Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is widely used for the determination of serum protein polymorphisms in forensic investigations. Because of non-genetic heterogeneity of some proteins and of protein-ligand dissociation observed after IEF standardization of procedures is necessary. In this article the authors point out the main difficulties encountered in studying the transferrin subtype polymorphism and describe a new and sensitive method. Two new Tf C subtypes were observed: Tf C4 in North American, Bolivian and Brazilian Indians, Tf C5 in Black Americans, both with polymorphic allele frequencies. In a Pyrenean population the allele frequencies for Tf C1, Tf C2 and Tf C3 were quite similar to those observed in a German population sample.

Abstract. The antibodies encountered in random collectives of 55,350 recipients, 16,643 pregnant women, and 1,307 mothers of babies with hemolytic disease are listed. Antibody screening was performed in all specimens using the same technique (albumin‐antiglobulin test), a limited number of selected sera was investigated also by the auto‐analyzer. Different frequencies of the antibodies concerned were found in all groups. Anti‐Kell was detected in 10% of all antibodies found in recipients whereas the frequency was less than 0.5% among the antibodies encountered in pregnant women and mothers of babies with hemolytic disease. The relative antigenic potency of the antigens concerned was calculated by taking into account the frequencies of the antibodies and the antigen exposure probability derived from the well‐known gene frequencies. Similar to the antibody frequencies, the relative antigenic potencies differ widely from antigen to antigen in the different collectives. By the autoanalyzer technique, it was not possible to detect additional antibodies of presumptive clinical importance. On the other hand, in two exceptional cases, antibodies which caused a hemolytic transfusion reaction were only detected by survival studies. For routine transfusion work, our results lend no support to the alleged advantage of extending antigen determination in donors and recipients.

Lysates of erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and extracts of sperms were investigated for the PGM1 isozymes by three techniques: starch gel electrophoresis, high voltage thin-layer agarose gel electrophresis, and thin-layer isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. On starch, only the well known common phenotypes 1, 2-1, and 2 were demonstrable. On agarose, different distances of the two main cathodal bands (a,b) among the phenotypes 2-1 were noted. Furthermore, on agarose, some types considered as homozygous on starch gel had a single, sharp banded pattern while others were broad and blurred. Optimal separation was achieved by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. In 291 leukolysates, 10 different phenotypes were identified. These are considered as gene products of 4 different common allesles at the PGM1 locus as suggested by preliminary family investigations. In a random population from Hessen these four alleles had the following frequencies: PGM1al 0.6186, PGMa21 0.1718, PGMa31 0.1426, and PGMa41 0.067, The preliminary designation a1, a2, a3 and a4 was chosen as the assumed polymorphism was demonstrated on acrylamide and agarose. The sum of the frequencies PGMa11 and PGMa31 (the gene products of which have apparently the same electrophoretic mobility on starch) is similar to the frequency of the old PGM11 allele (0.757) in Caucasoids, PGMa21 and PGMa41 have a frequency of 0.2388 corresponding with the frequency of the old allele PGM21.

110 carefully characterized Caucasoid patients with Graves' disease were tested for HLA class I and class II antigens. Compared with Caucasian controls (n = 193), the frequencies of HLA B8, Cw7 and DR3 were significantly increased (pc less than 0.05). In the subgroups with and without exophthalmos, HLA A3 exhibited a negative but insignificant association with the eye involvement, while A19 and Cw2 showed positive, however even weaker correlations with eye disease. HLA DR5 was associated with relapsing thyrotoxicosis, whereas HLA DR7 and B12 were negatively correlated with relapse. These results confirm the positive correlation of HLA B8 and DR3 with Graves' disease and reveal a not yet observed association with Cw7. Reported correlations of antigen frequencies with eye disease and relapsing thyrotoxicosis could not be confirmed. Other previously unknown, however subtle differences in disease subgroups were observed.