Steroid metabolism by rabbit embryos: time of onset of steroidogenic activity.

Twenty four hour incubations of the days 5 and 6 pre-implantation and the days 7 and 8 post-implantation rabbit embryos were carried out in the presence of 3H-labelled steroid substrates viz. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (Ad) and testosterone (Te). While both the pre- as well as the post-implantation embryos were able to actively metabolize the various neutral steroid substrates into other neutral, mostly 5 alpha-reduced, steroid metabolites, the conversion of DHEA to Ad or that of DHEA, Ad and Te to estrogens was exhibited only by the days 7 and 8 post-implantation embryos.

Time courses of antibody levels in Mastomys natalensis after infections with Litomosoides carinii, Dipetalonema viteae, Brugia malayi or B. pahangi, Determined by ELISA.

Using a Litomosoides carinii adult antigen, time courses of antibody levels were followed by an ELISA in L. carinii, Dipetalonema viteae, Brugia malayi and B. pahangi infected Mastomys natalensis.

Immunodiagnosis of Bancroftian filariasis by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using Litomosoides carinii and Setaria cervi antigens.

An ELISA was developed using cross-reacting antigens of Litomosoides carinii and Setaria cervi to detect antibodies in filarial patients. The diagnostic potential of the test was investigated in 80 symptomatic cases of filariasis, 40 asymptomatic carriers and 50 normal subjects of an area around Lucknow endemic for Bancroftian filariasis. By the criteria laid down for ELISA positivity for filariasis, 86.

Clinical durability of the pericardial xenograft valve: ten years experience with mitral replacement.

Data from 366 patients with mitral valve replacement (250 single and 116 multiple) who received pericardial xenografts between 1971 and 1981 were analyzed. Cumulative duration of follow-up was 1,151 patient-years, with a maximum duration of 10.7 years.

Comparative study of cefamandole versus ampicillin plus cloxacillin: prophylactic antibiotics in cardiac surgery.

A randomized, prospective study of the efficacy of cefamandole naftate versus a combination of ampicillin and cloxacillin was undertaken in 109 adult patients operated on in Leeds during 1979. Sixty patients underwent valve replacement, and 49 had either aortocoronary bypass grafts or other forms of open-heart operation. Teh two groups matched well in age, sex, and type of operation.

Efficacy of antibodies generated by Pr-beta-hCG-TT to terminate pregnancy in baboons: its reversibility and rescue by medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Antibodies produced by the vaccine Pr-beta-hCG-TT in monkeys were effective in terminating pregnancy in baboons on passive administration. The animals returned to cyclicity soon after the onset of vaginal bleeding. Fertility was regained.

Lithium treatment in affective disorders.

50 manic patients of unipolar and bipolar affective illness were placed on oral lithium 600-1500 mg daily and serum levels in the range of 0.49-1.23 mEq/L.

Use of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in intestinal and extra-intestinal amoebiasis (amoebic liver abscess).

The sera of patients with amoebic liver abscess, intestinal amoebiasis and non-specific hepatomegaly were examined for the presence of antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the amoebic liver abscess sera were strongly positive. The test was also positive in all the proved cases of intestinal amoebiasis but the ELISA values were relatively slightly lower.

Multiple valve replacement with pericardial xenograft. Clinical and haemodynamic study.

Multiple valve replacement with pericardial xenografts (sizes 17 to 31) was undertaken in 76 patients. The incidence of early and late deaths was 10.5 and 3.

Diagnostic potentialities of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in tuberculosis using purified tuberculin antigen.

Delayed hypersensitivity tests with tuberculin or purified tuberculin (PPD) have been used for detection of tuberculous infection. The present paper describes an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of PPD-antibodies in tuberculosis patients. The ELISA test was positive in nearly 80% of cases having bacteriological evidence of tuberculosis.

Dissection of the aorta mimicking lung tumour.

A case of dissection of the aorta mimicking a lung tumour is described. The clinical presentation, investigations and management of the case are discussed. Surgical resection and replacement of the involved aortic segment, was successfully undertaken.

Coagulation studies in rheumatic heart disease.

The clotting characteristics of pulmonary and systemic blood were studied in 10 patients with chronic rheumatic mitral valve disease complicated by atrial fibrillation and in seven patients with aortic valve disease in sinus rhythm. A haemostatic basis for the association of rheumatic mitral valve disease with thrombotic emboli was sought. Both groups of patients showed differences in platelet function between pulmonary and systemic arterial blood.

Long-term clinical and hemodynamic evaluation of the Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft heart valve.

Pericardial xenograft heart valves have been used in 469 patients for single or multiple valve replacement. Early in the series, valves were made in-house, but since May 1976, valves have been made by Shiley Laboratories, Inc. During the eight-year observation period, there were 7% early and 7.