Immunoglobulin A levels in southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) milk during the suckling period

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in milk samples from southern elephant seals at King George Island, Antarctica are reported. IgA levels were determined throughout the suckling period (approximately 23 days). The IgA concentration in southern elephant seal milk was lower than in other mammals and, unlike most mammalian milk, was not high during early lactation. There was not a definite pattern in IgA levels, which fluctuated within narrow limits throughout the suckling period (mean +/- SD, 30.81 +/- 6.38 mg IgA/100 g milk). If IgG was present, its level was too low to be detected by the method used. This is the first evidence in Southern elephant seal of the possibility of transmission of passive immunity after birth involving secretion of IgA in the milk.     

Analysis of amyloid deposition in a transgenic mouse model of homozygous familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy

Amyloid fibrils derived from the Japanese, Portuguese, and Swedish types of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy all consist of a variant transthyretin (TTR) with a substitution of methionine for valine at position 30 (TTR Met 30). In an attempt to establish an animal model of TTR Met-30-associated homozygous familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy and to study the structural and functional properties of human TTR Met 30, we generated a mouse line carrying a null mutation at the endogenous ttr locus (ttr-/-) and the human mutant ttr gene (6.0-hMet 30) as a transgene. In these mice, human TTR Met-30-derived amyloid deposits were first observed in the esophagus and stomach when the mice were 11 months of age. With advancing age, amyloid deposits extended to various other tissues. Because no significant difference was detected in the onset, progression, and tissue distribution of amyloid deposition between the ttr-/- and ttr+/+ transgenic mice expressing 6.0-hMet 30, endogenous normal mouse TTR probably does not affect the deposition of human TTR Met-30-derived amyloid in mice. TTR is a tetramer composed of four identical subunits that binds thyroxine (T4) and plasma retinol-binding protein. The introduction of 6.0-hMet 30 into the ttr-/- mice significantly increased their depressed serum levels of T4 and retinol-binding protein, suggesting that human TTR Met 30 binds T4 and retinol-binding protein in vivo. The T4-binding ability of human TTR Met 30 was confirmed by the analysis of T4-binding proteins in the sera of ttr-/- transgenic mice expressing 6.0-hMet 30. The T4-binding studies also demonstrated the presence of hybrid tetramers between mouse and human TTR subunits in the ttr+/+ transgenic mice expressing 6.0-hMet 30.     

Viscometric and transmitted light investigation of agarose and agarose-guar water systems

Summary Agarose water solutions of different concentrations and agarose-guar water solutions of 1% (w/w) total concentration and varied compositions were submitted to viscometric and turbidimetric measurements as function of the temperature. Phase diagrams for both systems are compared. For agarose solutions, phase separation occurs prior to gelation within a certain concentration range, and network formation seems to take place by the connectivity of the polymer-rich domains. For the mixed agarose-guar system, the homogeneous solutions gel directly.     

Resorbable calcium phosphate bone substitute

Bacteroides fragilis strains isolated from different sources, i.e. 1 strain (AA1) from an aquatic environment, 1 strain from normal flora (118310) and the type strain (ATCC 25285) originally isolated from clinical material, were analysed for both cell envelope proteins composition and surviving under oxidative stress starvation. All strains examined showed a similar survival response when cultured in drinking water with a ten-fold decrease in viable counts per day during the 7 days of analysis. The outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of all strains were quite similar during the stress period as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the periplasmic proteins of the strain 118310 showed two protein bands at 48 and 58 kDa, respectively, that were absent in the strains AA1 and ATCC 25285 during the incubation period in potable water. Whole cells and periplasmic 35S-labelled proteins from bacteria cultured in drinking water showed a significant increase in proteins at 16, 18, 24, 26, 35, 48, and 58 kDa and 18, 22, 24, 48, 58, and 70 kDa, respectively, in all strains when compared to cells grown in BHI-PRAS media as detected by autoradiography following SDS-PAGE. These data suggest that B. fragilis may have a synthesis mechanism that allows them to adapt to adverse environments.     

Presence of epithelial cells in the medullary canal after spinal anesthesia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several authors have focused on a causal link between the onset of neurological complications after lumbar injections and the fact that epithelial cells may be drawn into the vertebral canal during these procedures. Complications may arise both early (cephalea, septic and aseptic meningitis) and late (epidermoid tumours). The authors aimed to evaluate whether skin fragments which are carried down by the needle during subarachnoid anesthesia may even be present in the epidural or subarachnoid space three days later and may therefore justify the onset of the above neurological syndromes. METHODS: Five adult cats under narcosis underwent subarachnoid anesthesia using disposable 22G Quincke type needles. Between 0.7 and 1 ml isobaric bupivacaine at 0.50% was injected. The presence of the motor block of the lower limbs was ascertained once the effects of general anesthesia wore off. On the third day, again under general anesthesia, cardio-respiratory arrest was provoked by intravenous injection. Samples of meninges were collected in the injection area. After fixation in a phosphate glutaraldehyde buffer, dehydration in acetone, dehydration by critical point and gold metalisation, the samples were examined using SEM. RESULTS: No epidermal cells were found on the surface of the meninges. On the other hand, a squamous epithelial cell was observed which drained inside a sectioned epidural vessel towards the systemic circulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the possibility that, after subarachnoid anesthesia using 22G Quincke needles, skin fragments may enter the spinal canal. The permanence or otherwise of the epithelial fragments on the third day depends on the size of the fragment drawn down and the efficacy of the drainage system which removes isolated epithelial cells. This phenomenon may justify the self-limiting character of cephalea and meningisms which, even if not treated, regress in a few days, as well as the scarce development of epidermoid tumours.