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The observation of 3 cases with dysfunction of a peritoneovenous shunt due to malposition of the distal tube suggests the need for systematic radiological control of the position of tube in the superior vena cava during the operation. In patients with postoperative dysfunction the first step should be opacification of the distal tube by transcutaneous puncture in order to locate the site of the proximal or distal obstruction and to decide on the further operative procedures necessary (replacement of the value or the distal tube).

The acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare and potentially fatal disorder, which may complicate the third trimester of pregnancy. Early recognition of the disorder with rapid termination of the pregnancy and intensive treatment have lightened an often dismal prognosis. Maternal and fetal mortality rates are about 20-30% and 50% respectively. What advice should be given to survivors if they wish to become pregnant again? After an acute fatty liver cure, it should be noted that 21 pregnancies in 17 women were concluded without complications and these resulted in the births of normal infants. To our knowledge, no recurrences of acute fatty, liver were made known. These results probably allow a more favourable view of a new pregnancy in a woman who has survived.

Four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the P1 blood group antigen were produced by hybridomas obtained from mouse immunized with turtle-dove avomucoid. One of the MAb (154 IX B6) selected as a blood typing reagent agglutinated native P1 and Pk1 red cells with a high titer but was inactive against native P2, Pk2 and p erythrocytes. After papain treatment the reactivity towards P1 and Pk1 erythrocytes was enhanced whereas p erythrocytes remained unreactive. A weak cross-reactivity of the MAb with the Pk antigen was suspected since enzyme-treated Pk2 erythrocytes became significantly agglutinated. Further analysis of the antibody specificity was established by binding studies using neutral glycolipids prepared from P1 and P2 erythrocytes, affinity immunoabsorbents carrying known oligosaccharide structures and hapten inhibition with synthetic oligosaccharides. The MAb bound weakly to the Gal alpha 1-4Gal structure common to P1 and Pk antigens but had a marked preference for the P1 determinant (Gal alpha 1-4 Gal beta 1-4 GlcNAc) and the binding was abolished by prior treatment of oligosaccharide antigens by alpha(not beta)-galactosidase, which supports evidence that a terminal alpha-galactose residue is involved in the blood group P1 and Pk specificities. The MAb has a slightly broader specificity than the human anti-P1 counterpart but can be used safely for routine blood typing.