Cells of Brucella melitensis strain 16 M were labeled with 32 P. When injected into normal guinea pigs, labeled, viable bacteria were taken up and inactivated in liver and spleen during the 60 min after infection. Both uptake and inactivation increased if brucellae were coated with antibrucella antibody. Neither viability nor radioactivity were lost when labeled brucellae were incubated for 60 min in vitro with normal guinea pig blood, liver homogenates, or in defined medium. Incubation for 12 h with antibrucella rabbit immunoglobulin G similarly was innocuous. Livers were removed from infected animals at various times up to 60 min after injection and were separated into subcellular fractions. The numbers of total (determined by radioactivity measurements) and viable brucellae as well as the acid phosphatase activity in the various fractions were determined. Total bacteria and acid phosphatase activity were progressively transferred from the mitochondrial plus light mitochondrial (M + L) fraction to the nuclear (N) fraction. Viability of brucellae declined more rapidly in the N fraction than in other fractions. Examination of M + L fractions by isopycnic centrifugation showed a decrease in viability of both free brucellae and those in particles. The results indicated the formation of bacteria-containing heterolysosomes which progressively increased in size and in which brucellae were inactivated. The antibrucella activity of phagocytes of guinea pig liver in vivo appeared to be greater than that of peritoneal macrophages from immune rabbits or of bovine leukocytes studied in vitro.
To investigate the effects of indomethacin on the human fetal renal blood flow velocity waveform, 17 fetuses whose mothers were treated for preterm labor (N = 8) or polyhydramnios (N = 9) were studied. There were five growth-retarded fetuses (all in the group with polyhydramnios), 11 normal fetuses, and one fetus with red-cell alloimmunization. The indomethacin dose in all patients was 25 mg orally every 6 hours. The gestational age of the fetuses studied varied between 24-35 weeks (mean +/- SD 29.6 +/- 2.8). The fetal renal artery was studied at its origin from the aorta before and during the first 24 hours of indomethacin therapy. Seven fetuses manifested ductal constriction. Three fetuses also manifested tricuspid regurgitation. All ductal constrictions and the tricuspid regurgitations resolved in utero after discontinuation of indomethacin. There were no significant differences in the pulsatility index values of the renal artery before and during indomethacin therapy. These results suggest that there is no change in fetal renovascular parameters detectable with pulsatility index measurements during the first 24 hours of maternal indomethacin therapy.
To prospectively validate the use of fractional limb volume measurements for estimated fetal weight (EFW) during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and to summarize the medical literature regarding application of fractional limb volume for fetal weight estimation.One hundred and sixty-four women prospectively underwent three-dimensional ultrasonography within 4 days of delivery. Birth weights (BWs) ranged from 390 to 5426 g. Fetal measurements were extracted using volume datasets for biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur diaphysis length, fractional arm volume and fractional thigh volume. Fractional limb volumes were manually traced from a central portion of the humerus or femur diaphysis. Mean percentage differences and SDs of the percentage differences were calculated for EFW. The proportion of newborns with EFW within 5 or 10% of BW were compared with an estimate obtained using a Hadlock formula that was modified using model coefficients from the same local population sample.Ultrasound scans were performed between 21.7 and 42 weeks' menstrual age. Optimal model performance (1.9 ± 6.6%) resulted from using a combination of biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference and fractional thigh volume. The precision of this model was superior to results obtained using a modified Hadlock model (1.1 ± 8.4%), although accuracy of these predictions was slightly decreased for female infants. For all fetuses, the prediction model that incorporated fractional thigh volume correctly classified a greater proportion of EFW within 5% (55.1 vs 43.7%; P = 0.03) or 10% (86.5 vs 75.9%; P < 0.05) of BW when compared with the modified Hadlock model.Fractional thigh volume can be added to two-dimensional sonographic measurements of the head and trunk to improve the precision of fetal weight estimation. This approach permits the inclusion of soft tissue development as part of a weight estimation procedure for the assessment of generalized fetal nutritional status.
To prospectively validate new fetal weight estimation models that include fractional limb volume and 2D biometry. 3DUS was used to measure BPD, AC, FDL, fractional arm volume (AVol) and fractional thigh volume (TVol) within 4 days of delivery. Systematic (mean % difference) and random errors (SD % differences) of new regression models were compared to the original Hadlock model (1985) and a “modified” Hadlock formula that was derived from sample specific model coefficients. Systematic errors (SE) and random (RE) errors were evaluated using Student's t-test or Sign test and Pitman test, respectively. The proportion of newborns with EFW within 10% BW were also classified for each method. Log10 BW = 1.4035 + 0.0441 (AC) + 0.177 (FDL) − 0.0037 (AC)(FDL) + 0.0027 (BPD)2 Ln BW = 0.5046 + 1.9665 (Ln BPD) − 0.304 (Ln BPD)2 + 0.9675 (Ln AC) + 0.3557 (Ln AVol) Ln BW = −0.8297 + 4.0344 (Ln BPD) − 0.782 (Ln BPD) 2 + 0.7853 (Ln AC) + 0.0528 (Ln TVol)2 To date, 106 of 250 fetuses have been scanned (BW 390–5,426 g). The original Hadlock model demonstrated the greatest SE (+5.9%). The TVol model had the lowest RE (6.7%) despite a small systematic error of +2.6%. The original Hadlock model demonstrates increased SE for our local patient sample. The precision of EFW can be improved by the inclusion of TVol as compared to other models that only use 2D biometry of the head, trunk, and limb. The overall impact of our preliminary findings, especially for different weight classes, will be better understood upon completion of this prospective investigation. P19.08: Table
