Phenylhydrazine-induced leukocytosis in the rat.

Rats were injected with phenylhydrazine (PHZ) for periods of up to 6 months, during which time a marked leukocytosis was induced. The highest leukocyte counts occurred within 4-5 days following injection. An initial injection of 4 mg/100 gm body weight evoked a mean total leukocyte count of 129 X 10(3) cells/microliter. Successive weekly injections of 2 mg/100 gm resulted in a mean total leukocyte count of 70 X 10(3) cells/microliter compared to a mean total leukocyte count of 12.5 X 10(3) cells/microliter in saline-injected rats. Lymphocytes and monocytes accounted for approximately 75% of the total cell counts in both the PHZ-treated and control rats. The presence of increased numbers of mononuclear cells was confirmed by Percoll gradient separation and by phase-contrast microscopy. Although a leukocytosis was evident when using the automated Coulter electronic cell counter, it was not discernible when blood samples were counted manually in a hemocytometer by light microscopy. Histological examination of the thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen of the PHZ-treated rats indicated that lymphocytes and monocytes were mobilized from these sites. Lymphocyte depletion was evident, and germinal centers were found in all these lymphoid organs, indicating that PHZ induced a lymphopoietic response. A possible autoimmune etiology for PHZ-induced red blood cell destruction is discussed.

Phenylhydrazine is a mitogen and activator of lymphoid cells.

Rats were administered a single injection of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) which induced an hemolytic anemia that reached maximal levels two to four days following injection. This was accompanied by a leukocytosis which was most pronounced four to six days after injection; lymphocytes and monocytes accounted for 75 percent to 80 percent of the leukocyte count, respectively. All peripheral blood cell values, including the red cell count and hematocrit, returned to their pre-injection levels by the 11th post-injection day. Analysis by flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from PHZ-treated rats by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient separation showed a marked increase in the B cell population of the peripheral blood. This was also seen in cultures of PBMC obtained from untreated rats following incubation with PHZ. Cultures of PBMC obtained from rats four to five days after PHZ injection which were incubated with pokewood mitogen (PWM) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) showed significant increases in blastogenesis as indicated by [3H] thymidine incorporation when compared to cultures of PBMC obtained from untreated rats incubated with these mitogens. Incubation of cultures of PBMC obtained from untreated rats with PHZ significantly increased blastogenesis in cultures of five day duration. Atypical and blastic lymphoid cells were evident in cytosmears of PBMC isolated from PHZ-treated rats and also in sections of PBMC pellets studied using the transmission electron microscope. Serum of the PHZ-treated rats contained elevated immunoglobulin titers as measured by radial immunodiffusion. The results show that PHZ stimulates lymphoid cell blastogenesis and can sensitize circulating lymphoid cells to PHA and PWM indicating that PHZ is capable of stimulating the immune system of the rat.

Biosocial profile of women with incomplete abortions in Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Medunsa, RSA.

OBJECTIVES: 1. To obtain information on the nature and extent of the problems of incomplete abortion in Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. 2. To gain a better understanding of women's attitudes regarding abortions in the Ga-Rankuwa community. 3. To identify the predominant biosocial factors that might influence outcome, morbidity, mortality, management and cost among those who induce abortion. DESIGN: Cross sectional descriptive observational study. SETTING: Ga-Rankuwa Hospital which is a tertiary hospital approximately 40 km from Pretoria. SUBJECTS: 355 women of various ages and gestational ages were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: It was noted from this study that women in the younger age group, of less parity, single and unemployed were found more likely to interfere with their pregnancies and thus induce abortion. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between those who induced abortion and those who had spontaneous abortion, in terms of gestational age at which the abortion occurred. More of those who had interfered with their pregnancies were admitted for septic incomplete abortion, whereas those with no evidence of intervention were admitted to inevitable and spontaneous abortion (p < 0.001). Of those who had induced abortion 98.5pc stated that they did not want their pregnancies, compared with 39.3pc of those who did not interfere with their pregnancies (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance and relevance of the abortion issue particularly in RSA where abortion is about to be legalized. Whether the legalization will decrease morbidity and mortality associated with criminally induced abortions remains to be established. The study also shows that those who induce abortion are worse off in terms of morbidity and other sequelae as well as cost to the health care system. Strategies for reducing the rate of abortion have been discussed.

Uterine sacculation: myth, reality or rarity--a case report.

A rare case of uterine sacculation is reported. This case illustrates the difficulties in arriving at a diagnosis of uterine sacculation due to the obscure clinical presentation. The initial working diagnosis in this young nulliparous woman was intra-uterine foetal death but after a failed induction the diagnosis was re-evaluated. The correct diagnosis was only made at laparotomy. A total abdominal hysterectomy was performed because of incarcerated and gangrenous uterus. Management options are also discussed.

