Allergy to bovine beta-lactoglobulin: specificity of immunoglobulin E generated in the Brown Norway rat to tryptic and synthetic peptides.

Background: Animal models which reflect the induction and development of food-allergic reactions are important in the identification of allergenic potential of food proteins and peptides. A number of rat strains, including PVG, Hooded Lister and Brown Norway have been shown to produce immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies to food proteins as well as to inhaled allergens. Previous work in our laboratory using the Brown Norway (BN) rat has shown that specific IgE is produced following administration of ovalbumin and milk products via both enteral and parenteral route; this has allowed us to rank ovalbumin, lactoferrin and bovine serum albumin in terms of their inherent allergenic potential and has enabled us to demonstrate that milk protein allergens recognized by the systemically-sensitized animal are consistent with those recognized by sera from cow's milk-allergic patients (the most common allergens recognized were beta-lactoglobulin and the alpha, beta and kappa-caseins).

A review of the recent literature regarding malignant transformation of oral lichen planus.

On the basis of a literature review of the period 1950-1976, Krutchkoff et al questioned the possible premalignant nature of oral lichen planus. Their criticism was largely based on insufficiencies of data in support of the initial diagnoses of the condition. In this article, a review of the literature from the period 1977-1999 has been described; the criteria used were those of Krutchkoff et al.

Allergy to bovine beta-lactoglobulin: specificity of human IgE to tryptic peptides.

Background: Bovine beta-lactoglobulin (Blg) is a major cow's milk allergen. It is the main whey protein, without any counterpart in human milk. Blg chemical hydrolysates appeared to retain most of the immunoreactivity of the native protein.

Interobserver and intraobserver variability in the histologic assessment of oral lichen planus.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver variability in the histopathological assessment of oral lichen planus (OLP) since this may influence the outcome of studies on epidemiology, treatment and prognosis. Five oral pathologists examined 60 microscopic slides, not being informed about the original histopathological assessment. Forty-five of the cases had been originally signed out as OLP; the remaining 15 cases represented a mixture of other oral white lesions.

Assessment of allergic potential of (novel) foods.

In safety assessment of Novel Foods such as functional foods, allergy is a special issue on which particular emphasis has been placed. The reason for such concern is that incidence of food allergies is constantly and rapidly increasing. The severity of the reported incidents and the number of foods incriminated are also on the rise.

Expression of a lipocalin in prokaryote and eukaryote cells: quantification and structural characterization of recombinant bovine beta-lactoglobulin.

In this paper we quantify and characterize the expression of recombinant beta-lactoglobulin (rBLG) in prokaryote and eukaryote cells. In Escherichia coli we used the pET26 vector, which permits the secretion of rBLG in periplasm. We studied the expression of rBLG in COS-7 cells and in vivo in mouse tibialis muscle.

Sulphation and secretion of the predominant secretory human colonic mucin MUC2 in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Decreased synthesis of the predominant secretory human colonic mucin (MUC2) occurs during active ulcerative colitis.

Aims: To study possible alterations in mucin sulphation and mucin secretion, which could be the cause of decreased mucosal protection in ulcerative colitis.

Methods: Colonic biopsy specimens from patients with active ulcerative colitis, ulcerative colitis in remission, and controls were metabolically labelled with [35S]-amino acids or [35S]-sulphate, chase incubated and analysed by SDS-PAGE, followed by quantitation of mature [35S]-labelled MUC2.

Intestinal barrier function and cow's milk sensitization in guinea pigs fed milk or fermented milk.

Background: The respective effect of milk and fermented milks on intestinal barrier capacity and on sensitization to beta-lactoglobulin was studied using a guinea pig model of cow's milk allergy.

Methods: Guinea pigs were fed a control diet or the same diet supplemented with milk, fermented milk (Streptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium breve), or dehydrated fermented milk. Intestinal barrier capacity to macromolecules was assessed in an Ussing chamber, and sensitization to cow's milk proteins was measured by systemic anti-beta-lactoglobulin immunoglobulin G1 titers and by intestinal anaphylaxis, the latter assessed by the beta-lactoglobulin-induced increase in short-circuit current of jejunal fragments (deltaIsc(beta-LG)).

Two-site enzyme immunometric assays for determination of native and denatured beta-lactoglobulin.

Two enzyme immunometric assays suitable for measuring native and denatured beta-lactoglobulin (BLg) have been developed. The assays were performed in 96-well microtitre plates and were based on the use of pairs of monoclonal antibodies specific to either the native form or the reduced and carboxymethylated form of BLg (RCM-BLg). Detection limits of 30 and 200 pg/ml were obtained for the native BLg and the RCM-BLg assay, respectively, with very low or negligible cross-reactivity of the other milk proteins and tryptic fragments of BLg.

