Characterization of the in vitro expressed autoimmune rippling muscle disease immunogenic domain of human titin encoded by TTN exons 248-249

Autoimmune rippling muscle disease (ARMD) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease associated with myasthenia gravis (MG). Past studies in our laboratory recognized a very high molecular weight skeletal muscle protein antigen identified by ARMD patient antisera as the titin isoform. These past studies used antisera from ARMD and MG patients as probes to screen a human skeletal muscle cDNA library and several pBluescript clones revealed supporting expression of immunoreactive peptides. This study characterizes the products of subcloning the titin immunoreactive domain into pGEX-3X and the subsequent fusion protein. Sequence analysis of the fusion gene indicates the cloned titin domain (GenBank ID: EU428784) is in frame and is derived from a sequence of N2-A spanning the exons 248-250 an area that encodes the fibronectin III domain. PCR and EcoR1 restriction mapping studies have demonstrated that the inserted cDNA is of a size that is predicted by bioinformatics analysis of the subclone. Expression of the fusion protein result in the isolation of a polypeptide of 52 kDa consistent with the predicted inferred amino acid sequence. Immunoblot experiments of the fusion protein, using rippling muscle/myasthenia gravis antisera, demonstrate that only the titin domain is immunoreactive.

Genetic variation in the CHRNA5 gene affects mRNA levels and is associated with risk for alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence frequently co-occurs with cigarette smoking, another common addictive behavior. Evidence from genetic studies demonstrates that alcohol dependence and smoking cluster in families and have shared genetic vulnerability. Recently a candidate gene study in nicotine dependent cases and nondependent smoking controls reported strong associations between a missense mutation (rs16969968) in exon 5 of the CHRNA5 gene and a variant in the 3'-UTR of the CHRNA3 gene and nicotine dependence. In this study we performed a comprehensive association analysis of the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene cluster in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) families to investigate the role of genetic variants in risk for alcohol dependence. Using the family-based association test, we observed that a different group of polymorphisms, spanning CHRNA5-CHRNA3, demonstrate association with alcohol dependence defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn (DSM-IV) criteria. Using logistic regression we replicated this finding in an independent case-control series from the family study of cocaine dependence. These variants show low linkage disequilibrium with the SNPs previously reported to be associated with nicotine dependence and therefore represent an independent observation. Functional studies in human brain reveal that the variants associated with alcohol dependence are also associated with altered steady-state levels of CHRNA5 mRNA.

Nonlinear relations between house dust mite allergen levels and mite sensitization in farm and nonfarm children

BACKGROUND

Low sensitization rates to common allergens have been observed in farm children, which might be due to high exposure to microbial agents. It is not known how microbial agents modify the association between specific allergen exposure and sensitization.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relations between house dust mite allergen exposure and mite sensitization in farm and nonfarm children and to assess the effects of microbial agents levels on this association.

METHODS

Major mite allergens of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 1) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f 1), endotoxin, beta(1,3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides were measured in mattress dust of 402 children participating in a cross-sectional study in five European countries. Mite allergen (Der p 1 + Der f 1) levels were divided into tertiles with cut-offs 1.4 and 10.4 microg/g. Sensitization was assessed by measurement of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E against house dust mite.

RESULTS

Prevalence ratios of mite sensitization for medium and high when compared with low mite allergen levels were 3.1 [1.7-5.7] and 1.4 [0.7-2.8] respectively. Highest mite sensitization rates at intermediate exposure levels were consistently observed across country (except for Sweden) and in both farm and nonfarm children. The shape of the dose-response curve was similar for above and below median mattress microbial agent levels, but the 'sensitization peak' appeared to be lower for above median levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest a bell-shaped dose-response relationship between mite allergen exposure and sensitization to mite allergens. In populations with high microbial agent levels and low sensitization rates, the curve is shifted down.

Allergic diseases and atopic sensitization in children related to farming and anthroposophic lifestyle--the PARSIFAL study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased rapidly in recent decades, particularly in children. For adequate prevention it is important not only to identify risk factors, but also possible protective factors. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization between farm children, children in anthroposophic families, and reference children, with the aim to identify factors that may protect against allergic disease.

METHODS

The study was of cross-sectional design and included 14,893 children, aged 5-13 years, from farm families, anthroposophic families (recruited from Steiner schools) and reference children in Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. A detailed questionnaire was completed and allergen-specific IgE was measured in blood.

