RESUMEN
Proteins in commercial latex products, derived from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, cause anaphylaxis in susceptible individuals, especially health care workers and children with spina bifida. To identify latex allergens, we utilized IgE from the serum of a latex-allergic health care worker to screen a cDNA library from Hevea latex. The identified cDNA clone, cDNA Hev b 5, encodes an open reading frame of 163 peptide residues. Hybridization analysis of cDNA Hev b 5 with RNA extracted from Hevea tissue indicates that the full-length transcript is about 1000 bases. The nucleotide and deduced protein sequences have significant homology to sequences from kiwi and potato, which are known to cause allergic reactions in some latex-allergic patients. Fifty-six percent of spina bifida patients and 92% of health care workers with latex allergy have IgE specific to the protein encoded by cDNA Hev b 5. A monoclonal antibody raised from a mouse immunized with Hev b 5 binds to a protein in Hevea latex with an Mr identical to that of the expressed and cleaved recombinant protein. Taken together, these results establish that the antigen Hev b 5 contains a major epitope for IgE-mediated reactions to H. brasiliensis latex products.
Asunto(s)
Alérgenos , Alérgenos/biosíntesis , Látex/inmunología , Adulto , Alérgenos/química , Alérgenos/inmunología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales , Antígenos de Plantas , Secuencia de Bases , Western Blotting , Niño , Clonación Molecular , Dermatitis por Contacto , Biblioteca de Genes , Personal de Salud , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina E/sangre , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Proteínas de Plantas , Homología de Secuencia de Aminoácido , Homología de Secuencia de Ácido Nucleico , Disrafia Espinal/inmunología , Transcripción Genética , ÁrbolesRESUMEN
Metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) have been implicated as two major copper-binding agents involved in the hepatobiliary copper metabolism in the adult rat. This study was designed to explore their potential role in facilitating copper export from the copper-laden hepatocyte of the newborn rat. Biliary and hepatic copper, GSH, and immunoreactive MT-I concentrations were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks of age. Bile was collected by duct cannulation for 90 minutes before the rats were killed. Liver was removed, weighed, and freeze-dried. The bile flow rate (BFR) doubled and the liver weight increased 14-fold during maturation. Hepatic and biliary copper and MT-I concentrations were significantly higher in the suckling than in the weanling. The total biliary output of copper per 24 hours was low at 1 week and increased significantly by 8 weeks of age. MT-I-bound copper represented a maximum of only 3.4% of biliary copper at 1 week and 0.5% at 8 weeks. GSH was not detected in bile until 2 weeks and then increased 15-fold by 8 weeks, while hepatic GSH levels remained unchanged. Therefore, GSH levels did not correlate with the high biliary copper concentration at week 1, although there was a close correlation between the total daily biliary excretion of copper and GSH at 2 weeks and beyond. We conclude that the net biliary copper excretion per day is relatively low in the first week of life and is independent of MT and GSH secretion. It increases significantly once GSH is available in bile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Asunto(s)
Animales Recién Nacidos/metabolismo , Bilis/metabolismo , Cobre/metabolismo , Glutatión/fisiología , Metalotioneína/fisiología , Animales , Femenino , Hígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
Beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (B-ELI) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from infants of postnatal age 24 h to 70 days. Three groups were examined: 17 were of postconceptual age greater than or equal to 37 weeks, 16 were postconceptual age less than or equal to 35 weeks without apnea and 10 were of postconceptual age less than or equal to 35 weeks with apnea. All infants were clinically stable. Two-way analysis of variance between groups showed no difference in the concentration of B-ELI in CSF or plasma, or in the CSF/plasma B-ELI ratio. Concentrations of B-ELI in plasma were significantly higher in infants of postnatal age 1-3 weeks and greater than or equal to 4 weeks, than in infants of postnatal age less than 1 week. We conclude that, in nonstressed infants, there is no relationship between the concentration of B-ELI in CSF or plasma and a concurrent diagnosis of apnea of prematurity. Our data indicate that a significant developmental increase occurs in the plasma concentration of B-ELI after the first week of life.
