Measles immunisation in children with allergy to egg.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the occurrence of adverse reactions to measles vaccine given as a single dose to children with egg allergy, and to determine if the administration of single dose to children with a positive result in an intradermal skin prick test with the vaccine is associated with adverse reactions. DESIGN--Review of results of immunisation and prospective study of 96 consecutively presenting children given intradermal skin testing with the vaccine. SETTING--Children''s allergy centre. SUBJECTS--410 children sensitive to egg referred to the allergy unit for advice about measles immunisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Nature and severity of reactions associated with the administration of measles vaccine. RESULTS--All children had a positive result in a skin prick test with egg white, and five had a positive result in a skin prick test with vaccine. Of 96 consecutive children, 46 had a positive result in an intradermal test with vaccine. After immunisation with a full dose (0.5 ml) of vaccine adverse reactions were associated with a mild reaction in four children, none of whom required treatment. Only one of the 46 children with a positive result in an intradermal vaccine skin test had a reaction associated with vaccine administration. None of the children with a positive result in a skin prick test with measles vaccine reacted to the vaccine. The rate of minor reactions to the vaccine not requiring treatment was 0.98% (95% confidence interval 0.27% to 2.48%) and serious reactions requiring treatment was 0% (0% to 0.9%). CONCLUSION--Children with IgE mediated allergic reactions to egg protein should be investigated and managed by practitioners with special knowledge in this subject. Measles immunisation should be performed in a setting where any adverse reactions can be dealt with appropriately. Skin tests and measles vaccine and desensitisation are not necessary.     

Do Bells Affect Behaviour and Heart Rate Variability in Grazing Dairy Cows?

In alpine regions cows are often equipped with bells. The present study investigated the impact of wearing a bell on behaviour and heart rate variability in dairy cows. Nineteen non-lactating Brown-Swiss cows with bell experience were assigned to three different treatments. For 3 days each, cows were equipped with no bell (control), with a bell with inactivated clapper (silent bell) or with a functional bell (functional bell). The bells weighed 5.5 kg and had frequencies between 532 Hz and 2.8 kHz and amplitudes between 90 and 113 dB at a distance of 20 cm. Data were collected on either the first and third or on all 3 days of each treatment. Whereas duration of rumination was reduced with a functional bell and a silent bell compared with no bell, feeding duration was reduced with a silent bell and was intermediate with a functional bell. Head movements were reduced when wearing a silent bell compared with no bell and tended to be reduced when wearing a functional compared to no bell. With a functional bell, lying duration was reduced by almost 4 hours on the third day of treatment compared with the first day with a functional bell and compared with no bell or a silent bell. All additional behavioural measures are consistent with the hypothesis of a restriction in the behaviour of the cows wearing bells, although this pattern did not reach significance. There was no treatment effect on heart rate variability, suggesting that the bells did not affect vago-sympathetic balance. An effect of experimental day was found for only 1 out of 10 behavioural parameters, as shown by a decrease in lying with a functional bell on day 3. The results indicate behavioural changes in the cows wearing a bell over 3 days, without indication of habituation to the bell. Altogether, the behavioural changes suggest that the behaviour of the cows was disturbed by wearing a bell. If long-lasting, these effects may have implications for animal welfare.     

Hybrid microwave oscillators with a virtual cathode

A review is given of the developments and theoretical investigations of a fundamentally new class of microwave devices, namely, hybrid microwave oscillators with a virtual cathode, which combine the useful properties of virtual cathodes with the advantages of those traditional microwave oscillators that operate with subcritical-current beams and have a high efficiency in generating ultrarelativistic electron beams. Among such devices are the following: a hybrid diffractional microwave oscillator with a virtual cathode, a hybrid gyrodevice with a virtual cathode, a hybrid beam-plasma vircator, a hybrid gyrocon with a virtual cathode, a hybrid Cherenkov oscillator with a virtual cathode, a hybrid microwave oscillator of the “vircator + traveling-wave tube” type, an original two-beam tube with a virtual cathode, and a klystron-like vircator.     

