Stability of Candida albicans allergens during storage

Stability of Candida albicans allergens was studied under various storage conditions. Lyophilized extract was reconstituted with human serum albumin (NSA) diluent, glycerol-free and in the presence of 10% or 50% glycerol and stored at various temperatures for different time periods. All extracts were tested at the same time with immunoblotting using C. albicans allergic patient sera and galactosidase-labelled anti-IgE. The highest number of detected allergens in the immunoblotting pattern was found in the presence of 50% glycerol at +6 degrees C. The most important allergen of C. albicans, the 46 kD protein allergen was stable up to 10 weeks at +6 degrees C in the presence of 50% glycerol but thereafter began to lose its IgE-binding capacity. After 30 weeks more than 50% of the IgE binding had disappeared. The 27 kD protein, another important allergen, was also labile but retained the allergenicity better than the 46 kD one. The 29 kD protein allergen was stable at all storage conditions, except +37 degrees C tested even after one year. More than 6 months storage at +6 degrees C or higher temperature is, however, unacceptable even in the presence of the 50% glycerol. These findings have particular importance in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.     

The influence of intravenous magnesium sulphate on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery by-pass operation

To examine the influence of (Mg) on hypomagnesaemia and atrialfibrillation (AF) following coronary artery by-pass surgery,140 consecutive patients were randomized to receive 70 mmolof magnesium sulphate intravenously (n = 69) or placebo (n =71). Serum magnesium concentrations fell to 0.77 ± 0.10mmol. l^–1 in the control group but rose to 1.09 ±0.17 mmol. l^–1 in the Mg group (P <0.001). The incidenceof AF was 29% in the Mg group and 26% in the placebo group (NS).The AF patients were older, more of them had had prior AF episodes,their sinus rates (SR) were slower (78 ± 10 vs 86 ±12 beats. Min^–1; P <0.01) and serum Mg concentrationshigher (0.89 ± 0.21 vs 0.11 mmol. ^l–1; P <0.05)The incidence of AF was 43% in the highest quartile of serumMg and 23% among the rest (P = 0.056). In patients experiencingAF during the first three post-operative days, serum Mg concentrationswere higher and SR slower on each day compared with non-AF patients.SR increased post-operatively less with high Mg levels (P =0.044). In the Mg group, serum Mg and SR were the only independentpredictors of AF. In conclusion, the incidence of post-operativeAF is not decreased with magnesium. High Mg levels are likelyto provoke AF probably by mechanisms that modify SR.     

Acute effects of alcohol, beta blockade, and their combination on left ventricular function and hemodynamics in normal man

Twenty-three healthy males, aged 23 to 62 years, were examinedby M-mode echocardiography and systolic time intervals for 3h after (1) ethanol 1 g/kg by mouth taken over 60 minutes; (2)atenolol 100 mg by mouth; (3) ethanol (1 g/kg) + atenolol (100mg). The peak mean blood ethanol (± s.e.) was 112 ±4mg/100 ml in test 1 and 104 ± 7 mg/100 ml in test 3.During increasing blood ethanol, heart rate (HR), systolic bloodpressure (BP), cardiac output (CO) and echocardiographic indicesof left ventricular (LV) function were significantly augmented,while total peripheral resistance (TPR) decreased. During decliningblood ethanol, systolic BP, L V end-diastolic and end-systolicdiameters, stroke volume (SV) and circumferential wall stresswere significantly reduced; echocardiographic indices of LVfunction were unaltered, but the pre-ejection period/LV ejectiontime ratio was increased, Atenolol decreased llR, systolic BP,SV, CO, and all estimates of LV function, but increased TPR.Ethanol + atenolol tended to cause smaller depressions in theindices of LV function than did atenolol alone, in spite ofsimilar plasma atenolol concentrations (n = 6). It is concludedthat ingestion of modest doses of ethanol evokes vasodilationand enhances LV function during increasing blood ethanol, andreduces LV preload and afterload during decreasing blood ethanolwithout impairing contractility. Social drinking and beta blockadeseem not to have any harmful acute combined effects on the heartand circulation, at least in normal subjects.     

Enhanced Predictive Power of Quantitative TWA during Routine Exercise Testing in the Finnish Cardiovascular Study

Introduction: We examined whether quantification of T-wave alternans (TWA) enhances this parameter's capacity to evaluate the risk for total and cardiovascular mortality and sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Methods and Results: The Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS) enrolled consecutive patients (n = 2,119; 1,342 men and 777 women) with a clinically indicated exercise test with bicycle ergometer. TWA (time domain-modified moving average method) was analyzed from precordial leads, and the results were grouped in increments of 10 μV. Hazard ratios (HR) for total and cardiovascular mortality and SCD were estimated for preexercise, routine exercise, and postexercise stages. Cox regression analysis was performed. During follow-up of 47.1 ± 12.9 months (mean ± standard deviation [SD]), 126 patients died: 62 were cardiovascular deaths, and 33 of these deaths were sudden. During preexercise, TWA ≥ 20 μV predicted the risk for total and cardiovascular mortality (maximum HR >4.4 at 60 μV, P < 0.02 for both). During exercise, HRs of total and cardiovascular mortality were significant when TWA measured ≥50 μV, with 90 μV TWA yielding maximum HRs for total and cardiovascular death of 3.1 (P = 0.03) and 6.4 (P = 0.002), respectively. During postexercise, TWA ≥60 μV indicated risk for total and cardiovascular mortality, with maximum HR of 3.4 at 70 μV (P = 0.01) for cardiovascular mortality. SCD was strongly predicted by TWA levels ≥60 μV during exercise, with maximum HR of 4.6 at 60 μV (P = 0.002), but was not predicted during pre- or postexercise.
Conclusion: Quantification of TWA enhances its capacity for determination of the risk for total and cardiovascular mortality and SCD in low-risk populations. Its prognostic power is superior during exercise compared to preexercise or postexercise.     

Distribution of natural killer cells and lymphocyte subclasses in Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin and in cutaneous lesions of discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus

We studied the cell infiltrates in biopsies from lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS), with six monoclonal T cell antigen-specific antibodies and compared the reactivity pattern with those in biopsies from discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus skin lesions and allergic contact skin reactions. A newly described antibody (NK₉) recognizing natural killer (NK) cells and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes was included, and the numbers and activity of circulating NK cells was determined. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the numbers of NK₉-positive cells were highest in LIS. The distribution of T lymphocytes (OKTii + ve), helper T cells (OKT₄+ ve), suppressor T celts (OKT8 + ve), Langerhans cells (OKT6 + ve) and activated T cells (anti-Tac + ve) in LIS differed from those in DLE, SLE and allergic contact reactions. However, the number of circulating NK cells (large granular lymphocytes) and the NK activity in peripheral blood were normal in LIS. We conclude that in LIS a distinct type of T cell activation occurs; the cause of this remains to be determined.     

Metabolic inactivation of noradrenaline in human placenta, umbilical cord and fetal membranes

Summary. Metabolic inactivation of noradrenaline (NA) was studied in human placenta, umbilical vessels, Wharton's jelly and fetal membranes. Highest degradation capacity was observed in the placenta and fetal membranes, where the NA was inactivated by both monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). No MAO and COMT activity was found in the cord jelly and the activities in umbilical vessels were very low.