Premature ovarian insufficiency and autoimmune profiles: a prospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmunity seems to be present in a large proportion of women with spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Whether these women are at increased risk for autoimmune disease has not been determined to date. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate a large series of antibodies in order to shed more light into the autoimmune risk of POI women. METHODS: In a prospective case-control study, blood samples from 66 patients with spontaneous POI and 66 healthy controls were analyzed for a series of autoimmune antibodies. RESULTS: POI women revealed significantly increased thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) (p = 0.045) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) (p = 0.002). At least one abnormal autoimmune parameter was present in 37.9% of POI women, compared to 18.2% in healthy controls (p = 0.045). A strong association between POI and increased TGAb (adjusted odds ratio 3.586, p = 0.028), increased TPOAb (adjusted odds ratio 7.496, p = 0.003) and any increased autoimmune parameter (adjusted odds ratio 3.189, p = 0.008) could be demonstrated in a binary logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of autoimmunity in POI women compared to a healthy young collective could be demonstrated. Thyroid antibodies were significantly increased in POI women. Our data highlight the increased risk for autoimmune diseases, especially for thyroid disorders.

Cucumber Mosaic Virus Associated with Leaf Malformation and Stunting in Adiantum pedatum.

Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern) is a fern commonly used in landscapes and interiorscapes for its attractive foliage. A. pedatum is quite hardy and under conditions of good soil fertility it can become highly intrusive if left unchecked. Maidenhair fern showing symptoms associated with possible virus infection were collected from the Chadwick Arboretum on the campus of The Ohio State University, Columbus. The leaves of the affected plants were slightly malformed such that the pinnules were arranged irregularly at the pinna. The sequence of the pinnae on the rachis and the general appearance of the rachis were distorted. Overall, the symptoms observed were not as severe as those described by Nienhaus et al. on other species of ferns (1). Viral-associated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) analysis was used to analyze tissue from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants for evidence of virus infection. Results of dsRNA analysis gave evidence of a possible cucumovirus. There was no evidence of dsRNA in the asymptomatic tissue. Symptomatic tissue was subsequently tested for cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) with a direct antibody sandwich, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA results were positive for CMV in symptomatic tissue and negative for CMV in asymptomatic tissue. This is the first report of a virus associated with a disease in A. pedatum. Reference: (1) F. Nienhaus et al. Z. Pflanzenkrankh. Pflanzenschutz 9:533, 1974.

Use of indirect microhemagglutination test with stable sensitized red cells in the detection of horse protein allergy.

Sheep red blood cells were stabilized with sulfosalicylic acid and sensitized with purified horse-IgG by the action of glutardialdehyde. The cells were used in an indirect microhemmagglutination test with serum samples from 12 rabbits immunized with horse-IgG and complete Freund's adjuvant as well as from 10 control animals. 32 human serum samples were examined, 6 of them from patients with established horse protein allergy. The results were compared to those of a standard method of indirect hemagglutination using fresh human erythrocytes (group O Rh-), an active hemagglutination test against horse erythrocytes, Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion and skin tests with horse-IgG. The method proved to be very sensitive. The results correlated well with those of the other immunological techniques. The stable sensitized cells did not lose sensitivity after 1 year of storage at 4 degrees C.