Probabilistic reinforcement and neurotic breakdown in unrestrained dogs]

The substitution of a constant reinforcement for a random one with a probability of 0.5 in experiments on two dogs with a simple motor stereotype was attended with nervous breakdowns with motor excitation, inadequate orienting reactions or passive-defensive behaviour. The change in the probability of reinforcement from 0.5 to 0.3 had a positive effect in experiments on one dog, while in the other it developed drowsiness. In two other dogs with a complicated stereotype, the change in the mode of reinforcement was attended with a peculiar preventive effect of probabilistic, but ordered reinforcement in experimental surroundings, including signals with a probabilistic random reinforcement as well. In this case the dogs displayed primarily signs of emotional stress only. Behaviour was somewhat disturbed in one animal only when testing signals with a probabilistic random reinforcement.     

High-affinity Ca(2+)- and substrate-binding sites on protein kinase C alpha as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Water proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation rates were used to identify metal sites on protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes alpha and beta using paramagnetic Gd3+ as a probe. The paramagnetic effect of Gd3+ on water proton relaxation was enhanced with PKC isozymes alpha and beta in the presence of diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol (PC7/DO). The data are consistent with a single class of metal-binding sites on PKC beta and two classes of sites on PKC alpha: a single high-affinity site with a KD for Gd3+ of 0.2 microM and a larger class of sites with a lower affinity for Gd3+. Titration with Ca2+ abolished the observed enhancement of water proton relaxation by the PKC alpha.Gd3+ complex, consistent with displacement of Gd3+ by Ca2+. Titrations of the PKC alpha.Gd3+ complex with Co(NH3)4ATP, a substitution-inert analogue of ATP, caused a substantial decrease in the observed water proton relaxation enhancement, consistent with formation of a ternary enzyme.metal.substrate complex with a KPKC alpha.Gd.[CoATP] of 30-100 nM. Titration of the metal enzyme complex with a model peptide substrate derived from the pseudosubstrate sequence of PKC alpha caused a similar decrease in enhancement at stoichiometric concentrations consistent with the formation of a PKC alpha.Gd3+.peptide complex with a KPKC alpha.Gd.[peptide] of less than or equal to 13 nM. Titrations of the fully formed PKC alpha.Gd3+.peptide complex with Co(NH3)4ATP caused a further decrease in enhancement consistent with formation of a quaternary complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Diurnal rhythm of the total antioxidant activity of saliva of children with chronic viral hepatitis

The diurinal rhythms of a total antioxidant activity of a saliva were investigated depending on activity of the inflammatory process in a liver of children with chronic virus hepatitis HBV and HCV. The circadian rhythms were found desynchronized, which was showed in lowering of the mesor value, oscillations amplitude, and a rhythm inversion and transformation, as an additional biorhythmological criterion of the presence of the chronic hepatitis of a viral etiology. A tendency of a circadian rhythm to remain with a daily acrophasis but with a law level of amplitude oscillations and a mesor was to be observed after the treatment of children with inactive HBV. By an active HBV a circadian rhythm with it's inversion has been renewed. It was determined the remaining of an ultradian rhythm with increasing level of amplitude oscillations after the treatment of inactive HCV. The law amplitude oscillations and a insignificant increasing of a meror level were characteristic for the circadian rhythm of total AOA of the children with active HBV. It was proved the possibility of usage of the biorhythmological parameters of diurinal rhythms of total AOA as a criteria of efficiency of the conducted therapy for the given group with disease children.     

