Comparison of a polyglycolic-polylactic acid suture to black silk and plain catgut in human oral tissues.

A polylactic-polyglycolic acid synthetic absorbable suture material (Vicryl, Polyglactin 910) was compared with black silk and plain catgut in human oral tissues. Inflammation was graded clinically and histologically after seven days. Handling characteristics, including suture retention, were evaluated. Vicryl and black silk sutures produced comparable inflammation after seven days. Plain catgut sutures were usually absorbed before seven days, but when retained generally produced a more severe reaction. The polylactic-polyglycolic acid suture is braided and dyed, and has handling characteristics similar to those of black silk. Although they are absorbable, Vicryl sutures may be retained longer than desired and probably should be used like silk when exposed to the oral cavity.

Identification of hamster thymus-derived lymphocytes employing rabbit anti-hamster brain serum.

Rabbit anti-hamster brain sera prepared from the brains of Syrian and Chinese hamsters were evaluated for their potential to identify thymus-derived lymphocytes present in these animals. The unabsorbed antisera were cytotoxic in vitro for both homologous and heterologous thymocytes and splenocytes. Following absorption with hamster liver and erythrocytes, the antisera remained toxic for thymocytes, but were less toxic for splenocytes. Comparative testing of both the rabbit anti-Syrian and anti-Chinese brain sera with rabbit anti-C3H mouse brain serum indicated that considerable cross-reactivity exists between the different anti-brain sera. The in vivo administration of any of the antisera to C3H mice resulted in a lowered titer to the thymus-dependent sheep erythrocyte antigen response as measured by the hemolysis-in-gel technique. In vitro treatment with the anti-brain sera had no effect on plaque-forming cells present in the spleen.