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Biomedical subjects

M C Reinhardt

Publications and source records attributed to M C Reinhardt.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Effects of parasitic infections in pregnant women.

This review focuses on the parasitic diseases which occur frequently in the tropics and which affect pregnant women. Clinical disease of the mother during pregnancy, vertical transmission of parasites and transplacental passage of soluble parasitic antigens are discussed in relation to their immunopathological significance for the fetus. The incidences of congenital malaria, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas' disease are reviewed, together with vertical transmission of filarial infection, involvement of the female genital tract in schistosomiasis, and fulminant colitis due to Entamoeba histolytica infection during pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The genetic control of antibody affinity. Evidence from breeding studies with mice selectively bred for either high or low affinity antibody production.

The genetic control of antibody affinity has been studied in mice selectively bred on the basis of the affinity of antibody they produce to protein antigens injected in saline. Two lines of mice have been obtained, one producing predominantly high and the other predominantly low affinity antibody. Breeding experiments have been performed with these two lines after ten generations of selection and the level and affinity of antibody to protein measured in parents, F1 hybrids and backcross offspring. The results indicate that antibody affinity is a genetically controlled parameter of the immune response and that this control is exerted independently of that controlling antibody levels. Furthermore, high and low affinity line mice have been typed for major histocompatibility complex antigens and the results show that the two lines are not significantly different. This therefore suggests that genes controlling antibody affinity are not linked to the major histocompatibility locus.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Antibody affinity and clearance function studies in high and low antibody affinity mice. The effect of protein deficiency.

The effect of dietary manipulation on the relationship between macrophage clearance function and antibody affinity has been investigated in genetically selected high and low affinity mice. The results confirm that protein deprivation reduces the clearance rate of polyvinylpyrrolidone (Kpvp) and the relative affinity (Kr) of antibody to human serum albumin in mice normally producing high affinity antibody. Although protein deprivation of mice of the low affinity line reduced Kpvp, the mean Kr was not altered. Furthermore, although the two lines had significant differences in Kr values there were no demonstrable differences in macrophage clearance function as assessed by clearance of PVP, radiolabelled aggregated IgG and preformed antigen-antibody complexes. Analysis of values of Kr and Kpvp in individual animals indicated that these two parameters are not correlated. These experiments, provide further evidence for the profound effect of dietary manipulation on the immune response and suggest that in these genetically selected mice at least, the genetic control of antibody affinity is exerted at a level other than that measured by macrophage clearance function tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Circulating immune complexes in African mothers and their newborns.

Circulating immune complexes were measured using the Clq-binding test in 185 African mothers and their newborns at delivery. Results were compared to non-pregnant African women, healthy European blood donors and to a group of European mothers and their newborns. Clq-binding activity was increased in African mothers and in non-pregnant African women. Circulating immune complexes rarely occurred in cord blood even when mothers showed a high Clq-binding activity. The levels of immune complexes were unrelated to malaria. Complement components Clq and C3 were lower in the newborns than in the mothers.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1978

A study of 204 consecutive deliveries in Abidjan--Anthropometric data of newborns, mothers and placentas.

Anthropometric measurements of newborns, mothers and placentas were taken in 204 consecutive deliveries at Adjamé Maternity Hospital in Abidjan. Aclinical assessment of gestational age was made. Low mean birthweight can be attributed to a higher incidence of pre-term newborns in the present sample. Incidence of small for gestational age and large for gestational age babies is similar to that found in developed countries. Detailed analysis of correlations between maternal, placental and neonatal variables show that birthweight is dependent on nutritional status of the mothers and on size of the placenta. Young primiparae are shown to become pregnant before reaching full growth. Their weight and weight for height are significantly lower than for multiparae. The main group at risk for impaired foetal growth, prematurity and low birthweight are the children born to primiparous mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Maternal anaemia in Abidjan--Its influence on placenta and newborns.

In a random population of 198 pregnant women, detailed haematological determinations were performed at delivery. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin less than 10 g/100 ml) is 20%. Iron deficiency is even more frequent. Malaria is shown to play an important role. Maternal anaemia is also correlated with nutritional status. Primiparae are shown to be at higher risk of anaemia. The effect of maternal anaemia on anthropometric and haematological variables of the newborn are discussed. Mothers with sickle-cell or HbC trait are not at special risk of anaemia.

Anemia↗
PubMed1978

Malaria at delivery in Abidjan.

In 198 consecutive deliveries in a region holoendemic for malaria, 39.4% of the mothers had malarial parasitaemia. Cord blood parasitaemia was found in 43 cases (55% of infected mothers). The incidence of malaria decreased with increasing parity possibly related to age. Malaria is partly responsible of the low birthweights and of the genesis of pre-term and small for date babies. A correlation between nutritional status and malarial infection was shown. According to IgM concentrations in cord blood, 2.5% of newborns had an intrauterine infection of unknown origin.

Anemia↗
PubMed1978

A year of deliveries at the Adjamé maternity hospital in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

This study based on hospital records is an analysis of 7433 deliveries in Adjamé Maternity Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The incidence of low birthweight babies is 14.1%. Mean birthweight and height were shown to increase significantly from parity 1 to 9. Lowest mean birthweight and highest incidence of low birthweight babies were observed in primiparae. Incidence of stillbirths and abortions according to parity are described and an estimate of infant mortality rate has been attempted.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1978

Haematological data of African newborns and their mothers in Abidjan.

The analysis of cord blood samples of 198 African newborns and their mothers confirmed the high prevalence of iron deficiency. A hypochromia and microcytosis of red cells was found in 40% of the pregnant women at term. In the majority of newborns the haemoglobin concentration was below 16 g/100 ml. Hb S was found in 11%, Hb C in 9% and alpha-thalassaemia in 2% of the population examined. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and mean cell volume of erythrocytes were lower than results of newborns from developed countries. Foetal sex had no influence on haematological variables.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