Evaluation of White Rot Fungus to Control Growth of Escherichia coli in Cattle Manure.

Biological soil amendments of animal origin, such as aqueous dairy manure, may be contaminated with microbial pathogens that can subsequently result in contaminated soil, water runoff, and crops. Multiple mitigation strategies are being evaluated to reduce these risks. Inclusion of filamentous fungus in a biofiltration system to inactivate pathogenic bacteria in aqueous dairy manure prior to land application is explored in this study as a preharvest preventative method.

An analysis of unscheduled return visits to an urban emergency department.

Aim: This study was undertaken to identify the reasons for unscheduled return visits to an urban emergency department, particularly those relating to physician errors in diagnosis and management, and, where possible, to identify strategies to reduce unscheduled return visits.

Method: All patients returning to the Emergency Department, Christchurch Hospital, within seven calendar days of initial visit were identified. These cases were reviewed to identify reasons for return visit.

Stability of murine monoclonal anti-A, anti-B and anti-A,B ABO grouping reagents and a multi-centre evaluation of their performance in routine use.

We have previously reported the production of 3 murine monoclonal reagents for ABO typing (designated ES-9, ES-4 and ES-15). This study presents results of tests of stability of these 3 reagents, together with a fourth murine monoclonal antibody (LM103/107). In addition, data are also presented from a multi-centre evaluation of the performance of the murine monoclonal reagents in routine ABO typing of both donors and patients using a wide variety of techniques, both manual and automated.

The management of reflux oesophagitis and oesophageal stricture.

In a five year period, 140 patients with hiatal hernia were admitted to the cardiothoracic surgery department for investigation and treatment of their condition. Seventy-three of these patients had oesophageal strictures and of these 35 were treated by oesophageal dilatation and Nissen fundoplication. One patient with an intractable stricture was treated by oesophagogastrectomy.

Evaluation of monoclonal antibodies to blood group A.

Balb/c mice were immunized with human blood-group A2 active cyst fluid glycoprotein. Fusion of spleen cells with NS-1 myeloma cell line produced a total of 11 blood group antibody secreting hybridomas of which seven were apparently specific for blood-group A and were subjected to further evaluation. Of these 2 were IgM class and 5 IgG class.

A mouse monoclonal antibody with anti-A,(B) specificity which agglutinates Ax cells.

A hybridoma (ES-15) was obtained by fusing the NS-1 cell line with spleen cells from a mouse immunised with soluble blood group A2 substance. The cloned hybridoma culture supernatant was shown to contain an IgM class antibody which strongly agglutinates group A cells and weakly agglutinates group B cells. The serological specificity of this antibody is described as anti-A,(B) in this report.

Pulmonary sequestration: a review of 12 cases.

A review of patients over a twenty-three year period with a diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration was undertaken. Of the twelve patients with this diagnosis, ten had intralobar sequestrations, and two had the extralobar variety. The most common presenting complaint, in six of the patients, was an unresolving localised chest infection.

Coagulation abnormalities following intensive plasma exchange on the cell separator. II. Effects on factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X and antithrombin III.

The effects of intensive plasma exchange on the circulating levels of coagulation factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X and antithrombin III were determined. During courses of daily exchange marked cumulative reductions of coagulation factors may occur, particularly in the case of factors I, II and X, although usually remaining above the levels considered adequate for haemostasis. The extent of cumulative reduction and subsequent recovery differed for patients with different diseases.

In vitro thrombogenicity tests of factor IX concentrates. I. A survey of available assays.

Various factor IX concentrates have been examined in a number of in vitro tests of thrombogenicity. The results suggest that some tests are superfluous as in concentrates with activity in any of these tests activation is revealed by a combination of the non-activated partial thromboplastin time, the thrombin (or Xa) generation time and factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity tests. Assay of individual coagulant enzymes revealed that most concentrates contained more factor IXa than Xa.

Coagulation abnormalities produced by plasma exchange on the cell separator with special reference to fibrinogen and platelet levels.

Five patients with immunopathologic renal disease, 12 with malignant paraproteinaemia and one with myasthenia gravis underwent a total of 179 plasma exchanges on a continuous flow cell separator. Replacement fluids devoid of coagulation factors were used in 160 exchanges while 19 exchanges were replaced with Fresh Frozen Plasma. Coagulation screening was done immediately before and 30 min after each plasma exchange.