beta 2-Microglobulin amyloidosis: illustrative cases

Patients on long-term dialysis tend to develop amyloidosis derived from beta 2-microglobulin. Serum levels of this protein rise in renal insufficiency and remain high in patients on dialysis. The distribution of amyloid deposits in such patients as well as tissue diagnosis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopic features are briefly discussed.

Determination of the relative percentage deuteration of the ribosomal protein S4 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry provides a fast, economical, and accurate new method for determining levels of nonexchangeable deuterium incorporation in proteins derived from organisms grown on deuterated media. Results are shown for determining the percentage deuteration of ribosomal protein S4 from Escherichia coli.

Immunoglobulin light chains and the kidney: an overview

Monoclonal immunoglobulins and free immunoglobulin light chains are produced by plasma cells as a result of their clonal expansion in plasma cell dyscrasia. These proteins are pivotal in the development of pathologic and clinical symptoms of plasma cell dyscrasia and renal manifestations are frequently the presenting and leading features of this process. The spectrum of pathology associated with monoclonal light chains includes light-chain cast nephropathy and tissue deposits derived from the monoclonal light chain, ie, amyloid derived from the light chains and nonamyloidotic light chain deposition disease. The main diagnostic features, differential diagnosis, and pathogenesis are briefly reviewed.

Nucleotide sequences of the VP4 and VP7 genes of a Chinese lamb rotavirus: evidence for a new P type in a G10 type virus

The VP7 and VP4 genes of a group A rotavirus (Lp14) isolated from a lamb with diarrhea in Qinhai province, China, in 1981 were reverse transcribed, amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. The virus was found to possess a VP7 gene, classifying it as a G10 type, and a VP4 gene which showed only limited homology with any other known VP4 gene, suggesting its classification as a new P type and providing further evidence for the vast diversity of group A rotaviruses.

[Role of nucleus accumbens in cardiovascular activities and its relationship with opioid peptides in rats]

In this study, electrical stimulation and microinjection in nucleus accumbens in urethane-anesthetized rats were conducted to observe the effect of electrical stimulation of nucleus accumbens on blood pressure and heart rate. The following results were observed: (1) Electrical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens of rat resulted in significant hypotension and bradycardia. (2) Kainic acid microinjected into the nucleus accumbens, could abolish the effects mentioned above. (3) Naloxone administered to the nucleus accumbens could block the cardiovascular inhibitory effect evoked by electrical stimulation of nucleus accumbens. The intra-accumbens injection of mu-receptor agonist, DAGO could also elicit hypotension and bradycardia to an extent comparable to that of the effect due to electrical stimulation, whereas kappa-receptor agonist, U-50 had no such an effect. (4) When the cardiovascular inhibitory effect elicited by electrical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens was observed, the discharge activity in locus ceruleus was also decreased. (5) Bilateral vagotomy could abolish the change in heart rate elicited by the electrical stimulation of nucleus accumbens, but not the hypotension. It is suggested that the mu-opioid receptors of neurons in nucleus accumbens are involved in cardiovascular activity.

Role of lysine and arginine residues of cytochrome P450 in the interaction between cytochrome P4502B1 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

Chemical modification of cytochrome P450 was used to study the involvement of lysine and arginine residues in the interaction between cytochrome P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Acetylation of 2.2 and 8.5 mol of lysine/mole of P450 by acetic anhydride led to 38.7 and 95% reductions, respectively, in benzphetamine demethylation activity by NADPH-dependent reconstituted P450/reductase complex, while modification of up to 8.5 mol of lysine/mol of P450 did not inhibit cumene hydroperoxide-supported P450-dependent benzphetamine demethylation. Acetylation of lysine residues by acetic anhydride does not grossly disturb the P450 protein conformation as revealed by absolute, CO-difference and fluorescence spectral studies. Modification of P4502B1 by acetic anhydride did not affect its substrate binding ability either. Lysine residues of P4502B1 putatively involved in the interaction with reductase have been identified by radiolabeling of lysine residues with [14C]acetic anhydride followed by trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and amino acid microsequencing. Radiolabeled lysines occur at positions 251, 384, 422, 433, and 473. Modification of arginine residues in P4502B1 with phenylglyoxal and 2,3-butanedione seemed to have no significant effect on the benzphetamine demethylation activity of P4502B1 either reconstituted with reductase and NADPH or supported by cumene hydroperoxide. Studies of incorporation of [14C]phenylglyoxal showed no concentration- or time-dependent incorporation of phenylglyoxal into the P4502B1. These results support the hypothesis of a predominant role of lysine residues of P450 in the electrostatic interaction with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.

