Passive transfer of maternal Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae-specific cellular immunity to piglets.

Immunity in the neonatal animal is primarily maternally derived, either by lymphocytes that pass into the newborn across the placenta or following colostrum ingestion. However, the effect of this passively transferred cellular maternal immunity on the newborn's immune repertoire is not clearly understood. Various studies have shown that colostral lymphocytes are activated and possess functional abilities; however, no studies have shown the transfer of colostral antigen-specific T-cell-specific responses in a newborn.

Measuring the glycemic index of foods: interlaboratory study.

Background: Many laboratories offer glycemic index (GI) services.

Objective: We assessed the performance of the method used to measure GI.

Design: The GI of cheese-puffs and fruit-leather (centrally provided) was measured in 28 laboratories (n=311 subjects) by using the FAO/WHO method.

Three-year follow-up of the ARTS-II# - sirolimus-eluting stents for the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Aims: Late stent thrombosis has been documented in on- and off-label populations. Stent thrombosis is more frequently in higher risk patients and there is still scarce data about the impact on late adverse cardiac events. The aim therefore is to determine the 3-year safety and effectiveness of Sirolimus-Eluting Stent (SES) (Cypher(R)) implantation in patients with multivessel disease and to compare outcomes with the historical results of the two arms of the Arterial Revascularisation Therapies Study (ARTS-I).

The process of nutrient analysis for controlled feeding trials: a comparative study of two South African nutrient databases with chemical analysis.

Background: There is an increased tendency in the field of nutrition research to conduct more outpatient controlled feeding trials. The formulation of accurate diets is essential in order to assemble valid scientific data, which will substantiate hypothesised relationships between a nutrient variable and an outcome. Research dieticians rely on the accuracy of computerised nutrient databases when designing the menu.

Nutrition and hemostasis: a focus on urbanization in South Africa.

South Africa is experiencing a rapid urbanization of its African population characterized by a demographic, nutrition, lifestyle, and health transition. The resultant high prevalence of high cardiovascular disease, in particular of stroke, is of concern. In this narrative review it is suggested that, together with hypertension, changes in the hemostatic system may be one of the major contributors to stroke in this population.

Control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in pigs.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the primary pathogen of enzootic pneumonia, occurs worldwide and causes major economic losses to the pig industry. The organism adheres to and damages the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract. Affected pigs show chronic coughing, are more susceptible to other respiratory infections and have a reduced performance.

Mercury in hair as a biomarker of exposure in a coastal Venezuelan population.

To assess mercury exposure and potential risk, total mercury (THg-H) and methylmercury (MeHg-H) in hair were studied in 160 adults. The study group consisted of 60 individuals living in the north central coast of Venezuela. A section of the area was known to be contaminated with mercury from a chlor-alkali plant installed near one of the tributary rivers of the Caribbean Sea.

Ultrastructural comparison of the morphology of three different platelet and fibrin fiber preparations.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the ultrastructural morphology of three different sources of fibrin networks and platelets, namely, lyophilized human platelet-rich plasma (LPRP), freshly prepared human platelet-rich plasma (FPRP), and human platelet concentrate (HPC). The ultrastructural morphology of the three different fibrin networks was studied using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Turbidity curves were drawn at 405 nm at room temperature and fibrinogen concentrations were measured.

Glycation of fibrinogen in uncontrolled diabetic patients and the effects of glycaemic control on fibrinogen glycation.

Introduction: Evidence exists for a relationship between glycaemic control and macrovascular disease. Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins may explain this relationship in part. We investigated the effect of blood glucose control, under out-patient conditions, on fibrinogen glycation as well as the relationship between glycated fibrinogen and glycaemic control using a new sensitive method for the measurement of glycated fibrinogen.

The effect of glycaemic control on fibrin network structure of type 2 diabetic subjects.

Diabetic subjects have been shown to have altered fibrin network structures. One possible cause may be fibrinogen glycation resulting in altered structure/function properties. We investigated the effect of glucose control on fibrinogen glycation and fibrin network structure in type 2 diabetes.

Differences in the association of PAI-1 activity with the metabolic syndrome between African and Caucasian women.

Background And Aims: The association between PAI-1(act) and markers of the metabolic syndrome is well established in Caucasian populations, but data on African subjects is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences between the association of PAI-1(act) and markers of the metabolic syndrome in Caucasian and African women.

Methods And Results: Cross-sectional data were collected from 95 African and 114 Caucasian women in the Potchefstroom district of the North West Province, South Africa.

Clustering of haemostatic variables and the effect of high cashew and walnut diets on these variables in metabolic syndrome patients.

We investigated the effect of a high walnut and cashew diet on haemostatic variables in people with the metabolic syndrome. Factor analysis was used to determine how the haemostatic variables cluster with other components of the metabolic syndrome and multiple regression to determine possible predictors. This randomized, control, parallel, controlled-feeding trial included 68 subjects who complied with the Third National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol criteria.

