Current UC histological scores reliably assess limited histological inflammation in UC patients. The discrepancy between the initial histological assessment and the reassessment by dedicated GI pathologists suggests a gap between daily practice and academic expertise. This issue may limit the implementation of HR as a treatment target for UC in daily practice.

LcSSc ATA-positive patients differ from lcSSc ATA-negative patients and dcSSc ATA-positive patients concerning survival and organ involvement. LcSSc patients who are ATA-positive are more likely to develop dcSSc than lcSSc patients who are ATA negative.

No abstract

Anhydrous HCI was bubbled through 25 ml of purified HMPA for 25 min. at such a rate that the temperature reached 700 after 4 min. It was then kept between 67-73" for another 21 min. 2 ml of the reaction mixture were taken out as fraction I.The HCI flow was now decreased and the reaction mixture heated to about 16CP for 44 hours. The cooled down mixture was then extracted with 3 x 100 ml of ether. Small amounts of NHMe,.HCI in the ether fraction was filtered off and the ether evaporated. The remaining mixture was fraction 11.A GLC-spectrum (5 % SE-30 DMCS column) of fraction I showed that it contained HMPA and P(O)CI(NMe,), in an approximate ratio of 1 : 2. No peak belonging to P(O)CI,NMe, was found. Further identification was performed by NMR, where the J,, from P(O)(NMe,), was found to be 9.5 Hz [lit. Is: J,, = 9.5 Hz (in CCI,)] and the J,, from P(O)CI(NMe,), was 13.0 Hz [lit. 14: J,, = 13.0 Hz (in CCI,)]. A GLC-spectrum (the same column as for fraction I) of fraction I1 showed that it contained only P(O)CI(NMe,), and P(O)CI,NMe, in an approximate ratio of 5 : 2. No P(O)CI, was found. In a NMRspectrum of the mixture J,, from P(O)CI(NMe,), was found to be 13.0 Hz and J,, from P(O)CI,NMe, was found to be 16.0 Hz [lit. 14: J,, = 15.8 (in CCI,)].Abstract. The coupling of histidine derivatives by the excess mixed anhydride method was investigated with respect to the yield, the racemization, and the formation of by-products. The tert-butyloxycarbonyl-(Boc-), isobutyloxycarbonyl-(i-Boc-), benzyloxycsrbonyl-(Z-), and p-toluenesulfonyl-(Tos-) groups were found to be suitable for protection of the imidazole nucleus.A new way of selective removal of the Ni,-Tos group, with pyridine hydrochloride, is described.

The solid-phase synthesis by 21 programmed mechanical synthesizer isdescribed of L-pyroglutamyl-N,,-benzyl-L-proline-on-polymer, PG A-His( BZL)-Pro-P. Tertiary amine-catalysed methanolysis split the peptide from the resin a s PGAHis(BZL)-Pro-OMe. The benzyl group was removed by hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd/C. The peptide ester thus obtained could be converted by diethylene glycol-catalysed ammonolysis into L-pyroglutamyl-L-histidyl-L-proline amide. The method constitutes a practical synthesis of the said tripeptide amide, the thyrotropin-releasing hormone ( T R H ) which was recently discovered.