Hereditary leaky red cell syndrome in a Swiss family.

A Swiss family was found to have a hereditary hemolytic disorder associated with excessively leaky red cell membranes. Hemolysis was mild and fully compensated. Membrane lipid analysis revealed an increased phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine ratio.

A double blind study on immunotherapy with chemically modified honey bee venom: monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-coupled versus crude honey bee venom.

24 patients with honey bee sting allergy were treated with either honey bee venom (HBV) or monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-coupled HBV (PEG-HBV) in a double blind trial. Both treatments induced a strong increase in HBV-specific IgG antibodies in most patients. Immunotherapy with PEG-HBV was much better tolerated than that with HBV.