Fatal malformations in Jamaica

Babies with major malformations were identified during the Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. They were found in 96 (8.6 percent) of 1112 perinatal and neonatal deaths coming to necropsy and in 28 (2.6 percent) of 1085 not so examined. The central nervous system was most commonly affected, followed by the renal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems in decreasing order of frequency. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system and 10 malformations syndromes/sequences were identified. Although at the present time, major malformations make only a small contribution to perinatal and neonatal mortality in Jamaica, their importance will increase when deaths from other causes, such as birth asphyxia, decline. The type of malformation currently fatal in a particular population is relevant when planning diagnostic and surgical services for neonates and infants. It is also important to any discussions about provision of prenatal diagnostic services. (AU)

Quantitative analysis of nuclear population in muscle from malnourished and recovered children

Muscle tissue obtained by needle biopsy from the quadriceps femoris of eight malnourished and eight recovered children were examined histologically. In both groups about two-thirds of the total nuclear count was due to muscle nuclei. The remaining one-third was made up of vascular, nerve, and interstitial cells and isolated nuclei in similar proportions in the two groups. A significantly greater percentage of muscle nuclei consisted of myogenic cells in recovered children as compared to malnourished children(20.7 ñ 6.4 vs. 2.6 ñ 1.4 percent)(AU)

Haemodynamic and spatial patterns of the hepatic vascular system

A brief review of the accepted morphology of the liver relevant to hepatic haemodynamics is given, with a critical account of the methods previously used to study the parameters of hepatic circulation and of the results of such investigations. The theoretical basis of the method to be used in the experiments on the hepatic vascular bed is given. The conditions under which this theory is valid, in a real vascular system, are carefully examined. The method of preparing an isolated perfused canine liver and of recording indicator-dilution curves is described, emphasis being placed on practical considerations. Results of experiments on the pressure-flow relationships in the liver are presented to demonstrate the viability of the presentation. The concept of hepatic vascular 'spaces' and the method of their circulation from the indicator-dilution curves are described in detail. The results of the investigation into the variation of the hepatic vascular 'spaces' with flow rates are presented and the analysis of the variations in term of a regression line, are explained. On the basis of these results a three compartment model of the hepatic vascular system is proposed and the anatomical and theoretical significance of the model is examined. Further considerations of the model suggest certain lines of investigation:- (a) Functional differences between liver regions supplied by the portal vein and hepatic artery. (b) The effect of reversal of the venous circulation through the liver. Both these aspects are investigated and analysed in terms of the proposed model. The correspondence between the model and the accepted anatomy of the liver is examined. Finally the results are considered in comparision with those obtained by other methods and possible extensions of the present work are suggested (AU)