Lactose supports Muller cell protein expression patterns in the absence of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Purpose: We have previously shown that lactose, but not mannose, promotes the assembly of nascent photoreceptor outer segments in the absence of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The purpose of the present study was to determine if, in addition to the improved outer segment assembly observed in the presence of lactose, biosynthetic changes in Muller cells could also be detected.

Methods: The RPE was removed from intact isolated Xenopus embryonic eyes that were allowed to complete differentiation in Niu-Twitty medium, Niu-Twitty with mannose, or Niu-Twitty with lactose.

Prevalence of elevated anticardiolipin antibodies in pregnant women with unexplained elevations of alpha-fetoprotein.

The goal was to determine what proportion of pregnant women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) have increased levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), and if this might explain the increased prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels of 12,295 pregnant women were evaluated at 15-19.5 gestational weeks.