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In June 1997, butternut canker was found for the first time in New Brunswick, Canada, at Stickney, Carleton County. A fungal isolate recovered from a young branch canker on butternut (Juglans cinerea L.), cultured on potato dextrose agar, produced spores and cultural morphology as previously described (1). This strain was retained as FSC-758 in the Fredericton Stock Culture Collection at the Atlantic Forestry Centre. The disease was also detected at four other locations in Carleton County along the Saint John River watershed within 20 km of the State of Maine. One stem canker examined at Peel, Carleton County, suggests the disease has been present at this site in New Brunswick for at least 7 years. The butternut tree is at the northeastern edge of its natural range in New Brunswick and, prior to the pathogen's detection, was believed to be far enough from infected butternut in the northeastern United States, Ontario, and Quebec to escape infection. Because planted specimens of butternut exist outside the tree's natural range in New Brunswick and in the neighboring provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, efforts are underway to determine how far the fungus has spread in the Maritime Provinces. Reference: (1) V. M. G. Nair et al. Mycologia 71:641, 1979.

A 64-d grazing study was conducted with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the impact of implant treatment on growth performance, hair score, and serum prolactin levels of steers grazing tall fescue with high (HE) or low (LE) levels of infection with the endophytic fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum. Mixed-breed steers (n = 130; 246 ± 3.5 kg initial BW) were allocated randomly to one of three HE or one of four LE pastures beginning April 13. Within each replication, one-half of the steers were implanted (IMP) with trenbolone acetate (40 mg) and estradiol (8 mg), and one-half were not implanted (NI). No implant treatment × endophyte level interactions were detected (P>0.10). Steers grazing HE had lower (P 0.10) between IMP and NI steers on either d 36 or 64. When tabulated across forage and implant treatments, correlations were negative between overall BW gains and hair scores measured on d 64 (r = 0.28; P

Unmitigated oxidative stress is deleterious, as epitomized by CCl4 intoxication. In this well-characterized model of free radical-initiated damage, liver metabolism of CCl4 to CCl3. causes lipid peroxidation, F-ring isoprostane formation, and pathologic leukocyte activation. The nature of the mediator that couples oxidation to the hepatotoxic inflammatory response is uncharacterized. We found that oxidatively modified phosphatidylcholines were present in the livers of CCl4-exposed rats and not in livers from control animals, that CCl4 metabolism generated lipids that activated 293 cells stably transfected with the human platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor, and that this PAF-like activity was formed as rapidly as isoprostane-containing phosphatidylcholine (iPC) during oxidation. iPC and the PAF-like activity also had similar chromatographic properties. The potential for iPC activation of the PAF receptor has been unexplored, but we conclude that iPC themselves did not activate the PAF receptor, as phospholipase A1 hydrolysis completely destroyed iPC, but none of the PAF-like bioactivity. Oxidatively fragmented phospholipids are potent agonists of the PAF receptor, but mass spectrometry characterized PAF as the major inflammatory component coeluting with iPC. Oxidatively fragmented phospholipids and iPC are markers of free radical generation in CCl4-intoxicated liver, but PAF generation by activated hepatic cells generated the inflammatory agent. —Marathe, G. K., K. A. Harrison, L. J. Roberts II, J. D. Morrow, R. C. Murphy, L. W. Tjoelker, S. M. Prescott, G. A. Zimmerman, and T. M. McIntyre. Identification of platelet-activating factor as the inflammatory lipid mediator in CCl4-metabolizing rat liver. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 587–596.

Magnesium supplementation has been shown to benefit feedlot cattle and is typically added at high concentrations to mineral supplements for calves grazing wheat pasture. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Mg-mica supplementation on performance and serum mineral concentrations of stocker calves grazing wheat pasture. Supplemental Mg was provided at 6.1 g/d of supplemental Mg/ animal, Monday through Friday. In Exp. 1, 36 mixed-breed stocker calves (243 ± 3.9 kg BW) were stratified by BW and gender and allocated randomly to one of nine groups of four animals for a 112-d grazing study. Weight gain, shrink percentage, and serum Mg, Ca, K, Cu, and Zn concentrations did not differ (P>0.10) among calves fed either weathered Mg-mica (WMM), unweathered Mg-mica (UMM), or MgO. All serum mineral concentrations were within normal physiological ranges. In Exp. 2, 64 mixed-breed stocker steers (275 ± 1.7 kg BW) were stratified by BW and allocated randomly to one of 16 groups of four animals. Weight gain during a 50-d grazing study and subsequent feedlot period did not differ (P>0.10) among calves fed either no added Mg source or WMM, UMM, or MgO. Serum Cu was higher (P

