Seasonal variation in food allergy to apple

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of a seasonal variation in reactivity to apples in 27 birch pollen allergic patients. Before and during the birch pollen season 1998, the patients were subjected to double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs) with grated fresh Golden Delicious apple followed by an open food challenge with whole fresh apple. The clinical reactions elicited during the challenges were evaluated both by the patients and the investigators. Moreover, the skin reactivity and the in vitro reactivity to apple were evaluated by skin prick test (SPT), leukocyte histamine release (HR), measurement of specific IgE, and immunoblotting experiments. The sensitivity of the DBPCFC, when compared with the result of the open challenge, was 0.74 (14/19) before the season and 0.80 (16/20) during the season. None of the patients reacted to the blinded challenge without a subsequent reaction to the open challenge. One placebo reaction was registered both before and in season, but not in the same patient. The patient scores of the first positive challenges, and the maximal scores of each combined blinded and open challenge session, were significantly increased during the pollen season (P<0.05). The scores of the open challenge were significantly higher than the scores of the DBPCFC both before the season and during the in-season challenges (P<0.05). Specific IgE against Golden Delicious increased during season (P<0.05), while neither SPT, HR, nor immunoblotting experiments could confirm an increase in reactivity. In conclusion, the results of the oral challenge tests indicated an increase in clinical reactivity to apples during the birch pollen season in birch pollen allergic individuals.     

Temporal relation of antigenaemia and loss of antibodies to core antigens to development of clinical disease in HIV infection.

A total of 276 sequential serum samples from 34 men with antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) followed up for two to seven years were analysed for HIV antigen and antibodies to the viral core and envelope proteins. Results were correlated with clinical outcome and CD4 T lymphocyte count. Both antigenaemia and the disappearance of antibodies to the core protein were associated with development of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex and depletion of CD4 cells. Thus AIDS or AIDS related complex developed in eight out of 16 patients with antigenaemia compared with one out of 18 patients without antigenaemia. Low counts of CD4 cells (less than 0.5 X 10(9)/l) were found in 14 of the 16 patients with antigenaemia and five of the 18 without antigenaemia. Nine patients seroconverted to HIV during the study; two of these developed antigenaemia 14 and 16 months after the estimated time of seroconversion. These results show that the late stages of HIV infection are characterised by increased production of antigen and a decrease in antibodies directed against the core protein. Antigenaemia indicates a poor prognosis; and as the antigen test is simple to do and interpret, it may therefore be useful for selecting patients for antiviral treatment.     

Close linkage between X-linked ectodermal dysplasia and a cloned DNA sequence detecting a two allele restriction fragment length polymorphism in the region Xp11-q12

Summary EDA (ectodermal dysplasia, anhidrotic) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by hypohidrosis, hypoor anodontia, and hypotrichosis. A possible linkage between the gene for EDA and a number of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) spread over the X chromosome was investigated in two Danish families segregating EDA. No recombination between the gene for EDA and our probe pTAK8, which detects a two allele polymorphism in the region Xp11-q12, was found in nine informative meiotic events (seven of which are phase known), giving a maximal lod score of 2.41 at a recombination fraction of 0.00. This juxtacentromeric location of the gene for EDA agrees well with the linkage data obtained with the other markers used in this study.     

Structural organization of the normal and anoxic heart of Scyllium stellare

Summary The general and ultrastructural organization of the heart of the elasmobranch, Scyllium stellare, was studied in normal and in anoxic animals. The rich coronary supply was revealed three-dimensionally by the use of corrosion casts, showing a thebesian system of coronary arterioles and capillaries in the thin, outer compact layer as well as in the predominant, inner spongy layer of trabeculae.Only the sinus venosus received a neuronal input of large bundles of granule-containing axons terminating at fenestrated regions of the endocardium and suggesting a neurohormonal function.A simple, tubular sarcoplasmic reticulum with flattened junctional cisternae was present in myocardial cells of 1–5 m diameter, which contained one or two bundles of myofibrils. The latter were closely apposed to the inner aspect of the plasmalemma. Mitochondria were located centrally in the cells, which were joined by unfolded desmosomes involving Z-band material.Long periods of anoxia were tolerated without loss of heart function, but at the expense of cytoplasmic glycogen. Lipid granules were abundant in all layers and chambers, notably in animals prepared in the summer. The lipid granules displayed a marked increase in electron density when the heart was incubated in a buffered oxalate solution prior to fixation. A glycogen-sparing effect of the lipids during anoxia was observed.     

Biochemical studies of the chromaffin granule. II. Properties of membrane-bound and water-soluble forms of chromogranin A and dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity

1. Chromogranin A has been isolated from the washed membrane fraction of highly purified chromaffin granules after solubilization in Triton X-100. A hydrated molecular weight of 2.9·10⁵ has been obtained for chromogranin A_M which in its electrophoretic mobility and molecular volume appears very similar to chromogranin A_I of the water-soluble fraction.     

Resistance to tedion in haploid and diploid offspring of Tetranychus urticae Koch

The susceptibility to Tedion of haploid and diploid-haploid mixtures of eggs of Tetranychus urticae Koch was examined. It was concluded for a normal susceptible strain that haploid eggs are more susceptible to Tedion than diploid eggs. This difference in tolerance between haploid and diploid eggs could not be established for a strain resistant to Tedion.Mass crosses between the susceptible and the resistant strain were made. Susceptible females, mated by resistant males, produce susceptible haploid and resistant diploid offspring. Resistant females, mated by susceptible males, gave a resistant offspring. Both sexes can also transmit resistance to Tedion. As there was a difference in tolerance between diploid offspring in the reciprocal crosses, it is assumed that either a maternal or a cytoplasmic component is also present in the genetical mechanism of Tedion-resistance.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Empfindlichkeit haploider und diploid-haploider Gemische von Eiern von Tetranychus urticae Koch gegenüber Tedion untersucht. Für einen normal empfindlichen Stamm wurde aus toxikologischen Daten und einer Verschiebung des Geschlechterverhältnisses erschlossen, daß haploide Eier gegenüber Tedion empfindlicher sind als diploide. Dieser Toleranzunterschied zwischen haploiden und diploiden Nachkommen konnte bei einem gegen Tedion resistenten Stamm nicht nachgewiesen werden.Es wurden Massenkreuzungen zwischen empfindlichen und resistenten Stämmen durch-geführt. Empfindliche Weibchen, mit resistenten Männchen gepaart, produzierten empfindliche haploide und resistente diploide Nachkommen. Resistente Weibchen, mit empfindlichen Männchen gepaart, ergaben eine resistente Nachkommenschaft. Beide Geschlechter können also die Resistenz gegen Tedion übertragen. Da bei den reziproken Kreuzungen ein Toleranzunterschied zwischen den diploiden Nachkommen auftritt, wird angenommen, daß in dem genetischen Mechanismus der Tedion-Resistenz auch eine mütterliche oder eine zytoplasmatische Komponente vorhanden ist.