Radial Immunodiffusion Technique Research Articles

Lactoferrin concentration in bovine milk: validation of radial immunodiffusion technique, sources of variation, and association to udder health status

The present study aimed to evaluate analytical performances of radial immunodiffusion (RID) technique for the quantification of milk lactoferrin (LF), and to investigate the main sources of variation of LF concentration in individual milk samples of Holstein Friesian (HF, n = 1516) and Simmental (SI, n = 230) cows. Repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDR) of RID method were assessed as relative standard deviation of 15 measurements within the same day and 45 measurements across 3 d, respectively. Sources of variation of milk LF were investigated through a mixed linear model which included the fixed effects of classes of stage of lactation and parity (and their interaction), cow breed, udder health status (UHS, based on somatic cell count and differential somatic cell count), and the random effects of the herd-test day nested within breed and the residual. Method performances were satisfactory in terms of repeatability (RSDr < 9%) and reproducibility (RSDR < 8%), suggesting that the RID can be considered as a consistent cow-side test for the quantification of milk LF. Milk LF was positively associated with somatic cell score (r = 0.40) and negatively with lactose content (r = −0.33). Lower concentration of LF was observed in milk of ‘healthy’ and ‘susceptible’ cows (13.03 and 12.87 mg/dL, respectively) compared to ‘mastitic’ and ‘chronic’ cows (17.91 and 17.33 mg/dL, respectively). In this light, milk LF has the potential to be a useful biomarker to detect early mastitis. Further research is advisable to deepen the association between milk LF content and observed clinical mastitis. Highlights Radial immunodiffusion method for milk lactoferrin quantification is repeatable and reproducible. Somatic cell count is positively associated with milk lactoferrin content. Milk lactoferrin is less concentrated in milk of healthy and susceptible than potentially mastitic and chronic cows.

15N-Labeled Immunoglobulins from Bovine Colostrum Are Partially Resistant to Digestion in Human Intestine

To evaluate true ileal digestibility of bovine immunoglobulins, seven healthy human adults ingested a 15N-labeled preparation of an immunoglobulin concentrate. After fasting overnight, subjects drank 400 mL of immunoglobulin concentrate (77 mmol), and ileal effluents were collected for 8 h at 20-min intervals using a naso-intestinal intubation technique. In addition to osmolality and pH, and concentrations of exogenous and endogenous nitrogen and ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+) in the effluents were measured. Bovine immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG, IgM, IgA) were estimated by a radial immunodiffusion technique. The mean flow rate of the liquid phase was 22.3 ± 6.1 mL/20 min and did not vary significantly during the collection period. No change was observed for osmolality, pH or Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations. Two hours after meal ingestion, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05). The recoveries of nitrogen of ingested IgG and IgM still immunologically active were 19 ± 3% and 19 ± 4%, respectively. No IgA was detected in the ileum. Mean digestibility of the exogenous nitrogen fraction was 79 ± 3%. In comparison to literature data, which show that other milk proteins have ileal digestibilities of >90%, our results demonstrate a lower ileal digestibility of bovine immunoglobulins in humans.

Association of Plasma Interferon-a(IFN-a) with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Level and Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients

Background: CRP is normal or only slightly increased in active SLE. It is presumed that IFN-α mayinhibit the transcription process during CRP synthesis. There is also increasing in IFN-αgene expressionin active SLE. This study examined the correlation of plasma IFN-α with CRP and SLE activity.Methods:Forty SLE patients were included. SLAM and SLEDAI were used to measure SLE diseaseactivity. Laboratory tests were examined at dr.Soetomo Hospital Surabaya. CRP was measured usingimmunoturbidimetry. C3 and C4 were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique. IFN-αwasmeasured using ELISA.Results and conclusion:Twenty-six patients from the outpatient clinic and 14 from wards wereincluded from August 2019 to February 2020. The median age was 31.5 years old. The median SLAMscore was 8.5. Mean CRP was 5.19±2.69 mg/L. Median plasma IFN-α was 46.02 (16.43-177.96).Spearman correlation test revealed a moderate negative correlation between plasma IFN-α and CRPlevel (p=0.003; r=-0.455). A moderate positive correlation was showed between plasma IFN-α leveland SLAM score (p=0.001; r=0.568). No correlation found between CRP and SLAM. There was astrong correlation between complement levels with SLEDAI. Linear regression revealed a significantassociation of IFN-α and C3 (not C4) level with SLEDAI.

