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The intestinal microflora of 1‐y‐old healthy Estonian (n= 27) and Swedish infants (n= 29) was studied by quantitative culture of faecal samples. The major differences were high counts of lactobacilli and eubacteria in the former and increased numbers of Clostridia in the latter babies. Bifidobacteria and anaerobic cocci prevailed equally in both groups, while eubacteria and enterococci were the major microorganisms in many Estonian infants and bacteroides and Clostridia in many Swedish infants. The microflora of the Estonian infants was in many aspects similar to the flora prevailing in infants of western Europe in the 1960s. The results suggest a shift in the intestinal microflora among infants in western industrialized countries.

The aim of the study was to determine whether Lactobacillus casei strain GG could colonise the intestine of newborns and the influence of its administration on establishment of the microbiota. The faecal bacterial population of 25 under 1 mth old newborns was studied: in addition to breastfeeding, 15 babies (GG group) received for 2 wk immediately after birth Lactobacillus GG supplement as freeze-dried powder diluted in water in a dose of 1010-1011 c.f.u./g; 10 newborns (control group) did not receive any supplement to breastfeeding. The faecal bacterial composition of meconium was similar in both groups studied. Ten newborns (67 per cent) excreted Lactobacillus GG, while in eight cases (53-3 per cent) Lactobacillus GG was found even 2 wk after the administration was stopped. The faecal concentrations and the relative proportion of Lactobacillus GG were individually different. In 3-4 d, 5-7 d and 1 mth old newborns of the GG group the faecal concentrations of lactobacilli exceeded those of the control group. The faecal microorganisms predominance pattern did not differ in the case of 1 wk and 1 mth old newborns of the GG group. The study shows that 2 wk administration of Lactobacillus GG, which starts right after birth, increases intestinal lactobacilli concentrations and does not impair the establishment of a normal faecal bacterial microbiota.

Immunoblotting can be used for screening a population of antibodies to acetylcholine receptor subunits circulating in the blot of patients with myasthenia. Torpedo Californica acetylcholine receptor served as the antigen. We found that in generalized myasthenia autoantibodies bind to α1- or α1- and γ-subunits, while in ophthalmic form they bind only γ-subunit of acetylcholine receptor. No antibodies to any of the acetylcholine receptor subunits were detected in patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy and in healthy volunteers. This method can be used for differential diagnosis of ophthalmic myasthenia and endocrine ophthalmopathy and for predicting generalization of the pathological process in patients with myasthenia.