Determinant analysis of IgE and IgG4 antibodies and T cells specific for bovine alpha(s)1-casein from the same patients allergic to cow's milk: existence of alpha(s)1-casein-specific B cells and T cells characteristic in cow's-milk allergy

In an effort to clarify the etiology of milk allergy from the standpoint of allergen-specific immune reactions, we investigated the determinants of IgE, IgG4, and T cells specific for bovine alpha(s)1-casein from the same individual patients by using its synthetic peptides and cyanogen bromide-digested fragments. Alpha(s)1-casein is a major allergen in cow's milk, and its unique conformation enabled us to investigate the determinants of antibodies without consideration about missing the reactivities because of conformational changes. Nine patients were selected as subjects from among 129 milk-sensitive infants screened by ELISA to assess the anti-alpha(s)1-casein IgE levels in their sera. By using ELISA for epitope mapping, a C-terminal region of alpha(s)1-casein was identified as a common binding site for IgE from all of these patients, whereas those for anti-alpha(s)1-casein IgG4 were located in multiple regions of alpha(s)1-casein. We determined the specificities of seven alpha(s)1-casein-specific T-cell lines established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two of the patients. These T cells have been shown to secrete IL-4. All of the T-cell lines had different specificities to alpha(s)1-casein. However, a common amino acid residue use was found among the determinants of various T-cell lines from each patient. The results suggest that patients allergic to cow's milk have characteristic B cells recognizing a limited region of alpha(s)1-casein and secreting alpha(s)1-casein-specific IgE. These B cells may interact particularly with T cells recognizing determinants with a common structure.     

A wireless multimedia CDMA system based on transmission powercontrol

This paper proposes a wireless multimedia code division multiple access (CDMA) system based on transmission power control. When we transmit multimedia information (i.e., speech, image, and data), differences in information rate, traffic performance, and required quality should be taken into account. The wireless CDMA system can achieve a flexible balance if transmission power distribution is controlled by using channel measurement information, i.e., traffic. In this paper, the optimal control of transmission power is derived by linear programming and nonlinear programming. Numerical results using a LAN demonstrate that the proposed method can satisfy the required quality     

Scavenging effects of dopamine agonists on nitric oxide radicals

It has recently been considered that free radicals are closely involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and the level of nitric oxide radical (.NO), one of the free radicals, is reported to increase in PD brain. In the present study, we established a direct detection system for .NO in an in vitro .NO-generating system using 3-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl-2-nitrosohydrazino)-N-methyl-1-propa namine as an .NO donor and 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO) by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and examined the quenching effects of the dopamine agonists pergolide and bromocriptine on the amount of.NO generated. .NO appeared to be scavenged by pergolide and, to a lesser extent, by bromocriptine. In the competition assay, the 50% inhibitory concentration values for pergolide and bromocriptine were estimated to be approximately 23 and 200 microM, respectively. It was previously reported that in vivo treatment of pergolide and bromocriptine completely protected against the decrease in levels of striatal dopamine and its metabolites in the 6-hydroxydopamine-injected mouse. Considering these findings, pergolide and probably bromocriptine may also protect against dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons because of its multiple effects; not only does it stimulate the presynaptic autoreceptors, but it also directly scavenges .NO radicals and hence protects against .NO-related cytotoxicity. This ESR spectrometry method using carboxy-PTIO may be useful for screening other drugs that can quench .NO.     

A 1-inch 2-M pixel HDTV CCD image sensor with tungsten photo-shieldand H-CCD shunt wiring

A 1-inch 2-million pixel FIT-CCD image sensor for HDTV has been developed, which features a tungsten photo-shield and horizontal CCD (H-CCD) shunt wiring. Tungsten photo-shield, which has low reflectance and good step coverage characteristics, reduces smear level to -110 dB, combined with a frame-interline-transfer (FIT) scheme. The tungsten photo-shield also acts as a shunt busline, supplying transfer pulses to vertical CCD (V-CCD) electrodes, so that a 1.2×10ˆ5 electron charge handling capability is obtained at a frame transfer frequency of 1 MHz. Newly developed H-CCD shunt wiring suppresses vertical line pair FPN, even with smaller transfer pulse amplitudes. H-CCD shunt wiring also helps reduce power consumption in the H-CCD by 2/3 as compared to that achieved with conventional wiring     

Adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix uteri: a case report

We report a rare case of adenoid basal carcinoma of the uterine cervix, unexpectedly found in a uterus resected for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3. The patient was a 47-year-old Japanese female. She received a total abdominal hysterectomy under a diagnosis of CIN 3 of the cervix. Grossly, there were no significant findings in the surgical specimens. Microscopically, in seven of the 12 blocks of the cervix examined, scattered small nests of uniform small cells, which extended 4 mm below the epithelial surface, with dark nuclei and scant cytoplasm were observed. Peripheral palisading as well as the formation of gland-like or acinar structures were noted. The latter were positive for mucicarmine. Stromal reaction was not obvious. There were also foci of squamous differentiation in some portions of the small nests. Occasional mitoses as well as large atypical cells were also seen in this area. Immunohistochemically, the foci of squamous differentiation were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. The epithelial surface in other portions showed CIN 3 with crypt extension. Distinction between adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix and other diseases, such as adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with basaloid features, is important for clinical management because the clinical behavior of adenoid basal carcinoma is less malignant.     

Peptidergic innervation in human von Ebner''s glands: an immunohistochemical study

Human bites in cases of homicide, sexual assault, and abuse are often distorted due to the elasticity and curvature of the skin. Physical comparison of a bite mark to a suspect's teeth is sometimes difficult. Saliva, which is usually deposited during biting, can be collected and analyzed to identify the perpetrator. Using simulated bite mark situations in two experimental series, three samples of 40 microL of whole saliva were deposited on the skin of 27 cadavers (at 33 sites) and three samples of 100 microL of whole saliva were deposited on the skin of 5 cadavers (at 12 sites). Saliva was collected using the double swab technique at t = 5 min, t = 24 h, and t = 48 h. DNA was extracted using the modified Chelex method and submitted to PCR-based typing at two short tandem repeat loci. Results indicate that the concentration of DNA in saliva recovered from skin varies as a function of time since deposition. There is a significant decrease in concentration in the first 24 h but the concentration remains stable from 24 to 48 h. The success of PCR amplification is independent of the time since deposition or the concentration of DNA in the saliva sample. Contamination from the DNA of the cadaver was not found in any of the cases studied.     

Comparison of susceptibility to apoptosis induced by rhTNF-alpha and cycloheximide between human circulating and exudated neutrophils

OBJECTIVE: Peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radical, reactive oxidants produced during reperfusion, are potent triggers of DNA single strand breakage. DNA injury triggers the activation of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS), which contributes to cellular energetic depletion. Using 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of PARS, we investigated the role of PARS in the pathogenesis of myocardial reperfusion injury in a rat model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Occlusion of the left main coronary artery (one hour) followed by reperfusion (one hour) in the anesthetized rat caused severe cardiac necrosis, neutrophil infiltration, and increased plasma creatine phosphokinase activity. There was significant peroxynitrite production during reperfusion, as indicated by a massive increase in nitrotyrosine in the necrotic myocardium. Reperfusion was also associated with a significant loss of myocardial ATP. In vivo administration of the PARS inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (10 mg/kg i.v.) to rats subjected to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, reduced myocardial infarct size and blunted the increase in plasma creatine phosphokinase activity and myeloperoxidase activity in infarcted hearts. In addition, 3-aminobenzamide partially preserved the myocardial ATP levels. In vitro, pharmacological inhibition of PARS also ameliorated peroxynitrite-induced cytotoxicity in rat cardiac myocytes and human endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: 3-aminobenzamide has significant protective effects in myocardial reperfusion injury. We hypothesize that activation of PARS activation plays a role in the pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction.     

Ultrastructural characteristics of intercellular contacts and bile canaliculi in neonatal rat hepatocytes in primary culture

The ultrastructure of the cellular contacts and bile canaliculi was examined in cultured neonatal (day 5) rat hepatocytes to elucidate the development of cellular polarity. A new scanning electron microscopic technique for cultured hepatocytes allowed a view of cell-cell attachment and the entire cell surface, including the underside on plastic dishes. At 3 h after plating, neonatal hepatocytes were shown to be round, with loss of the preferential localization of cell organelles. After 6 h of culture, the cells had become oblong; they were aggregated in groups of several cells and the cellular contacts were not as rigid or as straight as those in adult hepatocytes. Transmission electron microscopy showed the biliary functional polarity to be like that in vivo. On the undersurfaces of adjacent neonatal hepatocytes a hemicanalicular structure lined with microvilli was found, which probably corresponds to the ultrastructure of bile canaliculi in vivo. However, no canaliculi or orifices of bile channels were found in adult hepatocytes. These results suggest that in neonatal rat hepatocytes the formation of tight rigid cellular contacts was suppressed. Modulation of cell membranes appeared on the undersurfaces of neonatal hepatocytes in early culture stages. The differences in the development of cellular polarity could be caused by the proliferating activity of neonatal hepatocytes.