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LOW-CALCIUM RICKETS IN INDIAN HERDSMEN
463 EFFECT OF AGAR COMPOSITION ON SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF DETECTION OF SH ANTIGEN
The teeth, too, showed all the clinical signs of hypomineralisation and pronounced abrasion, even in children. Since the food (boiled meat and corn, dried meat) is rather soft, the abrasion of the teeth may be due to the softness of the dentine rather than to the hardness of the food. Only 8% of the teeth of 114 children between 5 and 15 years of age showed caries, of which 90% was localised to the first and second premolars. The daily intake of calcium was only 75 mg. daily and the concentration of fluorine in the drinking water was between 0-15 and 0-27 mg. per litre. These facts show that there may exist other factors than minerals which protect against dental caries, or perhaps that the same hypomineralisation is a protection factor.
*
The details of these studies will be reported in the Revista de la Facultad de Medicina, La Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,
Antiserum S, unconcentrated
or 5 x ethyl-alcohol-concentrated globulin from a frequently transfused haemophilia patient which I have used for detection of SH antigen. Antiserum T is serum from a frequently transfused Cooley’s anaemia patient kindly supplied to me by Dr. Lloyd Old, Memorial Hospital, New York City, as reference anti-Australia antigen serum. Positives are sera containing SH antigen previously detected with antiserum S, 5 x concentrated, and confirmed as to identity by fusion of lines with reference SH antigen. Proportion of reactions between adjacent precipitin bands in which fusion can be seen.
fraction, is
t
serum
be closely related. As shown in the table, both antiserum T, which was given to us by Dr. Lloyd Old as a reference antiAustralia antigen serum, and antiserum S detect SH antigen in the same sera. In addition, 3 serum specimens, containing reference Australia antigen supplied by Dr. B. Blumberg, as well as two similar specimens supplied by Dr. Old, have shown precipitin reactions in the agarose system with antiserum S. The specimens supplied by Dr. Old were of sufficient quantity for carrying out identity tests, and these showed reactions of identity with reference SH antigen. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Australia antigen and SH antigen are closely related, and perhaps identical. This antigen is more specifically and sensitively detected and identified by the double-diffusion technique in the agarose/ protamine-sulphate system. to
These studies were supported by grant no. HE 09011 of the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes of Health and a grant-in-aid from the Strassburger Foundation. I am a recipient of a career scientist award of the Health Research Council of the City of New York under contract no. 1-533. Laboratory of Virology, The New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10021.
Argentine. Hospital de Niños, Salta, Argentine.
a
ARNE HOEYGAARD.
THROMBOCYTOSIS WITH PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA SiR,—Thrombocytosis has been described in patients with variety of inflammatory disorders, and in carcinomatosis, and
Hodgkin’s disease. To
our knowledge, however, it has never been observed in association with malignant mesothelioma. We have recently had such a case. A 52-year-old White woman was admitted to our institute because of ascites of 3 months’ duration. This was proved to be due to a malignant diffuse mesothelioma of both parietal and visceral peritoneum, histologically of the mixed type, showing both pseudo-tubular and fibroblastic features. On four different occasions, peripheral platelet-counts yielded values ranging between 600,000 and 700,000 per c.mm. (normal levels for our laboratory = 200,000400,000 per c.mm.). After treatment with cyclophosphamide (total dose=8 g.) the platelet-count decreased to normal values. The mechanism(s) that control normal and pathological thrombocytopoiesis are unknown.22 Thus any attempt to explain why thrombocytosis should be associated with malignant disorders would be purely speculative. G. P. JORI Institute of Medical Pathology E. TURRISI and Clinical Methodology, R. PERRONE DONNORSO. University of Naples.
ALFRED M. PRINCE.