Application of Thoracic Immunogen of Musca domestica on Immunoglobulin-G Level of Goats Detected Through a Single Radial Immuno-Diffusion Test

The purpose of this study was to detect the IgG level of goats treated with immunogen thoracic of Musca domestica (ITMd). We reared twelve young goats aged two months old under extensive treatments, divided into two equal groups for a comparison experimental design. The animals in the first group (R0) served as the control without immunogen injection, and the second group (R1) was the treatment group receiving a subcutaneous injection of 10 mL of thoracic antigens per head. The parameter observed was IgG (immunoglobulin-G) antibody serum level. The quantification of goat immunoglobulins was carried out using a single radial immuno-diffusion (SRID) technique. The data obtained from the two groups were analyzed with a t-student test. The results showed that the total IgG antibody serum of goats in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P&lt; 0.05). This difference may be due to the thoracic M. domestica immunogen response which increased antibody synthesis of experiment goats. We concluded that the treatment of thoracic immunogen of M. domestica at a level of 10 µL injected subcutaneously could significantly increase IgG antibodies in goat blood which were detected using a single radial immuno-diffusion method.

No Evident Systemic Terminal Complement Pathway Activation in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

No Evident Systemic Terminal Complement Pathway Activation in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Assessment of Age-Related Changes of Salivary Immunoglobulin A Levels among Healthy Individuals.

Background:Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the first line of defense against pathogens that invade mucosal surfaces. It has been reported that the immune system exhibits profound age-related changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the age-dependent changes of salivary IgA among healthy individuals.Materials and Methods:Saliva samples were collected from 120 healthy individuals (aged 11–70 years). The salivary IgA concentrations were measured by the use of a single radial immunodiffusion technique and analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Chi-square tests.Results:The mean salivary IgA levels were 81.11 ± 4.50 mg/dl at age 11–20 years, 92.71 ± 13.76 mg/dl at age 21–30 years, 96.50 ± 4.04 mg/dl at age 31–40 years, 104.96 ± 10.15 mg/dl at age 41–50 years, 113.22 ± 7.85 mg/dl at age 51–60 years, and 91.38 ± 4.77 mg/dl at age 61–70 years. There was a significant difference among the mean salivary IgA levels of different age groups (P < 0.001).Conclusion:These results showed that the salivary IgA levels exhibit age-related changes. Oral immunization may be considered to improve oral immunity when the salivary concentrations of IgA begin to decrease during lifetime.

Dinámica de la transferencia de inmunoglobulina G en el binomio madre-cría de llamas (Lama glama)

&lt;p&gt;En las llamas la transferencia de la inmunidad pasiva a través del calostro es un evento crítico para la supervivencia de la cría (teke). El objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer la cinética de la concentración de inmunoglobulina G (IgG) en tekes durante los primeros 5 meses de vida y relacionar la concentración de IgG en suero y calostro de las llamas con la concentración en suero de los tekes. Se diseñó un estudio de cohorte, observacional y analítico. Se estudiaron 25 llamas y sus respectivas crías. Se determinó la concentración de IgG en calostro y suero de las madres y en tekes según una cinética establecida desde el nacimiento hasta los 150 días de vida, empleando la técnica de inmunodifusión radial simple. Los resultados mostraron una concentración media de IgG en suero de llamas de 4311,47 mg/dl y en calostro de 23254,9 mg/dl. En los tekes -a las 0 h posparto- la concentración de IgG fue no dosable, alcanzando valores máximos entre las 18 y 24 h (4094,06 y 4197,95 mg/dl respectivamente) no encontrando en este periodo diferencias con la concentración de la IgG sérica materna (p 0,694). Desde las 24 h hasta los 120 días se observó un descenso en los niveles de IgG (p&amp;lt;0,0001), registrándose un incremento a los 150 días (p 0,0001). Se concluye que los valores de IgG calostral son independientes de la concentración sérica tanto en llamas como en tekes, no existiendo asociación entre los mismos (p&amp;lt;0,0001). El calostro aporta niveles de IgG que en los tekes logran concentraciones séricas similares a las de sus madres a las 24 h posparto.&lt;/p&gt;

Evaluation of Plasma Protein Alpha 2 and Beta in the Patients of Hepatitis B and C Virus by Radial Immunodiffusion Technique (RID)

