HLAs: Key regulators of T-cell-mediated drug hypersensitivity.

Adverse drug reactions (ADR) can be broadly categorised as either on-target or off-target. On-target ADRs arise as a direct consequence of the pharmacological properties of the drug and are therefore predictable and dose-dependent. On-target ADRs comprise the majority (>80%) of ADRs, relate to the drug's interaction with its known pharmacological target and are a result of a complex interplay of genetic and ecologic factors. In contrast, off-target ADRs, including immune-mediated ADRs (IM-ADRs), are due to unintended pharmacological interactions such as inadvertent ligation of host cell receptors or non-pharmacological interactions mediated through an adaptive immune response. IM-ADRs can be classified according to the primary immune cell involved and include B-cell-mediated (Gell-Coombs type I-III reactions) and T-cell-mediated (Gell-Coombs type IV or delayed hypersensitivity) reactions. IM-ADRs mediated by T cells are associated with phenotypically distinct clinical diagnoses and can vary from a mild delayed rash to a life-threatening cutaneous, systemic or organ disease, such as Stephen Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and drug-induced liver disease. T-cell-mediated ADRs are strongly linked to the carriage of particular HLA risk alleles which are in the case of abacavir hypersensitivity and HLA-B*57:01 has led to translation into the clinic as a routine screening test. In this review, we will discuss the immunogenetics and pathogenesis of IM-ADRs and how HLA associations inform both pre-drug screening strategies and mechanistic understanding.

The visual kinetic depth effect is altered with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: People with Parkinson's disease (PD) often have visual-perceptual disorders. The goal of this study was to learn if they can develop a three dimensional (3D) percept that depends on the kinetic depth effect; that is, the viewer's ability to spatially integrate over time images that are moving along many trajectories. METHODS: Sixteen patients with PD and 12 healthy matched controls were presented with stimuli that were comprised of a circular region of randomly placed dots that moved as orthographic projections of a sphere. With a normal kinetic depth effect, the Training stimuli appear as an opaque rotating ball and the Test stimuli appear as a rotating transparent ball. RESULTS: Whereas all controls and all PD patients reported seeing the Training stimuli as a rotating ball, the patients with PD were significantly less likely to report the Test stimuli appearing as a 3D "ball" than were the healthy participants. Instead, seven PD patients often reported these bidirectional stimuli appeared "flat." CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed that some patients with PD have impaired spatio-temporal integration of bidirectional visual motions, but the mechanism accounting for this loss, as well as why only some patients had this deficit, needs further study. When the driver of a moving vehicle fixates upon a stationary target in the surroundings, bidirectional retinal image motions may occur. Failure to perceive 3D structure in such moving scenes can be plausibly suspected to contribute to adverse events such as auto accidents.

A full-brain, bootstrapped analysis of diffusion tensor imaging robustly differentiates Parkinson disease from healthy controls.

There is a compelling need for early, accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Various magnetic resonance imaging modalities are being explored as an adjunct to diagnosis. A significant challenge in using MR imaging for diagnosis is developing appropriate algorithms for extracting diagnostically relevant information from brain images. In previous work, we have demonstrated that individual subject variability can have a substantial effect on identifying and determining the borders of regions of analysis, and that this variability may impact on prediction accuracy. In this paper we evaluate a new statistical algorithm to determine if we can improve accuracy of prediction using a subjects left-out validation of a DTI analysis. Twenty subjects with PD and 22 healthy controls were imaged to evaluate if a full brain diffusion tensor imaging-fractional anisotropy (DTI-FA) map might be capable of segregating PD from controls. In this paper, we present a new statistical algorithm based on bootstrapping. We compare the capacity of this algorithm to classify the identity of subjects left out of the analysis with the accuracy of other statistical techniques, including standard cluster-thresholding. The bootstrapped analysis approach was able to correctly discriminate the 20 subjects with PD from the 22 healthy controls (area under the receiver operator curve or AUROC 0.90); however the sensitivity and specificity of standard cluster-thresholding techniques at various voxel-specific thresholds were less effective (AUROC 0.72-0.75). Based on these results sufficient information to generate diagnostically relevant statistical maps may already be collected by current MRI scanners. We present one statistical technique that might be used to extract diagnostically relevant information from a full brain analysis.

Inertia and memory in ambiguous visual perception.

