Ir-IA is a dominant autosomal gene(s) which regulates the specific antibody response to several antigens, including three branched, multichain, polypeptide antigens, poly-L(Tyr, Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala--poly-L-Lys; poly-L-(His, Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala--poly-L-Lys; and polyL-(Phe,Glu)-poly-D,a-Ala--poly-L-Lys, abbreviated respectively (T,G)-A--L, (H,G)-A--L, and (Phe, G)-A--L (1). 1 The Ir-lA gene is locate...

Katz et al. (1) have demonstrated a restriction in lymphoid cell interaction when the antigen used is under immune response (Ir) gene control. T cells from (low responder x high responder) F(1) mice primed to the terpolymer L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-tyrosine (GLT) can collaborate with 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-primed B cells from the Ir-GLT high responder but not low responder strain in respon...

To examine the alterations of intracellular Ca2' ([Ca2"]i)-handling mechanisms in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of rat aorta (Shin et al Circ Res 1991;69:551-556), we stimulated VSMCs by extracellular high K', caffeine, and angiotensin II and evaluated Ca2' influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release, and inositol trisphosphate-dependent Ca2+ releas...

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study is to investigate the responder rate of Electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, in clinical routine work and to define clinical characteristics predictive of response to ECT. The main hypothesis is that the responder rate of ECT might be lower in clinical routine than in controlled trials. METHODS This is a population-based study of all patients (N = 990) treat...

Understanding the genetic mechanisms of sensitivity to targeted anticancer therapies may improve patient selection, response to therapy, and rational treatment designs. One approach to increase this understanding involves detailed studies of exceptional responders: rare patients with unexpected exquisite sensitivity or durable responses to therapy. We identified an exceptional responder in a ph...

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a known pathogen causing periodontal disease and infective endocarditis, is a survivor in the periodontal pocket and blood stream; both environments contain serum as a nutrient source. To screen for unknown virulence factors associated with this microorganism, A. actinomycetemcomitans was grown in serum-based media to simulate its in vivo environment. Diff...