Atopy and allergic phenotypes are biologically characterized by an imbalanced T helper cell response skewed towards a type 2 (TH2) immune response associated with elevated serum immunoglobulin E ...(IgE) levels. Polymorphisms in cytokine genes might modulate regulation of the TH1/TH2 balance. We thus aimed at reproducing our previous findings from a European study population on the association of various cytokine polymorphisms with self-reported hay fever as well as increased total and specific IgE levels in two comparable study populations.
Two prospective Caucasian cohorts were used. In the Basel center of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS, n = 418) ten distinct cytokine polymorphisms of putative functional relevance were genotyped. In the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution And Lung Disease In Adults (SAPALDIA, n = 6003) two cytokine polymorphisms were genotyped. The associations of these polymorphisms with atopy were estimated by covariance and logistic regression analysis.
We confirmed IL4, IL10, IL6 and IL18 as candidate genes for atopic health outcomes. In the large, well-characterized SAPALDIA cohort the IL6(-174G>C) and IL18(-137G>C) polymorphisms were associated with circulating total IgE concentrations in subjects with hay fever. The IL18(-137G>C) polymorphism was also associated with the prevalence of hay fever.
Comprehensive characterization of genetic variation in extended cytokine candidate gene regions is now needed. Large study networks must follow to investigate the association of risk patterns defined by genetic predisposing and environmental risk factors with specific atopic phenotypes.
Enantiopure oxiranes have been prepared on a gram scale by recombinant E. coli JM101 (pSPZ10) containing styrene monooxygenase in an emulsion process including facile and efficient downstream ...processing. This biocatalyst was compared to the chemical catalysts introduced by Jacobsen et al. with respect to its performance for epoxidations of vinyl groups.
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. UC82b) was found to contain two distinct 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase genes that are differentially expressed. The corresponding ...cDNAs were isolated and characterized. Both genes code for putative plastidic DAHP synthase isoforms. The deduced amino acid sequences are 79% identical. A comparison of the known Solanaceae DAHP synthases indicates two distinct conserved isoforms. The steady-state levels of transcripts of the two tomato genes differ in all organs analysed.
The effect of physical exercise and vitamin C on iron absorption after oral iron administration was investigated. Eight healthy male subjects without iron deficiency were studied after administration ...of 100 mg ferric sodium citrate complex, 100 mg ferric sodium citrate complex with 200 mg ascorbic acid, and without iron intake, both under resting conditions and after a 1-h bicycle ergometer test at moderate exercise. Serum concentrations for iron, transferrin, and ferritin were measured before and 30 min, and 1, 2, and 4 h after each administration. Under resting conditions administration of 100 mg ferric sodium citrate led to a significant increase in serum iron concentrations. When ferric sodium citrate was administered with vitamin C, iron values increased significantly further. Ingestion of iron together with physical exercise resulted in a higher serum iron concentration than under resting conditions. The maximum increase, reached after 4 h, was 48.2% with exercise and 8.3% without. In combination with exercise, the addition of 200 mg vitamin C did not further increase serum iron concentration. In conclusion, 1 h of moderate exercise enhanced the rate of iron absorption. Under resting conditions the combination of ferric sodium citrate with vitamin C led to significantly increased postabsorption serum iron concentrations compared with iron administration without vitamin C.
An expression system for the 2-hydroxybiphenyl-3-monooxygenase gene (
hbpA) from
Pseudomonas azelaica HBP1 was developed based on
E. coli JM109 and the high copy vector pUCBM20. The system was used ...for the conversion of 2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl to 2,2′,3-trihydroxybiphenyl on a preparative scale with a productivity of 0.06 g h
−1 l
−1. This system also allows the biocatalytic production of various 3-aryl-, 3-alkyl-, and 3-halo-substituted catechols.
Fatal fungal pericarditis after cardiac surgery and immunosuppression Carrel, TP; Schaffner, A; Schmid, ER ...
Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery/The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery/The journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery,
01/1991, Letnik:
101, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The cases of two patients with fulminant pericarditis after cardiac surgery are reported. Both fungal infections developed after rethoracotomy for open-chest cardiac resuscitation and high-dose ...glucocorticoid treatment. Although the time course of both infections from the inoculation of fungi during rethoracotomy and immunosuppression with glucocorticoids to the lethal outcome was strikingly similar, histopathologic studies disclosed the disparate character of the two fungal pathogens responsible: the yeast Candida albicans and the angiotropic mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
Objectives. This exercise study assessed the relation between valvular resistance and flow in patients with mitral stenosis.
Background. Valvular resistance has been proposed as an alternative measue ...of stenotic valvular lesions, which is speculated to remain stable under changing hemodynamic conditions.
Methods. In 35 of 40 patients with pure or predominant mitral stenosis, continuous wave Doppler measurements of the mitral stenotic jet were possible at rest and during supine bicycle ergometry. Simultaneously, transvalvular flow was assessed by thermodilution technique. For calculation of valvular resistance, the mean mitral valve pressure gradient was determined according to the simplified Bernoulli equation and divided by transvalvular flow. Additionally, effective mitral valve area was calculated according to the continuity equation method, dividing flow by the mean diastolic low velocity.
Results. Valvular resistance was 65 ± 32 dynes · s · cm−5at rest and increased to 82 ± 43 dynes · s · cm−5at 25 W (p < 0.001). The most prominent increase in valvular resistance (rest to 25 W 63 ±28 to 95 ± 48 dynes · s · cm−5, p < 0.001) was found in those patients who had no or only a moderate (< 20%) change in effective mitral valve area. In contrast, valvular resistance remained constant (67 ± 36 vs. 70 ± 32 dynes · s · cm−5) in patients with significant (≥ 20%) increase in mitral valve area with exercise.
Conclusions. In patients with mitral stenosis, the exercise induced change in valvular resistance are heterogeneous. This is the result of the variable response of mitral valve area to an increase in flow. In the individual patient, mital valve area can significantly increase, a factor that has to be taken into account when interpreting the hemodynamic relevance of the obstruction. Calculated valvular resistance is flew dependent and has no advantage over valve area calculation for quantifying stenosis.
Binding of lutropin/choriogonadotropin to its cognate receptor results in the activation of adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C. The mechanism underlying the generation of this bifurcating signal is ...presently not known. To analyze the coupling mechanism of the LH receptor, activated G proteins were labeled with α-32PGTP azidoanilide and identified by selective immunoprecipitation. In membranes of bovine corpora lutea and of L cells stably expressing the murine LH receptor (LHR cells), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) led to incorporation of the label into αs and αi2. Stimulation of LHR cells or of L cells expressing the M5 muscarinic receptor (LM5 cells) with the respective agonist resulted in activation of phospholipase C in both cell lines. However, αq and α11 were only labeled upon stimulation of the M5 muscarinic receptor. Agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization and inositol phosphate accumulation were partially sensitive to pertussis toxin, and the expression of the βγ-stimulable phospholipase C isoforms β2 and β3 could be demonstrated in LHR cells. Overexpression of phospholipase C-β2 led to increased hCG-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation, and expression of a β-ARK1 C-terminal polypeptide effectively suppressed hCG-mediated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. Thus, the LH receptor couples to both Gs and Gi, and βγ-subunits released from either G protein contribute to the stimulation of phospholipase C-β isoforms.
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