The difficulties encountered in producing highly specific antisera to human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) were overcome by the use of hybridoma technology. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed toward hCG and its subunits was produced. Of the four antibodies which were fully characterized, one recognized the intact hCG molecule only, a second recognized only the free beta-subunit, a third recognized only the free alpha-subunit and the fourth bound to the beta-subunit of hCG both when it was in the free form and when it was associated with the alpha-subunit forming the intact hCG molecule. There was no significant cross-reaction of any of these antibodies with the pituitary glycoprotein hormones. The four antibodies had high binding affinities which should permit their use in immunoassays for measurement of circulating levels of hCG and its subunits.

No abstract

Traumatic aortic injuries in children and adolescents are rare, and even more rare are blunt traumatic injury to the abdominal aorta in this population. Therefore, there are few reports discussing the presentation and repair of such injuries, especially within the pediatric population. We report the successful repair of traumatic abdominal aortic transection in a 10-year-old female after a high speed MVC. She arrived in extremis with a seatbelt sign and was taken emergently for damage control laparotomy with subsequent postoperative CT findings of aortic transection/dissection at L3 with active extravasation. She immediately underwent open thrombectomy of the bilateral iliac arteries, and repair of her aortic injury with a 12 × 7 mm Hemashield interposition graft extending just distal to the IMA and 1 cm proximal to the aortic bifurcation. There are little data regarding long-term outcomes of pediatric patients undergoing different aortic repair techniques, and further research is needed.

repeat cholecystectomy was 24 months (range 4e72 months). The predominant indication for index cholecystectomy was acute cholecystitis. Six surgeons dictated the index procedure as a subtotal cholecystectomy, while seven believed that they had removed the entire gallbladder. RC was attempted laparoscopically in two patients but ultimately required an open approach in all thirteen. One patient had a recognized CBD injury requiring a hepaticojejunostomy, and a second patient had a minor wound infection. All other patients had no serious immediate or long term complications. Conclusion: No sizable series of repeat cholecystectomy for gallbladder remnants have been presented. Our results demonstrate that the reconstituting technique of SC can result in symptomatic gallbladder remnants in unaware patients. RC is safe and effective but is an indication for an open approach.