Microsphere entrapped bee-venom phospholipase A2 retains specific IgE binding capacity: a possible use for oral specific immunotherapy.

The only specific treatments of allergy are long and exacting desensitization by subcutaneous injections of the allergens. While oral administration of allergens could greatly facilitate these treatments, effective delivery systems are needed to prevent allergen degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and to enable their uptake by Peyer's patches. The potential for bee-venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to be used in such oral immunotherapy was tested.

Fluoride ion toxicity in rabbit kidney thick ascending limb cells.

Background And Objective: Some halogenated agents, especially methoxyflurane, because of a higher level of fluoride production, induce a renal concentrating defect that could be related to an ascending limb impairment. We investigated the mechanisms of fluoride toxicity on an immortalized cell line.

Methods: Cells were cultured for 2, 6 or 24 h in the presence of fluoride.

Erythropoietin enhances recovery after cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in the rat.

Background: Erythropoietin (Epo) is a growth factor whose synthesis mainly takes place in the kidney. Epo has been shown to support the growth not only of erythroid progenitor cells but also of certain other cell types. We attempted to establish whether Epo enhances the recovery from acute renal failure induced by cisplatin.

Preclinical profile of the monodisperse iodinated macromolecular blood pool agent P743.

Rationale And Objectives: To summarize the chemical synthesis, physicochemical characterization, pharmacokinetic behavior, and biological evaluation of P743, a new macromolecular iodinated contrast medium.

Methods: The synthesis and molecular modeling of the iodinated macromolecule P743 are described. The pharmacokinetic profile was established in rabbits and rats.

Synthesis and polymerization of benzyl (3R,4R)-3-methylmalolactonate via enzymatic preparation of the chiral precursor.

beta-methylaspartate ammonia-lyase, EC 4.3.1.