Proteinograma sérico de cães sadios e com linfoma obtido por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE) / Serum protein concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with lymphoma by means of sodium dodecil sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

Foram avaliadas amostras de soro sanguíneo de 10 cães sadios e de 12 com linfoma, utilizando-se a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida contendo dodecil sulfato de sódio. Houve diferença entre as médias dos teores de proteína total de cães sadios, 7,68g/dL±0,46 e de cães com linfoma, 7,93g/dL±2,49. As concentrações de IgA e IgG não foram diferentes entre os grupos. Os teores das proteínas de pesos moleculares 142000, 110000, 52000, 49000, 24000 e 18000 dáltons foram mais elevados em cães com linfoma. Os cães com linfoma apresentaram concentrações mais elevadas de ceruloplasmina, 43,95mg/dL±18,19, e haptoglobina, 554mg/dL±449,51, e menores de albumina, 2908mg/dL±476,67, em comparação aos cães sadios (ceruloplasmina: 3,42mg/dL±7,44; haptoglobina: 94,54mg/dL±59,50 e albumina: 4207mg/dL±206,18). Conclui-se que concentrações séricas mais elevadas de ceruloplasmina e haptoglobina e menores de albumina podem estar associadas ao linfoma em cães.

Blood serum samples of ten healthy dogs and 12 dogs with lymphoma were evaluated by means of sodium dodecil sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. There was difference in total protein concentrations among healthy dogs, 7.68g/dL±0.46 and dogs with lymphoma, 7.93g/dL±2.49 values of immunoglobulins A and G presented no difference between groups. Serum proteins with molecular weights 142,000; 110,000; 52,000; 49,000; 24,000; and 18,000 Daltons presented increased concentrations in dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with lymphoma presented increased ceruloplasmin (43.95mg/dL±18.19) and haptoglobin (554mg/dL±449.51) values and lesser albumin concentration (2,908mg/dL±476.67) when compared to healthy dogs (ceruloplasmin: 3.42mg/dL±7.44; haptoglobin: 94.54mg/dL±59.50, and albumin: 4,207mg/dL±206.18). In conclusion, increased ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin and lesser albumin serum concentrations are possibly related to lymphoma in dogs.

Enzymatic treatments on paraffin blocks for DNA flow cytometry.

The Hedley method for DNA ploidy analysis on paraffin-embedded tissue allows retrospective studies of large numbers of common and rare tumors for which treatment, progression, and outcome are known. However, the technique is cumbersome and has many variables, only some of which can be controlled at the time of laboratory analysis. We performed DNA ploidy analyses on two blocks from two islet cell tumors and on five blocks from two colon carcinomas. Sections of 50-microns thickness were deparaffinized in xylene, rehydrated in graded alcohols and in distilled water, and disaggregated with various enzymatic treatments: 0.05% pepsin (30 and 90 min), 0.5% pepsin (30 and 90 min), 0.05% protease (60 min), and 0.1% protease (60 min). The cell suspensions obtained were filtered, washed in PBS, and visually evaluated in a hemocytometer. Nuclei were treated with RNAse (0.1%) and stained with 50 micrograms/ml propidium iodide. Results were evaluated with the following criteria: (a) recovery of DNA aneuploid and/or G2M cells (cell-cycle analysis and visual evaluation); (b) coefficient of variation of the major peak (DNA diploid or DNA aneuploid depending on the case); (c) amount of debris (background events and visual evaluation); (d) mean channel for the G0G1 peak; (e) event rate; and (f) G2M/G0G1 ratio. The best results were observed with 0.05% protease when there was tissue necrosis and hence cell fragility, with 0.1% protease when there was significant tissue fibrosis, and with 0.05% pepsin (90 min) when there were intact cellular specimens without fibrous entrapment. The original procedure using 0.5% pepsin for 30 min produced less cell recovery, and histogram quality similar to or worse than these modifications in all cases studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of a rapid screening immunoassay for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii.

A total of 349 human serum samples were examined for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies by the Murex Single Use Diagnostic System (SUDS) qualitative screening test, indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Concordant results with SUDS and IHA were obtained for 91.9% of serum samples; 8.9% were SUDS+ and IHA-; none were SUDS- and IHA+. Comparison of the SUDS assay with IFA showed a concordance of 95.3%, with a sensitivity of 97.5% and a specificity of 94.7%. Moreover, the positive and negative predictive values were 84.9 and 99.2%, respectively, when results of the SUDS assay and IFA were compared. The SUDS assay is a rapid, simple test requiring no instrumentation and can be performed on 50 microliters of serum, features which make this an excellent screening test for detecting anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, particularly in outpatient settings.

Transplacental immunization of the human fetus to tetanus by immunization of the mother.

Experimental studies in rats showed that immunization of the pregnant female led to the transplacental immunization of her fetuses. The possibility that this also occurred in humans was explored by immunizing 42 pregnant women with tetanus toxoid (2.5 or 5 Lf) in the fifth and eighth months of pregnancy and comparing the immune responses of their offspring with the responses of the offspring of 25 unimmunized mothers. Only the offspring of the immunized mothers were sensitized to tetanus. IgM antitetanus antibodies were in their blood before immunization with diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine (DPT), they had a more rapid (P less than 0.01) response to DPT immunization, and they were still highly sensitized (P less than 0.01) to tetanus 13 mo after birth. In addition, pregnancy had no immunosuppressive effect (P less than 0.05) on the responses of the mothers to tetanus toxoid. Thus, transplacental immunization occurs in humans; it enhances the response of the offspring to subsequent immunization, and it could be used to circumvent the necessity for immunization in early neonatal life.

Radioimmunoassay of IgM and IgG antitetanus toxoid antibody.

A radioimmunoassay was developed to quantitate antitetanus toxoid antibody in whole plasma which can detect 0.75 ng IgG antibody (0.75 micrograms/ml plasma) and 1.60 ng IgM antibody (0.40 micrograms/ml plasma). The IgG antibody was measured by direct binding to a tetanus toxoid-Sepharose immunoadsorbent. The IgM antibody was measured by inhibition of binding by soluble tetanus toxoid because of the relatively high and erratic nonspecific reaction between IgM and the immunoadsorbent. The immunoglobulin standards were [131I]IgG or [131I]IgM coupled to Sepharose, respectively, and the amount of antibody activity in the 125I-labeled antiglobulin reagents could be calculated from the amount bound to the immunoadsorbent and the specific activity of the appropriate immunoglobulin standard. The assay is sensitive, reproducible and suitable for use with large numbers of samples: it should find wide applicability in both clinical and experimental settings.