A preliminary study of the fixation mechanism of collagen reaction with a polyepoxy fixative

A new biomaterial has been developed by fixing native collagens with a polyepoxy compound (PC) fixative. Prior studies have shown that this biomaterial has comparable properties as compared to collagen fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA) and thus has a great promise for use as an implantable bioprosthesis. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanism of the amino acids-PC reactions in the fixation process. Bovine arteries were fixed with PC under various pH, concentration and temperature conditions as a function of fixation time. Individual amino acid components in the fresh and the fixed arteries were assayed using a Beckman amino acid analyzer to determine the degree of tanning. The denaturation temperature (Td) was also measured on each sample. Since the denaturation temperature is a direct indication of cross-linking of individual amino acids with the fixative, the difference in the degree of tanning for the same increase in Td may be indicative of the quantity of the masked, non-cross-linked amino acids. The fixation reaction data indicated that not all amino acids were cross-linked upon contacting the PC fixative. Masking appeared to be more substantial with a fixation at higher pH values.

Dominant negative retinoic acid receptor beta

Induction of the retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RAR beta 2) gene by retinoic acid (RA) is mediated by a RA response element (RARE), which represents a high affinity binding site for RAR/RXR heterodimers acting at this site as RA-inducible transcription activators. In RA resistant RAC65 cells, RAR beta 2 induction is blocked due to expression of a truncated RAR alpha acting as a dominant negative repressor. Here we show that exogenous expression of RAR but not RXR can restore RA-dependent RAR beta 2 promoter activation in RAC65 cells. Structure-function analysis of hRAR beta 2 mutants in RAC65 cells shows, that the transactivation function required to restore RAR beta 2 promoter activation is dependent on the DNA binding, dimerization and RA-dependent transactivation properties of hRAR beta 2, which are retained in a mutant (beta delta 409) lacking the F domain. By contrast, dominant repression of RA-dependent mRAR beta 2 promoter activation by hRAR beta 2 mutants is independent of the DNA binding or RA-dependent transactivation function but requires a region (residues 204-384) in hRAR beta 2 involved in heterodimerization with RXR. These data extend previous observations on structure-function of RARs and provides tools for studying the role of retinoids and RARs during vertebrate development.

Kinetic study of collagen fixation with polyepoxy fixatives

A new biomaterial has been developed by fixing native collagen with a polyepoxy compound (PC) fixative. In this study, bovine internal thoracic arteries were fixed with PC under various conditions to help understand the kinetics of the collagen-PC reactions and optimize the fixation process. At predetermined time intervals, small samples were cut from the arteries to determine the quantities of the remaining unreacted amino acids in the collagen. Temperature, concentration, and solution pH were among the key parameters studied. The overall fixation rate was found to be reaction-rate controlled, as the rate of fixation was relatively slow compared with the rate of diffusion of PC. As might be expected, the reaction rate was favored by a higher temperature, concentration, and solution pH. A kinetic model, with a 2.5th reaction order with respect to the reactive functional groups of collagen and a first order with respect to PC, was developed that gave a good fit to the experimental data. Based on this model, the degree of fixation, X, as a function of time, t, is given by (1 - X)-1.5 = 1 + Kt, where K is a constant related to the initial concentrations and the reaction rate constant.

