[Total and specific IgA in colostrum and milk of mothers of Natal-Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil].

Purpose: To determine the concentration of total secretory IgA and evaluate the repertoire of IgA antibodies to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri antigens in colostrums and milk from mothers in Natal, RN.

Methods: The sample was constituted by 22 healthy clinically women whose babies were born at public hospital in Natal, RN. To determine total secretory IgA a radial immunedifusion tecnique (Mancini et al, 1965), was employed and to detect specific antibodies, immuneenzimatic assays, ELISA was used.

[Prevalence of abnormal hemoglobins in newborns in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil].

Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent hereditary diseases in humans. Studies in different areas of Brazil have identified the prevalence of S and C abnormal hemoglobins. The study analyzed 1,940 cord blood samples of newborns from maternity hospitals in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, to investigate the prevalence of abnormal hemoglobins.