Using dispersion models at microscale to assess long-term air pollution in urban hot spots: A FAIRMODE joint intercomparison exercise for a case study in Antwerp

In the framework of the Forum for Air Quality Modelling in Europe (FAIRMODE), a modelling intercomparison exercise for computing NO2 long-term average concentrations in urban districts with a very high spatial resolution was carried out. This exercise was undertaken for a district of Antwerp (Belgium). Air quality data includes data recorded in air quality monitoring stations and 73 passive samplers deployed during one-month period in 2016. The modelling domain was 800 × 800 m2. Nine modelling teams participated in this exercise providing results from fifteen different modelling applications based on different kinds of model approaches (CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamics-, Lagrangian, Gaussian, and Artificial Intelligence). Some approaches consisted of models running the complete one-month period on an hourly basis, but most others used a scenario approach, which relies on simulations of scenarios representative of wind conditions combined with post-processing to retrieve a one-month average of NO2 concentrations. The objective of this study is to evaluate what type of modelling system is better suited to get a good estimate of long-term averages in complex urban districts. This is very important for air quality assessment under the European ambient air quality directives. The time evolution of NO2 hourly concentrations during a day of relative high pollution was rather well estimated by all models. Relative to high resolution spatial distribution of one-month NO2 averaged concentrations, Gaussian models were not able to give detailed information, unless they include building data and street-canyon parameterizations. The models that account for complex urban geometries (i.e. CFD, Lagrangian, and AI models) appear to provide better estimates of the spatial distribution of one-month NO2 averages concentrations in the urban canopy. Approaches based on steady CFD-RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) model simulations of meteorological scenarios seem to provide good results with similar quality to those obtained with an unsteady one-month period CFD-RANS simulations.

Implications of Mitigating Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Pollution in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area of China Using a Regional-To-Local Coupling Model

Ultrahigh-resolution air quality models that resolve sharp gradients of pollutant concentrations benefit the assessment of human health impacts. Mitigating fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations over the past decade has triggered ozone (O₃) deterioration in China. Effective control of both pollutants remains poorly understood from an ultrahigh-resolution perspective. We propose a regional-to-local model suitable for quantitatively mitigating pollution pathways at various resolutions. Sensitivity scenarios for controlling nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions are explored, focusing on traffic and industrial sectors. The results show that concurrent controls on both sectors lead to reductions of 17%, 5%, and 47% in NO_x, PM_2.5, and VOC emissions, respectively. The reduced traffic scenario leads to reduced NO₂ and PM_2.5 but increased O₃ concentrations in urban areas. Guangzhou is located in a VOC-limited O₃ formation regime, and traffic is a key factor in controlling NO_x and O₃. The reduced industrial VOC scenario leads to reduced O₃ concentrations throughout the mitigation domain. The maximum decrease in median hourly NO₂ is >11 μg/m³, and the maximum increase in the median daily maximum 8-hr rolling O₃ is >10 μg/m³ for the reduced traffic scenario. When controls on both sectors are applied, the O₃ increase reduces to <7 μg/m³. The daily averaged PM_2.5 decreases by <2 μg/m³ for the reduced traffic scenario and varies little for the reduced industrial VOC scenario. An O₃ episode analysis of the dual-control scenario leads to O₃ decreases of up to 15 μg/m³ (8-hr metric) and 25 μg/m³ (1-hr metric) in rural areas.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction following the use of a supraglottic airway device during general anaesthesia: a prospective observational study

Supraglottic airway devices are commonly used to manage the airway during general anaesthesia. There are sporadic case reports of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and dislocation following supraglottic airway device use. We conducted a prospective observational study of adult patients undergoing elective surgery where a supraglottic airway device was used as the primary airway device. Pre-operatively, all participants were asked to complete a questionnaire involving 12 points adapted from the Temporomandibular Joint Scale and the Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire. Objective measurements included inter-incisor distance as well as forward and lateral jaw movements. The primary outcome was the inter-incisor distance, an accepted measure of temporomandibular joint mobility. Both the questionnaire and measurements were repeated in the postoperative period and we analysed data from 130 participants. Mean (SD) inter-incisor distance in the pre- and postoperative period was 46.5 (7.2) mm and 46.3 (7.5) mm, respectively (p = 0.521) with a difference (95%CI) of 0.2 (-0.5 to 0.9) mm. Mean (SD) forward jaw movement in the pre- and postoperative period was 3.6 (2.4) mm and 3.9 (2.4) mm, respectively (p = 0.018). Mean (SD) lateral jaw movement to the right in the pre- and postoperative period was 8.9 (4.1) mm and 9.1 (4.0) mm, respectively (p = 0.314). Mean (SD) lateral jaw movement to the left in the pre- and postoperative period was 8.8 (4.0) mm and 9.3 (3.6) mm, respectively (p = 0.008). The number of patients who reported jaw clicks or pops before opening their mouth as wide as possible was 28 (21.5%) vs. 12 (9.2%) in the pre- and postoperative period, respectively (p < 0.001) with a difference (95%CI) of 12.3% (6.7-17.9%). There was no significant difference in the responses to the other 11 questions or in the number of patients who reported pain in the temporomandibular joint area postoperatively. No clinically significant dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint following the use of supraglottic airway devices in the postoperative period was identified by either patient questionnaires or objective measurements.