Perceptual multistability during ambiguous visual perception is an important clue to neural dynamics. We examined perceptual switching during ambiguous depth perception using a Necker cube stimulus, and also during binocular rivalry. Analysis of perceptual switching time series using variance-sample size analysis, spectral analysis and time series shuffling shows that switching times behave as a 1/f noise and possess very long range correlations. The long memory feature contrasts sharply with the traditional satiation models of multistability, where the memory is not incorporated, as well as with recently published models of multistability and neural processing, where memory is excluded. On the other hand, the long memory feature favors the concept of "dynamic core" or coalition of neurons, where neurons form transient coalitions. Perceptual switching then corresponds to replacement of one coalition of neurons by another. The inertia and memory measures the stability of a coalition: a strong and stable coalition has to be won over by another similarly strong and stable coalition, resulting in long switching times. The complicated transient dynamics of competing coalitions of neurons may be addressable using a combination of functional imaging, measurement of frequency-tagged magnetoencephalography and frequency-tagged encephalography, simultaneous recordings of groups of neurons in many areas of the brain, and concepts from statistical mechanics and nonlinear dynamics theory.

Perceptual dominance time distributions in multistable visual perception.

Perceptual multistability, alternative perceptions of an unchanging stimulus, gives important clues to neural dynamics. The present study examined 56 perceptual dominance time series for a Necker cube stimulus, for ambiguous motion, and for binocular rivalry. We made histograms of the perceptual dominance times, based on from 307 to 2478 responses per time series (median=612), and compared these histograms to gamma, lognormal and Weibull fitted distributions using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test. In 40 of the 56 tested cases a lognormal distribution provided an acceptable fit to the histogram (in 24 cases it was the only fit). In 16 cases a gamma distribution, and in 11 cases a Weibull distribution, were acceptable but never as the only fit in either case. Any of the three distributions were acceptable in three cases and none provided acceptable fits in 12 cases. Considering only the 16 cases in which a lognormal distribution was rejected ( p<0.05) revealed that minor adjustments to the fourth-moment term of the lognormal characteristic function restored good fits. These findings suggest that random fractal theory might provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of multistable perceptions.

Effects of ayahuasca on binocular rivalry with dichoptic stimulus alternation.

RATIONALE: During binocular rivalry, two incompatible images are presented to each eye and these monocular stimuli compete for perceptual dominance, with one pattern temporarily suppressed from awareness. One variant of stimulus presentation in binocular rivalry experiments is dichoptic stimulus alternation (DSA), when stimuli are applied to the eyes in rapid reversals. There is preliminary report that in contrast with healthy controls, schizophrenic patients can maintain binocular rivalry even at very high DSA rates. OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to investigate whether binocular rivalry survives high rates of DSA induced by the South American hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca. METHODS: Ten individuals who were participating in ayahuasca ceremonials were requested to volunteer for binocular rivalry tests (DSA=0, 3.75, 7.5, 15 and 30 Hz) without and after drinking the brew. RESULTS: Ingestion of ayahuasca increased mean dominance periods both in standard binocular rivalry conditions (no DSA) and tests with DSA. At higher DSA rates (15 and 30 Hz) the total length of dominance periods was longer on the brew. CONCLUSION: It is discussed that ayahuasca-induced survival of binocular rivalry at high DSA rates may be related to slow visual processing and increased mean dominance periods may result from hallucinogen-induced alteration of gamma oscillations in the visual pathways.

Occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in Incaparina from Guatemala.

The occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in Incaparina was investigated. Incaparina is a mixture of corn and cottonseed flour with added vitamins, minerals and a preservative. It has been marketed as a high-protein food supplement, particularly for children on protein-deficient diets. According to estimates, 80% of Guatemalan children in their first year are given Incaparina to provide an adequate diet. Eight samples of Incaparina manufactured in Guatemala were collected. Five were from three different geographical locations in the USA and three were from Guatemala. Seven were examined for fungal contamination and analysed for aflatoxins and fumonisins. Aspergillus flavus was the predominant fungus in all samples purchased in the USA and in one sample purchased from Guatemala, whereas Fusarium verticillioides was present in only two samples (one from the USA and one from Guatemala). All samples contained aflatoxins, ranging from 3 to 214 ng g(-1) and <2 to 32ng g(-1) for aflatoxin B(1) and aflatoxin B(2), respectively; and one sample contained aflatoxin G(1) (7 ng g(-1)). Total aflatoxins present ranged from 3 to 244 ng g(1). All samples contained fumonisins, ranging from 0.2 to 1.7 microg g(-1), <0.1 to 0.6 microg g(-1), and <0.1 to 0.2 microg g(-1) for fumonisins B(1), fumonisin B(2), and fumonisin B(2), respectively. Total fumonisins present ranged from 0.2 to 2.2 microg g(-1). The identity of aflatoxin B(2) was confirmed using both the chemical derivatization method and liquid chromatographic (LC)/mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. Appropriate regulatory action was recommended for the import of Incaparina and has been in effect since 22 December 1998.

