Interleukin 4 increases the antibody response against Rubisco in mice

The influence of interleukin 4 (IL-4) on antibody titer in serum and spleen culture supernatant in mice immunized with spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Rubisco was investigated. Therefore, we boosted one mouse additionally to the antigen with recombinant mouse IL-4. We found that the Rubisco-specific antibody titer in serum as well as in spleen cell culture supernatant was significantly enhanced in the IL-4 mouse. Most of the antibodies were of the IgG1 subclass. After hybridoma generation, Rubisco-specific antibodies were found in more than 95% of the wells tested compared to about 12% of the control mouse.     

In vitro investigation on the impact of Solutol HS 15 on the uptake of colchicine into rat hepatocytes

In the current investigation, the impact of the surface-active formulation ingredient Solutol HS 15 on the uptake of colchicine into freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated using a centrifugal filtration technique through a silicone oil layer. Colchicine is taken up into the cells by an active transport mechanism. When conducting the experiment at 37 degrees C, it was found that at concentrations below its critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 0.021% (0.0003 and 0.003%, w/v), Solutol HS 15 did not impact the uptake of colchicine. By contrast, at a Solutol HS 15 concentration above its CMC (0.03%, w/v), the amount of colchicine taken up into the cells as well as its uptake velocity were significantly decreased. However, in control experiments performed at 4 degrees C, a temperature at which active transport processes should be significantly slowed down, Solutol HS 15 at 0.03% did not affect colchicine uptake and/or its association with the cells. The described findings might be rationalized by inhibition of colchicine transport either due to direct interaction at the transport site or due to alterations of membrane properties in the presence of Solutol HS 15 at concentrations above its CMC. Moreover, a strong molecular interaction between Solutol HS 15 and colchicine as well as an incorporation of colchicine into micelles formed by Solutol HS 15, this way resulting in a limited contact of colchicine with the cells, cannot be excluded as contributors to the observed effect.     

Configural information is processed differently in perception and recognition of faces

Several previous studies have stressed the importance of processing configural information in face recognition. In this study the perception of configural information was investigated. Large overestimations were found when the eye-mouth distance and the inter-eye distance had to be estimated. Whereas configural processing is disrupted when inverted faces have to be recognized the perceptual overestimations persisted when faces were inverted. These results suggest that processing configural information is different in perceptual as opposed to recognition tasks.     

Differential regulation of lipoprotein kinetics by atorvastatin and fenofibrate in subjects with the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by insulin resistance and abnormal apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB) metabolism that may collectively accelerate atherosclerosis. The effects of atorvastatin (40 mg/day) and micronised fenofibrate (200 mg/day) on the kinetics of apoAI and apoB were investigated in a controlled cross-over trial of 11 dyslipidemic men with the metabolic syndrome. ApoAI and apoB kinetics were studied following intravenous d(3)-leucine administration using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry with data analyzed by compartmental modeling. Compared with placebo, atorvastatin significantly decreased (P < 0.001) plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, VLDL apoB, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) apoB, and LDL apoB. Fenofibrate significantly decreased (P < 0.001) plasma triglyceride and VLDL apoB and elevated HDL(2) cholesterol (P < 0.001), HDL(3) cholesterol (P < 0.01), apoAI (P = 0.01), and apoAII (P < 0.001) concentrations, but it did not significantly alter LDL cholesterol. Atorvastatin significantly increased (P < 0.002) the fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of VLDL apoB, IDL apoB, and LDL apoB but did not affect the production of apoB in any lipoprotein fraction or in the turnover of apoAI. Fenofibrate significantly increased (P < 0.01) the FCR of VLDL, IDL, and LDL apoB but did not affect the production of VLDL apoB. Relative to placebo and atorvastatin, fenofibrate significantly increased the production (P < 0.001) and FCR (P = 0.016) of apoAI. Both agents significantly lowered plasma triglycerides and apoCIII concentrations, but only atorvastatin significantly lowered (P < 0.001) plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity. Neither treatment altered insulin resistance. In conclusion, these differential effects of atorvastatin and fenofibrate on apoAI and apoB kinetics support the use of combination therapy for optimally regulating dyslipoproteinemia in the metabolic syndrome.     

Long-term survival in SCLC after treatment with paclitaxel,carboplatin and etoposide--a phase II study

PURPOSE: We evaluated the toxicity and feasibility of adding paclitaxel to a standard platinum/etoposide regimen in the first-line treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with limited disease (LD) or extensive disease without distant metastases (ED I) were treated in this multi-centered phase II trial between April 1996 and June 1997. Paclitaxel administration (175 mg/m(2) by a 1 h intravenous infusion) was immediately followed by a 30 min infusion of carboplatin at an area under the concentration time curve (AUC) of 5 on day 1 and etoposide 50 mg orally twice daily (bid) was given on days 2-8. Courses were repeated every 21 days. Patients who had an objective response continued treatment for a maximum of 6 courses. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were assessable for response. Overall response rate (RR) was 82.1% with 17.8% complete remissions and 64.3% partial remissions. Median survival for LD patients was 20.5 months with a 1 year survival rate of 71.4% and a 3 year survival rate of 21.4%. Median survival of ED I patients was 11 months with a 1 year survival rate of 31.3% and a 3 year survival rate of 3.1%. Overall median survival was 18.1 months with a 1 year survival rate of 56.8% and a 3 year survival rate of 14.8%. Median progression-free intervals were 12.3 months for patients with LD stage of the disease and 8 months with ED I stage. Grade 3/4 toxicity was primarily hematologic. Grade 3/4 leucopenia occurred in 16.0% of courses and febrile episodes were detected in 0.3% of courses. Non-hematologic toxicities were uncommon. Grade 3 GI-tract toxicities or peripheral neuropathy appeared in less than 1% of the courses. Toxicities were detected according to WHO toxicity criteria. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel can be added at full dose (175 mg/m(2)) to a carboplatin/etoposide combination while maintaining a tolerable toxicity profile. Efficacy data, RR, progression-free interval and survival in both, extensive and limited stage patients compare favorably with other reported data. This new regimen will be further evaluated in comparison to standard regimens in a phase III trial.