LOW-CALCIUM RICKETS IN INDIAN HERDSMEN SiR,—Ihave noted1 that the bone system of South American highland Indian children is soft and plastic as a consequence of the low consumption of minerals, and that the mothers strongly bind the bodies of their newborn to avoid spinal deformities. This habit produces, however, some characteristic deformities of the chest which remain until adult life, and which formerly were explained by physiologists as being a result of adaptation of the chest to respiration at high altitudes. The most common deformities are: (1) a horizontal depression of the lower anterior chest similar to Harrison’s sulcus; (2) a cylindrical chest produced by pressure of the child’s arms against the sides; and (3) a globular chest produced by the pin which holds up the girls’ skirts at walking age. The jaws of these Indians, especially the lower one, form a direct line between the canine teeth, instead of the normal bow, thus giving insufficient space to the teeth, which seem to be larger than normal. The consequence of this disproportion is that the teeth erupt in very irregular positions. I observed the same deformity in Eskimos 2 and thought that it was due to hereditary factors, but I am now inclined to believe that it is produced by hypomineralisation of the peripheral parts of the 1. 2.
jaws.
Hoeygaard, A. Lancet, 1968, i, 698. Hoeygaard, A. in Studies on the Nutrition and Physio-Pathology of Eskimos (edited for Det Norske Vitenskaps-Akademi i Oslo by J. Dybwad). Oslo, 1941.
TOXOCARA SKIN TESTS SIR,-In the past 3-4 years several investigations have been made in the United Kingdom on the value of a skin test for the diagnosis of toxocariasis. Results from these preliminary studies indicate that the test is valuable, but it is considered that additional information could be obtained from its more widespread use. We should, therefore, like to make it known that this antigen is now available and may be obtained from the Standards Laboratory. It is suggested that it would be worth testing patients with otherwise unexplained eosinophilia, including that associated with lung pathology, choroidoretinitis and granulomatous lesions involving the optic fundus, epilepsy of undetermined origin, and patients with proved or suspected toxoplasmosis. Antigen will be supplied for immediate use only, and not for storage. Those using the antigen will be asked to complete and return a card, giving information on the history of the case, the blood findings, and the result of the skin test obtained. Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Hospital for Tropical Diseases,
London School of
London N.W.1.
Laboratory for Serological Reagents, Central Public Health Laboratory,
A. W. WOODRUFF.
Standards
London N.W.9. 1. Levin, J., 2. New Engl.
C. M. P. BRADSTREET
Conley, C. L. Archs intern. Med. J. Med. 1968, 278, 1175.
1964, 114, 497.
The teeth, too, showed all the clinical signs of hypomineralisation and pronounced abrasion, even in children. Since the food (boiled meat and corn, dried meat) is rather soft, the abrasion of the teeth may be due to the softness of the dentine rather than to the hardness of the food. Only 8% of the teeth of 114 children between 5 and 15 years of age showed caries, of which 90% was localised to the first and second premolars. The daily intake of calcium was only 75 mg. daily and the concentration of fluorine in the drinking water was between 0-15 and 0-27 mg. per litre. These facts show that there may exist other factors than minerals which protect against dental caries, or perhaps that the same hypomineralisation is a protection factor.
*
The details of these studies will be reported in the Revista de la Facultad de Medicina, La Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,
Antiserum S, unconcentrated
or 5 x ethyl-alcohol-concentrated globulin from a frequently transfused haemophilia patient which I have used for detection of SH antigen. Antiserum T is serum from a frequently transfused Cooley’s anaemia patient kindly supplied to me by Dr. Lloyd Old, Memorial Hospital, New York City, as reference anti-Australia antigen serum. Positives are sera containing SH antigen previously detected with antiserum S, 5 x concentrated, and confirmed as to identity by fusion of lines with reference SH antigen. Proportion of reactions between adjacent precipitin bands in which fusion can be seen.
fraction, is
t
serum
be closely related. As shown in the table, both antiserum T, which was given to us by Dr. Lloyd Old as a reference antiAustralia antigen serum, and antiserum S detect SH antigen in the same sera. In addition, 3 serum specimens, containing reference Australia antigen supplied by Dr. B. Blumberg, as well as two similar specimens supplied by Dr. Old, have shown precipitin reactions in the agarose system with antiserum S. The specimens supplied by Dr. Old were of sufficient quantity for carrying out identity tests, and these showed reactions of identity with reference SH antigen. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Australia antigen and SH antigen are closely related, and perhaps identical. This antigen is more specifically and sensitively detected and identified by the double-diffusion technique in the agarose/ protamine-sulphate system. to
These studies were supported by grant no. HE 09011 of the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes of Health and a grant-in-aid from the Strassburger Foundation. I am a recipient of a career scientist award of the Health Research Council of the City of New York under contract no. 1-533. Laboratory of Virology, The New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10021.
