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A rapid gas-liquid chromatographic method for the quantitation of nonesterified fatty acids (C6:0-C18:3) is described which does not require derivatization and allows separation and quantitation of all fatty acid species in a single analysis. Quantitation of the serum of normal, overnight-fasted children showed that palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids are the predominant nonesterified fatty acids, and about one-half of the nonesterified fatty acids are unsaturated. The level of the toal serum nonesterified fatty acids quantitated by this method is about two-thirds of the total level as determined by colorimetric analysis of identical serum samples. The possible reasons for the discrepancy between the two methods in the quantitation of the total nonesterified fatty acids of serum are discussed.

Since the first description of chondroectodermal dysplasia by Ellis and van Creveld in 1940,1 approximately 32 cases of this syndrome have been reported in the literature. Recent articles2-5 have reviewed the literature and discussed the salient features of the disease. Characteristically, there is ectodermal dysplasia, chondrodysplasia, and polydactyly, with or without associated congenital heart lesions and other defects.This report is concerned with the 33d case to be described and the results of chromosome analysis done on this patient. To our knowledge there have been no previous reports of chromosome studies in a patient with this syndrome. REPORT OF CASE A 3½-year-old white female of Italian descent, was admitted to the Jersey City Medical Center, N.J., on March 8, 1961 because of fever and respiratory distress of 24 hours' duration.Past History.—This patient was the product of a normal full-term pregnancy and delivery; birth weight was 2,778

Total cord IgM measurements and an indirect γM-Fluorescent treponemal antibody (γM-FTA) test were performed on the cord sera of 43 seroreactive neonates to determine the reliability of each in diagnosing congenital syphilis. Thirty-three infants who did not have active disease had either a negative or minimally reactive (five cases) γM-FTA test. Four with definite and five with suspected active disease gave 3 to 4+ reactions. One infant who was suspected to have active disease was FTA negative. By titering the 3 to 4+ reactive sera, it was shown that this FTA test can detect considerably less than 1 mg/100 cc of antitreponemal IgM antibody. Total cord IgM levels were not reliably elevated in active cases. These results suggest that the γM-FTA test may prove to be an accurate additional way to diagnose congenital syphilis in the neonatal period even if the infant is asymptomatic.

A clinical study was performed to compare the effectiveness of three currently employed antimicrobial regimens to each other and to that of ampicillin in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. Four hundred children with acute otitis media were treated by randomization with one of four therapeutic regimens: (1) oxytetracycline, (2) a single injection of procaine penicillin G and penicillin G benzathine plus orally administered sulfisoxazole, (3) phenoxymethyl penicillin potassium plus sufisoxazole, or (4) ampicillin for seven days. The relative effectiveness of each therapeutic regimen was judged in a double-blind manner. The therapeutic responses in the four different treatment groups were not significantly different; however, relapses were more common after oxytetracycline.

A case of multicystic kidney with gonadal dysgenesis occurred in a newborn infant. Review of the literature indicates a high frequency of renal anomalies associated with this syndrome, more frequent than coarctation of the aorta. Evaluation for renal anomalies should be made in all cases of gonadal dysgenesis.