Influence of prior and visual information on eye movements in amblyopic children

This study analyzed the characteristics of pursuit and assessed the influence of prior and visual information on eye velocity and saccades in amblyopic and control children, in comparison to adults. Eye movements of 41 children (21 amblyopes and 20 controls) were compared to eye movements of 55 adults (18 amblyopes and 37 controls). Participants were asked to pursue a target moving at a constant velocity. The target was either a ‘standard’ target, with a uniform color intensity, or a ‘noisy’ target, with blurry edges, to mimic the blurriness of an amblyopic eye. Analysis of pursuit patterns showed that the onset was delayed, and the gain was decreased in control children with a noisy target in comparison to amblyopic or control children with a standard target. Furthermore, a significant effect of prior and visual information on pursuit velocity and saccades was found across all participants. Moreover, the modulation of the effect of visual information on the pursuit velocity by group, that is amblyopes or controls with a standard target, and controls with a noisy target, was more limited in children. In other words, the effect of visual information was higher in control adults with a standard target compared to control children with the same target. However, in the case of a blurry target, either in control participants with a noisy target or in amblyopic participants with a standard target, the effect of visual information was larger in children.

     

The lyotropic liquid crystal properties of n-octyl 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and related n-alkyl pyranosides

X-ray diffraction patterns have been obtained for the lyotropic phases of n-octyl 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and the related n-heptyl, n-nonyl and n-decyl compounds with water. The octyl compound exhibits all three liquid crystal phases and forms a micellar solution with increasing solvation, when the crystal come into contact with water at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction patterns show a one-dimensional lamellar phase with [dx] = 28.4 A, a three-dimensional face-centered cubic phase with [a] = 51.2 A, and a two-dimensional hexagonal phase with [a] = [b] = 36.7 A. The micellar solution has a distribution pattern with a maximum at [dx] = 33.8 A. Crystals of the heptyl, nonyl and decyl derivatives form only the lamellar phases and the micellar solution on contact with water at room temperature.     

Twin pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus following ovulation induction with a non-prescribed clomiphene citrate regimen: a case report

Introduction

Until now, studies on paracetamol given intravenously have mainly been performed with the pro-drug propacetamol or with paracetamol in preterm babies above 32 weeks of gestation. Studies in these babies indicate that intravenous paracetamol is tolerated well, however studies on the efficacy of intravenous paracetamol are lacking. There are no pharmacokinetic data on the administration of multiple doses of paracetamol in preterm babies with a gestational age below 32 weeks.

Case presentation

We present a case series of nine Caucasian preterm babies, six boys and three girls, with a mean gestational age of 28.6 weeks (range 25.9 to 31.6 weeks). Case one, a girl with a gestational age of 25 weeks and six days, presented with necrotizing enterocolitis. In the second case, a female baby with a gestational age of 26 weeks and two days presented with hematoma. In case three, a female baby with a gestation of 26 weeks and one day developed intraventricular hemorrhage. In case four, a male baby with a gestational age of 31 weeks and four days presented with pain after vacuum delivery. Case five, a female baby born after a gestation of 29 weeks and six days presented with hematoma. In case six, a male baby with a gestation of 30 weeks and six days presented with hematoma. In case seven, a male baby, born with a gestational age of 30 weeks and six days, presented with caput succedaneum and hematoma. In case eight, a male baby, born after a gestation of 28 weeks and four days, developed abdominal distention. Case nine, a female baby, born with a gestational age of 27 weeks and three days presented with hematoma. These babies were treated with intravenous paracetamol 15 mg/kg every six hours. Serum concentrations and aspartate transaminase were determined after prolonged administration. Pain scores were assessed using the Premature Infant Pain Profile.

Conclusion

Paracetamol serum concentrations ranged from 8 to 64 mg/L after eight to 12 doses of intravenous paracetamol. Adequate analgesia was obtained in seven babies. During paracetamol therapy the median serum level of aspartate transaminase was 20 U/L (range 12 to 186 U/L). This case series indicates that prolonged intravenous administration of paracetamol in preterm babies with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks is tolerated well in the first days after birth. However, in the absence of proper pharmacokinetic data in this age group we cannot advocate the use of paracetamol intravenously.     