Comprehensive evaluation of an advanced street canyon air pollution model

A street canyon pollution dispersion model is described which accounts for a wide range of canyon geometries including deep and/or asymmetric canyons. The model uses up to six component sources to represent different effects of street canyons on the dispersion of road traffic emissions. The final concentration is a weighted sum of the component concentrations dependent on output point location; canyon geometry; and wind direction relative to canyon orientation. Conventional approaches to modeling pollution in street canyons, such as the "Operational Street Pollution Model" (OSPM), do not account for canyons with high aspect ratios, pavements, and building porosity, so are not applicable for all urban morphologies. The new model has been implemented within the widely used, street-level resolution ADMS-Urban air quality model, which is used for air quality assessment and forecasting in cities such as Hong Kong where high-rise buildings form deep and complex street canyons. The new model is evaluated in relation to measured pollutant concentration data from the "Optimisation of modelling methods for traffic pollution in streets" (TRAPOS) project and routine measurements from 42 monitoring sites in London. Comparisons have been made between modeling using the new canyon model; a simpler approach to canyon modeling based on the OSPM formulation; and without any inclusion of canyon effects. The TRAPOS dataset has been used to highlight the model's ability to replicate the dependence of concentration on wind speed and direction, and also to show improved model performance for the prediction of high concentration values, which is particularly important for model applications such as planning and assessment. The London dataset, in which the street canyons are less well defined, has also been used to demonstrate improved model performance for this advanced approach compared to the simpler methods, by categorizing the measurement locations according to site type (background, near-road, and strong canyon). Implications: Currently available air dispersion models do not allow for a number of geometric features that influence air dispersion within street canyon environments. The new advanced street canyon model described in this paper accounts for: emissions from each road carriageway separately; canyon asymmetry; canyon porosity; and pavements. The extensive model evaluation presented shows that the new model demonstrates good performance, better than more basic approaches in which the complex geometries that define "canyons" are neglected.

Mitomycin C and Vinorelbine in Pretreated Breast Cancer

Aims and background

Vinorelbine, a new semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid, has demonstrated high activity as a single agent in pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

Patients and methods

To evaluate the activity of the combination vinorelbine-mitomycin C and to reduce the incidence of side effects, in particular myelotoxicity, patients with metastatic breast cancer pretreated with 1 or more chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease were treated according to the following schedule: mitomycin C, 10 mg/m2 day 1, and vinorelbine, 25 mg/m2, days 1, 8 and 15, every 28 days.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled and were evaluable for activity and side effects. A total of 157 cycles were delivered (median 5 cycles per patient). There were 10 partial remissions (37%; 95% confidence interval 20-59%), 5 instances of stable disease and 12 of disease progression. Grade III-IV toxicity was mostly hematological and included thrombocytopenia (4%) and neutropenia (42%).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the combination of mitomycin C and vinorelbine has moderate activity in pretreated breast cancer.

