Affinity chromatographic identification and quantitation of blood group A-active oligosaccharides in human milk and feces of breast-fed infants

The finding of large quantities of blood group A-active oligosaccharides in the feces of a blood group A breast-fed infant motivated a search for the origin of these compounds. Using an affinity chromatographic technique, the nature of A-active oligosaccharides in human milk is demonstrated. The amounts of A-active tetrasaccharide (A-tetra) and the Lewis b-active lacto-N-difucohexaose I (LND-I) varied between 19-375 mg/L for A-tetra and 14-710 mg/L for LND-I. Using the same technique, the amounts of A-tetra and LND-I in milk samples from five women of different blood groups were compared with those in the feces of their breast-fed infants. The A-tetra was present only in feces from infants of blood group A or AB mothers and the amount per 24 h corresponded roughly to that in a I-L portion of milk. One of the milk samples was also analyzed for the presence of larger A-active oligosaccharides (A-pentasaccharide, A-hexasaccharide, and A-heptasaccharide). Their amounts were much less as compared to the amounts present in feces. These results indicate that milk is a possible source for the smallest A-tetrasaccharide found in the feces of breast-fed infants, while the larger A-active oligosaccharides might be the result of an intestinal metabolic modification.     

Hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome--E. coli as etiological agent. II. Clinical aspects and epidemiology

In the last few years a group of verotoxinogenic E. coli bacteria has been defined as a causative agent of hemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome. The corresponding toxins (verotoxins, Shiga-like-toxins) released from these bacteria play a key role in the pathogenesis and are responsible for the severity of the respective illness. Therefore, besides the clinical and other paraclinical investigations the detection of SLT-producing E. coli or of the corresponding toxins directly in the stool as early as possible has to be included into strategies for diagnostics and therapy. Moreover, it is necessary to avoid the release of huge amounts of toxins (e.g. by antibiotic therapy) and to take care for suitable measures to neutralize or eliminate the toxins. First isolations of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC, VTEC) in stool samples from patients suffering from diarrhoeal diseases and HUS in the vicinity of Wernigerode demonstrate the necessity for further bacteriological and epidemiological investigations in order to evaluate frequency and importance of these EHEC bacteria in the pediatric praxis.     

Ocular motility in thalidomide embryopathy

Twenty-one individuals, aged 28 to 29 years, with documented thalidomide embryopathy were examined in Sweden. The most noteworthy ophthalmologic finding was the high prevalence of incomitant horizontal strabismus, primarily of the Duane syndrome type. Less frequently seen were cases of both marked abduction and adduction limitation similar to a gaze paresis with no observable fissure changes, as well as a few cases of isolated abduction weakness or inferior oblique under-action. There were many examples of aberrant lacrimation, facial nerve palsy, and ear anomalies combined with horizontal incomitant forms of strabismus. Ear and facial nerve palsies are known to occur with ingestion of thalidomide early in the sensitive period (approximately days 21 to 26 after conception).     

Cervicobrachial syndrome--work and disability.

The subjects in the study were 114 persons receiving a disability pension or referred for disability assessment. They were placed in two groups of 57 persons each, one with marked cervicobrachial syndrome and the other without. The latter group was chosen by the method of equivalent pairs with regard to sex and age. All subjects underwent a clinical examination and a standardized questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire pertained to the state of health, focussing on the amount and type of physical burdening at the workplace and on activities outside the workplace. Sixty-five percent of the subjects were aged from 51 to 60 years. A statistically significant difference was established between earlier occupation and cervicobrachial syndrome. Cervicobrachial syndrome was found in 31.6% of unskilled workers and 12.3% of the controls (P < 0.05). A forced body posture during work was recorded in 74% of the subjects with the syndrome and in 50% of the control subjects (P < 0.05). Repetitive movements at work were reported by a large number of subjects with cervicobrachial syndrome (71.9:49.1%; P < 0.05) who also claimed to strain the arms (84.2:61.4%; P < 0.05) and burden the cervical spine (68.5:40.4%; P < 0.05) during household activities to a significantly greater extent than the controls. A possible preventive approach to the occurrence and progression of cervicobrachial syndrome is discussed.     

Lymphoma incidence in a Swedish county during 1969-1987.

The incidence of lymphoid malignancies (acute leukemias and myelomatosis excluded) during 1969-1987 in the County of Uppsala was calculated on the basis of the regional cancer register and local registers from the only oncological, hematological, dermatological and pathological departments in this well-defined geographical area. Of the 774 patients included, 639 had histopathological specimens available, all of which were re-examined. Seventy-nine patients were diagnosed on the basis of bone marrow investigations (greater than 70% re-examined, all had a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma = NHL) and 54 on fine-needle aspiration biopsies (not re-examined). Seventy-nine of the lymphoma diagnoses were based on autopsy specimens. The overall age standardized incidence was 16.2/100,000/year (NHL: 13.6, Hodgkin's disease = HD: 1.5) according to the Swedish 1970 census (according to world standard population: 10.2); male: 20.9 (12.9) and female: 12.4 (7.9). The annual change in trend was +3.0% +/- 2.6 (NHL: +3.6% +/- 2.4, HD: no change). The omission of the 54 'fine needle cases' led to an overall incidence of 15.0 (9.7) and an annual change in trend of +3.5% +/- 1.9. Among the histopathological specimens, an NHL was found in 524 patients and HD in 69. In 46 registered patients, the diagnosis malignant lymphoma was wrong. The diagnosis changed to NHL in 43 patients registered as HD.     

Combined radiotherapy and surgery in the treatment of neck node metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

A prospectively recorded series of 107 patients with clinical neck node metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, treated in 1983-1988, and with initial local control, is evaluated. Eighty-eight patients received preoperative, and were operated 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy, and 19 received postoperative radiotherapy. Forty-four of the neck specimens in the preoperatively treated patients showed vital tumor tissue, 7 with positive and 37 with negative resection margins. Nine of the latter 37 patients died due to regional recurrence. Twenty-three of the preoperatively treated patients had no palpable residual tumor following radiotherapy, but histological examination showed vital tumor tissue in five, of whom two had N1 neck disease. The overall regional failure rate was 19%. Eleven patients (10%) died from local recurrence and 11 from distant metastases. Forty-one patients (38%) are alive without evidence of disease and three (3%) alive with disease (mean observation time 30 months). Combined treatment is recommended for all cases of neck node metastases.     

The clinical efficacy of plasmosorption in stenocardia]

Follow-up examinations of 52 anginal patients who have received combined treatment involving plasma sorption indicate a good response in 77%, satisfactory in 11.5% and no response in 11.5% of the examinees. Exercise tolerance and performance increased by 34.3 and 52.1%, respectively. The scope of chemotherapy was related to the initial severity of the disease. Clinical remission after plasma sorption lasted 8.4 +/- 0.7 months.     

Aortic valve replacement by a pulmonary homograft

Minor experience still exists in our country with regard to the use of valve homografts in cardiac surgery. Only a few implantations have been performed in cases of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in addition to our own experience in cases of infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. We present a case of aortic valve replacement by using an antibiotic-sterilized fresh pulmonary valve autograft. The case is described and the possible advantages of the use of pulmonary allografts in the aortic position are discussed.