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In contrast to human undulin which reportedly is devoid of collagenous sequences, the chicken protein contained a short triple-helical segment that was sensitive to digestion by bacterial collagenase. Screening of an expression library with affinity-purified antibodies yielded two cDNA clones specific for chicken undulin. supplement for collagen of the amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of these clones showed that the human and the chicken protein shared 71% sequence identity. At the amino-terminus both polypeptides contained several similar repeats related to the type III modules found in fibronectin. Towards the carboxyl terminus, however, the two sequences diverged substantially from each other. While the human sequence terminated in a proline-rich segment, the chicken sequence continued with a domain related to von Willebrand factor, with a domain similar to the noncollagenous domain NC4 of type IX collagen and with a typical collagenous triple helix.

A short segment of this sequence was found to be identical with the published sequence of a bovine peptide derived from type XIV collagen. Our protein must therefore represent chicken type XIV collagen. One way to explain these results is the possibility that undulin exists in at least two alternatively spliced variants, one lacking the collagenous domain, as described initially for human undulin, and one containing the triple-helical domain, as found in type XIV collagen.Characteristics of Collagen Changes in Small Intestine Anastomoses Induced by High-Frequency Electric Field Welding.High-frequency electric field welding-induced tissue fusion has been explored as an advanced surgical method for intestinal anastomoses; however, intrinsic mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate microcosmic changes of collagen within the fusion area, with various parameters. Ex vivo small intestine was fused with mucosa-mucosa.

Four levels of compressive pressure (100 kPa, 150 kPa, 200 kPa, 250 kPa) were applied for 10 s in order to fuse the colons under a power level of 140 W. Then, collagen fibers of the fusion area were examined by fibrillar collagen alignment and TEM. Three levels of power (90 W, 110 W, 140 W) and three levels of time (5 s, 10 s, 20 s) were applied in order to fuse colons at 250 kPa, and then collagen within the fusion area was examined by Raman spectroscopy. Fibrillar collagen alignment analysis showed that with the increase in compression pressure, alignment of the collagen in the fusion area gradually increased, and the arrangement of collagen fibers tended to be consistent, which was conducive to the adhesion of collagen fibers. TEM showed that pressure changed the distribution and morphology of collagen fibers. Raman spectroscopy showed that increased power and time within a certain range contributed to collagen cross linking. Peak positions of amide I band and amide III band changed.

These results suggested that higher power and a longer amount of time resulted in a decrease in non-reducible cross links and an increase in reducible cross links. Compression pressure, power, and time can affect the state of collagen, but the mechanisms are different. Compressive pressure affected the state of collagen by changing its orientation; power and time denatured collagen by increasing temperature and improved the reducible cross linking of collagen to promote tissue fusion.Conflict of interest statement: The authors state no conflicts of interest.Multi-centre observational study of transplacental transmission of influenza antibodies following vaccination with AS03(A)-adjuvanted H1N1 2009 vaccine.Enstone J, Augustine G, Davis Y, Zambon M, Nicholson K, Nguyen-Van-Tam J.Sciences, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, INTRODUCTION: Illness and death from influenza increase during pregnancy.

In the United Kingdom pregnant women were targeted in a national programme for vaccination during the H1N1 2009-10 pandemic.METHODS: In this study, pregnant women were recruited in labour from November 9, 2009 to March 10, 2010. Pandemic vaccination status was determined. Venous cord blood collected at delivery was evaluated for transplacental transfer of antibodies by measurement of haemagglutination inhibition and RESULTS: Samples were collected from 77 vaccinated and 27 unvaccinated women. Seroprotection (HI titre ≥1:40) was detected in 58 (75%, 95% CI 64-84) cord blood samples from vaccinated women and 5 (18%, 95% CI 6-38) from unvaccinated women (P<0001). There was evidence of transplacental seroprotection 8 days after maternal immunization (77%, 95 CI 66-87), maintained in most cases for at least 16 weeks.DISCUSSION: Immunization of pregnant women with AS03(A)-adjuvanted vaccine is followed by transplacental transfer of passive immunity at titres consistent with clinical protection in three-quarters of new-born infants.

The findings support national and international pandemic H1N1 2009 recommendations for Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: Richard Puleston has received funding from Sanofi Pasteur to attend two influenza-related meetings. He will also be providing UNPAID consultancy advice to Novartis.