Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Oct 1977
[Antibody-coated bacteria and localization of urinary tract infection].
The distinction between upper and lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is of great help in the management and treatment of these conditions. The antibody-coating technique was used to investigate urine of patients with nephrostomies, chronic and acute pyelonephritis, chronic and acute cystitis, of male patients with dysuria and significant bacteriuria and of female patients with indwelling catheters. Furthermore this indirect method was compared with FAIRLEY'S direct method for localization of UTI in female patients with indwelling catheters. ⋯ The demonstration of antibody-coated bacteria in the urine is a simple and reliable method of localizing the site of a UTI. False positive results may be observed in patients with indwelling catheters and prostatitis; in both instances there is probably local antibody production and coating of the bacteria. As the test is relatively expensive and time-consuming, it is indicated only in special situations and is not considered a routine screening procedure.
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Swiss medical weekly · Oct 1977
[Allogenic bone marrow transplantation in severe aplastic anemia and refractory acute leukemia. 35 cases].
23 patients with severe aplastic anemia have been treated. 10 marrow grafts between HLA matched siblings were performed after conditioning with cyclophosphamide. 5 are still alive at over 7 months to over 2 1/2 years after grafting. 3 are hemopoietic chimeras and 2 show autologous marrow reconstitution. 13 patients were treated by ALG with or without transfusion of allogeneic marrow. 9 are still alive with partial to complete autologous hemopoietic reconstitution at over 1 month to over 4 years. It is concluded that in many instances aplastic anemia is an autoimmune disease rather than a primary failure of the hemopoietic stem cells. In acute leukemia allogeneic marrow grafts still pose enormous problems and only one of our 12 grafts has become a longterm survivor.