Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
As stated by Roger Robinson, breast milk contains immunoglobulins,
lysozyme, and lactoferrin. The level of these antimicrobial proteins
changes during lactation. Immunoglobulins A are prevalent in colostrum (34
g/L, the first day post-partum) but milk concentrations of lactoferrin and
lysozyme increase over lactation, reaching 4 g/L and 1 g/L, respectively,
after twelve weeks. It is thus absolutely necessary to specify the
prescription of this good old ophthalmological.
1. Mother's milk. Gordon M Black. BMJ 2000;320:691.
2. Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay of lactoferrin in
human milk. Cuillière ML, Montagne P, Molé C, Béné MC, and Faure G. J Clin
Lab Analysis 1997;11:239-243.
3. Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay of lysozyme in milk
and other human body fluids. Montagne P, Cuillière ML, Molé C, Béné MC,
and Faure G. Clin Chem1998;44:1610-1615.
4. Dynamics of the main immunologically and nutritionally available
proteins of human milk during lactation. Paul M Montagne, Marie L
Cuillière, Claire M Molé, Marie C Béné, and Gilbert C Faure. J Food Comp
Analysis 2000;13:in press.
Editor - As an expat GP currently living, but unable to work, in the
USA, I have experienced a lot of US medical technology. However, the other
day, when consulted by a fellow school Mum about her baby's
conjunctivitis, an American mother, having overheard, said 'use breast
milk'. My friend had in fact recently stopped breast feeding, but had some
milk left in the freezer, with which she succesfully treated the eye over
24 hours. America, the land of the future?
Ann Hayek
GP
Greenwich, Connecticut.
1. Mothers Milk, Gordon M Black. BMJ 2000;320:691. (11th March)
Colostrum or mature milk ?
As stated by Roger Robinson, breast milk contains immunoglobulins,
lysozyme, and lactoferrin. The level of these antimicrobial proteins
changes during lactation. Immunoglobulins A are prevalent in colostrum (34
g/L, the first day post-partum) but milk concentrations of lactoferrin and
lysozyme increase over lactation, reaching 4 g/L and 1 g/L, respectively,
after twelve weeks. It is thus absolutely necessary to specify the
prescription of this good old ophthalmological.
1. Mother's milk. Gordon M Black. BMJ 2000;320:691.
2. Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay of lactoferrin in
human milk. Cuillière ML, Montagne P, Molé C, Béné MC, and Faure G. J Clin
Lab Analysis 1997;11:239-243.
3. Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay of lysozyme in milk
and other human body fluids. Montagne P, Cuillière ML, Molé C, Béné MC,
and Faure G. Clin Chem1998;44:1610-1615.
4. Dynamics of the main immunologically and nutritionally available
proteins of human milk during lactation. Paul M Montagne, Marie L
Cuillière, Claire M Molé, Marie C Béné, and Gilbert C Faure. J Food Comp
Analysis 2000;13:in press.
Competing interests: No competing interests