Silane-coated silica particle solutions (ISolate(TM) and PureSperm)TM)) and iodixanol (OptiPrep(TM)) were compared to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated silica particles (Percoll(TM)) in their efficacy to recover spermatozoa by gradient centrifugation for use in assisted reproductive procedures. Efficacy was assessed in terms of percentages of sperm recovery, sperm vitality and motility, normal sperm morphology and normal sperm chromatin condensation. No significant difference was found in the recovery of spermatozoa for men with both normal sperm counts and oligozoospermia, between PVP-coated and silane-coated particle solutions. Iodixanol had significantly lower sperm recovery compared to the other products. Sperm vitality, progressive motility, normal morphology and normal chromatin condensation did not differ significantly between any of the sperm isolation products.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of samarium-153 (153Sm) lexidronam (EDTMP) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with painful bone metastases secondary to a variety of primary malignancies were randomized to receive 153Sm-EDTMP 0.5 or 1.0 mCi/kg, or placebo. Treatment was unblinded for patients who did not respond by week 4, with those who had received placebo eligible to receive 1.0 mCi/kg of active drug in an open-label manner. Patient and physician evaluations were used to assess pain relief, as was concurrent change in opioid analgesia. RESULTS One hundred eighteen patients were enrolled onto the study. Patients who received 1.0 mCi/kg of active drug had significant reductions in pain during each of the first 4 weeks in both patient-rated and physician-rated evaluations. Pain relief was observed in 62% to 72% of those who received the 1.O-mCi/kg dose during the first 4 weeks, with marked or complete relief noted in 31% by week 4. Persistence of pain relief was seen through week 16 in 43% of patients who received 1.0 mCi/kg, of active drug. A significant correlation (P = .01) was observed between reductions in opioid analgesic use and pain scores only for those patients who received 1.0 mCi/kg 153Sm-EDTMP. Bone marrow suppression was mild, reversible, and not associated with grade 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION A single dose of 1.0 mCi/kg of 153Sm-EDTMP provided relief from pain associated with bone metastases. Pain relief was observed within 1 week of administration and persisted until at least week 16 in the majority of patients who responded.

SummaryThe standard management of women with postmenopausal bleeding now tends to be by hysteroscopy under general anaesthesia, though the use of outpatient endometrial sampling has been evaluated. The two approaches have been compared in the present study. Outpatient endometrial sampling is an effective screening procedure for endometrial malignancy, though it will miss benign conditions and particularly endometrial polyps. It has advantages for patients, reducing anxiety and risks, with cost savings for the hospital.

Supplementing beef calves grazing cool-season annual grass with warm- or cool-season grass hay (0.4% liveweight), differing in cell wall content, depressed weight gain more by heifers than steers. Adding supplemental corn (0.8% liveweight) to hay only improved gain by heifers, though gain was not greater than controls for either gender. Key words: Cattle, beef, supplements, pasture, corn, hay

Five crossbred beef steers (515 kg) were used in a Latin square experiment and 36 lactating Jersey cows (12 primiparous, 310 kg; 24 multiparous, 365 kg) were used in a completely randomized design study to determine effects on characteristics of digestion and lactational performance of daily alternation of the dietary level of natural protein (NP). In Experiment 1, steers were fed diets of 50% bermudagrass hay and 50% concentrate. Concentrate was approximately 18% crude protein (CP), formulated to be 60, 80 or 100% NP (varying proportions of soybean meal, urea and ground corn), and was fed at 1.5% body weight (dry matter basis). These concentrates were fed daily or ones with 60 and 100% NP were fed on alternate days. Alternate day feeding did not markedly affect characteristics of digestion, including ruminal escape of feed protein, and NP level of concentrate fed continuously had no effects either. In Experiment 2, cows were subjected to treatments similar to those in Experiment 1, and performance on d 20-40 of lactation was measured. Concentrate was given at 1 kg (as fed)/2.15 kg milk produced, yielding a dietary concentrate level of approximately 40% (dry matter basis). Alternate feeding depressed (P less than 0.05) overall milk fat percentage. Alternate feeding increased production of milk and protein and body weight of primiparous cows but caused little change with multiparous cows. Besides increasing the dietary level of concentrate, perhaps alternate feeding regimes have utility to lower milk fat level without impairing milk production. Level of NP in concentrate fed continuously did not affect performance by multiparous cows though primiparous cow performance was generally enhanced, possibly because CP intake was adequate for multiparous cows but marginal for primiparous cows. However, overall, efficiency of production of solids-corrected milk rose slightly with increasing NP.

