System level design of the ITER bolometer port plug cameras.

The ITER bolometer diagnostic is planned to have 550 lines of sight (LOS) distributed all over the vessel. 240 channels are provided by cameras mounted in two upper ports and in one equatorial port. This paper describes the current status of the system level design of the port cameras and the solutions proposed on how to implement all required camera components while meeting a multitude of competing requirements.

Complete coding sequence, deduced primary structure, chromosomal localization, and structural analysis of murine aggrecan.

We have isolated and sequenced overlapping cDNA clones encoding the entire core protein of aggrecan (the large aggregating chondroitin sulfate/keratan sulfate proteoglycan of cartilage) from three chondrocyte cDNA libraries of BALB/c mice and localized the aggrecan gene in mouse chromosome 7. We determined 7386 bp of the cDNA sequence, including 132 and 854 nucleotides of 5' and 3' untranslated regions, respectively. The core protein precursor is 2132 amino acids long (M(r) 222,008), including a 19-residue secretory signal peptide.

Expression of alternatively spliced epidermal growth factor-like domains in aggrecans of different species. Evidence for a novel module.

The carboxyl-terminal globular domain of human aggrecan has been shown previously to contain an alternatively spliced epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like module. We have used reverse transcription/polymerase chain reactions on cartilage-derived RNAs to investigate the heterogeneity in the EGF-like domain content of aggrecans from five species (mouse, rat, dog, bovine, and human). A novel alternatively spliced EGF-like module was detected in human aggrecan, establishing the presence of two of these domains.

[Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Job) syndrome].

A patient with hyperimmunoglobulin E (Job's) syndrome is presented. The authors review the clinical and immunological characteristics of the disease and sum up the different explanations for the pathogenesis of the syndrome.

[Leukocyte migration inhibition test in celiac disease].

The leukocyte migration inhibition test is a method used to assess the cell-mediated immune function. The authors examined 251 samples for a period of 3 years; 169 samples from celiac patients and 82 were control. The sensitivity of this test was 34/35 (97%) in proved gluten sensitive patients, but this was found after repeating the test at different periods of time.

Hormonal regulation of complement biosynthesis in human cell lines--II. Upregulation of the biosynthesis of complement components C3, factor B and C1 inhibitor by interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 in human hepatoma cell line.

The effect of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 on the biosynthesis of complement components C3, factor B, C2, C4 and C1 inhibitor (C1 inh), as well as that of albumin, was studied in vitro in human hepatoma-derived cell line, HepG2. Measuring the amounts of secreted complement proteins we detected a significant upregulation of C3 by both hormones. The enhancement of the factor B and especially that of C1 inh production was predominant by IL-6.

Hormonal regulation of complement biosynthesis in human cell lines--I. Androgens and gamma-interferon stimulate the biosynthesis and gene expression of C1 inhibitor in human cell lines U937 and HepG2.

C1 inhibitor (C1inh), a member of the serine protease inhibitor gene superfamily, is a glycosylated plasma protein inhibiting the proteolytic activities of C1r and C1s and involved in the regulation of coagulation, fibrinolysis and kinin-releasing systems. In this study, the in vitro effect of androgen hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (TEST) and recombinant human gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), has been determined on the production of C1inh in human cell lines. In both human monocytoid/histiocytoid cell line U937 and in hepatoma derived cell line HepG2, DHEA and TEST upregulated the gene expression and secretion of C1inh.

Unequal expression of complement C4A and C4B genes in rheumatoid synovial cells, human monocytoid and hepatoma-derived cell lines.

C4A and C4B are closely related homologous complement proteins encoded in the class III region of major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The regulation of their expression is under genetic and hormonal control. In this study we investigated the synovial fluid plasma ratio of C4A and C4B of rheumatoid (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and a predominance of the C4B gene expression by the synovial macrophages of RA patients was demonstrated.

Stimulation of histamine receptors of human monocytoid and hepatoma-derived cell lines and mouse hepatocytes modulates the production of the complement components C3, C4, factor B, and C2.

The influence of histamine (and the related agonists and antagonists) alone or in the presence of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) was studied on the production of complement components C3, C2, factor B, and C4 in vitro with human monocytoid cell line U937, hepatoma-derived cell line HepG2, and mouse hepatocytes. Both U937 and HepG2 cells responded to histamine through H1 and H2 histamine receptors. The effect of histamine on the biosynthesis and gene expression of complement proteins was predominantly enhancing via the H1 histamine receptors and inhibitory through the H2 receptors.

Effect of histamine on the T-cell colony formation of PHA-stimulated cells.

The effect of histamine on T-cell colony formation was studied in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Histamine inhibited dose-dependently (10(-4)-10(-6) M) the colony formation of PHA-stimulated T-cells. The inhibition was similar in normal controls and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in spite of the fact that in RA the colony formation was significantly lower than in the normal controls.

Effect of two synthetic alpha-gliadin peptides on lymphocytes in celiac disease: identification of a novel class of opioid receptors.

Two synthetic peptides containing residues 43-47 and 43-49 of alpha-gliadin were tested for inhibition of leukocyte migration in 47 patients with celiac disease. In nineteen patients, all on a normal diet, leukocyte migration was inhibited by the peptides and naloxone blocked this effect. In twenty-eight patients (24 of whom were on strict gluten-free diet) leukocyte migration was not affected by the peptides.

Prognostic factors in acute lymphoid leukaemia of childhood. II. Cell surface markers.

Monoclonal sera have been used to determine the surface phaenotype of leukaemic cells during the last three years. Bone-marrow specimens of 57 children with recently diagnosed acute lymphoid leukaemia were examined; four cases were classified as T-cell leukaemia, 2 cases as B-cell leukaemia, in 37 cases cALLa was positive and fourteen children were classified as O-cell type, based on the absence of markers. Analysis of symptom-free survival revealed a very poor prognosis in B-cell leukaemia; there was no significant difference between the remaining groups.

Naloxone antagonises effect of alpha-gliadin on leucocyte migration in patients with coeliac disease.

The effect of naloxone on inhibition of leucocyte migration by alpha-gliadin was examined in 24 patients with coeliac disease. In all cases in which alpha-gliadin inhibited leucocyte migration, naloxone blocked this inhibitory effect, which suggests that the effect of gliadin on lymphocytes from patients with coeliac disease may be mediated through opioid-like receptors.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of small-for-gestational age and appropriate-for-gestational age preterm neonates.

The lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated in peripheral blood of small-for-gestational age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) preterm newborns. In SGA newborns the number and percentage of T lymphocytes were reduced. Among the T lymphocytes, the number and percentage of T helper cells were significantly decreased.

Developmental changes in lymphocyte surface markers.

The aim of the study was to establish normal values for TG and TM cells in neonates and small babies who are more susceptible to infections than children and adults. For the same reason, the T- and B-lymphocyte ratios were also determined. The percentage of B- and T-cells in neonates was significantly lower, while their absolute number higher, than the adult value.