Proteins usually found in all body fluids, the proteins it is only of the blood plasma that are examined utmost frequently for diagnostic purposes. Over 100 proteins individual have a physiological mission in the plasma, plasma protein Mostly synthesize by liver, usually exclusion of protein hormones and immunoglobulins. In this study include the twenty four patients suffering from infection hepatitis C virus and twenty four patients suffering from infection hepatitis B virus. The estimation of plasma proteins alpha 2 kind are ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin and beta type is transferrin concentration by used radial immunodiffusion technique (RID). The transferrin and haptoglobin are affected, the transferrin is decline below the normal value while the haptoglobin contain the normal value. The twenty patients from each of the HCV and HBV transferrin concentration were (105 - 109) mg/dl, while ceruloplasmin (17.4 - 49.4) mg/dl and haptoglobin (71.2 - 100) mg/dl. The concentration of the last two were the normal value haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin levels that as measured in this study, Thus, it could possibly be assumed that the level of ceruloplasmin was not affected to an extent that is clinically significant. Consequently, it is justifiable to conclude that reporting blood levels of ceruloplasmin is not of clinical value to HBV and HCV patients. Furthermore, this study showed the transferrin and haptoglobin level were the marker (out of the three) that were affected in patients with HBV and HCV when its level was compared with levels in healthy individuals, it was significant and the transferrin P (0.001), haptoglobin P (0.003). The reduction in transferrin level and increase in haptoglobin found by this study may be well linked with increased serum iron levels reported in HBV and HCV patients and the level of the fibrosis liver.

Decreased serum levels of immunoglobulin M and increased complement 3 in Egyptian vitiligo patients

Background Vitiligo is a common, acquired, depigmenting disorder that results from loss of functional melanocytes in the skin and mucous membranes. It is occasionally associated with autoantibodies against the melanocyte-specific proteins such as tyrosine-related protein-1 tyrosine-related protein-2. These antibodies could induce melanocyte damage in vitro by a complement-mediated mechanism and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity might play an active role in the stimulation and inappropriate expression of HLA-DR and induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on melanocytes. Objective Our aim was to assess the serum levels of different immunoglobulins (Ig) in addition to C3 and C4 in vitiligo patients and to determine their correlation with different clinical aspects of the disease. Patients and methods Serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM as well as C3 and C4 were estimated in 24 vitiligo patients and 24 healthy controls using the Radial Immuno-Diffusion (immunoprecipitation) technique. Results Serum IgM levels were found to be significantly decreased and C3 levels were significantly increased among patients compared with the controls. No significant difference was found in the serum levels of IgA, IgG, or C4 between both groups. Also, a significant positive correlation was found between serum IgA levels and the age of the patients, as well as between C3 and C4 and a family history of vitiligo. Conclusion Changes in Ig serum levels might be a cause or an effect in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, as well as alterations in the complement system. These ffindings suggest that altered immunity is to be considered in the therapeutic management of these patients.

Immunoglobulins Levels in Iraqi Atopic patients (Asthma, Rhinitis and Urticaria)

One hundred ninety-two patients (82 males and 110 females) with three types of allergic diseases (allergic asthma 60, allergic rhinitis 54, and urticaria 78), and 45 control subjects were tested to determine the levels of IgG, IgM and IgA by using the single radial immunodiffusion technique, and the levels of IgE by the ELISA method. The results revealed an apparent increase in IgE levels and inversely significant decrement for both IgG and IgA in all the three types of the allergies. While there were no substantial differences between IgM levels in allergic asthma, urticaria, and control; only allergic rhinitis showed a significant decrease in the IgM level. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between serum level of IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE in patients with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and urticaria. The decreasing level of IgG and IgA, as well as, increasing level of IgE, are associated with the three types of allergies and play an important role in developing the disease.

