This report presents an account of fatal hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) due to anti-D in a mother whose red cells showed the phenotypic characteristics of Rh positive Du variant. The proposita's third pregnancy was uneventful until the eighth month, when she presented with an unusually large abdomen. A sonogram showed fetal hydrops, and amniocentesis yielded a delta OD450 reading in Zone 3. Anti-D with a titer of 4096 was identified in the mother's serum. Following delivery by cesarean section, the premature infant did not respond to resuscitation. The autopsy findings were consistent with Rh erythroblastosis fetalis. The proposita has been classified as a Category VI Du variant with anti-D in her serum.
The serum of a pregnant woman whose red cells typed as Co(a-b-) contained an alloantibody that, at the time of the infants delivery, was hemolytic in vitro and had a titer of 32,000 by the antiglobulin test. This antibody, which reacted with cells of all Colton-phenotypes except the proposita's own cells, showed very weak reactions with other Co(a-b-) cells and therefore cannot be called anti-Co3. The red cells of the proposita may carry a very weak Co3 antigen. No other persons of the Co(a-b-) phenotype were found in her members, among three of the four generations tested, suggested that an inhibitor gene may be responsible for the unusual Colton phenotypes in this family. The proposita's infant required one exchange transfusion with red cells obtained from the proposita. Red cells from 40,000 donors reacted with the serum of the proposita.
Eighty normal primigravidae received an extradural dose of 0.25% bupivacaine and were then allocated randomly to receive "top-ups" of 0.25% bupivacaine (group A) or an infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine (group B). Group B received supplementary top-ups if required. Group A required more top-ups (147 vs 80) (P < 0.01). No maternal advantage was demonstrated from each regimen. Fetal state was assessed by analysis of the cardiotocograph during labour and the condition of the fetus at delivery. Three different patterns of late deceleratory episodes were identified (grades 1-3). Total numbers of episodes per group were similar (group A, 71; group B, 69). More episodes in group A were related to top-ups (42/71 vs 18/69; P < 0.01) but the incidence of episodes after a top-up was similar (group A, 42/147 (28.6%); group B, 18/80 (22.5%)). In group A, 31/42 events (73.8%) were transient compared with 11/18 persistent episodes (61.1%) (> 10 min duration) in group B. However, the difference in the deceleratory patterns did not influence the condition of the fetuses at delivery.
Guinea-pigs are of considerable interest for the study of the physiology of parturition in view of their lack of placental 17-alpha hydroxylase, a property which they share with Man and monkeys. To allow long-term analysis of uterine activity, a chronic guinea pig model was developed carrying a uterine electromyogram (EMG) electrode array, intrauterine and intraabdominal balloon catheters and vascular catheters. Operative procedures and the characteristics of the hardware and software are described and evaluated. Quantitative analysis of uterine activity relies on the quasi-integrated EMG signal which is highly correlated with the raw EMG signal. Under optimal conditions of intrauterine pressure recording, the area of the quasi-integrated EMG signal is highly correlated with the area of the intrauterine pressure increment. The preparation is stable for at least four weeks, measurements are reproducible, and biologically meaningful results are obtained from the recordings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.