Microfiltration is the usual method of sterilization of tissue culture media. The filtrates of eight commercial filters were tested for embryotoxicity using mouse embryo growth. Four of five disk filters tested showed embryo-toxicity in the first 5 ml of filtrate and the three larger-capacity filters showed embryotoxicity for up to the first 10 ml of filtrate. The ethylene oxide-sterilized filters appeared to give poorer results than the gamma-irradiated filters. The importance of discarding the initial filtrate or preflushing such filters before use is emphasized.

Considers the focus group as an alternative to the traditional structured questionnaire. Their appeal, what they can and cannot achieve, and four key questions related to conducting focus groups are discussed. Focus groups are relevant to a broad spectrum of marketing issues related to the food industry, and it is concluded that their role will continue to dominate qualitative market research. Increasingly high standards will be demanded of moderators, perhaps leading to recognised qualifications for the holding of focus groups.

Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) occur after percutaneous renal biopsy in up to 18% of patients. Fistulae may remain asymptomatic or lead to hematuria, hypertension, and/or renal insufficiency. The identification of an AVF has traditionally been made with angiography; however, ultrasonography, which is less invasive and nonnephrotoxic, has become a valuable tool in the localization of a postbiopsy fistula. Most postbiopsy AVF are asymptomatic and close spontaneously. Conversely, AVF may enlarge and become symptomatic, requiring embolization to reverse or prevent complications. A case of renal insufficiency in a renal transplant recipient due to a postbiopsy AVF is presented. Spontaneous closure of the AVF resulted in the resolution of renal insufficiency. One must suspect an AVF when renal insufficiency occurs in an allograft after biopsy. Further study is needed to identify ultrasound characteristics that will predict the natural history of postbiopsy AVF.

The Internet offers a wealth of resources for clinical geneticists. Literally millions of sources of specialized information, search engines, listserves, patient support resources, and online conferencing are available and enhance knowledge, efficiency, and patient care. For the clinical cytogeneticist, internet transmission of high resolution karyotypes and FISH images provides another valuable electronic tool. Pictures can be downloaded from an imaging system onto a floppy disk and e-mailed after removal of patient identifiers. They can be viewed with a simple graphics program and the results quickly reported via return email or telephone. This remote case review by the laboratory director or a designee solves the majority of laboratory coverage problems and maintains turnaround time and efficiency. In addition it provides immediate karyotypes or FISH images when consultation is needed. Emailing of images allows sharing of data among colleaques regardless of differences in computerized image will require microscope the few drawback

We report a severely mentally retarded 17-year old girl with congenital abnormalities, seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and numerous constitutional chromosome abnormalities. She was born at term via emergency C-section to healthy, nonconsanguinous parents. There were no reported teratogen exposures. Chromosome studies revealed several abnormalities which could not be fully defined. Hydrocephalus was noted at two months of age and corrected with a VP shunt. Maternal and sibling chromosomes were normal. Paternal chromosomes studies were not done. The prometaphase G-banded karyotype of the patient shows several abnormalities involving chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 8, and 10. FISH with various paints and probes have defined an apparently reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 1q and 8q, translocation of portions of 6q onto 7q and 10q, and insertion of a portion of 10q into 1q.