Foodstate vitamin C complex may beneficially affect haemostasis and fibrin network structure in hyperlipidaemic patients.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study on 25 free-living hyperlipidaemic volunteers aspired to prove the hypothesis that supplementation for 8 weeks with a FoodState Vitamin C complex (500 mg vitamin C, 160 mg bioflavonoids, 600 mg magnesium and 900 mg vitamin B complex) may improve haemostatic factors and fibrin network structures. Of the haemostatic factors measured, only median plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) concentrations were both significantly decreased with FoodState Vitamin C complex compared with placebo [PAP, -4.05% (-23.

The effect of 40 kHz ultrasound on tissue plasminogen activator-induced clot lysis in three in vitro models.

In a previous study, high-frequency ultrasound (US) (3 MHz) was shown to enhance in vitro fibrinolysis through enhanced supply of plasminogen to the clot surface. The application of high-frequency US is limited in vivo, however, due to tissue heating. We continued our research using low-frequency US with less tissue heating and improved penetration of the US.

Reduced intake of deoxynivalenol in The Netherlands: a risk assessment update.

In 1998 and 1999, wheat contained high levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in The Netherlands. Eighty percent of the 1-year-old children exceeded the TDI (20% exceeded 2TDI). Assuming a long-term intake a negative effect on body weight might be possible.

The effect of red palm olein and refined palm olein on lipids and haemostatic factors in hyperfibrinogenaemic subjects.

Little is known about the physiological effects of red palm olein (RPO). The effects of red palm olein and palm olein (POL) compared to sunflower oil (SFO), on lipids, haemostatic factors and fibrin network characteristics in hyperfibrinogenaemic volunteers were investigated. Fifty-nine free-living, hyperfibrinogenaemic volunteers participated in this randomized, controlled, single blind parallel study.

The psychomotor effects of carbamazepine in epileptic patients and healthy volunteers.

The effect of straight release carbamazepine monotherapy was studied in 12 well-controlled epileptic patients using adaptive tracking, smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements, body sway, Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Visual Analogue Scales. Patients were matched to healthy controls for age and gender. After patients had received their usual morning dose of carbamazepine, patient-control pairs were studied for 7 h.

Effect of freeze-drying, freezing and frozen storage of blood plasma on fibrin network characteristics.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of freezing, freeze-drying and the duration of frozen storage of blood plasma on fibrin network characteristics of clots subsequently produced.

Materials And Methods: Fibrin network characteristics of clots made from freeze-dried and frozen plasma were compared to those made from fresh plasma. Freeze-dried pooled plasma was reconstituted and frozen each month for 4 months to describe the differences in fibrin networks that occur as a result of storage of the plasma over this period.

Saccadic peak velocity and EEG as end-points for a serotonergic challenge test.

Unlabelled: We previously reported that a single dose of the serotonin receptor agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine increased the peak velocity of saccadic eye movements and decreased low-frequency electroencephalographic activity.

Methods: We administered a single dose of the serotonin releaser dexfenfluramine in a double blind, placebo controlled randomised cross-over design and measured saccadic eye movements and EEG every hour up to 6 h. Subjects were 62 males (18-30 years) with a history of no, moderate or heavy use of ecstasy tablets.

A prospective randomized comparison of sequential versus monoculture systems for in-vitro human blastocyst development.

Background: Extending the period of in-vitro culture to the blastocyst stage may improve implantation rates in IVF treatment. Recognition of the dynamic nature of early embryo metabolism has led to the development of commercially available sequential culture systems. However, their improved efficacy over monoculture systems remains to be demonstrated in prospective studies.

CNS effects of sumatriptan and rizatriptan in healthy female volunteers.

This study investigates the CNS effects of sumatriptan and rizatriptan, with temazepam as an active comparator, in healthy female volunteers. Sixteen volunteers completed a randomized, double-blind, crossover study and on four separate occasions received either 100 mg sumatriptan, 20 mg rizatriptan or 20 mg temazepam. The main parameters were eye movements, EEG, body sway, visual analogue scales and a cognitive test battery.

A prediction model for selecting patients undergoing in vitro fertilization for elective single embryo transfer.

Objective: Construction of a prediction model to enable the selection of patients for elective single ET.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Fertility center in a tertiary referral university hospital.

Risk assessment of deoxynivalenol in food: concentration limits, exposure and effects.

The mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), is produced world-wide by the Fusarium genus in different cereal crops. We derived a provisional TDI of 1.1 microg/kg body weight (bw) and proposed a concentration limit of 129 microg DON/kg wheat based on this TDI and a high wheat consumption of children.

Placebo-controlled comparison of three dose-regimens of 5-hydroxytryptophan challenge test in healthy volunteers.

Single-dose administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is regularly used as a challenge test of the serotonergic system. The use of 5-HTP has been limited by an apparent small window between the occurrence of neuroendocrine endpoints and the occurrence of side effects. Therefore, many dosing strategies have been tried with and without concurrent administration of carbidopa, a peripheral inhibitor of the decarboxylation from 5-HTP to serotonin.

Genetic risk factors in infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia.

Background: Male infertility due to severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia has been associated with a number of genetic risk factors.

Methods: In this study 150 men from couples requesting ICSI were investigated for genetic abnormalities, such as constitutive chromosome abnormalities, microdeletions of the Y chromosome (AZF region) and mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.

Results: Genetic analysis identified 16/150 (10.