Konzentration von Oestrogenen im Plasma nicht-schwangerer Frauen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Quantitative Bestimmung von Pregnandiol

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Verfahren zur automatischen Messung von Enzymkinetiken

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein neues Verfahren zur automatischen Untersuchung von Enzymkinetiken angegeben. Die Umsatzgeschwindigkeit einer Enzymreaktion in Abhängigkeit von jeweils einer veränderlichen Größe wird hierbei am durchlaufenden Reaktionsgemisch kontinuierlich gemessen und registriert. Unabhängige Veränderliche kann eine Konzentration (z. B. Substrat-, Coenzym-, Wasserstoffionenkonzentration) oder die Temperatur sein. Am Beispiel der Ermittlung einer Aktivitäts-pS-Kurve (Koordinaten:v=Umsatzgeschwindigkeit;pS=negativer Logarithmus der Substratkonzentration) wird das Verfahren im Einzelnen beschrieben. Unsere Methode eignet sich bisher zur Untersuchung von Enzymen, deren Umsatz durch Messung der Lichtabsorption erfaßbar ist. Als Beispiel werden Aktivitäts-pS-Kurven von Lactatdehydrogenase aus menschlichem Herzmuskel- und Leberhomogenisat sowie von Kaninchenmuskel-LDH gezeigt und die ermittelten Michaeliskonstanten angegeben.     

Changes in cerebral endothelial barrier antigen, without alteration of permeability for intravenously injected leptin in diet-induced obesity in rats

Leptin, a potent anorectic, 16-kDa, adipose tissue-derived protein, predominantly acts in hypothalamic nuclei, signaling obesity and modulating ingestive behavior. To reach this brain area, leptin, probably has to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In some cases of obesity, enhanced leptin levels in the blood do not result in anorectic effects, probably due to an altered leptin transport across the BBB. Therefore, we investigated the BBB in lean and diet-induced obese Lewis rats. To obtain information about the presence of microvessels with barrier dysfunction we examined three brain areas (hypothalamus, cortex, hippocampus) using a monoclonal antibody which detects intact microvessels of the BBB (anti-endothelial barrier antigen, anti-EBA). The results showed a significantly reduced EBA staining in the brain sections of the obese animals, except the hippocampus, compared to the control group. In a second step we injected I125-labeled leptin intravenously (i.v.) in permanent i.v.-cannulated, unrestrained Lewis rats (lean and obese). We measured the radioactivity in the cerebrospinal fluid after puncture of the cisterna magna, in the blood and brain tissue 90 min after injection. The leptin content in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain was not reduced in obese compared to lean rats, thus showing a similar transport capacity of the BBB in both experimental groups. Therefore, the results of the in vivo investigations do not indicate an impairment of the BBB in diet-induced obesity, despite the immunohistological findings. Further functional and morphological studies are necessary to evaluate the specific role of other organs and distinct forms of leptin (free and protein-bound) in the pathogenesis of diet-induced obesity.     

Immune response against the T-independent antigen alpha (1 leads to 3) dextran. I. Demonstration of an unexpected IgG response of athymic and germ-free-raised euthymic BALB/c mice

The primary antibody response in BALB/c mice to the T-independent bacterial antigen dextran B1355S [alpha(1 leads to 3)dextran] (Dex) was studied by means of isoelectric focusing, hemagglutination and immunodiffusion techniques. In response to a single immunization with 10 micrograms Dex all mice produce specific IgM antibodies. In addition, about 30% of conventionally raised BALB/c and BALB/c nu/ + mice, but 95% of germ-free (GF)-raised normal BALB/c and 100% of athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice produce specific IgG class anti-Dex antibodies. These antibodies include all IgG subclasses, carry predominantly the lambda light chain and the cross-reactive J558 idiotype and are specific for the alpha(1 leads to 3)glucosidic linkage. As compared to athymic and GF-raised mice, conventionally raised mice exhibit only a weak IgG response. The pronounced IgG production of GF-raised mice was not altered when adult mice were removed from their GF environment and housed under conventional conditions for several weeks prior to immunization with Dex. Reconstitution with isolated splenic T cells from conventionally raised, unprimed BALB/c mice reduces the remarkable capacity of BALB/c nu/nu mice to produce IgG anti-Dex antibodies. These findings suggest that the reduced capacity of conventionally raised BALB/c mice to mount an IgG response to the T-independent antigen Dex is due to a T cell-mediated suppressive mechanism which is neonatally induced by contact with environmental, i.e. bacterial, antigens.     

