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Biomedical subjects

J Balasch

Publications and source records attributed to J Balasch.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Further evidence against preeclampsia as an immune complex disease.

Sera from 25 preeclamptic women were examined for the presence of circulating immune complexes (CICs) by the radioisotopic C1q binding assay (C1q-BA), the polyethylene glycol precipitation-complement consumption (PEG-CC) test, and the microcomplement consumption test (MCT). Five abnormal values were found by the MCT; 4 became normal after delivery, as did the preeclamptic clinical signs. Normal values were obtained by the C1q-BA and the PEG-CC test in all preeclamptic patients. In addition, maternal HLA antibodies and complement levels were investigated. There was no correlation between lymphocytotoxic activity and CICs in sera from patients with preeclampsia. Complement levels were in the normal range in all cases. It is concluded that CICs do not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Effects of HLA antibodies on pregnancy.

To investigate the effect of maternal HLA antibodies on the evolution of pregnancy, we tested sera from 187 pregnant women for the presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies (anti-HLA-A, -B, and -C and anti-B lymphocytes or anti-HLA-DR). Patients were studied before 20 weeks, between 21 and 30 weeks, and between 31 and 40 weeks' gestation. No correlation was found between the presence of such antibodies and obstetric complications, fetal wastage, placental weight, or infant birth weight. Patients with anti-DR antibodies delivered more female than male infants by a 3:1 ratio.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Loci of discriminanda and discrimination proficiency.

Three groups of nine juvenile rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) whose mothers were maintained on diets affording 3.35, 6.70, and 13.4 percent of calories as protein during gestation were tested in a series of discrimination-learning tasks in which the critical variable was the loci of the relevant cues. The stimuli used were two 75-mm x 75-mm plastic plaques. The loci of the discriminanda (colored dots on the plaque) varied according to a 3 x 3 grid. No significant differences were found among the diet groups. A gradient of discriminability appeared that accorded with the location of the discriminanda: The stimulus region closest to the monkey made for the least and the farthest region the most difficulty of discrimination, also discriminanda on the right part of the stimulus were easier to discriminate than those on the left. Animals rewarded for displacing the plaque containing a colored dot learned the discriminations faster than those reinforced for displacing the blank plaque. The differences in salience of different parts of a stimulus plaque, though systematic, are modest, not dramatic.

Animals↗

Zinc in the gills of the dogfish: differences due to sex and body weight.

Zn content of gill arches and gill filaments of the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula L. was analyzed. Differences in Zn content due to sex were found in gill arches but not in gill filaments, having the females lower Zn concentrations than the males. Correlations between body weight and Zn concentrations were found in both gill filaments and arches in the female group, but not in the male group.

Animals↗

Stress simulation: ACTH and zinc effect on trace metals in liver and spleen.

Effect of ACTH and zinc acetate subcutaneous injection on the trace metals in liver and spleen was investigated in male Wistar rats. Iron, copper, zinc and manganese in liver, and iron, copper and zinc in spleen were analyzed by AAS method. The iron, copper and zinc levels in liver, and iron levels in spleen showed a significant decrease at 1-1 h 30 min after administration of 30 UI of ACTH but values returned to normality or showed slightly higher levels at 4 h 30 min-7 h 45 min. Zinc acetate injection only elicited an increase in liver and spleen zinc levels. Results are discussed in relation with results given in previous papers.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

T-maze shock avoidance in the hermit crab Dardanus arrosor.

Specimens of the hermit crab Dardanus arrosor go indistinctively towards any of the arms of a T-maze if lighting is uniform. The difference between the probabilities of going towards one arm rather than the other tends to zero as the number of trials is increased. If only one of the arms is lightened, hermits go preferably towards the dark one: The difference between the two probabilities tends to 0.500. If the animals attracted by the dark zone are electroshocked (60 V, 2.5 seconds) near their oral zone, the probability of going towards the light zone increases (statistically significant). Differences between the learning abilities of both sexes are not significant.

Animals↗

Ferritin intestinal absorption.

Ferritin as a source of iron was consiered. A good iron absorption rate appears in normal rats with an in vivo absorption technique. The same absorption appears in iron-deficient animals. The iron stored in intestinal wall is lower in anemic rats than in normal ones, suggesting a higher draw of iron from lumen to blood.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