Success Rates in a Diabetes Specialist Nurse-Led Education Programme: Re-setting the Glucostat

Analysis of National Diabetes Audit data from 2011-2012 of newly diagnosed people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) found low initial success rates in much of the UK at 20% on initial training, while an unusually high success rate of 75% achieving target HbA1C<58 mmol/mol (< 7.5%) was found in Cheshire (England average=40.8%). We present a review of the approach taken by the Cheshire Diabetes team in the 12 months following diagnosis. Between 2012 and 2013, 15 consecutive newly diagnosed people with type 1 DM were followed up for 18 months. All received support and advice by community Diabetes Specialist Nurses (DSNs) and Dieticians covering Central and Eastern Cheshire, UK. Mean±SD age at diagnosis was 23±3 years. The period of contact with the DSN service varied from 7-12 weeks. Baseline HbA1C of 99 mmol/mol [11.2%] (95% CI: 86-111 mmol/mol [10.0-12.3%]) declined by ~50% to 49 mmol/mol [6.6%] (41-57 mmol/mol [5.9-7.4%]; F=16.9, p<0.001) at 6 months and did not change between 6-12 months. Of those newly diagnosed with type 1 DM, 84.6% achieved a target HbA1C<58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) and 61.5% met a target<48 mmol/mol (<6.5%). There was no significant weight change during the study. The key elements of this bio-psycho-social approach by the DSN team included providing psychological support, patient engagement, demonstrating positive regard, gaining trust, identifying health-seeking behaviour, providing key decision-making skills and developing a self-management plan. This resulted in improvements in overall glycaemic control well above the national average without untoward weight gain. The UK National Diabetes Audit (2011-2012) in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics in Cheshire, UK, showed a success rate at 6 months post-diagnosis of 75% achieving a target HbA1C<58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) compared with the national average of 40.8%. Initially thought to be erroneous, these excellent results were confirmed. The approach taken to achieve them is herein described.

Assessing chemistry schemes and constraints in air quality models used to predict ozone in London against the detailed Master Chemical Mechanism

Air pollution is the environmental factor with the greatest impact on human health in Europe. Understanding the key processes driving air quality across the relevant spatial scales, especially during pollution exceedances and episodes, is essential to provide effective predictions for both policymakers and the public. It is particularly important for policy regulators to understand the drivers of local air quality that can be regulated by national policies versus the contribution from regional pollution transported from mainland Europe or elsewhere. One of the main objectives of the Coupled Urban and Regional processes: Effects on AIR quality (CUREAIR) project is to determine local and regional contributions to ozone events. A detailed zero-dimensional (0-D) box model run with the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCMv3.2) is used as the benchmark model against which the less explicit chemistry mechanisms of the Generic Reaction Set (GRS) and the Common Representative Intermediates (CRIv2-R5) schemes are evaluated. GRS and CRI are used by the Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS-Urban) and the regional chemistry transport model EMEP4UK, respectively. The MCM model uses a near-explicit chemical scheme for the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is constrained to observations of VOCs, NOx, CO, HONO (nitrous acid), photolysis frequencies and meteorological parameters measured during the ClearfLo (Clean Air for London) campaign. The sensitivity of the less explicit chemistry schemes to different model inputs has been investigated: Constraining GRS to the total VOC observed during ClearfLo as opposed to VOC derived from ADMS-Urban dispersion calculations, including emissions and background concentrations, led to a significant increase (674% during winter) in modelled ozone. The inclusion of HONO chemistry in this mechanism, particularly during wintertime when other radical sources are limited, led to substantial increases in the ozone levels predicted (223%). When the GRS and CRIv2-R5 schemes are run with the equivalent model constraints to the MCM, they are able to reproduce the level of ozone predicted by the near-explicit MCM to within 40% and 20% respectively for the majority of the time. An exception to this trend was observed during pollution episodes experienced in the summer, when anticyclonic conditions favoured increased temperatures and elevated O3. The in situ O3 predicted by the MCM was heavily influenced by biogenic VOCs during these conditions and the low GRS [O3] : MCM [O3] ratio (and low CRIv2-R5 [O3] : MCM [O3] ratio) demonstrates that these less explicit schemes under-represent the full O3 creation potential of these VOCs. To fully assess the influence of the in situ O3 generated from local emissions versus O3 generated upwind of London and advected in, the time since emission (and, hence, how far the real atmosphere is from steady state) must be determined. From estimates of the mean transport time determined from the NOx : NOy ratio observed at North Kensington during the summer and comparison of the O3 predicted by the MCM model after this time, ∼60% of the median observed [O3] could be generated from local emissions. During the warmer conditions experienced during the easterly flows, however, the observed [O3] may be even more heavily influenced by London's emissions.

