Cloning and sequencing of cDNAs corresponding to mite major allergen Der f II

A cDNA library corresponding to mite protein was screened employing anti-Der f II antibody. Two possible clones were obtained, which contained plasmids, pFL1 and pFL11, respectively. Both plasmids had insertions of about 500 base pairs. The DNA sequences of the two insertions were determined, from which the amino acid sequences were deduced. The amino acid sequence of the purified native Der f II protein could be determined to 45 residues from the N-terminus. As a result of comparison, we concluded that the cDNAs prepared from live mite Dermatophagoides farinae corresponded to the mite allergen, Der f II.     

A case of food-dependent-exercise induced anaphylaxis possibly induced by shellfish (Sulculus Supertexta and Turbo Cornutus)

A 17 years old girl experienced an anaphylactic reaction of urticaria, dyspnea, syncope and hypotension while riding a bicycle 55 minutes after eating shellfish Lapas shellfish which was a-like Sulculus Supertexta (SS). She recovered within several hours after the emergency treatment. Another attack occurred 3 months later while she was running with a dog 30 minutes after eating shellfish (Turbo Cornutus; TC). RAST scores were 4 for Lapas and 2 for TC. RAST inhibition test by ELISA showed a high crose-reaction between keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and Lapas, and between KLH and TC, while the cross reaction between Lapas and TC was low. Gel chromatography with sephacryl G-200 revealed that both Lapas and TC had several allergens with different molecules which were detected by ELISA. Exercise challenge produced an immediate fall of FEV1 and a significant increase in plasma histamine levels for 45 minutes.     

IgE levels in nude mice.

IgE levels in nude mice were estimated by the one-step single radial radiodiffusion method antisera prepared by immunization of guinea pigs with an IgE-rich fraction obtained from sera of normal mice infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and immunized with DNP-ovalbumin in alum gel. 3 out of 8 nude mice had IgE levels significantly higher than those of normal mice.     

Concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic patients with mucoid impaction]

BACKGROUND: Concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is known as a marker of malignant transformation and chronic inflammation. We recently observed increased levels of serum CEA in a patient with asthma accompanied by mucoid impactions, which dramatically decreased after a sequence of bronchial washings. The present study evaluated relationships between levels of CEA, bronchial asthma and mucoid impactions. METHODS: Serum CEA concentrations were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) or enzyme immunoassay in 44 subjects, comprising 9 asthmatic patients with mucoid impactions, 13 asthmatic patients without mucoid impactions, 12 patients with bronchiectasis, and 10 healthy volunteers. CEA concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined in 5 asthmatic patients with mucoid impactions and 10 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of CEA were significantly increased in asthmatic patients with mucoid impactions compared with patients without mucoid impactions, patients with bronchiectasis, or healthy volunteers (median [range], 17.3 ng/ml [2.8-28.8 ng/ml]; 3.0 ng/ml [1.5-7.1 ng/ml], 2.2 ng/ml [0.9-17.9 ng/ml], and 1.9 ng/ml [0.6-2.9 ng/ml], respectively). Concentrations of CEA in BALF were also significantly increased in asthmatic patients with mucoid impactions compared to healthy volunteers (3.2 ng/ml albumin [1.2-12.4 ng/ml albumin] vs. 0.4 ng/ml albumin [0.2-1.9 ng/ml albumin]). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that bronchial asthma with mucoid impactions is among several pathogeneses that cause increased levels of CEA in serum and BALF.     

Benign schwannoma of the breast: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented to our hospital for investigation of occasional pain in her left breast. Although there was no mass palpable in her left breast, mammography and ultrasonography revealed a round tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Although the mammography findings indicated that the tumor was benign, the possibility of a malignant neoplasm could not be ruled out by the ultrasonographic images. A final diagnosis of schwannoma was established by histopathological examination of the excised mass.     

Short- and long-term functional alterations of the skeletal muscle calcium release channel (Ryanodine receptor) by Suramin: apparent dissociation of single channel current recording and [3H]ryanodine binding

The present study demonstrates the following characteristic suramin actions on the purified skeletal muscle calcium release channel in single-channel current recordings and [(3)H]ryanodine binding to HSR: 1) Suramin (0.3-0.9 mM) induced a concentration-dependent increase in the open probability (P(o) congruent with 0.9) at 20 to 100 microM Ca(2+) and an almost fully open channel at 1 mM Ca(2+) (P(o) = 0.95) with a marked shift to longer open states (tau(o)3/tau(o)4). Suramin increased the apparent calcium affinity to the activating high-affinity calcium binding sites and reduced the apparent magnesium affinity to the inhibitory low affinity Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) binding sites. 2) Channel activation by suramin and sulfhydryl oxidation was additive. 3) Suramin (0.9 mM) reversed the Ca-calmodulin-induced channel inhibition at 0.1 or 1 to 5 microM Ca-calmodulin. 4) The open probability of the suramin activated channel was almost completely inhibited by 10 mM Mg(2+) or Ca(2+) on short suramin exposure. Prolonged suramin exposure (30-60 min) resulted in a time-dependent, slow increase in P(o), with long open states of low frequency in the presence of 10 to 20 mM Mg(2+) or Ca(2+). 5) Magnesium induced inhibition of P(o) (IC(50) = 0.38 mM) and equilibrium [(3)H]ryanodine binding (IC(50) = 0.30 mM) agreed well in control channels, but were dissociated in the presence of 0.9 to 1.0 mM suramin (IC(50) = 0.82 mM versus 83 mM). [(3)H]ryanodine binding seemed to monitor predominantly the long-term alteration in channel function. 6) The multiple effects of suramin on channel function suggest an allosteric mechanism and no direct effects on binding of endogenous ligands involved in channel gating.     

Über den Mechanismus der Potenzierung der Katecholaminwirkung nach chronisch postganglionärer sympathischer Denervierung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Calcium channel mediated calcium release from the rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicle]

Activation and inhibition of the calcium release channel of rabbit skeletal muscle heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum (HSR) was investigated by various methods. The calcium release channel is activated by binding of calcium in the micromolar range and by binding of adenine nucleotides in the millimolar range. Ruthenium red and neomycin are potent inhibitors of the channel at nanomolar to micromolar concentrations. Dantrolene inhibits the rate of caffeine-induced calcium release. Several models of the calcium release channel were considered to explain the three-phasic calcium release from HSR vesicles. Simulation of calcium efflux data according to various models suggest that the calcium release channel has at least three states. The experimental results can be explained by assuming one open and two closed states of the calcium release channel, but not by assuming one open and one closed state.