A pilot tolerability and efficacy trial of sodium oxybate in ethanol-responsive movement disorders.

Sodium oxybate is currently approved in the United States exclusively for the treatment of cataplexy in narcoleptic patients. In a prior article published in this journal, we reported a patient with severe posthypoxic myoclonus whose myoclonus improved with ethanol and also with treatment with sodium oxybate. We extend this preliminary observation to five other patients with ethanol-responsive movement disorders in an open-label, dose-titration, add-on, 8-week trial.

Reactivity of monoclonal antibody E5 with endotoxin. I. Binding to lipid A and rough lipopolysaccharides.

The murine IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb) E5 was produced by a hybridoma derived from spleen cells of a mouse immunized with the J5 rough mutant of Escherichia coli O111:B4. In a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, E5 has been shown to reduce significantly the mortality and morbidity of patients with Gram-negative sepsis. The characteristics of E5 binding to endotoxin were studied in vitro.

Improved pharmacokinetics and tumor localization of immunotoxins constructed with the Mr 30,000 form of ricin A chain.

The two naturally occurring forms of ricin A chain, Mr 33,000 and Mr 30,000 (RTA33 and RTA30) have been purified, and their chemical compositions, toxicities, and tissue distributions have been determined. As reported previously, the in vitro and in vivo toxicities of RTA30 and RTA33 are similar. However, RTA30, which contains less carbohydrate with a lower mannose content than RTA33, accumulated less in the liver than did RTA33.

Antibodies against metal chelates.

Because monoclonal antibodies can recognize and bind to specific groups of atoms such as tumour antigens, they have promise for use in vivo as carriers of radionuclides, drugs or other appended molecules for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Attachment of metal ions to antibodies by means of bifunctional chelating agents can add the diverse nuclear, physical and chemical properties of the metallic elements to these specific binding proteins (ref. 4 and refs therein).

Conjugation of antibodies with bifunctional chelating agents: isothiocyanate and bromoacetamide reagents, methods of analysis, and subsequent addition of metal ions.

Preparation of the chelating agent (S)-4-[2,3-bis[bis(carboxymethyl)am ino]propyl]phenyl isothiocyanate is reported. Procedures for conjugation of this and (S)-N-4-[2,3-bis[bis-(carboxymethyl)amino] propyl]phenyl bromoacetamide to monoclonal antibodies and other proteins are described. The conjugates may be purified quickly by centrifugation through Sephadex G-50.