Tritiated-naloxone binding to brainstem opioid receptors in the sudden infant death syndrome

The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including a complete autopsy. We hypothesized that SIDS is associated with altered 3H - naloxone binding to opioid receptors in brainstem nuclei related to respiratory and autonomic control. We analyzed 3H - naloxone binding in 21 regions in SIDS and control brainstems using quantitative tissue receptor autoradiography. Three groups were analyzed: SIDS (n = 45); acute controls (n = 14); and a chronic group with oxygenation disorders (n = 15). Opioid binding was heavily concentrated in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, nucleus parabrachialis medialis, spinal trigeminal nucleus, inferior olive, and interpeduncular nucleus in all cases analyzed (n = 74). The arcuate nucleus on the ventral medullary surface contained negligible binding in all cases (n = 74), and therefore binding was not measurable at this site. We found no significant differences among the three groups in the age-adjusted mean 3H - naloxone binding in 21 brainstem sites analyzed. The only differences we have found to date between SIDS and acute controls are decreases in 3H - quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to muscarinic cholinergic receptors and in 3H - kainate binding to kainate receptors in the arcuate nucleus in alternate sections of this same data set. The present study suggests that there is not a defect in opioid receptor binding in cardiorespiratory nuclei in SIDS brainstems.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to ovine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and development of a sensitive immunoassay

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and a polyclonal rabbit antiserum were raised against recombinant ovine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rovTNF alpha). Ten mAbs specific for rovTNF alpha were isolated and designated TNF1-10. All mAbs were of the IgG1 isotype and reacted with rovTNF alpha in Western blot analysis. Eight of the ten mAbs, TNF1, TNF3-7 and TNF9 and 10, completely blocked the activity of rovTNF alpha and macrophage derived native ovTNF alpha, as measured by their ability to inhibit TNF alpha-mediated lysis of WEHI-164 or L929 cells. In addition, TNF3, -7, -9 and -10 blocked the cytolytic activity of recombinant human TNF alpha (rhuTNF alpha). However, when tested for the ability to inhibit TNF alpha induced thymocyte proliferation, only mAbs TNF1, -3, -5, -7, -9 and -10 could completely block activity. Competitive binding analysis using unlabelled and horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) labelled mAbs indicated that the mAbs could be divided into five groups based on their reactivity with rovTNF alpha. The mAbs were used to develop a sensitive sandwich immunoassay for the detection of ovTNF alpha. All combinations of mAbs and the polyclonal antiserum were tested to determine which pair of antibodies gave the most sensitive assay. The combination of TNF5 as the capture antibody and the polyclonal antiserum gave the most sensitive result, detecting less than 0.24 ng rovTNF alpha ml-1. A similar sensitivity was obtained when TNF4 was used as the capture antibody and TNF10 HRPO labelled mAb as the second antibody. The immunoassay was more sensitive than the WEHI-164 bioassay which had a detection limit of 1 ng ml-1 for rovTNF alpha. This immunoassay also detected glycosylated ovTNF alpha in the supernatant of COS-7 cells which had been transfected with an ovTNF alpha cDNA.     

A biphasic developmental pattern of circulating leptin in the male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

To help elucidate the physiological role of leptin during somatic and sexual maturation, circulating concentrations of leptin were measured in 36 male rhesus monkeys of ages ranging from 0-20 yr. The body weight of these animals showed a steady increase of approximately 1 kg/yr during the first decade of life and reached a plateau at approximately 13 yr. In contrast, serum leptin concentrations showed a biphasic developmental pattern, which was highlighted by a strong negative correlation with body weight (r = -0.74, P < 0.001) before the onset of puberty (at approximately 3.5 yr) and by a strong positive correlation afterward (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). Overall, the developmental changes in serum leptin concentrations closely mimicked the expected developmental changes in serum testosterone concentrations (r = 0.62, P < 0.001), which were highly elevated at birth, fell to basal levels during the juvenile phase of development, and gradually rose again after the initiation of puberty. However, mean serum leptin concentrations during the peripubertal period itself (3-5 yr) were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those observed during the first year of life or those observed in fully mature adults (i.e. > 7 yr) (3.5 +/- 0.3, 1.4 +/- 0.2, and 3.3 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, respectively). These data demonstrate that the role of leptin in energy homeostasis of primates is more than a simple linear relationship, being highly dependent upon the developmental age. Furthermore, the data do not support the hypothesis that leptin plays a major role in triggering the onset of puberty in primates, although the strong correlation between serum concentrations of leptin and testosterone suggests that the secretion of these two hormones may be causally linked.     

A nasal foreign body detected on routine orthodontic radiographs

Films used in orthodontics such as lateral cephalograms and orthopantomograms provide excellent visualisation of the maxillary sinuses and the nose, and therefore should be routinely examined for pathology and foreign bodies. We report a case of a long-standing asymptomatic nasal foreign body detected on routine orthodontic films.     

Hemoglobins Aida (alpha 64 Asp leads to Asn) and D-Los Angeles (beta 121 Glu leads to Gln) in an Asian-Indian family

Hemoglobins D-Los Angeles (beta 121 Gln) and Aida (alpha 64 Asn) were encountered in an Asian Indian, unassociated with any clinical manifestations. These hemoglobins had normal oxygen affinities and were stable to heat and isopropanol. The ratio of alpha chain synthesis to beta chain synthesis was close to unity. The identical change in isoelectric points of the two variants produced an interesting electrophoretic pattern.     

Pharmacoradiography of the gastro intestinal tract (author's transl)

Pharmacoradiography of the digestive system improves often accuracy of diagnostic information compared to conventional X-ray examinations. Pharmacoradiography should be used more often; the examiner has to be familiar with the principal effects and side effects of the pharmaceutica. The present paper gives a short summary about drugs and examination techniques most often used.     

Allergen-avoidance measures in homes of house-dust-mite-allergic asthmatic patients: effects of acaricides and mattress encasings

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated whether the application of an acaricide (Acarosan) on mattresses and on textile floor coverings in living rooms and bedrooms can contribute to improvement in lung function and airway hyperresponsiveness in 40 adult asthmatic patients sensitized to house-dust mite. In a second group of 19 patients who refused chemical intervention, the clinical effects of application of allergen-impermeable mattress encasings were studied. In all three treatment groups, Der p 1 levels in mattress dust were statistically significantly decreased after 12 months. However, this decrease was much greater in the group who received mattress encasings (final mean level 430 ng/g) than in groups with acaricide- or placebo-treated mattresses (final mean levels 1730 and 2100 ng/g, respectively). Treatment of textile floors with either Acarosan or placebo chemical caused a statistically significant decrease in the level of the house-dust-mite allergen Der p1 in floor dust. In the group with mattress encasings, no significant changes of floor dust Der p 1 were found. Airway hyperresponsiveness (as measured by the PC20 histamine) improved significantly in the mattress cover group after 6 months. The Acarosan group also showed a small but statistically significant improvement after 12 months.