Assessment of annual whole-body occupational radiation exposure in medical practice in Ghana (2000-09).

Occupational exposure to radiation in medical practice in Ghana has been analysed for a 10-y period between 2000 and 2009. Monitored dose data in the medical institution in Ghana from the Radiation Protection Institute's database were extracted and analysed in terms of three categories: diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. One hundred and eighty medical facilities were monitored for the 10-y period, out of which ~98% were diagnostic radiology facilities. Only one nuclear medicine and two radiotherapy facilities have been operational in the country since 2000. During the 10-y study period, monitored medical facilities increased by 18.8%, while the exposed workers decreased by 23.0%. Average exposed worker per entire medical institution for the 10-y study period was 4.3. Annual collective dose received by all the exposed workers reduced by a factor of 4 between 2000 and 2009. This is seen as reduction in annual collective doses in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine facilities by ~76, ~72 and ~55%, respectively, for the 10-y period. Highest annual collective dose of 601.2 man mSv was recorded in 2002 and the least of 142.6 man mSv was recorded in 2009. Annual average values for dose per institution and dose per exposed worker decreased by 79 and 67.6%, respectively between 2000 and 2009. Average dose per exposed worker for the 10-y period was least in radiotherapy and highest in diagnostic radiology with values 0.14 and 1.05 mSv, respectively. Nuclear medicine however recorded average dose per worker of 0.72 mSv. Correspondingly, range of average effective doses within the diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine facilities were 0.328-2.614, 0.383-0.728 and 0.448-0.695 mSv, respectively. Throughout the study period, an average dose per medical institution of 3 mSv and an average dose per exposed worker of 0.69 mSv were realised. Exposed workers in diagnostic radiology primarily received most of the individual annual doses >1 mSv. The entire study period had 705 instances in which exposed workers received individual annual doses >1 mSv. On thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) return rates, facilities in Volta and Eastern Regions recorded highest return rates of 94.3% each. Ashanti Region recorded the least TLD return rate with 76.7%.

Assessment of annual whole-body occupational radiation exposure in education, research and industrial sectors in Ghana (2000-09).

Institutions in the education, research and industrial sectors in Ghana are quite few in comparison to the medical sector. Occupational exposure to radiation in the education, research and industrial sectors in Ghana have been analysed for a 10 y period between 2000 and 2009, by extracting dose data from the database of the Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. Thirty-four institutions belonging to the three sectors were monitored out of which ∼65% were in the industrial sector. During the 10 y study period, monitored institutions ranged from 18 to 23 while the exposed workers ranged from 246 to 156 between 2000 and 2009. Annual collective doses received by all the exposed workers reduced by a factor of 2 between 2000 and 2009. This is seen as a reduction in annual collective doses in education/research and industrial sectors by ∼39 and ∼62%, respectively, for the 10 y period. Highest and least annual collective doses of 182.0 man mSv and 68.5 man mSv were all recorded in the industrial sector in 2000 and 2009, respectively. Annual average values for dose per institution and dose per exposed worker decreased by 49 and 42.9%, respectively, between 2000 and 2009. Average dose per exposed worker for the 10 y period was least in the industrial sector and highest in the education/research sector with values 0.6 and 3.7 mSv, respectively. The mean of the ratio of annual occupationally exposed worker (OEW) doses for the industrial sector to the annual OEW doses for the education/research sector was 0.67, a suggestion that radiation protection practices are better in the industrial sector than they are in the education/research sector. Range of institutional average effective doses within the education/research and industrial sectors were 0.059-6.029, and 0.110-2.945 mSv, respectively. An average dose per all three sectors of 11.87 mSv and an average dose per exposed worker of 1.12 mSv were realised for the entire study period. The entire study period had 187 instances in which exposed workers received individual annual doses >1 mSv, with exposed workers in the education/research sector primarily receiving most of this individual dose.

Dexamethasone suppresses the generation of phenylhydrazine-induced anemia in the rat.

The immunoactive steroid dexamethasone (DXM) was administered to rats injected with a dose of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) known to induce anemia. PHZ treatment alone resulted in a hemolytic anemia that was most pronounced on Days 1-7 after injection. This anemia was accompanied by a leukocytosis that was greatest on Days 2-7 following PHZ treatment. Lymphocytes accounted for greater than 75% of this incremental increase. In contrast, rats treated with PHZ as well as with DXM displayed erythrocyte counts and hematocrits within the normal range. Although the reticulocyte counts of these rats were higher than those of controls, they were significantly lower than those of animals receiving PHZ alone. In addition, DXM suppressed the leukocytosis and splenomegaly resulting from PHZ administration and inhibited the rise in plasma IgG titers induced by PHZ exposure. DXM also altered the ratio of peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes of PHZ-treated rats. DXM suppression of PHZ-induced anemia is further confirmation that this anemia is associated with immune activation.