Asunto(s)
Apnea/sangre , Recién Nacido/sangre , Recien Nacido Prematuro/sangre , betaendorfina/sangre , Envejecimiento/sangre , Femenino , Edad Gestacional , Humanos , Recién Nacido/crecimiento & desarrollo , Recien Nacido Prematuro/crecimiento & desarrollo , Masculino , Radioinmunoensayo , betaendorfina/líquido cefalorraquídeoRESUMEN
The effects of acute, orally administered naltrexone (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg), a potent opioid receptor antagonist, on self-injurious behavior (SIB), heart rate, and blood pressure in three males (one 10-year-old and two 17-year-olds) were investigated. Subjects were evaluated in a structured test session for SIB. The frequency of the most predominant type of SIB (head and face hitting) was significantly reduced by naltrexone (maximum was 71% at the 1.5 mg/kg dose), while self-biting was not significantly decreased at any dose. In contrast, naltrexone had no significant effect on heart rate or blood pressure. Based upon these and other results it was concluded that naltrexone produced decreases in specific SIBs by blocking opioid receptors in brain, and that such opioid blockade had no effect on two measures of cardiovascular function.
Asunto(s)
Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/fisiología , Endorfinas/fisiología , Automutilación/fisiopatología , Adolescente , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Niño , Frecuencia Cardíaca/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Masculino , NaltrexonaRESUMEN
The effects of acute, orally administered naltrexone (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg), a potent opiate receptor antagonist, on auscultated heart rate, systolic blood pressure and axillary body temperature were investigated before and about 1 h postdrug in 5 autistic children (4-12 years of age). In addition, an electrocardiogram was recorded on each child before and about 3 h after placebo or 2.0 mg/kg of naltrexone. Finally, the serum concentrations of the liver enzymes glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were measured 24 h following placebo or naltrexone administration. Naltrexone had no statistically significant effects on any of these measures in comparison with baseline or placebo levels. Thus, these data provide preliminary evidence for the safety of acute administration of naltrexone in children.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Autístico/tratamiento farmacológico , Enzimas/sangre , Naltrexona/efectos adversos , Alanina Transaminasa/sangre , Aspartato Aminotransferasas/sangre , Trastorno Autístico/fisiopatología , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Temperatura Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Niño , Preescolar , Electrocardiografía , Femenino , Frecuencia Cardíaca/efectos de los fármacos , Hemodinámica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Masculino , Naltrexona/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
The ontogeny of plasma beta-endorphin (B-E) and cortisol concentrations was studied in normal children (3-11 yr old) and adolescents (12-18 yr old) of several ethnic backgrounds. The morning plasma concentrations did not significantly differ as a function of sex or age for either B-E [males (n = 88), 7.19 +/- 0.39 (+/- SE) pmol/L; females (n = 73), 6.80 +/- 0.50 pmol/L] or cortisol [males (n = 87), 383 +/- 14 nmol/L; females (n = 69), 359 +/- 20 nmol/L]. There was a small but significant positive correlation between plasma B-E and cortisol concentrations. When sampled immediately after venipuncture, there were no significant differences in the plasma B-E or cortisol concentrations of children who cried during venipuncture compared with those who did not. These data suggest that morning plasma B-E and cortisol concentrations are constant throughout childhood, adolescence, and into early adulthood.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/sangre , Hidrocortisona/sangre , betaendorfina/sangre , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Grupos Raciales , Radioinmunoensayo , Valores de Referencia , Caracteres SexualesRESUMEN
The effect of naltrexone (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg) on the frequency of self-injurious behavior (SIB) was investigated in three male adolescents. The frequency of total SIB was reduced significantly in all three subjects; dose-dependent decreases (at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg) in SIB frequency were observed in the two mentally retarded subjects. These data suggest a role for opioid peptides in SIB.