healthy industrial population at the present stage of development. Medically the case for such immunization is not yet proven.

There is a need for further vaccine development and for more controlled trials. If the efficacy of the oil-adjuvant vaccine is proved in clinical practice, this vaccine appears preferable to the aqueous type.

     

The effect of ABO blood groups on the incidence of epidemic influenza and on the response to live attenuated and detergent split influenza virus vaccines.

The effect of blood group status on the incidence of epidemic influenza A (H3N2) infections and on serological response to influenza vaccination with killed subunit and live attenuated vaccines have been investigated during comparative vaccine trials in Western Australia. A significantly higher incidence of epidemic influenza was observed in subjects of blood group B compared with those of other blood groups, regardless of whether they had serological evidence of previous exposure to H3N2 antigens or not. Volunteers of different blood groups exhibited similar seroconversion frequencies to both vaccines after the administration of two doses, but a significantly higher proportion of blood group A subjects seroconverted after receiving their first dose of live attenuated vaccine compared with those of other blood groups. Although this finding was inconsistent with the increased incidence of epidemic influenza in subjects of blood group B, it is discussed in terms of the methods employed to obtain attenuation. Higher geometric mean HI antibody titres were observed in blood group O subjects after the administration of killed subunit vaccine. The results described in this report supported the contention that genetic factors linked to ABO blood groups may play a role in susceptibility to infection with influenza A virus, but that any association must be indirect.     

Computer content analysis of applied biological knowledge in dentistry.

The study suggests that the Inquirer II System used by computers in content analysis of (textual) specific written material has value for longitudinal studies. The research findings indicate that the application of the computer in content analysis requires considerable effort in the preparation of materials and specifications of directions to the computer; standardizes data analysis, thus reducing subjective error in replication of studies; reduced measurement error in longitudinal studies, giving greater stability and power to statistical comparison; classified data as it is collected, quickly and reliably, while tabulating statistical information; reduced costs compared to human coders when used with large amounts of data; and competes effectively with human coders in terms of reliability and validity.