PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Raska

Publications and source records attributed to K Raska.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Humoral inhibitors of the immune response in uremia. II. Further characterization of an immunosuppressive factor in uremic serum.

The serum of Lewis rats with chronic renal insufficiency (induced by subtotal nephrectomy) contains a nondialyzable inhibitor of the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Fractionation of uremic serum by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 shows that the inhibitory activity elutes with an apparent molecular weight of greater than 200,000 daltons. To establish the possible relationship of the uremic inhibitor to known immunosuppressive components of normal serum, uremic serum was further fractionated on a DEAE cellulose column. The inhibitory activity elutes in 10 mM sodium phosphate at pH 8.0. This fraction contains both alpha-macroglobulin and IgG. The inhibitory activity of this fraction is completely inactivated by treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol, indicating that the inhibitor is a protein. The inhibitory activity is partially inactivated by periodate treatment, suggesting that it may be a glycoprotein. To determine whether or not the inhibitory factor is an immunoregulatory alpha-macroglobulin, or an immune complex, the uremic serum was fractionated by affinity chromatography procedures, which do not induce artifactual inhibitory properties in control serum. The alpha-macroglobulin was removed by affinity chromatography on a column of Con A-Sepharose; its removal had no effect on the inhibitory activity of serum in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. To examine the possibility that immune complexes may be the uremic inhibitor, the serum was fractionated by affinity chromatography on Protein A-Sepharose or by adsorption to a suspension of Staphylococcus aureus, cowan I. Neither of the two latter procedures had any effect on the inhibitory activity of uremic serum. So far all of our findings indicate that the immunosuppressive factor of uremic serum is distinct from two major immunoregulatory factors, alpha-macroglobulin and immune complexes.

Animals↗

Ontogenic drug studies in calves. II. Changes in salicylate levels and metabolism in calves with diarrhoea.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was administered by oral route to calves and mice. A comparison of plasma levels of salicylates and salicyluric acid was performed in healthy and diarrhoic calves. The calves were infected with E. coli enterotoxin producing strains. During the 6 h observation period increased levels of salicylates were found in all age groups of calves (1-60 days). There were no significant differences in salicyluric acid plasma levels between controls and diarrhoic animals. Intravenous injection of cholera toxin in mice caused lower levels of total salicylates, but increased levels of salicylic acid and salicyluric acid. The importance of adequate animal model is discussed.

Animals↗

Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to antibiotics in large calf agglomerations.

The antibiotic resistance of E. coli, Citrobacter, Enterobacter-Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from calves was tested. A high proportion of multiresistance was found even in E. coli strains isolated from newborn calves. Gram-negative bacteria isolated from animals in three large calfhouses were almost 100% resistant to ampicillin, tetracyclines and sulphonamides. Multiresistance was general and varied from 5 to 12 antibiotics among different strains. Initial high sensitivity to antibiotics which had never been used before was observed. Antibiotic resistance rapidly increased after use started. The usefulness of antibiotics in E. coli induced diarrhea is questioned and oral rehydration is appraised.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin levels in large calf agglomerations.

The zinc sulphate turbidity test was used to establish the total immunoglobulin levels of calves from birth to 4 months of age. Colostral immunity fell rapidly and the lowest levels were found in the third and fourth week of life. During the fifth week there was a significant increase. 25% of animals were hypogammaglobulinaemic in the first week of life. This ratio increased to 50% in the third week of life. At the age of two months the lowest immunoglobulin levels almost vanished. These findings are discussed as basic information for the appropriate management of calf agglomerations. Animals should be agglomerated only after the first months of life. When this is not possible, the pens for large agglomerations should have individual housing for the newly admitted calves. The importance of appropriate epizootological measures to reduce infections are pointed out.

Age Factors↗