Recent data showing that glucan stimulates defense reactions in plants through synthesis of resveratrol, led us to study the possible synergetic effects of a glucan-resveratrol complex on immune reactions in mice. We measured phagocytic activity, expression of CD4 marker on spleen cells, IL-2 secretion and antibody response. In all cases we confirmed the stimulatory effects of glucan. Resveratr...

The sick building syndrome is well known among office workers and is becoming more recognised among health workers.' It is therefore important to be able to give correct advice when faced with this problem. This study provides evidence that negative ion generators are not to be recommended for this problem, especially as the data on temperature and humidity provided a good "internal control" th...

Peptide Microarray Immunoassay (PMI for brevity) is a novel technology that enables researchers to map a large number of proteomic measurements at a peptide level, providing information regarding the relationship between antibody response and clinical sensitivity. PMI studies aim at recognizing antigen-specific antibodies from serum samples and at detecting epitope regions of the protein antige...

The aim of this study was to test the potential diagnostic usefulness of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry antigens, ROP2 and ROP4, with respect to toxoplasmosis detection and infection phase distinction in laboratory mouce by determining specific serum IgM and IgG antibodies with the use of indirect ELISA technique. The mice antibody response to ROP antigens was significantly higher in the...

Anti-idiotypic antibodies have been used to mimic antigen in the mouse antiphosphorylcholine response in order to investigate the induction of precursors of antibody-forming cells. We have shown that interaction of anti-idiotype antibody with receptor antibody molecules induces the formation of antibodies that are specific for phosphorylcholine and carry the idiotypic determinants. This inducti...

OBJECTIVES Workers of x-ray departments are occupationally exposed to long-term low levels of ionizing radiation. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of occupational exposure of low-level x-ray radiation on immunoglobulin and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in radiology workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the study group of 41 x-ray department workers and the control g...

OBJECTIVE To provide a review of pertussis vaccines, including information on efficacy, adverse reactions, and antibody production following administration of both whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines. DATA SOURCES A MEDLINE search and extensive review of journals was conducted to identify the information for this review. DATA EXTRACTION Pertinent studies reporting experience with pe...

4,5-Bis(aminomethyl)acridine, useful as an immunosuppressant, was prepared in 31% overall yield by the reaction of acridine with N-(hydroxymethyl)phthalimide and subsequent decomposition with excess 6 N HCl. The drug was found to produce a suppression of the humoral antibody response comparable to several known immunosuppressive agents.

Hemagglutinating antibody responses of Lewis-Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats to graded doses of type-specific pneumococcal polysaccharide were measured. Rats given a small dose (0.2 to 50 mug)of type 1 or 8 polysaccharide intraperitoneally developed type-specific hemagglutinating antibody. Rats given larger doses of polysaccharide (greater than or equal to200 mug) did not develop detectable hema...

The workshop on Three Rs Approaches in the Production and Quality Control of Fish Vaccines aimed a) to identify animal tests currently stipulated for the production and quality control of fish vaccines and to highlight animal welfare concerns associated with these tests; b) to identify viable options to replace, reduce, and refine animal use for fish vaccine testing; and c) to discuss the way f...