The prevalence of chlamydial DNA determined by PCR and in-situ hybridisation (ISH) in fresh tissue specimens (endometrium, fallopian tube and ovary) was investigated in 33 women presenting with ectopic pregnancy (EP), 14 women with tubal factor infertility (TFI) and 50 control patients from the UK and the West Indies. In the UK EP group, chlamydial DNA was detected by PCR in 56% of patients; similar results were found in the Trinidad EP group (67%). In the TFI group, chlamydial DNA was detected in (71%) of patients by PCR. The detection of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA by ISH was highest in the TFI group (43%). Women presenting with EP and TFI showed evidence of previous or current genital C. trachomatis infection, underlining the importance of this microorganism in the development of these conditions. Importantly, chlamydial DNA could be detected in DNA preparations from the endometrium, fallopian tube and ovary of EP and TFI patients at the time of surgery.

The mean blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in 175 fatal cases of acute alcohol intoxication was found to be 355 mg/100 ml. This figure is less than that quoted in many standard textbooks on forensic medicine. The BAC in fatal cases of acute alcohol intoxication complicated by aspiration was lower than in those cases where there was no evidence of aspiration at autopsy. In those individuals with a previous history of alcohol abuse the BAC causing death was found to be significantly higher than in those without a history of prolonged heavy alcohol consumption suggesting that a degree of tolerance to the effects of alcohol may be induced.

Renal clear cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the ovary potentially mimicking a primary ovarian clear cell carcinoma. The immunocytochemical profiles of the two tumors were compared. Control groups of ovarian endometrioid and serous adenocarcinomas were also examined using the same antibody panel. Paraffin sections were studied with the immunocytochemical technique using eight antibodies. Renal clear cell carcinomas were positive for vimentin (8/12 cases), CK5/6 (0/12), 34 beta E12 (1/12), Ber-Ep4 (5/12), CA125 (0/12), ER (1/12), and PGR (1/12). Ovarian clear cell carcinomas showed positivity with vimentin (1/10 cases), CK5/6 (2/10), 34 beta E12 (10/10), Ber-Ep4 (10/10), CA125 (8/10), ER (7/10), and PGR (6/10). Endometrioid adenocarcinomas were positive for vimentin (9/10 cases), CK5/6 (8/10), 34 beta E12 (10/10), Ber-Ep4 (9/10), CA125 (9/10), ER (9/10), and PGR (10/10). Eight serous adenocarcinomas were positive in all cases for all the antibodies except CK5/6 (7/8 cases) and 34 beta E12 (7/8 cases). All the tumors reacted for epithelial membrane antigen. This immunohistochemical panel allows clear cell carcinomas of kidney and ovary to be distinguished. The latter has a greater phenotypic similarity with serous and endometrioid adenocarcinomas than with renal clear cell carcinoma demonstrating yet again that these ovarian tumors share a common histogenetic origin.