Pregnancy outcome after blastocyst transfer as compared to early cleavage stage embryo transfer

BACKGROUND: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate differences in outcome when embryo transfer was performed either on day 2-3 (cleavage stage, CS-group) or on day 4-5 (blastocyst stage, BS-group). METHODS: A total of 1259 consecutive cycles yielding 500 live born babies performed at a single centre in Bregenz, Austria, were included. Main outcome measures were implantation and (multiple) pregnancy rates and neonatal outcome including birth defects. RESULTS: Total Pregnancy rate was 44% vs 28% (P < 0.001) and the total 'take home baby rate' was 37% vs 22% in the BS-group and the CS-group, respectively. Rate of multiple gestations (34% vs 17%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group, resulting in a higher rate of preterm deliveries < 36 weeks (26% vs 17%, P = 0.045). Female factor causing infertility (40% vs 21%, P < 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group. For the CS-group, rate of singleton pregnancies (83% vs 66%, P = 0.001) and idiopathic cause of infertility (34% vs 22%, P = 0.012) were significantly higher. No statistically significant differences were found in sex, Caesarean section rate, Apgar score and umbilical artery pH-values, total mean birth weight, admission rate to intensive care unit, days of hospitalization and number of minor and major birth defects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that blastocyst transfer may lead to a higher pregnancy rate with an overall better take-home baby rate (THBR) at the cost of higher rates of multiples and preterm deliveries.     

Viremia in human Cowpox virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Several poxviruses can infect humans and cause diseases of varying severity. Besides the eradicated Variola virus that induced high mortality rates, numerous further human pathogenic orthopoxviruses are potentially fatal but generally cause less severe infections. While infection-related viremia was described for Variola virus and seems to be rare for Monkeypox virus, it is still debated for Vaccinia virus. So far, viremia in Cowpox virus-infected humans has not been reported. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the potential risk of Cowpox virus to disseminate and develop severe infections, two Cowpox virus patients were examined for viremia. STUDY DESIGN: Whole blood, serum and fluid from virus-induced lesions were analyzed by serology or quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Real-time PCR and sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin gene confirmed Cowpox virus in the lesions of both patients. Serology performed on serum obtained at the same time as the lesion specimens demonstrated orthopoxvirus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies, indicating a recent orthopoxvirus infection. In addition, Cowpox virus DNA was detectable in whole blood, but not in serum, as late as week 4 post-infection. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to observations following vaccination with Vaccinia virus, DNAemia in patients with localized symptoms of a Cowpox virus infection does not seem to be a rare event. However, its relevance for Cowpox virus pathogenicity has to be elucidated.     

The seroepidemiology of human T-lymphotropic viruses: types I and II in Europe: a prospective study of pregnant women

BACKGROUND: Up to 20 million persons are infected with the human retroviruses human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I and HTLV-II globally. Most data on the seroprevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II in Europe are from studies of low-risk blood donors or high-risk injection drug users (IDUs). Little is known about the general population. METHODS: A prospective anonymous study of HTLV-I and HTLV-II seroprevalence among 234,078 pregnant women in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom was conducted. Maternal antibody status was determined by standard methods using sera obtained for routine antenatal infection screens or eluted from infant heel prick dried blood spots obtained for routine neonatal metabolic screens. RESULTS: Anti-HTLV-I/II antibodies were detected and confirmed in 96 pregnant women (4.4 per 10,000, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.5-5.2). Of these, 73 were anti-HTLV-I, 17 were anti-HTLV-II, and 6 were specifically anti-HTLV but untyped. The seroprevalence ranged from 0.7 per 10,000 in Germany to 11.5 per 10,000 in France. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women better reflect the general population than blood donors or IDUs. The seroprevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II in Western Europe is 6-fold higher among pregnant women (4.4 per 10,000) than among blood donors (0.07 per 10,000). These data provide a robust baseline against which changes in HTLV-I and HTLV-II seroprevalence in Europe can be measured.