Treatment of extradural haemorrhage in Queensland: interhospital transfer, preoperative delay and clinical outcome.

Objectives: To measure preoperative delays and clinical outcomes of patients with extradural haemorrhage, comparing patients presenting to hospitals with no neurosurgical facilities, with those presenting directly to neurosurgical centres.

Methods: Retrospective case study with data collected from 10 centres. Patients were identified with a search of the Queensland Trauma Registry database.

Australian bat lyssavirus infection: a second human case, with a long incubation period.

In December 1998, a 37-year-old Queensland woman died from a rabies-like illness, 27 months after being bitten by a flying fox (fruit bat). Molecular techniques enabled diagnosis of infection with Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL), the second human case to be recognised and the first to be acquired from a flying fox. It must be assumed that any bat in Australia could transmit ABL; anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should immediately wash the wounds thoroughly with soap and water and promptly seek medical advice.

Evaluation of methyl mercury chelating agents using red blood cells and isolated hepatocytes.

The relative efficacy of thiol-containing mercurial scavengers was assayed by using cellular suspensions of erythrocytes or isolated hepatocytes. The blood cells incubated in a buffer (pH 7.4) containing 1 mM glucose (10% hematocrit) were exposed to 5 microM methyl mercuric chloride.

Production and assay of antibodies against one antigenic component of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Monospecific antisera against BCG antigen 60 were produced by all of four rabbits during immunization with precipitates containing antigen 60 cut out of gels after crossed immunoelectrophoresis. During electrolytic iodination of a crude antigen 60 preparation, preferential labeling of antigen 60 was demonstrated, and a specific radioimmunoassay was established to follow the development of anti-BCG-60 activity during immunization.

Production of monospecific antisera against antigenic componentsof Mycobacterium bovis (BCG).

Monospecific antisera against four different antigenic components of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) were produced by immunization of rabbits with precipitates cut out of gels after crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). An important feature is to use a semipurified mycobacterial antigenic preparation, or a cross-reactive antigen, to obtain a simpler pattern in CIE so that a clean precipitate, free from contaminating antigens, can be obtained for immunization. The findings with one particular antigen are shown, and the use of such antisera is discussed.

Individual antigenic specificity of human macroglobulins: Localization of antigenic determinants and their use to demonstrate formation of hybrid molecules after reduction and reassociation.

The localization of individually specific antigenic determinants on the monoclonal gammaM Mö was studied in gel diffusion experiments with 19S gammaM Mö and its 7S subunit. Various types of such determinants were delineated. Some were demonstrable both on the intact macroglobulin molecule and on the subunit.