Spatially-varying surface roughness and ground-level air quality in an operational dispersion model

Urban form controls the overall aerodynamic roughness of a city, and hence plays a significant role in how air flow interacts with the urban landscape. This paper reports improved model performance resulting from the introduction of variable surface roughness in the operational air-quality model ADMS-Urban (v3.1). We then assess to what extent pollutant concentrations can be reduced solely through local reductions in roughness. The model results suggest that reducing surface roughness in a city centre can increase ground-level pollutant concentrations, both locally in the area of reduced roughness and downwind of that area. The unexpected simulation of increased ground-level pollutant concentrations implies that this type of modelling should be used with caution for urban planning and design studies looking at ventilation of pollution. We expect the results from this study to be relevant for all atmospheric dispersion models with urban-surface parameterisations based on roughness.

Immune regulatory mechanisms, not alteration in Th1/Th2 skewing, are responsible for helminth-mediated protection against type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. (116.3)

Both Th2 immune responses and regulatory responses are increased during helminth infection and have the potential to be the mechanisms by which helminth infections protect against Th1-driven autoimmune diseases. We investigated these mechanisms by evaluating diabetes development in NOD mice infected with the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis in settings of depletion or absence of IL-4, regulatory T cells, IL-10, and TGFβ. Despite the absence of a Th2 immune shift, infection of IL-4-deficient NOD mice with L. sigmodontis prevented diabetes onset in all mice studied. Infections in immunocompetent and IL-4-deficient NOD mice were accompanied by increases in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cell frequencies and numbers, respectively, increased proliferation of CD4+FoxP3+ cells, and increased production of TGFβ. Depletion of FoxP3+ T cells from splenocytes transferred into NOD.scid mice did not decrease helminth-mediated protection against diabetes onset. Continuous depletion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGFβ, but not blockade of IL-10 signaling, prevented the beneficial effect of helminth infection on diabetes. This study demonstrates that helminth-mediated protection against autoimmunity is not dependent on the induction of a Th2 shift but does require TGFβ. These findings suggest it may be possible to develop helminth-derived therapies for autoimmunity that induce protective regulatory responses without upregulating potentially harmful proallergic Th2 responses.

Phase II study of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer

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Background: The aim of the study was to assess the toxicity and the clinical activity of oxaliplatin in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) administered every 2 weeks in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods: 26 patients with recurrent and/or metastatic gastric cancer were enrolled. They received oxaliplatin 85 mg/mq on day 1, FA 200 mg/mq as a 2 h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU 400 mg/mq repeated for 2 consecutive days (FOLFOX-4). Treatment was repeated every two weeks until disease progression or limiting toxicity. Results: Patients had a median age of 62 years (range, 74–40); 19 patients had a PS of 0–1. Twenty patients had a newly diagnosed metastatic disease and 6 patients had recurrent disease. The median number of sites involved was 2. Four patients had prior adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, 5-FU and epirubicin. So far, 22 of 26 patients are evaluable. The mean number of cycles was 8.6 (range, 2–15). One complete response (4.5%) and 9 partial responses (41%) were observed for an overall response rate of 45%. Stable disease was seen in 8 patients (36%) and disease progression occurred in 4 patients (18%) Median progression free survival was 4.7 months and median overall survival was 9.8 months. No WHO grade IV toxicity occurred and the only grade III toxicity was peripheral neuropaty (10%). The most commonly reported hematologic event was grade II neutropenia (20%) and trombocytopenia (15%). Conclusions: FOLFOX-4 regimen shows good efficacy and accetable safety profile in advanced gastric patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Retrospective Analysis of an Experimental High-Throughput Screening Data Set by Recursive Partitioning

With the emergence of combinatorial chemistry, whether based on parallel, mixture, solution, or solid phase chemistry, it is now possible to generate large numbers of diverse or focused compound libraries. In this paper we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to design targeted libraries by applying nonparametric statistical methods, recursive partitioning in particular, to large data sets containing thousands of compounds and their associated biological data. Moreover, when applied to an experimental high-throughput screening (HTS) data set, our data strongly suggest that this method can improve the hit rate of our primary screens (about 4- to 5-fold) while increasing screening efficiency: less than one-fifth of the complete selection needs to be screened in order to identify about 75% of all actives present.

Public health and home care: historical roots & current partnerships

This article explores the evolution of home care from a component of public health services to its current position in the American health care system. Values related to public health and philanthropic roots are discussed in contrast to the current business orientation. Because nursing was the initial, and remains the primary, discipline in home care, examples from nursing service and education are used to illustrate this evolution. Educational implications are highlighted because of the importance of educational systems in supplying personnel to the field.

