Cord blood samples were collected from a birth cohort of 2631 infants to elucidate the association between genetic and environmental factors and fetal production of IgE. The cord blood IgE values were treated both as a continuous and as a dichotomous variable in the statistical analyses. Multivariate analysis was used to control for confounding factors. Infants with single and biparental atopic heritage had higher IgE concentrations in cord plasma than children of parents without atopy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association to maternal allergic eczema or perennial rhinitis. The cord blood IgE concentration varied with month of birth with peaks in late autumn. This seasonal variation was not related to parental atopic disease. Boys had significantly higher levels of IgE and more often elevated IgE values (> or = 0.5 kU/l) than girls. Alcohol and caffeine consumption by the mothers during pregnancy were both significantly associated with elevated IgE concentration. There was also a relation between mothers prepregnant weight and elevated CB-IgE levels. No significant association was observed between maternal smoking and cord plasma IgE levels. The fact that many factors presumably not related to child allergy seem to influence the regulation of fetal IgE production, could explain the questionable value of cord blood IgE in predicting allergy in childhood.

Several cDNA clones encoding receptors for leukocyte chemoattractants, including IL-8, C5a, N-formyl peptides (FP), and platelet-activating factor, have been isolated in the past 3 years. The primary structure of these receptors revealed that they are members of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors containing seven transmembrane domains. In this study the polymerase chain reaction was carried out to isolate novel cDNA clones encoding human receptors of IL-8 related cytokines, chemokines, from a human monocyte cDNA library using degenerate oligonucleotide primers devised from conserved sequences among the cDNAs encoding the human receptors for IL-8, FP and C5a. Four novel cDNA clones (HM63, HM74, HM89, and HM145) in addition to cDNAs for FP and C5a receptors were isolated. All polypeptides encoded by the cloned cDNAs share common features with the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, such as seven putative hydrophobic transmembrane domains and, except for HM74, N-linked glycosylation sites near the N-terminus. The amino acid sequence identities among HM63, HM89, HM145, IL-8 receptors, FP receptor, and C5a receptor are in the range of 24-68%, higher than those of other members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Moreover, the number of amino acids between the fifth and sixth transmembrane domains, which varies within this superfamily, is the same in these receptors. Thus, three of the newly identified proteins probably belong to a 'leukocyte chemotactic peptide receptor family'. HM74 differs from the other clones with respect to the amino acid homology, suggesting that this may be the receptor for a different type of ligand. Furthermore, it was confirmed that HM145 is a functional receptor for LD78, one of the C-C chemokines, as revealed by the measurement of decrease of cAMP accumulation as well as calcium influx using stable transfectants.

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Beneficial effects have been attributed to increased ketogenesis, reduced cardiac fatty acid oxidation, and diminished cardiac oxygen consumption. We therefore studied whether SGLT2 inhibition altered cardiac oxidative substrate consumption, efficiency, and perfusion. Thirteen individuals with type 2 diabetes were studied after 4 weeks’ treatment with empagliflozin and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Myocardial palmitate and glucose uptake were measured with 11C-palmitate and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). Oxygen consumption and myocardial external efficiency (MEE) were measured with 11C-acetate PET/CT. Resting and adenosine stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were measured using 15O-H2O PET/CT. Empagliflozin did not affect myocardial free fatty acids (FFAs) uptake but reduced myocardial glucose uptake by 57% (P < 0.001). Empagliflozin did not change myocardial oxygen consumption or MEE. Empagliflozin reduced resting MBF by 13% (P < 0.01), but did not significantly affect stress MBF or MFR. In conclusion, SGLT2 inhibition did not affect myocardial FFA uptake, but channeled myocardial substrate utilization from glucose toward other sources and reduced resting MBF. However, the observed metabolic and hemodynamic changes were modest and most likely contribute only partially to the cardioprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibition.

In children with heart disease risk factors for RSV admission are Down syndrome, cardiomyopathy and haemodynamically significant heart disease. Young age and cardiac decompensation are associated with a more severe course of RSV disease.

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