Morris A. Kaplan

Prednisone (meticorten)∗ in the treatment of bronchial asthma: A clinical study

Abstract 1.1. Prednisone is a very effective drug in bronchial asthma, and shows marked anti-inflammatory action. In our studies it is approximately four to five times more effective, on a weight basis, than cortisone or hydrocortisone. 2.2. Side effects observed were those previously described with cortisone and hydrocortisone, but the dose required to produce these effects was proportionately larger and the length of time was much longer. 3.3. Attention is called to the serious complications of adrenal insufficiency following stress phenomena and the value of long-acting ACTH to correct or offset this complication. 4.4. The use of antibiotics has been pointed out as a factor in increasing the effectiveness of prednisone or ACTH in patients who show evidence of infection, and it gave more gratifying results.

Properties of rabbit antiragweed and antihorseradish peroxidase homocytotropic antibodies

Abstract Homocytotropic antibodies (HCA) were produced by the rabbit after primary injection of the dialysis residue of an aqueous extract of dwarf ragweed pollen (DRg) or a purified dwarf ragweed pollen extract (Pool C) only when the antigen was adsorbed on Al(OH) 3 . The properties of rabbit ragweed-specific HCA were qualitatively similar to ragweed skin-sensitizing antibodies found in sera of ragweed-allergic human beings, namely: homocytotropic activity (72 hour homologous PC A reaction), heat lability at 56 °C., and inactivation by reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol followed by alkylation with iodoacetamide. The molecular weight of rabbit HCA was ~250,000 (Sephadex G-200), somewhat higher than human γE skin-sensitizing antibodies. Most rabbits immunized with ragweed antigen-Al(OH) 3 systems gave positive conjunctival and intradermal reactions. Intravenous challenge (8 mg. per kilogram) of these animals produced anaphylaxis. HCA were also elicited in response to the immunologic marker, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), when admixed with Al(OH) 3 . The properties of HRP-specific HCA (molecular weight ~250,000) were similar to rabbit ragweed-specific HCA. The results suggest that the rabbit can be used as a model to study the biosynthesis of antibodies that have some physicochemical and biologic characteristics in common with human antibodies involved in immediate hypersensitivity.

Uptake of Carbohydrate by Polyribosomes During the Immune Response to Ragweed Antigen

The in vitro radioactive labeling of polyribosomes in slices of rabbit lymph glands, liver and other tissues engaged in glycoprotein synthesis was studied by sucrose density gradien

Diffusion-Precipitin Index to Antibody Avidity

Antigen, diffusing into converging edges of an antibody depot, inhibits the precipitation unless the reaction is completed before an inhibiting antigen excess is established. Since the rate of the increase of antigen concentration depends on the size of the angle, relative avidities of similar preparations of antibody may be estimated from the angle just producing observable inhibition.