Immune complexes in epidemic (type A) hepatitis. Detection by three methods using laser nephelometry

Thirty-eight children with acute epidemic hepatitis (Type A) and 22 children in "contact" with the disease, 5 of whom subsequently developed hepatitis, were studied. Three technics based on laser ray nephelometry were employed to investigate the presence of circulating immune complexes. Our results indicated that circulating immune complexes are present in the serum during the course of epidemic hepatitis. These were demonstrated in 79% of the patients. The capacity to fix complement diminishes as the disease evolves toward the convalescent phase. We also detected a similar percentage of immune complexes (80%) in the patients during the incubation period. In the subjects in "contact" with the disease who subsequently did not develop hepatitis, the immune complexes were shown to have a greater capacity to fix complement, and the percentage of immune complexes present was higher (94%). The specificity of the immune complexes was verified by correlating the antivirus A antibody activity with the percentage of C4 in the precipitates obtained by polyethylene glycol (3.5%).

Immunological aspects of sarcoidosis associated with true thymic hyperplasia

A 34-year-old woman had a three-month history of a double mitral lesion. Chest radiographs disclosed a mediastinal mass. Thoracotomy was performed and multiple white nodules and an enlarged thymus were seen. Sarcoidosis and true thymic hyperplasia were diagnosed in the excised white nodules and thymus. A decrease of cell-mediated immunity was also discussed. When commissurotomy of the mitral valve was performed 4 months later, sarcoidosis and true hyperplasia had disappeared and alterations of cell-mediated immunity became normal after a course of steroid therapy. The alterations of cell-mediated immunity, so frequent in sarcoidosis, could be related to true thymic hyperplasia.

[Hepatosplenic sarcoidosis. Apropos of a case]

We present a case of hepatosplenic sarcoidosis without associated pulmonary affection. We have also revised the literature in this respect with special emphasis on the etiopathogenic aspects. The evolution and treatment followed during the period two liver biopsies were performed. The good response to treatment with steroids, clinically and histopathologically, are commented on.

A controlled study of a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (benserazide) in the treatment of schizophrenic patients

In a double-blind controlled study lasting 6 weeks, 32 schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: chlorpromazine or benserazide, a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor. Results on each measure were subject to multifactorial analysis of covariance. Benserazide did not appear to be as effective an antipsychotic medicaiton as chlorpromazine. In fact, chlorpromazine was significantly better on measures of tension, excitement, hallucinatory behavior, thinking disturbance, social interest, and drop-out rate. At the relatively low dosages used in this study, it would seem that benserazide had little effect on the cerebral dopa decarboxylase, and it would be worthwhile trying higher dosages.

Amitriptyline-perphenazine interaction in ambulatory schizophrenic patients. A controled study of drug interaction

In a double-blind placebo, controlled clinical study, lasting 12 weeks, 48 male and 48 female ambulatory schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: placebo; amitriptyline hydrochloride, 125 mg/day; perphenazine, 20 mg/day; or amitriptyline-perphenazine, 20 mg/day. Treatment groups contained an equal number of male and female patients. Perphenazine alone or in combination was substantially more effective in reducing psychopathological disorder than was the placebo, but there was no evidence to indicate the superiority of the amitriptyline-perphenazine combination over perphenazine alone. Amitriptyline alone was not substantially better than placebo and could not be considered an efficacious medication for the maintenance treatment of these patients. Less response to treatment was made by patients with longer-term records of prior hospitalization.