Microbial indicator removal in onsite constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in the southeastern U.S.

Seven onsite constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in the coastal plains of Alabama and North Carolina were studied from September 1997 to July 1998. Each site was examined for its ability to remove a range of fecal contamination indicators from settled wastewater. Indicator organisms include total and fecal coliforms, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, and somatic and male-specific (F+) coliphages. Four identical domestic wastewater treatment sites in Alabama were evaluated. In these sites the Log10 geometric mean reductions ranged between 0.5 and 2.6 for total and fecal coliforms, 0.1 and 1.5 for enterococci, 1.2 to 2.7 for C. perfringens, -0.3 and 1.2 for somatic coliphages, and -0.2 and 2.2 for F+ coliphages. Three unique designs were examined in North Carolina. Log10 geometric mean reductions ranged between 0.8 to 4.2 for total and fecal coliforms, 0.3 to 2.9 for enterococci, 1.6 to 2.9 for C. perfringens, -0.2 and 2.8 for somatic coliphages, and -0.1 and 1.5 for F+ coliphages. Somatic and F+ coliphage detection was highly variable from month to month.

Mutation analysis of the spastin gene (SPG4) in patients with hereditary spastic paraparesis.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary spastic paraparesis is a genetically heterogeneous condition. Recently, mutations in the spastin gene were reported in families linked to the common SPG4 locus on chromosome 2p21-22. OBJECTIVES: To study a population of patients with hereditary spastic paraparesis for mutations in the spastin gene (SPG4) on chromosome 2p21-22. METHODS: DNA from 32 patients (12 from families known to be linked to SPG4) was analysed for mutations in the spastin gene by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis and sequencing. All patients were also examined clinically. RESULTS: Thirteen SPG4 mutations were identified, 11 of which are novel. These mutations include missense, nonsense, frameshift, and splice site mutations, the majority of which affect the AAA cassette. We also describe a nucleotide substitution outside this conserved region which appears to behave as a recessive mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent mutations in the spastin gene are uncommon. This reduces the ease of mutation detection as a part of the diagnostic work up of patients with hereditary spastic paraparesis. Our findings have important implications for the presumed function of spastin and schemes for mutation detection in HSP patients.

Clinical and pathologic findings in hereditary spastic paraparesis with spastin mutation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a family with chromosome 2p-linked hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) associated with dementia and illustrate the cerebral pathology associated with this disorder. BACKGROUND: HSP comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders in which the main clinical feature is severe, progressive lower limb spasticity. Nongenetic classification relies on characteristics such as mode of inheritance, age at onset, and the presence or absence of additional neurologic features. Several loci have been identified for autosomal dominant pure HSP. The most common form, which links to chromosome 2p (SPG4), has recently been shown to be due to mutations in spastin, the gene encoding a novel AAA-containing protein. RESULTS: The authors report four generations of a British family with autosomal dominant HSP in whom haplotype analysis indicates linkage to chromosome 2p. In addition, a missense mutation has been identified in exon 10 of the spastin gene (A1395G). Dementia was documented clinically in one member of the family, two other affected family members were reported to have had late onset memory loss, and a younger affected individual showed evidence of memory disturbance and learning difficulties. Autopsy of the demented patient confirmed changes in the spinal cord typical of HSP and also demonstrated specific cortical pathology. There was neuronal depletion and tau-immunoreactive neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampus and tau-immunoreactive balloon cells were seen in the limbic and neocortex. The substantia nigra showed Lewy body formation. The pathologic findings are not typical of known tauopathies. CONCLUSIONS: The authors confirm that chromosome 2p-linked HSP can be associated with dementia and that this phenotype may be associated with a specific and unusual cortical pathology.

Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with chemical ionization and negative ion detection for confirmation of identity of patulin in apple juice.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with negative ion chemical ionization permits detection of underivatized patulin in apple juice extracts while minimizing co-extractive responses. The technique has been used with a variety of capillary columns in quadrupole, ion trap, and magnetic sector GC/MS instruments to confirm presumptive findings of patulin in apple juice at concentrations ranging from 68 to 3700 micrograms/L. The demonstrated ability to use any of these 3 mass spectrometers and several capillary columns to confirm the identity of patulin are significant strengths of the technique.

Determination of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and its derivatives in canned foods.

Migration of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) to food from can enamels and can pull-top seals is reported. Derivatives of DGEBA are also determined in some foods. Levels of DGEBA in the foods surveyed in this study range from nondetected (<0.3 ppb) to 50 mg/kg as determined by liquid-liquid extraction or solid-phase extraction coupled with high-pressure liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection. Confirmation of the analytes is by gas and/or liquid chromatography with mass spectral analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with 30 degrees specular reflectance/transmittance is used to characterize the coated food contact surfaces. Stability studies with DGEBA in water, acid, and saline solutions show conversion to the hydrolysis products and chloro adducts occurs readily. The presence of DGEBA derivatives in food demonstrates that analysis for DGEBA migration alone is not a good indicator of total migration from can coatings to foods.

Determination and survey of ochratoxin A in wheat, barley, and coffee--1997.

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a nephrotoxic and nephrocarcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species. It has been found mainly in cereal grains and coffee beans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of OA in cereal grains and in coffee imported to the United States. A modified liquid chromatographic (LC) method for determining OA in green coffee was applied to wheat, barley, green coffee, and roasted coffee. The test sample was extracted with methanol-1% NaHCO3 (7 + 3), and the extract was filtered. The filtrate was diluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), filtered, and passed through an immunoaffinity column. After the column was washed with PBS and then with water, OA was eluted with methanol. The eluate was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was dissolved in acetonitrile-water (1 + 1). OA was separated on a reversed-phase C18 LC column with acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (55 + 45 + 1) as eluant and quantitated with a fluorescence detector. Recoveries of OA from the 4 commodities spiked over the range 1-4 ng/g were 71-96%. The limit of detection was about 0.03 ng/g. OA contamination at > 0.03 ng/g was found in 56 of 383 wheat samples, 11 of 103 barley samples, 9 of 19 green coffee samples, and 9 of 13 roasted coffee samples. None of the coffee samples contained OA at > 5 ng/g; only 4 samples of wheat and 1 sample of barley were contaminated above this level.

A human immunoglobulin (Ig)A calpha3 domain motif directs polymeric Ig receptor-mediated secretion.

Polymeric immunoglobulins provide immunological protection at mucosal surfaces to which they are specifically transported by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Using a panel of human IgA1/IgG1 constant region "domain swap" mutants, the binding site for the pIgR on dimeric IgA (dIgA) was localized to the Calpha3 domain. Selection of random peptides for pIgR binding and comparison with the IgA sequence suggested amino acids 402-410 (QEPSQGTTT), in a predicted exposed loop of the Calpha3 domain, as a potential binding site. Alanine substitution of two groups of amino acids in this area abrogated the binding of dIgA to pIgR, whereas adjacent substitutions in a beta-strand immediately NH2-terminal to this loop had no effect. All pIgR binding IgA sequences contain a conserved three amino acid insertion, not present in IgG, at this position. These data localize the pIgR binding site on dimeric human IgA to this loop structure in the Calpha3 domain, which directs mucosal secretion of polymeric antibodies. We propose that it may be possible to use a pIgR binding motif to deliver antigen-specific dIgA and small-molecule drugs to mucosal epithelia for therapy.

Allium chemistry: identification of organosulfur compounds in ramp (Allium tricoccum) homogenates.

Supercritical fluid (SF) extracts of homogenized ramp (Allium tricoccum Ait.) were separated and characterized with liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric identification. The profiles of SF extracts of aqueous homogenates of ramp bulbs from three different seasons and growing regions revealed that the thiosulfinates were major components. In addition, some of the cepaenes (alpha-sulfinyldisulfides) found in extracts of onion juice, as well as allyl containing cepaenes (2-propenyl l-(2-propenylsulfinyl)propyl disulfide), are present in the ramp extracts. The amount of allicin in ramp bulb homogenates ranged from approximately 10% to 50% of that found in extracts of aqueous garlic homogenates. The greater amount of the methyl 1-propenyl thiosulfinates in the ramp extracts relative to that found in the garlic extracts correlates with the flavor characteristics of ramp bulbs.