Embryonic stem cells stably transfected with mRAR beta 2-lacZ exhibit specific expression in chimeric embryos

Using the embryonic stem (ES) cell/chimera approach, we have studied the activity of the mouse retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (mRAR beta 2) promoter during ES cell differentiation and during embryonic development. Stable ES clones were isolated after introduction of a 1.8 kb mRAR beta 2-lacZ expression cassette. LacZ expression in these stable clones was specifically induced by retinoic acid (RA) in a similar fashion as the endogenous RAR beta 2 gene. Following introduction of three different ES clones into blastocysts, an integration-independent mRAR beta 2-lacZ expression pattern was obtained in chimeric embryos similar to that described by in situ hybridization and transgenic studies. Moreover, mRAR beta 2-lacZ expression was also detected at some additional sites not described before, e.g. body wall, ureter, mesonephric duct and optic stalk. Maternal RA administration at 8.5 days of pregnancy extended lacZ expression to more anterior and posterior regions. Transgenic mice were generated from germ-line transmission of the transfected ES cells; expression pattern and changes in expression upon RA induction in these transgenic embryos were identical to those in chimeric embryos. We conclude that by using the ES/chimera approach, the proximal 1.8 kb of the mRAR beta 2 promoter produces a reliable and reproducible expression pattern of the reporter gene, and that the ES cell/chimera approach is invaluable for the study of gene expression and regulation.

The role of cytochrome P450 lysine residues in the interaction between cytochrome P450IA1 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

Cytochrome P450IA1 (purified from hepatic microsomes of beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats) has been covalently modified with the lysine-modifying reagent acetic anhydride. Different levels of lysine residue modification in cytochrome P450IA1 can be achieved by varying the concentration of acetic anhydride. Modification of lysine residues in P450IA1 greatly inhibits the interaction of P450IA1 with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Modification of 1.0 and 3.3 mol lysine residues per mole P450IA1 resulted in 30 and 95% decreases, respectively, in 7-ethoxycoumarin hydroxylation by a reconstituted P450IA1/reductase complex. However, modification of 3.3 mol lysine residues per mole P450IA1 decreased only cumene hydroperoxide-supported P450-dependent 7-ethoxycoumarin hydroxylation by 30%. Spectral and fluorescence studies showed no indication of global conformational change of P450IA1 even with up to 8.8 mol lysine residues modified per mole P450IA1. These data suggest that at least three lysine residues in P450IA1 may be involved in the interaction with reductase. Identification of lysine residues in P450IA1 possibly involved in this interaction was carried out by [14C]acetic anhydride modification, trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and amino acid sequencing. The lysine residue candidates identified in this manner were K97, K271, K279, and K407.

Mouse and human retinoic acid receptor beta 2 promoters: sequence comparison and localization of retinoic acid responsiveness

The retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) gene is a member of the family of retinoic acid/thyroid hormone receptor genes, encoding retinoic acid-inducible transcription factors. To study regulation of the RAR beta gene, genomic clones containing the mouse and human retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RAR beta 2) promoters were isolated and approximately 1.5 kb of upstream and downstream sequences relative to the transcriptional start site were completely sequenced. Both the mouse and human RAR beta 2 promoters are highly homologous around the transcription initiation site, with perfect conservation of the TATA box and retinoic acid responsive element (RARE). Promoter activation studies in P19 EC cells show, that the RARE in both the human and mouse promoters confers RA-responsiveness to the RAR beta 2 promoter. However, sequences located immediately upstream of the RARE also confer RA-inducibility to both the mouse and human RAR beta 2 gene promoters. This region contains conserved consensus sequences for a TPA-responsive element (TRE) and cAMP-responsive element (CRE), suggesting that in addition to regulation by RA receptors other transcription factors regulate RAR beta 2 expression in EC cells. Furthermore, the availability of the mouse RAR beta 2 promoter should facilitate studies for transgene expression and gene targeting experiments in embryonic stem cells.

