Journal of clinical pathology
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Most fatal cases of Coxsackie group B neonatal myocarditis have been associated with nursery epidemics. Occasional sporadic cases have been reported, mainly from the U. S. A., and a further case with gross cardiomegaly is described.
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A case of polyarteritis nodosa in the first year of life with the clinical picture dominated by pyrexia, an initial upper respiratory element, episodes of tachycardia, and sudden death three weeks after the onset is described. The necropsy showed evidence of polyarteritis nodosa, myocarditis, and valvulitis as well as congenital pyloric hypertrophy. ⋯ The possible role of hypersensitivity is discussed. There was no evidence for it in the present case.
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The toxicity of different rubbers and plastics used in transfusion-giving sets has been investigated by examining their effects on (a) cultures of chick embryo tissues, (b) the oxygen uptake of guinea-pig skin tissue cultures, and (c) the growth of Str. pyogenes. The results of the laboratory tests have been compared with the incidence of thrombophlebitis after prolonged transfusions through the various materials. It was found that where the materials inhibited the growth of Str. pyogenes they were also toxic to tissue cultures, but that some materials which were toxic to tissue cultures did not inhibit bacterial growth. ⋯ The skin respiration studies, however, gave more information on the early effects of the toxic materials. The relative toxicity of the materials as revealed by these tests could be correlated with the differences in the incidence of thrombophlebitis following intravenous infusions administered through giving-sets assembled with the materials tested. It is suggested therefore that the toxicity revealed by these tests is of clinical importance, and that tissue culture toxicity tests will prove to be of value in selecting rubbers and plastics for clinical purposes.