Colour vision in the passeriform bird,Leiothrix lutea: correlation of visual pigment absorbance and oil droplet transmission with spectral sensitivity

The visual receptors in the retina of the passeriform bird Leiothrix lutea were examined microspectro-photometrically. The rods had a maximum absorbance close to 500 nm. Four spectrally different classes of single cone were identified with typical combinations of photopigments and oil droplets: a long-wave sensitive cone with a photopigment P568 and a droplet with a cut-off wavelength at 564 nm, a middle-wave sensitive cone with a P499 and a droplet with a cut-off at 506 nm, a short-wave sensitive cone with a P454 and a droplet with maximum absorbance below 410nm and an ultraviolet sensitive cone with a P355 and a transparent droplet. Double cones possessed a P568 in both the principal and accessory members. A pale droplet with variable absorbance (maximal at about 420 nm) was associated with the principal member whereas the ellipsoid region of the accessory member contained only low concentrations of carotenoid. The effective spectral sensitivities of the different cone classes were calculated from the characteristic combinations of oil droplets and photopigments and corrected for the absorbance of the ocular media. Comparison of these results with the behavioural spectral sensitivity function of Leiothrix lutea suggests that the increment threshold photopic spectral sensitivity of this avian species is mediated by the 4 single cone classes modified by neural opponent mechanisms.Abbreviations LWS long wave sensitive - MWS middle wave sensitive - SWS short wave sensitive (cones)     

Lipoprotein(a) mediates high affinity low density lipoprotein association to receptor negative fibroblasts.

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an acute phase protein with unknown function. Lp(a) binds to low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, as well as to plasminogen (Plg) receptors. Preincubation of normal human skin fibroblasts with Lp(a) or with apo(a) cause a severalfold increase of LDL binding. Plg and kringle-4 of Plg have no effect. LDL receptor-negative fibroblasts respond upon preincubation with apo(a) with high affinity binding of LDL with Kd values that are almost identical with those of LDL binding to the LDL receptor. Incubation of apo(a)-pretreated fibroblasts with anti-apo(a) completely abolishes the increment of LDL binding. The high affinity LDL binding to LDL receptor-negative fibroblasts could be dissociated by approximately 80 and 54% with 5 mg/ml proline and 30 mg/ml NaCl, respectively, but not with dextran sulfate. The Lp(a)- and apo(a)-triggered LDL binding to fibroblasts have no effect on LDL internalization. These findings may reflect a key function in the role as an acute phase protein and may be relevant to the high atherogeneicity of Lp(a).     

Excitation of waves in an inhomogeneous plasma

The evolution of initial perturbations in a spatially inhomogeneous cold electron plasma in the absence of an external magnetic field is considered. The excitation of both continuous-spectrum bulk plasma waves and surface plasma waves with a discrete frequency spectrum is investigated. Analytic solutions are obtained in the long-wavelength limit, and the excitation of waves of arbitrary length is analyzed numerically. The local, integral, and spatial spectra are calculated, as well as the field structures and dispersion properties of waves in waveguides filled nonuniformly with a plasma. It is shown that, in a plasma with a smooth boundary, there also exist surface waves with a discrete spectrum (although with somewhat different properties as compared to those in a plasma with a sharp boundary), which are excited together with continuous-spectrum bulk waves during the evolution of the initial perturbation.     

Two-dimensional crystallization on lipid monolayers and three-dimensional structure of sticholysin II, a cytolysin from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus

Sticholysin II (Stn II), a potent cytolytic protein isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, has been crystallized on lipid monolayers. With Fourier-based methods, a three-dimensional (3D) model of Stn II, up to a resolution of 15 A, has been determined. The two-sided plane group is p22(1)2, with dimensions a = 98 A, b = 196 A. The 3D model of Stn II displays a Y-shaped structure, slightly flattened, with a small curvature along its longest dimension (51 A). This protein, with a molecular mass of 19. 2 kDa, is one of the smallest structures reconstructed with this methodology. Two-dimensional (2D) crystals of Stn II on phosphatidylcholine monolayers present a unit cell with two tetrameric motifs, with the monomers in two different orientations: one with its longest dimension lying on the crystal plane and the other with this same axis leaning at an angle of approximately 60 degrees with the crystal plane.     

