Heterologous radioimmunossay of monkey alpha-fetoprotein.

Immunoelectrophoresis showed that rabbit anti-human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) cross-reacts with monkey AFP which was not detectable in the serum from an adult non-pregnant monkey. A heterologous radioimmunoassay of monkey AFP was developed using this antiserum which circumvented the need for purified monkey AFP. The radioimmunoassay is of sufficient sensitivity to measure AFP in maternal and fetal serum and amniotic fluid in the rhesus monkey.     

Comparative analysis of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Journal of Neurology - Dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod are oral disease modifying treatments (DMTs) that reduce relapse activity and slow disability worsening in relapsing–remitting multiple...     

Increased hippocampal head diffusivity predicts impaired episodic memory performance in early Alzheimer's disease

Recent neuroanatomical and functional neuroimaging studies indicate that the anterior part of the hippocampus, rather than the whole structure, may be specifically involved in episodic memory. In the present work, we examined whether anterior structural measurements are superior to other regional or global measurements in mapping functionally relevant degenerative alterations of the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease (AD).Twenty patients with early AD (MMSE 25.7 ± 1.7) and 18 healthy controls were studied using magnetic resonance and diffusion-tensor imaging. Using a regions-of-interest analysis, we obtained volumetric and diffusivity measures of the hippocampal head and body-tail-section as well as of the whole hippocampus. Detailed cognitive evaluation was based on the CERAD battery.All volumetric measures as well as diffusivity of the hippocampus head were significantly (p < 0.01) altered in patients as compared to controls. In patients, increased left head diffusivity significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with performance on free delayed verbal recall test (DVR) (r = −0.74, p = 0.0002) and with the CERAD global score. Reduced volume of the left body-tail was also associated with performance on DVR (r = 0.62, p = 0.004). Stepwise regression analyses revealed that increased left head diffusivity was the only predictor for performance on DVR (R² = 52%, p < 0.0005).These findings suggest that anterior hippocampus diffusivity is more closely related to verbal episodic memory impairment than other regional or global structural measures. Our data support the hypothesis of functional differentiation in general and the specific role of the anterior hippocampus in episodic memory in particular. Diffusivity measurements might be highly sensitive to functionally relevant degenerative alterations of the hippocampus.     

Development and evaluation of a Research Project Program for medical students at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

This essay outlines the development and evaluation of the Research Project Program (RPP) ten years after its introduction into the medical curriculum at the University of Calgary. The RPP consists of two mandatory for-credit courses. Students have the option of conducting either two smaller independent research projects or one larger project over the two years. At the end of the second-year course the students complete an evaluation of the RPP in which they are asked to assess and comment upon various aspects of the program. The authors compared data available from years one (the class of 1990) and ten (the class of 2000) and found significant differences between the two classes' approaches to the RPP. Most of the class of 2000 (89%) carried out two-year independent in-depth research projects spanning a wide range of topics. Half of these projects involved individual collection and analyses of data using experimental methods; this represented a 2.25-fold increase over the first year of the program. In the class of 2000, 44% of students presented their results at a newly implemented research symposium; an additional 22% of students presented their results at local, national, or international meetings. Further, 59% of the class of 2000 had either submitted or were planning to submit their research for peer-reviewed publication. In contrast, none of the students of the class of 1990 formally presented their research, and only 11% planned to submit their research findings for publication. The RPP has evolved in the ten years since its implementation, but the authors believe the program continues to foster independent learning and analytic and problem-solving skills.     

Serum oestriol in normal pregnancy.

Serial measurements of serum oestriol (E3) were made in 56 normal pregnancies from 10 to 40 weeks gestation using a radioreceptor assay. Several parameters of the assay and its intrapatient variability were examined. The mean curve for pregnancy E3 levels and limits of normal variation have been identified and compared with those of other series. A positive correlation was found to exist between infant birth weight and the last E3 value in normal pregnancies prior to the onset of labour. Advantages of serum E3 assays over urinary E3 determinations are discussed.     

Fetuin as a marker of cortical plate cells in the fetal cow neocortex: a comparison of the distribution of fetuin, alpha 2HS-glycoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein and albumin during early development

Summary Fetuin, ₂HS-glycoprotein (₂HS), -fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin have been shown to be present in some regions of the neocortex in two early stages of development of the cow brain using PAP immunocytochemistry. In the pre-cortical plate stage fibres of the primordial plexiform layer stained positively for fetuin. No staining was seen for albumin but plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were positive for ₂HS and AFP. In the early cortical plate stage the strongest fetuin positive staining was seen in the earliest formed cells of the plate. ₂HS staining was much less intense but similar in distribution. The possible role of fetuin, or related glycoproteins, in cortical plate differentiation is discussed. Staining for AFP and for albumin was seen mainly in the ventricular zone and marginal zone fibres, and had a similar distribution and intensity for both proteins. Plasma and CSF stained for all four proteins. Tests showed some cross-reactivity between fetuin and anti-₂HS and, to a much lesser extent, between antisera to AFP and albumin and antigens denatured by fixation.     

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in normal pregnancy.

Serial measurements of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were made in 63 normal pregnancies throughout gestation using a radioimmunoassay. Significant levels of AFP, which were detected as early as at 10 weeks gestation, showed a gradual rise until 32 weeks, after which the levels declined until term. The limits of the normal gestational pattern have been defined and the intrapatient variability of the assay was examined. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of the pregnancies with levels of AFP was made. Higher birth weights were correlated with later attainment of peak levels of AFP and peak levels were achieved earlier in gestation in female fetuses. Higher levels of AFP and lower oestriol/AFP ratios were correlated with an earlier onset of labour.