Comparison of phospholipids in vaginal and amniocentesis specimens of patients with premature rupture of membranes.

Amniotic fluid was obtained from the vaginal pool and by transabdominal amniocentesis in 28 patients who were admitted to the hospital between 26 and 35 weeks' gestation with premature rupture of the membranes. Phospholipid profiles were obtained on all specimens with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and lysolecithin were all analyzed to determine the effect of vaginal contamination.

Quantitative analysis of amniotic fluid phospholipids in diabetic pregnant women.

Controversy exists regarding the fetal lung maturity profiles in diabetic and normal pregnancies. Diabetic and control patients at term were compared. A comprehensive lung profile was obtained using high performance liquid chromatography, lecithin:sphingomyelin ratio by conventional thin-layer chromatography, and the Lumadex foam stability index.

Chronic demyelinating neuropathy associated with benign IgM paraproteinaemia.

Twelve cases of chronic sensorimotor neuropathy associated with benign IgM paraproteinaemia are described. The onset was in the sixth or seventh decades and 9 cases were male. Tremor and ataxia were common features.