Über eine besondere Form vonAsterococcus superbus und deren systematische Stellung

Zusammenfassung Die Morphologie und Fortpflanzung einer besonderen Form vonAsterococcus superbus werden beschrieben. Diese Form wird jedoch vorläufig, weil der Typus in Details nicht völlig geklärt ist, kein taxonomischer Rang zugesprochen. Es wird auch über die Abgrenzung der GattungAsterococcus gegenüber ähnlichen und verwandten Gattungen berichtet. Die Gattung wird neu charakterisiert und begrenzt. Dabei werden die geschichtete Gallerthülle und dieChlamydomonas-ähnlichen Zellen hervorgehoben, wogegen das sternförmige Chromatophor allein nicht als maßgebendes Gattungsmerkmal anerkannt wird. Weil auch die frühere FamiliePalmellaceae den heutigen systematischen Ansprüchen nicht mehr entspricht, wird diese neu bewertet. Die FamiliePalmellaceae gehört mit der GattungPalmella zu denChlorococcales. Deswegen wird für den Rest der ursprünglichen Familie eine neue Benennung,Gloeococcaceae, vorgeschlagen.     

Atypical Manifestations of Hyperthyroidism

Patients with hyperthyroidism usually present with symptoms of hypermetabolism with or without goitre and/or eye signs. Occasionally, however, the chief complaints are not immediately suggestive of hyperthyroidism. Patients with hyperthyroidism are described who presented with such atypical manifestations as periodic muscular paralysis, myasthenia, myopathy, encephalopathy, psychosis, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, heart failure without underlying heart disease, skeletal demineralization, pretibial myxedema, unilateral eye signs, and pitting edema of the ankles.     

Red Cell Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency—A Newly Recognized Cause of Neonatal Jaundice and Kernicterus in Canada

Seven male newborns of Chinese, Greek and Italian origin presented with severe hemolytic jaundice due to red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency. In five, the hemolysis was precipitated by inhalation of mothball vapours in the home. Kernicterus was evident upon admission in six infants and was fatal in four of these.G-6-PD deficiency should be suspected as a cause of jaundice in all full-term male infants of these ethnic groups. The diagnosis can be confirmed in any hospital by the methemoglobin reduction test. In areas similar to Toronto, Canada, where these high-risk ethnic groups prevail, the following measures are recommended: (1) detection of G-6-PD deficient newborns by screening cord bloods of all infants of these ethnic groups; (2) protection of affected infants from potentially hemolytic agents such as naphthalene, certain vitamin K preparations, and sulfonamides; and (3) observation of serum bilirubin levels to assess the need for exchange transfusion for hyperbilirubinemia.     

Ataxia-Telangiectasia

Ataxia-telangiectasia is a syndrome of progressive cerebellar ataxia and other neurological manifestations associated with conjunctival and cutaneous telangiectases and with recurrent sino-pulmonary infections. Immunological and endocrine abnormalities occur. Two girls with this disease are described. The first had only minor respiratory infections; her serum proteins and immunity responses appeared normal. The second had recurrent pulmonary infections and bronchiectasis; she also exhibited sclerodermatous changes, poor development of secondary sexual characteristics with low urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids, and lymphopenia. Autopsy at 17 years showed bilateral ovarian dysgerminomata and excessive cutaneous collagen as well as atrophy, and perhaps hypoplasia, of adrenals, thymus, spleen and lymphoid tissue (after steroid therapy). The cerebellum exhibited cortical degeneration. Both lungs were fibrotic with old and recent bronchopneumonia and bronchiectasis. The left lung was studied by injection of a latex preparation; no arteriovenous aneurysms were found, but the smaller pulmonary vessels showed some unusual morphological characteristics.