ABSTRACT
The effect of a food supplement on immunological parameters of 16 long-distance runners was tested in a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. The supplement comprised plasmolysed herbal yeast, malt, honey, and orange juice. No statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the following variables were detected at three sessions at rest and immediately after a 21 km run: total and differential white blood cell counts, numbers of B- and T-cells and T-subpopulations, concanavalin-A-induced lymphocyte proliferation, serum levels of immunoglobulins, neopterin, IL-2 receptors, beta 2-microglobulin, complement factor b, c4 and c3c, and c1-inactivator. These findings suggest that the effects of the tested food supplement on these parameters are negligible with respect to improvements in the immunological status of long-distance runners. The changes observed immediately after the run had a transient character. In both groups, however, low lymphocyte counts, IgG subclass 2 levels and c1-inactivator levels were noted at rest, which indicate that the immune status of endurance athletes may be affected by training.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , Exercise , Immunity, Cellular , Magnoliopsida , Running , Adult , Antibody Formation/physiology , Double-Blind Method , Exercise/physiology , Female , Humans , Immunity, Cellular/physiology , Male , Physical Endurance , Yeast, Dried/administration & dosageABSTRACT
A 22-year-old man with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) and hypothyroidism developed severe bronchiectases following recurrent bronchopneumonia. Immunological investigations revealed IgG2/IgG4 subclass deficiency and absence of antibodies against pneumococcal and Haemophilus polysaccharides. Under regular immunoglobulin substitution every 3 weeks pulmonary symptoms improved markedly.
Subject(s)
Bronchiectasis/etiology , Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous/etiology , Candidiasis/etiology , Dysgammaglobulinemia/complications , IgG Deficiency , Adult , Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous/complications , Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous/immunology , Dysgammaglobulinemia/blood , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/classification , MaleABSTRACT
A new nitrocellulose-based ELISA technique, the line immunobinding assay (LIBA), permits the quantitative detection of multiple antigen-antibody reactions in one single assay. The antigen solutions are sprayed in thin lines onto a nitrocellulose sheet which is then cut into several strips before incubation in a multi-channel tray with serially diluted serum. The reacting antibodies are visualized by a peroxidase system. Comparison with other techniques routinely used for the detection of antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella, suggest that the LIBA offers specificity with sensitivity and may have a broad range of applications.
