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A microcomputer based system for interpretative reporting of protein electrophoretic data has been developed. Data for serum urine, and cerebrospinal fluid protein electrophoreses as well as immunoelectrophoresis can be entered. Patient demographic information is entered through the keyboard, followed by manual entry of total and fractionated protein levels obtained after densitometer scanning of the electrophoretic strip. Protein patterns are coded, interpreted, and final reports generated. In most cases, interpretation time is less than one second. Computer misinterpretation is uncommon and easily corrected by edit functions within the system. Discrepancies between computer and pathologist interpretation are automatically stored in a separate data file for later review and possible program modification. Any or all previous tests on a patient may be reviewed, with graphic display of the electrophoretic pattern. The system is well-accepted by the laboratory staff, and allows rapid storage, retrieval, and analysis of protein electrophoretic data.

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Storage and coding of anatomic pathology data usually is accomplished by expensive main frame systems. The authors of this article have developed a microcomputer based program package for autopsy pathology which stores patient demographic data, provisional or final anatomic diagnoses, and coded diagnoses obtained from an on-line Systematized Nomenclature of Pathology (SNOP) code lexicon. The system includes limited text editor functions as well as rapid data retrieval with the generation of final reports. Data files containing SNOP codes and diagnoses are searched easily by a variety of parameters, making data retrieval of autopsy material simple and efficient.

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A microcomputer based program package has been developed which utilizes a modified "average of normals" method to analyze data and monitor random and systematic error in the clinical hematology laboratory. The daily workload of normal patient values for leukocyte count, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time is entered through the keyboard and sorted by sex. The daily mean, standard deviation, standard error index, and F-ratio are then calculated for each test. Significant deviations from target values are automatically flagged. The system combines ease of data input with automatic statistical calculation, graphic display, and printout of the calculated data. The system has the capability of data analysis by shift, and incorporates cumulative sum, Trigg's tracking algorithm, and analysis of variance calculations. This statistical analysis had proven to be a sensitive indicator of random and systematic error in our laboratory and has allowed us to decrease the assay frequency of expensive commercial control material.

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An 80-year-old black woman with a clinical diagnosis of unclassified malignant lymphoproliferative disease experienced acute pneumonia four days after chemotherapy was begun. Open lung biopsy revealed acute suppurative pneumonia with dense neutrophilic alveolar infiltrates but without granulomas or caseous necrosis. Numerous intra- and extracellular gram-negative bacilli were present, some of which were acid-fast. Routine bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial cultures were negative. The organism was successfully cultivated by embryonated egg inoculation with subsequent transfer to buffered charcoal yeast extract agar. Serologic studies using the indirect fluorescent antibody technic confirmed the presence of an organism recently described as the "Pittsburgh pneumonia agent," further suggesting that this particular organism is a significant cause of suppurative pneumonia in the immunocompromised host.

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A comprehensive summary report of quality-control data is of great value in monitoring the accuracy and precision of the clinical chemistry laboratory. This report allows a retrospective appraisal alerting laboratory personnel to possible test control material degradation or instrument malfunction. A microcomputer-based program package is described, designed to reduce the errors and lengthy preparation inherent in the manual generation of such a report. Quality-control summary data is automatically compared with a predefined set of statistical criteria, and any aberrant values are flagged, thus eliminating subjective and nonuniform data interpretation. Statistical comparisons include: number of control points, delta mean, delta standard deviation, standard deviation index, and F-ratio. The summary report is well accepted by the laboratory staff, and its incorporation into the decision-making process allows for an efficient, critical, and uniformly rigorous examination of analytic proficiency.

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A pathology accessioning and retrieval system with encoding by computer (PARSEC) has been developed, employing a relatively inexpensive microcomputer. PARSEC performs a variety of administrative functions for anatomic pathology, including accessioning of surgical specimens, storage of patient demographic information, editing, retrieval, and archiving of patient data, as well as CAP (college of American Pathologists) workload units, billing, and inventory functions for histopathology. In addition, appropriate gross and microscopic descriptions and pathologic diagnoses can be entered into the system by a text editor. Automatic assignment of SNOP (Systematized Nomenclature of Pathology) codes, is accomplished via an online SNOP lexicon, allowing the ultimate generation of completed surgical pathology reports. The data base management system employed makes optimum use of disk storage space, while permitting rapid data retrieval. Data file maintenance is automatically accomplished by the system, requiring no user intervention.

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Histamine release after antigen inhalation was studied in 12 dogs sensitive to nematode antigens. In 19 experiments, histamine was detected in arterial plasma after antigen inhalation; its concentration was correlated with changes in airflow resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) (per cent change above control equals 132.3 plus 250 log histamine concentration). Histamine was released from the lung and was not attributable to the concomitant hypoxia. In 6 dogs given aerosols of dilute antigen and in 4 dogs given aerosols of compound 48/80, Rrs increased significantly, but no histamine was detected. Histamine may have been released close to airway receptors, inducing bronchoconstriction, but in amounts undetectable in arterial plasma. In 6 dogs, administration of 48/80 caused partial depletion of histamine stores but prevented the response to antigen inhalation in only one of 6 dogs tested. The close correlation between arterial histamine concentration and Rrs, the qualitatively similar response to antigen and 48/80 aerosols, and the inhibition of the response to antigen when histamine was depleted completely from the lung tissues suggests that chemical mediators are critically important in antigen-induced airway reactions.

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Polyamine levels (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) were determined in 24-hour urine samples by a high voltage electrophoresis technique. Normal values were established in 42 normal volunteers. Thirty-eight of 56 patients with metastatic cancer had two or more levels elevated. Approximately two-thirds of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma, metastatic squamous cell cancer or metastatic disease to the liver, lings, or bones had elevated levels. All 6 patients with localized malignant tumors had elevated urinary polyamine levels. Elevations were also seen in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and bronchial adenoma.

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Normal ranges for urinary polyamines have been obtained. Non-malignant genitourinary tract disease is not associated with elevated urinary polyamines. A high correlation exists between the presence of active urologic cancer and elevated urinary excretion of polyamines. Post-treatment polyamines correlate with the continued presence or absence of genitourinary tract malignancy.

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