Antenatal Screening for HPA-la by Flow Cytometry

Summary: regnant women who attended antenatal clinics at King George V Hospital, the Birth Centre or were referred by obstetricians from February to July. 1996 were screened for the platelet antigen HPA-la by flow cytometry. Forty out of 2300 (1.7%) were found to be negative for this antigen . Of the 28 women followed throughout their pregnancy, none developed antibody to HPA-la. Platelet counts performed on samples from 17 babies born to 17 of these mothers were all normal. This study proves the simplicity and rapidity of flow cytometry for platelet antigen screening. The results were comparable with the Solid Phase Red Cell Adherence (SPRCA) method and with PCR. The lack of a plentiful supply of specific antibody and the rarity of fetomaternai alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FMAIT) argue against the introduction of routine screening for maternal HPA-la status at the present time.     

Use of an indigenous fish species, Fundulus zebrinus, in a mosquito abatement program: a field comparison with the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.

Studies were conducted relating mosquito production in small ponds to presence or absence of larvivorous fishes. Data collected showed that native killifish and introduced mosquitofish controlled mosquito larvae at the same level and support the use of indigenous fish species in mosquito abatement programs.     

A comparison of motor unit behaviour in young and aged subjects

We evaluated motor unit behaviour in young and aged subjects during ramped tension development and release to 10% maximum voluntary contraction requiring 10 seconds to complete. Six young and six elderly adults performed isometric abductor digiti minimi muscle contractions while motor units were recorded with implanted fine wire electrodes. Computer interactive programs yielded interspike interval (ISI) data for 16 units from the young and for 15 units from the aged subjects. Mean ISIs for young were 88.4 ms for shortening and 96.5 ms for lengthening contractions. Units from the aged had ISIs of 110.5 ms and 117.1 ms for shortening and lengthening contractions. Some evidence for between-group differences in firing pattern during ascending and descending ramps was also found.     

An experience of renal replacement therapy in a combined neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit of Hong Kong

Intensive care services are expensive. The experience of developing a combined paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) in a regional hospital is reported with reference to the provision of renal support for the critically ill patients. The combined unit is staffed by a team of paediatric intensivists, each of whom has special interest in a subspecialty, including cardiology, respiratory medicine, nephrology and neonatology. In the past 7 years, renal replacement therapy (peritoneal dialysis and haemofiltration) was provided to 40 patients, with comparable mortality and complication rates to other reports. This arrangement has been feasible and might be more efficient than running separate paediatric and neonatal ICUs or combining the paediatric ICU with the adult ICU.     

Drug-responsive symptoms during early neuroleptic treatment.

Identification of symptoms that are directly responsive to neuroleptic drugs at progressive phases of treatment is important for monitoring drug response and understanding the relationship between neurochemical mechanisms of drug action and disordered behavior. Using multiple regression analyses that controlled for pretreatment severity, we identified those symptoms that improved in direct relation to serum concentrations of perphenazine after 10 days of treatment. Improvement in two positive symptoms of psychosis--hallucinations and conceptual disorganization--appears to be related to perphenazine level and useful for assessment of early drug response.     

Aerobiology of the Colorado Rockies: pollen count comparisons between Vail and Denver, Colorado.

Pollen patterns were compared between Vail, CO (8,200 feet elevation), Aspen, CO (7,900 feet) and Denver, CO (5,280 feet) from 1984 through 1988. Counts were obtained at all sites with a volumetric intermittent cycling rotating impaction sampler. Aspen and Denver were compared in 1984, and Vail and Denver from 1985 through 1988. While counts were generally lower in the mountain sites than Denver, certain pollens, especially trees, were quite high. Ragweed was essentially absent from Aspen and Vail, and chenopod-amaranth counts were very low. Cedar, pine, and aspen frequently pollinated despite active snowfall.