Background Animal-model studies have demonstrated less group B streptococcal (GBS) invasive disease and gastrointestinal colonization after enteral administration of serotype-specific capsular antibodies. There is, however, a paucity of information on the association of breast milk GBS serotype-specific capsular antibodies and risks for invasive disease in infants. The aim of this study was to explore the association between natural secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) capsular antibodies in breast milk and the occurrence of late-onset disease (LOD) in young infants. Methods A matched case-control study was undertaken in infants <3 months of age in Johannesburg, South Africa. Breast milk samples were collected on cases and controls matched for gestational age, maternal age, and human immunodeficiency virus status at time of enrollment. Capsular serotype Ia, Ib, III, and V sIgA antibody concentrations were measured using the fluorescence-based micro-bead immunosorbent assay. Results Breast milk samples were available for 31 LOD cases (8 serotype Ia and 23 serotype III), 21 recto-vaginally colonized matched controls (10 serotype Ia and 11 serotype III), and 84 serotype Ia and 105 serotype III noncolonized matched controls. Using a Bayesian model to estimate the probability of disease, there were 90% reductions in the risks of developing serotypes Ia and III LOD with sIgA concentrations ≥0.14 µg/mL and ≥2.52 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusions Breast milk sIgA capsular antibodies were associated with lower risks for LOD in young infants. The ability of GBS polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines currently under development to induce sIgA responses warrant investigation as potential mediators of protection against LOD.

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SUMMARYNecropsy blood from cases diagnosed as dying from influenza A was examined for specific antibody in the IgG, IgA and IgM fractions and a specific diagnosis of recent infection was made if either 1gM or IgA antibody and low titres of IgG antibody were found. By these criteria a diagnostic rate of 77 % was found in those cases from whom no virus was isolated. The use of infected cell monolayers grown on polytetrafluoroethylene-coated slides gave a simple method of carrying out these antibody assays, and the use of necropsy blood did not require any special methods of transport of specimens to the virus laboratory.

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Diabetic patients with associated dyslipidemia are easy targets for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Glycated hemoglobin predicts the risk for the development of diabetic complications. This study was an attempt to determine lipid abnormalities associated with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and serum lipid profile to assess the importance of HbA1c as an indicator of dyslipidemia and future risk of cardiovascular disease in Bhola District, Barisal. In this cross-sectional study, 200 known patients of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus within 35-85 years of age were randomly selected. They were investigated for HbA1c and lipid profile. The data were evaluated by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 version software. Independent samples t-test (2-tailed) was used to compare means of anthropometric, clinical and laboratory parameters and the effect of the glycemic control on their lipid profile was determined using correlation coefficient. Amongst the study group, 65% patients showed poor glycemic control, 35% with good glycemic control and 59.60% patient’s haddyslipidemia.HbA1c was found to have significant positive correlation with total cholesterol (TCHO), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) and significant negative correlation with high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). The mean value of TC, LDL-C and TG was found to be lower in patients with good glycemic control than those with poor glycemic control. These differences were significant at the level of P<0.05. These findings conclude that the glycemic control of the patient has got a strong impact on the serum lipid level and dyslipidemia is frequently encountered in those who have got poor glycemic control.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.5(2): 185-192, August 2018