Carnitine deficiency with cardiomyopathy presenting as neonatal hydrops: successful response to carnitine therapy.

A small-for-date infant presented at birth with severe non-immune hydrops, cardiac failure, metabolic acidosis and hypoglycaemia. Ultrasonography disclosed a cardiomyopathy. Initial therapy consisting of artificial ventilation, inotropes and diuretics resulted in partial disappearance of oedema without significant improvement in cardiac function.

Staphylococcus aureus phagocytosis. A new cytofluorometric method using FITC and paraformaldehyde.

A new method for measuring the uptake of Staphylococcus aureus by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) using flow cytometry (FCM) is described. Bacteria were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and incubated with PMN in a suspension assay. At the end of the assay, phagocytosis was arrested by the addition of cold paraformaldehyde.

Physiological cost of vocational activities after myocardial infarction.

Oxygen consumption was measured during 30 min of work in 16 patients, after a myocardial infarction (anterior or posterior), and compared with 16 normal subjects, of the same age, involved in the same activities, in a steel factory. The VO2 at work of the patients was a little lower than in normals. The mean heart rate for 8 h was also a little lower in patients than in normals.

Impaired neutrophil defense against Yersinia enterocolitica in patients with iron overload who are undergoing dialysis.

Increased risk that patients with iron overload who are undergoing dialysis will have bacteremia caused by Yersinia enterocolitica has previously been shown. Iron overload is known to increase the virulence of Y. enterocolitica.