The genes coding for yellow pigment production in Erwinia herbicola Eho10 (ATCC 39368) were cloned and localized to a 12.4-kilobase (kb) chromosomal fragment. A 2.3-kb AvaI deletion in the cloned fragment resulted in the production of a pink-yellow pigment, a possible precursor of the yellow pigment. Production of yellow pigment in both E. herbicola Eho10 and pigmented Escherichia coli clones was inhibited by glucose. When the pigment genes were transformed into a cya (adenylate cyclase) E. coli mutant, no expression was observed unless exogenous cyclic AMP was provided, which suggests that cyclic AMP is involved in the regulation of pigment gene expression. In E. coli minicells, the 12.4-kb fragment specified the synthesis of at least seven polypeptides. The 2.3-kb AvaI deletion resulted in the loss of a 37K polypeptide and the appearance of a polypeptide of 40 kilodaltons (40K polypeptide). The synthesis of the 37K polypeptide, which appears to be required for yellow pigment production, was not repressed by the presence of glucose in the culture medium, as was the synthesis of other polypeptides specified by the 12.4-kb fragment, suggesting that there are at least two types of gene regulation involved in yellow pigment synthesis. DNA hybridization studies indicated that different yellow pigment genes exist among different E. herbicola strains. None of six pigmented plant pathogenic bacteria examined, Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, Cornyebacterium flaccumfaciens 1D2, Erwinia rubrifaciens 6D364, Pseudomonas syringae ATCC 19310, Xanthomonas campestris 25D11, and "Xanthomonas oryzae" 17D54, exhibited homology with the cloned pigment genes.

Summary Two young patients with head injuries subsequently developed neurogenic pulmonary oedema. The origin and pathways of the reflex response to cerebral trauma are discussed, with emphasis on the role of raised intracranial pressure and the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system in precipitating movement of systemic circulatory volume into the pulmonary circulation, Therapeutic measures are discussed which correct the progression of this condition by reducing intracranial pressure and blocking the systemic effects of autonomic reflex activity. This leads to the basis of a simple regime to treat future cases.

Summary In 12 years (1958–69) 38 patients with homozygous sickle-cell anaemia (SS) were studied during the course of 61 pregnancies. Maternal prognosis was poor, with 7 deaths. The causes of mortality and morbidity were severe anaemia, acute sequestration, bacterial infections, bone pain crises, and bone marrow embolism. The proportion of these patients requiring operative deliveries was high chiefly because of fetopelvic disproportion from generally contracted pelvis. For obstetric operations various types of anaesthesia were used with excellent results, provided gross anaemia was corrected and hypoxia was avoided. When bone pain crises occurred during late pregnancy, labour and in the early puerperium, heparinization and blood transfusions were freely used. Fertility was reduced in these women, and both the spontaneous abortion rate and fetal wastage were at least twice as high as they were in the general population. The average birthweight of the babies was comparatively low, for no obvious reasons.

Summary In 12 years, 90 pregnancies were studied in 51 Nigerians with the following abnormal haemoglobin types: C homozygotes (39 patients), S-β-Thalassaemia (5 patients), high fetal haemoglobin combined with haemoglobin S (4 patients) double heterozygotes (2 patients) and high fetal haemoglobin combined with haemoglobin C (1 patient). There were no maternal deaths. Homozygous C haemoglobin is associated with anaemia and splenomegaly. High fetal haemoglobin combined with S, or C, and also double heterozygotes are apparently innocuous in pregnancy. Therefore, no specific treatment is required in these haemoglobin types, apart from the prevention of anaemia by folic acid supplements in all cases, with the addition of oral iron and antimalarial drugs in areas where iron deficiency anaemia is common and malaria is holoendemic. By contrast patients with haemoglobin S-β-Thalassaemia require close supervision throughout pregnancy since this haemoglobinopathy is associated with anaemia, bone pain crises and an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage. However, it is less morbid in comparison with haemoglobin SS and SC.

Summary The pattern of fetal birthweight distribution was examined in singleton babies bora to several groups of pregnant Nigerian women: 43 of them were anaemic throughout pregnancy and also at delivery; 142 had been successfully treated for anaemia during pregnancy; 35 had sickle-cell anaemia; and 65 served as healthy controls. The causes of anaemia were haemolysis from malaria, folate deficiency and haemoglobinopathies. When other factors known to reduce fetal birthweight were excluded, it was found that maternal anaemia (haematocrit less than 30 per cent) was itself associated with retardation of fetal growth and that this was most marked in the presence of sickle-cell anaemia. If, at the end of pregnancy, maternal anaemia still remained uncorrected, then a 2 per cent drop in maternal haematocrit reduced fetal birthweight by about 100 g.

Summary: The results of postpartum fetal cell counting in 400 Rh-negative patients delivering Rh-positive infants are presented and correlated with the mode of delivery and the ABO blood group relationship of baby and mother. Manipulative procedures, especially Caesarean section, are shown to increase the incidence of macrotransfusion. To make the most economical use of the new 125 μg doses of anti-D gamma globulin, quantitation of fetal-maternal transfusions is shown to be vital if the existing level of protection from rhesus sensitization is to be maintained or increased.