Characteristics of embryonic stem cell differentiation: a comparison with two embryonal carcinoma cell lines

Embryonic stem (ES) cells isolated from late blastocysts can now be maintained in culture in an undifferentiated state provided they are grown in the presence of a specific differentiation inhibitor, known variously as leukaemia inhibiting factor (LIF) or differentiation inhibiting activity (DIA), found at high concentrations in medium conditioned by Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells. ES cells acquired a differentiated phenotype in monolayer, either when in the absence of LIF/DIA or in the presence of retinoic acid (RA). We have now characterized this bipotential differentiation of ES cells in terms of a series of extracellular matrix and cell surface proteins as well as cytokeratin expression, and compared it with the changes observed during the differentiation of two embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines, P19 and F9. ES cells exposed to RA in the presence of LIF/DIA largely resembled F9 EC + RA after 5 days, while ES cells deprived of LIF/DIA formed a culture with mixed phenotype resembling P19 EC + RA. This study therefore establishes the predominantly parietal endoderm-like phenotype of cells derived from ES by RA induction, and suggests that a mixed population of endoderm- and ill-defined mesoderm-like cells are formed after removal of specific inhibitor(s) of differentiation.

Photon correlation spectroscopy of the polarization signal from single muscle fibres

Measurements of crossbridge dynamics have been obtained from the spectrum of diffracted light derived from single, skinned fibres of skeletal muscle. This technique combines optical ellipsometry with photon correlation spectroscopy of the intrinsic reporters from the muscle cell. The difference in the intensities of the two linearly polarized electric field components of diffracted light is autocorrelated in time, and the dynamics of optical anisotropy from the contributing units of the sarcomere are measured. In focusing on the fast-time dynamics, we detected two principal features: a rapidly relaxing temporal signal with a relaxation time of approximately 5 microseconds, and an oscillatory component which transforms into a broad but spectrally defined signal centred at around 370 kHz. Experiments were conducted to measure changes of these two signals upon relax-rigor transition and alpha-chymotrypsin degradation. These studies strongly suggest that the relaxational component of the signal is primarily due to myosin crossbridge motion; the 370 kHz spectral signal has as its likely source the myosin thick filament.

Polarization states of diffracted light. Changes accompanying fiber activation

Measurement of the state of optical polarization of light diffracted from single, skinned and intact fibers of anterior tibialis muscle from Rana pipiens revealed a dependence upon rigor, activation, and sarcomere length (SL) change. Changes in total birefringence, delta nT, and differential field ratio value, rT, were determined. In a relaxed, skinned fiber the total birefringence value, delta nT, decreases as sarcomere length is increased from 2.1 microns to approximately 2.8-3.0 microns. From there it increases significantly to a value of approximately 1.8 x 10(-3) at a sarcomere length of 3.6 microns. The differential field ratio, rT, also shows a biphasic response to increasing sarcomere length, first exhibiting a rapid decrease over shorter SL and leveling out after the SL is beyond 3.0 microns. In comparison, relaxed intact fibers change substantially less upon sarcomere length change, showing little change in birefringence and a small bi-phasic change in rT. Skinned fibers were activated using a solution that has the same ionic strength as the relaxing solution and allows repeatable, and sustained activation. A decrease in both delta nT and rT was observed upon fiber activation. The decrease in delta nT and rT was slightly larger at shorter sarcomere lengths than at longer lengths. Relaxed fibers placed in rigor showed changes in delta nT and rT similar to those observed in activated fibers. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, after activation, a significant portion of the thick filament cross-bridges rotate towards the actin filament resulting in redistribution of the interfilament mass content. They are also consistent with an average orientation of crossbridges in the overlap region different from that in the nonoverlap region.

