Binding of FITC-labelled lectins to the gastrointestinal epithelium of the rat.

Biotechnology uses lectin genes to transfect into crop plants for protection against insects and nematodes. On the other hand, the information is limited on lectin-binding properties of cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, binding of a panel of FITC-labelled plant lectins to gastrointestinal cells of the rat was studied. In the stomach, cytoplasmic staining of parietal cells by PHA appeared to be due to glycoproteins attached to the tubulovesicles. PNA also stained the parietal cells, but only in the isthmus and neck regions, reacting with desialylated glycoproteins. WGA bound to the mucous neck cells with higher affinity than to the surface and foveolar mucous cells. The mucous cells were also stained by SNA-I, UEA-I and, less intensively, by LCA. Chief cells did not show detectable reaction with any of the applied lectins. Binding of PHA to gastric cells showed differences when compared with the results of in vivostudies. Small intestinal brush border was stained with UEA-I and SNA-I, the latter lectin also strongly stained the surface of small intestinal crypts. Both lectins reacted with the mucus of goblet cells. In the large intestine UEA-I and SNA-I stained the goblet cells at the base and upper part of the crypts, respectively. Accordingly, we provided evidences for the unique lectin-binding phenotype of the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract.

[Effectiveness and tolerability of the glucocorticoid mometasone furoate given as nasal spray in seasonal allergic rhinitis]. / A glükokortikoid mometazon furoát orrspray formában való adásának hatása szezonális allergiás rhinitisben.

The clinical effect and tolerance of momethasone furoate (MF) glucocorticoid nasal spray (MFNS) were studied in 14-70 year-old patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis. The patients administered daily one (morning) dose, 100 micrograms each, of MF into both nostrils, for a period of 14 days. They did not use other medicines affecting nasal symptoms. Nasal symptoms (nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, sneezing) and non-nasal symptoms (lacrimation, eye itching/burning sensation, palatal itching, ear itching, general itching), scored 0 to 3, and serving as a basis for evaluating the effect, were registered before treatment (day 1) and at visits on 3, 7 and 14th day. Of the 196 patients involved in the open multicentric study, 188 completed the study. The total average nasal symptom scores decreased, already after 3 days of treatment, from 8.7 to 4.1 and to 1.6 by the 14th day. Decrease of non-nasal symptoms was also conspicuous, however, lacrimation persisted in 57 of 188 cases, while eye itching--mainly in moderate and mild form--in 90 cases. The general condition of rhinitis before the treatment was evaluated by the examiners as severe or very severe in 155 cases (82%), as symptom-free (99 cases) on day 14 in, and mild (71 cases), in 170 cases (90%). The therapeutic effect was considered by both, patients and physician, as excellent, in 106 (56%) and 115 (61%) cases, resp. and as good in 63 (34%) and 56 cases (30%). Side-effects were mostly mild and transitory. Treatment was not discontinued due to side-effect in any of the cases. Based on the results, MFNS, administered in a single daily dose of 200 micrograms, has proved to be an effective and safe glucocorticoid preparation, also easy to use locally, in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Determination of the chromium content of Hungarian winter wheat.

Bread and different winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) products are the main sources of chromium in the human diet in Hungary. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) is able to give reliable results for Cr. In this study the chromium content of some winter wheat species was determined after wet digestion. Contamination was the most critical part of chromium measurement; thus, appropriate sample preparation and the cleaning of kernels before digestion were required. The chromium content was 2-3 times higher than expected when contamination occurred. Samples came from a field plot experiment and, therefore, the effect of fertilization (150 kg/ha N, 112.5 kg/ha P(2)O(5), and 132.5 kg/ha K(2)O) on chromium content of grains was studied. The average measured values of different species were 114+/-3 and 134+/-4 microg/kg for the control and fertilized plots, respectively.

Application of a computer-directed automated microscope in mycobacteriology.

Microscopy is currently the fastest, cheapest and most easily performed technique in mycobacteriology; it can be used in any laboratory. However, the sensitivity of microscopy is unsatisfactory and it is time-consuming. To eliminate these drawbacks, we have constructed a computer-directed automated microscope. To evaluate the equipment, we examined a total of 132 smears of sputum and 74 smears of liquid media. Manual microscopy was positive for 53 and negative for 79 sputum smears, while automated microscopy was positive for 55 and negative for 77 sputum smears. Both methods furnished 50 positive and 24 negative smears of liquid media. We conclude that the automated microscope is able to detect acid-fast bacteria, the examination procedure with the instrument is more rapid (1.8-3.5 min/slide) and it is always possible to follow the standard recommendations of microscopy.

Changes in the heavy metal contents of soil from the Park Grass Experiment at Rothamsted Experimental Station.

The classical Rothamsted Experiments allow to contribute to current research. The heavy metal content of soil and hay samples have been measured with ICP-AES from a control and a fertilized plot of the Park Grass Experiment. Today a difference of 1.2 can be observed in the pH levels of the control and fertilized plots; the pH level of the control plot has decreased about 1.0, that of the fertilized plot about 2.2 as a result of 150 years of acid deposition and fertilization. The changes in the pH levels has caused many changes in the heavy metal content of the top layer of the soil. Using different extraction methods (e.g., ammonium acetate, EDTA, and sequential analysis), the heavy metal content of different fractions have been estimated. In the control plot, the Zn, Cd and Pb content increased. In the fertilized plot, the Pb and Cd contents have also increased because of atmospheric deposition and small amounts of lead in the fertilizer. The available form of Cd and Pb increased in both the control and the fertilized plots.

The protective effect of N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAGA) against nasal obstruction provoked by antigen in allergic rhinitis.

Specific nasal challenge test (NCT) with pollen extracts was performed before and after a single dose pretreatment with N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAGA: Rhinaaxia) nasal spray in 11 grass- and ragweed-pollen-sensitive patients with allergic rhinitis in symptom-free condition to test the protective effect of this drug on allergen-induced nasal obstruction and symptoms. In 7 of 11 patients, a third NCT was performed in the same way as the second one, except that placebo spray was used for pretreatment instead of NAAGA nasal spray. Nasal airways resistance (Rnas) measurements were performed before pretreatment and 15 min after NCT. Pretreatment with NAAGA 1 h before NCT significantly (P < 0.001) attenuated antigen-induced nasal obstruction. The mean protection was 64%. The protective effect against nasal symptoms was likewise significant (P < 0.001), but the mean protection was found to be essentially lower (39%) than for Rnas. Pretreatment with placebo nasal spray showed only a 13% (P > 0.1) protection for Rnas, while it did not decrease allergen-induced nasal symptoms. The results suggest that the favorable effect of the regular administration of NAAGA in allergic rhinitis is to be expected primarily when the main complaint is nasal obstruction.