Significant role of peptide leukotrienes (p-LTs) in the antigen-induced contractions of human and guinea pig lung parenchymas and bronchi or tracheas in vitro.
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Chemical mediators responsible for the antigen-induced contractions of isolated, passively sensitized human and guinea pig lung parenchymas and bronchi or tracheas were evaluated by several antagonists and enzyme inhibitors, with emphasis on the effects of the potent and selective peptide leukotriene (p-LT) antagonist MCI-826. All of these preparations showed long-lasting contractions in response to an antigen challenge which lasted for more than 60 min. In either the human lung parenchyma and brochus or guinea pig lung parenchyma, pretreatment with 10(6) g/ml (2.4 x 10)-6) M) MCI-826 significantly inhibited the late phase at 10 to 60 min after the challenge of the contraction following slight suppression of the early phase. The early phase contractions of these preparations were moderately antagonized by 10(-6) g/ml mepyramine, but the late phases were not influenced or even rather enhanced. The combination treatment of MCI-826 with mepyramine additionally and markedly inhibited both phases of these preparations. On the other hand, although mepyramine apparently inhibited the early phase of the guinea pig tracheal contraction but not the late phase, no synergistic inhibitions of the contraction were observed when it was combined with MCI-826. The p-LT antagonist FPL 55712, atropine and indomethacin at 10(-6) g/ml either slightly inhibited or enhanced the contractions of human lung parenchymas, guinea pig tracheas and lung parenchymas, but the effects were not significant. From these results, it should be emphasized that p-LTs largely contribute to induction of the anaphylactic contractions of human lung parenchymas as well as human bronchi and guinea pig lung parenchymas but not guinea pig tracheas. (+info)
Human parvovirus B19 infection during the inactive stage of systemic lupus erythematosus.
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A 42-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had an episode of fever, arthralgia and anemia. In order to treat the suspected activation of SLE, the daily dose of steroid was increased, however, the anemia progressed and pancytopenia developed. Both IgM anti-B19 antibodies to human parvovirus B19 (B19) and B19 DNA were positive, and bone marrow analysis revealed pure red cell aplasia with giant proerythroblasts. High dose gamma globulin was administered and the daily dose of steroid was tapered, resulting in the improvement of her condition. B19 infection should be ruled out in cases with reactivation of autoimmune diseases. (+info)
Plasma and tissue proteins produced by non-hepatic rat organs as studied with lysine-epsilon-C14; gamma globulins the chief plasma protein fraction produced by non-hepatic tissues.
(35/1041)
The non-hepatic tissues in a perfused "carcass" (caudal half of the rat) maintain some physiological functions for as long as 5 to 6 hours of perfusion, including good clearance of lysine-epsilon-C(14) and glucose from the perfusate, and synthesis of both tissue and plasma proteins. The perfused "carcass" tissues incorporate only small amounts of lysine-epsilon-C(14) into the plasma proteins to an extent not markedly affected by the presence of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, spleen, or kidneys. This activity is found only in the globulin fraction obtained by sodium sulfate fractionation. No significant activity was detected in the plasma fibrinogen or albumin fractions. C(14)-labeled plasma proteins obtained from the eviscerated surviving rat 6 hours after intravenous lysine-epsilon-C(14) have been separated by zone electrophoresis. The gamma globulins contain most of the C(14) activity, with small but measurable activity in the beta and alpha globulins, and no activity in the albumin fraction. (+info)
Prevention of infections hepatitis by gamma globulin.
(36/1041)
Infectious hepatitis, a viral disease, has become increasingly more important in recent years. It is believed that the great increase in reported cases is not due entirely to better reporting, but that there has been an actual increase in the incidence of this disease. The comparatively long incubation period in infectious hepatitis, the high incidence in persons in close contact with patients who have the disease, and the fact that in most instances contact between persons is the mode of spread, makes this disease particularly suitable for the use of an immunizing agent which would be administered after exposure. From the studies reviewed it is apparent that gamma globulin is of value in preventing hepatitis both when administered as mass prophylaxis in an epidemic, and when given to persons in close contact with a person who has the disease. Widespread use of gamma globulin prophylactically among persons who have been in close contact with the occasional patients with infectious hepatitis seen by practicing physicians might often obviate the need for mass immunization. It should be stated that there is little evidence for the effectiveness of gamma globulin in the therapy of infectious hepatitis. In a study in which very large amounts (average dose 45 cc.) of gamma globulin were given very early in the disease, no significant difference was observed between those injected and a control group. (+info)
The persistence of bovine gamma-globulin injected as an antigen into rabbits; a comparison with its previously studied persistence in mice.