Mass separation of a multicomponent plasma flow in a curvilinear magnetic field

The motion of a metal plasma flow of a vacuum-arc discharge in a transportation plasma-optical system with a curvilinear magnetic field is studied experimentally and numerically. The flow position at the output of the system is shown to depend on the cathode material, which determines the mass-to-charge ratio of plasma ions. As a result, the flow with a greater ion mass-to-charge ratio moves along a trajectory with a larger radius. A similar effect is observed in the case of a multicomponent plasma flow generated by a composite cathode. The results of two-fluid MHD simulations of a plasma flow propagating in a curvilinear magnetic field agree qualitatively with the experimental data.     

Do rats represent time logarithmically or linearly?

This study examined two possible psychophysical time scales, a logarithmic representation of time with constant variability and a linear representation of time with scalar variability. Twenty-four rats were tested on a modified temporal bisection procedure in which multiple responses could occur in a 10-s time window after the termination of a stimulus. The number of “long” or “short” responses was used as a measure of the rats’ certainty of the duration of the presented interval. Data were analyzed with signal detection theory, and straight lines were fit to the zROC curves with the assumptions of a logarithmic representation of time with constant variability and a linear representation of time with scalar variability. The logarithmic representation of time with constant variability provided a better fit to the data than the linear representation of time with scalar variability.     

Associations between restriction fragment length polymorphisms detected with a probe for human 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) and two clinical forms of 21-OH deficiency

Summary DNAs from unrelated healthy individuals and unrelated individuals affected with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (congenital and late-onset adrenal hyperplasia) were digested with seven restriction enzymes and hybridized with a cDNA probe specific for human 21-hydroxylase genes. Associations were found between restriction fragments and the two forms of the disease: (i) The late onset form is associated with a double dose of a 14 kb fragment generated by Eco RI and with a triple dose of a 3.2 kb fragment generated by TaqI in patients with HLA B14 haplotypes; (ii) The classical congenital form is negatively associated with the 14 kb fragment and with a 3.7 kb fragment generated by TaqI in patients with HLA Bw47 haplotypes. A 3.2 kb TaqI fragment is negatively associated with the HLA B8 haplotypes. The other five enzymes tested give no polymorphisms or polymorphisms without correlation with the two forms of the disease.     

Is protein folding rate dependent on number of folding stages? Modeling of protein folding with ferredoxin-like fold

Statistical analysis of protein folding rates has been done for 84 proteins with available experimental data. A surprising result is that the proteins with multi-state kinetics from the size range of 50–100 amino acid residues (a.a.) fold as fast as proteins with two-state kinetics from the same size range. At the same time, the proteins with two-state kinetics from the size range 101–151 a.a. fold faster than those from the size range 50–100 a.a. Moreover, it turns out unexpectedly that usually in the group of structural homologs from the size range 50–100 a.a., proteins with multi-state kinetics fold faster than those with two-state kinetics. The protein folding for six proteins with a ferredoxin-like fold and with a similar size has been modeled using Monte Carlo simulations and dynamic programming. Good correlation between experimental folding rates, some structural parameters, and the number of Monte Carlo steps has been obtained. It is shown that a protein with multi-state kinetics actually folds three times faster than its structural homologs.     

