Maternal first-trimester enterovirus infection and future risk of type 1 diabetes in the exposed fetus.

Previous studies have suggested that enterovirus infections during pregnancy may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes in the offspring. Our aim was to evaluate the role of first trimester enterovirus infections in a larger cohort of pregnant women. Two series of pregnant women were analyzed as follows: 948 women (series 1) and 680 women (series 2) whose child developed clinical diabetes before the ages of 15 or 7 years, respectively.

Lipocalin allergen Bos d 2 is a weak immunogen.

The immunological characteristics of an important group of animal-derived allergens, lipocalins, are poorly known. To explore the immunology of the lipocalin allergen Bos d 2, several mouse strains with different H-2 haplotypes were immunized with the allergen. Only the BALB/c mouse mounted a distinct humoral response against Bos d 2.

T cell epitopes in coxsackievirus B4 structural proteins concentrate in regions conserved between enteroviruses.

The present study aimed to characterize systematically the target epitopes of T cell responses in CBV4 structural proteins. These were studied by synthesizing 86 overlapping 20-aa-long peptides covering the known sequence of CBV4 structural proteins and analyzing the proliferation responses of 18 CBV4-specific T cell lines against these peptides. Recognized peptides differed depending on the HLA-DR genotype of the T cell donor.

Vitamin D and prostate cancer.

Our recent epidemiological study (Ahonen et al., Cancer Causes Control 11(2000) (847-852)) suggests that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of initiation and progression of prostate cancer. The nested case-control study was based on a 13-year follow-up of about 19000 middle-aged men free of clinically verified prostate cancer.

Responses of coxsackievirus B4-specific T-cell lines to 2C protein-characterization of epitopes with special reference to the GAD65 homology region.

Coxsackie B viruses (CBV) have been indicated as environmental triggers initiating autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells, and molecular mimicry might be the mechanism. A prime candidate for inducing cross-reactive immune responses is a homology sequence, PEVKEK, found both in CBV4 2C protein and in GAD65. To characterize the CBV4-specific T-cell epitopes, overlapping peptides covering the 2C protein were synthesized and CBV4-specific T-cell lines were established from healthy and diabetic subjects.

Local challenge on oral mucosa with an alpha-gliadin related synthetic peptide in patients with celiac disease.

Objective: Gluten-derived peptides (e.g., amino-acids 31-49 of alpha-gliadin) have been shown to cause changes typical of celiac disease in the gut.

The effects of glycopyrrolate on oral mucous host defenses in healthy volunteers.

Unlabelled: We studied the effects of glycopyrrolate on oral mucous host defenses. Single IV doses of glycopyrrolate (4 microg/kg) or placebo were administered to 12 healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study. Salivary flow rates and the concentrations/activities of total protein, amylase, and nonimmunologic (lysozyme, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase, total salivary peroxidase, and thiocyanate) and immunologic (total immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M) mucous host defense factors were determined for paraffin-stimulated whole saliva before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after drug administration.

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and sucralfate in prevention of radiation-induced mucositis: a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: To compare subcutaneously given molgramostim (GM-CSF) and sucralfate mouth washings to sucralfate mouth washings in prevention of radiation-induced mucositis.

Methods And Materials: Forty head and neck cancer patients were randomly assigned to use either GM-CSF and sucralfate (n = 20) or sucralfate alone (n = 20) during radiotherapy. Sucralfate was used as 1.

Effects of the common cold and intranasal fluticasone propionate treatment on mucosal host defense assessed by human saliva.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of a potent topical steroid, fluticasone propionate, on patients with early signs and symptoms of the common cold. To characterize the mucosal inflammatory response, salivary defense factors and flow rate in these patients were analyzed.

Study Design: Forty patients with symptoms of the common cold were randomized into 2 groups to receive either high-dose fluticasone propionate (100 microg per nostril) or placebo 4 times daily for 6 days.

T cell epitopes of a lipocalin allergen colocalize with the conserved regions of the molecule.

In this study we characterized the human T cell-reactive sites of the major cow dander allergen, Bos d 2, a member of the lipocalin protein family. We showed that Bos d 2 contains only a limited number of epitopes. This is in contrast to many other allergens, which usually contain multiple T cell epitopes throughout the molecule.

Association of ezrin with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and -2 (ICAM-1 and ICAM-2). Regulation by phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate.

Ezrin is a cytoplasmic linker molecule between plasma membrane components and the actin-containing cytoskeleton. We studied whether ezrin is associated with intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, -2, and -3. In transfected cells, ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 colocalized with ezrin in microvillar projections, whereas an ICAM-1 construct attached to cell membrane via a glycophosphatidylinositol anchor was uniformly distributed on the cell surface.

Stimulated salivary flow rate and composition in asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults.

The number of decayed, missed and filled permanent teeth (DMFT), the degree of periodontal inflammation (Periodontal Status Index, PSI), stimulated salivary flow rate and the concentrations of total protein, lactoferrin, lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, salivary peroxidase, calcium, potassium, sodium and thiocyanate in whole saliva of 26 adult asthma patients were compared with those of 33 non-asthmatic controls. The saliva was also analysed for mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, total anaerobic flora and Candida spp. The mean PSI (p < 0.

Longitudinal analysis of the association of human salivary antimicrobial agents with caries increment and cariogenic micro-organisms: a two-year cohort study.

Previous studies of the possible associations of salivary antimicrobial agents with dental caries have given controversial results, obviously mainly because almost all studies have been cross-sectional. Our aim was to find out, in a two-year longitudinal follow-up study, the associations among selected salivary non-immune and immune antimicrobial variables, cariogenic bacteria, and caries increment. The study population was comprised of 63 subjects, all of whom had their 13th birthday during the first study year.

