Increased fat deposition after repeated immunization in growing chickens.

We investigated the effects of sequential immunizations with seven different protein antigens (bovine gamma-globulin, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, rabbit gamma-globulin, tetanus toxoid, SRBC, human serum albumin, and BSA) on metabolic parameters (growth, food uptake, total heat production, metabolizability, energy retention as fat, and energy retention as protein) and antibody responses to these antigens in growing layer chickens. Energy and immune parameters of repeatedly immunized birds were compared with control birds in climate-respiration chambers in three trials. The last antigen (BSA) was given to both groups. Energy retention as fat was significantly higher in the repeatedly immunized group (P < 0.05). Antibody titers directed to BSA were similar for the repeatedly immunized groups and the control group. In addition, the separate antibody responses of the repeatedly immunized group to the administered antigens were compared with the antibody response of a control group receiving only a single antigen at the same age. With respect to several antigens, differences between groups were found. In the repeatedly immunized group, higher Day 0 (base line) titers were found to new antigens, introduced especially during the second half of the experiment. In these birds, significantly lower increases of antibody titers to some, but not all, antigens were found as compared to birds that were immunized only with the same antigen. It was concluded that repeated activation of the humoral immune response in growing layer chickens stimulated fat deposition but had little effect on other metabolic parameters. Repeated immunization had little effect on the immune response to separate antigens in the present experiments.

Risk factors and anti-HBc reactivity among first time blood donors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The usefulness of testing for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as a surrogate marker for non-A, non-B hepatitis can no longer be clearly established in the face of anti-hepatitis C virus testing. Application of anti-HBc testing in blood donors for detection of hepatitis B in addition to hepatitis B surface antigen testing (HbsAg) is a matter of debate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the serology and risk analysis data in a group of first-time blood donors. In 1.48% of 16,081 donors, anti-HBc reactivity was found. We invited a study group of 112 donors for extensive interviewing about the risk of blood transmissible diseases, and for serological testing. A control group of 240 first-time donors was studied as well. RESULTS: In the study group, the age was older (p < 0.001), a history of liver disease was more frequent (p < 0.001), and the donor (p < 0.001) or the donor's partner (p < 0.05) had either stayed longer in an HBV-endemic area or had been born in one. Combining these with the serological results, we found that strong anti-HBc reactivity was related to hepatitis B risk factors in HBsAg-negative donors. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HBc testing in HbsAg-negative first-time donors makes it possible to identify hepatitis B risk factors with a prevalence of 0.02%. Our findings also stress the importance of including the history of the donor's partner(s) in the risk analysis before blood donation.

Comparison of LysB28, ProB29-human insulin analog and regular human insulin in the correction of incidental hyperglycemia.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain clinically applicable data on the effects of regular human insulin and the LysB28,ProB29-human insulin analogue (lispro) on the correction of incidental hyperglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The insulins were compared in a non-clamped randomized crossover study of 27 male IDDM patients. Hyperglycemia was induced by the withdrawal of the normal evening dose of insulin; the next morning patients fasted and received a single dose of study insulin according to a dosing nomogram. Blood glucose concentration and GR (a measure of glucose corrected for differences in administered insulin dose: GR = glucose concentration X BMI X insulin dose-1) were followed for 4 h. RESULTS: The time courses of blood glucose concentration and GR were significantly different after regular insulin in comparison with lispro (multiple analysis of variance, P < 0.001). At t = 120 min, glucose concentrations had decreased 1.4 mmol/l more with lispro than with regular insulin (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-2.3, P = 0.002). Similarly, GR had decreased 4.4 mol.kg.IU-1.m-5 more with lispro than with regular insulin (95% CI 2.6-6.2, P < 0.001). The overall difference in glucose values was 0.87 mmol/l (lispro < regular insulin, P = 0.036), and the overall difference in GR values was 1.96 mol.kg.IU-1.m-5 (lispro < regular insulin, P = NS). Unexpectedly, the intrinsic variability of GR was higher for lispro than for regular insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The more rapid action of lispro is an advantage in the correction of hyperglycemia, even though actual differences in glucose concentrations are smaller than suggested by previous clamped studies.

