[Congenital malaria in a Greek twin (author's transl)].

A case of congenital malaria due to Plasmodium malariae in one of two living Greek twins born in Germany is presented. In the child fever, anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly were first noticed at the age of two months. Plasmodium malariae parasites were demonstrated in the peripheral blood and bone marrow.

Genetic studies in Saudi Arabia: red cell enzyme, haemoglobin and serum protein polymorphisms.

Population genetic studies in Saudi Arabia are performed for EsD, GPT, AcP, ADA, AK, 6-PGD, PGM, C3, Tf, Hp, Gc, Pi, Bf, Hb, ABO-blood groups and Rh-factor, level of the third component of complement and immunoglobulins. The data are compared with reported frequencies in European and African populations.

Comparison of different methods for the detection of intestinal protozoa and helminths in stool.

A total of 1428 stool specimens were examined to evaluate the usefulness of different methods of detecting intestinal protozoa and helminths. The following methods were compared: a combination of routine laboratory methods (Normal saline, Lugol's solution and Iron-haematoxylin), the MIF technique (Mertheolate-iodine-formaldehyde) and the MF-Heidenhain method for protozoa. The Telemann method and MF-Telemann method for worm eggs.

Comparative trial on the therapeutic effectiveness of the new anthelmintic drug: ciclobendazole.

In a double-blind study in Cameroon the vermicidal effect of Ciclobendazole, a new Benzimidazole derivative, was evaluated and compared to Mebendazole. Ciclobendazole and Mebendazole were equally effective in the treatment of Ascaris and Hookworm infestations. An increase in the dosis of Ciclobendazole from 600 mg to 1200 mg did not lead to an improvement in the effectiveness.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Epidemiological and clinical features in a nonimmune population living in an endemic area.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Saudi-Arabia. Nonimmune Europeans and their families living temporarily in this area were affected by the disease in great number, resembling an epidemic outbreak. Clinical features and treatment of the disease, problems of re-infection and immunity, as well as epidemiological factors are discussed.

Antibody responses in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis of the Old World.

74 persons of Northern European origin with recent primary exposure to Leishmania tropica in Saudi Arabia were examined for their antibody responses to leishmaniae with the fluorescent antibody test (FAT), the complement fixation reaction. (CFR), and the indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The FAT detected antibodies to L.

[Connatal malaria (author's transl)].

A case of connatal malaria due to Plasmodium vivax in a newborn of turkish origin is presented. Most likely the infection was acquired by materno - fetal transfusion during labor. Pathophysiological aspects and mode of transmission of this rare disease are discussed.

Abnormality of erythrocyte membrane protein in a case of congenital stomatocytosis.

A new method of membrane protein analysis was used to demonstrate an erythrocyte membrane protein anomaly. Our approach employed electrofocusing linked to sodiumdodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We observed an aberrant protein, isoelectric at approximately pH 4.

Congenital immunodeficiency and agranulocytosis (reticular dysgenesia).

A patient is presented who manifested the typical clinical and pathological features of congenital immunodeficiency and agranulocytosis (reticular dysgenesia). Treatment under gnotobiotic conditions enabled the measurement of immunogical parameters up to the 17th week of life with the following results: negative skin test, low response to phytohaemagglutinin, weak response in the mixed leukocyte culture and very few E rosettes. Peripheral lymphocytes and lymphocytes in the lymphatic tissues were markedly decreased.

Alteration of membrane proteins during erythrocyte ageing.

Separation of Triton X-100-extracted red-cell membrane proteins by linking SDS-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide to isoelectric focusing revealed differences between young and ageing erythrocytes in vitro, which are attributed to progressing conformational changes among membrane proteins.

Genetic variants of human erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase: new variants in West Africa characterized by column chromatography.

Five electrophoretically slow-moving genetic variants of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase are described: four are from Nigeria and one is from Togo. All variants have normal or moderately reduced activity, and they are not associated with adverse clinical or haematological manifestations. Three variants have been fully characterized and are different from all previously described ones.

[Bone marrow transplantation (author's transl)].

Bone marrow transplantation is an experimental therapy, which has been used with success in patients with aplastic anemia, severe combined immunodeficiency and leukemia. We report here on the procedure of transplantation and the possible difficulties which can be encountered.

[Megaloblastic anaemia in childhood due to vitamin B12 deficiency, report of 3 cases of congenital selective vitamin B12 malabsorption (author's tranls)].

Three cases of congenital selective malabsorption of vitamin B12 (Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome) are presented. Pathophysiological aspected and clinical symptoms of this disease are discussed together with other megaloblastic anaemias in childhood caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

Erythrocyte enzymes in neonatal juandice.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a major cause of severe neonatal jaundice in Nigeria, but not all G6PD-deficient babies become jaundiced. Neonatal jaundice not attributable to G6PD deficiency nor to any other known aetiology is also common. In an effort to explain these two facts, we have measured the levels of the three enzymes G6PD, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX), and glutathione reductase (GSSGR) in 38 jaundiced newborns, 26 control newborns, and 44 normal adults, all of them males.

Congenital stomatocytosis and chronic haemolytic anaemia.

A new case of congenital stomatocytosis associated with haemolytic anaemia, increased autohaemolysis, abnormalities in the erythrocyte metabolism, increased osmotic fragility and shortened erythrocyte survival is described. Intracellular cation concentrations are abnormal: Red cell sodium is high, and potassium is low. The pump rate for monovalent cations is increased.

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle cell anemia: frequency and features of the association in an African community.

The glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) genotype was determined in 100 male patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia (SS) by a combination of quantitative assay, cytochemical testing, and starch-gel electrophoresis. Of the 100 patients tested, 16 were found to be G6PD deficient (GdA-), AND 84 G6PD normal (22GsA and 62 GdB). This distribution of G6PD genotypes did not differ significantly from that observed in the general population.