Journal of clinical pathology
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An outbreak of gastroenteritis involving residents and members of staff in a nursing home for the elderly is described. The agent associated with this episode was a calicivirus which is serologically distinct from two strains causing gastroenteritis in children. We believe that this is the first report of calicivirus infection in adults.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of serum vitamin B12 estimation by saturation analysis with intrinsic factor and with R-protein as binding agents.
It has been reported that serum vitamin B12 levels assayed by saturation analysis methods may give misleadingly high results, so much so that the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency may be obscured. This defect was ascribed largely to assays using a vitamin B12 binder other than pure intrinsic factor. ⋯ Published results accumulated over the past 10 years indicate that properly designed and performed saturation analysis vitamin B12 assays are as reliable as microbiological assay methods for detecting low serum B12 levels. The failure of some methods to do does not appear to be due to the nature of the B12-binding agent.
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Comparative Study
An investigation into the efficiency of disposable face masks.
Disposable face masks used in hospitals have been assessed for the protection afforded the patient and the wearer by challenges of simulated natural conditions of stress. Operating theatre masks made of synthetic materials allow the wearer to breathe through the masks, and these have been shown to protect the patient well but the wearer slightly less. Cheaper paper masks are worn for ward duties, and of these only the Promask protected in area in front of the wearer: air does not pass through this mask, expired air is prevented from passing forward, and the wearer breathes unfiltered air. All the other paper masks tested allowed many bacteria-laden particles to pass through them.
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Comparative Study
Serological studies on 40 cases of mumps virus infection.
The results of serological study of 40 cases of mumps virus infection are presented. Mumps virus was isolated from 20 of the patients studied and antibodies to the V antigen, the S antigen, and the haemagglutination antigen were performed in all cases. Analysis of these results shows that estimation of all three types of antibody is necessary to confirm the diagnosis in the maximum number of instances and that the long-accepted view that a characteristic pattern of antibody response is typical of the acute illness (namely, anti-S appearing earlier and in greater titre than anti-V) is questionable.
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A case of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy which underwent transformation into immunoblastic sarcoma is reported. A 64-year-old man presented with a rash, generalised lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. ⋯ No such immunoglobulins could be demonstrated in the lymph nodes obtained at necropsy when the patient died of widespread immunoblastic sarcoma. The biological evolution and histogenesis of the disease are discussed and the current literature is reviewed.