Transmission of a 13–15/21 translocation in six families

The genealogical, cytogenetical and blood-group data available for six families with an inherited translocation between a chromosome of the 13–15 group and chromosome no. 21 are presented. In two families the translocation was transmitted through three generations, in two families it occurred de novo in the carrier parent, and in two families it could not be decided if the translocation was inherited from a further generation or originated in the gametogenesis of generation I. In five families the transmission to a patient with Down's syndrome was maternal, in one family it was paternal. Meiotic studies of a testicular biopsy from a male carrier, the father of a child with Down's syndrome, revealed trivalent formation in diakinesis.     

Anaphylaxis and Angioedema Due to Rubber Allergy in Children

ABSTRACT. Delayed hypersensitivity to rubber chemicals is well known but there are an increasing number of case reports on an immediate type of hypersensitivity inducing contact urticaria and anaphylaxis in adults. We now report on three atopic children who developed angioedema, which in two of them progressed to anaphylaxis after exposure to natural rubber products. All three patients showed positive skin prick tests and one had a positive RAST test to latex from the rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis ). It is dear that sensitized subjects are at risk of developing anaphylaxis when exposed to natural rubber products, e.g. during medical examination or surgery when rubber gloves are used.     

Haemostatic changes during continuous oestradiolprogestogen treatment of postmenopausal women

Summary. To identify changes in haemostatic balance during continuous oestradiol-progestogen treatment, 60 postmenopausal women with climacteric complaints, mean age 55.4 years (range 44–68) were randomly allocated to receive one of four hormone replacement regimens for one year. All four formulations were administered daily and continuously, each contained 2 mg of 17 β-oestradiol in combination with either norethisterone acetate, 1 mg (group A) or 0.5 mg (group B) or megestrol acetate, 5 mg (group C) or 2.5 mg (group D). No significant changes occurred during treatment within or between the groups in platelet count, fibrinogen and 2-antiplasmin. Activated partial thromboplastin time was shortened (P<0.05) in group D and a decline in factor VII activity and antigen (P<0.001) and in AT1II activity (P<0.05) was noted in group A. Protein C tended to decline in all treatment groups but statistically significant changes were noted only in groups A and C. Two women developed crural thrombosis during the observation period.     

Are isolated femoral resistance vessels or tail arteries good models for the hindquarter vasculature of spontaneously hypertensive rats?

We have investigated the extent to which the properties of small arteries from the hindquarters of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) are consistent with the characteristics of perfused SHR hindquarter preparations (for which the relaxed vascular resistance, the reactivity and the sensitivity are reported to be increased). We have therefore compared the in vitro morphological and pharmacological properties of a femoral resistance vessel (i. d. ca 200 μm) and of the tail artery (i. d. ca 600 μm) from SHRs with those from control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs). When relaxed, for any given wall tension, the internal circumference of the SHR resistance vessels was reduced, but that of the SHR tail artery was normal. When activated with 10 μM noradrenaline, the SHR resistance vessels had an increased calcium sensitivity, but the calcium sensitivity of the SHR tail arteries was normal. However, the maximum response of both types of SHR vessels was such that the vessels would have been able to contract against increased transmural pressure. The noradrenaline sensitivity of the SHR resistance vessels was normal but the SHR tail arteries had a decreased sensitivity. The results suggest that the femoral resistance vessel is in general a better model for the hindquarter vasculature than the tail artery.     

Easily Suppressed Lymphocytes and Absence of Cytotoxic Antibody in Three Women With Habitual Abortion

ABSTRACT: This investigation involves 3 women with habitual abortion and 2 women with multiple normal pregnancies. Extensive clinical investigations failed to reveal any cause for the abortions. All husbands were ABO-compatible with their respective wives. The women shared three, two, and zero of five identified HLA-A antigens with their respective husbands. None of the women had any cytotoxic antibody. Lymphocytes from all three women reacted normally in one-way mixed lymphocyte cultures to their husbands' alloantigens. Cell-mediated lympholysis was similar in couples with habitual abortion and in those with repeated normal pregnancies. The women's lymphocytes' proliferation was significantly suppressed by lymphocytes from their husbands and by those from most male controls in two-way mixed lymphocyte culture and double chamber experiments. Two women with 6 and 5 live-born children, respectively, served as controls. Their lymphocytes were not suppressed by lymphocytes from their respective husbands or by those from most male controls in two—way mixed lymphocyte cultures. Their reactions in one—way mixed lymphocyte cultures and in cell—mediated lympholysis, however, did not differ from those of the women with habitual abortion.     

Acute and protracted effects of vinblastine on odontoblasts and dentinogenesis in rat incisors

abstract — The effects of a large dose of vinblastine sulfate (2 mg/kg body weight) on proliferating odontoblast precursors and secretory odontoblasts in the continuously growing rat incisor were studied. The rats were killed 6 h, 24 h, 3 d and 7 d after vinblastine injection. Most cells in the proliferating zone contained arrested mitoses, or had perished after 24 h. After 3 and 7 d, the odontoblasts derived from this zone were reduced in number, and showed altered cell shapes. The odontoblasts had produced irregular dentin. The secretory odontoblasts had displaced nuclei and altered cell shapes after 24 h. Those most affected were opposite early mineralized dentin. In some incisors the cells had perished. In the protracted experiments almost all the odontoblasts were changed and had produced abnormal dentin. In the early mineralized dentin area, accumulations of cells were present after 3 d, and osteodentin-like material after 7 d.