REPAIR OF VESICO-VAGINAL FISTULA

One hundred and thirteen patients with vesico-vaginal fistula were seen at the University of California Hospital from 1932 through 1959. The most common cause of fistula was trauma associated with pelvic operation, and the operation most often involved was total abdominal hysterectomy. Malignant disease of the pelvic organs was the second most common cause, while radiation therapy and obstetrical causes were next in the order of frequency.Three fistulas healed spontaneously. Twelve bladder by-pass operations were done and 54 repairs were carried out in 46 patients. Thirty-eight patients (82.6 per cent) were cured after one or more repair operations. A variety of operative approaches were used, selected in accordance with the needs of the individual case. Bladder distention postoperatively, due to a plugged catheter, was held responsible for failure of the repair in three cases, and this complication was considered preventable.Close attention to surgical technique, the recognition of bladder injury, and proper repair at the time of operation are prime factors in the prevention of vesico-vaginal fistula.     

THE CONDUCTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF GLYCINE,d,l-VALINE,AND l-ASPARAGINE

1. The conductivities of aqueous solutions of glycine, d,l-valine, and l-asparagine have been determined, and comparisons have been made with similar data reported in the literature. 2. On the basis of certain theoretical considerations, calculations of the expected conductivities of aqueous solutions of glycine, asparagine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid have been made and these data have been compared with similar data obtained experimentally. 3. The dissociation constants of the carboxyl groups of aspartic acid and glutamic acid have been calculated from conductivity data. 4. It is shown that alanine has no effect on the ionic atmosphere of solutions of potassium chloride.     

MODE OF ATTACHMENT,HAUSTORIUM STRUCTURE,AND HOSTS OF PEDICULARIS CANADENSIS

Piehl, Martin A. (Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, Calif.) Mode of attachment, haustorium structure, and hosts of Pedicularis canadensis. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(10): 978–985. Illus. 1963.—Although long known for European members of the genus, parasitism is documented for the first time for the North American Pedicularis canadensis (Scrophulariaceae) from observations made in the field. Every stand examined showed evidence for parasitism, the haustorial connections being established in the seedling stage. The haustoria, which vary somewhat morphologically, produce direct connection between the xylem of the host and that of the parasite. The great diversity of hosts, involving 80 species from 35 families, suggests that connections may be made to essentially any vascular plant with subterranean parts in proximity to those of the parasite, although some species are parasitized much more frequently than others. In addition, haustorial attachments were found to dead parts of vascular plants and, in single instances, to a fungus and small pebbles. Intraspecific parasitism has also been observed.