Studies on Alternaria allergens. III. Isolation of a mafor allergenic fraction (ALT-I)

The allergens present in crude Alternaria alternata extract were fractionated by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, preparative flat-bed electrofocusing, and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The carbohydrate-rich fraction isolated (Alt-I) was heterogeneous by polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and by thin-layer electrofocusing. By preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the Alt-I fraction could be further separated into at least five subfractions, all of which contained similar allergenic activity. Significant elevations in IgE antibody to Alt-I were found in 21

Over-the-horizon optical propagation in a maritime environment

An experimental-theoretical program aimed at characterizing over-the-horizon (OTH) propagation via marine atmospheric aerosols is described. Pathloss measurements as a function of transmitter-receiver azimuth-elevation angles for 1.06 microm and 0.53 microm over two OTH links are reported. The first link involves an overwater range of 63 km with 19-km and 40-km horizons; the second involves an overwater range of 128 km with a 19-km horizon. Two theoretical models, one based on particulate single scatter and the other based on particulate multiple scatter, are presented and compared with the pathloss measurements obtained over the 63-km link. Good agreement between both models and experiments is shown. No quantitative comparison between the models and the 128-km experiment is made because of the lack of accurate meteorological data over this extended path.

Blue-green pulsed propagation through fog

Measurements and analysis of a blue-green pulsed propagation through fog have identified three distinct regions for energy transport. Region I small number of attenuation lengths tau in the path (0 <tau< 13): here, the direct unscattered beam dominates with an exponential pathloss decay of 4.34 dB/tau . Region II medium number of scattering lengths (13 <tau< 32): multiple scattering is strongly peaked in the forward direction. This energy exhibits small spatial, angular, and temporal spreading and is the main contributor to the received signal. This component also decays exponentially but at at much slower rate of ~2 dB/tau. Region III very large number of scattering lengths (tau > 32): the direct beam and the forwardscattered beam have decayed to the point where the diffusion type multiple-scattered radiation is the dominant energy received. This component does not decay exponentially but results in large spatial, angular, and temporal spreading. This paper presents quantitative data on Region II.

Serum IgE levels in amoebiasis

Elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) are found in many parasitic diseases. In order to determine the influence of Entamoeba histolytica on IgE levels of clinically symptomatic patients with intestinal amoebiasis, a controlled study was performed. There was no difference between the serum IgE values from Brazilian patients with amoebiasis and those from age-, race- and sex-matched normal Brazilian controls. Based also on our previous similar studies on giardiasis and Chagas' disease, we conclude that protozoan infections do not elevate serum IgE levels.

Dermatophagoides farinae antigen skin test sensitivity in Wisconsin

Fifty consecutive patients with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis in Madison. Wisconsin, were tested intradermally with a house dust extract (1:100) and with a Dermatophagoides farinae antigen (1:2000). The close relationship between the two skin test results (mite and house dust) suggests that both contain the same cross-reacting antigens and that mites make a major contribution to the antigens in house dust in Wisconsin.

Absence of inhibitory effect of leprosy sera upon normal E rosetting

Inhibitory serum factors in certain infectious diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis) and malignant conditions (Hodgkin's disease, primary intracranial neoplasms) are said to be partially responsible for decreased cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and consequent anergy. The immunologic derangement in leprosy is not yet completely understood. In order to determine the effect of sera from patients with leprosy upon the rosetting capacity of normal T. lymphocytes, sera from untreated lepromatous (L) and tuberculoid (T) patients were studied. Control sera were obtained from normal volunteers and from patients with other dermatologic conditions (contact dermatitis and leg ulcer). The data indicated that test sera did not inhibit either spontaneous E rosette formation or active rosetting of normal lymphocytes.

Response to corticosteroids in the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Association with increased serum IgE levels

Severe blood eosinophilia (16,500/cu mm and 6,500/cu mm) accompanied by involvement of the lungs, pleura, heart, pericardium, liver, gastrointestinal tract, peripheral nerves, or skin developed in two patients with bronchial asthma. Associated with the eosinophilia were elevated serum IgE levels (1,400 IU/ml and 10,500 IU/ml), depressed serum C4 complement levels (13 mg/100 ml and 6 mg/100 ml), and high titers of rheumatoid factor (1:2560 and 1:640). Symptoms improved after treatment with prednisone and the eosinophil counts and serum IgE and C4 complement levels returned to normal.