Intensification of donor interviewing procedures: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and acceptability for the blood donor of an intensified blood donor interviewing procedure on high-risk factors for infectious diseases. To answer the question whether an intensified blood donor interviewing procedure would lead to an unacceptable loss of blood donors. DESIGN: Feasibility study. SETTING: Red Cross Bloodbank Rotterdam. DONORS: Study group of 240 first-time donors. INTERVENTIONS: Intensified donor interviewing techniques by direct questioning and workload assessment. RESULTS: Intensified interviewing was welcomed by 88-91% of first-time donors and rejected by 2-5%. On the question whether the intensified interviewing procedure should be the standard approach of the blood bank the answer was positive in 76-82% of first-time donors and negative in 11-14%. No blood donors indicated that this would be a reason to withdraw from blood donation. The workload for the blood bank physician increased by approximately 30%. CONCLUSION: The approach of intensified donor interviewing techniques in first-time donors is acceptable both to the donors and the blood bank workload.

Circadian fluctuation in heat production of young calves at different ambient temperatures in relation to posture.

Circadian fluctuations in the effect of ambient temperature (Ta) on heat production (Htot) and its relation to posture were investigated in young calves in this study. Twenty-three 6-d-old Holstein-Friesian male calves were assigned to one of four Ta treatments: 5, 9, 13, or 18 degrees C. Heat production was measured per calf continuously every 9 min by indirect calorimetry for 5 d. The posture during these 9-min periods was derived from physical activity measurements by Doppler-radar meters. Heat production varied within a day; it was highest when calves were drinking (milk or water). The influence of Ta on Htot was larger for the light (including feeding periods) than for the dark phase of the day, being related to the larger Ta effect during the feeding periods. Lower critical temperatures (LCT) were 14.1, 15.2, and 16.8 degrees C and extra thermal heat productions below LCT (ETH) were 8.48, 8.28, and 11.55 kJ.kg-.75.d-1.C degrees-1 for the dark, the light (excluding feeding periods), and the feeding phase during the day, respectively. Time spent standing was not affected by Ta but varied during the day (24-h period). Averaged over Ta, 51% of the within day variation in Htot was accounted for by the calf's posture. Correction of Htot for the time spent standing reduced the difference in both ETH and LCT between phases of the day. The present study demonstrates that circadian fluctuations exist in the thermal requirements of young calves. Part of these fluctuations are related to within-day variation in time spent standing.

A survey of zinc, copper and cadmium concentrations in salt marsh plants along the Dutch coast.

In autumn 1986, plants and soil were collected from the lower and the higher salt marsh zones of salt marshes along the Dutch coast. The main purpose was to get an overview of Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations in six dominant species of salt marsh plants. The roots and shoots of the plants were analysed for Zn, Cu and Cd. The highest heavy metal concentrations were found in plants collected from salt marshes near harbour areas and/or that are known to receive contaminated fluvial sediment. Dicotyledonous plant species tended to have similar heavy metal concentrations in roots and shoots, whereas in monocotyledonous species the concentrations in the roots were two to three times higher than in the shoots. Differences in accumulation in the roots between elements and between plant species were found. Cd was accumulated more than Zn or Cu. Triglochin maritima shows a low Cd uptake by roots, whereas Spartina anglica and Scirpus maritimus tend to accumulate it. The fraction of soil particles smaller than 63 microm, loss on ignition and Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations were determined in soil samples. The highest Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations in the soil were found at salt marshes in the Western Scheldt area and were nine, five and 20 times higher than background levels, respectively.

Ankylosing spondylitis without HLA B27.

A series of 187 patients with definite ankylosing spondylitis was studied. Seventeen of these lacked the antigen HLA B27, but had signs and symptoms identical to the 170 HLA B27 positive patients. The study provides additional confirmation that other factors besides HLA B27 are involved in the development of ankylosing spondylitis.

"Sausage-like" toes (dactylitis) and HLA B27.

When "sausage-like" swelling of the toes occurs in the absence of clinical Reiter's disease or psoriasis, definite classification is hardly possible. Nine patients with isolated "sausage toes" (dactylitis) and minor involvement of other joints are described. The relationship between this syndrome and HLA B27 permits better classification and more rational treatment.