Inheritance of Responsiveness of Tolerant Animals to a Cross-Reacting Antigen

Random-bred rabbits were rendered tolerant to human serum albumin (HA) by neonatal injections. Starting at 44 days of age, the rabbits were injected i.v. with para-azobenzenesulfonic acid human albumin HA-D₃₁). Animals which made an antibody response (TCR-responders) were matea with each other, as were animals, which failed to make an antibody response (TCR-nonresponders). TCR-nonresponsiveness was found to breed true after 3 generations of selective matings. TCR-responsiveness did not appear to be correlated with tolerance duration or with any of the allotypic specificities (A1,2,3,) controlled at the Aa locus. There were no C6-deficient animals among TCR-responders nor among TCR-nonresponders. There was a slightly lower responsiveness to HA-D₃₁ of TCR-nonresponders which were not injected at birth than of unselected animals.     

Thromboembolism after Beall Valve replacement of the mitral valve.

A series of 76 isolated mitral valve replacements with the Beall valve is reported. A perioperative mortality of 3.5% (3 patients) and a late mortality of 6.8% (5 patients) was obtained. Thromboembolism occurred in 4 patients (5.2%). In a separate study, platelet survival times were determined in 17 patients with Beall valves by using chromium 51–labeled autologous platelets. Six patients had had thromboembolic (TE) episodes; the remaining 11 had not. The normal platelet survival time was > 3.3 days. Patients with TE had shortened platelet survival times (mean 2.8 $pM 0.11 days) which were significantly less (p < 0.01) than those of patients without TE (mean 3.4 $pM 0.13 days). The incidence of TE, which is associated with shortened platelet survival time, is low with Beall mitral valves. Prognostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed.     

Blizzard morbidity and mortality: Rhode Island, 1978.

The total number of outpatient visits to 10 hospital emergency rooms declined 64 per cent and emergency admissions 35 per cent immediately after the February 1978 blizzard in Rhode Island; both quickly returned to normal levels. Three days after the storm, admissions for myocardial infarction increased markedly. Total mortality and ischemic heart disease deaths showed a considerable increase for the five-day period following the blizzard. The physical and psychological stress of the blizzard probably precipitated cardiac deaths in susceptible individuals.     

A histopathological study of the effects of intravenously administered lambda carrageenan in the mouse,with particular reference to the macrophage system.

Intravenously administered lambda-carrageenan rapidly precipitates in the marginal zone of the spleen, the hepatic sinuses and the capillaries of the heart, lung, kidney and adrenal gland. Extensive coagulative necrosis of the liver and myocardium is seen at 24 h. Phagocytosis occurs at 3 days, and is associated with transformation of the lymphocytes of the splenic white pulp. Circulating carrageenan-containing macrophages adhere to vascular endothelium in the lung and at 6 days are situated beneath it. At 30 days carrageenan granulomas have formed in the spleen and liver, probably as a result of macrophage recirculation.