RESULTS

Growing up on a farm was found to have a protective effect against all outcomes studied, both self-reported, such as rhinoconjunctivitis, wheezing, atopic eczema and asthma and sensitization (allergen specific IgE > or = 0.35 kU/l). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for current rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms was 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.65) and for atopic sensitization 0.53 (95% CI 0.42-0.67) for the farm children compared to their references. The prevalence of allergic symptoms and sensitization was also lower among Steiner school children compared to reference children, but the difference was less pronounced and not as consistent between countries, adjusted OR for current rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms was 0.69 (95% CI 0.56-0.86) and for atopic sensitization 0.73 (95% CI 0.58-0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that growing up on a farm, and to a lesser extent leading an anthroposophic life style may confer protection from both sensitization and allergic diseases in childhood.

Bacterial and fungal components in house dust of farm children, Rudolf Steiner school children and reference children--the PARSIFAL Study

BACKGROUND

Growing up on a farm and an anthroposophic lifestyle are associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood. It has been suggested that the enhanced exposure to endotoxin is an important protective factor of farm environments. Little is known about exposure to other microbial components on farms and exposure in anthroposophic families.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the levels and determinants of bacterial endotoxin, mould beta(1,3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in house dust of farm children, Steiner school children and reference children.

METHODS

Mattress and living room dust was collected in the homes of 229 farm children, 122 Steiner children and 60 and 67 of their respective reference children in five European countries. Stable dust was collected as well. All samples were analysed in one central laboratory. Determinants were assessed by questionnaire.

RESULTS

Levels of endotoxin, EPS and glucans per gram of house dust in farm homes were 1.2- to 3.2-fold higher than levels in reference homes. For Steiner children, 1.1- to 1.6-fold higher levels were observed compared with their reference children. These differences were consistently found across countries, although mean levels varied considerably. Differences between groups and between countries were also significant after adjustment for home and family characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Farm children are not only consistently exposed to higher levels of endotoxin, but also to higher levels of mould components. Steiner school children may also be exposed to higher levels of microbial agents, but differences with reference children are much less pronounced than for farm children. Further analyses are, however, required to assess the association between exposure to these various microbial agents and allergic and airway diseases in the PARSIFAL population.

Identification of new prognosis factors from the clinical and epidemiologic analysis of a registry of 229 Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients. DBA group of Société d'Hématologie et d'Immunologie Pédiatrique (SHIP), Gesellshaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie (GPOH), and the European Society for Pediatric Hematology and Immunology (ESPHI)

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a constitutional disease characterized by a specific maturation defect in cells of erythroid lineage. We have assembled a registry of 229 DBA patients, which includes 151 patients from France, 70 from Germany, and eight from other countries. Presence of malformations was significantly and independently associated with familial history of DBA, short stature at presentation (before any steroid therapy), and absence of hypotrophy at birth. Two hundred twenty-two patients were available for long-term follow-up analysis (median, 111.5 mo). Of these individuals, 62.6% initially responded to steroid therapy. Initial steroid responsiveness was found significantly and independently associated with older age at presentation, familial history of DBA, and a normal platelet count at the time of diagnosis. Severe evolution of the disease (transfusion dependence or death) was significantly and independently associated with a younger age at presentation and with a history of premature birth. In contrast, patients with a familial history of the disease experienced a better outcome. Outcome analysis revealed the benefit of reassessing steroid responsiveness during the course of the disease for initially nonresponsive patients. Bone marrow transplantation was successful in 11/13 cases; HLA typing of probands and siblings should be performed early if patients are transfusion dependent, and cord blood should be preserved. Incidence of DBA (assessed for France over a 13-y period) is 7.3 cases per million live births without effect of seasonality on incidence of the disease or on malformative status. Similarly, no parental imprinting effect or anticipation phenomenon could be documented in families with dominant inheritance.

ProbeDesigner: for the design of probesets for branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification assays

MOTIVATION

The sensitivity and specificity of branched DNA (bDNA) assays are derived in part through the judicious design of the capture and label extender probes. To minimize non-specific hybridization (NSH) events, which elevate assay background, candidate probes must be computer screened for complementarity with generic sequences present in the assay.

RESULTS

We present a software application which allows for rapid and flexible design of bDNA probesets for novel targets. It includes an algorithm for estimating the magnitude of NSH contribution to background, a mechanism for removing probes with elevated contributions, a methodology for the simultaneous design of probesets for multiple targets, and a graphical user interface which guides the user through the design steps.

AVAILABILITY

The program is available as a commercial package through the Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery program at Chiron Diagnostics.

