IgE-mediated inhalant allergy against human corticotropin-releasing hormone.

A 25-year-old female developed IgE-mediated sensitization against human recombinant corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) with symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma. The occupational allergy was proved by positive skin prick test, bronchial provocation, dose-dependent histamine release, RAST measurements with CRH allergen (RAST class 3) and RAST inhibition. Using the immunoblot technique, a single allergen band with a molecular weight of less than 14.4 kD in the range between the isoelectric point 5.2 and 5.7 was detected for the CRH extract. Since no endocrinological and behavioral disorders were found, increased CRH-specific IgE was not able to influence the regulatory control of this neuropeptide. After 18 months of avoiding the occupational CRH exposure allergen-specific histamine release and RAST were negative.

Protein size resolution in human eye lenses by dynamic light scattering after in vivo measurements.

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were conducted with lowest intensity levels on human eye lenses (3.2 mW/cm2) within measurement times of 3-5 s. A characterisation of the human eye under in-vivo conditions along the optical axis is given and a careful interpretation of the data is made, referring not only to in-vitro results of investigated solutions of lens chemistry and various crystallin fractions but also to measurements performed on intact human lenses under various scattering angles. The clinical study was expanded to 79 subjects with ages varying from 9 to 85 years with no serious diseases of the ocular lenses. A normalisation of Scheimpflug photography density data to the data obtained by DLS enables comparison of the two techniques and shows good agreement. The bimodal character of the viscoelastic properties of healthy eye lenses was confirmed; with an assumed viscosity of 2 cP, the mean size parameter of the smaller component is 5.13 +/- 1.6 nm and of the polymeric fraction 690 nm.

Phase II study of mitolactol in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic breast cancer.

Thirty-eight evaluable patients with metastatic breast cancer refractory to hormonal therapy and multiple chemotherapy regimens were treated with mitolactol at a dose of 130 mg/m2/day orally for 10 days every 6 weeks. Only one patient, with nodal and chest wall metastases, had a sustained complete regression; two patients had stable disease; and 35 patients had disease progression. The toxicity, which was primarily hematologic, was acceptable.

Ultrasonic sensor properties characterized by a PC-controlled scanning measuring system

The use of ultrasonic sensors for process control is currently widespread for flow, level or distance measurements. Recently, interest has increased, too in the application of ultrasonic sensors to concentration measurements in complex liquids. In this application there are high demands for a defined and stable quality of the properties of both the sensor transfer function and the sound field characteristic. For a detailed investigation and characterization of ultrasonic sensor propertiess, an efficient PC-controlled measuring system was developed by the Institut fur Automation und Kommunikation (IFAK). In this contribution, this high performance approach is presented to make visible the vibrating ultrasonic sensor surface as well as the sound field in front of acoustic sensors in liquids.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the EGF receptor ectodomain.

Crystallization of the hydrophilic ectodomain of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor has been accomplished in the presence of the ligand EGF. Two different crystal forms have been obtained, one of which was suitable for X-ray analysis. The space group of this form has been assigned to P21212 with unit-cell dimensions of a = 207.4, b = 113.3 and c = 120.4 A. A native data set has been recorded and a heavy-atom search is currently under way. Diffraction from these crystals, however, is limited to low resolution and extensive trials to improve crystal quality further have all failed. To analyse the molecular shape and aggregation of the receptor protein in solution, small-angle X-ray diffraction and dynamic light-scattering techniques have been applied. Synchrotron radiation in combination with cryo-techniques is essential for data collection because of the high solvent content and radiation sensitivity.

Phase II study of low-dose mitomycin in patients with ovarian cancer previously treated with chemotherapy.

Forty-three evaluable patients with ovarian cancer who had failed one or more chemotherapy regimens were treated with mitomycin iv at 28-day intervals. Thirty-six patients with good bone marrow reserve received 10 mg/m2 and seven patients with poor bone marrow reserve received 6.7 mg/m2 initially. Ten patients (23%) responded. Patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1 had better response rates and survivals as compared to patients with a performance status of 2-4 (44% vs 8%; median survival, 8 vs 4 months). The acute hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity was minimal. No patients developed pulmonary, renal, cardiovascular, or local tissue toxicity.

Structure of free Thermus flavus 5 S rRNA at 1.3 nm resolution from synchrotron X-ray solution scattering.

The shape of free Thermus flavus 5 S rRNA in solution at 1.3 nm resolution is restored from synchrotron x-ray scattering data using an ab initio simulated annealing algorithm. The free 5 S rRNA is a bent elongated molecule displaying a compact central region and two projecting arms, similar to those of the tRNA. The atomic models of the 5 S rRNA domains A-D-E and B-C in the form of elongated helices can be well accommodated within the shape, yielding a tentative model of the structure of the free 5 S rRNA in solution. Its comparison with the recent protein-RNA map in the ribosome (Svergun, D. I., and Nierhaus, K. H. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 14432-14439) indicates that the 5 S rRNA becomes essentially more compact upon complex formation with specific ribosomal proteins. A conceivable conformational change involves rotation of the B-C domain toward the A-D-E domain. The model of free 5 S rRNA displays no interactions between domains E and C, but such interactions are possible in the bound molecule.

High-dose UVA1 radiation therapy for localized scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: Fibrotic skin lesions in patients with localized scleroderma can cause muscle atrophy, disfigurement, and flexion contractures. There is no effective therapy for this disease. Skin fibrosis is thought to be caused by decreased collagenase activity. Collagenase activity can be induced in dermal fibroblasts by UVA1 irradiation. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess whether UVA1 radiation therapy is effective for patients with localized scleroderma. METHODS: Patients with localized scleroderma (n = 17) were exposed 30 times to 130 J/cm2 UVA1 (high-dose UVA1 therapy; n = 10) or 20 J/cm2 UVA1 (low-dose UVA1 therapy; n = 7). Therapeutic effectiveness was assessed by evaluation of (1) clinical features, (2) thickness of sclerotic plaques, and (3) cutaneous elastometry. Sequential biopsy specimens from treated lesions were analyzed for collagenase I messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In all patients, high-dose UVA1 therapy softened sclerotic plaques, and complete clearance was observed in four of 10 patients. High-dose UVA1 therapy significantly reduced thickness and increased elasticity of plaques. These changes could not be detected in unirradiated control plaques and were still present in 9 of 10 patients 3 months after cessation of therapy. For all factors assessed, high-dose UVA1 was superior to low-dose UVA1 therapy (p = 0.001). High-dose UVA1 therapy increased collagenase I mRNA expression about 20-fold in treated plaques. CONCLUSION: High-dose UVA1 therapy is effective in the treatment of localized scleroderma. Effectiveness is UVA1 dose dependent and is associated with induction of collagenase I expression.

In-line concentration measurement in complex liquids using ultrasonic sensors

Recently there has been increased demand for chemical sensors measuring in-line the concentration of selected substances in complex liquids in order to guarantee a high product quality in the process industry. At present there is a great interest in acoustic sensor systems for concentration measurements. This article presents a new ultrasonic sensor system consisting of a miniaturized multi-sensor arrangement for the comprehensive acoustic characterization of liquid mixtures. The sensor system measures sound velocity, impedance coefficient, attenuation coefficient and temperature.