Clinical Evaluation of Rh0(D) Immune Globulin (Human) in Canada

—During 1966, clinical trials were conducted in three Canadian centres to determine the safety and efficacy of Rh₀(D) immune globulin (human) in preventing isoimmunization by the Rh₀(D) antigen in Rh-negative women delivering ABO-compatible Rh-positive infants.The candidates were randomly divided into control and treated groups; the treated mothers received an intramuscular injection of 300 μg. of anti-Rh₀(D) within 72 hours of delivery. Follow-up antibody screening tests were conducted on the sera of all patients six to nine months post partum.Of the 175 control patients, 11 or 6.2% became actively immunized to the Rh antigen, whereas complete protection against maternal Rh immunization was observed in the 191 treated patients.     

Metabolic control of synthesis of the different forms of dihydrofolate reductase of the amethopterin-resistant Streptococcus faecium var. durans Ak

The metabolic regulation of the synthesis of the folate reductase and the specific dihydrofolate reductase of the amethopterin-resistant bacterium Streptococcus faecium var. durans A_k was investigated. Under growth conditions for maximum synthesis, the differential rate increased two fold during exponential growth. Synthesis of both reductases was coordinate and air-sensitive.     

Oesophageal carcinoma demonstrated by whole-body nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

The quality of the images produced by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging has steadily improved over the past five years. Images of the head, thorax, and abdomen have clearly shown the normal anatomy. A clinical trial of NMR imaging has therefore been started in Aberdeen to assess its diagnostic accuracy and compare it with conventional radiography and other imaging technique. The first patient examined by whole-body NMR imaging had carcinoma of the oesophagus diagnosed on barium meal examination. A technetium-99m-sulphur colloid liver scan also showed hepatic metastases. NMR imaging showed a large tumour in the lower third of the oesophagus, and areas of increased proton spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) on a section through the liver corresponded with the metastases shown on the radionuclide scan. Increased areas of T1 were present in some vertebrae, and a technetium-99m bone scan confirmed the presence of bone metastases. The NMR images in this patient compared well with the images from other techniques. The continuing clinical trial may show that NMR is an accurate diagnostic aid which will complement existing techniques for diagnosing intrathoracic and intra-abdominal conditions.