Rapid Diagnosis of Rotavirus Infection: Comparison of Electron Microscopy and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa)

Roberton, D. M., Harrison, M., Hosking, C.S., Adams, L. C. and Bishop, R. F. (1979). Aust. Paediatr. J. , 15, 229–232. Rapid diaggnosis of rotavirus infection: Comparison of electron microscopy and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Commonly used methods for detecting rotavirus antigen in stool are either relatively insensitive (counter-immuno-electrophorosis) or suitable only for research laboratories (electron microscopy). In this paper we describe an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay that compares favourably with electron microscopy in terms of sensitivity and is adaptable for use in hospitals or for epidemiological studies in the field.     

ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIN (ACTH) DEFICIENCY UNDETECTED BY STANDARD DYNAMIC TESTS OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS

Six patients (four females, two males; aged 18-65 years), previously treated by external pituitary irradiation (2000-4000 cGY in 8-15 fractions over 10-20 days) for pituitary tumours, presented with the symptoms of excessive and inappropriate tiredness suggestive of ACTH deficiency, despite a normal peak cortisol response to an insulin tolerance test (four cases) or to a glucagon stimulation test (two cases). These six patients were found to have significantly lower mean 24 h urinary free cortisol levels (100 +/- 40 nmol; mean +/- SD) compared with the mean value of 31 normal controls (210 +/- 70.8 nmol; P less than 0.01). In addition serum cortisol profiles based on a series of four timed samples between 0900-2300 h were subnormal (mean 130 nmol/l) in comparison with profiles obtained from 12 normal controls (mean 270 nmol/l) (P less than 0.001). Glucocorticoid replacement therapy promptly abolished their symptoms. These results suggest that a discordance between ACTH secretion under basal circumstances and ACTH response to pharmacological tests may exist in patients with ACTH deficiency. We speculate that defective endogenous corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRF) secretion, due to radiation-induced damage at hypothalamic level, is one cause of this phenomenon.     

Intrahepatic bile duct and portal vein anatomy revisited

Seventeen normal cadaver livers were studied to assess the anatomic relationship of bile ducts to portal veins. The common bile duct, main portal vein, and hepatic artery were cannulated and injected with air, dilute contrast medium, and mineral oil, respectively. The livers were placed in anatomic position and examined with computed tomography. In the lateral segment of the left hepatic lobe, the bile ducts were anterior to the portal vein in seven cases, posterior in seven, and tortuous (ie, both anterior and posterior) in three. In the medial segment of the left lobe, the bile ducts were anterior in four cases, posterior in four, tortuous in three, and not seen in six. In the right lobe, the bile ducts were anterior in nine cases, posterior in five, tortuous in one, and not seen in two. In the porta hepatis, the bile ducts were anterior in ten cases, posterior in one, tortuous in five, and not seen in one. Histologic findings confirmed the anterior and posterior location of the bile ducts relative to the portal veins. These findings contradict the commonly held view of intrahepatic bile ducts being anterior to the portal vein and are clinically significant for techniques such as bile duct drainage.     

Observations on the Motility, infrastructure and Elemental Composition of Human Spermatozoa Incubated with Caffeine

Beobachtungen über die Motilität, Ultrastruktur und Elementarzusammensetzung der menschlichen Spermatozoen bei Inkubation mit Koffein
In einer gegenüber Placebo kontrollierten Studie wurde der Einfluß von Koffein (bis zu einer Konzentration von 6 mM) bei zwei fertilen Männern und bei zwei infertilen Männern mit Asthenozoospermie auf die Motilität, Ultrastruktur und Elementarzusammensetzung der Spermatozoen untersucht. Mittels der Lichtmikroskopie wurde die Motilität geprüft; mittels Raster-Elektronenmikroskopie wurde die Morphologie und mittels Raster-Transmissions-Elektronenmikroskopie wurde eine Mikroanalyse der intrazellulären Elementarzusammensetzung der einzelnen Spermatozoenköpfe bestimmt. Koffein und die Inkubation stimulierte deutlich die Motilität der Asthenozoospermie-Proben. Nach Inkubation mit Koffein schien eine größere Anzahl von Spermatozoen (speziell in der Infertilitätsgruppe) eine Zerreißung der normalen Architektur-Muster des Spermatozoenkopfes zu haben. Die Mittelwerte für die Elementarzusammensetzung in der Koffeingruppe übertrafen die der Placebogruppe in 9 von 12 Experimenten; die Werte der Inkubationsgruppe übertrafen die der nichtinkubierten Gruppe in 11 von 12 Experimenten. Die Mittelwerte der fertilen Gruppe übertrafen jene der infertilen Gruppe in alien 12 Experimenten; eine statistische Signifikanz war erreicht in der Konzentration für Calcium und Chlor. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Inkubation mit Koffein einen schädlichen Einfluß auf menschliche Spermatozoen haben könnte und daß eine direkte Bestimmung der Elementarzusammensetzung von augenscheinlich normalen Spermatozoenköpfen ein meßbarer Indikator des normalen Samens beweisen könnte.     

I.V. FLUNITRAZEPAM AND I.V. DIAZEPAM IN CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY A cross-over trial

In a randomized cross-over trial in 82 outpatients aged 15–45yr undergoing conservative dentistry, a solution of flunitrazepam0.25 mg ml^–1 i.v. (average dose 0.014 mg kg^–1) wascompared with a solution of diazepam 5 mg ml^–1 i.v. (0.29mg kg^–1). Cardiovascular changes, operating conditionsand side-effects were similar. Forty minutes after the startof injection, about 85% of all patients could not remember thelocal anaesthetic injection. Thirty minutes after the end oftreatment, only 25% of all patients had recovered. One weeklater, most patients receiving each drug had only vague memoriesof their treatment; they had felt more relaxed immediately afterthe i.v. injection than before. Drowsiness was equally commonafter flunitrazepam and diazepam. Atazia was more prolongedwith flunitrazepam but arm pain and venous thrombophlebitiswere less frequent. ^* Present address: Department of Anaesthesia Nottingham UniversityMedical School, University Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2UH.