Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of Bartholin's gland.

A small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma that arose in Bartholin's gland in a 30-year-old woman is reported. The tumor had light, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical features typical of pulmonary small cell carcinoma and was metastatic to inguinal lymph nodes at presentation. This is the first reported example of this tumor occurring in Bartholin's gland.

Platelet viability following storage for 5 days. Influence of holding whole blood for 8 hours at 20 to 24 degrees C before concentrate preparation.

Regional blood centers frequently need to hold units of whole blood at 20 to 24 degrees C for several hours after phlebotomy so that sufficient platelet concentrates can be prepared to meet the increasing need. We have evaluated the in vivo viability and in vitro properties of platelets that were prepared from whole blood drawn into citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) either immediately after phlebotomy or after an 8-hour hold at 20 to 24 degrees C. Platelet concentrates were stored for 5 days at 20 to 24 degrees C in polyolefin containers (PL 732, Fenwal) with end-over-end tumbler agitation. The autologous in vivo recovery (mean +/- SD) and one-half disappearance of 51Cr-labeled platelets prepared immediately after phlebotomy were 44.4 +/- 9.4 percent and 4.0 +/- 0.5 days, respectively. Platelets prepared after the delay of 8 hours showed a recovery of 44.5 +/- 8.4 percent and a one-half disappearance of 4.1 +/- 0.4 days. After 5 days of storage, platelet concentrates showed a mean pH of 7.21 +/- 0.20 when prepared immediately after phlebotomy, and of 7.22 +/- 0.15 when prepared after an 8-hour delay. Mean morphology scores were 280 +/- 33 and 302 +/- 27 for platelets from units prepared immediately after phlebotomy or after a holding period of 8 hours, respectively. Platelets underwent synergistic aggregation after 5 days of storage, independent of the length of time that the units of whole blood were held prior to centrifugation. These studies indicate that platelet concentrates prepared from units of whole blood held initially for 8 hours can be stored for 5 days at 20 to 24 degrees C and survive satisfactorily in vivo and retain in vitro characteristics.

Resolution of red cell compatibility testing problems in patients receiving anti-lymphoblast or anti-thymocyte globulin.

Passively acquired hemagglutinating antibodies may be detected in the serum of patients receiving horse anti-lymphoblast globulin (ALG) or anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). Thirty-seven patients receiving ALG following renal transplantation were studied. Eight patients monitored daily all developed positive direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) and positive red cell antibody screening tests. Fifteen of 32 recipients developed red cell antibodies reactive at room temperature in saline, 4 of 32 in albumin at 37 degrees C, and 33 of 37 in the antiglobulin test. Horse globulin was detected on the red cells of all six recipients tested with rabbit anti-horse globulin. Ether eluates prepared from the red cells of 20 patients showed no specificity for common red cell antigens. Anti-human globulin (AHG), absorbed with ALG-coated red cells to remove the component in the AHG which was crossreacting with horse globulin, was used successfully for antibody screening and identification, direct antiglobulin testing, and/or the antiglobulin crossmatching of 27 ALG and ATG recipients, including five with red cell alloantibodies.