Acrylamide in Austrian foods

Acrylamide is known for its potential health hazards. Recently acrylamide was found in starch containing heated foods in high concentrations which lead to the assumption that a cancer risk could be associated with the uptake of foods containing high amounts of acrylamide. This study focuses on the analysis of acrylamide in foods potentially containing this substance which is formed from natural ingredients. The highest concentrations were found in potato crisps with concentrations of above 1500 ng/g (median: 499 ng/g). Other food groups contained lower amounts: cookies with a median of 99 ng/g; crisp bread with a median of 69 ng/g; breakfast cereals with a median of 0 ng/g; popcorn and rice products with a median of 97 ng/g; potato chips with a median of 161 ng/g and coffee with a median of 169 ng/g.     

Unresponsiveness of rat peritoneal mast cells to immunologic reactivation.

Rat peritoneal mast cells cocultured with 3T3 fibroblasts (MC/3T3) were activated with Ag or with anti-IgE antibodies in the presence of Ca2+, and their responsiveness to a second similar challenge was evaluated. MC/3T3 were presensitized with IgE anti-DNP antibodies and activated with DNP-human serum albumin. When these MC/3T3 were reactivated with the same Ag 2 and 6 h later, they released only a minimal percentage of histamine. A gradual recovery of responsiveness was detected during the first 7 days after activation, and a full recovery was attained by days 14 to 21. A similar pattern of unresponsiveness was observed when MC/3T3 were challenged and rechallenged with cercarial Ag after presensitization with anticercarial serum. Activation of MC/3T3 with one Ag (DNP-human serum albumin or cercarial) and rechallenge 3 days later with the other Ag did not overcome the state of partial unresponsiveness. Challenging MC/3T3 with anti-IgE led to a subsequent unresponsiveness to rechallenge with the same ligand, regardless of whether or not the cells were presensitized with IgE antibodies. Cross-linkage with anti-IgE resulted in a more intense and prolonged state of unresponsiveness in comparison with that observed with Ag. When MC/3T3 activated with anti-IgE were rechallenged with various IgE-independent agents they released a percentage of histamine comparable to that of control cultures challenged with these secretagogues for the first time. MC/3T3 partially resynthesized their histamine content during the two-week period after activation. Our results suggest that MC undergo a temporary state of "physiologic" unresponsiveness after immunologic activation in the presence of calcium ions.     

Phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing cholesterol analogues with side chains of various lengths

The effect of the length of the side chain of sterols on their interaction with phosphatidylcholine was studied by measuring the permeability properties of liposomes constituted with sterol analogues with side chains of various lengths. The sensitivities of liposomes constituted with these sterol analogues toward digitonin and polyene antibiotics were also examined.The effects of sterols on phase transition of phosphatidylcholine were examined by measuring their effects on permeability increase due to perturbation of phase equilibrium and by differential scanning calorimetry. An analogue with a short side chain, isopropyl (C-22), had a very similar effect to cholesterol in suppressing the permeability increase, suggesting that the full length of the side chain is not necessary for this effect.The permeability of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine at 42°C was suppressed as much by the analogue C-22 as by cholesterol. Androstene-3-β-ol, an analogue without a side chain, however, had little suppressive effect. Thus it is concluded that the condensing effect of sterol requires a side chain, but not the full length of side chain.Liposomes constituted with analogues having a side chain with more than 5 carbon atoms showed maximum reactivity with a polyene antibiotic, amphotericin B, whereas those constituted with analogues having a side chain with less than 4 carbon atoms showed weaker reactivity. These findings indicate that a side chain with more than 5 carbon atoms is essential for the maximum interaction of liposomes with amphotericin B. Unlike amphotericin B, filipin reacted almost equally well with liposomes containing C-22 and with those containing cholesterol. Thus the chain length of the side chain of sterol is less important for interaction of liposomes with filipin than for their interaction with amphotericin B.Liposomes containing analogues having a side chain with more than 6 carbon atoms showed maximum reactivity with digitonin. Thus for the maximum interaction of liposomes with digitonin, the side chain of sterol should be longer than 6 carbon atoms.