A Family Demonstrating Inheritance of the Leach Phenotype: a Gerbich-Negative Phenotype Associated with Elliptocytosis

One third of very weakly Rh-immunized women show no increase in their level of Rh immunization during pregnancy and after delivery. Administration of 300 micrograms of Rh immune globulin at 6-week intervals does not alter the incidence of lack of progression of Rh immunization in such women. Thirty-three Rh-positive women who ultimately delivered ABO-compatible babies, had Kleihauer fetal transplacental hemorrhage (TPH) screening tests carried out at 2-week intervals during pregnancy and shortly after delivery. One third of the 33 women had no detectable TPH or a TPH of 0.01 ml of fetal red cells. We conclude that one third of weakly Rh-immunized women failed to show any progression of their Rh immune response during pregnancy or after delivery because they were exposed to too few fetal red cells (0.01 ml or less) to produce such a response.     

Novel developments in the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis coinfection

Tuberculosis (TB) disease remains one of the highest causes of mortality in HIV-infected individuals, and HIV-TB coinfection continues to grow at alarming rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Surprisingly, a number of important areas regarding coinfection remain unclear. For example, increased risk of TB disease begins early in the course of HIV infection; however, the mechanism by which HIV increases this risk is not well understood. In addition, there is lack of consensus on the optimal way to diagnose latent TB infection and to manage active disease in those who are HIV infected. Furthermore, effective point-of-care testing for TB disease remains elusive. This review discusses key areas in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of active and latent TB in those infected with HIV, focusing attention on issues related to high- and low-burden areas. Particular emphasis is placed on controversial areas where there are gaps in knowledge and on future directions of study.     

Properties of urophysial proteins (urophysins) from the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing and equilibrium dialysis studies on extracts of the urophysis of the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni, have shown the existence of a group of proteins which are specific to the urophysis and which bind two biologically active urophysial peptides, urotensin I (rat hypctensive principle) and urotensin II (fish smooth muscle stimulating principle).