Phase I trial of dihydrolenperone in lung cancer patients: a novel compound with in vitro activity against lung cancer

Antitumor activity of the butyrophenone dihydrolenperone in non-small cell lung cancer was initially suggested by in vitro screening against tumor cells derived from fresh surgical samples using the human tumor colony-forming assay. We have completed a directed phase I trial in patients with lung cancer. Thirty-two patients with lung cancer have completed 25 courses of therapy at doses of 10 to 60 mg/square meter orally on a twice daily schedule. Twenty-three men and 9 women with a median age of 55 (range 24-69) were entered. Twenty-four were performance status 0 or 1 and 8 were 2. The maximum tolerated dose was 50 mg/square meter orally twice daily and the dose limiting toxicity was somnolence. Of the 32 patients, 18 developed symptomatic hypotension (grade 1 or 2). There was no significant hematologic, renal, or hepatic toxicity. In vitro drug testing using the MTT [3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (thiazolyl blue)] assay confirmed 50% inhibition of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer cell line growth at 70-450 micromolar concentrations. Plasma dihydrolenperone levels were at least 75-fold less than levels at which in vitro activity was observed. We conclude: 1) the maximum tolerated dose in our study is 50 mg/square meter orally twice daily, 2) the dose-limiting side effect of dihydrolenperone is somnolence, and 3) the concentrations of dihydrolenperone observed in plasma are significantly lower than those associated with in vitro activity.

Neuropsychological test performance and MEG-based brain lateralization: sex differences

Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) auditory evoked fields (EF) were recorded from left and right hemispheres of 9 normal males and 12 normal females. Source location of the 100 ms latency component (M100) was localized to superior temporal lobes bilaterally using an inverse solution algorithm. All subjects also were administered the Wechsler block design and visual reproduction subtests, and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). M100 source locations demonstrated significant sex differences in interhemispheric asymmetry. Males had source locations further anterior than females, with the differences most pronounced in the right hemisphere. Expected sex differences were found in neuropsychological test performance, with males performing better on block design ad visual reproduction, and females performing better on the CVLT. Across both sexes, block design scores correlated significantly with right hemisphere M100 location, with more anterior source locations associated with better performance. CVLT scores were negatively correlated with right hemisphere M100 source locations. These findings suggest MEG-based measures of interhemispheric asymmetry may be related to specific neuropsychological test performance measures.

Biochemical characterization of type A and type B beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae

Different types of chromosomally coded beta-lactamases are found in Enterobacter cloacae. E. cloacae M6300 produces beta-lactamase type A, which has an isoelectric point of 8.8, whereas E. cloacae 908 R produces beta-lactamase type B, which has an isoelectric point of 7.9. Both enzymes were purified to homogeneity by a procedure that included affinity chromatography on amino phenylboronic acid-modified Sepharose. The two enzymes were closely related as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, kinetic constants with several substrates, amino acid composition, NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, and reaction with antisera. In addition to having different isoelectric points, the two enzymes migrated to slightly different positions on polyacrylamide gels and differed significantly in rate of catalysis for cephalothin, imipenem, and the penem Sch 34343. One of three antisera seemed to recognize an epitope that differs in the two enzymes. The diversity of cephalosporinases found in E. cloacae with respect to the evolution of novel beta-lactamases was considered.

Immunization with synthetic peptides of a Plasmodium falciparum surface antigen induces antimerozoite antibodies

Polypeptides expressed on the surface of merozoites, the invasive stage of the asexual blood cycle, are good candidates for the development of malaria vaccines. Five synthetic peptides with predetermined specificity deduced from a genomic DNA clone coding for the NH2-terminal portion of the main merozoite surface polypeptide of Plasmodium falciparum were evaluated for their capability to raise antibodies that react with the P. falciparum merozoites. Antibodies induced by two of the peptides (3 and 5) reacted with the membrane surfaces of seven of seven isolates of P. falciparum from different geographic areas. Antibodies against peptide 4, which contains a repeated amino acid sequence (Gly-Gly-Ser and Val-Ala-Ser), reacted with six of seven isolates. Structural analysis of the deduced polypeptides suggests that peptide 3 is exposed at the surface of merozoites. When it was used to immunize monkeys, three of the four animals were partially protected from a challenge infection that induced a fulminant infection in control animals.

