Left handed double helices: effect of sequence on the spatial configuration of high anti nucleic acids

The conformational properties of purine-pyrimidine and pyrimidine-purine dinucleoside monophosphates in which the glycosidic torsion is fixed to congruent to 120 degree by the formation of a covalent link between the base and the sugar ring are explored by 1H NMR spectroscopy in order to obtain information about the spatial configuration of high anti nucleic acids. The intramolecular stack of the high anti dimers were found to be left handed, in contrast to that (right handed) for natural oligomers, which are low anti. Even though both the high anti pyrimidine-purine and purine-pyrimidine dimers have similar backbone torsion angles, they display widely different relative geometry between the bases; thus in the former there is extensive base-base overlap in the stack, and in the latter there is negligible intramolecular base-base overlap. In addition it was found that purine-pyrimidine systems form miniature double helices in which there is substantial interstrand purine-purine interaction; on the other hand the pyridine-purine high anti dinucleosides have no proclivity to form such base-paired complexes in solution. Mathematical polymerization of the conformation of the high anti purine-pyrimidine dinucleoside monophosphates generates a left handed helix for high anti polynucleotides. This also means that the double helix for high anti-nucleic acids containing purine-pyrimidine repeated units may also be left handed, as had been suggested [Sundaralingam, M., & Yathindra, N. (1977) Int. J. Quantum Chem., Quantum Biol. Symp. 4, 285]. It is suggested that the plasticity in the structure of genomic DNA is such that, if under certain conditions of interactions the sugar-base torsion of certain domains assume high anti values, that domain will become left handed, and this in turn can be a mechanism for the control of expression by genomic DNA.

Relationship between the results of skin, conjunctival and bronchial tests and RAST with Candida albicans in patients with asthma

The results of the skin, conjunctival and inhalation tests and RAST with Candida antigen were compared with each other in patients with bronchial asthma. The correlation coefficient between the skin test and RAST was 0.50 (P less than 0.01). The correlation coefficient between the skin test, RAST and the inhalation tests was 0.36 (P less than 0.01) and 0.57 (P less than 0.01). The positive agreement of the inhalation test to the skin test, RAST and the conjunctival test was 77, 86 and 93% respectively. In this study the conjunctival test was thought to be the best method in place of the inhalation test. There was no significant relation between the serum IgE concentration and the endpoint of the skin titration testing, and a low correlation was noticed between the serum IgE concentration and RAST counts (r = 0.36).

Anti-mite IgE antibody production in vitro by peripheral blood lymphocytes from mite-sensitive atopic patients

Anti-mite IgE antibody production in vitro was investigated using peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from mite-sensitive patients with bronchial asthma. Preculture of PBL with the mite antigen, which induced the remarkable cell proliferation, resulted in a marked decrease of the IgE antibody production directed to mite but not to unrelated antigens. Anti-mite IgE antibody formation was not inhibited by autologous or allogeneic T cells stimulated with the mite antigen. The spontaneous production of IgE antibody was observed when fractionated B cells were cultured alone or with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), but was suppressed when they were precultured with the antigen. Coculture of autologous T cells with B cells showed a considerable augmentation of anti-mite IgE antibody formation. The enhancing activity of autologous T cells was not observed when B cells were irradiated at 1,000 rad. The spontaneous IgE antibody production by B cells alone was radioresistant. Both mitotic inhibitors and 1,000 to 2,000 rad of gama-irradiation did not significantly suppress the spontaneous anti-mite IgE antibody production by B cells.

Simultaneous determination of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine in human plasma and urine by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

A new and sensitive method is described for the determination of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine in human plasma and urine by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. 15N2-Labeled histamine and N tau-[methyl-d3]methylhistamine were used as internal standards. Histamine and N tau-methylhistamine were converted to the derivatives N alpha-heptafluorobutyryl-N tau-ethoxycarbonylhistamine and N alpha-heptafluorobutyryl-N tau-methylhistamine, respectively. After these derivatives had been purified on a small column packed with CPG-10, the molecular ions were monitored during selected ion monitoring. Linear standard curves were obtained in the range of 0.5-10 ng/ml for both compounds. The reliability of the histamine analysis was demonstrated by using two different ion pairs, while a comparison with results from two different derivatizations on the same urine sample also established the specificity of the N tau-methylhistamine analysis. An increase of 1 ng of histamine in the plasma could be precisely determined by the present method. The histamine content of plasma from five normal subjects was determined as 0.83 +/- 0.37 (S.D.) ng/ml and the N tau-methylhistamine content in most subjects was below the limits of this measurement. High excretion of histamine was noted in the urine collected in the early morning from a patient with nephritis.

