Frequency of HLA-DPB1 alleles in multiple sclerosis patients from Northern Ireland

Using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes, no altered distribution in the frequency of HLA-DPB1 alleles was found in multiple sclerosis patients from Northern Ireland. Although present in the controls, linkage disequilibrium between HLA-DPB1*0101 and HLA-DR17 was not found in multiple sclerosis patients.

HLA class II frequencies in celiac disease patients in the West of Ireland

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, using a single restriction enzyme TaqI-multiple-probe system for HLA-DRB1-DQB1 and -DQA1, was used to determine HLA-DR and -DQ frequencies in 56 unrelated celiac patients and 47 unrelated controls from the west of Ireland. In addition, HLA-DPB1 allelic frequencies were determined in the same group of patients and controls by using the technique of enzymatic DNA amplification of the polymorphic second exon of HLA-DPB1 genes in conjunction with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing. The results suggest that HLA-DQ rather than HLA-DR is more important in conferring susceptibility to celiac disease. Furthermore, no association between HLA-DP and celiac disease was found in this study.

Frequency of HLA-DPB1 alleles, including a novel DPB1 sequence, in the Northern Ireland population

HLA-DPB1 allele frequencies in 150 unrelated normal individuals from Northern Ireland were determined using oligonucleotide typing methods. HLA-DPB1*0401 was the most common allele in the population possessed by 75.3% of subjects, followed by DPB1*0201 (20.7%). In addition to these alleles, only HLA-DPB1*0402, -DPB1*0301, and -DPB1*0501 were present in subjects at frequencies greater than 10%. The results in this study are in broad agreement with other Caucasoid studies, but there is regional and ethnic variation in HLA-DP allele frequencies. Three DPB1 alleles were found to be in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR antigens determined by RFLP, namely, DPB1*0101 with DRw17 (Dw24 associated) RFLP, DPB1*0501 with DRw13-Dw19 RFLP, and DPB1*1901 with DRw13-Dw18 (Dw25 associated) RFLP. One individual revealed a novel DPB1 pattern of probe reactivity, which following DNA sequencing was found to be HLA-DPB1*2001. To assess the system used and to compare consistency of results between laboratories, 62 cell lines were oligotyped for HLA-DP. The results revealed the system described here to be extremely accurate and showed excellent agreement of HLA-DP typing results for cell lines between laboratories.

Comparison of soft gelatin capsule vs. sustained release formulation of papaverine HCl: vasodilation and plasma levels

The vasodilatory action, plasma papaverine levels achieved, and the incidence of side effects after oral administration of papaverine hydrochloride as a soft gelatin capsule, were compared to those of a sustained release formulation. The incidence of side effects observed after 150 mg, two or three times per day, of the soft gelatin capsule was similar to that observed after 150 mg, twice per day, of the sustained release form in 15 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans. A relatively higher plasma papaverine concentration was achieved, 120 minutes after 150 mg administration of the soft gelatin form, compared to an equivalent dose of the sustained release form. The degree of vasodilation obtained after four doses (150 mg X 4) of soft gelatin within 24 hrs., was significantly superior than that induced after four doses (150 mg X 4) of the sustained release form in 6 patients with a severe degree of arteriosclerosis obliterans.