Argentine. Hospital de Niños, Salta, Argentine.
a
ARNE HOEYGAARD.
THROMBOCYTOSIS WITH PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA SiR,—Thrombocytosis has been described in patients with variety of inflammatory disorders, and in carcinomatosis, and
Hodgkin’s disease. To
our knowledge, however, it has never been observed in association with malignant mesothelioma. We have recently had such a case. A 52-year-old White woman was admitted to our institute because of ascites of 3 months’ duration. This was proved to be due to a malignant diffuse mesothelioma of both parietal and visceral peritoneum, histologically of the mixed type, showing both pseudo-tubular and fibroblastic features. On four different occasions, peripheral platelet-counts yielded values ranging between 600,000 and 700,000 per c.mm. (normal levels for our laboratory = 200,000400,000 per c.mm.). After treatment with cyclophosphamide (total dose=8 g.) the platelet-count decreased to normal values. The mechanism(s) that control normal and pathological thrombocytopoiesis are unknown.22 Thus any attempt to explain why thrombocytosis should be associated with malignant disorders would be purely speculative. G. P. JORI Institute of Medical Pathology E. TURRISI and Clinical Methodology, R. PERRONE DONNORSO. University of Naples.
ALFRED M. PRINCE.
LOW-CALCIUM RICKETS IN INDIAN HERDSMEN SiR,—Ihave noted1 that the bone system of South American highland Indian children is soft and plastic as a consequence of the low consumption of minerals, and that the mothers strongly bind the bodies of their newborn to avoid spinal deformities. This habit produces, however, some characteristic deformities of the chest which remain until adult life, and which formerly were explained by physiologists as being a result of adaptation of the chest to respiration at high altitudes. The most common deformities are: (1) a horizontal depression of the lower anterior chest similar to Harrison’s sulcus; (2) a cylindrical chest produced by pressure of the child’s arms against the sides; and (3) a globular chest produced by the pin which holds up the girls’ skirts at walking age. The jaws of these Indians, especially the lower one, form a direct line between the canine teeth, instead of the normal bow, thus giving insufficient space to the teeth, which seem to be larger than normal. The consequence of this disproportion is that the teeth erupt in very irregular positions. I observed the same deformity in Eskimos 2 and thought that it was due to hereditary factors, but I am now inclined to believe that it is produced by hypomineralisation of the peripheral parts of the 1. 2.
jaws.
Hoeygaard, A. Lancet, 1968, i, 698. Hoeygaard, A. in Studies on the Nutrition and Physio-Pathology of Eskimos (edited for Det Norske Vitenskaps-Akademi i Oslo by J. Dybwad). Oslo, 1941.
TOXOCARA SKIN TESTS SIR,-In the past 3-4 years several investigations have been made in the United Kingdom on the value of a skin test for the diagnosis of toxocariasis. Results from these preliminary studies indicate that the test is valuable, but it is considered that additional information could be obtained from its more widespread use. We should, therefore, like to make it known that this antigen is now available and may be obtained from the Standards Laboratory. It is suggested that it would be worth testing patients with otherwise unexplained eosinophilia, including that associated with lung pathology, choroidoretinitis and granulomatous lesions involving the optic fundus, epilepsy of undetermined origin, and patients with proved or suspected toxoplasmosis. Antigen will be supplied for immediate use only, and not for storage. Those using the antigen will be asked to complete and return a card, giving information on the history of the case, the blood findings, and the result of the skin test obtained. Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Hospital for Tropical Diseases,
London School of
London N.W.1.
Laboratory for Serological Reagents, Central Public Health Laboratory,
A. W. WOODRUFF.
Standards
London N.W.9. 1. Levin, J., 2. New Engl.
C. M. P. BRADSTREET
Conley, C. L. Archs intern. Med. J. Med. 1968, 278, 1175.
1964, 114, 497.