Beef allergy and the Persian Gulf syndrome.

It is suggested that the Persian Gulf Syndrome (PGS) is caused by beef allergy. In the first symptomless phase, as a result of an energetic US Army immunizing program, using sera with adjuvants to produce detectable antibody levels, the subjects not only developed immunity to the targeted substances, but also became sensitized to one or more of the other substances in the immunizing sera, and specifically to beef protein. The subjects remained healthy while in the war zone on a restricted diet essentially free from beef, but developed PGS after they came home, and were again able to obtain steaks and hamburgers.

Interstitial cystitis and silk allergy.

Interstitial cystitis patients often have a history of allergies, and frequently, a history of gynecological or obstetric operative procedures. Silk is a potent antigen, and so it is suggested that the symptomatology of interstitial cystitis is an allergic reaction to buried silk sutures.

Intestinal absorption of dietary fat in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Fat absorption was studied in 24 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis and in 36 healthy control subjects. Beta-carotene and vitamin A in their plasma were also measured. This double-blind and randomized study showed no differences between these two populations with regard to the three parameters. We did not find evidence for fat malabsorption in multiple sclerosis.

Does basic aluminum sucrose sulfate affect blood coagulability?

Basic aluminum sucrose sulfate (sucralfate) is a sulfated disaccharide similar in structure to heparin that has been shown not to possess anticoagulant effects in vitro or in animal models. As an adjunct to a study of the efficacy of sucralfate in the treatment of duodenal ulcer disease, we evaluated the drug's anticoagulant effects. Twenty-eight patients were randimized to treatment with sucralfate. Evaluations of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, prestudy and after two and/or four weeks of treatment with sucralfate, demonstrated no evidence of anticoagulant activity.

The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection.

One hundred consecutive female patients attending an inner-city clinic for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases were evaluated for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis by history, physical examination, 0.85% NaCl wet mount, Papanicolaou smear, and culture. Of the 100 women, 54 were found to be harboring the parasite, as determined by one or more positive diagnostic tests. This prevalence corresponds with that reported previously. The information gained from the history (symptoms and phase of menstrual cycle) and physical examination correlated poorly with results of cultures for T. vaginalis; the organism was isolated more often than symptoms or physical findings would have indicated. Culture was the most sensitive of diagnostic techniques; 48 (89%) of the 54 patients were identified by this method. The Papanicolaou smear detected 35 infections (65%), and the 0.85% NaCl wet mount, 28 (59%). The simplest and most efficient technique for screening women for infection with T. vaginalis may be the Papanicolaou smear, since it is part of the annual physical examination.

Central spherules in pulmonary corpora amylacea.

Pulmonary corpora amylacea were found in 37 of 6,500 (0.6%) unselected autopsies. The patients had ranged in age from 48 to 87 years (average, 70). Among 1,000 corpora amylacea studied, there were 30 that contained centrally located, more or less intact, hollow spheres 15 to 20 mu in diameter. Morphologic considerations suggest that the spheres are derived from plant spores, and it is suggested that a possible origin is from inspired lycopodium spores, which are used as a dusting powder. Formation of pulmonary corpora amylacea as a reaction to lycopodium could account for the peculiar sporadic incidence of these bodies and their remarkable uniformity in size.

Sister chromatid exchanges in the peripheral blood of cigarette smokers and in lung cancer patients; and the effect of chemotherapy.

Peripheral blood sister chromatid exchange (SCE) rates in chronic cigarette smokers and in subjects with cancer do not differ from those in healthy nonsmokers. SCE patterns were normal in 69 chronic cigarette smokers, including 62 patients with untreated lung cancer. In three chronic smokers with lung cancer, high SCE levels were related to recent intravenous chemotherapy.

Actinomycetes in cervico-vaginal smears: an association with IUD usage.

A hitherto undescribed occurrence of actinomycetes in cervico-vaginal smears of IUD users is reported. The morphology of actinomycetes in Papanicolaou stained smears is described. The differential diagnosis and the significance of these observations is discussed.