ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine whether there is an association between the density of macular pigment in the human retina and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Retinas from 56 donors with AMD and 56 controls were cut into three concentric regions centered on the fovea. The inner, medial, and outer regions covered the visual angles 0 degrees to 5 degrees, 5 degrees to 19 degrees, and 19 degrees to 38 degrees, respectively. The amounts of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) extracted from each tissue sample were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: L and Z levels in all three concentric regions were less, on average, for the AMD donors than for the controls. The differences decreased in magnitude from the inner to medial to outer regions. The lower levels found in the inner and medial regions for AMD donors may be attributable, in part, to the disease. Comparisons between AMD donors and controls using the outer (peripheral) region were considered more reliable. For this region, logistic regression analysis indicated that those in the highest quartile of L and Z level had an 82% lower risk for AMD compared with those in the lowest quartile (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with a theoretical model that proposes an inverse association between risk of AMD and the amounts of L and Z in the retina. The results are inconsistent with a model that attributes a loss of L and Z in the retina to the destructive effects of AMD.
Subject(s)
Lutein/metabolism , Macular Degeneration/metabolism , Retina/metabolism , Retinal Pigments/metabolism , beta Carotene/analogs & derivatives , beta Carotene/metabolism , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Case-Control Studies , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Tissue Donors , Xanthophylls , ZeaxanthinsABSTRACT
A subunit vaccine in the form of immunostimulating complex (iscom) was prepared to contain the envelope glycoproteins of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1). This iscom preparation was tested in a vaccination experiment on 4-month-old calves seronegative to BHV-1. In this experiment, four groups with three animals per group were used. Two groups were vaccinated with the iscom preparation twice, four weeks apart, one group with 50 micrograms and the other with 100 micrograms per calf. The third group received a commercial inactivated whole-virus vaccine applying the same vaccination program. The fourth group served as control. Two weeks after the second vaccination, all the animals were challenge-infected intranasally with a virulent BHV-1 strain and four days later with a virulent Pasteurella multocida--this in order to mimic hard field conditions. When exposed to challenge infection, all the animals vaccinated with the iscom were fully protected, i.e., no virus could be recovered from their nasal secretions and no clinical symptoms were recorded. In contrast, the animals vaccinated with the commercial vaccine, responded to challenge with moderate fever and loss of appetite, and virus was isolated from the nasal secretions. The animals in the control group developed severe clinical symptoms. In the sera of iscom-vaccinated animals, the virus neutralization titers reached levels of 1/3500 or higher.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic , Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis , Herpesvirus 1, Bovine/immunology , Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis/prevention & control , Viral Vaccines , Animals , Cattle , Vaccination/veterinaryABSTRACT
Cases of intoxication with Amanita phalloides are analyzed in the 17-year-period-material of the Department of the Forensic Medicine of the Semmelweis Medical University and the Department of the Urgent Internal Diseases of the Municipal Korányi Sándor and Frigyes Hospital. The findings show that the number of intoxication with mushrooms during the last years increased. Pahtomorphological changes were also analyzed. Results of the treatment in intensive care units are also discussed.
Subject(s)
Agaricales , Amanita , Mushroom Poisoning/epidemiology , Amanitins/poisoning , Humans , HungaryABSTRACT
Authors describe their own method for the investigation of needle-biopsy of kidney using light-, and electron microscopy and immunofluorescent technique as well. Small pieces are cut from both end of the needle-biopsy-cylinder and are embedded for electron microscopy. From the larger central part of it cryostat sections are made (at -20 degrees C) for the immunofluorescent study. Afterwards the piece of tissue remained can be fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin for light microscopic investigation. All three methods can be carried out even when having a 6 mm long needle-biopsy specimen.