Complement protein and Immunoglobulins Serum levels in Normal Pregnant and Spontaneous Aborted Women

Disorder of maternal immune responses during pregnancy triggers immunological rejection of fetus antigens by maternal immune components, contribute to spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. The study was designed to concentrated on immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG and IgA) and complement elements (C3 and C4) serum levels changes in normal pregnant and abortion women. Study groups were classified into normal pregnant women (20), spontaneous abortion (30) and non-pregnant women (16) as a control group, attending to Shahid Dr. Khalid Hospital/Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics/Koya city. Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA), complement proteins (C3 and C4) were determined and analyzed for normal pregnant, abortion and control groups by using Single Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID) technique. The results demonstrated that concentration of IgG levels in abortion differed significantly in compare to normal pregnancy (p ≤0.05), while there were no significant differences in IgM and IgA serum levels among groups (p &gt;0.05). Also, statistical analysis revealed that serum levels of C3 and C4 significantly decreased in abortion group compared to normal pregnant and non-pregnant groups (p ≤0.05). Concluded that complement proteins (C3 andC4) are a good defense line during normal pregnancy, sometime activation (hyper-consuming) of complement elements may provoke spontaneous abortion, while immunoglobulins are a little role in inducing of miscarriage in pregnant women.

Natural Honey Bee venom Manipulates Human Immune Response

Background: Honey bee venom is an important toxin which has various useful properties. Bee venom possesses various peptides including melittin, apamin, adolapamin and mast cell degranulating peptide. It appears to stimulate cortisone secretion, enhances antibody production, and affects cytokine production. Aim: The aim of the work is to study changes in levels of complement system proteins, C3 and C4, together with C-reactive proteins and rheumatoid factors (CRP and RF) in response to bee venom in subjects exposed naturally to sting with honey bee workers. Subjects and Methods: Subjects (12) were randomly selected from patients visiting El-Mostafa bee house, Elmarg, cairo, Egypt; to get natural bee venom therapy for various diseases. Blood samples (24) were collected from these volunteers, before and after honey bee sting, at the laboratory of Egypt Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt following the standard protocol. Serum levels of C3 and C4 were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique. CRP was quantitatively measured by in vitro diagnostic test using auto analyzer (Dimension® EXEL) clinical chemistry system. Serum RF was measured by Rapid latex agglutination test for qualitative screening. Result: After exposure of patients to bee sting: all abnormal levels of C3 returned to normal values while abnormal C4 levels did not change; Half of cases that were showing abnormal high CRP levels have dropped to normal levels and All RF positive cases have become negative. Conclusion: The complement system has been activated, in patients, by both classical and alternative pathways before treatment with bee venom where it became only classically activated after treatment. Improved values of both CRP and RF indicate reduction in the inflammatory immune response after exposure of patients to honey bee venom.

Natural Honey Bee venom Manipulates Human Immune Response

Background: Honey bee venom is an important toxin which has various useful properties. Bee venom possesses various peptides including melittin, apamin, adolapamin and mast cell degranulating peptide. It appears to stimulate cortisone secretion, enhances antibody production, and affects cytokine production. Aim: The aim of the work is to study changes in levels of complement system proteins, C3 and C4, together with C-reactive proteins and rheumatoid factors (CRP and RF) in response to bee venom in subjects exposed naturally to sting with honey bee workers. Subjects and Methods: Subjects (12) were randomly selected from patients visiting El-Mostafa bee house, Elmarg, cairo, Egypt; to get natural bee venom therapy for various diseases. Blood samples (24) were collected from these volunteers, before and after honey bee sting, at the laboratory of Egypt Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt following the standard protocol. Serum levels of C3 and C4 were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique. CRP was quantitatively measured by in vitro diagnostic test using auto analyzer (Dimension® EXEL) clinical chemistry system. Serum RF was measured by Rapid latex agglutination test for qualitative screening. Result: After exposure of patients to bee sting: all abnormal levels of C3 returned to normal values while abnormal C4 levels did not change; Half of cases that were showing abnormal high CRP levels have dropped to normal levels and All RF positive cases have become negative. Conclusion: The complement system has been activated, in patients, by both classical and alternative pathways before treatment with bee venom where it became only classically activated after treatment. Improved values of both CRP and RF indicate reduction in the inflammatory immune response after exposure of patients to honey bee venom.