Summary: Results are presented showing an association of maternal smoking during pregnancy with a reduction in the numbers of circulating neutrophils in their infants. It is postulated that such infants may be more susceptible to infection.

The outcomes of 43 pregnancies complicated by the presence of Rhesus antibodies were studied in relation to the peak concentrations of anti-D reached during pregnancy. Antibody concentration was measured by an automated method calibrated against the British Anti-D Working Standard. Where the anti-D concentration remained below 5 IU/ml, the infants at worst suffered only moderate jaundice controllable with phototherapy. Above this level the incidence of requirement for exchange or top-up transfusion was high with concentrations greater than 50 IU/ml being predictive of a very severely affected fetus. It is recommended that amniocentesis in these patients be deferred until maternal anti-D levels exceed 5 IU/ml.

Summary: A matched controlled study of cord blood erythrocyte parameters has been carried out on infants of smoking and non-smoking mothers. A highly significant (P < .001) increase in mean corpuscular volume in the infants of smoking mothers was observed which did not appear to be related to the number of cigarettes used. There was no significant change in the red cell count, but haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin showed a similar increase. Growth retardation has been observed in the infants of smoking mothers and a possible mechanism for this is postulated.

The incidence of bacterial, viral, mycoplasma, and rickettsial infections has been assessed prospectively in 210 adult patients with pneumonia who presented to a district hospital over a six-year period. One hundred and thirteen infective agents were detected in 103 patients. The agent most frequently detected was Mycoplasma pneumoniae which accounted for 30 infections. A bacterial pathogen was found in 43 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common of these (24 patients); Staphylococcus aureus (eight), Haemophilus influenzae (four), Klebsiella spp (three), and Legionella pneumophila (three) were all less common. Chlamydial or rickettsial infections (Psittacosis or Q fever) were detected in nine patients. Viral infections were found in 31 patients (22 influenza A, four influenza B, two parainfluenza, and three respiratory syncytial virus). There were 10 patients in whom more than one pathogen was identified. In 107 patients no pathogens could be identified. Seventy-five per cent of these patients had either received antibiotics before entering hospital, or were unable to produce any sputum for culture. The incidence of bacterial pneumonia has probably therefore been underestimated. Nevertheless this survey does emphasise the importance of M pneumoniae as a pathogen in patients with pneumonia presenting to hospital.

Haematological indices, malarial parasitaemia, serum and red cell folate (SFA, RCF), serum vitamin B12 and haemoglobin (Hb) electrophoretic patterns were studied in 228 non-elite young Hausa primigravidae at less than 24 weeks of gestation. The study was conducted in the guinea savanna of Nigeria, where malaria is hyperendemic. Ninety-nine (43%) were anaemic (Hb less than 11.0 g dl-1). The commonest cause of anaemia was malaria, in 28% of all and 40% of anaemic subjects. Plasmodium falciparum was predominant; P. malariae was seen in 1.3% and P. ovale was not recorded. Parasitaemia was more frequent and more dense in the wet than the dry season. Iron deficiency was diagnosed in 18% of all and 25% of anaemic women; 14% of all patients were folate-deficient; high MCV and MCH correlated with anaemia, and low SFA was associated weakly with anaemia and malaria. Serum vitamin B12 was normal or high in all 145 in whom it was measured; 3% had congenital elliptocytosis, but this did not contribute to the anaemia. Sickle-cell trait was present in 26% and Hb-AC in less than 1%. Hb-AS was associated with significantly lower frequency and density of P. falciparum; this has not been demonstrated in pregnancy in Africa previously. However, the parasitological advantage was not reflected in any haematological advantage. The roles of malaria, folate-deficiency and iron-deficiency in the causation of anaemia in Hausa primigravidae will be defined further by a double-blind trial of antimalarial prophylactics, iron supplements and folic acid supplements.

Fetal cell counts were performed on pregnant women at 34 weeks' gestation following an injection of Anti-Rh O (D) gamma globulin at 28 weeks' gestation. In cases where the fetus subsequently proved to be Rh O (D) positive and ABO compatible, the fetal cell detection rate and the mean number detected detected were considerably less than those where the fetus was Rh negative. Postpartum fetal cell counts after one and two antenatal anti-Rh O (D) gamma globulin injections were also less when the baby was Rh positive than when the baby was Rh negative. These findings provide evidence that antigen clearance is definitely part of the mechanism involved in Rh prophylaxis by the use of anti-Rh O (D) gamma globulin.

