Bioavailability of selenium from selenium-enriched milk assessed in the artificially reared neonatal pig

There is interest in pre-farm gate fortification of the diet with highly bioavailable selenium (Se) to improve public health, so the aim of the present study was to determine the bioavailabilities of Se from Se-enriched whole milk and milk replacers supplemented with exogenous Se in neonatal pigs. Milk enriched with Se (1070 μg Se/kg dry matter (DM); HSeM) was obtained from cows supplemented with selenised yeast while the control milk diet (135 μg Se/kg DM; LSeM) was made using milk powder from non-supplemented cows. Additional diets were formulated by adding selenised yeast (HSP) or selenate (HSN) to the LSeM diet to give final Se concentrations of 1070 μg Se/kg DM. Neonatal pigs were trained to drink milk and then randomly allocated to their four respective diets and slaughter times (0, 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of feeding). Plasma Se increased over the first 21 days in pigs consuming HSeM, reaching a value over three times higher than the LSeM pigs. Plasma Se concentrations plateaued at 45, 125, 122 and 170 μg/mL for LSeM, HSN, HSP and HSeM pigs, respectively ( P  < 0.001). After 28 days, muscle Se plateaued at 47, 106, 237 and 486 μg/kg for LSeM, HSN, HSP and HSeM pigs, respectively ( P  < 0.001). Colonic selenoprotein P gene expression was greater ( P  = 0.024) in pigs fed HSeM compared with LSeM while the HSP and HSN were intermediate. These data suggest that Se in milk from cows fed selenised yeast is highly bioavailable and may offer a means of delivering supplemental Se to humans.     

HLA polymorphisms in a Shanghai Chinese population

The frequencies of the HLA-A, B, C, D, DR and MB antigens have been determined in a homogeneous Shanghai Chinese population. Comparisons with the HLA-A and -B frequencies in other subsets of the Chinese population revealed some marked differences. No comparisons were possible for the D, DR and MB antigens since there were no previous studies of the antigens in those loci. We suggest that studies of the Chinese population should be confined to clearly defined homogeneous subsets. In this manner, the confounding effect of population heterogeneity may be avoided, and it is this heterogeneity which calls for extensive surveys of the huge Chinese population.     

Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis –The Varying Lung Appearances in Four Cases

The radiological appearances of four cases of lymphomatoid granulomatosis and the known features of the disease are reviewed. There is a wide range of differential diagnoses on the chest appearance alone, but this may be substantially reduced by consideration of the clinical presentation.     

THE CONTUSION INDEX: A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO CEREBRAL CONTUSIONS IN HEAD INJURY

Adams J.H., Scott G., Parker L.S., Graham D.I. & Doyle D. (1980)
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 6, 319–324
The contusion index: a quantitative approach to cerebral contusions in head injury
A quantitative means of assessing contusions of the brain (the 'contusion index') following head injury has been devised. Its derivation and application to a consecutive series of 151 cases are described.