Search

Among the new DNA technological methods for microbiological diagnosis, the most promising seems to be the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sensitivity of the method is approximately 100% and the specificity is between 90% and 100%, depending on the availability of an already existing test sufficient for comparison. The PCR is able to detect only one microorganism in clinical samples. Because of this high sensitivity, contamination of samples is one of the major problems. After certain preparation procedures, the method can be used on different kinds of human sample material. The PCR could be used for detection of a microorganism, for detection of a single gene (toxin gene) or for typing of microorganisms. It is expected that, in the immediate future PCR will be a prominent part of the methods used in microbiological diagnosis.

The material comprises 444 patients, aged 12-50 years, with acute sprain of the ankle, seen over an 11-month period (1.10. 1977 to 31.8. 1978). Clinical examination showed no rupture of the ligaments in 53. Arthrography in the remaining patients revealed rupture of the lateral ligaments in 209 (in two-thirds of the anterior talofibular ligament and in one-third of the anterior talofibular as well as calcaneofibular ligament). Conservative treatment with a below-knee plaster cast for 5 weeks was employed in 107 patients, while 102 were treated surgically by suture of the ruptured ligament(s) and subsequently wore a below-knee plaster cast for 5 weeks. The follow-up 1 year after the accident was attended by 63 per cent of the patients. Good results were found in 76 per cent of those treated by plaster cast only and in 81 per cent of those treated by surgery. The difference is not statistically significant.

Inheritance of the ability to respond in wheat anther culture was studied from 6×2 reciprocal crosses between six varieties with high and two varieties with low capacity for green plant formation and their parents, replicated in two environments. Effects of genotypes dominated embryo formation and percentages of green plants, accounting for 78.4% and 85.4% of total variation, respectively, while smaller genetic effects were indicated for regeneration. Nuclear genes could explain almost all the genotype effects in this material. Embryo formation showed heterosis over high parent for 5 of the 12 hybrids, while percentages of green plants from the hybrids were intermediate to the parents. General Combining Ability (GCA) could explain 78.8% of the variation for embryo formation among the hybrids, whereas differences in percentage of green plants were dominated by Specific Combining Ability (SCA), accounting for 67.9% of hybrid variation. A positive correlation (r=0.81(**)) was observed between the genetic capacity for regeneration and green plant formation. Analysis of covariance indicated that effects causing GCA for green plant formation were mainly responsible for this correlation. A regression model with two parallel lines divided the six parent lines with high green plant formation into three groups with respect to their reactions with the two testers. The results are discussed with regard to possible involvement of two sets of nuclear genes affecting the percentage of green plants obtained in wheat anther culture: one set consisting of mainly additive effects affecting green plant percentage through an initial effect on regeneration ability, and another set of two or a few more major genes with dominance or epistatic effects uncorrelated with regeneration.

In a prospective consecutive investigation radiologic tests for lateral and anterior instability in acute ankle distortion were found to be reliable indications of lateral ligament ruptures. Arthrography of the ankle joint was used as reference. Absence of instability, however, gives little information as to the ligamental status. The size of this group constitutes a clinical problem. Better results are achieved by combining lateral and anterior instability tests. If only one test is used, the anterior instability test should be preferred. The results of the two tests bare no relation to the degree of ligament ruptures found at operation.

The turnover of (131)I-labeled gamma globulin has been determined in rabbits before and during (8 weeks later) hyperimmunization with pneumococcic vaccine, which increased the gamma globulin concentration 5 to 10 times. Before immunization fractional turnover rate was an average of 36 per cent of the plasma pool per day, and the rate of catabolism was 133 mg/kg/day. During hyperimmunization fractional turnover rate was an average of 37 per cent per day, and the rate of catabolism was 1160 mg/kg/day. The observation that the fractional turnover rate is independent of the concentration suggests that the rate of breakdown should have the characteristic of a first order process.

Serum gamma-globulin was determined in adult rats several months after total thymectomy, subtotal splenectomy, or a combination of total thymectomy, subtotal splenectomy, and subtotallymphadenectomy. The thymus apparently is of little importance in the production of normal gamma-globulin, but it may influence the production of albumin because a reduction of serum albumin was only seen in groups where thymectomy was performed. The spleen seems to produce normal gamma-globulin to a greater extent than lymphoid tissue elsewhere in the body.