Assessment of C3 and C4 component of complement system in aborted women infected with Toxoplasma gondii

Background: The complement system consists of more than 30 proteins that are either present as soluble proteins in the blood or present as membrane-associated proteins. Inappropriate complement activation and complement deficiencies are the underlying cause of the pathophysiology of many diseases.Methods: A case-control study was conducted to asses role of complement system during toxoplasmosis in Najaf province. Thirty five sera of infected women with toxoplasmosis by investigation antibody against toxoplasmosis for IgG and IgM by ELISA technique were tested to determine the levels of C3 and C4 by using single radial immunodiffusion technique and compared with the ten of control sera of non infected subjects and non-aborted.Results: The high C3 in significant differences(P&lt;0.05) and C4 with no significant differences(P&gt;0.05) levels were found in aborted toxo-positive women in compared with control. Likewise, it was found that association between concentration of C3,C4 and number of abortion.Conclusion: complement were play role in immune response of pregnant women especially against toxoplasmosis that cause abortion to these women.

Association of lewis phenotype blood groups with recurrent urinary tract infection in female

Background: Histo blood group antigens with carbohydrate molecules are found on the surface of RBC and uroepithelial cells, which influence human susceptibility to recurrent urinary tract infection( RUTI).Objective: Of this study was to determine if a link exists between susceptibility to RUTI and host genetic phenotypes that define either an individual’s ability to respond immunologically to some antigens or the composition of host cell surface molecules. The interaction of pathogen and erythrocyte membrane may reflect antigenic similarity, adhesion through specific receptors, or modulation of antibody response, Detect the ABO blood group distribution and RUTI in accordance to lewis phenotype antigens,Methods: The studied groups attended to Babylon Maternity and Pediatric Teaching Hospital from November, 2010 to November 2011. The study is carried out on 22 female as control groups, and 52 female as patient group. All patients had a history of RUTI, defined as a minimum of three infections in the previous year; however, most patients experienced more than three UTIs per year and had recurrent infections for several years. Results of excretory urography or renal ultrasound and cystoscopy performed on all patients were normal or showed only inflammatory changes. also using physical examination and urinalysis. Circulating immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG) was evaluated by applying Mancini single radial immunodiffusion technique for a RUTI patients and control involved in this study.Results: - Regarding lewis phenotype blood group in RUTI women , there's association between non-secretor phenotype and predisposition to RUTIs in post menopause women and disappears in pregnant women in patient and control, while there's no association between secretor phenotype and predisposition to RUTIs in young women. The important result in this study appearance percent of weak secretor phenotype was (14%) in RUTI and control women. WBC count shows a highly significant increase (p&lt;0.001), significant increase (p&lt;0.05)of granulocyte and lymphocyte count in RUTI women in patents comparing with control groups. and significant increase (p&lt;0.05) in secretor than non-secretor RUTI groups of WBC ,lymphocyte and granulocyte count . Also it was found that RUTI was associated with an increase in IgG concentration more than normal IgG concentrations among secretor RUTI patients revealed an increase more than non-secretor RUTI .While, urine analysis shows all patents were suffering with pyurea , these severity was highly significant increase (p&lt;0.001) in nonsecretor than secretor RUTI group .&#x0D; Conclusion: the results of this study supports Predisposition RUTI has been associated with ABO histo Blood group and secretor status. The distribution of non-secretors was significantly higher in women with RUTI Than in the control, and higher in postmenopausal and pregnant women than in young women. These results suggest that non-secretor status is associated with the genetic susceptibility to RUTI.

The rationalization of laboratory diagnostic of acute salpingooophoritis according informative parameters of humoral immunity.

The acute salpingoophoritis is a wide-spread pathology among gynecological diseases brining on significant disorders in the humoral immune system. The study was carried out to rationalize laboratory diagnostic of acute salpingoophoritis according to informative parameters of humoral immunity. The analysis of indices of humoral immunity was applied to 65 patients with acute salpingoophoritis and 32 healthy women using radial immunodiffusion technique. The significant increasing of both of circulating immune complexes in blood plasma and related correlation relationship of IgA, IgG is established. The high informativeness of the given indices is established. The leading diagnostic significance in laboratory diagnostic is related to IgA, IgG and circulating immune complexes.

The diagnostic significance and clustering of parameters of systemic humoral immunity under acute endometritis.

