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A REYN

Publications and source records attributed to A REYN.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Serology of treponematoses; recent developments.

In this general review of the serology of the treponematoses and of syphilis in particular, the authors first consider recent technical improvements in the materials used by serological laboratories and in the tests they perform. Special stress is laid on the new tests using treponemal antigens; but it is pointed out that the more commonly used tests should not be discarded in routine testing, the particular value of the newer tests residing in their use on doubtful sera.Mass blood testing-whether as a result of legal requirement and regulation or in the routine testing of patients and industrial workers-is extremely valuable where there is much syphilis among the population tested but becomes very costly when the number of positive reactors found is small.In a section on the clinical implications of serological findings, the authors deal with the problems presented by seropositive pregnant women and newborn children, with quantitative serological tests for syphilis, with the serological response in penicillin-treated syphilis, and with the serology of asymptomatic reinfection and serorelapse.

Child↗

The Treponema pallidum immobilization test.

The authors first discuss the principle of the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) test, considered both as a qualitative and as a quantitative test, and then various specific aspects of passage of the Nichols strain of treponeme in rabbit testes. A number of important technical details and modifications in the test procedure are then reviewed, and the clinical value of the test is discussed.The sensitivity of the TPI test is considerably greater than that of the serological tests for syphilis more usually performed, and its specificity is also remarkably high. However, it is stressed that, at the present stage of development, the greatest value of the TPI test lies in its use as an excellent aid to diagnosis rather than as a test of cure.

Animals↗

Use of synthetic, crystalline, L-alpha-dimyristoyl lecithin in cardiolipin antigens.

Experiments were carried out by the authors to determine whether synthetic, crystalline, L-alpha-dimyristoyl lecithin could replace natural purified lecithins in the preparation of cardiolipin antigens. These experiments were designed specifically to find out whether it was possible to obtain the same serological reactions, qualitatively and quantitatively, with the test antigen as with a reference antigen containing natural lecithin, and whether the test antigen had the same keeping qualities as the reference antigen.The tests used were the quantitative complement-fixation test as modified by Mørch in 1933, and the VDRL slide flocculation test.The results showed that synthetic, crystalline, L-alpha-dimyristoyl lecithin could replace natural lecithin in the preparation of cardiolipin antigens, but that the antigens prepared with the synthetic lecithin were significantly less sensitive than those prepared with an equimolar amount of natural lecithin. The authors consider that further investigation is required before the use of synthetic lecithin is finally adopted.

Cardiolipins↗