Seasonal enhancement of IL-4 induced IgE synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic patients

The role of IL-4 on IgE synthesis has been well established. IL-4 has been shown to promote IgE production by B cells from atopic and non-atopic donors. In this study, the effects of natural exposure to pollens on IL-4-indueed IgE synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic and non-atopic donors were examined. The results confirm production of IgE in an IL-4 dose-dependent manner by PBMC cultures of these two groups. When cultures were performed out of the pollen season, following stimulation by IL-4, no significant difference was observed between the levels of IgE produced by PBMC of atopic and non-atopic donors. In contrast, upon natural exposure to pollens, significant higher levels of IgE were measured in the atopic group than in the non-atopic one. These results show that the policn season infiuences the IL-4-induced IgE synthesis by PBMC of allergic patients and are in keeping with seasonal rise of specific IgE antibodies.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GRIEF AND FAMILY SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS: A CROSS LAGGED LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

The present study explored the question of whether the grief process affects the characteristics of relationships within the family system or, alternatively, whether family characteristics affect the experience of grief symptoms. Sixty-one people who had recently experienced the death of a parent (82%) or spouse (18%) completed a questionnaire to assess their current grief symptomatology and characteristics of the relationships within their family 4-5 weeks after the death, and again six months later. Results from cross-lagged panel analyses suggested that increased expression of family affect, family cohesion, and both higher total Family Environment Scale and Family Assessment Measure Version III General scores were predictors of fewer grief symptoms over time. Overall, these results suggest that knowledge of a variety of aspects of a family's structure and process shortly after a death may help predict the later grief of the loss of a loved one.     

Increased Hemolysis after Intramuscular Iron Administration in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: Report of Six Occurrences in Four Patients, and Speculations on a Possible Mechanism

Four patients with PNH were described who developed accelerated activityof their disease after the intramuscular administration of iron-dextran fortreatment of iron deficiency. This was considered to reflect a unique effect ofiron on PNH erythrocytes. It was postulated that this effect resulted from celldamage caused by iron catalyzed peroxidation of erythrocyte lipids, a reaction to which PNH erythrocytes could be unusually susceptible by virtue ofan increased content of unsaturated fatty acids or pro-oxidants or decreasedcontent of antioxidants.

Submitted on August 13, 1964 Accepted on November 11, 1964     

Two year cumulative incidence of trunk abnormalities in a schoolpopulation in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

We conducted a study of the 2 year cumulative incidence of trunkabnormalities in a cohort of 3,071 11 year old children (1,621boys, 1,450 girls). The following data were recorded: height,weight, signs of puberty and menarche. Trunk abnormality wasassessed in the erect child (asymmetry of shoulders and waistline,imbalance of the trunk, scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, swaybackand flexibility) and by the forward bending test (FBT) (ribhump or lumbar prominence, persisting scoliosis, kyphosis anddeviant lateral aspect). A normal FBT both at baseline and atfollow-up was found in 84% of the boys and in 79% of the girls.The 2 year cumulative incidence of an abnormal FBT was 10% inboys and 13% in girls.     

Pressure-volume relationship for rat dermis: compression studies

The relationship between tissue hydrostatic pressure and fluid content is an important determinant of the response of the microvascular exchange system to perturbations. However, only a limited number of studies relating these parameters have been reported. To add to this body of information, fully swollen rat dermis in vitro was subjected to successive compressive loads in an apparatus in which tissue thickness changes were monitored. At steady-state the mechanical load on the tissue was balanced by the interstitial fluid pressure within the tissue while the fluid content of the tissue was determined from the unstressed tissue fluid content and changes in tissue thickness. The range of conditions investigated was from moderate overhydration through normal tissue fluid content to significant dehydration. From the relationship between interstitial fluid pressure and tissue fluid content (expressed as mass of fluid per mass of fat-free dry tissue) the tissue compliance was determined. Compliance, defined as the rate of change of the tissue fluid content with changes in interstitial pressure, increased with tissue hydration. The compliance determined using compressive loads and steady-state response of tissue thickness compares favourably with the limited amount of information available about this tissue property which is critical in the determination of tissue fluid balance. Compliance ranged over one order of magnitude for the conditions studied and at normal hydration, tissue fluid volume changed by about 6.6% per mmHg in tissue hydrostatic pressure.     

Is Chronic Atrial Stimulation a Reliable Method for Single Chamber Pacing in Sick Sinus Syndrome?

To evaluate the feasibility of chronic atrial pacing (AAI) in sick sinus syndrome (SSS), 22 patients (pts) with bradytachycardia syndrome (BTS) and 17 patients with only bradyarrhythmias (BA) were studied on the incidence of supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) and occurring AV block. A scoring system based on symptoms of SVT was developed (grade 0–5). All patients had proven normal AV conduction before PM implantation. In the BTS-group, nine patients (41%) had symptomatic SVT at the end of follow-up (mean 53 months), despite drug therapy. These patients had a high SVT score on entry (mean 3.2). High degree AV block occurred in three patients. Although in the BA-group SVT arose in six patients (35%), there was only one symptomatic patient at the end of follow-up (mean 36 months). In this group, only one patient developed high degree AV block. Atrial stimulation should be considered as a reliable therapy in patients with SSS and low SVT score before PM implantation when normal AV conduction is present.     

Minimum analogue peptide sets (MAPS) for quantitative structure-activity relationships

The information contents in previously published peptide sets was compared with smaller sets of peptides selected according to statistical designs. It was found that minimum analogue peptide sets (MAPS) constructed by factorial or fractional factorial designs in physicochemical properties contained substantial structure-activity information. Although five to six times smaller than the originally published peptide sets the MAPS resulted in QSAR models able to predict biological activity. The QSARs derived from a MAPS of nine dipeptides, and from a set of 58 dipeptides inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme were compared and found to be of equal strength. Furthermore, for a set of bitter tasting dipeptides it was found that an incomplete MAPS of 10 dipeptides gave just as good a model as the model based on a set of 48 dipeptides. By comparison other non-designed sets of peptides gave QSARs with poor predictive power. It was also demonstrated how MAPS centered on a lead peptide can be constructed as to specifically explore the physicochemical and biological properties in the vicinity of the lead. It was concluded that small information-rich peptide sets MAPS can be constructed on the basis of statistical designs with principal properties of amino acids as design variables.