The in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital and the University of Stellenbosch. Five years' experience, April 1983-January 1988

The results of the in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital for the period April 1983 to January 1988 are presented. Of the 1117 laparoscopies performed, 825 patients reached the transfer stage. A live-birth rate of 9.3% was achieved. The pregnancy rate after transfer of 4 embryos was 25.9% compared with 15.4% after 2 embryos and 10.8% after 3 embryos (P = less than 0.0001). The multiple pregnancy rate was 2.8% in the group receiving 2 embryos and 11.7% and 10.4% in those receiving 3 and 4 embryos, respectively. Of the 77 successful pregnancies (90 babies), 1 baby died at 34 weeks' gestation as the result of abruptio placentae due to preeclampsia and 1 cot death occurred. The only congenital abnormality encountered was a cleft palate.     

Evidence of melanogenesis in porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro

Several weeks after porcine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell cultures attain confluence, macroscopically visible brown foci appear. The cuboidal cells that form the foci contain numerous phase dark granules that do not exhibit the autofluorescence characteristic of lipofuscin. The data described here indicate that the granules are melanosomes. Electron microscopy revealed three types of electron-dense granules in these cells: simple spheres 0.3-0.5 microns in diameter, large spheres 1-2 microns in diameter, and lysosomal aggregations of the smaller spheres. The matrix of both spheres is composed of 40-nm microvesicles that were also found free in the cytoplasm and aggregated within vacuolar structures. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of RPE cells and their media detected melanogens, i.e. intermediates of melanin biosynthesis, including several indole derivatives. The porcine RPE cultures therefore may be a useful system for studying melanogenic regulation.     

Whole-body and segmental bioelectrical-impedance analysis in patients with cirrhosis of the liver: changes after treatment of ascites.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple technique for determining body water and calculating body composition. It has been validated in healthy control subjects but not in patients with liver disease. We examined the ability of BIA to detect changes in total body water (TBW) due to removal of ascites. In 12 cirrhotic patients, BIA of the whole body and of body segments was performed before and after treatment of ascites with paracentesis (n = 12) and diuretics (n = 2). TBW changes predicted by BIA, by using two prediction equations, were significantly less than body weight changes (51% and 45% of the weight loss). BIA of body segments showed highly significant changes in both the trunk and the leg and small changes in the arm. These data indicate that BIA of the whole body is not a suitable technique for monitoring fluid changes in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Changes in BIA of body segments may be due to mobilization of edema after the removal of ascites.     

Motion sickness--vestibular habituation with the centrifuge

People who are prone to motion sickness have a directional preponderance of nystagmus to the left. Centrifuging will change this preponderance to the right in most people, and at the same time reduce their tendency towards motion sickness but only with regard to air travel.     

Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen nomenclature: update on CD nomenclature. Report of IUIS/WHO Subcommittee

The 7th International Workshop on Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens (HLDA7) studied a number of newly characterised molecules relevant to human leucocyte differentiation and function. The HLDA organisation, which devised and continues to maintain the CD nomenclature, is responsible, under the auspices of IUIS and WHO, for the nomenclature of all leucocyte differentiation markers. The 7th Workshop redefined a number of (principally carbohydrate) molecules, and assigned CD names to approximately 80 new molecules. This update lists, in tabular form, the redefined and newly assigned names, together with antibodies, which have been confirmed under Workshop conditions as specific for the new and redefined molecules. The major features of the cellular expression patterns are summarised, and a LocusLink accession number provided to enable the reader to access more detailed information through http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/LocusLink.