Quantitative and qualitative analysis of stability for 16 serum immunoregulators over 50 freeze-thaw cycles.

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of data from the assay of bio-archived specimens, a 50-freeze-thaw-cycle (FTC) degradation study of fresh sera was conducted to test the stability of 16 immunoregulators.

Methods: Twenty de-identified serum specimens were obtained from volunteers at United Health Services-Wilson Memorial Hospital. Specimens were stored at -20°C and underwent daily 1 h thawing and subsequent freezing for each FTC over 50 consecutive days.

Ileo-Colonic Fistula Due to Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: Unusual Presentation of a Rare Disease.

Malignant ileocolonic fistulas have seldom been documented as complications of a primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (PGIL) such as aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). These fistulas are frequently misdiagnosed due to the nonspecific clinical presentation. Currently, there is no standardized treatment approach, although a couple have been suggested with varying outcomes.

Risk factors for maternal colonization with group B beta-hemolytic streptococci.

Colonization with group B beta-hemolytic streptococci (GBS) at any time during pregnancy is an important risk factor for neonatal sepsis. To determine which groups of pregnant women are at high risk for GBS, a retrospective chart review was conducted on 608 pregnant women who had recorded data on prenatal charts and were seen between October 1995 and December 1997 at a family practice-run prenatal clinic. A total of 543 subjects were studied after exclusion of women who had no results of GBS colonization recorded.

Percutaneous CT-guided aspiration of deep neck abscesses.

Four patients with deep neck or retropharyngeal abscesses underwent CT-guided aspiration and drainage from either of two percutaneous approaches. Percutaneous drainage contributed to prompt and/or dramatic clinical responses in all four patients by effecting decompression of the abscess cavities and by improving the ability to assess infectious organisms. There were no complications in this small group.

Management of patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) on Papanicolaou smears.

Management of patients whose Papanicolaou smears show atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) is a complex challenge for the family physician. It is critical that patients with the ASCUS smear be properly evaluated and triaged, as the ASCUS smear may be a manifestation of high-grade disease in 20% or more of cases. Several options for triage exist.

A nondestructive method for casting the cardiac chambers post-mortem.

A method has been developed that permits accurate casting of cardiac chambers in diastole without macerating or otherwise damaging the heart specimen. The castings accurately reflect the size of all openings, passages and anomalous communications. Comparison with in vivo angiographic studies should prove useful for refining and validating clinical findings.