[The role of medial medulla in the depressive responses in pulmonary and carotid arteries to injection of acetylcholine at fourth ventricle]

The role of medial medulla in the depressive responses in pulmonary and carotid arteries to injection of acetylcholine (ACh) at the fourth ventricle was studied by means of electrolytic destruction and microinjection of drugs at the relevant brain areas. It was found that (1) electrolytic destruction of medial medulla significantly diminished the depressive responses to ACh in pulmonary and carotid arteries; (2) destruction of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) at the level of the medullary obex did not affect the depressive responses in both arteries; obex did not affect the depressive responses in both arteries; (3) microinjection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) blockers, cyproheptadine and 2-bromolysergic acid diethylamide (BOL), into the fourth ventricle or medial medulla could lessen the depressive responses to ACh in pulmonary and carotid arteries; (4) microinjection of naloxone in the same way could partially abolish the depressive responses. It is thus assumed that the ACh-induced depressive responses in pulmonary and carotid arteries are associated with the structural integrity of the medial medulla but not related to the central projection area of the buffer nerves. Therefore, the depressive responses in pulmonary and carotid arteries initiated by injection of ACh at the fourth ventrical are mediated by activating the 5-HT and endorphin systems of the medial medulla which in turn inhibits the tonic activities of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord.

Lymphocyte subpopulation with low membrane potential in the blood of cyclosporin- and prednisone-treated patients: in vivo selectivity for T4 subset

Previous work on the mode of action of CsA revealed that this drug shifts the membrane potential of human periferal blood lymphocytes in vitro. Recently we have analyzed lymphocytes of cyclosporin-treated transplant patients. Membrane potential analysis with the DIOC6(3) fluorescence dye indicates that all the studied patients have a subpopulation of lymphocytes with low membrane potential and that this population is made up predominently of OKT4+ cells. However there is no correlation between the clinical events and the percentage distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations as defined by the membrane potential and the T4/T8 ratio of the total lymphocyte population.

Effects of calcium channel blockers on in vivo cellular immunity in mice

In vitro studies have shown that calcium channel blockers (CCB) inhibit lectin-induced lymphocyte proliferation. However, no in vivo effects have been documented yet. In this study we evaluated the effects of CCB on in vivo cellular immunity by using contact sensitivity to oxazolone in mice. From 15 to 30 twelve-week-old female C3H mice were randomized into: 0.9 NS (sham), ethanol, CsA, dexamethasone (DXM), verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine groups. These study agents were given daily from day 1 to day 9 subcutaneously to the shaved abdominal wall. The mice were sensitized with oxazolone to the abdominal wall on day 2 and challenged with oxazolone on the right ear on day 8. Delayed-type hypersensitivity was measured on day 10 and defined as the difference in thickness between the right (challenged) and left (control) ear of each mouse. The mean DTH of each study group was compared with that of the sham, and the statistical significance was determined by a Student's t test. The percentage of change in DTH from the sham was also calculated as: (mean DTH of study drug group-mean DTH of sham group)/mean DTH of sham group x 100%. A negative value meant a suppressive effect on DTH; a positive value, an enhancing one. The CsA, DXM, and nifedipine all had significant suppressive effects on DTH. Verapamil had a significant enhancing effect. Ethanol and diltiazem had no significant effect. More studies employing other antigens with several other cell-mediated response measurements along with DTH quantification should be done in order to determine the specificity of the immunosuppressive effect of CCB as well as the potential of any calcium antagonist as an adjuvant suppressive agent.

Incidence and morbidity of cytomegalovirus disease associated with a seronegative recipient receiving seropositive donor-specific transfusion and living-related donor transplantation. A multicenter evaluation

