Zinc and copper in hair and plasma of children with chronic diarrhea

Zinc and copper status was evaluated in nineteen children with chronic diarrhea. An intestinal biopsy suggested that eight of these patients had celiac disease and eleven suffered chronic diarrhea without malabsorption and had normal villi or minimal changes. They were studied for malabsorption and compared with two control groups consisting of nineteen healthy and eleven malnourished children. Plasma zinc was depressed in the celiac disease group when compared with the normal children, but was similar to that of the malnourished children. Hair zinc was also depressed for the chronic diarrhea groups (23.2 +/- 15.2 and 34.4 +/- 21.9 micrograms/g for those with or without malabsorption respectively, vs. 97.9 +/- 15.2 for the healthy group). Plasma and hair copper values were diminished in both groups with chronic diarrhea. A significant correlation was found between plasma carotene levels after oral carotene overload, and both plasma zinc and hair copper values (r = 0.62, p less than 0.01 and r = 0.56, p less than 0.05, respectively). There was also a significant correlation between plasma zinc and plasma protein (r = 0.54, p less than 0.05). Hair determinations seem to be more sensitive than plasma values to changes in zinc or copper status in chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea in children is associated with lower levels of zinc and copper, especially when accompanied by malabsorption.

An anti-idiotype vaccine against experimental schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection of man which is widespread in tropical countries, and which so far has resisted attempts at control. We have been approaching the problem from an immunological angle. We have previously reported the production of a rat monoclonal IgG2a antibody against Schistosoma mansoni which exhibits marked cytoxicity for schistosomula in the presence of eosinophils and a high degree of protection by passive transfer in naive rats. This antibody, IPLSm1, was shown to bind specifically to a schistosomulum membrane target antigen defined as a glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 38,000 (38K), which is strongly immunogenic in schistosome infection of various animal species including man. Although theoretically the 38K protein represents an excellent candidate for a potential vaccine against schistosomiasis, the glycanic nature of the epitope recognized by IPLSm1 limits its production by DNA recombinant technology. It was, moreover, shown that, together with protective antibodies, the 38K molecule was able to induce the production of blocking IgG2c antibodies that inhibit the functional properties of IPLSm1 both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, following Jerne's network theory, we considered an alternative approach, the possibility of immunization using anti-idiotype antibodies. In the present study, rat monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies were produced against IPLSm1 (AB1). Anti-idiotype antibodies (AB2) were selected by their capacity to inhibit the binding of radioiodinated AB1 to its 38K target antigen. Sera from naive LOU rats immunized with a purified AB2 preparation contained specific anti-schistosome antibodies (AB3) which bound to 38K. AB3 antibodies were strongly cytotoxic for schistosomula in the presence of rat eosinophils and conferred highly significant protection by passive transfer. Most importantly, rats immunized with AB2 demonstrated marked protection (50-80%) to a challenge infection.

[Zinc and copper levels in Chilean infants]

Zinc and copper levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in the hair and plasma of 81 Chilean infants of both sexes, comprised within an age range of two to 36 months, after routine clinical examination at a Peripheral Health Service. The children were eutrophic, free from chronic pathologies, and their birth weights were over 2,500 grams. The infants were distributed within seven age groups and the mineral levels found were correlated mainly with age and sex.

A comparison of ovulatory gonadotropic surge in two rabbit strains: no evidence for a relationship between LH or FSH surge and factors of prolificacy

Plasma levels of LH and FSH before and after ovulation were measured in two rabbit strains (New Zealand A 1077 and Californian A 1066) having a different number of ovulations and rate of embryonic loss. Maximal concentrations and total secreted amounts before ovulation were slightly higher in New Zealand, but the difference was not significant. No relationship between the number of ovulations and the increase in plasma LH or FSH level was found in either strain. In most cases, there was no relationship between gonadotropic surge and early embryonic loss.

Alteration in membrane permeability by diacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine containing arachidonic acid

The phospholipid metabolites, stearoylarachidonylglycerol and diarachidonylglycerol, stimulate transepithelial sodium transport in frog skin epithelium. The increase in Na transport is due to an increase in the unidirectional influx of sodium, is amiloride sensitive and is prevented with pretreatment with indomethacin, mefanamic acid and phospholipase inhibitor, mepacrine. The data suggest a possible role of phospholipid metabolism and prostaglandin biosynthesis in the regulation of transepithelial ion transport.

[Rheumatic carditis and its future (author's transl)]

Authors report results of the study of a series of rheumatic heart disease in 34 children between three and 14 years old, followed-up from one month to 14 years (mean six years and six months), and another one of 14 adults operated because of cardiac sequelae, in whom the average age was 48. The most significant results are: more common in autumn-winter (62%) and females (60%); family history of rheumatic fever (55%); low social level; mitral predominance with mitral regurgitation in children and stenosis in adults; during puberty age; without symptoms in the joints in 36%, and with better prognosis since 1974. Parameters with prognostic value in the prediction of sequelae were: family history of rheumatic fever; rural environment; increase in cardiac volume, PR prolongation in the ECG and inadequate treatment and prophylaxis. 36% of the mitral lesions and 20% of the aortic ones disappeared. The main conclusion is the need for intensive treatment during the acute period of the disease and continuous prevention during the rest of their lives of cardiac sequelae.

[The general intelligence factor: psychometric study. Approach to the problem of mental deterioration]

The authors have measured the correlation coefficient between W.B. and P.M. scores in 80 normal subjects, comparable for age and school. A mutual relationship between the two tests, connected by the hypothetical general intelligence factor "g", was really demonstrated. Correlation coefficient was positive and significative between W.B. total scores, excepted verbal scores, and P.M., the highest one between subtests 8, 9 and P.M. The intra-tests correlation between W.B. total scores and each subtest score was also evaluated: between sub-tests 8, 9 and W.B. total scores the highest one again. A new qualitative interpretation of mental deterioration in clinical neurology and psychiatry is suggested on the base of these results.