Ig N-glycan orientation can influence interactions with the complement system.

This study was prompted by the paradoxical observation that a pair of dinitrophenyl-specific murine monoclonal IgG2a Abs had similar monosaccharide content and yet differed in their binding to lectins. The differential lectin-binding properties were lost when the Abs were denatured, suggesting that variations in lectin binding reflected the conformational accessibility of the N-glycans rather than intrinsic differences in the lectin binding capacity of the glycans themselves. This hypothesis was supported by experiments indicating that the degree to which the N-glycans on the Abs were reactive with beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase or susceptible to peptide N-glycosidase F corresponded directly to their relative accessibility to lectins. Moreover, the relative susceptibility to these enzymes and accessibility to lectins was inversely related to the capacity of the Abs to activate the classical pathway, suggesting that the orientation of the more accessible N-glycan might inhibit C1q binding. This hypothesis was supported by evidence that enzymatic cleavage of the more accessible N-glycan resulted in enhanced Clq, C4b, and C3b deposition. Conversely, removal of the less accessible N-glycan expressed by the other Ab inhibited C1q, C4b, and C3b deposition. The respective increase or decrease in C3b deposition on the two deglycosylated Abs was magnified when complement activation was performed in factor B-depleted serum, suggesting that N-glycan conformation primarily affects the classical pathway. Collectively, these data suggest that the orientation of the N-glycan expressed on Igs can profoundly influence interaction with the complement system.

Validated method for quantitation and identification of 4,4-desmethylsterols and triterpene diols in plant oils by thin-layer chromatography-high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Alkaline hydrolysis was performed on a series of different vegetable oils. The unsaponifiable lipid matter was extracted with ethyl ether, and the class of 4,4-desmethylsterols (sterols) plus the triterpene diols (diols) erythrodiol, uvaol, and betulinol were isolated by thin-layer chromatography. A validated method using the acetate derivatives of sterols instead of their silyl ethers is presented. The acetate derivatives were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC). Retention time, precision, recovery studies, and absolute response factors were calculated for these esters, and GC/mass spectrometric structure of the assigned retention times was confirmed for the sterols and triterpene diols.

Hypothermia in multiple sclerosis.

Five patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis are reported who presented with acute relapses associated with hypothermia. Repeated episodes of hypothermia were seen in four. Thrombocytopenia was associated with the hypothermia in four patients. Further investigation disclosed a tendency to chronic hypothermia and suggested an altered thermoregulatory set point in one patient, when MRI, endocrine, and autonomic studies failed to localise a lesion in the hypothalamus, but subsequent necropsy showed hypothalamic lesions. In such patients a predisposition to altered thermoregulation may occur due to direct involvement of the hypothalamus or from combined lesions affecting hypothalamic outflow to the brainstem and spinal cord.

Effect of immunoglobulin variable region structure on C3b and C4b deposition.

Many of the biological activities of immunoglobulins, including interaction with the complement system, are attributed to the structure of the heavy chain constant domains. However, previous studies indicated that immune complexes formed with independently derived isotype-matched pairs of monoclonal antibodies vary with respect to their capacity to activate complement and to serve as targets for C3b and C4b deposition. The goal of the present study was to provide a structural basis for explaining how variable domains influence C3b and C4b deposition on immunoglobulins. Heavy and light chain variable domains from a pair of IgG2a antibodies previously shown to differ in terms of complement activation and C3b and C4b deposition were cloned and sequenced. The two clones utilize distinct heavy and light variable region genes and the translated amino acid sequence reveals several residues that could serve as potential targets for complement deposition which differs between the two antibodies. Molecular modeling suggests that many of the relevant differences between the two antibodies are located in solvent exposed portions of the heavy and light chain variable domains and that some of the relevant sites are located within the complementarity determining regions. Differences in antibody affinity do not provide an explanation for the previously observed role of variable domains on interactions with the complement system. These data suggest that sequence variations within solvent-exposed variable domain residues may play a key role in C3b and C4b deposition on immunoglobulins.