This retrospective study was conducted to identify the frequency of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in seronegative recipients of donor-specific transfusion (DST) and living-related donor (LRD) kidneys from seropositive donors. A total of 151 LRD transplants (TX) were performed at six transplant centers over a 3-year period. A total of 33 patients were identified as having been seronegative (pre-TX) for CMV, yet they had DST and a TX from a seropositive LRD. Of these patients, 12 (36.4%) seroconverted within the first 6 months post-TX and developed clinical CMV disease. Additional patients seroconverted, but did not have evidence of clinical disease and were not tested further. All TX centers, with the exception of one, had seronegative patients that became ill after receiving a seropositive DST/LRD TX. Six patients manifested their disease as a febrile illness with leukopenia and liver enzyme elevations, four had pneumonitis, and two developed CMV ulcerations of the colon (one of whom died from resultant sepsis). Of the 36 seronegative patients who received seronegative DST/LRD TX none became ill with CMV disease. Of the 72 seropositive patients who received DST/LRD TX, only 2 (2.8%) developed CMV illness (one, seropositive into seropositive, the other, seronegative into seropositive). Of the 33 seronegative patients receiving seropositive DST/LRD TX, 17 received antilymphocyte preparations (ALP), and 8 of these became ill (47.1%). Of 16 patients not receiving ALP, 5 (31.3%) developed clinical CMV illness. Of the 33 patients who were identified as having been seronegative for CMV yet received seropositive DST/LRD TX, the 12 who did develop CMV illness had two graft losses, one death, and a serum creatinine for the remaining 9 patients of 2.3 +/- 1.6 at last follow-up. The remaining 21 patients who developed no illness had a serum creatinine of 1.3 +/- 0.6 with no graft losses at the last follow-up. This evidence suggests that a prospective TX recipient who is seronegative for CMV who receives DST/LRD TX from a seropositive family member has a significant risk for developing morbidity related to clinical CMV illness.

Failure to thrive associated with chronic ulcer disease in a 9-year-old boy

Chronic peptic ulcer disease is not generally considered to cause failure to thrive. We are reporting a 9-year-old child who suffered from chronic recurrent abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Investigation revealed that the child also had bacterial overgrowth and evidence of malabsorption. These findings were considered to be due to chronic peptic ulcer disease which caused intermittent small bowel obstruction and gastric outlet obstruction. Successful treatment of the ulcer alone resulted in catch-up growth and an end to the chronic recurrent pain. Recurrent abdominal pain when associated with atypical features or failure to thrive should be adequately investigated. Although rare, chronic peptic ulcer disease with its sequelae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of failure to thrive.

Treatment of primary undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver with surgery and chemotherapy

Primary undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver is a rare tumor with survival reliant on total excision of the tumor. The authors report such a tumor, initially nonresectable, in a 7-year-old girl whose tumor was successfully excised following treatment with cisplatin and Adriamycin (doxorubicin). The light and electron microscopic details of this patient's tumor are presented.

Translation of type IV procollagen messenger RNA from cultured cat retinal pigment epithelial cells

The activity of type IV procollagen mRNA was detected in the total cytoplasmic RNA prepared from normal feline retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture. The translation products contained two distinct bands in the pro alpha chain region on SDS-PAGE, which were sensitive to collagenase digestion. Corresponding bands were identified in the immunoprecipitate of the translation products after reaction with an anti-type IV collagen antiserum and separation by protein A-Sepharose column chromatography.

Nonenzymatic glycosylation of bovine retinal microvessel basement membranes in vitro. Kinetic analysis and inhibition by aspirin

Incubation of intact bovine retinal microvessels or isolated retinal microvessel basement membranes (RVBM) with radioactive D-glucose or L-glucose, followed by basement membrane collagenous protein purification, resulted in the isolation of nonenzymatically glycosylated RVBM collagens. Type IV collagen was identified in the RVBM by selective salt fractionation, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid analysis, and immunoprecipitation with specific antibody. Kinetic analysis of the condensation of glucose with RVBM was carried out by labeling retinal microvessel basement membranes with D-[2-3 H]-glucose and D-[6-14 C]-glucose. The rate constant for aldimine product formation, k1, was 1.95 +/- 0.24 (SD) X 10(-4) mM-1 h-1, and the rate constant for the reversed reaction, k-1, was 5.9 +/- 1.0 X 10(-2) h-1. Based on a rate constant for the Amadori rearrangement, k2, of 8.8 +/- 1.0 X 10(-3) h-1, which was the rate-determining step, the half life of this reaction was 80 +/- 9 h. These data may be useful in estimating the glycosylation of retinal microvessel basement membranes in vivo. The nonenzymatic glycosylation of retinal microvessel basement membrane proteins was progressively inhibited by increasing concentrations (0.1 to 2.0 mM) of aspirin.

