Improved Recovery of Immunoglobulin Fraction from Egg Yolk of Chicken Immunized with AsialoGM1.

Chicken egg yolk is an abundant, yet inexpensive source of polyclonal antibodies. However, removal of the contaminating lipids and lipoproteins from immunoglobulins of egg yolk (IgY) is considered to be a laborious task during the purification. Liposomal asialoGM1 was used as a model immunogen for raising polyclonal IgY and tested with various methodological approaches.

Sensitive spectrophotometric assay for 3-hydroxy-substituted flavonoids, based on their binding with molybdenum, antimony, or bismuth.

A sensitive spectrophotometric assay has been developed for flavonoids based on their binding with molybdenum, antimony, or bismuth. Acetylation of the hydroxyl group of flavonoids abolished metal binding, thus suggesting a direct role of the hydroxyl groups. From a comparison of several related flavonoids differing in the position of hydroxyl substitutions, the hydroxyl group at position 3 was found to be an important requirement for the formation of a yellow complex.

Extended indications for enteral nutritional support.

With the availability of an organized nutrition support team (NST), the use of enteral nutrition (EN) can be extended to patients who would have otherwise received parenteral nutrition (PN). Although the formulation and accuracy of nutrient intake seems easier with PN, it is accepted that EN is cost effective and advantageous and should be used whenever possible. We discuss three cases in which the NST was initially consulted to provide PN.

Chicken egg yolk anti-asialoGM1 immunoglobulin (IgY): an inexpensive glycohistochemical probe for localization of T-antigen in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

A egg yolk polyclonal IgY has been prepared by immunization of white leghorn chickens with small unilamellar liposomal asialoGM1. The newly prepared anti-asialoGM1 IgY has been characterized to be specific toward the terminal carbohydrate moiety of asialoGM1, and has no cross reactivity to its sialylated counterpart (ganglioside, GM1) as evidenced by immunochromatographic studies. General glycohistochemical methods along with antigen specific lectin and immunohistochemical staining using anti-asialoGM1 IgY were used to study the expression of Thomsen-Friedenreich (T-) disaccharide antigen in human colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues.

Comparative evaluation of ultramicro-and macro-chemo enzyme based assays of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides.

A comparison of the absorbance, enzyme/substrate concentration, reaction efficiency and sensitivity has been made for enzyme-based clinical chemistry assays, using a conventional colorimeter versus a strip-microwell reader, in order to establish the value of ultra-microchemical procedure, with reaction volume 87 μl (light path length=0.25 cm). By utilizing commercial kits available for the quantitation of serum glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, it has been established that the micro method is highly cost effective (9-30 fold), reproducible and sensitive.

Prophylactic locking of enteral feeding tubes with pancreatic enzymes.

Background: Obstruction of feeding tubes is a common mechanical complication associated with enteral feeding. Standard methods of flushing are not always effective.

Methods: This study was conducted with patients receiving enteral feeding via nasogastric, nasoenteral, gastrostomy, or jejunostomy tubes to determine if prophylactic use of pancreatic enzymes would maintain patency of feeding tubes.