"New chronic" patients.

A five-year follow-up of 1467 mental hospital patients showed that 501 had died, 449 had been discharged, and 517 were still resident. During this period 81 "new chronic" patients aged under 65 were admitted: 49 were readmissions and 15 of 32 first admissions had had previous periods in other psychiatric hospitals. Many new chronic patients were old chronic with intervals of community care, and one-third of them were likely to require permanent care. These findings provide no comfort for those who believe that present DHSS plans for mental health services can ever be realised.     

Physical separation of "suppressor" from "helper" thymocytes.

Thymocytes from 1-month-old NZB/W mice were separated at unit gravity and then studied for helper or suppressor effects in a GVH assay. Thymocytes with a settling rate of 4 to 6 mm/hr suppressed but did not help. In contrast, help but no suppression characterized thymocytes settling at 6 to 10 mm/hr. Thus helper and suppressor thymocytes in this GVH assay were physically separated.     

"De-epithelization" and dermal pedicles.

Biopsy specimens from 38 "de-epithelized" dermal pedicles were examined microscopically. There was considerable variation in the depth of the plane among surgeons, procedures, and even between specimens from two sides of a bilateral procedure done by the same surgeon. Usually, the "de-epithelization" removed all the epidermis plus the upper layer of dermis containing the pilosebaceous apparatus. The significance of this finding as related to the future development of epidermal inclusion cysts is uncertain. Also, it brings into question the importance of "the dermal plexus circulation," which many have thought to be critical for viability of the nipple.