Effect of a high-protein meal on gabapentin pharmacokinetics

The anticonvulsant gabapentin is transported across biological membranes via the L-amino acid transport system (System-L). Absorption of gabapentin is saturable, and in-vitro data have previously demonstrated that both L-leucine and L-phenylalanine may compete with the intestinal transport of gabapentin. The purpose of this study therefore was to determine whether a high-protein meal would interfere with gabapentin absorption. Ten healthy volunteers received in a randomized, cross-over design, a single 600-mg dose of gabapentin in the fasting state and after a high-protein meal consisting of 80 gm total protein (4.1 g phenylalanine, 8.2 g leucine and 4.2 g isoleucine), 52 g carbohydrate, and 9 g fat. Plasma gabapentin concentrations were measured by HPLC at baseline, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 30 h. Calculated pharmacokinetic parameters included Cmax' Tmax' AUC and T1/2. In addition, a pharmacodynamic assessment (using visual analog scales) of gabapentin-related adverse effects was performed at 2 h post drug ingestion and was compared between study phases. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test for paired data, with significance assigned at P < 0.05. Cmax was significantly increased by 36% (3.87 +/- 1.15 vs 5.28 +/- .97 micrograms/ml, P = 0.002), and Tmax tended to be shorter (3.9 +/- 1.8 vs 2.8 +/- .35 h, P = 0.10), after the high-protein meal. Although AUC was increased by 11%, this did not achieve statistical significance. Despite significantly higher plasma concentrations at 2 h, subjects reported significantly fewer adverse effects after the high-protein meal. Potential mechanisms to explain these unexpected findings may be that the large amino acid load delivered with the high-protein meal enhanced gabapentin absorption via trans-stimulation, the process by which acutely increased intestinal luminal amino acid concentrations result in an acute up regulation in System-L activity. Conversely, the decrease in perceived adverse CNS effects of gabapentin following the high-protein meal may reflect CNS competition for System-L transport.

The vomeronasal duct has a protracted postnatal development in the mouse

Recent evidence suggests that the accessory olfactory system (AOS) may mediate chemoreception before birth. Such a capability may allow the fetus to begin to sample chemical stimuli from the outside world, a possibility that has important developmental and evolutionary implications. Herein we describe the development in the mouse of the duct that connects the vomeronasal organ (VNO), containing the primary receptor neurons of the AOS, with the nasal cavity and thus with external stimuli. Twenty-four mice, four at each of six different ages from the last day of gestation through 25 days of age, were fixed and embedded in glycol methacrylate. Serial sections were examined under the light microscope so that the VNO duct could be reconstructed in three dimensions. Results confirm an earlier study which demonstrated that the VNO duct is not patent before birth. The duct becomes patent sometime after the first day of life but remains in an immature condition throughout the normal prepubertal period. During this period the duct is characterized by an internal surface that is rapidly desquamating such that the lumen of the duct contains sloughed tissue. These results suggest that the VNO is unlikely to function in the prenatal period, since the route for external stimuli to reach its receptor surface is blocked. The protracted period of VNO duct development reported here is consistent with the great bulk of data on the AOS of mammals which firmly establishes its role in the detection of pheromones which coordinate reproduction.

[Systemic therapy of diffuse effluvium and hair structure damage]

A controlled randomized double-blind study was carried out in 72 female patients to compare tolerance and efficacy of two therapeutic agents containing vitamins of the B-group and L-cystine in different compositions versus a placebo in diffuse effluvia and hair structure lesions. Hair swelling as a criterion of hair quality and frontal and parietal anagen rates in trichograms as criteria of hair growth were determined before and after 4 months of therapy. Treatment with active medication 1 was statistically significantly superior to treatment with the placebo according to these criteria. Treatment with active medication 2 was superior to treatment with the placebo but inferior to treatment with active medication 1. The overall evaluation of efficacy by investigator and patient was in good agreement with these results. The additional active ingredients contained in active medication 1 but not contained in active medication 2 contribute to the efficacy of the medication. They cannot be compensated by the higher amounts of L-cystine contained in active medication 2. Given their good tolerance, no adverse effects were observed with the two active medications.

[Therapy of aging skin]

The process of involution of aging skin is essentially caused by functional changes progressing as a consequence of the chronic influence of exogenous noxae. Reasonably, prophylaxis should avoid actinic damages, and skin care should be adapted to the changes due to age, which means providing a substitute for cutaneous lipids and stabilizing the hydration of the horny layer. Placebo-controlled studies proved that topical treatment with 0.05% tretinoin can result in the regression of degenerative and precancerous changes of the senile skin caused by chronic exposure to UVB. However, long-term results remain to be seen.

On the importance of resection length and tension for ureter end-to-end anastomoses

40 end-to-end anastomoses in dogs were made, partially under considerable tension, in the lower part of the ureter after transverse division and after resection of segments between 3 and 10 cm. In three operative modifications the influence of resection length, tension, and microsurgical technique on the function of anastomoses was examined. As an equivalent to tension the approximation distance of the ends of the ureter was measured after resection of segments. Controls prove the superiority of the microsurgical procedure. In our experiments the resection length lies far above the reported maximum resection length of 3-5 cm. The results are not dependent on the resection length. There is every reason to believe that even the tension that lies on the anastomosis is not very important for the results.