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Introduction It is imperative that laboratories receive uncontaminated urine samples to avoid giving falsepositive results and reduce antimicrobial use. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate a novel urine collection device (Peezy) in a renal outpatient clinic to determine whether it reduced contamination of urine samples. Methods The novel device was used in 420 renal transplant recipients and the results were compared with 424 matched historical controls, who used the standard method of urine collection. High epithelial cell counts on microscopy and mixed urine cultures were used to identify contaminated samples. Results Peezy increased the rates of both epithelial cells and mixed growths in the urine samples when compared with the historical controls. Conclusions Further randomised studies in other more generalisable populations need to be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical, electrophysiological, and electron microscopical data are presented on 10 diabetic patients with severe progressive neuropathy, predominantly motor in type, in the presence of good blood glucose control, and for one patient with painful neuropathy and third cranial nerve palsy. Endothelial cell hyperplasia was seen in small vessels in all cases, and seven patients showed plugging of the vascular lumen by degenerate cellular material and electron dense protein. It is suggested that these cells desquamate and occlude smaller peripheral vessels at a point of narrowing. In one case the lumen of a vessel was occluded by thrombus. Electron microscopical examination showed a vessel occluded by degranulated platelets. Electrophysiological studies showed a pattern of denervation that was asymmetrical and distally predominant in some patients, suggesting that the neuropathy, at least in part, relates to multiple small infarcts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Precipitins to mannan and cytoplasmic antigens of three Candida species were determined in an unselected series of 289 non-pregnant women. Precipitins were present in 20% of sera of women with vaginal candidiasis, in 23% of women harbouring yeasts in the vagina without clinical signs of infection, and in 21% of women harbouring yeasts in sites other than the vagina. Of the 47 patients who reacted with Candida albicans mannan or cytoplasmic antigens, 98% reacted with mannan antigen but only 13% with cytoplasmic antigen. The inclusion of mannan and cytoplasmic antigens of C. guilliermondii and C. parapsilosis did not increase the specificity or sensitivity of the test in the diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis. It is suggested that the double diffusion test is of doubtful value as an adjunct to the diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Eleven patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia have received repeated intravenous injections of BCG containing 4-9 X 10(6) live organisms per millilitre. Non-caseating epithelioid granulomas, sometimes with giant-cell formation, have been demonstrated in eight bone marrow aspirates. Seven patients had granulomas in the liver, three in the lung, one in the spleen, one in lymph nodes, and one in a skin biopsy. One patient had a raised serum alkaline phosphatase, but none of the patients had any illness which could be related to the presence of granulomas. Granuloma formation appeared more extensive in four patients who were probably anergic before BCG treatment. Until the significance of this finding becomes clear great care should be taken when giving BCG by the intratumour of intravenous routes to potentially immunoincompetent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a case study of a couple that was referred for genetics assessment following an intrauterine fetal demise at 41 weeks gestation following an unremarkable antenatal course. A discussion of a postmortem examination which was conducted on the couple's deceased child, and resulted in the child receiving a diagnosis of a novel mutation in NIPBL3 in a case of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, is presented.

Background: Before the publication of the M40-A standard by the United States National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCIS), no quality control data for swab transport systems (STSs) had been available. Aims: To compare three commercially available STSs against the published standard to ascertain bacterial survival after a set holding time. Method: Charcoal and non-charcoal containing swabs were inoculated with standard volumes and numbers of a range of bacteria commonly isolated from clinical material. Bacterial counts were taken at time zero, six, 24, and 48 hours, with the results being compared against the NCCLS standard. Results: The standard clearly differentiated between the three STSs tested, with one product being superior to the other two products in providing better survival. Conclusion: The standard now provides manufacturers and users of STSs with meaningful data to provide, purchase, and compare an STS for routine clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]