Radioimmunoassay for amatoxins by use of a rapid, 125I-tracer-based system

In this new radioimmunoassay system for determination of amatoxins in urine and plasma, a novel chemical approach is used for antigen and 125I-tracer production, based on a detoxified alpha-amanitin derivative (aldoamanitin). Total assay time, including data processing, is less than 100 min. The lowest detectable concentration is 1 microgram/L for urine, 0.1 microgram/L for plasma. In the clinically significant range, within-run CVs are less than 8%. This new 125I-based assay is a significant improvement over existing 3H technology in terms of speed, precision, and freedom from interference.     

Study on extensive lymph node dissection: metastatic lymph nodes in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

Bilateral cervical lymph node dissection was performed in 71 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, considered to be relatively early cases because of mobility, irrespective of the size of tumor or presence of node enlargement. Of these, 33 cases received additional node dissection of the anterosuperior mediastinum through longitudinal sternotomy. The number of lymph nodes examined per subject averaged 89.9, the number of metastatic nodes was 13.8, and metastasis was noted in 88.7% of all cases. Lymph node metastasis tended to be more frequent on the affected side, but was simultaneously scattered over the whole cervical area. As to sites, metastasis of paratracheal nodes on the affected side occurred at a frequency of 66.2%, inferior and superior jugular nodes at 62.0% and 59.0% respectively, pretracheal nodes at 50.7%, and tracheoesophageal nodes at 47.9%. The high incidence of para- and pretracheal nodes suggests that the lymph flow in this direction is of great importance in metastasis. In fact, lymph nodes in the mediastinum, which were directly continuous with these nodes, showed as high as 39.4% metastasis in cases of anterosuperior mediastinal extirpation. This extensive node dissection is considered to be very preferable as at least the agony of survival with carcinoma can be lessened.     

Liver histopathology in clinical Reye syndrome

Analysis of the liver histopathology in 19 children with clinical Reye syndrome (RS) revealed that nine had diffuse panlobular steatosis, one giant cell hepatitis, one a mild choledochal cyst with inflammation, two multifocal spotty necrosis and one multiple centrilobular necrosis, the other five being normal. Four of the nine patients with diffuse panlobular steatosis showed microvesicular fatty droplets with central nuclei, which was consistent with findings characteristic for typical RS. Two cases showed a periportal area dominant macrovesicular fatty change, which was highly suggestive for metabolic disorder. In the other three cases, the findings were so variable in terms of the size of lipid droplets and the location of nuclei in hepatocytes that it was not possible to provide any clue for defining a diagnosis. These results confirmed the legitimacy of the diagnostic criteria of RS which included a liver biopsy as one of the mandatory conditions. They also indicated that RS-mimicking clinical pictures can be presented by miscellaneous conditions in which liver histology does not necessarily helpful in establishing definite diagnosis.     

Full-length ureteric splintage in the management of bilharzial ureteric strictures

Our experience with full-length ureteric splintage is reviewed with a note on the technique and its outcome. It is safe, effective and simple, easy to teach and easy to learn. It is recommended as the operation of choice in bilharzial ureteropathy.     

Delta hepatitis virus infection in China

To assess the prevalence, epidemiological features and prognostic implications of hepatitis D (Delta) in Sichuan Province, The People's Republic of China, 649 sera (515 from HBsAg positive patients and 134 from HBsAg negative subjects) were tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for antibody to the hepatitis D virus (anti-HD). Forty-seven sera (7.2%) showed some degree of reactivity. Serial dilutions of these sera indicated that prozoning was not responsible for the equivocal results. Thirty-four of the 47 sera were submitted under code to a second laboratory for independent analysis. According to those results anti-HD antibodies were detected in four of these sera. The overall prevalence of anti-HD in the HBsAg positive patients therefore was 0.8% (4/515). On the basis of clinical, biochemical and histological data 427 HBsAg positive sera were further divided into acute Type B hepatitis, chronic Type B hepatitis, healthy carrier state and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subgroups. Two of 65 (3.1%) anti-HD positive sera belonged to the acute Type B hepatitis group; one of 104 (0.9%), the chronic Type B hepatitis group and one of 246 (0.4%), the healthy carrier group. No antibody was detected in sera from 12 HBsAg positive HCC patients. All HBsAg negative patients were negative for anti-HD antibody. The results of this study indicate that despite a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, positive serology for delta virus is uncommon in Sichuan Province, The People's Republic of China.