Serological evidence of herpes simplex virus infection in atopic eczema.

Twenty three of 113 patients (20%) with atopic eczema had neutralising antibodies to herpes simplex virus compared with 34 of 113 matched controls (30%), an insignificant difference. This suggests that children with atopic eczema are no more likely to acquire herpes simplex infection than normal children

A method for detecting molecular transport within the cerebral ventricles of live zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

The production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid performs an important role in the development and homeostasis of the central nervous system. However, these processes are difficult to study in the mammalian brain because the ventricles are situated deep within the parenchyma. In this communication we introduce the zebrafish larva as an in vivo model for studying cerebral ventricle and blood-brain barrier function. Using confocal microscopy we show that zebrafish ventricles are topologically similar to those of the mammalian brain. We describe a new method for measuring the dynamics of molecular transport within the ventricles of live zebrafish by means of the uncaging of a fluorescein derivative. Furthermore, we determine that in 5-6 days post-fertilization zebrafish, the dispersal of molecules in the ventricles is driven by a combination of ciliary motion and diffusion. The zebrafish presents a tractable system with the advantage of genetics, size and transparency for exploring ventricular physiology and for mounting large-scale high throughput experiments

Utilização da microtécnica para a identificação sorológica intratípica de estirpes de poliovírus dos tipos 1 e 3 The use of the microtechnique for intratypic serodifferentiation of type 1 and 3 poliovirus strains

Foram estudadas de modo comparativo a macro e a microtécnica em provas de identificação sorológica intratípica de 28 estirpes de poliovírus dos tipos 1 e 3, segundo o método da "comparação dos índices de neutralização". Os resultados alcançados mostraram uma correlação elevada entre os índices de neutralização obtidos com ambas as técnicas empregadas - 0,931 e 0,971 após incubação de três e cinco dias, respectivamente - e correspondência total na identificação das estirpes examinadas. Conclui-se que a microtécnica pode ser utilizada em substituição da macrotécnica tradicional na identificação intratípica de poliovírus dos tipos 1 e 3, com, a vantagem da economia de meios e reagentes, e até mesmo com sensível redução de esforços humanos e tempo de execução das provas.<br>The microtechnique was compared to the conventional macrotechnique for intratypic serodifferentiation of 28 type 1 and 3 poliovirus strains by the method of comparison of neutralization indices. The results of the tests showed a high correlation between the neutralization indices - 0.931 and 0.971 after incubation periods of three and five days, respectively - and all the strains were equally identified by both techniques studied. It is concluded that the microtechnique can be used as an alternative of the macrotechnique for intratypic serodifferentiation of type 1 and 3 poliovirus strains, with the advantage of economy of media and reagents and even with a marked saving in both time and effort