Evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance in cerebral gigantism

Three cases of cerebral gigantism, two sibs and their double first cousin, are described in a large inbred family from Israel. Two of the three were observed and diagnosed at birth and two were followed for two years. They all presented the signs and symptoms considered typical of this syndrome, as well as some of the less frequent findings. Generalized oedema and flexion contractures of the feet were observed in two of the three at birth. This has not hitherto been reported in cases of cerebral gigantism, of whom only a few have been observed and diagnosed at birth. Autosomal recessive inheritance is clearly implied in this family.     

Cadmium and the reticuloendothelial system (RES). A specific defect in blood clearance of soluble aggregates of IgG by the liver in mice given cadmium.

The ability of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) to bind and catabolize soluble stable heat aggregates of 125I-IgG (A-IgG) was studied in mice given oral cadmium. Cadmium caused a delay in the circulation clearance of A-IgG in intact animals. The defect was due to impaired liver uptake of A-IgG and correlated with increased liver cadmium. Subsequent catabolism of bound A-IgG by liver slices was not affected. The defect was specific in that clearance of aggregated human serum albumin and colloidal carbon was normal in cadmium mice; this suggests that cadmium may affect either Fc or complement receptors of Kupffer cells in liver.     

Enhancement of neonatal innate defense: effects of adding an N-terminal recombinant fragment of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein on growth and tumor necrosis factor-inducing activity of gram-negative bacteria tested in neonatal cord blood ex vivo

Innate defense against microbial infection requires the action of neutrophils, which have cytoplasmic granules replete with antibiotic proteins and peptides. Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is found in the primary granules of adult neutrophils, has a high affinity for lipopolysaccharides (or "endotoxins"), and exerts selective cytotoxic, antiendotoxic, and opsonic activity against gram-negative bacteria. We have previously reported that neutrophils derived from newborn cord blood are deficient in BPI (O. Levy et al., Pediatrics 104:1327-1333, 1999). The relative deficiency in BPI of newborns raised the possibility that supplementing the levels of BPI in plasma might enhance newborn antibacterial defense. Here we determined the effects of addition of recombinant 21-kDa N-terminal BPI fragment (rBPI(21)) on the growth and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inducing activity of representative gram-negative clinical isolates. Bacteria were tested in citrated newborn cord blood or adult peripheral blood. Bacterial viability was assessed by plating assay, and TNF-alpha release was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whereas adult blood limited the growth of all isolates except Klebsiella pneumoniae, cord blood also allowed logarithmic growth of Escherichia coli K1/r and Citrobacter koseri. Bacteria varied in their susceptibility to rBPI(21)'s bactericidal action: E. coli K1/r was relatively susceptible (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)], approximately 10 nM), C. koseri was intermediate (IC(50), approximately 1,000 nM), Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant (IC(50), approximately 10,000 nM), and Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens were highly resistant (IC(50), >10,000 nM). All isolates were potent inducers of TNF-alpha activity in both adult and newborn cord blood. In contrast to its variable antibacterial activity, rBPI(21) consistently inhibited the TNF-inducing activity of all strains tested (IC(50), 1 to 1,000 nM). The antibacterial effects of rBPI(21) were additive with those of a combination of conventional antibiotics typically used to treat bacteremic newborns (ampicillin and gentamicin). Whereas ampicillin and gentamicin demonstrated little inhibition of bacterially induced TNF release, addition of rBPI(21) either alone or together with ampicillin and gentamicin profoundly inhibited release of this cytokine. Thus, supplementing newborn cord blood with rBPI(21) potently inhibited the TNF-inducing activity of a variety of gram-negative bacterial clinical pathogens and, in some cases, enhanced bactericidal activity. These results suggest that administration of rBPI(21) may be of clinical benefit to neonates suffering from gram-negative bacterial infection and/or endotoxemia.     

Retardation of calcification of bovine pericardium used in bioprosthetic heart valves by phosphocitrate and a synthetic analogue

The purpose of this study was to determine if phosphocitrate (PC), a naturally occurring inhibitor of calcification, and its synthetic analogue, N-sulpho-2-amino tricarballylate (SAT), administered either by daily injection or local delivery via Alzet osmotic minipump, could inhibit calcification of glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium used in bioprosthetic heart valves, subcutaneously implanted in rats. Local drug delivery, but not systemic administration, was effective. PC, administered by Alzet minipump (12 mg.kg-1.day-1), inhibited calcification significantly (tissue calcium = 5 +/- 2 micrograms/mg dry tissue, mean +/- SEM), compared with untreated or saline-treated controls (89 +/- 9 and 49 +/- 9 micrograms/mg, respectively). SAT, administered by the same route at both the same and a higher molar dosage, was less potent (tissue calcium = 26 +/- 9 micrograms/mg and 17 +/- 5 micrograms/mg, respectively). PC and SAT therapy were not associated with adverse effects. We conclude that locally administered PC and SAT can inhibit intrinsic calcification of bovine pericardium, with PC being more potent.     

Identification and characterization of linear B-cell epitopes of beta-globulin, a major allergen of sesame seeds

BACKGROUND: The increased consumption of foods containing sesame seeds is paralleled by an increase in reported sesame-induced allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at identifying and characterizing the linear B-cell epitopes of the 14-kd beta-globulin, the major allergen of sesame seed. METHODS: A peptide containing 71 amino acids (peptide B) was previously identified by us as the IgE-binding region on beta-globulin. To determine the amino acid sequence of the IgE-binding sites on peptide B, we synthesized overlapping peptides 20 and 10 amino acid residues long that span the entire length of peptide B, which were offset from each other by 10 and 2 amino acid residues, respectively. Sera from 20 subjects given diagnoses of allergy to sesame beta-globulin served to identify the epitopes by using the dot-blot test. RESULTS: At least 9 different IgE-recognition sites were identified on peptide B. Three of them, numbers 2, 3, and 13 (corresponding to amino acids 46-55, 48-57, and 76-86, respectively, in the beta-globulin sequence), appeared to be immunodominant IgE-binding epitopes. Also, these peptides were best recognized in terms of intensity of response. There was no obvious sequence motif shared by the 9 different IgE-binding epitopes of beta-globulin. However, approximately 60% of the amino acids represented in the epitopes are hydrophobic residues. CONCLUSION: Identification of the IgE-binding epitopes might provide a better understanding of the functional role the allergens play in the disease and might have implications for immunodiagnosis and probably immunotherapy.     

Myotonic dystrophy, syringomyelia, and 2/13 translocation in the same family.

The present report describes a sibship with 2 individuals affected by myotonic dystrophy and a third with syringomyelia. The mother was affected by myotonic dystrophy. A balanced 2/13 translocation was detected in the individual with syringomyelia, in one affected by myotonic dystrophy and in their clinically normal father. The association between the phenotypic anomalies and the chromosome alteration is coincidental.     

Modified polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid, an immunological adjuvant.

Stabilization of polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid against enzymatic hydrolysis by addition of poly-1-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose (PICLC) resulted in a compound with marked adjuvanticity. The primary antibody response of rhesus monkeys to formalin-inactivated Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus vaccine was significantly potentiated if the vaccine was combined with PICLC prior to vaccination. The antibody response was maintained at a significantly higher level than controls for 2.5 months postvaccination and paralleled immunological responses reported for live, attenuated (TC-83) vaccine.