The acute phase response of adult rats is altered by in utero exposure to maternal low protein diets.

The immune system has been previously demonstrated to be under the influence of maternal nutrition in pregnancy. Assessment was made of the effects of low protein diets (12, 9 and 6 g casein/100 g diet) fed before conception and during pregnancy on the immune system of the resulting offspring in early adulthood. Control animals were fed a diet containing 18 g casein/100 g.

Determinants of haemoglobin level in sickle cell-haemoglobin C disease.

The determinants of steady state haemoglobin levels in sickle cell-haemoglobin C (SC) disease were investigated by measuring routine haematological and biochemical indices, red cell survival, oxygen affinity, pitted erythrocytes, and red cell and plasma volumes in 31 adult patients (15 male; 16 female). Red cell survival was shortened in all subjects, and was positively correlated with haemoglobin level. However, many haemoglobin values were within the normal range, especially in male subjects.

Beta-chain variants in Jamaican newborns.

In an electrophoretic study of 15,661 Jamaican cord bloods, 8 rare beta-chain variants were found in 18 subjects in addition to the common beta-chain variants, Hb S and Hb C. The heterozygote frequencies for Hb S and Hb C were 10.1% and 3.