III. Serum and sputum immunoglobulin E levels in respiratory diseases in adults

Using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay, serum IgE level was determined in 46 normal subjects, 53 patients with bronchial asthma, 44 patients with chronic bronchitis and / or emphysema, and 19 patients with restrictive lung disease. Sputum IgE was measured simultaneously in 51 of the subjects. The range of serum IgE concentration in the normal subjects was wide. It varied between 15 and 750 ng/ml with a mean of 135 ng. Asthmatic patients had significantly higher levels of serum IgE with a mean of 579 ng/ml, but only 30% fell outside the normal 95% confidence limits. Patients with chronic bronchitis, emphysema and restrictive lung diseases had normal IgE levels. There was a significant correlation between serum and sputum IgE levels.     

The problematic cemented Devonian brachiopod Schuchertellopsis durbutensis Maillieux, 1939

The Devonian cemented brachiopod Schuchertellopsis durbutensis has proved difficult to classify and its possible taxonomic relationships are unknown. Morphologically Schuchertellopsis resembles more closely members of the Orthotetidina than the Davidsoniidina. Examination of the shell structure, a key diagnostic feature of the Orthotetidina, shows that Schuchertellopsis has the cross laminar secondary shell typical of all orthotetidines. However, the presence of both pseudopunctate and incipient an extropunctate fabric within the ventral valve is unique amongst orthotetidine brachiopods and is thought to represent a phase of shell fabric experimentation. Schuchertellopsis probably fits most comfortably within the Schuchertellidae, and is the earliest representative of that family.     

Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses of wild type and TLS somaclonal variant derived from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. var. tenera) tissue culture

Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses were made on tissue culture derived truncated leaf syndrome and wild type oil palm seedlings. Mineral analysis confirmed that Boron, Zinc and chlorophyll levels were significantly lower in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of wild type. Hormonal analysis also revealed various cytokinin derivatives such as trans-zeatin, trans-zeatin riboside, trans-zeatin O-glucoside and trans-zeatin riboside 5??mono phosphate were significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves compared to wild type leaves. Brassinolide level was also significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of the wild type. These observations suggest that the truncated leaf syndrome abnormality could be associated to high cytokinin and brassinosteroid production which affects the uptake of Boron and Zinc.     

Long before Krever's report,blood scare had changed face of medicine

The disaster involving blood-borne pathogens and Canada''s blood system was in the spotlight in November with the release of the Krever inquiry report. Many physicians consider the report anticlimactic because action has already been taken on several fronts and the use of donated bloods has declined, but it will still have a far-reaching impact.     

Effect of organic and conventional farming on soil bacterial diversity of pecan tree (Carya illinoensis K. Kosh) orchard across two phenological stages

We described the bacterial diversity of walnut grove soils under organic and conventional farming. The bacterial communities of rhizospheric and nonrhizospheric soils of pecan tree (Carya illinoensis K. Koch) were compared considering two phenological stages (sprouting and ripening). Sixteen operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified significantly more abundant according to the plant development, only one according to the farming condition, and none according to the soil origin. The OTUs specificaly abundant according to plant development included Actinobateria (2) and Betaproteobacteria (1) related OTUs more abundant at the sprouting stage, while at the fruit ripening (FR) stage the more abundant OTUs were related to Actinobacteria (6), Alphaproteobacteria (6), and unclassified Bacteria (1). The Gaiellaceae OTU18 (Actinobacteria) was more abundant under conventional farming. Thus, our study revealed that the plant development stage was the main factor shaping the bacterial community structure, while less influence was noticed for the farming condition. The bacterial communities exhibited specific metabolic capacities, a large range of carbon sources being used at the FR stage. The identified OTUs specifically more abundant represent indicators providing useful information on soil condition, potential tools for the management of soil bacterial communities.     

Use of pre-embedding ultrastructural immunocytochemistry in the localization of a secretory product and membrane proteins in cultured prolactin cells

A pre-embedding immunoperoxidase procedure performed directly on cultured cells in situ was used to localize several intracellular antigens at the electron-microscope level. With this procedure, we compared the effect of various fixatives, with or without saponin permeabilization, on the immunoreactivity of a secretory product (prolactin) and membrane proteins in cultured prolactin cells. Prolactin was detected within all compartments of its intracellular secretory pathway. Membrane antigens of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes were localized in distinct intracellular compartments. These immunocytochemical results are discussed in relationship to others in the literature that describe the localization of similar types of antigens. The technique, here described, which preserves ultrastructural detail and antigenicity, should be applicable for the localization of other intracellular antigens in cultured cells.     

Trichomonas gallinae in columbiform birds from the Galapagos Islands

Domestic pigeons were introduced into the Galapagos Islands in 1972 or 1973. There is a high prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae among them and some evidence of canker. Trichomonas gallinae can be found also in endemic Galapagos doves in the vicinity of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Doves examined on pigeon-free islands were not found infected.