ALBERT

Description: The cores and dredges described in this report were taken during the VEMA 9 Expedition from February until April 1958 by the Lamont Geological Observatory, Columbia University from the R/V Vema. A total of 34 cores were recovered and are available at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for sampling and study.

Description: The cores and dredges described in this report were taken during the VEMA 10 Expedition from June until September 1956 by the Lamont Geological Observatory, Columbia University from the R/V Vema. A total of 95 cores were recovered and are available at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for sampling and study.

Description: Forty-three patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (both "idiopathic" and "symptomatic") were treated with ACTH, Cortisone, or Compound F. In more recent cases not reported here, Prednisone (Meticorten) was used. Intensive and presumably adequate hormonal therapy resulted in sustained and complete clinical and hematologic responses in 65 per cent of the cases. Complete and sustained remissions were more commonly obtained in the "idiopathic" group (80 per cent remissions) than in the "symptomatic" variety. In 28 per cent of the cases, although the response was definite, it was not so striking. Complete failure was obtained in 3 cases (7%) of this series. When therapy was discontinued, following a remission, some degree of relapse developed in approximately two-thirds of the cases. In the remaining one-third, full clinical and hematologic remission continued well after discontinuance of therapy, although the persistently positive Coombs test indicated the possibility of future recurrence. Splenectomy was performed as the final therapeutic maneuver in 9 of the 43 cases and resulted in complete remissions in 6 without the further use of steroid hormones. In two cases splenectomy was followed by the development of outspoken disseminated lupus, previously undiscovered and presumably latent. It is apparent from these studies that the steroid hormones in adequate dosage represent a remarkably effective form of therapy for at least the initial control of most cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Their use for a lengthy period is often followed by a lasting remission, and the end-results of continued steroid therapy, either used alone or in some cases combined with later splenectomy, are definitely better than with splenectomy alone. Thus, control of this rather unpredictable disease has become a distinct possibility in most cases, and its management simply a matter of varying the dosage of steroid hormone.

Description: Intravenous injections of 1.5 µg. of 58Co B12 were given to subjects with normal serum B12 concentrations, to patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and to patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia. The rate of plasma clearance of radioactivity after this dose was slowest in patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia and patients with pernicious anemia in severe relapse. In patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, serum B12 concentrations were estimated microbiologically at frequent intervals after the injection. There was a good correlation between the results obtained by microbiological assay and as calculated from plasma radioactivity. Significant differences were not observed between the urinary excretion of radioactivity by normal subjects and patients with B12 deficiency.

Description: The osmotic fragility of 50 samples of platelets from normal healthy donors has been studied. It has been found that fragility of platelets starts at a concentration of about 0.44 per cent NaCl and is complete at a concentration of 0.34 per cent. The serotonine released from the platelets increased with the gradual disintegration as the saline concentration fell.

Description: A case of chronic idiopathic pancytopenia in a young girl is presented, in which the pancytopenia was shown to be due to increased destructions of all 3 blood cell types. Antileukocyte and antiplatelet antibodies were demonstrated by transfusion methods as well as by in vitro agglutination, while differential agglutination provided evidence of a plasma factor causing increased red cell destruction. Cross absorption experiments demonstrated the presence in the patient’s serum of at least 2 separate and distinct antibodies, specific for leukocytes and platelets respectively. Observations on the phagocytic behavior of leukocytes and on the electrophoretic mobility of leukocytes and platelets exposed to the patient’s serum are reported.

Description: Acute urinary retention was produced in 15 adult mongrel dogs by ligation of the ureters. Studies of the hemostatic mechanism were made as the uremia progressed. All animals developed a coagulation defect characterized by abnormally long clotting time of whole blood in siliconized glassware. Other indices of coagulation efficiency were found to be normal or only slightly impaired. It is not clear whether the basic defect is a lack of an essential clotting factor or an excess of an inhibitor. Urea does not seem to be the cause of the defect. The data suggest that the duration of urinary retention is as important as the degree of azotemia.

Description: A study was made of the family tree of two sisters with Hageman trait, an asymptomatic disorder of blood coagulation. In this family the defect behaves genetically as if it is due to the transmission of an autosomal recessive gene.

Description: 1. Three patients with untreated pernicious anemia were transfused with packed erythrocytes to produce a normal hematocrit before they were treated with vitamin B12. One patient with untreated pernicious anemia was transfused with 250 cc. plasma prior to therapy with vitamin B12. No significant changes were noted in this patient who received plasma. 2. Following erythrocyte transfusions the bone marrows of these patients were considered to show the megaloblastic type of maturation with a reduction in percentage of the early megaloblasts (Stages I and II). The ME ratio of the marrows increased. A decrease in the absolute reticulocyte count occurred. No change occurred in the peripheral leukocyte and platelet counts and there was no significant change in the clinical condition of the patients. 3. After therapy with vitamin B12, at a time when the hematocrits were normal, the bone marrows became normoblastic, a small but definite reticulocytosis occurred, the leukocyte and platelet counts returned to normal, and there was subjective improvement in the condition of the patient. 4. It is concluded that in these three patients with untreated pernicious anemia multiple transfusions of packed erythrocytes decreased erythropoiesis but did not cause any basic change in the type of erythrocyte maturation.

Description: Antibodies against human AHF were produced in the rabbit. These antibodies acted as anticoagulants in vitro by inactivating AHF and preventing normal thromboplastin formation. Species specificity and physical properties of the anticoagulant are described. It is postulated that similar anticoagulants occurring in humans are also antibodies produced by AHF immunization.