Stimulation of retinal capillary pericyte protein and collagen synthesis in culture by high-glucose concentration

The influence of glucose concentration on cell multiplication and protein synthesis was studied in synchronized, long-term cultures of bovine retinal microvessel pericytes. The cell multiplication rate and the mitotic rate were reduced in media containing 20 mM glucose to 57% and 54%, respectively, of that obtained in media containing 5 mM glucose. Elevated glucose, however, did not change the DNA content of individual cells. Protein and collagen synthesis were measured by the incorporation of radioactive proline and lysine, or the posttranslational production of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, respectively. High glucose stimulated protein and collagen synthesis per cell 2.2 +/- 0.10 (SD) and 2.1 +/- 0.06 times, respectively. Aspirin (0.5 mM), an inhibitor of nonenzymatic glycosylation, did not alter the effect of elevated glucose concentration on protein and collagen synthesis.

Mucosal proctectomy using an ultrasonic scalpel

Mucosal proctectomy is becoming the operation of choice in the surgical treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis coli. Dissection of the rectal mucosa and submucosa from the underlying muscularis is often difficult and, in some instances, impossible to perform. The feasibility of using an ultrasonic device to perform mucosal protectomy was studied in eight dogs. This technique produced coagulative necrosis of the mucosa and muscularis mucosa with marked edema and congestion of the submucosa. The muscularis propria remained intact. Complete destruction of the distal 7 cm of rectal mucosa required a total duration of exposure to the ultrasonic probe of at least 12 minutes. In another five dogs, total colectomy was performed above the area of the mucosal proctectomy followed by endorectal pull-through of the ileum. Follow-up studies revealed healing of the ileonal anastomosis without retraction or stricture. This technique should allow mucosal proctectomy to be performed in those patients in whom standard dissection is not possible due to fibrosis of the submucosal plane.

The human fetal heart in the second trimester of gestation: a gross morphometric study of normal fetuses

One hundred fifty-three midtrimester fetuses obtained from normal pregnancies terminated for nonmedical reasons were studied to establish normal standard measurements. Mean, standard deviation, range, and percentiles of body weight, foot length, crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, cardiac weight, thickness of ventricles, and ventricular septum were derived by computer analysis. Statistical analysis showed no sex difference. Equations for predicting body weight, cardiac weight, and septal thickness were derived with the use of fetal age and biparietal diameter as variables. The mean ratio of septal to left ventricular wall thickness was 1.14 +/- 0.34; a ratio of 1.3 or greater was found in 25% and a ratio of 1.5 or greater in 10% of this cohort. The results are at variance with the reported high incidence of septal hypertrophy seen in normal developing fetal hearts. We suggest that septal hypertrophy, ratio of 1.5 or greater, may reflect disturbances in fetal or placental circulation and warrants careful monitoring of the pregnancy.

Phenotypic characterization of hepatic proliferation. Antigenic expression by proliferating epithelial cells in fetal liver, massive hepatic necrosis, and nodular transformation of the liver

Different forms of hepatocellular proliferation are seen in fetal livers, massive hepatic necrosis, and nodular transformation (nodular regenerative hyperplasia) of the liver. In an attempt to characterize the proliferating cells in these conditions, we studied the expression of several antigens by immunohistochemical methods. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), a hepatocellular export protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a marker of bile duct epithelial cells, and hepatitis B virus antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg), were localized by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method in 11 fetal livers, 10 cases of nodular transformation, and 7 cases of massive hepatic necrosis. AFP was the most prevalent antigen in fetal hepatocytes. Many hyperplastic hepatocytes in nodular transformation contained AAT, but not oncofetal antigens, supporting the differentiated hepatocellular nature of these cells. A similar staining pattern was seen in two-cell-thick plates of hepatocytes in massive hepatic necrosis. In contrast, the ductlike structures at the periphery of necrotic lobules contained both AAT and CEA, suggesting that these cells exhibit features of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. Therefore, the appropriate term for these regenerating cells appears to be "ductular" or "biliary hepatocytes".