The acute endometritis is an actual medical problem in the structure of gynecological pathology and its complications result in incapacitation, infertility and lethality. The purpose of study is to ameliorate laboratory diagnostic of acute endometritis at the expense of selection of diagnostically significant and similar clusters of systemic humoral immunity. he analysis was carried out concerning parameters of systemichumoral immunity in 154 patients with post-natal acute endometritis and 103 patients with non-complicated post-natal period using the radial immunodiffusion technique. The selection of diagnostically significant parameters was implemented at the basis of indices of shifting, disintegration and cluster analysis method. The leading value for laboratory diagnostic of acute endometritis according indices of shifting, disintegration and cluster analysis among parameters of systemic humoral immunity keep content of IgA in blood, absolute number of SD20+ and circulating immune complexes. The selection of diagnostically significant and similar indices of humoral immunity permits to decrease number of detecting parameters at the diagnostic of acute endometritis.

Association of PPAR Alpha Intron 7 G/C, PPAR Gamma 2 Pro12Ala, and C161T Polymorphisms with Serum Fetuin-A Concentrations.

Background Both peroxisome activator proteins (PPARs) and fetuin-A play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism. Aims We investigated whether PPARα intron 7 G2468/C and PPARγ2 Pro12Ala and PPARγ exon 6 C161T polymorphisms are associated with serum fetuin-A concentrations. Patients and Methods The PPARα intron 7 G/C polymorphism was studied in cohort 1 (79 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). The two PPARγ polymorphisms were investigated in cohort 2 (162 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). Fetuin-A levels and PPAR polymorphisms were determined by radial immunodiffusion and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Results The C allele variant of PPARα intron 7 G2467C was associated with higher fetuin-A levels (p = 0.018). Postinfarction status (p = 0.001), PPARα intron 7 GG/GC/CC genotypes (p = 0.032), and the C allele (p = 0.021) were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentration in a multiple regression model. Higher fetuin-A levels were associated with the Pro variant of PPARγ2 (p = 0.047). Postinfarction status (p = 0.041) and BMI (p < 0.001) but not PPARγ2 Pro were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentrations. PPARγ exon 6 C161T genotypes were not associated with fetuin-A levels. Conclusions Fetuin-A was determined mainly by the PPARα intron 7C allele and postinfarction status in cohort 1 and the BMI and postinfarction in cohort 2. The PPARα intron 7C and PPARγ2 Pro variants are associated with fetuin-A levels.

Physicochemical and organoleptic characterization and evaluating immunomodulatory effect in Wistar rats of extra virgin olive oil from northeastern of Algeria

Physicochemical and organoleptic characterization of the local extra virgin olive oil was performed. It has a pale green color indicating no taste or smell of deterioration with a clear appearance at 20 ° C for 24 h. It has bitterness and a piquant character identified by a panel of tasting each of which gave it a score of 03/10. It also has a fruity intensity rated 4.8 / 10. The acidity (0.1% oleic acid), density (0.916), peroxide value (04), refractive index (01.4685) and saponification index (184) were in accordance with standards. Total polyphenols was 280 mg GAE / kg of product. Spectrum of fatty acids, obtained by gas chromatography, shows a wealth equivalent to 80% of oleic acid. These results were used to classify this product in the category extra virgin oil according to the international standards. Immunomodulatory effect of this oil was performed in males and females rats. A dose of 300 μl of extra virgin olive oil was injected subcutaneously into male and female experimental groups simultaneously with an injection of 300 μl of antigenic ovalbu-min solution in the presence of Freund's adjuvant. Evaluation of IgG by the reverse radial immunodiffusion technique of Mancini gives a precipitate of diameter in control females (5.56 ± 0.74 mm) greater than that of control males (3.9 ± 0.45 mm) thereby demonstrating an immune stimulation or immunomodulation difference more intense in female controls (p &lt;0.05).

The pattern of hypogammaglobulinaemia in Sri Lankan children.

To evaluate the prevalence of hypogammaglobulinaemia in Sri Lankan children who present with recurrent or severe bacterial infections. A descriptive study. Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo. 100 children between the ages of four months to twelve years referred to the Department of Immunology, MRI, for evaluation of immune status during four years from 1993 to 1997. Immunoglobulin G, A and M levels were measured using radial immunodiffusion technique. 22 out of 100 children had an underlying antibody deficiency, of whom IgA deficiency was the commonest (18 patients). Two patients had low IgG and A and elevated IgM levels, and they were diagnosed as having X linked-hyper-IgM syndrome. One patient had deficient IgA and IgM, and all three immunoglobulins were deficient in another. Results indicate that IgA deficiency is the commonest immunodeficiency in Sri Lanka, which is comparable with studies done in the West. This study also shows the need to improve the standard of care in patients with immunodeficiency.