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Two independent cases of oligochaete worms recovered from Korean women’s vaginas are reported. Both specimens were non-parasitic cosmopolitan exotics identified as: microdrile tubificid Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862 (Tubificidae) and megadrile dichogastrid Dichogaster bolaui (Michaelsen, 1891) (Octochaetidae) – a new record for Korea. The tubificid is a freshwater euryhaline species that may reach high numbers in organically rich water e.g. in a paddy field, whereas the earthworm is commonly intercepted by quarantine in plant or vegetable cargos and also appears in bathtubs when it inhabits drainage sys¬tems. Thus, bathing/douching, field working or picnicking without a blanket are suggested as possible modes of ingress. Oligo¬chaetes rarely occur in live human bodies but the few previous historical records are reviewed.

Avoidance or minimization of maintenance immunosuppression represents the key step for promoting wider applicability of reconstructive transplantation. Understanding the mechanisms of composite tissue allograft rejection is of essence in working towards this goal. We herein review the current knowledge on acute rejection in reconstructive transplantation and discuss findings in the light of novel immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory strategies., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart * New York.)

Effects of catecholamines on the contraction of isolated guinea-pig gallbladder induced by transmural stimulation (TM) were investigated. Tetrodotoxin and atropine prevented the TM-induced contraction. Atropine, but not tetrodotoxin, blocked the acetylcholine-induced contraction. Furthermore, the TM-induced contraction was sharply reduced during a cold storage for 1 to 4 days and then abolished 4 to 7 days later. Norepinephrine (5 X 10(-6) M) and epinephrine (4.5 X 10(-6) M) did not affect acetylcholine-induced contraction, but reduced the contractile response to TM by about 40% and 60%, respectively. Phentolamine, but not propranolol, abolished the inhibitory effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on the contraction induced by TM. Isoproterenol and phenylephrine did not significantly modify the TM-induced contraction. These observations suggest that TM-induced contraction is produced by the release of acetylcholine from the ending of postganglionic cholinergic fibers. The possibility that norepinephrine and epinephrine act on the inhibitory alpha-adrenoreceptors in the ending of cholinergic neuron is discussed.