[Vaginal fungi in toxemia of pregnancy (author's transl)]

In order to prevent the transfer of the fungi in maternal vagina into a neonate through transvaginal delivery, we examined the presence of vaginal fungi in the patients with toxemia of pregnancy occurring chiefly from the later stages of pregnancy and made an analysis from the quantitative aspect of fungi (number of colonies produced on Mizuno-Takada medium). The results obtained are as follows: 1) The detection rate of vaginal fungi was evidently so high as 37.1% in toxemia group compared with 27.6% in non-toxemia group (p less than 0.01). And the detection rate of vaginal Candida albicans (hereinafter: C. albicans) also proved to be higher tendency in toxemia group. 2) When the toxemia patients were divided into mild cases and severe ones for comparison, the detection rate of vaginal fungi and that of vaginal C. albicans were both higher in the severe case group. Particularly in the group which had the symptoms of toxemia at the examination time of vaginal fungi there was seen the higher rate. 3) From the quantitative aspect of vaginal fungi it is evident that there were more cases with over 51 colonies in the group showing the symptoms of toxemia at the time of fungi examination than in the group showing no such symptoms at the examination and the group of non-toxemia (p less than 0.01).

Stepwise acquisition of multiple drug resistance by beta-hemolytic streptococci and difference in resistance pattern by type

We collected 1,353 strains of beta-hemolytic streptococci of groups A, B, C, and G (1,176 strains of which were group A) isolated in 26 institutions throughout Japan in 1972-1974. The strains were grouped and T-typed by our specific group-and T-factor sera, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations of 10 antibiotics were assayed by the standard method. Resistant strains from the above collection were classified according to group, T-type, and drug resistance pattern. Our data on T-types for 1964-1971 and on drug resistance for 1966-1971 were used to interpret the detected long-term variations in T-type and drug resistance. The stepwise acquisition of multiple drug resistance, the difference in resistance pattern between predominant T-types, and the rarity of single-macrolide resistance were demonstrated.

Long-term results of bypass grafts for atypical coarctation of the thoracic aorta

Long-term results of bypass grafts for atypical coarctation of the thoracic aorta are presented. Six of the 13 patients with atypical coarctation were treated with long bypass from the descending thoracic aorta to the abdominal aorta. One of them had correction of right renal stenosis with a saphenous vein graft. Late clinical results of surgery (average follow-up time 4 years, 5 months and the longest over 10 years) were excellent, except for one patient who died 3 1/2 years postoperatively of acute abdomen. This experience suggests that atypical coarctation of the aorta can be treated satisfactorily by the long thoraco-abdominal bypass graft technique. If unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis is found simultaneously, renal revascularization is also necessary to obtain normalization of the blood pressures.

Criteria of complete remission from trophoblastic neoplasia with the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) excretion pattern as a parameter

The excretion pattern of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or luteinizing hormone (LH) was observed in the urine of 77 patients with trophoblastic neoplasia, 109 with complete remission from trophoblastic neoplasia, and 94 with no trophoblastic neoplasia, when the anti-beta-subunit hCG system radioimmunoassay (anti-beta-subunit RIA), which specifically measured hCG was used. The sensitivity of anti-beta-subunit RIA was limited to urinary hCG 16 mIL/ml from the specificity of the anti-beta-subunit serum. Luteinizing hormone in the urine of patients with complete remission and in normal menstrual, postmenopausal, and castrated women was less than 16 mIU/ml in most cases. The excretion pattern of urinary hCG in the patients undergoing treatment for trophoblastic neoplasia was more clearly comprehended with the anti-beta-subunit RIA as compared with the anti-hCH RIA. The criteria for judgment of complete remission were that the hCG value dropped to less than 16 mIU/ml and that cellular response was not observed at least in the last two courses.

Successfully treated cardiac luxation through right pericardium

A 54-year old laborer suffering from multiple thoracic injuries on his 16th hospital day during the gypsum bandage for his left shoulder suddenly developed circulatory collapse. Emergency angiocardiogram revieled this is caused by cardiac luxation through the right side pleuropericardium. Reposition of the heart and repair of pericardium resulted in normalization of circulatory physiology. Later, he returned to good and active physical condition.