Placental findings in spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.

Placentae and membranes of 360 spontaneous abortions and stillbirths were studied by light microscopy and compared to 100 induced abortions of 2-5 months gestation. The placental findings were correlated with morphological and chromosomal studies of the fetuses. A high incidence of hydatid degeneration was found in early spontaneous abortions (less than 12 weeks of age), especially in "blighted ova.

Ataxia telangiectasia: chromosomal stability in continuous lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Chromosomal breakage in peripheral lymphocytes, cultured fibroblasts and long-term lymphoblastoid cell lines was investigated in five hitherto undescribed patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Increased chromosomal instability was observed in lymphocytes and fibroblasts, and clones possessing a Dq+ marker were observed. Breakage rates were significantly higher in the fibroblasts than in the lymphocytes of AT patients or in similar tissues from patients with Bloom syndrome or Fanconi anemia.

Teratogenicity of cyproheptadine in pregnant rats.

The teratogenicity of cyproheptadine HCL (Periactin) was studied in 3 groups of pregnant rats which received respectively 0.5 mg/kg/day, 2.5 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day cyproheptadine subcutaneously and in a control group of pregnant rats which received 0.