Major surface antigen gene of a human malaria parasite cloned and expressed in bacteria

The late blood stages of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, carry a major surface antigen, p190, of molecular weight (Mr) 190,000. This antigenically variable protein is actively processed, first as the parasite matures and again when it is released into the blood stream and invades a new erythrocyte to initiate a cycle of growth. It elicits a strong immune response in man; all tested adult sera from endemic areas have antibodies against this protein. Our evidence indicates that purified p190 can alter the course of parasitaemia in monkeys with falciparum malaria. We have also succeeded in cloning part of the gene for p190 and expressing it in Escherichia coli. To this end we have developed a new technique, antibody select, which greatly simplifies final identification of expressing clones.

Fetal cephalometry by ultrasound as a screening procedure for the prenatal detection of Down's syndrome

Infants and children with Down's syndrome have a cephalic index (ratio of biparietal to occipitofrontal diameter) higher than that in normal children. To determine whether this difference is present and detectable by ultrasound measurement of the second-trimester fetal head, we calculated the cephalic indices for 308 normal fetuses and eight fetuses with a 47, +21 karyotype. The mean cephalic index in the fetuses with Down's syndrome (0.829, SD 0.033) was indistinguishable from that in the normal fetuses (0.825, SD 0.042). These data suggest that the documented difference in mean cephalic index between liveborn children with Down's syndrome and normal control children is not detectable in the mid-gestation fetus and that ultrasound cephalometry alone is unlikely to discriminate reliably between normal and affected fetuses.

Production of hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies to the human leukocyte interferons

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies to human leukocyte interferon have been obtained. They exhibit different patterns of binding to purified leukocyte interferon species that are consistent with the structural multiplicity of the human leukocyte interferons. These antibodies will be useful as probes into the structure of the human leukocyte interferons, for their purification, and for rapid assay of leukocyte interferon.

Fetal sex determination by ultrasound

Real time ultrasonographic examination of the fetal perineal area after 30 weeks of gestation can reveal the external genitalia of the male fetus. The absence of this finding indicates a female fetus. This assessment is possible in up to two-thirds of cases, being limited only by the fetal presentation, position, and the estimated volume of amniotic fluid. Using this technique, fetal sexing was accomplished in 366 cases with an overall accuracy rate of 95.6% (correct in 99.5% of those diagnosed as males and in 91.5% of those diagnosed as females).

The nature of the cells generating B-lymphocyte colonies in vitro

B-lymphocyte colonies are grown in semi-solid agar from mouse spleen or lymph node cells in the presence of mercaptoethanol with or without added sheep red cells. High levels of colony-forming cells were present in the spleen or normal mice and nu/nu (athymic) mice but colony-forming cells were rare in the thymus and not detected in activated T-lymphocyte populations. Colony-forming cells were theta-negative and most exhibited Fc receptors. Most colony-forming cells had the sedimentation velocity of small lymphocytes, were non-adherent and had a buoyant density similar to B-lymphocytes. Colony-forming cells were radiosensitive (Do60 rads) and sensitive to cortisone. Colony formation was potentiated by the addition of adherent spleen cells or peritoneal macrophages. It is concluded that most cells forming B-lymphocyte colonies are themselves characterisable as B-lymphocytes.

Ultrasonography: its usefulness and reliability in early pregnancy. A review of 210 cases

A total of 210 women who had ultrasonic examination done during early pregnancy, and whose final pregnancy outcome was known, were reviewed to assess the usefulness and reliability of the procedure. Ultrasonography was found to be diagnostic in 96.2 per cent of these cases, with the primary indication for its use being "assessment of pregnancy wellbeing." Multiple gestations, hydatidiform moles, and pelvic tumors associated with pregnancy were readily diagnosed and assessed in their early stages and the gestational age was correctly determined when dates were uncertain.

Ultrasonic cephalometry: Its use in estimating fetal weight

Data on 100 consecutive patients delivering within 1 week after ultrasonic cephalometry measurement were reviewed to assess the weight-predicting potential of three known formulas. With Thompson's formula, 78% of infant weights fell within a range of 350 g, the absolute mean error for the 100 cases being 267 g. Excluding cases of fetal malnutrition, when the biparietal diameter (BPD) obtained was 8.3 cm or more, all newborn babies weighed more than 2000 g, and with a BPD of 8.7 cm or more they all exceeded 2500 g. Ninety percent of newborn babies in whom the in utero BPD was 9.1 cm or more weighed more than 3000 g. These values compared very favorably with those from other series and, thus, demonstrate the usefulness of this type of assessment.