Elucidation of the Intestinal Zinc Transport mechanism

The effects of prostaglandin El [PGE1], testosterone, 17β-estradiol and indomethacin on the zinc flux rate across the jejunal segements isolated from rats of each sex were determined using the Ussing chamber technique. Addition of PGE1 [5.0 μM] to the segment bathing medium significantly stimulated the zinc flux rate from mucosa-to-serosa [J_(ms)] of the jejunal segements isolated from male rats and inhibited it in those from female rats. 17β-estradiol [10 nM] inhibited J_(ms) of jujunal segments isolated from male rats, but testosterone stimulated those from female rats. To confirm that testosterone stimulates and 17β-estradiol inhibits J_(ms), the effects of testosterone on the zinc flux rates of segments isolated from male rats and 17β-estradiol on those from female rats were determined. In those experiments, both testosterone and 17β-estradiol inhibited J_(ms) without affecting the zinc flux rate from serosa-to-mucosa [J_(sm)]. However, when rats were ovariectomized, both of these steroid hormones stimulated J_(ms). Interestingly neither PGE1 nor steroid sex hormones produced any effect on the J_(sm), although indomethacin stimulated the J_(sm) of segments from male rats. These results suggest that steroid sex hormones interact with PGs in influencing the intestinal zinc transport and that endogenous PGs and steroid sex hormones augment the effects of exogenous hormones and PGs

Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Profiles of Allergic Disea ses in Korea

The epidemiological, immunological, and clinical features were analized in allergic patients visiting the allergy clinic of Seoul National University Hos· pital during last 5 years. 75.9% of the patients had respiratory allergies, 10.1% had cutaneous allergies. 11. 2% had both respiratory and cutaneous allergies. and 2.8% had anaphylaxis or allergies of other organs. Classifying respiratory allergies into intrinsic and extrinsic allergies by disease history and skin reaction to inhalant allergens, the former constituted 49.6% and the latter 50.4% (perennial, 46.6%, seasonal, 3.8%) The mean age of the patients with extrinsic res~ piratory allergies was lower than that of those with intrinsic allergies especially in males. There were atopic family histories in 23.5% of total patients Serum total IgE levels were increased in 68% of patients with extrinsic respiratory allergies, in 39% of those with intrinsic respiratory allergies, and in 50% of those with cutaneous allergies The inhalant allergens showing the most frequent positive skin reaction were those of house dust mites and house dus t. Other common allergens included those of cockroach, hay dust , cat , etc. However skin reactions to some allergens were not correlated with disease histories. Allergies to pollens or molds did not exceed 3% of the causes of rhinitis or asthma. Food allergens such as buckwheat and pupa seemed unique in Korea. The air-borne pollen survey in Seoul area revealed that the tree season was from mid-March to late· June, the grass season from late-March to late·Octover, and the weed season from Mid·June to late-November. Immunotherapy has been performed in more than 600 patients with respiratory allergies. Besides sym ptornatic improvement, most patients became less sensitive in skin test to offending allergens. The skin test reactivity may be an objective parameter indio eating the efficacy of immunotherapy during the maintenance cours