Malignant epithelial parotid gland tumours: analysis and results in 65 previously untreated patients.

Background: Optimal management of malignant epithelial parotid tumours requires knowledge of the available therapeutic modalities and the different biological characteristics. The aim of the study was to review the characteristics of patients at presentation, histological classification, disease-free and overall survival rates, and the results of the applied treatment policy regarding the facial nerve and neck.

Methods: Between 1974 and 1995 a total of 65 patients was treated with curative intent for a previously untreated malignant epithelial parotid gland tumour.

Allergy to bovine beta-lactoglobulin: specificity of human IgE using cyanogen bromide-derived peptides.

Background: Bovine beta-Lactoglobulin (Blg) is a major allergen involved in allergy to cow's milk proteins. Hydrolyzing Blg did not totally suppress its allergenicity; moreover its immunoreactivity may be increased. The aim of this work was to evaluate the specificity of serum IgE to different fragments of Blg in a group of 19 individuals allergic to cow's milk.

Surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: evaluation of long-term results and prognostic factors--a retrospective analysis of 184 patients.

Purpose: A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vermilion border of the lower lip and to identify parameters of the primary tumor that may predict local recurrence and regional metastasis.

Patients And Methods: From 1979 through 1992, 184 consecutive patients with a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip underwent surgical excision as a primary treatment. There were 166 (90.

Parotid gland tumors: histologic reevaluation and reclassification of 478 cases.

Background: The histologic classification of epithelial salivary gland tumors may present difficulties due to their great morphologic diversity.

Methods: In this study, 478 parotid gland tumors were reevaluated and reclassified according to the 1991 WHO histologic classification of salivary gland tumors.

Results: In 56 cases, the original diagnosis was changed, either within the benign or the malignant tumor group.

Studies of the anatomy and pathology of the orbit in carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and their impact on preservation of the eye in maxillectomy.

Background: The periorbita has been traditionally regarded as the decisive layer whose involvement in carcinoma of maxillary sinus indicates orbital exenteration. Anatomic texts depict that the orbital fat rests on the periorbita. Our experience at surgical dissections has been different.

Specificity of the human IgE response to the different purified caseins in allergy to cow's milk proteins.

Background: Cow's milk is one of the most frequent food allergens. Whole casein appears to be highly allergenic. It corresponds to an association of four different proteins, alpha(s1)-, alpha(s2)-, beta- and kappa-caseins in approximate proportions of 40, 10, 40, and 10%, respectively.

Results of the surgical management and histopathological evaluation of 88 parotid gland Warthin's tumours.

With the introduction of parotidectomy after identification of the facial nerve the recurrence rates for benign tumours has declined rapidly. Subsequently, attention was focused on other sequelae of parotid surgery. To reduce the specific surgical morbidity, several modifications of parotidectomy have been implemented.

Variation in the sensitivity of aquatic species in relation to the classification of environmental pollutants.

Differences in species sensitivity to toxicants can be substantial. In this study this among-species variation in sensitivity was analyzed in relation to chemical's mode of action. Chemicals were classified as: non-polar narcotics, polar narcotics, reactive compounds and specifically acting compounds.

Pattern analysis of the variation in the sensitivity of aquatic species to toxicants.

Our aim in this study was to identify groups of species showing a similar pattern in their sensitivity to toxicants and to relate the patterns to the mode of toxic action and biological species characteristics. A data matrix was composed of acute toxicity data for 26 aquatic species and 21 compounds. Most of the variation in the toxicological data was due to differences in toxicity of compounds and not intrinsic differences between species, so that practically every species can be used to order compounds with respect to average toxicity.

Human IgE binding capacity of tryptic peptides from bovine alpha-lactalbumin.

The specific IgE binding capacity of native bovine alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-La), a globular whey protein, and tryptic peptides was investigated using 19 sera from patients with cow's milk protein allergy. The specific anti-bovine alpha-La IgE titers ranged from 0.6 to 125 IU/ml.

Production of arachidonic acid metabolites by the colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 cl.19A and their effect on chloride secretion.

Eicosanoids were found in large amounts in the colonic mucosa of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases and colonic adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the intestinal epithelial cells in the arachidonic acid metabolism and their functional response to certain eicosanoids. We used the human adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line HT29 cl.

Cloning of a novel human diacylglycerol kinase (DGKtheta) containing three cysteine-rich domains, a proline-rich region, and a pleckstrin homology domain with an overlapping Ras-associating domain.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) attenuates levels of second messenger diacylglycerol in cells and produces another (putative) messenger, phosphatidic acid. We have previously purified a 110-kDa DGK from rat brain (Kato, M., and Takenawa, T.