Harrison, K. L. (1979) Aust. Paediatr. J., 15, 96–97. Fetal erythrocyte lifespan. The demonstration of fetal erythrocytes in the maternal circulation by the Kleihauer technique after feto-maternal macrotransfusion provides a means of measuring the lifespan of those cells produced at the time of the haemorrhage. Two cases of massive feto-maternal haemorrhage at 40 weeks gestation and one at 36 weeks gestation are used, together with a published case at 34 weeks gestation. to show that erythrocyte lifespan is quite short in fetal life and increases during the third trimester to be 80 to 90 days in a full term infant.

The weU-documented birthweight reduction in the infants of mothers who smoke throughout pregnancy [1] has prompted a number of studies to determine the actual mechanism involved. Rheological effects have been postulated [2], and nicotine has been shown to be dose-related to fetal breathing movements in utero [3]. A majority of the studies, however, has concentrated on carbon monoxide as the causative agent, reviewed recently by Yaffe [4].It i s now over a decade since infants of smoking mothers were shown to be more acidotic and to have higher pC0z levels than those of nonsmoking mothers [5]. Maternal and fetal carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels at birth have been related to the extent of maternal smoking during pregnancy [6], a study which also showed fetal COHb levels to be almost double those in the mother. No study, however, has yet correlated combined pH, pOz, pC02, and COHb levels with the extent of maternal smoking during pregnancy, and this i s the purpose of this paper.

Two 0.125 meter low resolution spectrographs have been built covering the wavelength ranges of 125 - 231 nm and 180 - 339 nm. Each spectrograph was designed to have high sensitivity, large dynamic range, and modest spectral resolution. There were hard design constraints on collecting area and pointing knowledge. These spectrographs measured the spectrum using a linear array. The wavelength conversion was done via an image intensifier, converting a UV spectrum to green light. The spectrographs had a 0.5° nearly circular field of view with resolutions of 109.

IT has been established that changes in platelet adhesiveness occur in a variety of physical and physiological conditions. A close investigation of the various physical conditions that affect adhesiveness showed considerable variations in the degree of adhesiveness in eighteen identical observations on the same subject1; there was also slight increase in adhesiveness after feeding. Many methods have been devised to measure stickiness of platelet, and there has been considerable variation in the observations made. This could mean, that different methods are influenced by a number of factors concerned in adhesiveness2. We have investigated the effect of prolonged exercise on platelet adhesiveness. The study was carried out on a group of sixty healthy young adults who were walking from London to Brighton, about 50 miles. The exercise lasted for about 20 h.

Thirty grossly anaemic pregnant Nigerian women with venous haematocrit levels varying between 6 and 17%, had their plasma volumes estimated by the Evans blue dye dilution technique, both before and immediately after direct transfusion of packed blood cells. Parenteral ethacrynic acid was added to the blood for transfusion in 20 patients, seven of whom were in anaemic heart failure on admission. Ethacrynic acid used in this way was successful in the prevention of acute pulmonary oedema, and it produced acute diuresis as well as a reduction of plasma volume in the majority of cases. This technique of direct transfusion with ethacrynic acid is simple, and it may well replace exchange transfusion as a means of treating patients with anaemic heart failure.

Summary: Platelet counts were performed on 1,020 normal patients at different stages of pregnancy. Patients with complications of pregnancy known to influence the platelet count were excluded from the study. There was no evidence of any significant change in platelet count during pregnancy.

Two cases of Jka sensitization following amniocentesis and intrauterine transfusion for Rh hemolytic disease are presented. In one case, previously reported, amniocentesis and intrauterine transfusion stimulated production of a second antibody. The apparent association of Jka sensitization with pregnancy is discussed.

Two cases of Jka sensitization following amniocentesis and intrauterine transfusion for Rh hemolytic disease are presented. In one case, previously reported, amniocentesis and intrauterine transfusion stimulated production of a second antibody. The apparent association of Jka sensitization with pregnancy is discussed.

Summary: A case of mild haemolytic disease of the newborn due to anti-S is presented. Anti-S is not a common antibody and there have been very few reported cases in which it has caused haemolytic disease of the newborn.