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SUMMARYThe large phosphorylated matrix protein pp 150 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the polypeptide most frequently reactive in immunoblotting analyses with human antisera when compared with other viral proteins. Several defined regions of ppl50 were expressed as ]~-galactosidase fusion proteins and these were tested for their immunoreactivity with human sera and their immunogenicity. One antigenic region could be expressed in large amounts and was found to carry immunodominant epitopes, as shown by immunoblotting and ELISA. A rabbit antiserum raised against recombinant ppl50 antigens produced in bacteria proved to be useful for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry studies of HCMV-infected cells and tissues. The results suggest that this anti-pp 150 serum will help to elucidate the process of virus assembly and antigen detection in infected cells.

3851 consecutive patients patch tested between January 1985 and March 1990 have been analysed for rubber allergies. The incidence of rubber allergy was 3.8% (n = 145). In 80/145 patients (55%), the source of rubber sensitization was occupational, 67 of whom (84%) had acquired allergy from wearing rubber gloves at work. Most of them (36%) were employed in the health services. The most commonly positive rubber-mix in this group was thiuram-mix (72%) followed by carba-mix (25%). 13/80 patients (16%) had occupational rubber allergy from industrial rubber products other than gloves. Patch tests revealed thiuram-mix (62%) as the most commonly positive rubber-mix but, in contrast to the group with glove-induced rubber allergy, black-rubber-mix came second (38%). In 47/145 patients (32%), the source of rubber sensitization was non-occupational; in 18/145 (13%) the origin remained unknown.

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In both, 6 hyperthyroid and 6 hypothyroid patients as well as 10 healthy volunteers, cell cycle kinetics of dissected anagen scalp hair bulbs were determined by means of DNA flow cytometry (DNA-FCM). Compared with the healthy control group in patients with thyroid disorders striking differences of cell kinetic data were evaluated. In hyperthyroidism a significant increase (30%) and in hypothyroidism a significant decrease (15%) of S and G₂ + M phase cell percentages was found. The proliferation index (S + G₂ + M%) calculated revealed similar results. A correlation between the height of S phase percentages and plasma T₃ levels was recognizable but could not be proved statistically. By means of DNA-FCM the study demonstrates for the first time the influence of thyroid hormones on in vivo cell cycle kinetics of human scalp hair bulbs.