Chronic pancreatitis, HLA and autoimmunity.

HLA-A and B antigens were studied in 88 Caucasoids with chronic pancreatitis resident in the Manchester area. In the subgroup of 52 patients with alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis HLA-B21 was significantly increased in frequency compared with 344 local controls (Pc = 0.0128). In the non-alcoholic sub-group of 36 patients, the incidence of HLA-A1 was significantly higher than in controls (Pc = 0.0021); whilst HLA-B8 was present in 38.8% of patients and 27.9% of controls. When these data are amalgamated with data from Lyon (France), the antigen HLA-A1 is significantly associated with non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

Haematological values in cord blood in relation to fetal hypoxia.

Haematological values in cord venous blood were studied in 458 newborn infants born at term. The severity of hypoxia in these babies was determined by measuring the pH in cord venous blood, and in cord arterial blood. Hypoxia was associated with increases in haemoglobin, in the red cell count, in the white cell count and in the haematocrit. Furthermore, the increase in the mean corpuscular volume, and decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration could have been due to a net influx of less mature red cells into the circulation. It is suggested that fetal erythropoiesis is stimulated by intrapartum hypoxia.

Bacterial contamination of expressed breast milk.

In a study of breast milk collected into sterile bottles rinsed in 1% hypochlorite solution the hypochlorite solution adherent to the sides of the bottles apparently caused a large reduction in bacterial contamination of the milk after storage at 4 degrees C for up to four hours. Heating expressed breast milk at 62.5 degrees C for five minutes destroyed over 90% of the Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and group B beta-haemolytic streptococci inoculated into the milk samples. Rinsing collecting bottles with hypochlorite solution may be valuable in collecting milk with a low bacterial content for human-milk banks. Furthermore, the currently accepted pasteurisation time of 30 minutes may be excessive.

Effect of smoking during pregnancy upon the haematological values of cord blood.

Haematological indices in cord blood, measured by a Coulter Counter, in 50 mothers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day were compared with those in 75 control mothers who were non-smokers, but of similar age and parity. Smoking during pregnancy was associated with higher levels, of haemoglobin, and the haematocrit, as well as with higher red cell counts and a higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The percentage of fetal haemoglobin in cord blood was not affected by smoking. There was no correlation between social class and cord blood haemoglobin; but within social class groups, higher cord blood haemoglobin levels were associated with smoking. It is suggested that smoking during pregnancy stimulates fetal erythropoeisis.

Significance of placental pathology in transplacental haemorrhage.

Placentae were examined from 120 women whose pregnancy and delivery was normal, from 264 women whose pregnancy or delivery was complicated, and from 98 women who were Rh-negative without antibodies and 35 women Rh-negative with antibodies. The presence of Kline's haemorrhages, intervillous thrombi, infarcts, and retroplacental haemorrhages was positively correlated with the presence of foetal cells in the maternal circulation. When there were no maternal antibodies transplacental haemorrhages occurred occasionally in the absence of such placental lesions but more frequently when these lesions were present. Moreover, the greater the number of lesions in a placenta the greater the size of the transplacental haemorrhage. In Rh-negative women with antibodies the observed incidence of transplacental haemorrhage was significantly less despite an appreciable increase in placental lesions.