Characterization of a nuclear localization signal of canine parvovirus capsid proteins.

We investigated the abilities of synthetic peptides mimicking the potential nuclear localization signal of canine parvovirus (CPV) capsid proteins to translocate a carrier protein to the nucleus following microinjection into the cytoplasm of A72 cells. Possible nuclear localization sequences were chosen for synthesis from CPV capsid protein sequences (VP1, VP2) on the basis of the presence of clustered basic residues, which is a common theme in most of the previously identified targeting peptides. Nuclear targeting activity was found within the N-terminal residues 4-13 (PAKRARRGYK) of the VP1 capsid protein.

Immunochemical characterization of a novel mitochondrially located protein encoded by a nuclear gene within the DFNB8/10 critical region on 21q22.3.

A novel protein encoded by the C210RF2 gene in chromosomal locus 21q22.3 was characterized by immunochemistry. This chromosomal region is known to contain genes for human diseases such as non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness (DFNB8/10) and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED).

Diagnostic phase antibody response to the human papillomavirus type 16 E2 protein is associated with successful treatment of genital HPV lesions with systemic interferon alpha-2b.

Background And Objective: Systemic interferon alpha-2b treatment reduces relapses of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions in some but not all females. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible predictive pretreatment factors for the outcome of therapy.

Material And Methods: HPV DNA status and HPV antibody response were evaluated in 100 randomized patients treated with laser ablation and systemic interferon alpha-2b or placebo, and followed up to 6 months.

Binding of the cytoplasmic domain of intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2) to alpha-actinin.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2) functions as a ligand for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and is involved in leukocyte adhesion. We studied intracellular associations of ICAM-2 using a peptide encompassing the cytoplasmic amino acids 231-254 as an affinity matrix. Among the proteins from placental lysates that bound to the peptide was alpha-actinin as demonstrated by immunoblotting.

Autoantibodies against oxidized LDL do not predict atherosclerotic vascular disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetes has been suggested as being due to an enhanced oxidative modification of LDL. We hypothesized that the titers of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL (oxLDL) may be increased in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and that they may contribute to various manifestations of atherosclerosis among such patients. In a 10-year follow-up study of 91 newly diagnosed NIDDM patients and 82 nondiabetic control subjects, autoantibodies against oxLDL (expressed as the ratio of autoantibodies against oxLDL and native LDL) were measured at baseline and after 10 years.

Longitudinal analysis of human salivary immunoglobulins, nonimmune antimicrobial agents, and microflora after tonsillectomy.

In order to study the role of tonsils in the host defense in the oral region one pre- and two postoperative (1 and 6 months) whole saliva samples were collected from 25 young adults referred for tonsillectomy. Saliva samples were analyzed for selected host defense factors, representing both immune (total IgA, IgG, IgM, anti-Streptococcus mutans, anti-EBV, anti-CMV, and anti-adenovirus IgA and IgG) and nonimmunoglobulin (lysozyme, lactoferrin, salivary peroxidases, thiocyanate, hypothiocyanite, and agglutinins) mediators. Following tonsillectomy, a significant (P < 0.

Peroxidases, lactoferrin and lysozyme in peripheral blood neutrophils, gingival crevicular fluid and whole saliva of patients with localized juvenile periodontitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal association of selected non-immune anti-microbial host factors (peroxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin) to the localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) disease status.

Materials And Methods: Peroxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin were quantitated from seven patients with LJP before and after periodontal therapy. Analyses were performed from simultaneously collected samples of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), gingival crevicular fluid (GCF from diseased sites) and paraffin-stimulated whole saliva.

Immunocytochemical evidence for differential subcellular localization of 5 alpha-reductase isoenzymes in human tissues.

To contrast the previously described distribution of 5 alpha-reductase isoenzyme 2 in human organs we have raised synthetic C-terminal peptides of human 5 alpha-reductase isoenzyme 1 (h 5 alpha r1) and isoenzyme 2 (h 5 alpha r2) respectively, and studied the cellular and subcellular distribution of both isoforms of this key enzyme of testosterone metabolism using the human prostate gland as a reference. h 5 alpha r1, which in Western blots of human prostatic proteins had an apparent molecular weight of 23 kDa, was localized immunohistochemically in the nucleus of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells. Ultrastructurally, it was closely associated with the nuclear matrix.

Newer saliva collection methods and saliva composition: a study of two Salivette kits.

Unlabelled: Saliva is frequently used as a diagnostic fluid and several collection devices have been developed.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity and reliability of two types of Salivette collection kits (non-covered cotton roll and polypropylene covered polyether roll) relative to conventional collection of saliva using paraffin wax chewing stimulation.

Materials And Methods: Whole saliva samples were collected from 16 healthy volunteers.

Sucralfate mouth washing in the prevention of radiation-induced mucositis: a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized study.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of sucralfate mouth washings in prevention of radiation-induced mucositis.

Methods And Materials: Forty patients with head and neck cancer were randomized to use either sucralfate mouth washing 1 g six times daily during irradiation (n = 20) or to placebo washing (n = 20). Mouth washing was started at the beginning of radiation therapy and continued to the end of the therapy (7-10 weeks).

Salivary defense factors and oral health in patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

Studies of oral health in patients with common variable immunodeficiency have given controversial results. Obviously, one major factor modifying the oral health of these patients is saliva, in which the antibody-mediated defense is remarkably impaired compared to that of healthy subjects. However, the occurrence of nonimmunoglobulin (innate) antimicrobial agents in saliva of these patients is virtually unknown.