Essential structural requirements for triggering of mast cells by a synthetic peptide comprising a sequence in the C epsilon 4 domain of human IgE

A range of synthetic analogues of the peptides Lys-Thr-Lys-Gly-Ser-Gly-Phe-Phe-Val-PheNH2 (human IgE epsilon-chain 497-506 decapeptide) and Lys-Thr-Lys-Gly-Ser-Gly-Phe-PheNH2 (epsilon-chain 497-504 octapeptide) were tested for activity as releasers of 5-hydroxytryptamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. The following structural modifications were found to abrogate activity: N-acetylation of the alpha-amino group of the N-terminal lysine residue; substitution of the two lysine residues by either serine or glutamine; depletion of the two C-terminal hydrophobic residues (Val-Phe) of the decapeptide; and substitution of phenylalanine by alanine in the C-terminal position of the octapeptide. These observations point to a requirement for positively charged amino acids and hydrophobic amino acids at the N- and C-terminus respectively for triggering of mast cells by these short-chain peptides. Releasing activity was also found to depend on the stereospecific conformation of the positively charged region, since substitution of L-isomeric amino acids by D-isomeric forms in the three N-terminal positions of the decapeptide led to loss of potency. Inactive analogues of the decapeptide and octapeptide, at concns up to 10(-4) M, failed to antagonise the mediator-releasing effects of the active decapeptide at concns of 3 X 10(-6) - 10(-4) M.

Growth regulation of melanoma cells by interferon and (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase

We report that endogenous, as well as exogenous, interferon (IFN) regulates the growth of human melanoma cells in culture. When antibodies directed against human fibroblast IFN were incorporated into the media of high-density cells stimulated to proliferate with serum, the cells entered the cell cycle earlier than did the controls. In investigating the biochemical basis for this finding, we have found that there is an inverse relationship between the (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase levels and the percentage of cells in S in untreated cultures. Upon IFN treatment, the relationship is obliterated and (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase levels increase throughout all phases of the cell cycle. This increase in enzyme levels correlates well with the decreased probability of the IFN-treated cells to cycle. These findings suggest a biological role for IFN as a negative growth factor for cells in culture.

The Valsalva maneuver: a test of autonomic nervous system function in pregnancy

Four hundred forty-two studies of the Valsalva maneuver were performed on 282 pregnant subjects and 37 nonpregnant female control subjects. A fetal monitor was used for graphic presentation of the subject's beat-to-beat heart rate changes. The Valsalva ratio was calculated, defined as maximum tachycardia divided by maximum bradycardia during a Valsalva maneuver. The data from the studies on pregnant subjects were grouped according to weeks of gestation: less than 13, 13 to 16, 17 to 20, 21 to 24, 25 to 28, 29 to 32, 33 to 36, and greater than 36. The mean Valsalva ratio for control subjects is higher than the mean for every gestation group, and there is a definite downward trend in the means for each successive gestation group through 29 to 32 weeks. The tendency for pregnant women to have an "abnormal" Valsalva ratio (that is, less than 1.5) also appears to be related to gestation. This exploratory study demonstrates that the Valsalva ratio is sensitive to physiologic changes associated with pregnancy. This test might have use as a noninvasive indicator of certain types of abnormalities associated with pregnancy.

Laparoscopy as a diagnostic aid in women with localized ureteral obstruction due to endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common disease which can produce localized ureteral obstruction. Many women will have significant disease without any clinical signs or symptoms until they present with distal ureteral obstruction. In the reported literature, the diagnosis of ureteral involvement by endometriosis usually has been made at surgery. It is therefore suggested that women with distal ureteral obstruction not attributable to calculous disease undergo laparoscopy in an attempt to rule out endometriosis as the cause of ureteral obstruction.

Survival after right radical nephrectomy and resection of suprarenal vena cava

The problems relating to injury and the resection of the suprarenal vena cava during a right nephrectomy may well confront every urologic surgeon. Although such a procedure is compatible with survival, postoperative temporary renal dysfunction may occur and a plan to deal with this problem should be formulated.