Latex agglutination test for detection of Candida antigen in patients with disseminated disease.

A latex agglutination test has been devised which allows detection of a circulating antigen in patients with systemic infection due to Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. Latex is sensitized with serum from rabbits immunized with whole heat killed Candida albicans blastoconidia. The active component of this serum is IgG.

Empty-sella syndrome. Occurrence in childhood.

Primary empty-sella syndrome has been rarely reported in childhood. Substantial visual disturbance was accompanied by minimal endocrine dysfunction in an 8-year-old girl whose only other complaint was headache. This syndrome in children is associated with more dramatic signs and symptoms than have been reported for adults and may be associated with progressive destruction of pituitary reserve.

Plate method for detection of phospholipase activity in Candida albicans.

Intracellular phospholipase activity has previously been detected in Candida albicans. A plate method is described which allows rapid detection and measurement of the extracellular activity in a number of clinical isolates. The ratio of colony diameter to diameter of the dense white zone of precipitation around phospholipase positive colonies, (Pz value), correlates with hydrolysis of [14C]phosphatidylcholine by concentrated culture filtrates of selected test isolates.

Cognitive style in depressed and recovered depressed patients.

Depressed and recovered depressed patients were compared with a recovered mixed psychiatric group and normal controls on three cognitive measures relating to Beck's theory of depression. Levels of depression and neuroticism were also assessed. Cognitive response was not found to differentiate the recovered depressed patients from the two control groups, though depressed patients were consistently differentiated.

The effect of dietary xylitol on the ability of rat caecal flora to metabolise xylitol.

The effect of dietary xylitol on the ability of the rat caecal flora to metabolise xylitol was investigated. Xylitol metabolism in micro-organisms has generally been assessed in terms of pH change and acid production which are often insensitive in demonstrating low rates of substrate utilisation. Using a rapid and sensitive radioisotopic assay, in which 14CO2 production from [U-14C] xylitol was measured, it was possible to show that the caecal microflora obtained from rats can metabolise xylitol.

Psychogeriatric dependency rating scales (PGDRS): a method of assessment for use by nurses.

Validity and reliability studies of a method of assessment of the elderly mentally ill by nurses are presented. The method has the advantages of being brief, meaningful and structured into three areas which provide useful distinctions for nursing: Orientation, Behaviour, and Physical Capacity. Applications of the scales are discussed.

Relapse of antibiotic-associated colitis after vancomycin therapy.

Antibiotic-associated colitis, although occasionally fatal, is a disease which is considered to be self-limiting and non-recurring. Recently, specific treatment with oral vancomycin directed at the trigger organism, Clostridium difficile, has been shown to be effective. A case in which antibiotic-associated colitis was treated with vancomycin and subsequently recurred is described.

Subtle disturbances of vision after optic neuritis elicited by studying contrast sensitivity.

Eight patients with a subjective disorder of vision yet normal Snellen acuities after optic neuritis were shown to have an abnormal contrast sensitivity function in their affected eye. It appears that certain disorders of vision are associated with an abnormality of the contrast sensitivity function in spite of near normal visual acuity. Such an abnormality may affect pattern recognition without having an influence on Snellen acuity because of the high contrast of the latter and its predominant association with the higher spatial frequencies.

Neurology Teaching in UK Medical Schools.

From time to time, Medical Teacher will publish surveys of topical aspects of medical educational practice in the UK and elsewhere. The first article in this series reports the results of an enquiry into the teaching of the expanding specialty of neurology and neurosurgery in clinical medical schools in the UK. It shows wide differences in the arrangements made for teaching the specialty, and considerable dissatisfaction amongst many teachers with what they regard as insufficient teaching provision.

Benefit from adrenocorticotrophin in myasthenia gravis.

Twenty-one of 29 patients suffering from myasthenia gravis derived benefit from a short intensive course of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). The mean duration of benefit was approximately six months. The best results were obtained in patients with a short history of myasthenia.