Serum IgE levels in Chagas' disease

Elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E are found in many parasitic diseases caused by helminths. We have previously demonstrated that giardiasis was not associated with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E. In order to determine the influence of Trypanosoma cruzi on IgE levels of clinically symptomatic patients, a controlled study was performed. There was no difference between the serum IgE values from Brazilian patients with Chagas' disease and those from matched healthy Brazilian controls. We suggest that protozoan parasitic infections do not increase serum IgE levels.

HLA antigen frequencies in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

The frequency of HLA antigens in twenty-two Caucasian patients with allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and sixty-nine unrelated Caucasian controls was determined. The results indicated that there was no increased frequency of a specific HLA antigen in patients with ABPA. Moreover, studies in thirteen families of ABPA patients also demonstrated that, within families, there was no consistent association between a specific haplotype and asthma, allergies or hay fever.

Serum IgE levels in giardiasis

Raised levels of serum immunoglobulin E are found in many parasitic diseases. In order to determine the influence of Giardia lamblia on IgE levels of clinically symptomatic patients, a controlled study was performed. There was no difference between the serum IgE values from Brazilian patients with giardiasis and those from normal Brazilian controls, although in both groups there were many individuals with values higher than the normal range reported from the northern hemisphere.

Frequency of W4 and W6 antigens in perennial, nonallergic asthmatics

The frequency of W4 and W6 antigens was determined in 39 perennial, nonallergic asthmatics and 53 normal controls. The data indicated that the frequency of asthmatics homozygous for W4 or W6 was not different from the unrelated control population. Hence, our data dispute the hypothesis that intrinsic asthma is an autosomal-recessive disease associated with the W6 antigen.

Delay of gratification: decisional self-control and experience with delay intervals

Actual and verbally reported decisional self-control choices (e.g., 1 penny now or 2 pennies in 1 minute) were obtained from 40 retarded adolescents who participated in a sheltered workshop. Prior to each of their eight choices, one-half of the students experienced the same time interval that was included in the choice for that day (e.g., 1 minute). Analysis of the number of actual and reported delay choices yielded a significant effect for experience, with the treatment group making more delay choices. In addition to suggesting that decisional self-control can be facilitated by prior exposure to delay intervals, the results indicated that verbally reported choices can be used as a reliable and valid indication of actual choices.

Lymphopenia in acute nitrofurantoin pleuropulmonary reactions

Each of 5 patients with acute nitrofurantoin pleuropulmonary reactions had profound lymphopenia and 4 had eosinophilia developing early in the clinical course after the drug was withdrawn. The 2 patients tested had only one third of the normal numbers of E rosettes (T lymphocytes) in the peripheral blood during recovery. Lymphoblastic transformation tests with purified nitrofurantoin were done in 3 patients and all of them were negative; responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed were decreased but still normal. The diagnosis of various nitrofurantoin hypersensitivity reactions relies on clinical data. The mechanisms of these reactions presently remain unclear.

Systemic mastocytosis associated with presence of rheumatoid factor

We encountered a case of systemic mast cell disease associated with rheumatoid factor; to our knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature. Rheumatoid arthritis as an unrelated second disease cannot be excluded, but there is support for a relation between joint symptoms, rheumatoid factor, and the mast cell disease.

Barrier to rotation and conformation of the NB2 group in cytosine and its derivatives. Part I. Theoretical study of cytosine

A theoretical investigation of the conformation of the amino group in cytosine has been performed by the CNDO/2 and INDO methods. The results suggest that from the energetical point of view the conformation of the amino group is not stable in the course of rotation. It changes its hybridization from sp2-like in the planar case to sp3-like in the transition state. The physical basis of the barrier to rotation of this group around the C4-N7 bond are discussed. Some comments on the solvent dependence of the electronic absorption spectra of cytosine are presented.

Barrier to rotation and conformation of the -NR2 group in cytosine and its derivatives. Part II. Experimental and theoretical dipole moments of methylated cytosines

The dipole moments of several cytosine, methylaminocytosine and dime-thylaminocytosine derivatives with and without an ortho methyl group were determined experimentally in dioxane and benzene. Calculations of total energies and dipole moments were performed by the CNDO/2 and INDO methods for sp2 and sp3 hybridization of exocyclic nitrogen for different values of rotational angle phiC-N. Comparison of the experimental dipole moments with those calculated for the energy minima suggests that the conformation of the dimethylamino group is not planar and differs from that found in cytosine. 1,5,7-Trimethylcytosine, with the dipole moment of 7 Deby units, was considered to be the model compound which closely reproduces the dipole moment of cytosine.