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Notes: Zusammenfassung DieAktivuntersuchung ermöglichtauch bei der Gon. eineeinfache und relativverläβliche Serodiagnose. Diepraktische Bedeutung der Serodiagnose bei Gon. dürftein erster Linie in derErfassung klinisch und ätiologisch verdächtiger, aber bakteriologisch nicht sicherzustellender Fälle liegen. Dieprognostische undtherapeutische Bedeutung der Reaktion ist nochfraglich.

Notes: Abstract. In order to test for human histocompatibility leucocyte antigens (HLA) class II restriction of IgE responses, 431 subjects from 83 families were genotyped at the HLA-DR and HLA-DP loci and serotyped for IgE responses to six major allergens from common aero-allergen sources. A possible excess of HLA-DR 1 was found in subjects who were responsive to FeldI compared with those who were not (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2, P = 0.002), and a possible excess of HLA-DR4 was found in subjects responsive to Alt a I (OR = 1–9, P = 0.006). Increased sharing of HLA-DR/DP haplotypes was seen in sibling pairs responding to both allergens. Der p I, Der p II, Phi p V and Can f I were not associated with any definite excess of HLA-DR alleles. No significant correlations were seen with HLA-DP genotype and reactivity to any of the allergens. The results suggest class II HLA restriction is insufficient to account for individual differences in reactivity to common allergens.

Notes: Background : Current therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection involves a course of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Patients who do not show a virological response after 12 weeks of therapy have a low probability of sustained virological response and it is therefore recommended that such patients stop treatment.Aim : To assess patients’ views of early treatment cessation.Methods : We conducted a open-labelled study in three UK centres, in which patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C requiring therapy were offered the choice of a full course of therapy with 40 kDa pegylated interferon-α 2a plus ribavirin (24 or 48 weeks depending on viral genotype) or early cessation if therapy had failed after 12 weeks.Results : Ninety-five participants were enrolled and the majority (69%) did not wish to discontinue therapy even if it had low probability of success. In this unselected UK population, very few patients (4%) did not achieve an early virological response with the 40-kDa pegylated interferon-α 2a plus ribavirin and two of the four early virological non-responders decided to continue therapy.Conclusion : Early discontinuation of ‘ineffective’ anti-viral therapy may prove less popular with patients than with health care providers, and further patient-directed education regarding the cost-effectiveness of therapy will be needed if early discontinuation of unsuccessful therapy is to be accepted by patients.

Notes: Review Articles

Notes: Conclusions Whether or not the immune system initiates CD, it can be seen to play a role in the natural history of the disease. Genetic susceptibility to CD has been shown to be linked to the HLA, DQw2 and it appears that other genes within the MHC further contribute to disease susceptibility. The search for other immune response genes that may be linked to CD has lead to investigation both within the MHC and elsewhere in the genome. However, environmental factors undoubtedly contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. The initiating event leading to CD may be exposure to gluten or possibly infection with a virus. Although it has been suggested that the lesions of CD may be a direct consequence of chemical damage caused by gluten, the weight of evidence suggests that damage occurs either as a result, or as a consequence, of the immune response to gluten. Epithelial damage may result from the immune response directed against antigens processed and presented by epithelial cells. Alternatively epithelial damage may be a consequence of the local immune response to absorbed wheat antigens, or possibly other luminal antigens leaking into the mucosa due to increased intestinal permeability. Whether this immune response develops as the result of a cross-reactivity between a viral peptide and a gluten-derived peptide remains to be seen. Histological, immunocytochemical and serological studies clearly demonstrate the involvement of the immune system in established CD. A deeper understanding of the genetic susceptibility to CD, the identity of the immunogenic gluten peptides and the interaction between antigen HLA and lymphocytes will not only help us to understand CD but also provide an insight into many other immune-mediated diseases.

Notes: Abstract The Solar Oscillations Investigation (SOI) uses the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument to probe the interior of the Sun by measuring the photospheric manifestations of solar oscillations. Characteristics of the modes reveal the static and dynamic properties of the convection zone and core. Knowledge of these properties will improve our understanding of the solar cycle and of stellar evolution. Other photospheric observations will contribute to our knowledge of the solar magnetic field and surface motions. The investigation consists of coordinated efforts by several teams pursuing specific scientific objectives. The instrument images the Sun on a 10242 CCD camera through a series of increasingly narrow spectral filters. The final elements, a pair of tunable Michelson interferometers, enable MDI to record filtergrams with a FWHM bandwidth of 94 mÅ. Normally 20 images centered at 5 wavelengths near the Ni I 6768 spectral line are recorded each minute. MDI calculates velocity and continuum intensity from the filtergrams with a resolution of 4″ over the whole disk. An extensive calibration program has verified the end-to-end performance of the instrument. To provide continuous observations of the longest-lived modes that reveal the internal structure of the Sun, a carefully-selected set of spatial averages are computed and downlinked at all times. About half the time MDI will also be able to downlink complete velocity and intensity images each minute. This high rate telemetry (HRT) coverage is available for at least a continuous 60-day interval each year and for 8 hours each day during the rest of the year. During the 8-hour HRT intervals, 10 of the exposures each minute can be programmed for other observations, such as measurements in MDI's higher resolution (1.25″) field centered about 160″ north of the equator; meanwhile, the continuous structure program proceeds during the other half minute. Several times each day, polarizers will be inserted to measure the line-of-sight magnetic field. MDI operations will be scheduled well in advance and will vary only during the daily 8-hour campaigns. Quick-look and summary data, including magnetograms, will be processed immediately. Most high-rate data will be delivered only by mail to the SOI Science Support Center (SSSC) at Stanford, where a processing pipeline will produce 3 Terabytes of calibrated data products each year. These data products will be analyzed using the SSSC and the distributed resources of the co-investigators. The data will be available for collaborative investigations.