Clinical evaluation of a new orally active anti-anaphylactic compound: ketotifen (HC 20-511) in Japanese adult asthmatics

The protective effect of ketotifen was examined by an open assessment trial in 261 asthmatics of variable types, a double blind trial comparing ketotifen and inert placebo in 189 asthmatics of extrinsic type including pure atopic asthma and asthma with atopic and infectious components (mixed type or combined type), and a double blind trial comparing ketotifen and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) by double placebo technique in 132 asthmatics of a pure atopic type. The open clinical assessment trial suggested that ketotifen was most effective in atopic asthmatics having moderate and severe as well as mild asthmatic episodes. Efficacy increased with prolonged administration; 1 mg twice daily was better than a 1 mg daily dose. In the placebo-controlled double blind trial, the efficacy of ketotifen was demonstrated by the reduction of concomitant anti-asthmatic therapy. The results of the double blind trial comparing ketotifen and DSCG are not fully reported. However, preliminary data showed that the efficacy of both drugs was equivalent or that ketotifen was slightly superior to DSCG. Safety of ketotifen was confirmed by the three trials, transient day-time sedation being the major side effect of this agent. In conclusion, ketotifen is a promising drug for the prophylaxis of asthma.

Quantitative analysis of histamine in biological samples by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

A mass fragmentographic method for the quantitative analysis of histamine in the supernatant from antigen-challenged leukocytes, whole blood, and urine is described. Histamine labeled with two 15N atoms was synthesized and added to the sample as an internal standard. N alpha-Heptafluorobutyryl-N tau-ethoxycarbonylhistamine was prepared for mass fragmentographic analysis and the molecular ions at m/z 379 and 381 were used for monitoring histamine and 15N2-labeled histamine, respectively. The quantitation limit of histamine was 2 ng by this method. The experimental error of the method was less than 7% at the level of 5 ng in the supernatant from antigen-challenged leukocytes. The value obtained by this method correlated well with that from radioisotopic enzymatic assay (r=0.990).

Gold salt in the treatment of bronchial asthma--a double-blind study

The efficacy of gold salt on bronchial asthma was investigated by double-blind design in 79 patients. The rate of improvement was significantly higher in the gold-treated group (20/28) than in the controls (16/36). This was reflected by greater reduction of requirement for symptomatic medications. Only mild side effects were observed in 14 patients out of 38 gold-treated patients.

Surgical treatment of tricuspid insufficiency in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement

During the past eight years, 46 of the 106 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement were associated with tricuspid insufficiency. No surgical correction was performed (14 cases) in cases of slight tricuspid insufficiency. Tricuspid annuloplasty (11 cases) or valve replacement (21 cases) was employed according to the severity of insufficiency. In the non-repair group, the mortality rate was fairly low (21 per cent), but the postoperative status was the least satisfactory by the NYHA classification. Tricuspid insufficiency was significantly reduced only in two of these 14 cases after the mitral valve replacement. In the tricuspid annuloplasty group, although the technique of tricuspid annuloplasty did not always correct insufficiency completely, only one patient died of residual insufficiency. The cardiac output measured with Minnesota Impedance Cardiograph increased postoperatively in proportion to stress in this group. In the tricuspid valve replacement group, cardiac catheterization studies revealed hemodynamic improvement at rest in all, but cardiac output during exercise remained unchanged or decreased in some cases. Now we consider that tricuspid insufficiency with advanced mitral valve disease, even of a slight degree, should be surgically treated and that annuloplasty has more obvious hemodynamic benefits than valve replacement.