Cadaver profile at university of Stellenbosch Medical School, South Africa, 1956-1996.

Data on 1,698 cadavers donated during the period 1956-1996 were obtained from files of the Department of Anatomy and Histology at the University of Stellenbosch Medical School, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa, to project a profile of the characteristics of those accepted on the program for dissection. A breakdown of the data also provided information on the profile of donors belonging to different population groups. Donors to our program were predominantly male (68%) and predominantly colored, which in South Africa identifies those of mixed heritage (63%). The average age of death was 55 years (range 15-98). Donors belonging to the white population group had the highest female : male ratio. Circulatory disorders accounted for most deaths in the white population group (48%), whereas cancer was the leading cause of death in the colored and black population groups ( approximately 25%). Pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 13% deaths in the colored population group, 14% of deaths in the black population group, but only 0.5% of deaths in the white population group. Cervical cancer and breast cancer accounted for approximately one-third of cancer deaths in women, with cervical cancer more common in colored and black female donors and breast cancer more common in white female donors. The cadaver profile in general reflects the health status of the different population groups in South Africa. The profiles of the colored and black groups reflect that of disadvantaged population groups (a high prevalence of infectious disease; relatively young populations), whereas the white donor profile is that of a privileged population group (a high prevalence of degenerative disease; aging population).

DLA-identical bone marrow grafts after low-dose total body irradiation: effects of high-dose corticosteroids and cyclosporine on engraftment.

Previous studies found that marrow allografts from DLA-identical littermates resulted in survival of 60% of recipient dogs after an otherwise lethal dose of 450 cGy of total body irradiation (TBI), either because of successful allografts or autologous recovery after rejection of the allografts. Forty percent of dogs died with marrow aplasia after allograft rejection. The current study asked whether allogeneic engraftment could be enhanced and survival improved by treating allograft recipients with high doses of corticosteroids or with cyclosporine (CSP), administered either before or after transplantation. Five dogs in group 1 received corticosteroids beginning on day -5 and ending on day 32 after transplant. The starting dose was 12.5 mg of prednisone per kilogram orally twice daily. All five dogs rejected their allografts; three died early with marrow aplasia and two showed endogenous marrow recovery. Nine dogs received CSP from day -6 to day -1 before transplantation at a dose of 20 mg/kg/d intravenously administered in divided doses. All nine dogs rejected the marrow allograft; six died with marrow aplasia and three survived with endogenous marrow recovery. Seven dogs received CSP after transplantation at a dose of 30 mg/kg/d orally from day -1 to day 35. All seven had sustained allografts (two mixed chimeras and five complete donor-type chimeras) and became healthy long-term survivors without graft-versus-host disease. These results extend previous observations and confirm that grafts of marrow from DLA-identical littermates improved survival of dogs exposed to low but otherwise lethal doses of TBI. Additional therapy with high-dose corticosteroids administered peritransplantation and posttransplantation or CSP administered before transplantation neither enhanced the rate of allogeneic engraftment nor improved survival; however, CSP administered after transplantation resulted in successful allografts and event-free survival in all cases.

[Hepatobiliary actinomycosis. Apropos of 3 cases with pseudocancerous aspects]. / Actinomycose hépato-biliaire. A propos de 3 cas d'allure pseudo-cancéreuse.

Three cases of hepatobiliary actinomycosis are reported. In all cases, carcinoma was initially suspected. One patient underwent cytoaspiration under sonographic guidance. Diagnosis was obtained by autopsy in one case, laparotomy and biopsy in the other cases. Confusion with cancer is frequent in actinomycosis, especially in hepatic lesions.

Age, sex and gonadal influences on oestrogen receptor content in the rat liver.

Liver cytosol oestrogen receptor (OR) content of intact and gonadectomized male and female rats of defined age (1-18 months) was measured by the controlled pore glass bead assay. The OR content of animals of both sexes aged 3 weeks was low to insignificant (0.12 +/- 0.04 (S.E.M.) pmol/g wet wt liver). In the intact animal, liver OR reached maximum levels at an earlier age in the male (1.35 +/- 0.12 pmol/g at 28-32 weeks) than in the female (4.89 +/- 0.17 pmol/g at 44-52 weeks). In the mature female the OR is thus maintained at a level threefold greater than in males of comparable age. Levels of OR in the gonadectomized male tended to be higher, at all ages, than those in the intact male but this difference was not statistically significant. Ovariectomy was associated with a decreased OR content in rats aged less than 6 months and an increase in the older rats, but these effects (of ovariectomy) were not statistically significant. In the females, regression analysis of pooled data, combining all ages, indicated a significant positive correlation between OR and liver wet weight, independent of gonadal status; no such relationship was found with the males. The results indicate that factors influencing liver cytosol OR content include maturity, age and sex whereas the gonads have little obvious effect. These findings lend further support to the concept that sex differences exist in the liver.

[Peritoneal irrigation-dialysis as a complement to the treatment of systemic acute peritonitis]. / L'irrigation-dialyse péritonéale, complément thérapeutique des péritonites aiguës généralisées

A series of 30 cases of post-operative peritoneal irrigation dialysis for generalised peritonitis. In the light of peritoneal physiology, details are given of the technique for insertion of the peritoneal drains as well as the composition of the dialysate. In addition to its mechanical role, continuous lavage of this type is useful in restoring and maintaining water and electrolyte balance, the limitations of which are described, together with a direct anti-infectious action and temperature equilibration. P.I.D. seems to be associated with a considerable reduction in mortality from acute generalised peritonitis (1 case out of 30). It also limits morbidity, since only 5 minor complications were seen. The simplicity and harmlessness of the method makes it possible to widen, without major reservations, the scope of therapeutic solution to the problem of acute generalised peritonitis.