Instructions to authors

We investigated the effect of glucose and glucose polymer ingestion on plasma arginine vasopressin (pAVP) levels, on plasma osmolality (p-osm), and on performance during two prolonged endurance events. The study subjects were 37 Finnish elite endurance athletes, of whom 18 were orienteers and 19 cross-country skiers. Plasma AVP increased in both combined glucose and glucose polymer groups, but the increase in the glucose polymer group was significantly smaller (P 0.001) than that in the glucose group. A significant change in p-osm caused a significant change in pAVP and vice versa. Both the orienteers and the skiers on glucose polymer tended to have more success in the competition; the orienteers on glucose polymer ran the last third of the competition significantly faster than those on glucose (P 0.05). It is suggested, in the light of the smaller pAVP response, that after glucose polymer ingestion the physical stress in prolonged endurance exercise is smaller than after ingestion of glucose.     

Reduction of lymphocytic β-adrenoceptor level in chronic alcoholics and rapid reversal after ethanol withdrawal

Plasma catecholamine levels, lymphocytic beta-adrenoceptor densities and lymphocytic cAMP production were studied in 10 male subjects attending a withdrawal clinic after prolonged alcohol abuse. On admission the mean beta-adrenoceptor density was 29 +/- 9 fmol mg-1 protein (about 60% of the mean level of healthy control subjects, P less than 0.002). The following day a significant elevation of the beta-adrenoceptor level up to 46 +/- 19 fmol mg-1 protein (P less than 0.05) took place. This was accompanied by a parallel activation of the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP production of the lymphocytes. No major changes in beta-adrenoceptor levels or cAMP production took place during the next 7 days. Plasma catecholamine levels were elevated at arrival and decreased steadily during the withdrawal period. In conclusion, chronic alcoholism is associated with a reduction of lymphocytic beta-adrenoceptor density and functioning, which is followed by a rapid reversal during abrupt ethanol withdrawal. Thus an accelerated responsiveness to catecholamines may occur during the first ethanol-free day of chronic alcoholics.     

Immunoelectron microscopic findings in oral mucosa of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and linear IgA disease

Abstract – Two patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and one with linear IgA disease were examined. Two of the patients had oral lesions and all three showed IgA deposits detected by direct immunofluorescence in apparently normal buccal mucosa. To localize the target structures for IgA deposition, biopsy specimens were taken from normal appearing buccal mucosa for immunoelectron microscopy. The patients with dermatitis herpetiformis had distinct IgA deposits in the upper connective tissue. These were often associated with elastic fibers and occasionally also with capillary walls. In contrast, the patient with linear IgA disease had IgA deposition at the subbasal lamina. Though the clinical expressions may be similar the present immunoelectron microscopic fmdings in oral mucosa clearly differentiate dermatitis herpetiformis from linear IgA disease.     

Acid-base properties of thymopoietin-type tri- and tetrapeptides and their derivatives

The submolecular basicities of 21 immuno-modulating, thymopoietin-type di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides were studied and characterized in terms of group constants and partial microconstants. All compounds were derivatives of the H-Arg-Lys-Asp-OH tripeptide. Modifications within four covalent bonds of the basic site (esterification, acylation, curtailment or addition at C-terminal end, exchange of amino acids) cause significant changes in the scheme of protonation and in the individual basicity of proton binding sites. Configurational changes of the component amino acids, however, do not cause significantly different basicities in the diastereomers.     

Intermittent pneumatic compression treatment for post-thrombotic leg ulcers

In an open clinical, trial three patients suffering from persistent post-thromhotic leg ulcers and five patients suffering from recurrent post-thromhotic leg-ulcers were treated by intermittent pneumatic compression therapy. For this purpose we used a novel device which produces both a sequential and graded pressure wave on the lower leg. Compared with previous conservative treatment only, intermittent compression treatment, together with conservative treatment, was found to shorten the ulcer healing time markedly. All the persistent ulcers which had not healed during the conservative treatment period healed during the intermittent compression treatment period. Skin oxygen tension, measured during the first occasion of compression treatment, was shown to increase. The healing rates seemed to correlate with decreasing leg swelling.     

Proteolytic Enzymes and Plasminogen Activator in Melanoma

Proteolytic activities were measured in extracts of human skin melanoma, lymphatic metastasis and in nonmalignant naevi by using various proteinase substrates as well as plasminogen activator assay. pH-optima for hydrolysis of various proteinase substrates by these tumors were found to be essentially the same as in healthy human skin. Melanoma extracts were found to especially readily hydrolyze N-alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine beta-naphthylamine (BANA) at pH 5.8 in the presence of 1 mmol/l dithiothreitol and EDTA (cathepsin B1-like enzyme) as well as histones and p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME) at pH 7.5, and showed increased capacity to activate plasminogen when compared to nonmalignant naevus. The possible role of proteinases in malignant melanoma is discussed.     

CD4 T cell survival after intermittent interleukin-2 therapy is predictive of an increase in the CD4 T cell count of HIV-infected patients

Administration of interleukin (IL)-2 to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients leads to significant increases in CD4 T cell counts. We previously have shown that IL-2 induces increased proliferation and survival of CD4 T cells. Deuterium labeling studies were undertaken to study the relationship between IL-2-induced increases in the CD4 T cell count and the effects of IL-2 on cell proliferation and survival. A strong inverse correlation was noted between the rate of decay of the label in CD4 cells and increases in CD4 cell counts (R =or- 0.67; P<.001). This correlation was not seen with the level of proliferating cells. Although the CD4 cell count at baseline and the number of CD4 cells expressing CD25 were also predictive of increases in the CD4 cell count, the rate of decay remained the most statistically significant predictor in multivariate regression models. Thus, an increase in the survival of CD4 T cells appears to be the critical mechanism leading to sustained increases in the CD4 cell counts of HIV-infected patients receiving intermittent IL-2 therapy.     

Induction of prolonged survival of CD4+ T lymphocytes by intermittent IL-2 therapy in HIV-infected patients

HIV infection leads to decreases in the number of CD4 T lymphocytes and an increased risk for opportunistic infections and neoplasms. The administration of intermittent cycles of IL-2 to HIV-infected patients can lead to profound increases (often greater than 100%) in CD4 cell number and percentage. Using in vivo labeling with 2H-glucose and BrdU, we have been able to demonstrate that, although therapy with IL-2 leads to high levels of proliferation of CD4 as well as CD8 lymphocytes, it is a remarkable preferential increase in survival of CD4 cells (with half-lives that can exceed 3 years) that is critical to the sustained expansion of these cells. This increased survival was time-dependent: the median half-life, as determined by semiempirical modeling, of labeled CD4 cells in 6 patients increased from 1.7 weeks following an early IL-2 cycle to 28.7 weeks following a later cycle, while CD8 cells showed no change in the median half-life. Examination of lymphocyte subsets demonstrated that phenotypically naive (CD27+CD45RO-) as well as central memory (CD27+CD45RO+) CD4 cells were preferentially expanded, suggesting that IL-2 can help maintain cells important for host defense against new antigens as well as for long-term memory to opportunistic pathogens.