STUDIES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O ANTIGEN SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN MILK, MATERNAL SERUM AND CORD BLOOD

ABSTRACT. The quantity and class specificity of E. coli O antibodies in human milk, maternal serum and cord blood was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The predominant Ig-class of these antibodies in milk was IgA. The initially high levels of antibodies decreased 10-fold during the first days, but there seemed to be a fairly constant daily production of IgA antibodies during the first two months of the nursing period. There was no obvious decline in antibody content from morning to night or during a meal. The ratio milk antibody/serum antibody was very high for IgA, suggesting a local production. The ratios for the IgG were all <1, suggesting a restricted transfer from the serum. Ratios around 1 for IgM did not exclude some local production. In umbilical cord serum the amount of IgG E. coli O antibodies was higher than that in maternal serum. Small amounts of IgM and IgA antibodies was also demonstrated in some cases. In milk as well as in serum there were antibodies against a wide variety of E. coli O groups, not only to the actual E. coli strain dominating the mother's gut flora.     

Item reliability for the Griffiths scales of mental development

As a preliminary to the revision of the Griffiths scales, the 498 items constituting the original test were studied in terms of inter-observer agreement over the scoring, using videotapes of tests, given to children aged from 2 months to 7 years, and large scoring panels. Fifty-seven items failed to be administered or scored adequately often. One hundred and twelve were found to be unreliable on one in three administrations and only 23 were unreliable on two of three administrations. Among items scored sufficiently often, 88% of all administrations were reliable. Subscale differences were not as expected since the locomotor, personal--social and hearing and speech scales fared no worse than hand--eye coordination. Inter-observer agreement varied with the age of the children. Subscale weaknesses were examined in terms of the age ranges most concerned.     

LOOKING TO THE LIVING WITH EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY

Today, as never before, the need for an intensified and intelligent health education program in the battle against tuberculosis is being felt. We are confronted with complacency because people are aware of the declining tuberculosis mortality rates but they do not know about the number of new cases that are being found; they do not understand the relationship of tuberculosis to socioeconomic conditions and other factors which affect the standards of living of communities. They read about the curative power of "wonder drugs;" of tuberculosis patients dancing in the wards. They read feature stories about the closing of prominent private sanatoria and presume that there no longer is need for beds for tuberculosis patients; and they are beginning to read about out-patient clinic services and a reduction of the time spent by patients in sanatoria. The tuberculosis picture is changing and we need to keep the public acquainted with the developments which affect this major public health problem.