Histochemical study of Hurler's disease by the use of peroxidase-labelled lectins

Peroxidase-labelled lectins specific for various carbohydrate residues were used as histochemical reagents in the investigation of Hurler's syndrome. Peanut lectin was used to detect terminal D-galactose, wheatgerm lectin for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, soybean lectin for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, Tetragonolobus lotus lectin for alpha-L-fucose and Bandeiraea S. lectin for alpha-D-galactose. It was found that Kupffer cells in the liver and splenic reticulo-endothelial cells contain acid mucopolysaccharides which bind lectins in paraffin sections after appropriate fixation. The pattern of lectin binding suggests that such cells contain significant amounts of D-galactose, L-fucose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It is likely that the last named carbohydrate is present as a polymer. Neurones contain a different carbohydrate, rich in galactose and fucose but poor in N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This compound is resident to lipid extraction. Hepatocytes, as a rule, do not react with lectins, most likely because of loss of the more soluble mucopolysaccharides during fixation. The results are consistent with the biochemical data of Hurler's syndrome and indicate that lectins can be a useful tool for the investigation of the cytochemistry of storage disorders.

Base substitutions, length differences and DNA strand asymmetries in the human G gamma and A gamma fetal globin gene region

We have studied differences arising subsequent to the 5 kilobase pair (kb) duplication that led to the human G gamma and A gamma fetal globin genes. The local occurrence of base substitutions in the duplicated 5 kb region correlates positively with the local AT base pair content. This correlation also occurs in two mouse beta-globin genes and in two mouse immunoglobulin genes. The relationship is valid for transcribed or nontranscribed DNA and for DNA that contains only coding sequences. Length differences in the fetal globin duplicated regions correlate positively with the occurrence of short direct repeats of greater than or equal 5 base pairs. Path analysis of the interrelationships of base composition, base substitutions, repeats and length differences provides an integrated view of the relative effects on chromosomal changes of these variables and of selection. The distributions along the chromosome of simple sequences and of base compositions show highly significant local asymmetries between the transcribed and nontranscribed strands of the DNA, which permit us to divide the fetal globin gene region into chromosomal domains. Comparable domains are present in DNA from other sources, including the mammalian viruses SV40 and polyoma virus strain A-2 in which some of the domains appear related to discrete functions.

Mapping and characterization of the hisD-unlinked nif mutants in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Two hisD-unlinked genes NifC5 and NifC7 are mapped in the chromosome of K. pneumoniae. The sequence of NifC5 and NifC7 is suggested as NifC5--gltB--NifC7--argG. The P1 infected E. coli lysate can transduce the mutant C-7 to be Nif+ transductant, yet fails to transduce the hisD-linked nif mutants to be Nif+ ones. This indicates that the gene encoding C-7 is not the structural gene of nitrogen fixation and is present in E. coli. It is actually a gene specifying the glutamate synthetase. SDS electrophoresis shows the marked low content of nitrogen reductase and immunoelectrophoretic test reveals the reduced amount of both nitrogenase and nitrogen reductase in the mutant cells.

Free vascularised bone graft using microvascular technique

The authors investigated 212 dried human fibulae to find out the length, the circumference and the entry points of nutrient artery to the fibula. Angiography of six freshly amputated limbs was studied to show the relationship of the posterior tibial artery and peroneal artery. Seven clinical cases of free vascularised fibula graft are reported. The length of the fibula graft varies from 10 cm to 20 cm. A postoperative 113M-In EDTMP examination revealed the blood supply to the grafted fibula was adequate. The bony healing and functional restoration of the extremities proved to be satisfactory.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis in a child with acute lymphatic leukemia in remission

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis, a tumor-like process of unknown etiology, produced progressively destructive disease of the larynx, trachea and bronchi in an eight-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of five years duration. The leukemia had been in remission for 4 1/2 years at the clinical onset of the lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Whether this occurrence suggests that lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a type of neoplasm, or is associated with immunologic depression, cannot be stated. Fortunately rare, and of poor prognosis, the disorder may become more frequent with improved survival rate of patients with leukemia and other neoplasms.