IgM antibody to filarial antigens in human cord blood: possibility of transplacental infection.

In a hospital in Sri Lanka, antifilarial antibody in maternal and umbilical cord blood was determined by indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radio-immunoassay. Anti-filarial antibody was detected in 18 of 340 cord blood samples. Specific IgM antibody was detected in 12 cord blood samples. The foetal IgM antibody was probably in response to a transplacental transfer of filarial antigens. The exposure of the foetus to filarial antigens might be beneficial, increasing resistance to infection, or detrimental by inducing at least partial tolerance.

Transferrin in maternal and cord blood: the relationship with birthweight.

The relationship between the serum level of maternal transferrin in late pregnancy and the birthweight of the infant was investigated. Mothers with low levels of serum transferrin may give birth to low-birthweight babies, but this was not a general phenomenon. In very-low-birthweight infants, the birthweight correlated with the level of maternal transferrin. It is concluded that the maternal serum transferrin level does not reflect the maturity of the fetus or the birthweight of term neonates.

EEG and serum prolactin studies in relation to transcutaneous stimulation of central motor pathways.

Eight adult volunteers had EEG recordings and serial serum prolactin estimations performed both before and after a session of transcutaneous stimulation of the central motor pathways using the technique of Merton and Morton. No significant changes in either the EEG traces or in the serum prolactin values were detected.