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A sensitive biological test has been used to detect the persistence of minute traces of a foreign protein, bovine gamma-globulin, in the blood and livers of rabbits intravenously injected with it, as an antigen. At various intervals after injecting these rabbits (donors) serum or liver tissue was transferred from them to the peritoneal cavities of normal or unilaterally adrenalectomized mice (recipients) with the aim of rendering the latter hypersensitive to the antigen that might be persisting in the transferred materials; a state of affairs detectable, 2 days later, by the appearance of signs of reversed passive anaphylaxis when the recipient mice were intravenously challenged with a strong anti-bovine gamma-globulin rabbit serum. The protein persisted in the blood of the donor rabbits, in readily demonstrable amounts for 1 month, and in the blood of one animal, in minute traces, or as long as 6 weeks. It was detectable in the livers for 8 weeks. The persistence of bovine gamma-globulin in rabbits, which form circulating antibodies to it well, is not as long as that in mice, which form antibodies to it poorly, since in previous work with the mouse the antigen was found (1) in the blood after 8 weeks and in the liver for 14 weeks. Nevertheless the antigen persists in the rabbit much longer than is generally supposed. Indeed it can be found in the liver all through the period in which circulating antibody is demonstrable in the blood. Explanations for the phenomenon have been suggested. Its significance in relation to the mechanisms of antibody formation is obvious. (+info)
Sulfisomidine in the treatment of pertussis.
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Sulfisomidine and pertussis serum were used in the treatment of 21 patients with pertussis. Twenty of the patients were under six months of age and seven had bronchopneumonia. Therapeutic concentrations of the drug in the blood were obtained in 14 cases when it was given in dosage of 0.26 gm. per kilogram of body weight per 24 hours. The average stay in hospital was ten days. None of the patients died. Hematuria developed in one case but crystalluria was not concomitant and it abated promptly when fluid intake was increased. (+info)
The carbohydrate of gamma-globulin and myeloma proteins.
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Various preparations of gamma-globulin homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge showed a similar content of hexose, hexosamine, fucose, and sialic acid. Subfractionation of Fr. II gamma-globulin by zone electrophoresis revealed multiple components of different mean mobilities but containing similar amounts of carbohydrate. Gamma globulin isolated directly from normal serum by zone electrophoresis showed a heavy component in addition to the usual 7 S material. The heavy component (s(20, w) = 19 S) concentrated by preparative ultracentrifugation was found to be considerably richer in carbohydrate than the rest of the gamma-globulin and accounted for small differences in carbohydrate content between different preparations of gamma-globulin. Pathological sera with marked elevation in gamma-globulin showed a carbohydrate-protein ratio for the gamma-globulin similar to that found for the corresponding 7 S fraction in normal serum. This was only partially true of the myeloma proteins with a mobility in the gamma-globulin region. Certain of these proteins showed slight but significant differences. The myeloma proteins of faster mobility (beta-myelomas) contained considerably more carbohydrate. The possible role of these carbohydrates in accounting for some of the mobility and immunological differences in the myeloma proteins is discussed. The pathological proteins found in two cases of macroglobulinemia showed a high carbohydrate content similar to but slightly lower than the normal 19 S component of gamma-globulin. (+info)
Immunohistochemical analysis of amyloid by the fluorescence technique.
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The immunohistochemical composition of amyloid deposits in secondary human amyloidosis and experimental amyloidosis in rabbits was studied by means of the "fluorescent antibody" technique of Coons et al. Quantitative studies of the relative amounts of gamma globulin present in the amyloid deposits by the use of radioiodinated fluorescent antibody are reported. It is concluded that amyloid deposits in several organs from cases of secondary human amyloidosis and experimental amyloidosis in rabbits contain considerable concentrations of gamma globulin. The presence of gamma globulin in amyloid might be interpreted as either a metabolic deposition of circulating globulin present in high concentrations in the plasma or as a result of an immunologic reaction involving antigen and antibody. (+info)