Suppression and stimulation of TSH and thyroid hormones in bulls during starvation and refeeding.

Sixteen bull calves were fasted during two periods, 31/2 and 7 months old. Blood samples were taken every 6 h during an experimental period of 9 days: 2 control days, 5 fasting days and 2 refeeding days. During the control days with ad libitum feeding, T3, T4 and TSH increased during the day.

The anti-allergic effect of the beta 2-adrenergic agent fenoterol in the nose.

Beta-adrenergic agents have a direct relaxing effect on bronchial smooth muscle. In vitro investigations of a number of sensitized preparations have demonstrated an inhibition of the antigen-induced histamine release. Grass pollen allergic patients were pretreated in the laboratory, out of the season, with different dosages of intranasal fenoterol before an allergen challenge and hay-fever patients treated with fenoterol during the season in a clinical trial.

Unusual immunofluorescence findings in pemphigus vegetans.

An 84-year-old man with massive verrucous lesions in the intertriginous areas is reported. The clinical, histological and electron microscopical findings indicated pemphigus vegetans. However, in addition to the intraepidermal findings direct immunofluorescence showed a linear deposit of IgG and C3 at the basement membrane.

Heat generation in plaster-of-Paris and resulting hand burns.

Four female pupils at a technical school received hand burns while trying to make moulds of their hands using a dental plaster instead of ordinary plaster-of-Paris. In three cases the burns were so severe that several fingers had to be amputated due to irreversible tissue damage. The severity of the burns is explained on the basis of an experimental study where it was demonstrated that the temperature of hardening dental plaster rose to 70 degrees C and had a hardness that was 10-times greater than ordinary plaster-of-Paris.

Calmodulin regulation of Ca2+ transport in human erythrocytes.

Inside-out vesicles of human erythrocytes took up Ca2+ against an electrochemical gradient. This Ca2+ uptake was dependent on ATP and was stimulated by calmodulin. Treatment of vesicles with 1 mM-EDTA exposed an apparent low-CA2+-affinity Ca2+-transport component with Kd of about 100 microM-Ca2+ or more.

Subpopulations of lymphocytes and lymphocyte transformation tests in atopic dermatitis: evaluation of a systemic treatment with a new chromone compound and comparison with a normal group.

In 28 adults patients with atopic dermatitis participating in a double-blind controlled clinical trial of systemic treatment with a new chromone compound, immune monitoring were performed with a number of in vitro tests. The parameters were phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A, purified protein tuberculin derivative, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, streptokinase/streptodornase, and allogene lymphocytes in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture. No benefit could be proven for the drug in the clinical investigation or any change in the immunological tests during the trial.

Birth complications and the distribution of handedness.

In an attempt to clarify the relationship between self-reported birth complications and handedness, the handedness distributions of 181 college students who reported birth complications and 1320 students who reported no complications were compared. The results suggest a clear but modest shift in the birth complications group away from the dextral end of the continuum. However these data did not validate the hypothesis that left-handedness results from birth complications.

The plasma membrane calcium pump: regulation by a soluble Ca2+ binding protein.

The Ca2+ pump of the plasma membrane of human red blood cells is associated with the activity of a (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. Both the ATPase and the pump are stimulated above basal activities by calmodulin, an ubiquitous Ca2+-binding protein. Calmodulin isolated from human red blood cells was shown to be equipotent and equieffective with that isolated from beef brain.

Reliability of seasonal variation in births of left-handed women.

Recently Leviton and Kilty reported that the birth dates of left-handed girls in elementary school display a seasonal trend which peaks in November. We report here a failure to replicate this finding for 257 male and 323 female college students. Further, we have considered the likelihood that the original finding was due to sampling error rather than speculating that environmental factors associated with the season of birth are implicated in the etiology of left-handedness, as Leviton and Kilty have stated.

Petechial reaction following patch testing with cobalt.

A total of 132 patch tested patients reacted with petechial reactions to cobalt chloride 1% in petrolatum; 23 were retested with various concentrations of cobalt. In about 60% of those retested the petechial reaction could be reproduced. Histopathological examination showed slight perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, swollen endothelium and extravasation of erythrocytes but no signs of vasculitis.

HLA antigens in atopic dermatitis. A family study.

The HLA antigens in a family with atopic dermatitis were studied. All family members with atopic dermatitis had haplotype A2, Bw35, Cw4. It has been recently demonstrated that HLA type Bw35 is found with an increased frequency in atopic dermatitis.

Nickel dermatitis provoked by buttons in blue jeans.

A total of 79 nickel-sensitive patients (65 women, 14 men) were examined with regard to a present or past eczema corresponding to contact with metallic buttons in blue jeans; 63% of the women and 64% of the men had or had had eczema of this kind. Among 40% of the women below 30 years this was the primary site of manifestation. The seriousness of this sensitivity is illustrated by the fact that two-thirds of the nickel sensitive patients with button dermatitis had or had had eczema of the hands.

Calcium transport across the plasma membrane: stimulation by calmodulin.

Active transport of calcium into inside-out vesicles of red blood cell membranes was stimulated equally by (i) the purified protein activator of calcium-activated, magnesium-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase isolated from red cell hemolyzates and (ii) calmodulin, a protein activator of cylic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isolated from bovine brain. The results provide further evidence for the identity of red blood cell activator and calmodulin and show that this cytoplasmic protein may participate in the regulation of plasma membrane calcium transport.

Comedo formation following cobalt irradiation.

After cobalt-60 therapy 3 patients developed open and closed comedones in the face corresponding to the treatment fields. Biopsies showed extensive dermal elastotic material. It is suggested that the elastotic fibres may contribute to a change in the supporting function of the dermis and a secondary sebum retention and comedo formation.

Clinical trial of a new chromone compound for systemic treatment of atopic dermatitis.

In a double-blind group comparative study, 14 adults with atopic dermatitis were treated systemically for 6 weeks with a new anti-allergic chromone compound (FPL 57787) 6 mg four times a day. A similar group of 13 adults was given placebo. Both groups improved during the trial in all the clinical assessments without significant differences, but there was a tendency to a decreased use of local treatment (hydrocortisone butyrate) in the active group during the trial.