A co-operative numerical taxonomic analysis of slowly growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria of Runyon's group I1 with no restrictions on numbers of characters contributed by individual participants, or on techniques employed to derive these characters, is reported. Of four scotochromogen clusters defined in this study, three were of named species (Mycobacterium Jlavescens, M. gordonae and M . scrofulaceum) and one, a small cluster of four strains, may represent a new species. Results from pooled data are compared to results obtained with data from individual participating laboratories. Immunologic data were treated separately and showed good correlation with the numerical analyses.

Plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein level was determined in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients, 24 before initiation of dialysis, 18 undergoing hemodialysis, and 24 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Eighteen healthy subjects were studied as controls. Median of Lp(a) level in both predialysis and dialysis patients was significantly increased: 23.5 mg/dl (range: 0 to 109) and 24.0 mg/dl (range: 1.4 to 90), respectively, as compared to healthy controls: 4.7 mg/dl (range: 1.8 to 27; P less than 0.001). By contrast, the median Lp(a) level in CAPD patients, 2.4 mg/dl (range: 0 to 39.5), was similar to the control group. Whether the CAPD procedure reduces the Lp(a) level in CRF patients has to be established in a prospective study.

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