Total serum IgE levels in Venezuelan schoolchildren

Seventy-eight disease-free children were evaluated by PRIST for total serum IgE in order to establish the normal range for this immunoglobulin and assess its utility, in tropical climates, such as Venezuela, as a diagnostic tool for clinical allergy. Seventy-eight normals were selected from a group of 1053 children, aged 7-12 years from fourteen schools in Caracas. Exclusion from the normal pool was based on nationality, and on historical, clinical, and/or laboratory evidence of atopic and/or infectious diseases, particularly with parasites. In addition to a routine CBC and differential, the following studies were performed: a search for stool ova and parasites; in vitro (RAST) and in vivo (skin prick) testing for specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Aspergillusfumigatus, and ragweed. Measurement of antibodies against influenza A and B, adenovirus A₂: and B, cytomegalovirus, parainflucnza 1 and 3, herpes simplex, respiratory syncytial virus, Coxsackie B₁ to B₆, Mycoptasma pneumoniae and Rolavirus was also carried out. Normal serum IgE levels for disease-free children in the age group studied ranged from 1.7-255 u/ml. The highest average level (± 74 u/ml) occurred at the age of 9 years. These values differed significantly from age-matched control groups of known atopic and helminth-infected children. Thus, once common causes for elevated IgE levels are eliminated, determination of total serum IgE can be utilized as a valuable tool in diagnosis of clinical allergy in countries with tropical climates.     

β-Turn induction by C60-based fulleroproline: synthesis and conformational characterization of Fpr/Pro small peptides

We have recently described the preparation of Fpr (C₆₀-based fulleroproline). In this paper the synthesis and a conformational characterization of heterochiral di-and tripeptides containing this new α-amino acid are reported. A folded structure, induced by the-l -Fpr-d -Ala-sequence in chloroform solution and detected by Fourier transform infrared absorption and H nuclear magnetic resonance, has been compared with the known propensity of the cognate-l -Pro-d -Ala-sequence to adopt a βII-turn conformation, which has also been confirmed in this work. The βII-turn structure is retained in the crystal state by the Pro-peptides, as shown by the X-ray diffraction structures of Ibu-l -Pro-d -Ala-NHtBu and Z-l -Pro-d -Ala-l -Ala-OtBu. © Munksgaard 1997.     

Emergency Cardiac Pacing for Severe Bradycardia

ALTAMURA, G., ET AL.: Emergency Cardiac Pacing for Severe Bradycardia. Our study included the treatment of transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) in 32 patients: (A) 19 patients were treated in the emergency area for complete symptomatic AV block before endocavitary pacing; (B) five patients were in asystole following DC shock or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; and (C) eight patients were affected by bifascicular block undergoing emergency surgery and were treated in order to prevent complete AV block. Two transcutaneous stimulators were used. PaceAid-CRC model 50/52 with 20-msec pulse width; the electrodes were positioned on the V, ECG position and on the back. Results: in all but two patients, it was possible to obtain stable cardiac capture; in one patient arrived in hospital in asystole after prolonged cardiac arrest and in the other one was affected by complete AV block, TCP was ineffective. In groups A and B, TCP was maintained for a mean time of 15 minutes; in group C, TCP was tested in all patients, but performed in only one patient during surgery. Mean threshold was 81 mA. Stimulation was well tolerated in all but five patients. TCP is a reliable, noninvasive method that offers the possibility to initiate pacing within seconds and can be used by medical staff. In our opinion, it should be considered as the first choice emergency treatment of severe symptomatic bradycardia. In asystole, beneficial effects can be obtained only if TCP is performed early enough after the onset of arrhythmia.     

A New Variant of Human Fetal Hemoglobin: Hb FRoma

A new type of abnormal fetal hemoglobin, identified in Rome from thecord blood hemolysate of a healthy newborn girl, is described. This abnormal hemoglobin, which the authors provisionally name Hb F_Roma, has anelectrophoretic mobility at alkaline pH identical to that of Hb Bart’s and aspectrum in the U. V. of the fetal type. It is, however, composed of normalalpha chains and altered gamma chains. Hb F_Roma, which was present at birthin the portion of 17 per cent, disappeared completely during the 5th monthof life. No abnormal hemoglobins were identified in the parents.

Submitted on November 24, 1962 Accepted on July 15, 1963     

Peritoneoscopy in Chronic Hepatitis

The course of chronic hepatitis was retrospectively evaluated in 26 patients in whom both peritoneoscopy and liver biopsy were initially performed. At entry all patients were clinically asymptomatic and showed mild or moderate histological and chemical abnormalities, so that none of them needed steroid treatment. The duration of the follow-up ranged from 24-82 months. At the end of follow-up liver biopsy was obtained in all patients. In a few patients peritoneoscopy was also ultimately performed. In six patients in whom initially chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) was diagnosed both by peritoneoscopy and liver biopsy, the subsequent course of the disease was benign. In all the nine patients in whom initially peritoneoscopy suggested CPH, in contrast to the histological diagnosis of chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH), chemical and morphological parameters of liver disease activity did not worsen to require steroid treatment. In five of six patients in whom both liver biopsy and peritoneoscopy initially showed CAH, chemical and morphological abnormalities progressed so that steroids had to be initiated. Finally in four of five patients in whom initially peritoneoscopy showed CAH and liver biopsy CPH, steroid treatment was ultimately required because of chemical and morphological worsening. In conclusion peritoneoscopy may be a useful aid in the management of the asymptomatic patient with moderate chemical and histological features of chronic liver disease.     

Crystallographic characterization of geometry and conformation of TOAC,a nitroxide spin-labelled Cα,α-disubstituted glycine,in simple derivatives and model peptides *

The molecular and crystal structures of one derivative and two oligopeptides of TOAC, a nitroxide spin-labelled C^αα-disubstituted glycine, have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The derivative is the 5(4H)-oxazolone from Piv-TOAC-OH; the oligopeptides are Z-TOAC-(L-Ala)₂-NHtBu sesquihydrate and p BrBz-TOAC-(L-Ala)₂-TOAC-L-Ala-NHtBu hemihydrate. Incipient and fully developed right-handed 3₁₀-helical conformations are formed by both independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of the terminally blocked tripeptide amide and the terminally blocked pentapeptide amide, respectively. The average geometry and preferred conformation for the piperidine ring of the TOAC residues are also discussed in detail. © Munksgaard 1996.