Structure and Protective Capacity of Tetanus and Diphtheria Antibodies Produced During Human Pregnancy and Transferred to New-Born

PROBLEM: The structure and protective activity of antibodies against tetanus (anti-T) and diphtheria (anti-D), produced during human pregnancy and transferred to new-born, was studied. METHOD: Antibody levels were measured by ELISA in non-pregnant women (control group), primiparae, and multiparae, and in their children. The proportion of symmetric and asymmetric IgG molecules was determined and their respective protective capacity evaluated. RESULTS: The quantity of asymmetric anti-T and anti-D antibodies in mothers at the time of delivery was roughly four- and three-fold that of the control group, respectively, dropping significantly 1 month later. A similar proportion of these antibodies was observed in the new-born. The lower neutralizing capacity of asymmetric molecules was demonstrated in vivo. CONCLUSION: Results show that during pregnancy there is a modulation of the immune response with an increase in the production of asymmetric molecules of lower protective capacity.     

VIOLENCE AND ALCOHOLISM IN THE FAMILY: HOW ARE THE CHILDREN AFFECTED?

We made an evaluation of how children and adolescents are affectedif they live in a family environment where violence associatedwith alcoholism is a feature. Interviews with 20 families andthe use of psychological tests on their children were performedin this study. The study has demonstrated the existence of psychopathologicaldisturbances in those families' children, whose immaturity andinsecurity were expressed by aggressive behaviour or by depressivemanifestations. It also became evident that there was a transgenerationalalcoholism-violence frequency.     

Month of birth and grass pollen or mite sensitization in children with respiratory allergy: a significant relationship

This report describes a retrospective analysis of the month of birth distribution of 2124 children with respiratory allergy in the Rome district between 1964 and 1985, in comparison with the total live births in the same district over the same period. Of the 2124 children, 1685 had positive skin tests and or RAST only to mites, and 439 only to grass pollen ( P < < 0.001). A significant relationship was found between grass or mite sensitization and the month of birth. A high proportion of children born in June-September had mite allergy ( P <0.005), and even higher was that of those born in March-May with grass sensitivity ( P < < 0.005), compared with the total live birth distribution in the Rome district in the same years as the children examined. These results are consistent with the idea that allergy may be associated with a period of susceptibility to sensitization in early infancy.     

Isolation,structure determination and synthesis of a novel tryptophan-containing heptapeptide (basic tryptophyllin) from the skin of Phyllomedusa rohdei

A novel tryptophyllin has been isolated from the methanol extracts of the skin of the South American frog Phyllomedusa rohdei. Its primary structure, as determined by chemical/enzymatic methods and by FAB mass spectrometry, is the following: Lys-Pro-Hyp-Ser-Trp-Ile-Pro-NH₂. This basic tryptophyllin has been synthesized in solid phase, in order to allow its complete pharmacological characterization.